Wednesday, November 11
Dear Riversiders,

Sunelle and I couldn’t be more grateful for the outpouring of love and support with which you have showered us since the birth of our son, James. Thank you! What an amazing experience it is to become parents, and it is all the more amazing to do so among such a supportive, kind community of faith. 

I wanted to share with you my plans regarding parental leave. Our church offers four weeks of leave for secondary caretakers, but I won’t plan to take this time away until the beginning of next year. Thankfully, my mother-in-law will be here with us through Christmas to help Sunelle at home, and in the meantime, I will be working normally (though more often from home!) through Advent and Christmas. Beginning Christmas Day, I will take my remaining vacation for 2020, and will begin my parental leave on January 3. I will return to the office on February 1st.

In the meantime, we will make plans to cover all responsibilities throughout the month of January to ensure that everything in the life of the church continues to proceed normally during my time away.

Once again, we are thankful for your love and support and look forward to introducing you to our son in due time, as the pandemic allows!

Grace and peace to each of you,

Brian

Please make your reservation for Worship early in the week as services have been filling up quickly. We know this can be frustrating but thank you for your patience as we strive to keep everyone safe. If you register online, please make sure you press the final "register" button at the end of the registration process. If you do not receive a confirmation email, you may not be registered. Please email emily.heeg@rpcjax.org or call (904) 537-3215. If you need to call in your reservation to the Church Office, please do so no later than Thursday.
Sunday, November 15
Congregational Meeting - This Sunday!
November 15
The session has called a congregational meeting immediately following 10:30 worship for the purpose of electing the next class of Deacons, Elders, and Trustees. To ensure that we have a quorum and can proceed with the meeting, those who are present for worship will be asked to remain for the meeting, while those watching online will be able to join the meeting via Zoom Webinar.
2021 Pledge Update
As of 11/10/20

143 pledges have been received totaling in $743,955
You can still pledge for 2021!
  • Online
  • via www.onrealm.org (must create / have an account)
  • Read full online pledging guide by clicking HERE
  • Fill out the pledge card that was mailed to you
  • Mail it the Church office this week with included return envelope
  • Print out your own pledge card
  • by downloading it HERE (or by clicking image of the pledge card below)
Safe Gatherings FAQ:
Q: My committee is considering meeting in-person on RPC property. How can we safely do that?

A: We have several meeting spaces that are marked for placement of chairs 6 feet apart. These include the library, Bittinger Hall, Rooms 302-303, and Thompson Parlor. To schedule a small group or committee meeting contact Jan Carr in the church office (jan.carr@rpcjax.org). Tell her the number of people you expect to be at the meeting, the date, and the time. She will ask you to answer a few questions, for example, is everyone in your group willing and able to wear a mask over their nose and mouth the whole time they are on campus? Jan will email the small group safety protocols to you. We also ask that you have a plan for including people in your group who need to continue meeting remotely. This can be as simple as having that person on speaker phone or the conference phone or it could be including them via Zoom or other electronic meeting resource. We ask that each group have a safety person who reads the safety requirements at the beginning of the meeting. It’s important that we all renew our commitment to safety every time we come on campus, especially as we add more in-person opportunities. 

[Please feel free to submit your questions or concerns to the Safe Gatherings Committee by email (Kathy Para, chair, parakathy@gmail.com) or by calling the church office (355-4585). Click here for more Safe Gatherings FAQs]
Service Opportunities in our Community
Click any of the images below for more information or to sign up!
All service opportunities can be found at www.rpcjax.org/serve/in-our-community
TODAY - You can still sign up!
Hope for the Holidays
Workshop for those who have lost a loved one

Wednesday, November 11, 5:00 - 6:30 pm

As the holidays are approaching the joy of the season can be difficult for those among us who have experienced the loss of a loved one. To help us through these difficult days Deacon Congregational Care Ministry has invited Community Hospice and Palliative Care to present a virtual workshop for us. The presentation will be through Zoom. Participants can attend virtually from home or come to Bittinger Hall to see the Zoom presentation. The workshop will include remembering the loved one, discussing grief and providing ideas for coping. Limited to 25.
Sunday School 9:30 - 10:15 am
Genesis: Abraham, Jacob and Joseph
in-person and online
taught by Ed Pratt-Dannals and Rev Dr. John Ragsdale
We will be continuing our study of Genesis begun in our series by Rev. Brian Lays. The class will pick up at Chapter 12 of Genesis.  
Photos from the Youth Photo Scavenger Hunt this past Sunday
PRAYER AND CARE
Remember those needing our prayers:

Prayer & Care: Kay Armstrong, Jennie Bibb, Roberta Birch, Tina Burrow, Mary Cousar, Judy Davidson, Brenda Dohn, Faith Erath, Robert Flynn, Madelyne Gillis (Marsha Mixon's mother), Tina Goedkte, John Hartman, Hans Huntsinger, Doug Hutchins (Denise Brennan's father), Allan Knight, Robert Littell, Joe Lopez, Christine Rosenbloom Lyons, Joe Meux, Gunnar Miller (Betsy Miller's husband), Tony Morrow, John Ormand (Lisa Taylor's brother), Mersida Porcic, Bill Schilling, Mae Singletary (Carol Proctor’s mother), Mike Small, Mildred Taylor, Bill & Suzanne Tomlinson, Don & Lois Ward

Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Rehab or Long Term Care (at home or at a facility): Shirley Ballowe, Fran Brissel, Margie de Bauernfeind, Peggy Fannin, Jack Hazard, Jim Hodge, Norma Hooker, Betsy Langston, Myra Pattishall, Judi Perdue, Dannette Robinson, Ruth Wrenshall
During this time, it is important for us to continue the ministries of the church. We hope you will be able to continue with your regular giving. You can give online through your Realm account, or by clicking the button above. You can also mail checks to:

Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park Street, Jacksonville FL 32204