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Worship Service Times
9:00 AM - Chapel
10:00 AM - Sunday School
11:00 AM - Sanctuary & Livestream
Baby & Toddler Nursery is available during both worship services
Podcast Raleigh Court Herald-November Issue
Church Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM
Online Directory
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I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
Revelation 21: 22-24
I can’t account for the number of times people have named how they have marveled at God’s presence in a sunrise or sunset. The tones and colors of the sky, shifting and changing by the minute, reveal something extraordinary that makes the viewer feel both honored and small by the experience. John’s Revelation, however, says that in eternity there is not sun or moon. That sounds like there is no sunrise or sunset.
Sunrises and sunsets, however, are beautiful when we know that nothing threatening lurks in the darkness. The use of artificial light, electricity and batteries, ensures that we can maintain our security in the darkness. Homes with reinforced walls and sturdy windows and reliable roofs comfort us that we are safe when the sun descends beyond the horizon and until it rises the next day.
In most of human history, however, the darkness exposes us to the unknown. We cannot protect ourselves. Predators lurk in the shadows. Invading forces amass in the blackness. The cold and the meager light leave us vulnerable to threat.
John’s comfort, therefore, tells his listeners that in the uncertainties of life God’s presence and provision remains. In eternity there is not need to fear, to fret, to anticipate disaster.
Even with electricity and a reliable power grid, we know what it means to feel insecure, uncertain, threatened. God’s Word tells us that even in those moments, be they moments of physical darkness or emotional or spiritual vapidity, God is with us, working toward a holy and just and merciful end. As we fall back an hour this week and as the darkness increases around us physically in the weeks ahead, take heart that in God’s work there is nothing hidden, nothing unforeseen, nothing threatening in the darkness. God is with us. God is with us all our days…. and nights.
PRAYER:
In light and in dark, O God,
You remain faithful.
Comfort and console me,
That I may trust your word
And rely on your promise,
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
-The Rev. Andrew C. Whaley
| | Menu for 11/4: YOUTH FUNDRAISER! Baked Potato Bar | |
Fellowship Dinners
Wednesdays at 6:15 PM
Join us for dinner on Wednesday nights at 6:15 PM from October 7 to the end of April. Check the bulletin and This Week @ RCPC each week for the menu. The food and the fellowship around the table are worth it each week. Suggested donation of $10/person or a max of $30/family. Register online at rcpres.org/dinner or in the Gathering Area by noon on the Tuesday before.
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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.
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Youth Dinner Volunteers
Do you like cooking for a crowd? We could use your help cooking a meal for our Youth Group. Cook below to see dates open for dinner.
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Savvy Seniors
Tuesday, November 17, 10:00 AM — 12:00 PM
Hey there, Savvy Seniors...Missing you! Let's play games on Tuesday, November 17 at 10:00-12. Please bring a snack to share and YOUR IDEAS to help us plan for 2027 Savvy Seniors events. Sign up in the Welcome Center, please. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Beth and Karen
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Townside Gardens Holiday Plant Sale!
Poinsettia, Wreaths, Garland and more! Order holiday plants by November 6 for a December 2nd delivery! All proceeds benefit RCPC Preschool. Order forms are in the Gathering Area.
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Presbyterian Women
Saturday, November 14 2:00 PM
Join the Presbyterian Women of RCPC to bake a focaccia wreath with Lisa Goad. Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 PM in the RCPC Fellowship Hall & Kitchen. Please bring $5 per person to cover supplies and a 9 inch by 9 inch or larger baking dish or sheet ban to bake and transport your focaccia wreath. Sign up in the Gathering Area by November 10, or by emailing katelyntucker09@gmail.com.
| | Christian Education & Worship | |
Sermon Series: Help, Thanks, Wow: Learning to Pray
November 8 - 22
Many people confess, "I don't know how to pray." It feels like some secret knowledge, a discipline we just can't keep, a magical thinking that really makes no difference. We want to debunk those objections. Using Ann Lamott's book Help, Thanks, Wow, we will see how easy it is to pray, how we can pray in various ways, and how prayer changes us and alters our engagement with the world. Copies of the book are available at RCPC for a $5 donation.
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The Seekers - Room 201 November 1—22: Exploring Genesis and Job - Led by Jay Ellison
The Seekers will explore Genesis 1–3, we will discuss the two creation stories—what leads us to understand them as two distinct accounts, as well as the differences in language and authorship. Genesis 3 covers the “Fall,” and we will explore the serpent, who is at fault, and other questions that arise as we look closely at the text and at ancient Jewish and Christian interpretations that continue to influence us today. For the Book of Job, we will explore the place of suffering in life, who is to blame, and, of course, the fascinating character of Satan.
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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.
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Hearing Assist Technology
The church is adding a hearing assist technology called Auracast for the Sanctuary. We will have a few dedicated units to be used during the service. Many of our members have hearing aids that have that technology built in.
Because there are so many different companies making hearing aids and OTC options, we need to know what device our members are using and if the units include Auracast. We will have a postcard-sized paper for you to complete available at the AV "booth" during Sunday's services or at the receptionist desk. You can return them to the same location. We will need to schedule individual appointments to get you connected.
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Congregational Retreat: Among the Shadows
Christian Education Friday, March 12—Sunday, March 14, 2027 at Massanetta Springs Early Bird Registration: November 1—30, 2026
As we explore the theme of Light and Darkness this spring, we will explore those "in between" times in the day- dusk, dawn, twilight. We will look at these hours within scripture to see where God's presence is known, experienced, and how God's action takes place. Much of life is lived in the "gray areas." This weekend will help us know those more fully. Book your room at Massanetta Springs for the 2027 Congregational Retreat today to lock in the early bird pricing! Forms and payments are due by November 30 to Leigh Sackett or Julie Satterwhite. Forms are available in the Gathering Area or register online at rcpres.org. Hubler is reserved for those aged 60+, with mobility issues, or with children 3 years old or younger. This year we will again have an Airbnb option.
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Music Day Camp with special guest Karol Kimmel
Saturday, November 14, 9:00 AM—12:00 PM for grades Pre-K—5 Grade
Karol recently retired from full-time church work, serving the last 26 years at All Saints’ Episcopal, Atlanta, GA, with a graded choir program, PreK-12th, of choral and handbell ensembles. She presents at conferences, directs honor and festival choirs nationwide, and is co-director and faculty member for Lutheridge Music Week in Arden, NC. She has taught pre-school music and elementary chorus and sung in professional choirs. Karol holds a degree in music education (organ) from Lenoir-Rhyne University in NC, and has certification in Kindermusic and Orff.
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Save the Date: Fellowship Outing & Youth Choir Performance at the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
Saturday, December 19 - Puck Drop at 7:05 PM, Berglund Center
Plan to join your RCPC church family at the December 19 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs game as we support the RCPC Youth Choir as they sing the National Anthem before that evening’s game. The game is also the annual Teddy Bear Toss, so tickets will go fast. Purchase your Family & Friends ticket online at gofevo.com/event/Raleighcourt2 for $15.68/each and grab a parking pass for $10. Youth Choir tickets are provided. For questions, contact Dillon Swanson (dillon@rcpres.org).
| | Opportunity for Generosity & Mission Updates | |
November Mission Partner: Sudanese/South Sudanese Mission Group
The Sudanese/South Sudanese Support Mission Group welcomes the opportunity in November to share with you the impact that RCPC has had locally and in South Sudan at Abukloi Secondary School (Abukloi.org). From rent assistance to scholarships, from food cards to a well that allows food to grow, from books to internet access, we’ve given families and students assurances that we care about them and have given them hope. Thank you! Your generosity this month will assure that we can continue to be there for them.
Our international support is for Abukloi Secondary School in Rumbek, South Sudan, with its 700 students. It too has a major food need because of a recent drought and the fact that many families only have one meal a day. Last year our church was able to provide a significant number of scholarships, at $1000 each, to support students that need the help to get an education beyond the elementary level. That need continues.
We encourage to talk with Sandra Whitt, Kathleen Caroll, Marty Saviers, or Fred Hoffman if you need more information.
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Mission Partner Support
Each month, we designate all cash and coin to one of our local mission partners. For the month of November, we are supporting the Sudanese/South Sudanese Mission Group. 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 Sudanese in the text box. We’re thankful
for your generosity in the month of October, we collected $1,719.86 for RAM.
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Youth Mission Project: Your Help is Needed!
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did unto one of the least of these, you did unto me.” - Matthew 25:40 Our RCPC Youth Group is asking for your assistance in a mission project to help meet the needs of the homeless in the Roanoke Valley. The Least of These Ministry (TLOT) distributes baskets to clients transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing while continuing to help those who remain unsheltered. We are asking for your help in collecting items for “Welcome Home” baskets for families trying to set up housekeeping, and clothing, blankets, and hygiene products for those who remain on the streets. You can read more about TLOT at theleastoftheseministry.org
On Sunday, November 8, members of the Youth Group will collect donated items from the neighborhood. If you would like to donate items to help with this project, please bring your donations to church by 12:15 PM on Sunday, November 9 and place them in the Gathering Area. Place them in a bag with the TLOT side of the flyer displayed on the bag.
Donations Particularly Needed: ·Soap ·Travel size body wash ·Travel size lotion ·Deodorant ·Travel size shampoo ·Razors ·Brooms/dustpans ·Mops/buckets ·Towels/washcloths ·Paper towels ·Toilet tissue ·Pots/pans ·Backpacks ·Blankets (heavy) ·Laundry baskets (bushel size) ·Reading glasses ·Men’s/women’s underwear (new) ·Heavy winter gloves ·Cleaning products (new) (Fabuloso, Spray bathroom cleaner, disinfecting wipes) ·Sponges ·Laundry pods & dryer sheets ·Ground coffee ·Sugar packets (individual) ·Men’s Jeans & sweatpants (sizes 30-40) ·Women’s sweatpants ·Men’s/Women’s winter boots (no dress shoes) ·Men’s/Women’s athletic shoes
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Drumstick Dash
Move Your Feet So Others Can Eat. Please join our Raleigh Court Team and sign up for the annual Drumstick Dash. https://www.drumstickdash.net/
Enter the following code for a 15% discount:
DashwithLeigh-Anne
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Hunger Mission Packing Volunteers
There are only SIX more days in 2026 to pack food for Lincoln Terrace Elementary student backpacks and it is not too soon to volunteer for packing that begins again in January. We pack food most every Thursday mornings in the Gathering Area. Check out the SignUp Genius (below) for details about ways to volunteer. If SignUp Genius is not for you, volunteers are welcome to walk in on Thursdays to pack from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Paula Derbyshire at 540.309.8816. Thank you! Many hands make for light work.
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Bearing Fruit with Roanoke Justice Ministries
The Justice, Equity, and Belonging Committee is still holding House Meetings. If you weren’t able to attend one yet you can still contact us and find out what we are doing from now until next July to determine what issues Roanoke Justice Ministries (RJM) will address that many residents in our city face every day, whether it is affordable housing, help for our schools, accessibility to enough food, mental health care, or violent crime. The work of the Justice Ministry is grounded in scripture such as Micha 6:8 which says “He has told you, O Mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Biblically, Justice means holding the King and Pharaoh accountable for the fair treatment of all people. How can we use the gifts God has given us to bear fruit for those who are in need in our city? Contact Carol Prichard at 603-504-4754, Jordan Nallen at 540-352-8837, or Mark Derbyshire at 540-529-8815 if you have questions or would like to attend a meeting.
There are ways you can bear fruit with us that do not require a huge time commitment but would help many residents of our city. October 26th was the House Meeting Report Back Team Assembly where the representatives of all 20 churches involved narrowed down the many concerns shared in our House Meetings to these three items: Affordable Housing, Mental Health Care, and Education.
You can still sign up to be a member of the Justice Ministry Network. Your commitment would include attending 4 meetings between now and the end of June:
November 16th (6:30 pm) is the Covenant Assembly where we will narrow down to the one item we will be working on our first year. This provides the opportunity to participate in issue research to help us be prepared for the Nehemiah Action.
March 15, 2027 (6:30 pm) is the Rally where we will prepare for the Nehemiah Action. Read Nehemiah 5:1-13 where he tells us how to do justice in a community. Many people will be needed to make the Nehemiah Action a success since there is power in numbers.
April 12, 2027 (6:30 pm) is the Nehemiah Action and each congregation is asked to turn out their average worship attendance at least once a year for Justice – Vision 52/1 which for RCPC is 250 individuals. Our Network Members will be asked to bring at least 3 people to the Nehemiah Action. If you are interested in attending the Nehemiah Action please contact us!
June 7, 2027 (6:30 pm) is the Celebration of what we have accomplished.
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Prayer Requests
Marvin & Roena Barbre, Dawn Blakeman, Gloria Brumley (mother of Trish Brumley), Ben Bower (brother of Susan Kessler), Camilla Cabaniss, Wayne Carter (friend of Ruth Marple), Beverly Day & family (friend of Camilla & Johnsey Cabaniss), Jay Ellison, Nate Ellison (son of Jay & Polly Ellison), Margie Hale, Carolyn Hampton (Mary Hampton’s sister-in-law), Mary Hampton, Elise Hansard, Debra Harris, Declan Hoffman and family (neighbors of Brad and Darlene Kennedy, and John and Charlotte Engleby), Mary Hopkins (great-aunt of Tyler Person), Susan Lindstrom, Blakely Lockhart (granddaughter of Barbara Lashley), Randy Remington (friend of Betty Remington), Kim Richards, Shirley Scruggs (sister of Susan Davis), Campbell Tims (granddaughter of Kay Tims), Jerry & Janis Wertz, and all caregivers.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Emily and Rob Jarrett following the passing of Emily's father, Frank Dodson, on Sunday, November 1.
(Prayers request as of Friday, October 30. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)
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Birthdays: November 2-8
11/2 Linda Devogt, Bruce Loving, Gil Lynch
11/4 Carol Brumeister-Prichard
11/5 Betty Flora
11/7 Connie Pearlman
11/8 Robert Giles, Elise Hansard
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Monday, November 2
No Preschool
12:30 PM - Monday Small Group
7:00 PM - Men's Small Group
Tuesday, November 3
9:00 AM - Staff Meeting
9:30 AM - Presbyterian Women
3:30 PM - Hunger Mission Group
4:00 PM - Small Group: Dixon
5:00 PM - Mission Committee
7:15 PM - Raleigh Court Ringers
7:30 PM - Women's Small Group
Wednesday, November 4
3:30 PM - Genesis Ringer
4:00 PM - God Alive
6:15 PM - Fellowship Dinner - Youth Fundraiser
6:40 PM - Chamber Choir Rehearsal
7:00 PM - Christmas Choir Rehearsal
7:00 PM - Wednesday Small Group
8:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
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Thursday, November 5
10:00 AM - Hunger Mission Packing
10:30 AM - Thursday Small Group
Friday, November 6
Saturday, November 7
10:00 AM - Christmas Choir Retreat
Sunday, November 8
9:00 AM - Worship: Chapel
10:00 AM - Sunday School & Discover RCPC
11:00 AM - Worship: Sanctuary
12:15 PM - TLOT Week #2
12:15 PM - Earth Care Committee
4:00 PM - Youth Choir
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WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR GROUPS
- RCPC 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
- Troop 2: Monday, 7:00 PM
- Roanoke Valley Choral Society: Monday, 7:00 PM
- AA-Primary Purpose: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 AM
- Tai Chi: Tuesday & Thursday, 5:30 PM
- Al-Anon: Friday, 11:45 AM
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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
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