Selah: A Day of Holy Pause, on Saturday, May 2nd

Women of The River Church are invited—and to invite others too—to a day of worship, teaching, laughter, feasting, reflection, creativity, conversation, and prayer. In this announcement, Kari Patterson describes the heart behind planning this day of Selah, inviting all women to this event on Saturday, May 2nd.

As noted: it's meant as a whole-day opportunity, then all will come together in the afternoon and evening (1:30-7:30 PM). » ⁠Register on the River hub here⁠.

Jerry Waggener preached through Titus 1:1-4, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as The River Church began a new series studying Paul's Epistle to Titus. Titus 1:1-41 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.Titus: Godly Living in the Truth

The River Church believes God the Father adopts, transforms, empowers, and unifies His children through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, based on the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

/// A statement from The River Church Elders, read by Pastor/Elder Jeff Patterson on Sunday, April 26, 2026, followed by a testimony from a brother from NWBTC. ///

Read statement in full here. Limited portion shared below due to podcast limitations:

As we launched fully into The River, becoming one unified and new church, we wanted to emphasize certain core values and truths that become beautiful in our community — embraced and embodied by us all.

The core message taught here at The River will not change. Put simply, The River Church believes God the Father adopts, transforms, empowers, and unifies His children through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, based on the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

First, our adoption, as with all of God’s work in creation, is Trinitarian: God the Father, Son, and Spirit together. We worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,
 neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God. In the Scriptures we see the work of the triune God revealed.

It was the Father’s good pleasure to send the Son, who willingly came, lived a perfect life of dependence and obedience, died for the sins of the world, and rose again victorious, so that we might become God’s children. It also pleased both the Father and the Son to send the Spirit to dwell within each and every one of His children from the moment of conversion.

Second, Jesus the Son of God lived and died to save sinners from the penalty of sin, and He did this to transform us into God’s beloved children. We are not left to make ourselves righteous by our own strength. Instead, God’s Spirit transforms us day by day into the people He has called us to be. Therefore, our salvation and our sanctification is a gift of God, accomplished through the cross.

Third, the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill God’s purposes. In Christ, we have everything we need for life and godliness. All of us—from the least to the greatest—are called to display God’s goodness through our transformation, our love for one another, and the good works that overflow from His miraculous work in our lives. We are empowered by the Spirit to do exactly what He asks. Truly, what God requires, He provides.

Finally, through the Spirit, we are united with Christ and with one another. Our love for each other is one of the greatest witnesses to Christ’s power. The Spirit grants us different gifts to edify the body and display His love to the entire world. For example, He gives some the gift of teaching, others administration, among many spiritual gifts, while others receive gifts like discernment or tongues. No gift makes a person “better” than another; rather, everyone is called to serve the body according to how God has uniquely created and gifted them. As we participate in God’s work together, let us eagerly seek and use our spiritual gifts to build up one another in love.

The core message of our first teaching series—and the core message of The River—is the Gospel. Our hope was, is, and will always be, in Christ. So, as we now dive into Paul’s letter to Titus, let us grow in understanding and seek God’s help to obey everything Christ has commanded—not to earn our salvation, but as a joyful response to what He has graciously done.

"when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." —Titus 3:4–7

Jerry Waggener preached through Luke 24v36-53, on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Gospel of Luke 24v36-53Jesus Appears to His Disciples36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”The Ascension50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

As we prepare to gather this Sunday, April 26, 2026, here's a glimpse at some of the emphases, opportunities, and happenings with The River Church.

Scripture to read ahead: ⁠Titus 1:1-4

Also see a helpful guide to Titus, made by Bible Project

Songs we sing this Sunday:

• ⁠⁠⁠Spotify playlist⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠YouTube playlist⁠

⁠Register for the Women's Selah 5/2⁠

See announcement for Selah: A Holy Day of Pause; and schedule too

⁠TheRiverOC.com⁠

Happenings & opportunities at ⁠TheRiverOC.churchtrac.com

Jeff Patterson preached through Luke 24v13-35, on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Gospel of Luke 24v13-35 (ESV)

On the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jerry Waggener preached through Luke 24v1-7, on Resurrection (Easter) Sunday, April 5, 2026.

Gospel of Luke 24v1-7 (NLT)

1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Selah: A Day of Holy Pause, on Saturday, May 2nd

Women of The River Church are invited—and to invite others too—to a day of worship, teaching, laughter, feasting, reflection, creativity, conversation, and prayer. In this announcement, Kari Patterson describes the heart behind planning this day of Selah, inviting all women to this event on Saturday, May 2nd.

As noted: it's meant as a whole-day opportunity, then all will come together in the afternoon and evening (1:30-7:30 PM). » Register on the River hub here.