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 September Raleigh Court Herald

Church Office Hours

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

Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God:

 ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.  When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.  The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ 

You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God.  Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.   - Deuteronomy 26:4-11

Over a lifetime, we each find things that we have “always done this way.” Humans are creatures of habit. But there’s always an origin story. Our routines, the ordinary and the extraordinary, that make up our lives somehow came into being shaping our days. But it helps, now and then, to go back to the beginning. If we refresh our memory on the origin story, we can do these routine things with intention. It grows easier to pass on the stories that need passing on. Sometimes, revisiting the beginning might even lead us to change what we are doing and lead us to something else. Why do we always go to that beach? Why do we cheer for that particular sports team?

In a few weeks, Generosity season will kick off at RCPC. This is the season in which the church is invited to consider giving a portion of their first fruits back to God by supporting the work of the church. Perhaps for you, giving is something you’ve just “always done.” Or perhaps, you wonder, “why do we do this?” Or maybe you wonder, “how would I possibly do this? Money is tight enough as it is.” 

Well, this passage in Deuteronomy provides the origin story of first fruits and tithes. The Israelites, after being freed from captivity in Egypt by God, after wandering through the wilderness for 40 years now sit on the border of Canaan, the Promise Land. Moses gives them the instructions above. As they come into the land God has promised them, of course they will settle in, and grow their fruits. With this settling in, comes remembering. Remembering God’s guidance to this very place and God’s hand in this harvest. That remembering brings both a deep gratitude for God’s handiwork and the action of giving a portion of the first fruit back to God. Giving to God is not done out of guilt or obligation. Rather giving is an expression of gratitude, offered by the Israelites acknowledging who God is to them and how God shows up in their daily lives. 

We each have our own origin stories with God. How we got to know God, how we discovered our faith, how we found a community of faith to call home at RCPC. As we near the end of RCPC’s Centennial year, and journey through this sermon series, Remembering the Past, Expecting the Future, may this be a season in which we reflect on our origin story with God so we can expect God’s faithfulness to continue, and remember what the next 100 years of our life together might look like. 

Faithful God, 

Just as you walked the Israelites through the wilderness, 

you walk through our days with us. 

Keep us attentive to your presence so that even as we do the things we’ve always done, 

 we live ever more with you as the center of our lives. 

Amen.  

-The Rev. Isabella Fagiani, Associate Pastor

Church Receptionists

We are the "Church of the Open Door" and we need you to help us be hospitable to our guests. We are always looking to expand our list of volunteer receptionists, please see if your schedule would allow you to serve in this ministry. The morning shift is 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the afternoon shift is 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Please consider serving RCPC through this ministry, please contact Julie Satterwhite at julie@rcpres.org for more information.

RCPC Meal Train Ministry

The Meal Train group drops off dinners to church members when new babies are born or in the event of illnesses, surgeries, or other hardships. Sign-ups are handled online, and notices of meal train needs are sent to group members using an email list. If you are not already on the Meal Train email list and want to join, email Katelyn Burton at katelyntucker09@gmail.com. She will get you added to the Meal Train group! Thank you for supporting church members in this way.

Kitchen Training

Considering Volunteering for a Fellowship Dinner? Or making the Youth Dinner sometime this year? New to our church and simply curious about the kitchen? Well you're in luck! We have a Kitchen Training taking place on Sunday, September 22 from 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM. You'll learn things like where you can find commonly needed supplies (plates, utensils, napkins etc), you'll learn how to run the Dishwasher, and you'll learn how to ensure the kitchen is left well to be used by all groups in the church. We hope you'll join in this informative and fun training!

Flower Dedication

The RCPC Flower 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.

Adult Small Groups

The Small Group lessons are based on the Sunday sermons and scripture. Being part of a Small Group is an experience rich in personal connection and spiritual growth. Small Groups discuss what is shared in worship, therefore the experience of worship is more deeply ingrained in our minds and hearts. As we contemplate it all together, the concepts take root and our faith grows!

• Sermon Reflections: Mondays 12:30 PM-2:00 PM - Andrew Whaley, Room 102
• The Fools: Tuesdays 4:00 PM-5:30 PM - David Dixon, Room 102
• Soul Sisters: Tuesdays 8:00 PM-9:30 PM - Emilie Biddle, Parlor
• The After Dinner Crowd: Wednesdays 7:00 PM-8:30 PM - Leigh Sackett, Room 102
• Thursday Theology: Thursdays 10:30 AM-12:00 PM - Elise Hansard, Room 101

Adult Sunday School—September Classes

The New Testament World: Making Sense of Where Jesus and the Apostles Lived. Led by Mike Lockaby, Room 101

• September 15: Introduction to the Eastern Mediterranean World
• September 22: The Legacy of Greece
• September 29: Rome and Its Empire

The Seekers, Room 201

• September 15: Favorite Scripture, Favorite Bible Story & Why
• September 22—October 6: Faces of Christ

Parents as a Verb, Room 102

• September 15—October 20: The Anxious Generation (book study)

Discover RCPC, Led by Andrew Whaley, Room 202

• September 15—27: During the Sunday School hour

Class descriptions and full schedules available online at rcpres.org/adult-education 

Sermon Series: Remembering the Future, Expecting the Past

September 8—October 20

As we move toward the 100^th birthday of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, on October 2, we are going to explore what it means for Christian people to remember God’s faithfulness. Memory gives life meaning, but memory can also become nostalgia which leads to destruction and paralysis. Hope drives us forward to the promises of God, but hope that forgets the past is amnesia which brings us to ideology and eventually idolatry. So how do we remember and how do we hope so that the purposes and promises of God are lived out as we begin our next hundred years? 

September 22 - Humbling Memory - Psalm 103:1-14 & Deuteronomy 17:14-20

September 29 - Memories That Destroy - Exodus 17:8-15 & Deuteronomy 25:17-21

October 6 - Do Not Remember - Isaiah 43:16-21

October 13 - The Risk of Amnesia - Deuteronomy 15:7-15 & Hosea 4:1-6

October 20 - Generative Hope - Lamentations 3:22-24 & Micah 4:1-5 

Evening Prayer Service

Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 PM - Chapel

The Hope of Creation

A Service of Contemplative Prayer for the Care of Creation

Surrounded as we are with constant devastating news about climate chaos, biodiversity loss and the ever-growing mountains of pollution, it is easy to fall into despair. And yet as people of faith, we have hope—the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance of what we do not yet see (Hebrews 11:1). As faith without action dead (James 2:26) – so hope without action is meaningless and, in this service, we acknowledge and lament our sense of despair, cling to our faith and hope, and commit ourselves to act with Creation for the renewal of life.

Rehearsal Schedules

• Youth Choir: Sundays at 5:00 PM
• Genesis Ringers: Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
• Raleigh Court Ringers: Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
• God Alive Choir: Wednesdays during God Alive
• Sanctuary Choir: Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

Mission Partner Support 

Each month, we are designating all cash and coin to one of our local mission partners. For the month of September, we are supporting Hunger Mission Group. In 2023, the Hunger Mission Group received $8,500 in support from our church. Your generosity will encourage us to meet that amount in 2024. You can place your money in the offering plate or make an online gift using the QR code, noting that it is for Mission and making a note for Hunger Mission Group in the text box. As of September 8, we have collected $974.22 for the Hunger Mission Group.

Presbyterian Community Center

The Presbyterian Community Center is collecting gently worn and used sneakers for recycling and as a fundraiser. PCC will take used sneakers in ANY condition between now and September 30. The better the condition the more they will get from your donation. But you can donate any used sneakers. Bring your sneakers to 1228 Jamison Ave, SE between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday or 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Fridays. Our EarthCare Mission Group may try to coordinate a local drop-off - details later.

Ties Tuesdays

James Madison Middle School is starting an initiative this fall that invites students to dress up on Tuesdays. To support this effort we need ties!! If you have any ties no one is wearing anymore at your house, please consider donating them to Madison!! There will be a collection box in the foyer! Any questions, reach out to Emily Jarrett dodsonjarrett@yahoo.com or 662-610-2705.

Pump-A-Pint Fall Blood Drive

RCPC’s Fall Blood Drive is scheduled for October 1 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Sign-ups are available on the Red Cross website at REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG. You are welcome to schedule your appointment, or you can contact Lillian at 540-632-8921 or alexanderlj@yahoo.com and she will gladly get you on the schedule! The sign-up sheet will also be available in the Gathering Area before and after Sunday worship services starting September 15. The Pump-a-Pint Mission Group would love to have you join the ranks of faithful donors here at RCPC. Come for the snacks and fellowship, and leave knowing you have saved three lives! Thank you for your continued support of this vital mission!

Thank you from Abukloi Foundation

RCPC Congregation and Leadership,

Thank you wholeheartedly for your congregation's constant support of Abukloi Foundation. We consider Raleigh Court one of our home churches—a place where we always feel welcome and are always shown love and support. I personally want to thank you for the very warm reception I received at your beautiful church. 

We are humbled that your August Generosity Month focused on Abukloi. Your gifts go directly to transforming the lives of the young people of Rumbek by enhancing their education, providing nutrition, and creating sustainable development projects. The Foundation has been very busy over the past month.

• Our students were finalists in the statewide debate competition. They argued topics such as "modern technology has caused more harm than good" and "African countries should not depend on foreign aid."
• Following some early marriages reported throughout the state, Abukloi's female teachers organized a counseling and guidance session for all girls. They discussed youth and reproductive health, managing peer pressure, and strategies for excellent academic performance. 
• The South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education Exam results were finally released. The top three performing students in Lakes State are Abukloi students. They are:  
• Riak Manyiel Riak.   92.  (A) Abukloi S S
• James Mator Maker  91.  ( A-) Abukloi S S
• Yar Machiek Ledi    91.  (A-) Abukloi S S and Yar was the top performing girl in the state. 
• The rains have been consistent this year, and the crops at Makerdit Farm are growing well. We will soon have a harvest of sorghum, sim sim (sesame), and corn. Proceeds from the sale of these crops will support the secondary school's meal program. 
• This week, Abukloi will begin an English and Digital Literacy course in partnership with UniPod at the University of Juba. This program aims to improve the learner's English proficiency and teach new digital skills that can be used in the workplace. 

Please find attached some recent photos from these projects and programs at Abukloi. 

May God continue to bless your congregation in all of your work.

Deepest Regards,

Mary Cassidy-Anger

President, Abukloi Foundation

Prayer Requests

Marvin & Roena Barbre, Rex and Jennie Bell (Kerry Bossert’s dad and step mom), Dawn Blakeman, Jackie Blakeman, Brendan Brown (Kathy and Les Brown’s grandson), Mayuen Chice, Beverly Day and family (friend of Camilla and Johnsey Cabaniss), Nancy Farthing, Betty Garner, Susan Lindstrom, Megan Mallare (friend of Kathy Grove), Melissa Martin (friend of Lisa Boylan), Rusty McCown, Debbie Miller, Billie Murphree (Dawn Long's mother), Jon Nance (Bill and Betty Nance's son/stepson), Garland Parry, Hugh Wellons, and all caregivers.

(Prayers request as of Friday, September 13. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR GROUPS

• Preschool: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Centering Prayer at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church: Monday, 10:00 AM
• Cub Scouts: Monday, 6:30 PM
• BSA Troop 2: Monday, 7:00 PM
• Roanoke Valley Choral Society, Monday, 7:00 PM
• AA-Primary Purpose: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 AM
• AA-Seeds of Hope: Tuesday, 5:30 PM & Saturday, 10:30 AM
• Tai Chi: Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 PM
• Hip Sober Chicks: Thursday, 6:30 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