FEATURED EVENTS
You're invited to attend our new, original Christmas musical on Dec. 20 & 21 at 4 p.m. "The Mystery Revealed" features Christmas Carols, original music, and a stage play, in a unique retelling of the Christmas story through the eyes of a middle-aged Mary as she recounts the events of the nativity to Jesusâ disciples at the wedding of Cana.
A preview performance of the musical will also be held Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, December 24, we are gathering for three identical Christmas Eve services at 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Each worship service will include candle lighting and Christmas carols. Noah's Ark & Kids ROCC children are encouraged to attend service with their families.
DECEMBER MEMORY VERSES
Noah's Ark: "God loved the world so much that he gave his only Sonâ John 3:16 (GNT)
Kid's ROCC: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.â Luke 2:11 (NIrV)
Kid's ROCC: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.â Luke 2:11 (NIrV)
NOAH'S ARK CHRISTMAS CHOIR: Sunday, December 14. The children in Noah's Ark Lions and Tigers classes will be singing during both services.
TWEEN ROCC: Friday, January 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Gym). 4th & 5th Graders are invited to join in the fun, food & fellowship. Tweens can also expect relevant teaching that will better prepare them to live out their faith. Invite a friend!
TWEEN ROCC: Friday, January 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Gym). 4th & 5th Graders are invited to join in the fun, food & fellowship. Tweens can also expect relevant teaching that will better prepare them to live out their faith. Invite a friend!
ONGOING MINISTRY EVENTS
SUNDAY SCHOOL & NEXT STEPS CLASS: Students in 6th grade meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 205/206 for the Next Steps Class. Students in 7th-8th grade meet in Room 210/211 for Sunday School.
ROCC YOUTH: Middle school and high school students gather on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. in the Gym for Gospel-centered teaching, authentic worship, and Christian community.
FIREPIT CHRISTMAS DINNER // YOUNG ADULTS: Tuesday, December 9, 6:30 p.m. (Gymnasium). Young Adults in their 20s to early 30s (single or married) are invited to spend a wonderful time together as we celebrate with a Christmas meal! REGISTER
CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY: Saturday, December 20 from 1-6 p.m. (Benton Convention Center). Experience a Christmas party for the whole community! Since 2008, local churches, organizations, and members of the arts community have come together to throw a free Christmas party for the city, featuring live music and arts performances and interactive experiences that celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of our community. MORE INFO / VOLUNTEER
ROCC COLLEGE CHRISTMAS PARTY: Monday, December 29, 7-9 p.m. (Lot 63 in downtown Winston Salem). Join us for food, worship, a white elephant gift exchange, and a night youâre NOT gonna wanna miss. Donât forget to bring a dessert!
"THE BIBLE IS FUNNY" CARD GAME & LUNCH // SEASONED OAKS: Friday, January 16, 12-3 p.m. (Community Room). The card game is very simpleâif you have played âApples to Applesâ with your grandkids, then you can play this game. With 70 prompts and 165 Bible verses spread out across 200 cards, the game invites players with an abundance of Bible knowledge as well as those with no prior Bible experience to match out-of-context biblical verses with prompts about everyday situations to win the funniest pairing. Along with playing this funny game, we plan to have a nice hot lunch to enjoy along with fellowship with each other. MORE INFO / REGISTER
DISCOVER ROCC // NEW MEMBER CLASS: Sunday mornings, Jan. 18 & 25, Feb. 1 & 8, 9:15-10:15 a.m. (Community Room). We would like to get to know you better and hope youâll join us for our next Discover River Oaks. Youâll have the opportunity to meet our pastors, hear more about our church's vision and values, and connect with others. (Registration deadline is January 12). MORE INFO / REGISTER
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY // WINTER 2026: Tuesdays starting January 21, morning session, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (childcare available for infant thru preschool), or evening session, 6:30-8 p.m. (no childcare), (Community Room). Women are invited to join us for a new study on the book of Joshua, as it chronicles Godâs continuing faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises to Abraham. MORE INFO / REGISTER
RE | ENGAGE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Mondays starting January 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Community Room). Re | Engage is a Christ-centered, discipleship-based ministry for every marriage - the healthy, the struggling, and the broken. Whether your marriage needs saving or you want to take it from "good" to "great," Re | Engage will strengthen your marriage's oneness through a curriculum of topics, a variety of resources, and the encouragement of others. Space is limited; childcare is available. MORE INFO / REGISTER
HOLY LAND TOUR // 12-DAY ISRAEL TRIP: A River Oaks Holy Land Tour is planned for April 14-25, 2026 with Adventure Bible Tours. There are still spaces available for anyone interested in joining us for this 12-day Israel trip with our friends, Randall and Luda Ford as tour guides. Please join us for this amazing, life-changing experience! MORE INFO / REGISTER
CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY: Saturday, December 20 from 1-6 p.m. (Benton Convention Center). Experience a Christmas party for the whole community! Since 2008, local churches, organizations, and members of the arts community have come together to throw a free Christmas party for the city, featuring live music and arts performances and interactive experiences that celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of our community. MORE INFO / VOLUNTEER
ROCC COLLEGE CHRISTMAS PARTY: Monday, December 29, 7-9 p.m. (Lot 63 in downtown Winston Salem). Join us for food, worship, a white elephant gift exchange, and a night youâre NOT gonna wanna miss. Donât forget to bring a dessert!
"THE BIBLE IS FUNNY" CARD GAME & LUNCH // SEASONED OAKS: Friday, January 16, 12-3 p.m. (Community Room). The card game is very simpleâif you have played âApples to Applesâ with your grandkids, then you can play this game. With 70 prompts and 165 Bible verses spread out across 200 cards, the game invites players with an abundance of Bible knowledge as well as those with no prior Bible experience to match out-of-context biblical verses with prompts about everyday situations to win the funniest pairing. Along with playing this funny game, we plan to have a nice hot lunch to enjoy along with fellowship with each other. MORE INFO / REGISTER
DISCOVER ROCC // NEW MEMBER CLASS: Sunday mornings, Jan. 18 & 25, Feb. 1 & 8, 9:15-10:15 a.m. (Community Room). We would like to get to know you better and hope youâll join us for our next Discover River Oaks. Youâll have the opportunity to meet our pastors, hear more about our church's vision and values, and connect with others. (Registration deadline is January 12). MORE INFO / REGISTER
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY // WINTER 2026: Tuesdays starting January 21, morning session, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (childcare available for infant thru preschool), or evening session, 6:30-8 p.m. (no childcare), (Community Room). Women are invited to join us for a new study on the book of Joshua, as it chronicles Godâs continuing faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises to Abraham. MORE INFO / REGISTER
RE | ENGAGE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Mondays starting January 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Community Room). Re | Engage is a Christ-centered, discipleship-based ministry for every marriage - the healthy, the struggling, and the broken. Whether your marriage needs saving or you want to take it from "good" to "great," Re | Engage will strengthen your marriage's oneness through a curriculum of topics, a variety of resources, and the encouragement of others. Space is limited; childcare is available. MORE INFO / REGISTER
HOLY LAND TOUR // 12-DAY ISRAEL TRIP: A River Oaks Holy Land Tour is planned for April 14-25, 2026 with Adventure Bible Tours. There are still spaces available for anyone interested in joining us for this 12-day Israel trip with our friends, Randall and Luda Ford as tour guides. Please join us for this amazing, life-changing experience! MORE INFO / REGISTER
ONGOING MINISTRY EVENTS
ROCC COLLEGE: Monday evenings, 7 p.m. (Lot 63 in Old Salem). ROCC College is a place where all college-aged individuals can encounter the presence of God in order to be equipped in knowing Jesus and making Him known. Come connect with others, dive into the Word, cultivate community, worship and be in the presence of the Lord. Follow us on Instagram @roccollege for weekly updates.
THE FIREPIT SMALL GROUP // YOUNG ADULTS: Tuesday evenings, 7-8:45 p.m. (Gymnasium). Where young adults are warmly welcomed and encouraged in their faith! If you are in your 20s to early 30s (single or married), we invite you to join the young adult small group gathering of fellowship, study, and worship led by Wes and Pilar Flynn, and be part of "keeping the fire of God alive in all of us" (2 Timothy 1:6).
SINGLES PLUS MINISTRY: Monday evenings, resuming January 12, 6 p.m. (Chick-fil-A in Clemmons). Singles Plus Connection Group provides singles in their 30s-40s, with and without kids, an array of community happenings and opportunities to encourage one another, build relationships, and experience spiritual growth through enjoyable, social gatherings. Come connect with others and enjoy dinner and great conversations as we dive into a new book study. MORE INFO
MEN'S MONTHLY BREAKFAST: First Tuesday of the month, 6:30-7:30 a.m. (Community Room). Join us for a purposed time of fellowship, encouragement, and equipping in the Community Room as we spend time together studying our companion guide, "Disciplines of a Godly Man."
THE FIREPIT SMALL GROUP // YOUNG ADULTS: Tuesday evenings, 7-8:45 p.m. (Gymnasium). Where young adults are warmly welcomed and encouraged in their faith! If you are in your 20s to early 30s (single or married), we invite you to join the young adult small group gathering of fellowship, study, and worship led by Wes and Pilar Flynn, and be part of "keeping the fire of God alive in all of us" (2 Timothy 1:6).
SINGLES PLUS MINISTRY: Monday evenings, resuming January 12, 6 p.m. (Chick-fil-A in Clemmons). Singles Plus Connection Group provides singles in their 30s-40s, with and without kids, an array of community happenings and opportunities to encourage one another, build relationships, and experience spiritual growth through enjoyable, social gatherings. Come connect with others and enjoy dinner and great conversations as we dive into a new book study. MORE INFO
MEN'S MONTHLY BREAKFAST: First Tuesday of the month, 6:30-7:30 a.m. (Community Room). Join us for a purposed time of fellowship, encouragement, and equipping in the Community Room as we spend time together studying our companion guide, "Disciplines of a Godly Man."
KAIROS COURSE: Thursday evenings starting January 8, 7-9 p.m. (Zoom meeting online). Interested in an exciting, interactive discipleship course with an overview of the plan and purpose of God in the nations? The register for the next Kairos Course! Each session lasts about 2 hours; plan for another 2 hours of additional independent work including reading, video, and a simple worksheet each week. Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 19. MORE INFO / REGISTER
SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEKLY 'ROCC UPDATE' - TEXT & EMAIL OPTIONS: Stay in the loop with the latest highlights of ministry activities at River Oaks by simply texting the word "Update" to 336-780-7810 (or complete this form), then choose from the options listed - you can opt for text or email, or both! (Previous subscribers were not automatically transferred to this new service - please re-subscribe.)
ONLINE 'SERMON NOTES' UPDATE: Access the current week's outline (and live video stream) from the âWATCH LIVE + TAKE NOTESâ link on the Home Page. Using the 'Take Notes' prompt, you can choose to fill in the blanks manually, or reveal them at any time. Add personal notes to each bulletin point - they will be saved and available to view again when logged in to your Church Center account! As a reminder, you can find previous sermon videos and notes in the âSERMON LIBRARYâ section of Church Center.
BAPTISM INTEREST: If you have never been baptized, we would love to help you take that step of faith. Simply check the box on your paper or online "Hey...I'm Here" card indicating a desire to learn more about baptism, and our pastoral staff will contact you.
ONLINE 'SERMON NOTES' UPDATE: Access the current week's outline (and live video stream) from the âWATCH LIVE + TAKE NOTESâ link on the Home Page. Using the 'Take Notes' prompt, you can choose to fill in the blanks manually, or reveal them at any time. Add personal notes to each bulletin point - they will be saved and available to view again when logged in to your Church Center account! As a reminder, you can find previous sermon videos and notes in the âSERMON LIBRARYâ section of Church Center.
BAPTISM INTEREST: If you have never been baptized, we would love to help you take that step of faith. Simply check the box on your paper or online "Hey...I'm Here" card indicating a desire to learn more about baptism, and our pastoral staff will contact you.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE: We care about you and we want to support and encourage you in any way that we can. Whether it's a prayer request, a need for counseling, a hospital visit or meals, support groups, or pastoral care, we're here for you. Please visit the Congregational Care page on Church Center.
HELPING HANDS MINISTRY: "Helping Hands Ministry" has been implemented to better serve our members in an ongoing manner. This includes simple household maintenance and repairs (changing bulbs and filters, addressing minor leaks, completing one-time yard tasks, etc). REQUEST HELP