New RUMC In-Person Attendance Guidelines
Thanks to the Delta variant of COVID-19, Florida residents must continue to be wary of contagion. We at Riverview UMC, like many other local churches, schools, and business, are attempting to navigate our way in this continuing pandemic environment.
We are still welcoming all who want to attend our indoor events, including our Sunday worship services. We will continue to offer two worship services on Sunday morning—at 8:00 AM in our fellowship hall and at 10:30 AM in our sanctuary. We will continue to support social distancing and hand sanitizers at every indoor event.
We are seriously recommending the use of masks or face shields for everyone attending our indoor events—especially for those with known health conditions or who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. We will have a supply of paper masks available for those who need them.
The RESTORE Food Bank is continuing in operation as it has done all year. The Food Bank is open from 10 AM until Noon every Tuesday and Thursday. We continue to enforce the rule that no RESTORE client is welcome on the church premises before 9:30 AM.
Our “Virtual Church” Continues
We are still currently Live Streaming our 10:30 AM Sunday worship service every week. You can see worship as it is actually happening by connecting to our YouTube Channel "RUMC Live".
We continue to gather virtually using the ZOOM application on our computers or smart phones. We are using ZOOM to conduct many of our scheduled leadership meetings, and a weekly Wednesday Evening Bible Study on Wednesday at 6:30 PM.
On the website, as always, you will also see a link that will allow you to send in your tithes and offerings electronically; if you prefer to send your tithes and offerings by mail, please send them to:
Riverview First UMC
8002 U. S. Highway 301 South
Riverview, FL 33578
Remember–God loves you, and so do we!
Pastor Louis Telcy
Care Committee
Worship Committee
The Alafia Boat Parade
The Rotary Club of FishHawk-Riverview is sponsoring the 37th Annual Alafia Lighted Boat Parade and Chili to Go Event to be held this coming Saturday, December 4, 2021. The parade will begin at the Riverview Civic Center and will pass by other sites located along the Alafia River. RUMC has agreed to be a viewing site this year.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boat Parade had to be cancelled last year. This year normal activities will continue to be limited. We are having Chili to Go, sponsored by the Flying Locksmiths, available at the RUMC viewing site (the back yard at the RUMC Parsonage). The proceeds from the Chili sales will fund the charitable activities of the Rotary Club and Friends of the County Parks.
The Boy Scouts from Troop 83 will be directing you to parking and the viewing site at the back yard of the parsonage. We hope to see everyone there between 5:00 and 7:00 PM. Nothing will stoke your Christmas spirit more than seeing Santa wave at you from a decorated holiday boat on the Alafia River!
Our Special 175th Anniversary Celebration
We had a wonderful Anniversary Service on Sunday, November 14th. We celebrated our 175th Birthday with former pastors and lay leaders (Dr. Rev. Sharon Austin, Rev. Tom Bridges, and Local Pastor Rick Phillips), and with former friends (like Rev. Charlie Lennard and other Lennard family members; Mary, Stan, and Steve Wood; Vy Legge; and, Diane Robinson Shear).
A lot of hard work went into the Celebration. Thanks go out to Gary Floyd and his crew of trustees who cleaned, painted, and repaired the facilities in preparation for the event (every campus building got new paint). Thanks to Fran Carillo, who led the planning for the event, and who managed everything so well and flawlessly. Thanks to Carole Bradley who planned and coordinated the worship service, and thanks, too, to Jan Crichton, Annabelle Lennard, and their team for preparing the exhibits, pictures, and mementos that reflected our past history.
Thanks to Connie Mosley, Albert Carillo, Margo Holliday and Fay Francis and their crew for cooking up such a fine banquet for our celebration, and thanks to the boys of Troop 83 for acting as ushers and servers.
Finally, thanks to the multitude of our workers, visitors, and guests for making our celebration so memorable.
To see pictures from this event, go to this webpage, or go to the church’s Facebook page.
Church Council Meeting
The last church council meeting of 2021 will be held on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:00 PM. No word yet about whether list last meeting will be held live in the church library or online via Zoom.
Because of Bethlehem…
Beginning on Wednesday, December 1st, the Wednesday morning Bible Study will begin a four-week Advent study, using “Because of Bethlehem” by Max Lucado as a text. We hope that the four-week study, ending on December 22nd will help prepare our hearts for the Christmas Holiday. Come for one or all of the sessions. We begin in the Church Library at 10:00 AM, there are no fees, and all are welcome.
Online Giving at RUMC
Giving online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Or you can enter one-time contributions from the internet or by smart phone.
To get started, simply follow these easy steps:
- Click on the Online Giving button below. This will take you to our church’s online giving webpage.
- Click on our Create Profile button on that webpage.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring or one-time contributions.
Rev. Louis Telcy, Pastor
Here at RUMC, it is our mission to win people to Jesus Christ; to train believers to become growing disciples; and, to send disciples to impact our community and world for Jesus Christ.
Morning Service 8:00 AM Fellowship Hall
Main Service 10:30 AM Sanctuary
8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578 813-677-5995
Download the December, 2021
Bell Newsletter from this link.
Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events at RUMC
Saturday, 12/4: The Alafia Boat Parade viewing area in back of the RUMC Parsonage, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.
Tuesday, 12/7: Trustees Meeting,
via ZOOM, 7:00 PM
Sunday, 12/12: Christmas Cantata, Sanctuary, 10:30 AM
Tuesday, 12/14: Church Council Meeting, via ZOOM, 7:00 PM
Friday, 12/24: Christmas Eve Service/Holy Communion, Sanctuary, 8:00 PM
Bible Passage of the Week
The Word Became Flesh and Blood
and Moved into the Neighborhood
The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God.
The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
John 1:9-14 (NIV)
