Riverview Review 2023 - Flipbook - Page 7
DR STEVEN
MCCREADY
Reflecting on a whole year of life
and ministry at Riverview Church
is a challenging experience! Life in
a community of faith is filled with
beauty and brokenness all at the
same time. Life in a large community
is both of those things intensified.
Over the past year, we have
celebrated marriages and baby
dedications, baptisms, and life
transformation. At the same time,
we have journeyed with members
of our church family through illness
and bereavement, infertility, and hard
times.
The Apostle Paul writes to his
congregation in Rome, speaking
about the reality of sharing our lives
together in Christ. “Rejoice with
those who rejoice; mourn with those
who mourn. Live in harmony with one
another” ROMANS 12:15
As Senior Minister, I am so thankful
that what I have experienced over the
last twelve months at Riverview has
been life in a healthy faith community,
a place where we have been willingly
rejoicing with those who rejoice and
willing to mourn with those who are
mourning.
community of rejoicing and mourning.
A community that is real, loved by a
God who is real.
As I think about 2023, three words
come to mind. Known, Formed,
Blessing. This past year has been all
about trying on our vision: making
sure it fits, making sure it is authentic
to us, and discerning if we need to
make any tweaks or amendments
before we embark on a generational
adventure together.
As we grow as a church, perhaps
the thing that I am most excited
about is the tangible experience of
authenticity that we are experiencing.
I feel so honoured to belong to
a community where I feel safe.
Riverview is a safe place for me to
bring my whole self. A place where
I can rejoice and mourn, while I am
becoming known, being formed and
seeking to be a blessing in the city.
Our vision is to see ‘everyone known
in community, formed in Christ and a
blessing in the city.’ Our heart is that
all of us could make this personal.
How am I being known in community,
how am I being formed in Christ, how
am I being a blessing in our city?’
In many ways, there is beauty and
brokenness bound up in our vision.
That’s because the vision is not
‘done to us,’ but rather, it has been
given to us. As we bring our whole
selves to this invitation, as a healthy
community, we bring all we are. That
means our vision comes to life in a
Thank you for being a part of my
story in 2023. Becoming your pastor
has helped me grow deeper into God.
I am truly thankful and honoured that
we get to follow Jesus together.
Much love in Christ.
Dr Steve McCready
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