Nothing Can Separate Us

Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God.
(Romans 8:38-39)

I know it seems as if our world is crumbling beneath us. There is great isolation. There is great suffering. There are nights when many feel alone, separated from the communities they once knew as they wander in wildernesses of despair. The uncertainty of this moment in our country and world can appear to be too much. Add on top of that physical ailments, mental health challenges, financial instability, food insecurity, death, and grief.

I want you to know that you don't walk alone. I am with you. God is with you--Emmanuel in the morning and Emmanuel in the midnight hour; And because we are called to be the hands and feet of God in this world, we must be with each other, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health. That, my friends, is the power of the beloved community. We grow together; we weep together; we dance together; we laugh together. We don't let one another walk this journey called life alone.

Let nothing or no one separate us from that which is found in community. I know--there are a lot of distractions in this world that keep us from being in community; but the walk with Christ is not meant to be an isolated walk. Make that commitment to being intentional about finding and sustaining community.

Join us on Sunday for worship--yes--but more importantly, join us for community.

10am, in-person (masks required) or through our livestream on YouTube.

Praying for you,
Rev. Mia

How to Contact Rev. Mia
See the options to sign up for her calendar below:

15 people have registered to see Black Panther 2 with us on November 13th! Registration closes November 5.

Where: Regal Gallery Place & 4DX
701 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

When: Sunday, November 13th at 12:30pm
You can leave with us from church after worship and carpool, uber pool, or take public transit. You can also meet us there.

This is my treat to you. The free tickets are first come, first serve. In return, I ask that you donate nonperishable protein items to our new food pantry. We are looking for canned tuna, sardines, bags and cans of beans, and other long-lasting protein items.

Coming Up

October 30, 2022 | 11:30 AM
Servanthood (Congregational) Meeting
THIS SUNDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORSHIP

November 6, 2022 |10 AM
All Soul's Sunday
We will remember our dearly departed in this service and honor the faith of our ancestors.

December 18, 2022 | 10 AM
Annual Christmas Music Service
This service will be full of good music, lessons from the Advent season, and a short homily from Rev. Mia. We invite you to celebrate the holiday with us on this day.

December 25, 2022 | 10 AM VIRTUAL
Christmas Morning Mingle and Virtual Worship Service
We have made the decision to do a pre-recorded virtual Christmas service this year. Rev. Mia will be at the church on Christmas morning from 10-11 AM to share a word, coffee, and refreshments with anyone who wishes to stop by in-person and online via zoom. More details coming soon.

January 7, 2023 | 10AM
The Installation Service for Reverend Mia M. McClain
Register Here
*We've opened a registration to track our numbers so that we can host this event safely. Parking will be available in the garage that Saturday.

Guest speakers will include:
Rev. Dr. Lisa L. Thompson (Vanderbilt Divinity School)
Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr. (First Corinthian Baptist Church, Harlem, NYC)
Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond (New York Theological Seminary)
Rev. Dr. W. Benjamin Boswell (Myers Park Baptist Church)
Rev. Dwight Webster, PhD (Beth Eden Baptist Church, Oakland, CA)

Guest Vocalist:
Minister Joshuah Campbell
(Academy Award Nominee, Golden Globe Nominee)

You don't want to miss this! Save the date now!

In addition to Safeway gift cards that the deacons have purchased to help address food needs in our community, we will be starting a once-a-month Winter Protein Pantry in December! On 2nd Sundays immediately following worship, during December-March, we'll offer our community a chance to grab items from the pantry, and fellowship over a cup of hot cider or coffee. And we need your help!

Donation Requests
*For canned items, pop tops are preferrable

Volunteer Requests

If you have questions or would like to help with the planning, execution, and marketing of this project, please email deaconchair@riversidedc.org or pastor@riversidedc.org. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance, please reach out and we will do our best to meet the need or direct people to other services.

Rev. Mia and others are also brainstorming how we might be able to incorporate non-food items, such as thick socks, sweaters, coats, hats, and scarves.

Please continue to share your resources and donate to our Shepherd's Purse fund if you can so that we can prepare for winter requests.

Other resources:
St. Vincent de Paul - Food Pantry - Navy Yard | Southwest | Capitol Hill, Washington, DC (svdpdc.org)

So Others Might Eat (some.org)

Join us for our fall virtual bible study
Wednesdays at 7pm | through November 30

Help support the mission and vision of this community through giving. For more information about how we use these gifts to serve this community, contact trustees@riversidedc.org