RIVER TERRACE CHURCH MISSION AND VALUES

We envision a community at River Terrace where there will be: a love and passion for God, a desire to be faithful disciples of Jesus, strength and faithfulness at the center, openness to others in all their variety, freedom to differ on many things, while maintaining our core commitments, and love for each other which is expressed in joyous and caring community life.  We believe, further, that these essential core commitments of our congregation are consistent with what the New Testament teaches and with what the New Testament church was about.  What the New Testament presents throughout and especially in the book of Acts is a new community in Christ--a community filled with passion for God, openness to the Holy Spirit, openness to others, freedom of life and practice within certain key commitments, and love for each other.  We desire to be that kind of community at River Terrace Church.

Our Mission Statement below attempts to capture this Biblical vision of our mission.  The values that are key to accomplishing our mission are added to each of the "glorify/honor and enjoy" statements. The values are expressions of how the mission is put into action. A complete statement of the mission and values appears below.

At River Terrace Church, we seek to be

a place to taste new life in Christ

where we gather and go forth

to glorify and enjoy God and

to honor and enjoy others.

We gather to glorify and enjoy God by:

Seeking the heart of God in prayer and worship.
Learning to love and obey the Word of God.
Sharing the stories of God's grace in our lives.
Giving our best to God.

We gather to honor and enjoy each other by:

Inviting others to the love of Jesus.
Practicing hospitality.
Cultivating a generous spirit.
Honoring the long-term commitments of our congregation.

We go forth to glorify and enjoy God by:

Cultivating and exploring the world that God has given us.
Expressing our joy and thanks-giving in the gifts that God has given us.
Serving God with our whole being.

We go forth to honor and enjoy others by:

Loving them.
Praying for others in our community, nation, and world.
Bringing the Good News of God to others.
Seeking justice for all.