RiverFest:12

What & When is RiverFest?
RiverFest is a weekend away for everyone in all the congregations that make up River Church. It will be held on Friday 29th June – Sunday 1st July.
 

Why are we doing it?
We believe times away with our church family are vital to healthy community life. Time spent away from the busyness of life, a chance to hear God together, to forge new friendships and to strengthen existing ones. As a growing extended family, it is also important to have opportunities like this to build friendship & community across the congregations and to hear God together as a whole church for our future and direction as a movement. 

What is the theme? Our theme is "let love live". This is the rallying call and strap line of Timberline Church, which grew from a few hundred to over 9000 members. If we are to impact our communities with the love and power of God, we'll also need to let love live. That's why we've declared our intention to 'Love everyone we meet' and this weekend will be a chance to explore what that means together. About Jeff Lucas

Jeff is the teaching pastor for Timberline Church, but is originally from the UK. He is a well known author and speaker and a long-standing friend of River Church. He was on the Pioneer leadership team before moving to the USA and established "Equipped to Lead", a fantastic course which many of us in River attended and benefitted greatly from. To find out more about Jeff check out the following websites www.jefflucas.org  and www.timberlinechurch.org.
 

Venue
We have managed to get an excellent deal with the De Vere hotel in Staverton, Northamptonshire. You can see more about the venue by clicking here.  The facilities there include a swimming pool, spa, gym, 18 hole golf course, bar with big screen and numerous free tea, coffee & biscuits stations. It is a great place for anyone to spend a weekend to relax and have plenty of fun!!

Discounts will be available during your stay for some of the sports and leisure facilities eg round of golf £25 and 10% discount on spa treatments.

Pricing

0-4 yr:  FREE           5-18 yr:  £70           Over 18 yr:  £140           Single room supplement £15           £20 deposit per person over 4 yrs.

Bursary 
Financially, it's necessary for us all to go on a faith journey together. We encourage everyone to prayerfully consider how you could help others be a part of the weekend. Here are a few ideas: If you are able to pay the full amount yourself – maybe you could contribute towards another’s costs?  If you can’t make the dates but would like someone else to go in your place – ask the Spirit who this person(s) might be. Perhaps you’d like to make a donation to the bursary fund so we can distribute a gift where it is most needed? All donations can be put into the offering baskets clearly marked RiverFest:12 Bursary Fund or posted to the Church Office.

What about my kids? 0-4: we will have 2 crèche leaders coming to run the under 5's. Crèche will be provided during the Saturday and Sunday morning meetings only. 5-11: will be run by guest children's leader Mike Burn from Family Worship with his team. Our 5-11's meeting timings will mirror the adult timings.   Base Dave Jones and his team will be putting together a fun programme of various activities both social and spiritual. Base will have their own space and it is guaranteed to be a special time remembered forever! Look out for further details.    How to book You will be able to book from Sunday 5th February. To reserve your place you need to submit a booking form together with a non-refundable £20 deposit per head (no deposit required for the under 5's). Booking is online via this webpage or via a paper form and cash or cheque made payable to River Church. Booking forms with payment can be sent to the RiverChurch office via the Sunday offering baskets or sent via post - please do not send cash in the post. Addressed envelopes will be available at Sunday meetings to make this easier. Please note that online bookings will incur an additional fee. If you are able to pay the full price up front please feel free to do this.   The deadline for booking and full payment is Monday 21st May.

Programme    Friday Meal 20:00 -21:15 - Worship and prayer with a short talk from Jeff Lucas 9:15 onwards - Time to hang out together and enjoy the facilities Saturday Breakfast 10:00-11:30 - Session 2 worship and Jeff Lucas 11:30-12:00 - Break 12:00- 1300 - Session 3 Jeff Lucas 13:00 - Lunch 14:00 - Free time to hang out, enjoy the facilities and check out the local area Evening meal 19:30 - Session 4 worship and Jeff Lucas 21:30 onwards - Time to hang out together and enjoy the facilities Sunday Breakfast 10:30 - Session 5 worship and Colin Barnes 13:00 – Sunday Lunch Depart

There is a working group beavering away behind the scenes putting plans into place to make RiverFest:12 happen.

  
All River Missionaries have been invited back to be part of the River family away. It will be a great chance for us and for them to catch up, be refreshed and connect back into their sending church. We’re really looking forward to seeing as many of them as possible.

How do I find out more information?
Speak to Linda Southwood or Georgie Grafham (Marlow), Vicky Earll or Kelly Brannan (The Journey), Ceri Davies (Maidenhead) or Kerry Forster (Slough) or email riverfest@riverchurch.org

Download all this information as a leaflet