Worship Service Times

9:00 AM - Chapel | 11:00 AM - Sanctuary & Livestream

10:00 AM - Sunday school

Baby & Toddler Nursery is available

Podcast

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35

There are approximately 75 children that come to school at RCPC every day. What an amazing ministry of the church to provide a safe place for these precious children to grown, learn, be loved, and share their love. Our preschool‘s curriculum is a combination of a learn through academic and play approach. We feel strongly that play is a vital way children learn…Children will also learn and develop best when they feel loved, safe, and have positive relationships with their teachers and peers…that is not just an opinion…its’s science!

When teachers go through training or new families come in to learn about our school, I will always share that we want our students to feel the love of their teachers, classmates, and God as they walk the halls, play with their toys, grow socially and emotionally and build their early literacy and math skills.

One way we try to teach our students to love one another and treat each other with kindness is by being role models that are kind, loving, and respectful to each other. Over the past few years, emphasis has been taken off of “GOOD” behaviors versus “BAD.” Trying to be “good” for maybe the right reasons, but resulting in wrong behaviors or motivations, can happen rather easily, even in preschool. For example, cleaning up the classroom may start off as playful and fun. However, there might be a child who gets very frustrated if another friend is not cleaning up the right way, fast enough, or has perhaps chosen not to clean up at all (can you imagine a two year old who doesn’t want to clean up and just wants to keep playing…shocking, right?) Our first friend may resort to grabbing the toy out of our 2^nd friend’s hand, or even pushing them in order to take the toy and clean it up, because cleaning up is the RIGHT thing to do. The child feels justified in their behavior, because, the cleanup song was on, and “everyone” knows, when the cleanup song is on, it means we clean up….AT ALL COSTS!

At these moments, we as teachers, try to role model how to be kind to each other, love each other and focus on ourselves versus judging someone else’s actions. What a great lesson not just for preschoolers, but for adults. Love one another, be kind, don’t judge. Jesus proclaims. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

-Betsy Prillaman 

Lenten Devotional

Throughout Lent, each day will feature a devotional and music selection available on the RCPC Blog. You can subscribe to the RCPC Blog to receive the daily Lenten Devotionals in your email inbox from Wednesday, February 22 through Saturday, April 8, 2023. Subscribe at the link below.

Easter Flowers

If you would like to dedicate Easter Flowers in honor or memory of someone special, please complete envelope in the pew rack with name(s) for dedication along with a check, note "Easter Flowers” in the memo. Place the envelope in the offering plate. Deadline to order is March 29. A list will be included in the bulletin on Easter Day, April 9. Cost per dedication is $13. You can also complete the form online at tinyurl.com/2023RCPCFlowers

Earth Care at RCPC

Earth care has been an important issue to many of us, and has been increasingly a topic of concern in many pockets throughout our church family. We’ve gotten to hear from Dr. Laura Hartman talking on environmental issues, and learned from our Youth about climate change and conservation at their local mission week last summer. Taking care of the environment and all of God’s creation is something we can all take a part in. We’d like to continue this conversation and find more ways we, as a congregation, can incorporate environmental care and conservation in our church and community.

If this is something you’ve been thinking about too, or want to learn more about, please let us know by contacting Abby Pierson at 864-361-6274 or by email at armorris24@gmaill.com. Let’s get together and find more ways we can combine earth care with our worship! 

Church Softball

Spring will be here soon and with spring comes Church Softball Season! We’d love to have a team play in the City Recreation League this Spring. In order for us to play we need at least 10 players and a willing team manager to coordinate the team. If being the softball team manager is up your alley please contact Jeff Bossert, chair of the Fellowship Committee at jbossert71@outlook.com

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS TODAY!

Preschool Book Fair Fundraiser

Celebrate National Read Across America Month by attending our Book Fair (ONLINE OR IN PERSON!) Join us on March 20 and 21 from 9:00-2:00 in the gathering area to discover amazing books, games and more from leading brands such as Usborne, PaperPie, Smart Lab, Kane Miller and Learning Wrap Ups. These books and learning tools make amazing gifts and every purchase will help fund new books for RCPC Preschool! You can also purchase online at https://z12205.paperpie.com/2506031

Adult Sunday School Offerings: February 26 - April 2

The Seekers: Sermon on the Mount by Amy-Jill Levine (DVD)

In Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine takes a detailed and colorful overview of Matthew 5-7, collectively known as Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. Through Dr. Levine’s engaging method of biblical interpretation, learners will come away with a solid understanding of the Sermon on the Mount in its full historical and theological context. Room 201

For Doubters, Skeptics and Cynics: A Lenten Study of Ecclesiastes

The writer of Ecclesiastes -- Qohelet, the Preacher -- speaks in a register that does not often appear in the Bible: philosophical grappling with a world apparently beyond comprehension, and a God who too often seems absent. Reading through Qohelet’s questions, answers, and musings should give us plenty to think about as we pass through the Lenten season where we remember Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the wilderness. Led by Mike Lockaby, Room 101

Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It by David Zahl

Seculosity makes the case that being religious is alive and well in modern society. While American organized religion may be declining, the desire to fill the void with everyday life pursuits is another form of worship. In our striving, we chase a sense of enoughness, but it remains out of reach. Human effort and striving is causing burnout, depression, and anxiety. Even our leisure activities, such as dating and movie watching, become to-do list items and once accomplished, we hope to feel contentment with ourselves. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet light-hearted tour of “performancism” and its cousins. Author David Zahl challenges the conventional narrative of religious decline claiming society has become religious about busyness and accomplishments. Zahl unmasks the competing loyalties our lives revolve around in a way that is approachable, personal, and accurate. Eventually, Zahl brings readers to a fresh appreciation for grace -- the grace of God in all its counter cultural wonder. Led by The Rev. Andrew Whaley, Room 102

Lent Opportunity for Generosity: Almsgiving

This Lenten season we will again be engaging in the spiritual practice of Almsgiving - giving intentionally of what we have to others. The hope is that items are brought in weekly so that each week we are reminding ourselves to be considerate of others as we do our shopping and go about our lives. 

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For the first three Sundays of Lent, we will be providing items to support the Presbyterian Community Center’s food pantry and for the last three Sundays of Lent, we will be supporting the food pantry as well as leggings for girls at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. When bringing in a canned item, a pull-top lid is preferable.

For the Presbyterian Community Center: 

• February 26 - Canned: Chicken, Tuna, Salmon, Beef Stew, and Chili; Canned and Dry Beans 
• March 5 - Canned: Spinach, Carrots, Beets, Mixed Veggies, Turnips, and Diced Tomatoes
• March 12 - Boxed Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancake Mix, Pancake Syrup, and Jelly

For Woodrow Wilson Middle School:

• March 19 - Canned or individually packaged fruit
• March 26 - Boxed Mac and Cheese, Noodles/Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce
• April 2 - Leggings, Size Girls 10 through Adults 10 ( https://www.target.com/.../girls-v-waist.../-/A-85363261? and https://www.target.com/.../women-s-high.../-/A-54572446? )

Meal Train for Roena Barbre

Roena Barbre had neck nerve surgery this week and may be in a neck brace for 4-6 weeks. Let's help Roena and Marvin with meals as she recovers! To sign up to provide a meal, visit https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/g66gme

Join the Meal Train Group

RCPC uses a dedicated email list to send out Meal Train requests. If you would like to join our group to be notified whenever there is a need, please email Katelyn Burton at katelyntucker09@gmail.com to be added. Thank you for your generosity.

Sudanese Mission Needs

A 10th-grade South Sudanese girl needs tutoring for her English 10 and Algebra I classes. Anyone willing and able to help please contact Sandra at 540-330-3451 or sandrarcpc@yahoo.com.

Two families need a reliable car. If you have one to donate (tax credit) or sell, please let Sandra know.

Prayer Requests

Roena Barbre, Dawn Blakeman, Lisa Boylan, Donn Branch, Brendan Brown (Kathy and Les Brown's grandson), Billy Grove, Susan Lindstrom, Joe McCrobie, Betsy Neathawk, Nancy Smith (Alan Smith’s mother), Roger Tims, and all caregivers.

(Prayers request as of Friday, March 17 Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)

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