RCC Newsletter September 2020

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September 2020

A Note from the Preacher

A few weeks ago, we completed our summer pulpit series, "Assembly Required." If you missed any of the 8 messages, they are available on our website. Here is a recap of the main points:

1. We gather to joyfully obey the bottom-line instruction of God.

We gather because God has called us to gather. Unless providentially hindered, we are to joyfully assemble.

2. We gather to eagerly hear the life-giving Word of God.

We gather because hearing God’s Word is vitally necessary for our spiritual growth. Saving faith and sanctifying faith come by hearing God’s Word read and preached.

3. We gather to earnestly encourage the true-hearted people of God.

We gather to bless others and to serve others and to encourage others. We joyfully engage in “the ministry of attendance.” We have a strong craving for fellowship. We have a deep need to take part in the “one-anothers.” This need was imparted to us when God gave us a new heart. By way of the new birth, we have become encouragers of each other – it’s a vital part of who we are as God’s people.

4. We gather to gratefully commune with the Satan-crushing Son of God.

We gather to partake of a perpetual feast that Jesus began 2000 years ago in that upper room – an ongoing participation in the very first Lord’s Supper that will culminate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In this Supper we are:

· Constantly reminded of Christ’s work and the New Covenant.

· Experiencing true spiritual communion with Jesus and each other.

· Proclaiming Christ’s death as the only accepted payment for sin.

· Being reminded of our unity every Sunday.

· Called to love each other selflessly.

· Exhorted to holiness of life as we examine ourselves before coming.

· Remembering the cross and treasuring Christ every Sunday, together.

· Strengthened in our faith as we eagerly await Christ’s glorious return.

5. We gather to beautifully foreshadow the end-times redemption of God.

In other words, what we are doing every Sunday is a microscopic but clear foreshadowing of what we will be doing forever after Jesus returns. Our Sunday morning gatherings are a picture of the ultimate gathering of all of God’s people on the Last Day, when our redemption will be fully and finally complete. There is a sense in which our Sunday morning gathering is “Heaven Practice.”

I can’t wait for our next gathering!

Pressing on with you, with our eyes fixed on Jesus,

Pastor Butch

Elder Meeting Summary - August 2020

Here are the notes from our last meeting on August 18, 2020:

Mark opened our meeting with prayer. The meeting was attended by Justin Hornsby and Will Dunn.

Gerald Hinesley gave us the quarterly financial report, which once again was very encouraging. We praise God for His continuous provision through the generosity of His people!

Our start-up dates for the fall are as follows, with modifications as to the nature of our meetings:
September 9 - Midweek "Fellowship and Prayer" (see details in "NEW Wednesday Nights at RCC" article below).
September 13 - Infant nursery only during corporate worship, age 2 and under. No Sunday school or Extended Session for 3-year olds until further notice. (click here for the updated Nursery protocols.)
September 14 - Morning Women's Study (click here for more information!)

Cheryl McDonald gave us an update on her counseling ministry. We are so thankful for the way God is using her, and for her move to counseling only beginning in September. She also assisted us in interviewing Zane Jones for the Administrative Assistant position.

We eagerly and joyfully hired Zane as our new Administrative Assistant. She began on August 24. Cheryl will train her for the first two weeks, and then move to counseling only. We praise God for the way He is growing our church!

We continue to thank God for the peace and unity in our body, and we pray that we will remain focused on Jesus in these challenging and unique times.

Jeremy closed our meeting in prayer.

Please notes some important upcoming dates below.

Working together with you for our joy in Jesus,

The Elders of RCC

Memory Verse: Colossians 1:19-20

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (ESV)

Book of the Month:

"The Priority of Preaching" by Christopher Ash

"This little book is written for ordinary ministers who preach regularly to ordinary people in ordinary places... There is a voice on our shoulders who whispers as we prepare, and then as we preach, Is it really worth it?" From the Introduction, Christopher Ash tell us that it is worth it. More than that, he sets out a charter for preaching that draws from the very roots of the Old Testament - showing us that nothing in the world is more worthwhile - for preaching is God's strategy to rebuild a broken world."

Click on the book image for more information and to order your copy today!

"New" WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT RCC

We will start our Wednesday night meetings on September 9, but it will look different for now. We are calling it "Midweek Fellowship and Prayer Night." At 6:00 pm, we will gather outside in the picnic and playground area for informal fellowship. We encourage families to bring their own supper (totally optional) and eat together with other families (not a covered dish meal - each family eats their own food). There will be an organized game for the Kids Rock age kids (just like the beginning of Kids Rock). Volleyball and basketball will be an option for our youth (and anyone else who wants to play with them). At 6:45, the adult men and women will alternate weeks going into the sanctuary for a prayer meeting. On September 9, the men will go in and pray together, and the women will stay out with the kids. On September 16, the women will go in and pray (or do their Bible Study if they choose), and the men will stay out with the kids. And we will continue to alternate like this until things change and we can resume our regular Wednesday night schedule, or until it gets too dark to stay outside. Also, in the event of rain, there will be no outside activities, but the prayer meeting will still start at 6:45 for whoever's turn it is.

New from Ty Rumble & Co.

What a blessing these songs have been to our church family, especially our Kids Rock group. Thank you, Ty, for your faithfulness to put our Life Verses to music to help us hide God's word in our hearts. Click on the CD cover image to hear the songs digitally.

All RCC members will receive a complimentary copy of Ty's new CD (one CD per family). See Ty if you have not received your copy!