|
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.
| | |
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
— Proverbs 4:18
I love getting up early, before the sun comes up. There is something about being awake while the world is still dark and quiet that makes me feel relieved. I have often joked that if I can just beat the sun up, I will somehow be ready for whatever comes within the brightness of full day.
Some of that is probably just my desire to get a head start. I like those quiet hours when no one needs anything from me yet. But I have also wondered if some of it comes from a much deeper place.
When my husband was sick, and then after he died, our family lived through days when grief seemed to fill every available space. There were doctors and decisions, fear and exhaustion, and then the strange, disorienting work of learning how to live when someone you love is no longer there. Looking back, I think those hours before sunrise became a kind of refuge for me. For a little while, I existed outside the heartache of the day. The darkness before dawn wasn't frightening … it was merciful … nothing had started yet.
Maybe that is why I love this verse from Proverbs. We usually think of darkness as something we need God to hurry up and get us out of. We want the full day - we want to be able to see where we are going. But Proverbs doesn't say that the path of faith begins in full daylight. It begins at dawn.
And dawn is a strange, in-between place. There is light, but there is still darkness too. You can begin to see what is around you, but not everything. The world doesn't suddenly become bright. It happens almost imperceptibly … one shade lighter, and then another, until eventually you realize that morning has come. I think God's grace is often like that.
There are seasons in life when we cannot imagine things ever feeling different. Maybe you are caring for someone you love. Maybe you are grieving. Maybe your child is hurting and you cannot fix it. Maybe a relationship has broken in your life. Maybe your body has betrayed you. Maybe you are carrying regret. Or maybe you simply wake up already tired of what the day is asking of you. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is not stride confidently into the full light, sometimes it is simply to stand in the dawn.
I sometimes think of Eddie Vedder singing his song - Hard Sun. This is the refrain –
There's a big, a big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world
Some days the full light of day really does feel hard and our faith does not promise that we will always be ready for the hard sun. It promises that God will meet us before it rises. God is with us in those quiet places where we are gathering ourselves. God is with us when all we have is the faintest line of light on the horizon. God is with us when we cannot yet imagine noon.
So if you are in a season when the day feels like more than you can manage, you do not have to conquer the whole day. Look toward the horizon. Trust the little bit of light you have been given. Take the next step you can see … do not fear, for as we proclaim and believe - God’s son has risen over all our lives. Amen.
-Leigh Sackett, Director of Christian Education
| |
Rally Day—Sunday, September 13
Join us for RALLY DAY on Sunday, September 13 as we celebrate the start of our programmatic year! You can worship at 9:00 am in the Chapel or at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary, and there are Sunday School classes for all different ages between the two services at 10:00 AM. Take a look through the booklet mailed to you, or grab a copy in the Gathering Area, to learn more about the Sunday School offerings.
Following the 11:00 AM worship service, join us out on the lawn for lunch and carnival fun. There will be live music by the David Austin Trio, a bounce house, cornhole, and other games. And bring money so you can also enjoy dessert from Pop’s.
| | |
September Save A Seat Series
Is there a friend or acquaintance in your circle who you've been meaning to invite to RCPC, or who you think would enjoy discovering the Church of the Open Door? September is the perfect time to let them know you'll save a seat for them in your pew. RCPC's Hospitality Committee will offer a series of casual events designed for visitors to learn about RCPC and meet members of our church after 11 am worship:
-
September 13: Rally Day Meet and Greet - Bring visitors by the Hospitality Committee booth to meet committee members and ask questions about RCPC
-
September 20: What Brings Me to RCPC - Hear from church members in a small group setting about how their engagement with RCPC shapes their daily lives
-
September 27: Church Tour - Join Pastor Andrew Whaley for a tour to learn more about the history of the church and how the community engages with the church each week
-
October 4: Family Play Day - Join other families with young children for a playdate at RCPC's playground
| | |
Savvy Seniors— Tuesday, September 15 at 10:00 AM
AARP will present The Six Pillars of Brain Health. This one-hour session is a good overview for anyone interested in improving their brain health and will provide you with actionable steps you can take, along with resources to learn more. Pizza lunch will be provided.
| |
All RCPC Presbyterian Women
Tuesday, September 8 at 10:15 AM and Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 PM. Presbyterian Women is an organization for ALL women of RCPC that meets on the second Tuesday of the month and the Wednesday immediately following. In addition to the monthly meetings, an intergenerational women’s event is regularly offered.
First event of the year: September 4: Wine, Women, & Welcome to PW at Ellen Austin’s House. Please bring a heavy appetizer to share Sign up in the Gathering Area or email ebaustin11@gmail.com by August 31.
|
RCPC Pickleball Clinic
Looking to learn a very popular sport (or maybe brush up your skills if you already play)? We're holding a Pickleball clinic on Saturday, September 12 at Fallon Park from 9:00 AM — 11:00 AM You're welcome to bring your own equipment, but the church will provide rackets and balls as well.
|
Fellowship Meals - Volunteers
The Fellowship Committee is always looking for people willing to help with Fellowship meals. Sign up to set up, serve food, or take leftovers on Thursday morning by clicking the link below.
| | Christian Education & Worship | |
Adult Small Groups
Being part of a Small Group is an experience rich in personal connection and spiritual growth. Here we grow in love and faith as we share in the joys and sorrows of life, focused on the grace of God. Sign-ups for small groups are available in the Gathering Area and at the link below; groups will begin meeting the week of September 13. The Sermon Reflections Groups listed below reflect on the Sunday sermons and Sunday scripture during their gatherings.
-
Monday Small Group: 12:30 PM—2:00 PM, Room 102
- Led by Hannah Anderson. Contact Person: Reif Kessler (drk611@aol.com)
-
Tuesday Small Group: 4:00 PM—5:00 PM, Room 102
- Contact Person: David Dixon (dixonnd50@gmail.com)
-
Tuesday Women’s Small Group: 7:30 PM
- Contact Person: Emily Jarrett (dodsonjarrett@yahoo.com)
-
Wednesday Small Group: 7:00 PM—8:30 PM, Room 102
- Contact Person: Stephanie Danco (scvdanco1@gmail.com)
-
Thursday Small Group: 10:30 AM—12:00 PM, Room 101
Additional Small Groups:
-
Parents of Young Children: Every other Monday beginning September 14, 6:00 PM.
- Contact Person: Autumn Quinn (autumngrh@gmail.com)
-
Men’s Small Group: Every other Monday beginning September 21,7:00 PM
- Contact Person: Chris DeFalco (chris.a.defalco@gmail.com)
-
They will be reading Love Wins by Rob Bell
-
20something’s Small Group: Third Tuesday of the month beginning September 15 at 6:30 PM.
- Contact Person: Sarah Danco (sdanco8@gmail.com)
| |
Adult Sunday School Classes – Beginning September 13
The Seekers - Room 201 - Led by Nancy Ayling & David Dixon
-
September 13: Rally Day Intro Class led by Nancy Ayling
Join the Seekers Class on Rally Day for a time of fellowship and a lively look at one of the Bible’s most notorious villains—Jezebel
-
September 20—October 25: Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, led by David Dixon (6-week book study)
This fall in Seekers Sunday School, we will begin with a unit about our faith and social justice by reading and discussing Howard Thurman’s classic Jesus and the Disinherited, beginning September 20 with chapter 1. Books available in the Gathering Area starting September 6.
The History of Reformation - Room 101 - Led by Mike Lockaby
This fall, we’ll journey back to one of the most fascinating and transformative periods in the history of the Christian Church: the Reformation. Through a video lecture series, lively discussion, and additional enrichment materials, we’ll explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and questions that reshaped Christianity and continue to influence the church today.
Parent as a Verb - Room 102 - Led by Will & Caitlin Smith and Matt & Lorin Walker
Parent as a Verb: Love Is a Verb
This fall, Parent as a Verb will explore what it means to practice God’s love in the everyday places where family life happens. Through Scripture, conversation, and thoughtful resources, we’ll consider the many ways love becomes more than something we feel—it becomes something we do. Together we’ll explore what it means to know that we are beloved, to make room for others, to love across differences, to repair when relationships are hurt, to tell the truth with grace, and to carry God’s love beyond our homes and into the world.
Parenting is never a finished product. It is a verb—something we practice, learn, stumble through, and grow into together. Whether you are navigating young children or teenagers come join a community where we can learn from one another, encourage one another, and discover how the expansive love of God can shape the way we love the people entrusted to our care.
| |
|
God Alive Kickoff — Wednesday, September 9 at 4:00 PM
The God Alive kids will enjoy the inflatable slide on the church lawn. They will also be able to play on the playground. The children will be supervised by adult volunteers and youth volunteers. While the kids play, parents will attend a meeting begin at 4:15 PM in the Chapel. It is required that one parent be present. We will be presenting you with important information about the God Alive ministry and the season ahead. This meeting will last about 30 minutes. Then we join together (following our meeting) for a pizza dinner on the lawn.
| |
Youth Group Kickoff — Sunday, September 13 at 6:00 PM
All youth in grades 6 through 12 are invited to join us for a celebration of the new year with dinner, games to celebrate being back together and get to know new friends, and time in our small groups! Grown-ups arrive at 7:15 PM for an informational meeting about the youth year & a blessing for the year ahead.
| |
Sermon Series: Grace for You
September 12—October 4
What does it mean to be a Christian? It is a radical trust that our life and value are not defined by what good we accomplish or what evil we avoid, but that we are people who receive undeserved acceptance, favor, and love. In the fast pace of modern life, with judgments over any of our behaviors, the Gospel of Jesus assures us that Grace is the ultimate power. This grace finds us in chaos, assures us in failure, carries us in grief, and raises our voices to sing God's praise.
9/13 – Isaiah 40:28-31 & Ephesians 1:3-14 – Grace in Chaos
9/20 – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 & Ephesians 2:1-10 – Grace in Failure
9/27 – Psalm 56:1-4; 8-13 & Ephesians 3:14-21 – Grace in Grief
10/4 – Ephesians 4:1-5 – Music Ministry Sunday
| |
Music Ministry Fall Start-Up Schedule
Tuesday, September 8
7:15 PM—Raleigh Court Ringers Begin
Wednesday, September 16
3:15 PM—Genesis Ringers Begin
Sunday, September 20
4:30 PM—Alleluia Ringers Begin
| | Opportunity for Generosity & Mission Updates | |
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. As of August 23, we have collected $1,889.16 for the Haiti Mission.
| | |
Tailgate for Hunger
Wednesday, September 30, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on the Front Lawn of RCPC.
Registration and details available online at rcpres.org/tailgateforhunger
Teams of Two $20 (includes dinner)
Cornhole Station Sponsor $100 (includes 1 free team and 2 free dinners)
| |
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
| |
Hunger Mission Packing Volunteers
Where did summer go? The Hunger Mission is gearing up to pack food for backpacks, for Lincoln Terrace Elementary students. Many volunteers make for light work and great fellowship! We pack food most every Thursday from 9:00/10:00 - 11:00 AM in the Gathering Area. Our first pack will be Thursday, September 10. You can use this SignUpGenius link below to volunteer. If SignUpGenius is not for you, volunteers are welcome to walk in on Thursday mornings. If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Paula Derbyshire at 540.309.8816. Many thanks!
| |
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, Elise Hansard, Debra Harris, Jackie Hart (friend of Susan & Al Knighton), Bill Haynie, Sue Henley, 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), Jerry & Janis Wertz, and all caregivers.
(Prayers request as of Friday, August 28. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)
| |
Birthdays: August 31-September 6
9/2 Lauren Britt, Linda Brundrett
9/4 Carole Banks, Barry Jones
9/6 Jane Powell
| | |
Monday, August 31
8:30 AM - Preschool Teacher Workday
6:00 PM - Joint Session & Deacon Meeting
Tuesday, September 1
8:30 AM - Preschool Teacher Workday
9:00 AM - Staff Meeting
9:30 AM - PW Coordinating Team
3:30 PM - Hunger Mission Team
4:00 PM - Small Group: Dixon
5:00 PM - Mission Committee
Wednesday, September 2
8:30 AM - Preschool Teacher Workday
6:30 PM - Chamber Choir Rehearsal
7:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
| |  | |
Thursday, September 3
8:30 AM - Preschool Teacher Workday
11:30 AM - Preschool Orientation
Friday, September 4
8:30 AM - Preschool Teacher Workday
6:30 PM - PW Event
Saturday, September 5
11:00 AM - Funeral: Pat Wade
Sunday, September 6
10:00 AM - Worship: Sanctuary
| | |
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
| | | | |
