River of Life

06/07/2026

06/04/2026

Some great camp options at First Immanuel Lutheran School.

☀️🎉 Summer Fun Starts at First Immanuel! 🎉☀️

From basketball and volleyball to art, literacy, and storytelling, our Summer Camps offer something for everyone!

🏀 Rich Falk Basketball Camp (Grades 3–8) | June 23–25
📚 Story Time Camp (Grades 1–3) | June 22–25
🏀 FIL Basketball Camp (Grades 3–6) | June 29–July 2 & Aug. 3–6
🏐 Inspire Volleyball Camp (Grades 2–9) | July 6–9

Spots are filling up, so don't wait!

👉 Learn more and register at filschool.org

04/29/2026

River Talks - Join Us!

Enjoy an evening of refreshments & fellowship at 6:30 PM, followed by the talk at 7:00 PM.

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jim Pingel, Dean of the School of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He will share insights on the faith of our Founding Fathers and his book Sacred Inspiration: A Devotional Journey Through the American Revolution and God’s Word.

Come for meaningful conversation, learning, and community - we’d love to see you there!

03/20/2026

Are you a Thrivent member?

Join us tomorrow, March 21 at 9:15am in the Learning Cove to learn about valuable benefits you may not know about - and how they can support the ministries of FIL Ministries!

☕ Coffee, donuts, and refreshments will be served.

Come for the treats, stay for the helpful information—we’d love to see you there!

03/20/2026

🐣 Family Easter Egg Hunt 🐣
📅 Sat., Apr. 4 | ⏰ 11:00am – 1:00pm
📍 River of Life Church

Join us for a fun-filled Family Easter Egg Hunt on the church grounds! 🌤 Rain or shine—so be sure to dress for the weather.

✨ Families can arrive anytime during the event
🍽 Lunch-style food will be available inside
⏳ Please begin the hunt by 12:45pm so everyone has time to participate

🥚 Each child will collect 10 eggs, including one special prize egg! 🎁

👉 So we can prepare enough eggs and food for everyone please sign up at https://www.filministries.org/

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 💛

03/04/2026

Funeral arrangements for Pastor Paavola:


We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this time. As we share the details of the funeral arrangements for Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola, we want to provide a few guidelines to help care for the family and ensure that all who wish to participate are able to do so in a meaningful way.

All are welcome to join us for the visitation at First Immanuel Lutheran Church (FIL), and we would be thankful for your presence. To best support the family and allow space for those who were closest to him, we kindly ask that attendance at the funeral service be limited to family and friends, and the members of River of Life and First Immanuel.

Space will be limited at FIL, overflow location with livestreaming will be available in the FIL Fellowship Hall and FIL Learning Cove, at River of Life in Saukville and Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant and on the First Immanuel Lutheran Church page. Please consider one of these locations.

For those planning to attend the service at First Immanuel, we would love for you to stay and join the family for a time of fellowship with cake and donuts following the service. We kindly encourage you to connect with the family during this time of fellowship, which will also help create space for others to attend the visitation.

Funeral Information

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Location: First Immanuel Lutheran Church, W67N622 Evergreen Blvd., Cedarburg, WI 53012

Visitation: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Service: 2:00 pm (seating and livestream available at FIL Fellowship Hall, FIL Learning Cove, River of Life and Concordia University)

Reception: Donuts, cake and coffee to follow the service in the First Immanuel Family Life Center and Gym

Livestream Link:

www.filministries.org

03/03/2026

Update on Pastor Paavola:

It is with deep sorrow and with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection that we share this update regarding Rev. Dr. Dan Paavola.

Pastor Paavola was called home to be with the Lord at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026.

In the days since his accident, we have prayed fervently for healing and recovery. The Lord, in His wisdom and mercy, has answered those prayers in a way different from what we had hoped. Our brother in Christ now rests from his earthly labors and stands in the presence of the Savior that he so faithfully proclaimed his whole life.

We give thanks to God for Dan’s life, his steadfast confession of Christ, his love for his family, and his faithful service to the church. As a husband, father and grandfather, pastor, professor, author and district leader, he touched countless lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His voice may be silent among us for now, but the Word he preached endures forever.

We ask that you keep Holly, their children and extended family and friends in your prayers in the coming days. Pray that the Lord would surround them with His peace, uphold them with His promises, and comfort them with the hope of the resurrection. As St. Paul reminds us, we do not grieve as those who have no hope, for we know that because Christ lives, those who die in Him shall live also.

As a family of faith, we will gather for a prayer vigil tonight, Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m. In order to accommodate all who want to attend, the vigil will be held in the sanctuary at the First Immanuel campus.

Funeral arrangements and additional information about services will be shared as soon as they are available.

Into Your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend Your servant. Acknowledge, we humbly ask of You, a sheep of Your own fold, a lamb of Your own flock, a sinner of Your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of Your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Vince Putnam