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 October Issue

Church Office Hours

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

Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

Online Directory

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God." -Colossians 1:9-10

The operating room creates a very unique scenario of human connection. Many a TV show portrays surgery as a cold and unemotional field. While in some ways it can certainly feel that way, I personally witnessed situations in the surgical field that felt similar to what I feel this verse discusses.

Any patient being rolled into the OR almost never knows the circulating nurse or anesthesiologist before a brief meeting that very morning.  However, those very same people already know that person’s medical history, allergies, previous surgeries, all before even saying “good morning” in the pre-op bay. There are so many human beings beyond the surgeon or the PA, who the patient usually already knows from clinic, that work behind the scenes to make a procedure go flawlessly before the anesthesia ever lulls them to sleep. 

These often thankless yet absolutely essential jobs are so easy to take for granted when everything runs smoothly and the OR is on autopilot. But the second things get tense or the unpredicted happens, the amount of gratitude I had for an OR team who carefully prepared for that patient’s case was always immense.

In a world that often feels heavy with negativity and unkindness, it can be hard to remember that we are constantly surrounded by other Christians praying for us and our faith “in the background.” Just like the somewhat invisible OR staff works seamlessly while a patient is asleep for the best possible surgical outcome, our Christian community is full of people praying for all of humanity’s well-being, even if we have never personally met them.

Dear God,

We so easily forget just how much love and kindness is truly out there in the world, especially when the news makes us feel isolated or lonely in our troubles. Help me remember and appreciate just how many of your own children are praying for me on this journey through life. Help me be the same invisible force lifting up others with my own prayers for mankind.

Amen

-Heidi Peters, Deacon

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. 

Savvy Seniors - Field Trip!

Friday, October 23 | 10:00 AM

Looking for a fun, relaxing, and creative way to spend your morning? On Friday, October 23, join the Savvy Seniors from 10:00 AM to noon for a trip to Glazed Bisque-It on Starkey Road. Whether you are a seasoned artist or have never touched clay before, this outing is designed for all skill levels. Friendly instructors will be on hand to help. The shop is full of new Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas items. Cost: $8.00 per person materials fee, plus the cost of your chosen ceramic item (items are priced at $5.00 and up). Payment may be made at the shop. Light refreshments will be available. We have reserved the party room, and space is limited to 20 participants. Please sign up in the Gathering Area by Tuesday, October 20. Carpools will be available from RCPC beginning at 9:30 AM. 

Presbytery Meeting - Snacks

We are hosting the Presbytery on Thursday, October 22, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We are providing a coffee break at 10:30 AM for 130 people. Volunteers are needed to provide brunch food, including ham biscuits, sausage balls, and pastries. Please contact Cindy Neathawk at 5407981169 or neathawkc@yahoo.com if you are able to provide some of the snacks.

Missing a Casserole Dish?

There is a stack of casserole dishes and food storage containers in the Fellowship Hall. If you brought food for the Tailgate for Hunger or other Fellowship event and left your casserole dish or food storage container behind, it is on the counter in the Fellowship Hall. Please take it home ASAP.

Candy Donations needed by Sunday, October 25 -- Drop off bags of candy in the Gathering Area for the trunk decorators to hand out at the Fall Festival.

Sermon Series: Bearing Fruit

October 11—25

The work of God's spirit is not just a comfort or consolation. The Spirit of God works in human beings and the Church to make an impact in the lives of our neighbors, communities, and beyond. Scripture describes this work as "bearing fruit." It is the outcome of the work of God in and among us. These passages help us explore this image more fully as we seek to bear fruit in our common life.

10/18 – Galatians 5:22-23 & Matthew 7:15-20 – Sour Grapes

10/25 – James 3:13-18 & Philippians 1:3-11 – Fruit Makes Right

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.

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.

Mission Partner Support

Each month, we designate all cash and coin to one of our local mission partners. For the month of October, we are supporting Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM). 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 RAM in the text box. As of October 11, we have collected $1,016 for RAM

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

Wrapped in Love

Are you interested to learn how to crochet or knit? Do you have a yarn project you'd like to work on surrounded by friends? Come join the Wrapped in Love ministry for coffee and refreshments on Saturday, November 7 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM at the home of Emily Jarrett. We have yarn, crochet hooks, and knitting needles available for those who need them to make prayer shawls and blankets. RSVP to Rebecca Whaley at rebecca.whaley@gmail.com for more details. All ages and experience levels welcome!

Tailgate for Hunger a Huge Success!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Tailgate for Hunger last month. The Hunger Mission Group is thrilled to announce we raised $11,070.52 over the course of the month. At the tournament we had 16 teams and 14 sponsors. We would like to extend a hearty congratulations to this year's winning team: Simon Whaley and Brad Rottenborn.

Hunger Mission Packing Volunteers

The Hunger Mission is off to a great start with packing food for Lincoln Terrace Elementary student backpacks! We pack food most every Thursday morning 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. Many thanks!

Hard Plastic Recycling

Our recycling of hard plastic, Styrofoam, and e-waste is on Sunday, October 25, by the shed in the parking lot from 9:30 AM to 9:50 AM, and the 30 minutes after church. Please keep all recycling in plastic bags to help consolidate the waste, because the plastic bags can be recycled. Exceptions include large/heavy e-waste (like computers) and large Styrofoam blocks. If you have smaller amounts of hard plastic recycling that you want to get rid of between collections, you may use the 4 bins off the alley between the Chapel and Sanctuary. Do not use for e-waste or Styrofoam. REMEMBER that plastic film is recycled in the bin in the Fellowship Hall. And please, no glass.

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, Bill Haynie, 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.

(Prayers request as of Friday, October 16. Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)

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

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