Summer Worship Service Times

10:00 AM - Sanctuary & Livestream

Baby & Toddler Nursery is available during the worship service

Podcast Raleigh Court Herald August Issue

Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

Online Directory

Summer Worship Schedule

From now through September 6, there will be only one service at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary.

Livestream, Nursery, & Children’s Worship will all be available.

“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights for all the destitute.”

- Proverbs 31:8

At Bible and Music Camp last week, as many of you know, we explored the story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den through Tom Long and Allen Pote’s musical “Rescue in the Night.” While charming and sometimes quite hilarious, the author and composer did a wonderful job crafting this story around Daniel’s courage to remain faithful to God. One of the most touching moments is Daniel’s solo after the advisors have tricked King Darius into signing a law that forbids Daniel to pray to his God. Daniel begins “Here I am, Lord, take and use me. For I know you have a plan for me. Here I am, Lord, take and use me. For I know you care for me. Amidst uncertainty as to what will happen next, Daniel trusts God to protect him and offers himself to be a witness to God’s love and care. 

The devotional passage today comes from another King. Biblical scholars are not entirely sure who King Lemuel is, but in Proverbs 31 he is sharing wisdom and advice taught to him by his mother. (Boys… listen to you mothers.) In this verse there’s a royal counsel to speak for the most vulnerable members of society, defending them against injustice. 

Within systemic injustice, it can be awkward and sometimes dangerous to speak up for those who have no voice, to build a longer table, to open doors that have been closed unjustly. Daniel shows us the way… the same God who gives us breath to live, gives us the words to speak.

I believe my dear friend Tom Trenney sums this up perfectly in his piece “Speak, Lord.” I invite you to listen and let this song be your prayer today. 

Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

Speak, Lord, how we need to hear from you.

Give us courage to speak, Lord, till injustice is silent.

Speak your words of love in all we say and do.

Amen.

-Dillon J. Swanson, Director of Music Ministries

Summer Fellowship Hour After Worship

August 16

Fellowship Hour Volunteers

The Fellowship Committee would welcome help from anyone who would like to help with Summer Fellowship Hours. You can help with set up (preparing coffee and water), providing snacks (baking/cooking or buying), or clean up (cleaning out coffee pots, water pitchers, and putting away supplies). If you're interested in helping, please contact Kathy Sebolt at 540-520-2538.

Summer Office Hours - Financial Administrator

For the months of June through August, Lori Tosoni’s officer hours will be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM each day.

Salem RidgeYaks Game - New Date!

We're planning a makeup date for the Salem RidgeYaks rainout last month. Our new game date is Friday, August 7 at 6:30. Anyone who held tickets for the June 12 game that was postponed will be able to attend this new date. To anyone who couldn't attend that earlier date, or needs a new ticket, you can sign up at the link below - tickets are $11/each. It's also Toy Story night at the ballpark, and there are post-game fireworks! Anyone with questions can contact Jeff Bossert at jbossert71@outlook.com.

Sermon Series for

May 31- August 30:

The Judges: Challenging Leadership in Chaotic Times

Israel lives in a season of communal transition. No more are they nomads wandering in the wilderness. They have entered the Promised Land, but Judges tells us this new life is far from peaceful. We are still many years from the later stability created by David and his kingship. Judges is the in-between times, the season of transition from one generation to another and from a tenuous desert life to a settled generational existence. 

This summer we will journey with the Judges through this season of intrigue, turmoil, acts of heroism, decisions of great hubris, and see how these stories speak to our lives in times of uncertainty, instability, and transition.

August 9 – Samson

Judges 16:4-22 – Pillow Talk

August 16 – Samson

Judges 16:23-31 – Ego’s End

August 23 – Micah

Judges 17:1-13 – Shelia-ism

August 30 – Ending

Judges 21:25 – In Our Own Eyes

Flower Dedication

The RCPC Floral Guild offers to arrange flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one. If you would like to honor a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion on a specific Sunday, please contact Julie Satterwhite at julie@rcpres.org or call the church at 540 343-5541. The cost is $80, which is for two arrangements placed in the Chancel of the Sanctuary.

Guest Preacher and Lecturers for the Summer Sermon Series

Dr. Elna K. Solvang

Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM

“Reckoning with Violence and Trauma in Judges”

Dr. Solvang is a professor in the Religion Department at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. She is the author of A Woman’s Place Is in the House: Royal Women of Judah and Their Involvement in the House of David and of essays examining women’s agency in ancient royal households and in the Hebrew Bible.

The Rev. Dr. Jacq Lapsley

Sunday, August 30 at 10:00 AM

Sermon: “In Our Own Eyes” & After Worship Gathering

Jacqueline E. Lapsley, first female president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, is a leading scholar of the Old Testament. Previously, she was the dean and vice president of academic affairs, and a longtime professor at Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Mission Partner Support

Each month, we designate all cash and coin to one of our local mission partners. For the month of August, we are supporting the Haiti Mission. You can place your money in the offering plate or make an online gift, noting that it is for Mission and making a note for the Haiti Mission in the text box. We’re thankful for your generosity in the month of July, as we raised $1,809.09 for the West End Center.

Sudanese Mission Group

Margaret Opi’s twin girls will be starting classes at Va Western next month. They live on the other side of town from the college and their commute would be easier and shorter with a car. Anyone with a reliable car that they are looking to sell or have suggestions?

Contact Sandra - sandrarcpc@yahoo.com or text 540-330-3451

Food Packing Event

RCPC is hosting it’s 7th food packaging event August 14 & 15 in our Fellowship Hall.

This event is made possible through the generous support of members of the Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley, with additional funding from the Salem Rotary Club, the Rocky Mount Rotary Club, and a Rotary District 7570 Grant. Most importantly, it comes to life because of dedicated volunteers like you. We are packaging more than 6500 bags to provide 40,000 meals to 4 local food support organizations. They are:

• Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church Hunger Mission
• 2 Roanoke City elementary backpack programs
• 2 Roanoke City middle school food pantries
• Presbyterian Community Center (Vinton) Food Pantry
• Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry (Salem)
• His Cupboard Food Pantry (Boones Mill)

Use the link to learn about the timeslots and roles to help with this event.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4DAEA722A5F85-64759260-feeding

Questions? Contact Fred Hoffman in person, 540-353-1637   fred@hoffdad.net

Prayer Requests

Marvin & Roena Barbre, Dawn Blakeman, Linda & Wayne Carter (friends of Ruth Marple), Beverly Day & family (friend of Camilla & Johnsey Cabaniss), Nate Ellison (son of Jay & Polly Ellison), Chuck Garst, Carolyn Hampton (Mary Hampton’s sister-in-law), Mary Hampton, Debra Harris, Jackie Hart (friend of Susan & Al Knighton), Bill Haynie, Mary Hopkins (great-aunt of Tyler Person), Cameron & Susie Hutto, Susan Lindstrom, Bob Nesmith, Connie Pearlman, Amy Starr Redwine, Kim Richards, Shirley Scruggs (sister of Susan Davis), Campbell Tims (granddaughter of Kay Tims), and all caregivers.

Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Pat Wade’s family following her passing on Tuesday, July 28.

(Prayers request as of Friday, July 31. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR GROUPS

• Centering Prayer at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church: Monday, 10:00 AM
• AA-Primary Purpose: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 AM
• Tai Chi: Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 PM
• Al-Anon: Friday, 11:45 AM

The Herald - Deadline for Articles: 10th of each month

This Week @ RCPC - Deadline for Articles: Wednesday of each week

Send submissions for The Herald and This Week @ RCPC to Julie Satterwhite 

Video Board in the Gathering Area - Send Information to Carole Banks