Looking Toward Sunday

April 26, 2024

Dear Rumple Family,

This is the last of these articles I will write for a few months. That feels quite strange. But, I will try to contribute to my blog on a regular basis. I know that will help to fill in the void I will feel since I will not be writing articles and sermons each week. 

A reminder that the link to that blog is here:

Kathy's sabbatical blog 2024

This Sunday promises to be a special one in our life together at Rumple. We will welcome three of our active senior high youth into full membership at Rumple as they make their professions of faith. They have been in a confirmation class, coordinated by Lindsey, for over two months. They meet with the session early Sunday morning and will make their professions of faith (and one will be baptized) in worship with all of us supporting them.

My sermon will be directed towards our confirmands, but I trust there will be a message in it for all of us. Our text, from the letter of 1 John, chapter 4, will focus on love and our common calling to show and to share the love of God we have come to know in Jesus Christ.

One of our choral scholars and children’s choir director, Cara Lipson, will offer a special solo on Sunday which will bless all of us, I am certain.  And, the handball choir will play the prelude- their final time in worship until next fall. 

There will also be a short liturgy in the service for the beginning of my sabbatical. We will all have a part in that liturgy as well. I think it is good, for all of us, to mark the beginning and the end of my sabbatical with a common liturgy in worship as we promise to pray for and support one another during this time.  

And, if that was not enough for one worship service, it’s also the final Sunday of the month so we will receive the Pennies for Hunger offering.  

After worship the Fellowship Committee invites you to join in a reception in honor of our three confirmation class members, Ellee, Sheridan, and Kate, down in the fellowship hall.  

I look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary or online this Sunday as we continue to celebrate this Easter season of new life and great joy!

As a final note:

While I am away on Sabbatical, this introductory article will look different many weeks. On the weeks when Rumple staff are preaching (Dave Henry and Stephanie will be preaching a total of 4 times while I am away) there will likely be a column like this in the Slate and Stone. When we have guest preachers, this introductory column will include a bio and picture about the guest preacher. There may also be a block each week encouraging you, the regular attendees to Rumple each Sunday, to consider attending the 8:45 worship service. With all the construction on Main St. and on the Rumple campus, we expect parking to be an even bigger issue this summer than in the past. Dave is working hard to have special music at every early service this summer. The children’s committee is planning special child friendly worship for the four 8:45 services outdoors (June 2, July 7, August 4, and September 1.) There are lots of reasons that will be a service you will want to attend this summer! 

I will be praying for you throughout my sabbatical. I am so incredibly grateful for the gift of this time away and look forward to my return in late July.

Easter blessings.

Kathy

Pastor Kathy Beach will begin a three month sabbatical on Monday, April 29. She will return to Rumple on Monday, July 29. The congregation is invited to share in a sending liturgy in worship this Sunday, April 28.

Please keep in your prayers:  Family of Ruth George on her death on 4/20; Deatra Sellers on the death of her mother, Lucy on 4/16; Kathy Earley, recovering from hand surgery; Jim Ruff; Rene Cuthill, recovering after a hospital stay; Sam Reep; Molly Bowden; Christopher, son of Joan Chater; Megan, niece of Bob and Janet Stout; Confirmation class: Ellee Bishop, Sheridan Brasier, and Kate Rex; Lou, friend of Debra and David Brenner; Celeste, friend of Bill and Janet Goodman; Mary Ann Baggstrom’s sister, Connie; Leslie Novilla’s brother, Denny; Sarah Settlemyer’s friend, Theresa; Bill Hall; Barbara Leon’s former pastor, Jackie; Linda Steen; Jean, Sherry Wilson’s mom; Cullie Tarleton; Walt Baggstrom’s brother, Bob; Linda Steen's sister in law, Dot; Charles Coley; Betty Coffey; Patti Curtis' mom, Sally; Marion Stadler; Sylvia Kiker; Lynn Henderson’s mother, Frances; Lucy Aldridge; Linda Jerger. Condolences to Ruth George's family can be sent to her daughters:    Debbie Stamper

   390 Promenade Crt SW

   Marietta, GA 30064

   Julia Holderfield

   3155 Seven Lakes West

   West End, NC 27376

Congrats to Martha Jayne and Johnathan Rhyne on the birth of their granddaughter Josephine Everest “Jeannie” Torell, daughter of John and Crawford and little sister to Marian.

JOIN RUMPLE FOR Sunday morning worship April 28th at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary or live on our webpage or YouTube channel. Bulletins are available on the church website.

Know that each Sunday our worship service is livestreamed. If you are feeling under the weather, you are encouraged to stay home and worship online for the health and safety of others.

Cara Lipson, soloist, will be singing the Offertory piece Sunday,  I Stood on the River of Jordan (Colin Lett, Marques L.A. Garrett).



All previous online worship services can be found on YouTube.

The annual Mother's Day Breakfast at Rumple is on Sunday, May 12th. Come enjoy a light breakfast and some wonderful fellowship from 10:00-10:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. You do not have to be a mother to attend. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy food, fellowship, and to give thanks for all mothers.

Bair's Recital

Solo Piano Recital - Bair Shagdaron will play a solo piano recital featuring music of Bach and Liszt on Sunday, April 28th at 8:00 pm in Rosen Hall, Hayes School of Music, Appalachian State University. No admission charged.

Creation Care Sunday List In worship on April 21 Kathy asked everyone to list what they were thankful for or amazed by in God's good creation.  Please click here to see the incredible list of what folks contributed."

Thank you to Joe Carr for this beautiful picture that he submitted as his contribution. Kathy thought it was an appropriate picture to accompany this list.

Blowing Rock Cares Food Pantry

To assist the construction crews getting in and out of the building, we have eliminated the two shopping carts by the back door. We are now using a large tub with a lid for all food donations. The tub is marked Blowing Rock Cares and is located at the top of the ramp near the rear door. If you are leaving a food donation, please make sure the lid is secured to the tub. Also, as we look forward to summer and students being out of school all day, we are trying to add easy to microwave breakfast and lunches for kids at home all day. The following is a list of items that would work for that purpose:

Instant Oatmeal

Cereal

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Chef Boyardee, Hormel, or Dinty Moore Microwavable bowls

Microwavable Mac and Cheese

Canned Beanee Weenee

Microwavable Popcorn

Crackers

Fruit cups

VBS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church and St. Mary

of the Hills have partnered once again to offer Vacation Bible School to rising Kindergarteners thru 5th grade. This year, our VBS theme is “Hometown Nazareth,” where kids explore Jesus’ hometown and get a taste of what life was like in Nazareth in Biblical times. They’ll also be fascinated and engaged by stories of Mary. There’ll be fun and games, Nazareth market shops, and more.

VBS will be held at St. Mary of the Hills Monday through Thursday, June 17-20. It’ll begin at 9 am and end at noon Monday through Wednesday and will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on Thursday. Transportation assistance will be available for children who might need to go to daycare or somewhere similar after VBS each day. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll do our best to help make VBS an option for your child.  

Fill out the form here to register your child(ren). If you have any questions, reach out to Lindsey Eaton, Rumple’s Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries or Lindsey Herring, St. Mary’s Director of Christian Formation. 

Please join us in celebrating our only Senior Youth, Wyn Vickrey! We will recognize Wyn during Youth Sunday on May 5th, and we invite you to help us celebrate him with special gifts from the congregation! We have a laundry basket at Rumple House for you to drop off cards, gift cards, dorm supplies, or anything you want to share with Wyn. We will also bring the basket into the sanctuary on Sundays to make it easier to drop off gifts. We will present it to him on May 5th. Thank you for helping us congratulate Wyn and make him feel loved by his Rumple Church family.