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HISTORY – UP-TO-DATE (2009)
OF RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On a day in South Miami, in the year of ’45,
The Spirit moved a group of folks in efforts to contrive
To find a place to worship and their love for God express,
A place that they would hallow and would ask their God to bless.
They joined together in their mission, never fell from grace,
For guided by the Spirit, they did find a perfect place:
A place to share in word and song–a place to end their search.
And so was born and baptized, Riviera Church.

Origin’lly the members met in temporary quarters,
And gathered others to their fold: some other sons and daughters.
Then grew, they did, in faith and stature, and in size and number.
And soon they built a building (collections to encumber).
The church that rose (which now is used as Hall of Fellowship)
Was opened with a congregation ready to equip
The neighborhood around it with sermons, song, and deeds,
And proclamations to the fact that piety succeeds.

For some years hence the church increased–both saints and buildings new:
A sanctuary (steeple tall) with seats made like a pew,
And services three times on Sunday and on Wednesday night,
And hungry souls drawn through the door like shepherds to a light.
One thousand plus were on the rolls that decked these hallowed halls,
And need there was to add a wing. And once again new calls
For contributions for a building: rooms to educate
Both young and old in ways to live and minds to dedicate.

Then dawned the social action age in this denomination,
And some folks felt their Christian call to be a congregation
Responsive to the social needs, or otherwise be liable.
But many others disagreed, and said "That’s not the Bible."
A massive exodus took place and many left the fold
And fewer saints were gathered here, their vision to uphold
And follow where it led the way in faithful service reaching.
This smaller church was recognized for practicing its preaching..

The pews began to fill somewhat with people of a mind-Never
hoards, but Spirit-filled, inspired by ties that bind:
By ministers who preached the Bible ‘longside Christian work,
And teachers who combined the two, a message not to shirk,
An organist who fed the soul and nourished grace and joy,
And members ready to go forth, their Christian zeal employ.
For all these years, this church unique, with Spirit sound and true,
Blessed the world and grew in faith, its mission to pursue.

But years of hurricanes, heat and storms, inclemencies, every kind
Had taken their toll on our strong church and weakened its walls and spine,
And wetness started to seep right in and saturate its walls,
And from the roof the leaks were leaking. And members heard the calls
To fix our church from top to bottom — a massive undertaking!
(Insurance and Disaster Funds provided for this re-making.)
Then, a chance was seen to re-design in this process of re-creation
And turn our progressive spiritual faith to material proclamation
Bespeaking our relevance to our world in clearly visible ways.
And so, with Spirit once again,-and many working days -
The floor, the windows, the versatile seats and new configurations,
The organ pipes, the altar, cross, the entrance, more incarnations(
Embodiments and symbols of our love for our God’s abode)-With
leadership, commitment, prayers, our talent cups 0′erflowed.
Riviera Church took shape with beauty and its statement to the world.
And now it radiates its purpose, shining forth unfurled.

So, gathered now this congregation, lovingly linked through the years,
Dedicates this sanctuary reflecting Christ’s path in our spheres,
And joyfully receives its beauty that inspires appreciation,
And with gratitude to God we raise our cheerful celebration!