3 Rivers UMC

05/14/2026

Such a great night with our Vintage group learning the almost-lost art of crocheting with Brittani Durden teaching us step by step.
There’s something special about slowing down, creating with your hands, and laughing together around the table. Grateful for community, conversation, and new skills being passed dow

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

3 Rivers UMC — National Day of Prayer

Jesus, thank You for what You are building at 3 Rivers.

Thank You for every story, every conversation, every shared table, and every person searching for hope and belonging.

Help us continue to be a church where people can breathe, heal, ask questions, and encounter Your presence without pretending to have it all together.

Bless the families who are tired, the people rebuilding their faith, the kids growing up among us, and the ones carrying heavy things no one else sees.

Keep leading us with courage, compassion, and authenticity.

And may everyone who walks through our doors—or joins us online—know there is always room at the table.

05/04/2026

“Did the Bible really say… ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner’?” 🤔

Short answer: No.

That exact phrase isn’t in Scripture—anywhere.

But here’s why it matters…

We’ve turned that line into a slogan.
And sometimes it sounds more like distance than love.

Because if we’re honest—
it’s a lot easier to label someone’s sin
than it is to actually love them up close.

Jesus didn’t walk around announcing,
“I hate your sin, but love you.”

He ate at tables.
He touched people others avoided.
He defended, restored, and then called people into new life.

👉 “Neither do I condemn you… go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Truth and grace were never separated in Him.

So instead of asking,
“Am I saying this the right way?”

Maybe the better question is:
👉 “Does my life actually reflect the way Jesus loves people?”

Because biblical love isn’t distant.
It’s not cold.
And it’s never just a statement.

It looks like presence.
It looks like relationship.
It looks like Jesus.

05/02/2026

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Is it in the Bible?

👉 Not exactly.

And honestly… this is one of those moments where reading the actual Bible matters more than repeating familiar sayings.

Because while that phrase sounds comforting at first, it can become very painful very quickly.

If everything happens for a reason, then what do we do with:

* abuse?
* violence?
* addiction?
* tragedy?
* grief?
* children suffering?
* betrayal?
* cancer?
* death?

Was all of that directly planned by God?

Many faithful Christians would answer that differently. Some believe God controls every detail of history down to the smallest moment.

But personally, when I read Scripture, I see something more complex and more compassionate.

I see:

* a God who grieves
* a Jesus who weeps at Lazarus’ tomb
* a world described as broken
* people making real choices
* evil resisting the goodness of God
* and a God constantly working to redeem, restore, heal, and bring life out of ashes

Romans 8:28 says:
👉 “God works all things together for good…”

But notice:
It does NOT say all things ARE good.

It says God can work THROUGH all things.

That’s different.

The Bible never asks us to pretend evil is good.
The Bible tells the story of a God who enters suffering with us and refuses to abandon creation to it.

So maybe a more biblical way to say it would be:

✨ “Not everything happens FOR a reason…
but nothing is beyond God’s redemption.”

That means:

* your pain is real
* evil is real
* grief is real
* but God is still present
* still working
* still healing
* still bringing resurrection where the world only sees endings

And honestly?
I think that hope is deeper than a cliché.

What do you think?
👇

04/27/2026

“Everything happens for a reason.”

You’ve heard it.
Maybe even said it.

But here’s the question:
👉 Is that actually in the Bible?

Drop your answer:
YES or NO

We’ll uncover it Wednesday.

04/22/2026

Wednesday Reveal 👀

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

Sounds holy.
Preaches well.
…not in the Bible.

We’ve gotten really good at polishing the outside—
clean houses, clean language, clean reputations—

while Jesus keeps going straight for the heart.

“You clean the outside of the cup…
but inside you’re full of everything else.” (Luke 11:39)

God isn’t impressed with surface-level clean.
He’s after the deep work—
motives, wounds, pride, love.

So yeah… sweep your floors.
But don’t ignore your soul.

That’s where God is actually working.

04/20/2026

“Not Exactly in the Bible…” 👀

Did the Bible really say,
“Cleanliness is next to godliness”?

Drop your guess below ⬇️
We’ll reveal the answer on Wednesday.