Dear Regular Worship at the River Friends,

I believe it is almost unanimous among many in the church... that this year is a year of transition. Even the recent debates and political wranglers are using the word change... constantly. This season of transition has been prophesied by many respected leaders in the kingdom... many have described this year as the end and the beginning of something new. 2008 is definitely a year of new starts. This year will mark the seventh year since Carlene and I transitioned out of the larger church context into something different. I think this year is pivotal and very important for all of us.

I also think our meetings at the River are in transition. We met with our council last night and I want to give you a bit of an advance notice for what is coming up:

1. Worship at the River meetings have been wonderful gatherings of worship with the desire to discover what the Holy Spirit would desire to reveal. There have been times of intimacy, warfare, prophetic revelation, prayer, and building up of the body. This will continue. But during this year, it is our prayer that attendees will understand their own role and destiny in the larger picture of what God is doing in our region. We believe you are gatekeepers in your homes, businesses, your land, and your families. We sense that God is asking us to worship, develop relationships, and be more intentional in equipping these leaders.

2. Hence, our calendar will reflect many opportunities for smaller groups and larger conference type meetings designed for all of us to develop this. There will be smaller meetings in homes, discussion groups... many different expressions. This Sunday at the River, everyone will receive a calendar highlighting these local and informal meeting options. An example of this would be in February, where we will not meet on February 10, the normal second Sunday evening, instead we are planning on:

• February 6, a Wednesday evening at 7pm (place to be confirmed...hopefully at our regular Troutdale building) ..
• in preparation for a larger gathering the following in Seattle
  
  Transforming Atmosphere with Sounds
  with Ray Hughes
  February 8-10, 2008 and finally, a
• celebration and worship time commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Latter Rain Movement... who's last remaining leader is Jim Watt.... Sunday evening February 10, and Monday evening February 11 , at St Luke's in Seattle.
  

I know it may be difficult for many to come... but we do want to invite you to any or all of these activities.

3. We believe our once a month gatherings will transition into a celebration of what God is doing in your own "Metron"... your sphere of kingdom influence. We will always worship... that is both foundational and fundamental to who we are. But our River meetings will develop and expand into times of equipping, and celebration.

4. I admittedly am sometimes reluctant to talk in detail concerning what Carlene and I are doing, whether it be in the Northwest or overseas. As you know, several times a week I substitute in the public schools. At last count, I have been in 62 schools. Sometimes I wonder what this assignment is all about... but I'm beginning to increasingly recognize that each day I to step into a building with a different principle and administration or a classroom filled with kids, they are opportunities to discern and practice the art of ushering the presence of the Holy Spirit... in essence the kingdom. All of us have that assignment... and you practice that as well. We are strangers in a strange land... transitioning from what has been so familiar into something new. I believe there is a destiny and promised yet to be fulfilled in the Pacific Northwest. This Sunday evening, I'll share a bit of what I see ahead... in terms of connections with like-minded leaders in Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, and Portland. This has something to do with a destiny of the Pacific Rim countries... which is why we have such a love and interest in Asia.

5. Last July, Bill Peterson attended a meeting of leaders... actually quite small, where Jim Hodges spoke. He is a prophetic and apostolic leader connected with Chuck Pierce and Dutch Sheets. At the end of the gathering, he spoke a prophetic word over the Northwest and Bill shared it with us. I immediately resonated with its import and significance to this region and to us. This Sunday evening, everyone at the River will receive a copy... but I wanted to give you an advance copy. This word is timely and may give us an understanding of our significance of what God wants to do in our Metron.

We bless you, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday evening... we will pray for Larry and Vicki Dietz, who leave for a ministry trip to India on January 15th.

Darrell and Carlene