RIVERSIDE COVENANT CHURCH
A Christ-centered community rooted in Scripture, shaped by grace, and committed to active discipleship, authentic fellowship, and the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
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ABOUT US
Growing in Faith. Living in Community. Following Christ Together.
At Riverside Covenant Church, we are a Christ-centered community of believers seeking to know Jesus, grow in faith, and share God’s love with others. We are people of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences who come together in worship, prayer, fellowship, and service. As a church family, we desire to be a welcoming place where people can encounter God, build meaningful relationships, and discover what it means to follow Christ in everyday life.
OUR MISSION
Active Disciples Reaching and Serving Our Community for Christ.
Our mission is to be active disciples who are committed to helping people know and follow Jesus Christ through worship, spiritual formation, service, and community. We believe discipleship is not simply about learning more, but about being transformed by the love of God and living out our faith in ways that reflect Christ to the world around us.
Our Six Affirmations.
✝ 1:
We affirm the centrality of the word of God.
✝ 2:
We affirm the necessity of the new birth.
✝ 3:
We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church.
✝ 4:
We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers.
✝ 5:
We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.
✝ 6:
We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ.
STATEMENT
OF FAITH
MUSICAL
WORSHIP
Worship Together as a Congregation.
Music is an important part of our church community. Our worship style is a blend of contemporary and traditional music, and we focus on congregational singing — worship where everyone participates, not just listens.
We have a musical worship team that leads worship, and members of the congregation are welcome to join and participate in musical worship.
Worship Ministry Led by: Paul Bowser, Volunteer Worship Director and Middle School Band Teacher
LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY
Where Everyone is Welcome to Belong as we Journey with Christ.
The Leadership Community is a Missional Community Group that works alongside pastors, staff, and lay leaders to help guide and support the mission of the church to make active disciples and create a community where everyone belongs as they journey with Christ. This group reflects the diversity of the church and is made up of members who are prayerful, grounded in Scripture, unified, grateful, and aligned with the vision and leadership of the church.
✝: Elected Leadership Community Members.
The LC elects annually those LC members who will serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary so that, along with the Treasurer, we have officers to report to the Secretary of State in our annual report, but also to represent Riverside Covenant Church in legal matters. Beyond those purposes, the roles officers carry no specific responsibilities in the workings of the LC. Instead, the LC holds all responsibilities in common so that no one carries any unusual burden. LC members accept assignments that fit with their gifts, resources, and call. These focus/assignments may include things such as liaison or initiator for congregational care, discipleship, missions, youth and children’s ministries, or pastoral relationships.
The formal roles and responsibilities that are part of being a leader, such as leading LC and Congregational meetings, are rotated among the LC members from meeting to meeting, as fits the giftedness of LC members.
✝
Jess Mullens
✝
Stephen Dias
✝
Bethany LeCain
✝
Lynne Goodale
✝
Colleen Kiernan Scott
✝: Guiding, Supporting, and Serving Together.
Members of the Leadership Community are actively involved in the life of the church and demonstrate key discipleship qualities, being prayerful, grounded in Scripture, unified, grateful, and aligned with the methods, doctrine, and leadership of the church. Together, they meet for fellowship, prayer, encouragement, and support, while engaging in prayerful discernment as they listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and help develop vision and direction for the church.
The Leadership Community also focuses on developing leaders who develop other leaders through coaching and mentoring, supporting and discerning the church’s active ministries, and ensuring each ministry has connection and support through designated liaisons. They care for the needs of church participants, focus on how people are growing as missional disciples, and live out a rhythm of listening Up to God’s leading, caring In for the church community, and caring Out by supporting church operations, ministries, and mission. Clear and timely communication within the Leadership Community and throughout the church helps build trust, unity, and effective ministry.
✝: Leadership Meetings.
Meetings are held as a frequency and time determined by LC members. Meetings include sharing of a meal, fellowship, support and prayer of each other, as well as the life and ministry of the church. The first portion of the meeting is spent in fellowship and personal support, with the later portion focused on reviewing support of ministries, vision and next steps. To reach our leadership team please email lc@eccriverside.org.
MINISTRY STAFF
Supporting a welcoming church community where people can grow and thrive.
Our staff serves Riverside Covenant Church and Covenant Cooperative Nursery School with dedication, compassion, and a shared commitment to nurturing a welcoming, Christ-centered community. Through pastoral leadership, ministry support, administration, education, and day-to-day care, they help create an environment where people of all ages can grow in faith, build meaningful connections, and flourish in community.
Rev. Corenna Boucher Hoyt
Lead Pastor
Pastor Corenna brings over 25 years of vocational ministry experience, passionately equipping leaders, building community, and guiding ministries of reconciliation, restoration, and healing while walking vulnerably alongside others in faith.
Pastor Corenna has been a vocational minister for more than 25 years, serving in a wide variety of contexts. She loves preaching, building community and teams, coaching pastors and laypeople, as well as equipping and visioneering ministries. She is passionate about entering into places of individual need offering generous support along with the hope, healing and sense of significance found in God which empower people to become confident leaders of character rather than victims of circumstance. She will tell you that she is continually learning about how to listen well and walk vulnerably together, witnessing how powerfully God uses these to transform us. These fuel her lifetime passion for ministries of reconciliation, restoration and healing. Pastor Corenna loves spending time with her sons, Braden and Levi, who are involved together in church, mission, martial arts, music and outdoor activities.
Catherine Foos
CCNS Director
Mrs. Foos, a former CCNS parent with a passion for nurturing the whole child, combines her background in education and law to foster a play-based, creative, and supportive environment where children grow emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Prior to becoming Director of CCNS, Mrs. Foos enjoyed being part of the CCNS community as a parent. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education as well as a Juris Doctor.
Mrs. Foos has always felt a special connection with children and is fascinated with the way that children learn and grow educationally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Mrs. Foos believes every child is their own whole person that deserves an environment that nurtures their personality, giftings, and interests. She believes childhood is a precious time in a person’s life that should be protected and not rushed.
“Childhood is an important time that lays the foundation for the way in which a person thinks; their emotional endurance, their internal voices, and their connection to learning and growing. It should be filled with wonder, loving support, creativity, and fresh air.”
Mrs. Foos believes the play-based, cross-curricular education that CCNS provides is what every child deserves, and she feels honored to contribute to the CCNS community.
Pam Neville (Bowser)
Office Manager
Pam Bowser, a University of Chicago graduate with more than a decade of dedicated service at Riverside Covenant Church, serves as administrator, bookkeeper, and worship team member while bringing deep commitment and care to the life of the church.
Upon graduation from The University of Chicago with a degree in French Language and Literature and plans to go to law school, Pam began what she thought was a temporary job working in the family business. 30 years later, Pam joined the staff of Riverside Covenant Church as office manager in September of 2012, while still working part-time in Smithfield. She withdrew from her position in the family business in 2014, and now works exclusively for the church, where she serves as both administrator and bookkeeper. In addition to her official duties, Pam serves on the worship leading team. Pam and her husband, Paul Bowser, are the parents of two adult children, Andrew and AnnaLeigh.
JOIN US
Discover faith. Find community. Come as you are.
At Riverside Covenant Church, we believe faith is a journey best shared. Whether you are looking for a new church home, seeking answers to life’s big questions, or just passing through, our doors—and our hearts—are open to you. Join us this Sunday and experience a community grounded in grace.
