Worship Service Times

9:00 AM - Chapel

10:00 AM - Sunday School

11:00 AM - Sanctuary & Livestream

Baby & Toddler Nursery is available during both services

Podcast Raleigh Court Herald March Issue

Church Office Hours

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

Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

Online Pledge Form

Lenten Devotional Day 17

John 10:25-30

Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

The world is a noisy place. Beyond the din of traffic and troubling news reports, our interconnected digital world constantly delivers messages suggesting who I should be, what I should want, and where I belong. Algorithms reflect my habits, predict my fears, and curate my outrage. I am constantly "shepherded" by data and influencers, herded toward the next crisis or purchase.

Amid this cacophony, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.”

Do I? If His voice is supposed to cut through the digital noise and the anxiety in my chest, I’m not sure I’m hearing it. I look for a feeling, some clarity, a sign, a divine notification ping. But we are people of the Book, people of the Covenant, people of the slow, ordinary means of grace. Even so, as I sit in the pew on Sundays, often tired, distracted, worried, I often feel like a lost sheep, unable to hear anything over my own desperate bleats.

Maybe following comes before hearing. I need not to feel "spiritual" or even well rested to drive to church, to sit down, to sing, to confess my sins, and to walk forward and partake of the bread and the cup. I can take that walk without hearing His voice. Maybe the walking is the hearing. My feet are doing what my ears can't confirm or my mind comprehend. I can follow our liturgy, an ancient path worn by millions of sheep before, trusting that the Shepherd is at the head of the line, even when he can’t be heard or seen through the fog.

Maybe I’m listening the wrong way. I wait for a blessed algorithm to deliver a voice that sounds like mine: my internal monologue, only holier. But Jesus’ voice is more likely to sound like things outside of me. It sounds like Andrew, Isabella, or Leigh reading Scripture, or the choir singing an anthem. It sounds like the unexpected encouragement of a friend in the fellowship hall. It sounds like the silence after the Benediction. It sounds like the cries of a neighbor, calling me to love when I’d rather doomscroll.

But in spite of my inability to hear, this is the anchor - “I know them.” Jesus claimed me before I was formed in the womb, and I cannot be snatched from His hand. Jesus reminds that it is His knowledge of me that saves. He knows my doubts, my distracted mind, my weary heart. He knows I struggle to hear, and He calls me His sheep anyway.

So I stay in the fold. I show up at the Table. I keep reciting the Creed even when my voice shakes. Maybe that will be enough for today.

Prayer: Lord, I'm yours, help me to hear you. And when I can't hear you, help me to trust that you're still holding on to me, even when I can't feel your grip.

-Christopher Ptomey 

Instant Church Directory

Make sure to add your picture!

After many months of research and testing, the Hospitality Committee is excited to announce that we have an online directory for RCPC! Instant Church Directory will allow us as a congregation to stay connected on the go with a digital directory that includes pictures. Follow the instructions below to gain access to the directory through the website and/or mobile apps (available on iPhone and Android).

• Website: members.instantchurchdirectory.com (also linked at rcpres.org and click “Connect with Us”)
• Sign in with the email address you’ve provided RCPC—not sure what that email address is? Email Julie@rcpres.org or to find out or update. Follow the prompts in the email you’ll receive to finish setting up your log in.

Need help getting access or uploading a picture, email Julie@rcpres.org

Youth Group Dinner Cooks

Do you like cooking for a crowd? We could use your help cooking a meal for our Youth Group. Click below to see dates open for dinner. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4AABAB2CA6FC1-58223510-youth#/

Easter Flower Dedications

If you would like to dedicate Easter Flowers in honor or memory of someone special, please fill out the envelope in the pew rack with name(s) for dedication along with a check, with "Easter Flowers” noted in the memo. Place the envelope in the offering plate. The deadline to order is March 29 (Palm Sunday). A list will be included in the bulletin on Easter Day, April 5. Cost per dedication is $13. You can also complete the form online at the link below.

 Savvy Seniors

Our next session will be Tuesday, March 17. Come join us at 10:00 AM to hear Delayne Caldwell, from the Local Office on Aging (LOA), speak on Elder Rights and the services that the LOA has to offer YOU! Let's show her what a Pot-of-Gold really looks like at RCPC by sharing in a St. Patrick's Day potluck luncheon afterwards. Bring a dish to share for lunch at 11:30 AM. Enjoy fellowship, good food, and chat with Delayne. Sign-up and let us know what dish you are bringing to share either online at tinyurl.com/RCPCSeniorsMarch or on the paper form in the Gathering Area

Preschool Door

Decorating Contest

In honor of Read Across America/National Reading Month, the RCPC Preschool is holding a door decorating contest! The staff all worked really hard on their fantastic doors and now we need you to vote for your favorite! Check out each door and then at the bottom vote for your favorite. Voting closes Wednesday, March 11. Please only vote once.

Digital Lenten Devotional

Each day during Lent, except Sundays, the daily Lenten Devotional will arrive in your email inbox and be available on our Facebook page, facebook.com/rcpres. To receive the devotional by email click the link below.

The Lenten Devotional theme this year is The Way of the Shepherd. The shepherd reveals a kind of power rooted not in what can be taken, but in what can be given. Not in coercion, but in care. Not in fear, but in faithful presence. The shepherd knows the flock by name, tends to their needs, searches for the lost, protects the vulnerable, and stays close—even in the valley of the shadow of death. In Jesus, that Good Shepherd takes on flesh—walking among us, feeding the hungry, healing the wounded, welcoming the outsider, and laying down his life for the sheep.

March Adult Sunday School

Full Class Descriptions Available Online at rcpres.org/adult-education

The Seekers

February 22—March 29: This American Gospel: Public Radio Parables & The Grace of God, led by Andrew Whaley

Parent as a Verb

February-May: Book Study, Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley led by Eric Kessler

Confessions of the Church

January - May: Confessions of the Church: Nicene and Apostles Creeds. Led by Mike Lockaby

Mission Partner Support

Each month, we designate all cash and coin to one of our local mission partners. For the month of March, we are supporting the Presbyterian Communion Center. 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 PCC in the text box. As of March 1, we've collected $478.67 for PCC.

Hunger Mission Team Volunteers

The Hunger Mission team that serves Lincoln Terrace Elementary could use your help with food packing in the New Year! We pack food bags for 109 students each Thursday at 10:00 AM. You can signup to help with packing by using the UPDATED link below or contact Paula Derbyshire at 540-309-8816. If Sign-Up Genius isn’t for you, we welcome walk-in packers. We could not do this work without you! Thank you.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0949AAAC28A7F94-57911905-lincoln#/

Rotary Club

Win a Harley or $10,000 - Over the last 7 years, our church and the Rotary Club have packaged more than 175,000 meals in the fall food packaging events. Those meals have supported our 2 elementary backpack programs, the PCC food pantry, and a few other local organizations. This spring the club is selling raffle tickets for your choice of either the Harley (2026 Low Rider ST) or $10,000. Tickets are $20 or 3 for $50. See Fred Hoffman to support this fundraiser that supports us. Cash, check (written to RCRV), or Venmo are accepted. The drawing will be on April 9 at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood. You are welcome to attend. Email Fred at fred@hoffdad.net if you have questions or would like for him to have tickets available for you the next time you see him.

House of Bread

House of Bread's last bread stand of the winter session will take place Thursday, March 12 3:30-5 pm at Black Dog Salvage. Please stop by to pick up Herbed Focaccia, Lemon Ginger Scones, Maple Coconut Granola and Chocolate Chip cookies.

PORCH Communities

If there are no Porch Communities near you and you would like to donate food to those in Roanoke who are having a tough time making ends meet, you can bring a food donation to the church once a month and leave it at the desk by the entrance to the church with a tag on it that says Pheasant Ridge Porch Donation for Carol Prichard and sje will pick it up and add it to the donations from Building 4 at Pheasant Ridge. She will take our donations to St. Francis Pantry. Please bring your donations by the end of the second week of each month. If you have any questions please contact Carol at cbp449@gmail.com or 603-504-4754.

The Pantry accepts all shelf-stable items with a current use-by date and the most needed items are: 

Canned bean, Canned Vegetables, Canned fruit, Boxed Instant potatoes, Boxed Noodles and Pasta, Spaghetti sauce, Mac and Cheese, Soup – small and large cans, Tuna packs, Vienna sausage, Breakfast items (boxed), Boxed Cereal/Crackers, Diapers, Toilet Paper, Reusable Bags

Prayer Requests

Marvin & Roena Barbre, Dawn Blakeman, Jackie Blakeman, Beverly Day and family (friend of Camilla and Johnsey Cabaniss), Nate Ellison (son of Jay and Polly Ellison), Nancy Farthing, Carolyn Hampton (sister-in-in-law of Mary Hampton), Debra Harris, Cameron & Susie Hutto,  Joseph “PaPa” Bear (close friend of Mac Snead), Susan Lindstrom, Alan Loving (brother of Bruce Loving), Megan Mallare (friend of Kathy Grove), Louise Morris, Betty Nance, Connie Pearlman, Amy Starr Redwine, Cheri Sathe (mother of Lizzie Kessler), Shirley Scruggs (sister of Susan Davis), Campbell Tims (granddaughter of Kay Tims), and all caregivers.

Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Chuck Gilliland and his family following the passing of his sister, Linda Gilliland Boyd, on Wednesday, February 25.

(Prayers request as of Friday, March 6. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR GROUPS

• RCPC Preschool: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM
• Centering Prayer at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church: Monday, 10:00 AM
• Scouts-Troop 2 B: Monday, 7:00 PM
• AA-Primary Purpose: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 AM
• Tai Chi: Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 PM
• Hip Sober Chicks: Thursday, 6:30 PM
• Opera Roanoke Chorus: Thursday, 7:00 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