May 31 - June 28, 9:30 - 10:15  am

Education Building Room 200 / Thompson Parlor

Teachers: Rev Dana Riley and Jim Riley

What if our church became an even more vibrant, life-giving presence in our neighborhood?

In Neighborhood Church: Transforming Your Congregation into a Powerhouse for Mission, authors Eric Van Tatenhove and Rob Mueller offer a hopeful and practical vision for congregations as active partners in the communities around them. Drawing on years of parish experience, real-life stories, and the principles of Asset-Based Community Development, they invite churches to listen deeply, build meaningful relationships, and discover new ways to engage the gifts already present in their neighborhoods.

In this 5-week class, we’ll explore key ideas from the book and reflect together on Riverside’s role in our own community. How is God already at work around us? And how might we join in?

Join us for conversation, reflection, and imagination for what could be.

July 5 - August 16, 9:30 - 10:15  am

Education Building Room 200 / Thompson Parlor

Riverside Presbyterian Church’s core values are belonging, connecting, and transforming. Through the Be the Church campaign and our work with church consultants, we have learned that many of us struggle to understand and articulate how we have experienced transformation. This summer, we’re inviting congregants to help us explore this together by sharing stories of transformation.

Each Sunday, a new church member or friend of the congregation will share how they have experienced transformation in their own life, personally or through a group or organization. 

Through these personal stories, we will grow in our understanding of transformation and how this core value shapes who we are as individuals and as a community.

We hope you can join us for these enlightening conversations.

August 23, 9:30 - 10:15  am

Education Building Room 200 / Thompson Parlor

Teacher: Adam Arendell

"Why Native Plants Matter” explores the essential role of native plants in sustaining healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and preserving Florida’s natural heritage, while highlighting the role we can play by planting native plants in our landscapes.Adam is a devoted naturalist and native plant advocate with a deep-rooted passion for plants. Since 2015, he has been exploring the backroads and natural areas of Northeast Florida, documenting rare and endangered plant species and maintains a home nursery of native plants to support local restoration efforts.

Adam Arendell

An active member of the Ixia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society since 2016, Adam is committed to protecting Florida’s botanical heritage and inspiring others to see the value and beauty of Florida’s native flora.

Adam lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife Amy and their son Oscar.

August 30, 9:30 - 10:15  am

Education Building Room 200 / Thompson Parlor

Teachers: Erlantz Hyppolite, Executive Director, Fonkoze USA and Kevin Cavanaugh, Director of Resource Development, Fonkoze USA

Fonkoze is a family of organizations working together to provide financial and development services that empower Haitian women and their families to build lasting pathways out of poverty toward economic independence. This will be an interactive class for participants to learn more about Fonkoze, the people involved with the organization, and the Haitian women who receive services from Fonkoze.