Thoughtful Faith Community
Sundays at RRCB
4:00-7:00 p.m.
Happy first day of school to many of our children and youth!
We are excited for this new school year, and the church is praying for our kids and teens. Yesterday we celebrated promotion Sunday with children moving up in Sunday School classes, and in worship we blessed our students and gave those advancing to first, third, sixth, and ninth grade Bibles or devotional books.
This week Youth Group will kick off ahead of Thoughtful Faith Community.
We’re excited our teenagers are ready to begin gathering, and we’re especially excited to welcome our new sixth graders! Youth will have snack supper at 5:00 p.m., followed by Youth Group beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Next weekend, September 3 (Labor Day weekend), we’re taking Youth Group out for a trip to Kings Dominion after church. Click the button below for more details and to sign up. The deadline to sign up is August 31 and chaperones are needed, too.
Click here to sign up to go to Kings Dominion
Choirs & Rehearsals
Keep an eye out for more information from Dr. Bob Gallagher about choirs and rehearsals. Choir rehearsals will begin on September 17 with TFC. Email Dr. Bob (bobgallagher@riverroad.church) with any questions you may have.
River Road Camerata
4:00-4:45 p.m., Youth Rehearsal Room
River Road Camerata is a by-invitation youth choir focusing on more challenging choral pieces.
Choir Director: Dr. Bob Gallagher
Youth Choir (grades 6-12)
4:45-5:15 p.m., Youth Rehearsal Room
Choir Directors: Bob Gallagher and Lauren Maho
Jubilate Choir (grades 2-5)
4:45-5:15 p.m., Main Rehearsal Room
Choir Director: Suzanne McClain
Carol Choir (age 4 through grade 1)
4:45-5:15 p.m., UC #232
Preschoolers should turn 4 by 9/30/23
Choir Director: Mary Langston
Meet Your Choir Directors
Mary Langston is excited to be directing our Carol Choir! Mary is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre. For over a decade, Mary was in New York City studying opera and performing regularly. She has had the pleasure of singing all over the world, including Carnegie Hall. She was also involved in children’s and youth ministry with Forefront Church and later attended The Riverside Church. Currently, she teaches private voice here in Richmond and is thrilled to be singing with RRCB’s Chancel Choir!
Suzanne McClain is well known to our children and youth, since she directed our youth musicals before the onset of COVID. Children literally cheered when she walked into the room! She is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in Theatre and a minor in music, and is currently completing doctoral studies in special education at University of Virginia. She enjoys singing with RRCB’s Chancel Choir each Sunday. Suzanne will be directing the Jubilate Choir – grades 2 through 5.
Lauren Maho, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University studying Vocal Performance, is our new Alto Choral Scholar and Youth Choir Conductor. In addition to her avid participation in VCU choral and opera departments, Lauren currently sings with the Richmond Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus. She is thrilled to begin making music here at River Road!
Click here to register for Youth, Jubilate, and Carol Choirs
Children’s Rec & Missions
Children age 4 through 5th grade will gather for recreation and missions. For missions, children will use Pathlight, a missions curriculum provided by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). Nursery care is available for children infants to age 3 upon request. Children will begin meeting on September 17, 2023.
In Case You Missed It
A couple of weeks ago we announced that we were moving Thoughtful Faith Community—TFC for short—is moving to Sunday evenings. The Board of Christian Education & Spiritual Formation (BCESF) and pastoral staff are excited about this change, and we hope you are, too!
Following our Celebration Sunday kick-off, the first TFC night is September 17, 2023!
In the coming weeks we hope to provide more details about our supper plans with chef Stan Barnett, as well as weekly volunteer opportunities to assist in the kitchen.
A Streamlined Schedule
- 4:00-4:45 p.m.: River Road Camerata
- 4:45-5:15 p.m.: Youth Choir (6th-12th grades), Jubilate Choir (2nd-5th grades), and Carol Choir (age 4-1st grade)
- 5:00-6:00 p.m.: Community Meal and Chancel Ringers Rehearsal
- 5:45-7:00 p.m.: Youth Group and Children’s Rec & Missions
- 6:00-7:00 p.m.: Adult Program/Missions
The goal will be for most everyone to begin and end at the same time.