Church Family,
One of the things I love most about being your pastor is getting to watch God work in your lives. I get to see quiet acts of faith that most people never notice. I see people serve when no one is watching. I see prayers prayed through laughter and tears, generosity that costs something, private and public hallmarks worth noticing, and courage to follow Jesus even when it’s hard. Moments like that deserve to be celebrated.
The Bible actually encourages us to honor what God is doing in people. In Romans 12:10, we’re told to “outdo one another in showing honor.” And in Philippians 2:29, Paul tells the church to “honor such people” who faithfully serve the Lord.
So when we celebrate someone’s faith, their service, their leadership, their baptism — a step of obedience, or even a WIN, we are simply doing what scripture encourages the church to do. Celebration strengthens a church. It reminds us that God is still moving, still transforming lives, and still calling people to follow Him.
But at the same time, we keep something very clear in our hearts: we celebrate people, but we worship the Lord.
There is a difference.
People can be honored. People can be encouraged. People can be thanked. But worship belongs to God alone. When the apostle John fell at the feet of an angel in awe, the angel quickly stopped him and said, in Revelation 22:9, “You must not do that… Worship God.”
That simple phrase keeps our hearts aligned. Worship God.
The truth is, every good thing we see in a person ultimately comes from Him. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”
When we celebrate someone, we’re really celebrating the grace of God that shaped their story. When we honor someone’s service, we’re acknowledging the Spirit of God who empowered it. When we applaud someone’s life, we’re recognizing the Lord, who stirred their heart.
In other words, when the church celebrates rightly, the spotlight never stays on the person — it always points back to the Lord.
That’s the kind of church I believe God is building in The River. A church that is generous with encouragement. A church that notices faithfulness. A church that celebrates growth, obedience, courage, and LIFE. But above all, a church that keeps its eyes lifted upward.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So we will keep celebrating what God is doing in people’s lives. We will keep encouraging one another. We will keep honoring faithfulness when we see it. And together, we will keep our worship where it belongs — on the Living God alone.
I’m grateful to walk this life with you.
That’s the kind of church I believe God is building in The River. A church that is generous with encouragement. A church that notices faithfulness. A church that celebrates growth, obedience, courage, and LIFE. But above all, a church that keeps its eyes lifted upward.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So we will keep celebrating what God is doing in people’s lives. We will keep encouraging one another. We will keep honoring faithfulness when we see it. And together, we will keep our worship where it belongs — on the Living God alone.
I’m grateful to walk this life with you.
Keep going!
Pastor Brent