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This Sunday, October 18, we will move to ONE worship service at 10:00 a.m.

Slate and Stone

October 16, 2026

Looking Toward Sunday

Dear Rumple Family,

As I write this article, it is nearly 80 degrees outside and hardly feels like fall. If the weather reports are correct, however, it will certainly feel like fall when we gather this Sunday morning!

I look forward to gathering with y’all this Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. This is our first of five Sundays experimenting with this new worship time. On Sunday, we will begin a short sermon series we are calling “Worship Sense.” This series came about after conversations in our Worship Committee as we have made some subtle changes to our sanctuary: the new wooden cross, water in the font each week, and communion symbols on the table each week. Dave McCollum and I sat down and explored aspects of our Reformed/Presbyterian worship that we thought would be most informative for all of us. And I realized after we did this planning that worship draws on all of our senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and even, to a lesser degree in our Presbyterian worship, smell. And the sermon series title was born!

This Sunday we will begin by exploring what is central to our Reformed/Presbyterian worship: the Word of God read and proclaimed. Our Scripture texts are from Psalm 119:97-105 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17 as we explore “The Word in Worship.”

Sunday in worship, we will also hear from Watauga Habitat for Humanity, and the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership award will be presented.

As you plan your trip to Rumple on Sunday, you may want to plan additional time to look for parking. Vannoy and their subcontractors, as well as Blue Ridge Energy, have made a lot of progress this week with construction. Parking remains limited in the church parking lot so that the construction zone can stay secure 24/7. There’s a huge hole where the lawn behind Rumple House used to be!

And just a note about the Engagement Fair that had been scheduled for October 11. It has been moved to next Sunday, October 25, which is also our annual Kirkin of the Tartan. It will be a festive and busy Sunday next week as well.

I look forward to worshipping with you in the sanctuary and online this Sunday.

Blessings,

Kathy

Please Keep in your Prayers:

Ann Rhyne, home from recent hospital stay; Anne Corinne Beaver and Mark and Heather Johnson, on their mission trip to the DR with Mission Emmanuel; Bob Stout's sister, Lyn; Sabrina Cheves stepmom, Sally, who remains in the hospital from a previous car accident; Joan Huffman, awaiting surgery to remove her appendix; Kay Jones, upon the death of her brother, Ronnie, who was in a car accident; Buz Helms; Mike Capristo; Barbara Julien; Cullie and Sylvia Tarleton; Linda Steen; David Baskin; Bill Daugherty’s sister Karen; Lucy Aldridge; Sarah Settlemyer’s friend Theresa; Walt Baggstrom’s brother Bob.

Construction Update

By the time you read this, the transformer relocation and power line work by BREMCO should be complete! We appreciate your patience with the power outages and church office closures this week.

Padco Excavating has begun removing dirt and leveling the ground where the new building will stand. They have also installed the footers for the new ramp at the back of the Rumple House.

Inside the Cannon Education Building, new doors have been hung, most of the trim work has been completed, and the final coat of paint is underway, with about half completed. The flooring will be delivered soon! If you get a chance, take a peek upstairs. It is going to be a bright and beautiful space!

We will be adding additional signage to our “Employee Parking” signs this week. Unfortunately, visitors to Blowing Rock are not always paying attention to the signs, which means employees and those attending meetings and events sometimes have difficulty finding parking on campus. We hope the additional signs will help! Our parking lots continue to stay busy, and we know construction can make getting around campus a little more challenging. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to visit us and access our buildings.

If you need to drop something off at the Rumple House or need to get into the Education Building, please call the church office. We can meet you at Main Street or walk over to the Education Building and let you in. Please don't hesitate to call—we are happy to help!

If you are coming to campus Monday through Friday, parking will be available in the middle, mostly gravel, lot. Please enter from Wallingford Street and exit onto Ginny Stevens Lane. The employee parking signs have been moved to this lot. As always, you are welcome to park in these spaces if you are on campus for a meeting, gathering, or other church activity.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we continue this exciting work. We know there are a few inconveniences along the way, but it is wonderful to see the progress happening all around our campus!

Provide a Meal for Rumple Youth

Do you enjoy cooking for a small group? And would you like to support the middle and high school youth at Rumple? Consider preparing them a meal one Sunday night this fall. Meals should be delivered by 6:00 p.m. and should feed 12 people. We have two more slots left! Please sign up here.

Our Time to Shine

Rumple's Engagement and Generosity Committee invites all in the Rumple family to consider how you are being invited to shine the light of Jesus in 2027. All in the Rumple family should have received an email from Avery Bechtol in the church office the week of October 5. Included with that email was a link to this informative video, details about the church budget, a printable pledge card, and a way to pledge online. If you did not receive an email, please contact Avery.

New Building Funds Pledged

It is Time: Completing the Vision Campaign Needs You! The picture above is of Rumple's New Multi-Purpose Building. The yellow bricks represent the funds that are still needed. With each contribution, a bit more of the full building is revealed. Every gift counts and matters in this campaign. Please watch the informational video created by the campaign committee, read the supporting documents, and review the detailed budget on the Rumple website here. You may make a gift online here, or you can contact Sonya Long in the church office to fill out a paper pledge form.

Join Rumple for Worship

Sunday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m.

To watch worship online and to view the worship bulletin, please visit the online worship page on our website. The worship video will be posted to the Rumple website each week.

Find all previous online worship services on YouTube.

New Worship Time

In response to our reduced parking, the session has voted to experiment with a new worship time, effective this Sunday, October 18. We will move to ONE worship service at 10:00 a.m. that morning. This is a temporary change and will be in effect through November 15, while the Session, Worship Committee, and staff evaluate whether this is helping folks to find parking close to the church. Please share your feedback with any member of the session, Kathy, or Sonya.

Presbyterian Women Honorary Sunday

This Sunday, October 18, we will recognize the recipient of the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership. This honor was established over 100 years ago by the PC(USA) and has been awarded at Rumple since at least 1975. Women are nominated by church members and selected by a small committee of prior recipients on the basis of faithful service to the Church. Please join us as we recognize our special woman this year and stay after worship for a reception in her honor.

Kirkin of the Tartan

Rumple's 3rd Annual Kirkin of the Tartan will be on Sunday, October 25, during 10:00 a.m. worship. It will include a procession of tartan flags and bagpipes. If you have a family tartan that you would like included in this year's procession, please contact Cliff or Cathie Wiggins. All are invited to join for a reception of cookies and tea in the Gathering Space immediately following the service.

All Saints Sunday

Rumple will give thanks to God for our friends and loved ones (the saints of God) who have gone before us on Sunday, November 1, during 10:00 a.m. worship. We will gather around the communion table and light candles during a time of prayer for those who are now among the saints of God in heaven. The All Saints' Bell Banner will be in the back entrance of the sanctuary before worship if anyone would like to add a bell in memory of a loved one.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Rumple’s Prayer Shawl Group will meet at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, in the Youth Room on Level 1 of the Cannon Education Building. Anyone who crochets or knits is welcome to join.

Rescheduled Engagement Fair: October 25

The Engagement and Generosity committee invites you to the rescheduled Engagement Fair on Sunday, October 25, in the Gathering Space. From 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. and again from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Explore what activities are offered by the Missions, Blowing Rock Cares Food Pantry, Congregational Care, or Creation Care committees. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Christian Education, Fresco, Worship committees, or the New Member Ambassador program of the Engagement & Generosity Committee. Come see what Women Together/Circles are all about. It’s Your Time To Shine on Sunday, October 25 at the Engagement Fair!

Candy Donations for Monster March

Rumple will be handing out candy for the Blowing Rock Monster March on Saturday, October 31. The Fellowship Committee welcomes your donations of Halloween candy to hand out to children that evening. There will be candy bins located in the Rumple House and Gathering Space. Please drop off your donations by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30. If you would like to help pass out candy that evening, put on your costume and come join the fun in front of the Rumple House!

Congregational Care Card Day: October 27

On Tuesday, October 27, everyone is welcome to join for fun card games at 10:30 a.m. in the choir room, followed by lunch at noon! Please contact Elaine Crowell here to RSVP or for more info!

Defrosting the Frozen Chosen

Join Stephanie Hankins, Dave Henry, and Kathy Beach as they lead a new Sunday school class about all things Presbyterian. Come learn more about what we Presbyterians believe and why. Sunday, October 18, and November 1, at 9:00 a.m. in the Youth Space.

2027 Pilgrimage to England and Scotland

Travel with Pastor Kathy Beach and Pastor Ed Glaize of Boone UMC to England and Scotland from September 29-October 10, 2027. This is a Christian pilgrimage as we learn about Celtic Christianity and some of the faithful fathers and mothers of Christianity in the British Isles. Brochures about the pilgrimage are available in the church office and the sanctuary. 16 spots are being held for Rumple through December 1, and then the spots will be opened to everyone. Click here to sign up. If you have questions, please contact Kathy.

Habitat for Humanity

The next Rumple volunteer workday with Habitat for Humanity is this Saturday, October 17. Contact David Hardage today if you have any questions or would like to be involved.

GAPS Dinner: Blowing Rock Cares

Join Blowing Rock Cares on Friday, October 30, for a GAP dinner. GAPS dinners are held monthly from April through October to raise awareness and financial support for local non-profit organizations in Watauga County and surrounding areas. Attendees bring a dish to share, enjoy a social hour, and hear a presentation from a representative of the featured non-profit highlighting their community impact. A minimum donation of $10 is requested, though larger contributions are always welcome.