So what is worship like at River47?

From the moment you walk in you’ll be aware of people of varying ages. We have moms and dads with brand new babies. As a matter of fact there are kids everywhere. Our high school department alone is over 50 students. It doesn’t stop there though, visitors are usually struck by the fact that there are no holes in the congregation from birth all the way through retirement. What’s even more amazing is that you are as likely to be sitting next to a new Christian in their retirement years as you are a new believer in their teens.

Visitors are usually struck by the feel of a new church. While the buildings have been here 40 years, 80% of the congregation is new in the last two. New comers have been equally dispersed between age groups. Yes, you read that right! Come to River47 and DO NOT expect just because someone is in their retirement years, that they have been here for years! As a matter of fact, of those 60+ only four of us have been here more than four years.

As worship starts, you will be struck with the upbeat and contemporary feel, and yet just as easily struck with some traditional elements as well. Acolytes (candle lighters) still process down the aisle during the opening of worship. Except no robes on those puppies. Just regular kids being who they are worshipping God.

That is key for us. We are who we are! You will see kids in shorts and barefoot coming into the sanctuary along with people in ties and dresses. Business men lose the suits for Hawaiian Shirts and sandals. In the service you will see small children using all they are to sing songs to God complete with hand motions, while parents sway with infants and high school students lift up their hands in praise. If you are looking for uniformity, don’t come here. We are who we are.

Ok, so is it chaotic? No, there is definitely order to the service. We just prefer to keep some of our rough edges. In other words, the emphasis is on being real rather than show.

While our musical style is strongly contemporary, we’ve also made a commitment to sing at least one or more of the old hymns of the faith in each service. Why, to please people? No deeper than that. We are committed to being a part of the whole church. By adding these vestiges of more traditional services, we see ourselves as tying into the larger body of Christ. You’ll also get other aspects of a traditional church, from creedal statements being woven into the morning message to ancient prayers and blessings being said over you in a manner fresh rather than automatic. Many a Presbyterian or Lutheran has remarked, there is something very familiar there but I can’t put my finger on it.

At River47 we are not only blessed with great musicians and worship leaders, but with great teachers as well. You can expect each Sunday morning’s message to rely on a biblical text for inspiration and grounding, while being extremely practical and relevant at the same time. Listening to our pastors you will be challenged on many levels to grow in your faith and knowledge of the things of God. Yes, you’ll definitely laugh. Our pastors will be right up there laughing along with you. The feel of the morning message is that of a true conversation given by a teacher who truly loves the students in their care. From the message you’ll not only hear challenges for your own heart, but hear how the text has challenged the pastor as well.

On a regular basis we’ll use a variety of presentations, including DVD Clips, Powerpoint, Drama and special music and speakers. Once again, while at times truly entertaining, the hope is to drive home a point so it is remembered. Not only that, if as an old confession says “Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever” than we think in addition to being challenging, a little fun never hurt the learning process either.

River47 is the kind of church where the generations can come and worship. Our team
works hard each week to make sure that our children, students and adults of every
generation have something to take home. Our worship is purposely multi-generational. So much so, that students are as likely to be dragging their parents to church as the other way around. We think this is building a potentially great legacy. A congregation where the young are not turned off, but that is mature enough to attract and keep older adults. In other words, worship at River47 is an environment dedicated to making sure you and your loved ones have a future in the church. You won’t outgrow it. Rather, you’ll find as you grow there are new challenges for heart and mind you may not have seen before.

We love it!