April 12, 2021
Spring 2021 Service Times:
9:00 AM - Sanctuary | 11:00 AM - Sanctuary & Livestream
Baby & Toddler Nursery Available at 11:00 AM Service - Reservation Required.
Wednesday Communion Service Resumes Outdoors at 7:00 AM.
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Yes, I am “that person”, the one who throws around names. Here I go. I was a friend of Katie Couric in college. She was brilliant, beautiful, and kind. She told me, and others, that she was born on a “sunny day”.
I was born on March 15th. My mother was expecting me late April but after she slipped on some ice (a LATE spring in Cincinnati) I decided to make my entrance. I was impatient to begin my life and I’ve spent my entire life being impatient. My mother used to say that the prayer repeatedly said for me was, “God grant Nancy patience, but please grant it NOW!”
I’ve always been in a hurry all my life, for what, I’ve never been sure. Being a “spring” baby has been a lot of fun. As a child, my birthday party photos show beautiful budding trees, spring dresses, and daffodils. As I grew, my birthday seemed to always fall during spring break, and I spent those birthdays on beaches in South Carolina and Florida, early on with my family, later years with my best friends. I’ve lived in some very cold places, but March, wherever I found myself, was warm and joyful.
Fall is a special time and I revel in the oranges, reds, and golds. BUT… spring is when I feel hopeful and grateful. The pinks, the pale yellows, the brilliant blue skies, the greening of the grass… I notice all of them. I am a spring baby and I rejoice when spring arrives.
This is also the time Christians celebrate Easter. Through resurrection, we believe that life has triumphed over death, good over evil, hope over despair. This resurrection is a sign of God’s great power and nothing is too great for God to achieve.
I love spring… Daffodils, tulips, blooming trees, Easter, Peeps!
Jesus Christ has risen indeed. I am full of gratitude and hope.
Dear God, thank You.
Every spring, we realize that a new beginning is coming as we enjoy the warmer air, the budding trees, the daffodils, the singing of birds as they flitter through the trees, and the greening of the grass.
All of this happens as we celebrate Your resurrection. We celebrate the love You have for us. Help me to take time every single day, to appreciate the beauty of the mountains, the gurgling of the rivers, the beautiful blue skies and the green fields.
Help me to always put YOU first and help me to take more time to study, pray, and worship you.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen
-Nancy Trussell, Deacon
I love these three quotes about spring, please enjoy!
“Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.”– Bishop Reginald Heber
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”– Sitting Bull
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.”– Bernard Williams
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Open Door Prayers
Join us each Tuesday for Open Door Prayers. Enter through the side doors of the Sanctuary on the alley or playground side of the church. Be sure to wear your mask. Come to light a candle, to pray, to admire the beauty of the sanctuary, and to hear beloved songs of the season.
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Wednesday Communion Service
The Wednesday morning Communion Service began again last Wednesday. You are invited to join us in worship at 7:00 AM in the Columbarium. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
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Fellowship Parking Lot Picnics
Starting April 14, Fellowship Dinners to Go will again become Fellowship Parking Lot Picnics. Come sit out in the parking lot with your church family Wednesday nights in April. The final Parking Lot Picnic for the spring will be Friday May 7 in conjunction with our Variety Show. Register for dinner online or by calling the office by Tuesday at noon. Registration is required by noon on Tuesday the week of the event either using the online link in the This Week @ RCPC or by calling the church office, 540-343-5541 x 111 and leaving Anne Currin a message. Meals are a suggested donation of $7 for an individual 12 years and up, $5 for children ages 4-11, and free for 3 and younger, with a max of $20 for a family. If you have made a reservation, please plan to attend. We always welcome new volunteers!. Please contact Matt Cook at matt@cookmail.us or 540-903-4685 if you are interested.
April 14 Menu:
Southwestern Alfredo, Broccoli, Salad, Garlic Bread, Veggie Alfredo
April 21 Menu:
Grilled Drumsticks, Collard/Mixed Greens, Mac’n Cheese, Homemade Bread, Grilled Veggie Medley, Cupcakes
April 28 Menu:
Pork BBQ (with Bun), Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Chips, Mushroom BBQ, Fruit Salad/Jello
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Church Receptionists
As we are moving closer to have “herd immunity” at RCPC we are looking at the receptionist area. The plan is to keep the front door always locked. We will have a button to push at the receptionist desk to let visitors into the church as needed. We want all receptionists to feel comfortable with being at church. For your information, the church staff members are fully vaccinated as well as all preschool teachers and staff. We will continue to wear a mask when a visitor comes in, but you do not have to sit at the desk the whole time with a mask on. The mask will be required if someone walks up to the desk.
We want everyone to feel safe coming to church and serving. The plan is possibly to have a receptionist beginning in July, but this is still pending the guidelines of the CDC.
If you are interested in serving RCPC through this ministry, please contact Anne Currin at anne@rcpres.org. Thank you for your consideration. |
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Fellowship Hike & Picnic at Green Hill Park
Please join us for a short hike and picnic lunch on Saturday, April 24 at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia. This is a family-friendly outing and a great way to explore local trails. We will meet at 11:00 AM at the church or you can meet us directly at Green Hill Park. To RSVP and for more details, please email Liz Heddleston at lizcbarry@gmail.com.
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RCPC Variety Show
If you enjoyed the Untalent Show in March of 2020, we’ve got a show for you! Join us on May 7 at 7:00 PM in the Parking Lot for the RCPC Variety Show.
You’re invited to show off your talent, whatever that may be, during an outdoor, socially distant, parking lot show! Signups will be available in the This Week @RCPC throughout the month of April. All acts need to sign up by Sunday, April 25. If your act requires musical accompaniment, please indicate that on your sign-up and our AV crew will work with you ahead of time to ensure music is in the correct format.
The thought of performing terrifies you? You’re invited to enjoy the show! Bring a camp chair and spend time with your church family. You can even make it a night of dinner and a show by signing up for the last Fellowship Parking Lot Picnic for Spring 2021. Dinner is at 6:30 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
Rain Plan: Both the dinner and show will move to Saturday, May 8 at the same times. If Saturday is rained out, dinner will be drive-thru only at 6:30 PM. Variety Show acts will have an opportunity to record their performance for inclusion in a Virtual Variety Show.
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Stump the Preacher Summer Sermon Series
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
Does ALL scripture have a purpose? Do ALL the words of the Bible guide us to the Living Word, Jesus Christ? We're going to find out this summer! From April 11 to May 16, you have a chance to submit ANY passage from the Bible (the sixty-six books of the Protestant canon) that you'd like to challenge your ministers to preach from. After May 16, we will draw 13 scriptures at random that will be the preaching texts for the summer.
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Baby & Toddler Nursery
We will be re-opening our Baby and Toddler Nursery returned last Sunday for the 11:00 AM worship services. Due to COVID precautions, families will register their baby or toddler for a space in the nursery. There will be 4 spaces available in the Baby Nursery and 4 spaces available in the Toddler Nursery. We will have two caregivers in each room. We have hired two Nursery Caregivers and are seeking to fill two more paid positions for our nursery. If you know someone who may be interested in this position, please let Leigh Sackett know - leigh@rcpres.org
We are also seeking one adult volunteer each Sunday to serve in our nursery. This is a wonderful way to honor the vows of baptism and get to know the young families and the littlest ones of our church.
Sign-up your here to volunteer or you can contact Leigh Sackett. Once you have signed up, Leigh will contact you with any additional information you need to know about volunteering in the nursery. Thank you for your consideration in being a part of this ministry!
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Adult Small Groups for 2020-2021
There are available spaces in our small groups for new participants. If you have not been a part of small groups in the past now is a great time to join! Sign-ups for small groups will be made available online, or you can contact Leigh Sackett if you would like more information about our small groups.
Our small groups will be reflecting on the previous Sunday worship service sermon and the Sunday scripture. A weekly small group lesson is provided, participants discuss and share how the word read and proclaimed connects to our world today and to our personal lives and experiences.
Below is a list of our small group offerings and facilitators.
- Andrew Whaley – Mondays, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – via Zoom
- David Dixon – Tuesdays, 4:30 pm – Church Parking Lot
- Jennifer Bryant (30-something women’s group) – Tuesdays, 8:00 pm - via Zoom
- Leigh Sackett - Wednesdays, 7:00 pm – via Zoom
- Elise Hansard - Fridays, 10:00 am – via Zoom
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South Sudan Well Project - Well, What’s Missing?
Leisa Wagstaff, the recently retired Mission Co-worker, was at Nyakuron South in January. Here she is looking at the well that was dug, thanks to the generosity of RCPC. By now the water should have been tested and the best way of getting it to the surface should have been determined. That has not happened—the celebration of Christmas followed by conflict followed by a Covid outbreak has put everything at a standstill. That doesn’t mean that the pump will not be installed. As the patient South Sudanese understand, it will happen slowly but surely, bit by bit. This pause gives us time to assess how we might continue our help. It was not expected that we would raise the $6,000 to dig the well by ourselves, but we did! In fact, there will be enough to get the water tested, and the best method of pumping the water determined. Well, now you know what’s missing—the pump to get the water. Estimates for the various water-pumping methods, until Jim McGill (Mission Co-worker), has the pump test results :
- Hand pump - $2,000 (maximum 250 people)
- Electrical submersible pump (run by generator requiring fuel) & storage - $4,000
- Solar pump and storage - $7,000
Can we make this our gift to the children and the members of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan at Nyakuron South? There would be a plaque placed at the well as a reminder of the faith in a loving God that we share.
Help 2 Others
Donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/WellDonation (indicate South Sudan Well in the notes section) or by check mailed or dropped off to the church (indicate South Sudan Well in the memo line) made out to RCPC.
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Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build 2021
Once again, RCPC will be participating in Habitat for Humanity’s Apostles Build. This year’s build will be a two-story, front-gabled house for Desanek Trent and her two children. In lieu of a Wall-Raising ceremony, an 8 ½ foot 2x4 will be provided for each participating church to decorate and/or place well wishes. RCPC’s 2x4 will be in the Gathering Area for those who wish to leave a message of blessing or encouragement. On April 15, the decorated board will be taken to the construction site and nailed to a “Wall of Faith” as part of a permanent wall in the house. We are currently scheduled to sponsor work at 1932 Moorman Ave. Roanoke 24017 on Wednesday, May 5, and Saturday, May 15. The workday is from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM. We need up to 10 construction volunteers for each day. No experience is required but OSHA regulations require that construction volunteers be 16 or older. Habitat will provide all necessary tools, safety equipment, water, coffee, and snacks. Volunteers need to bring their own lunch and a refillable water bottle. Work gloves are strongly suggested. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy closed-toed shoes. Our past experiences with Habitat for Humanity have been positive and rewarding. Those interested in participating can sign-up online here.
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Pump-A-Pint Spring Blood Drive
RCPC’s Spring Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, April 27, from 1:30 PM until 6:00 PM. The following precautions will be implemented: face masks are required, only donors will be admitted, and social distancing protocols will be observed.
The American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, providing donors insight into whether they have been exposed to this coronavirus. More information about this testing can be found in April issues of This Week @ RCPC. These tests are not COVID-19 diagnostic tests.
If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please call Lillian Alexander at 343-0705 or email at alexanderlj@yahoo.com. You may also schedule an appointment online at REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG or by calling 1-800-RED-CROS (733-2767). Mark your calendars now for the remaining 2021 Blood Drives: July 6 and October 5.
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APRIL BIRTHDAYS
April 12-18
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12 Ann Rutherford
13 Alex Bond
Liz Holsinger
Handy Paul
Sandy Paul
14 Navi Reynolds-Saint
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15 Bradley Caldwell
Betty Hosp
Joshua Jager
16 Katherine Davis
Grace Hamlin
Vickie Haynie
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17 Eli Boylan
Les Brown
Barry Caldwell
Dinah Morris
Bobby Pickel
Lois Pollash
Lucy Travers
Deanne Vance
18 Emilie Biddle
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The Herald
The Herald is a monthly newsletter that comes in your mailbox the first of each month. The deadline for articles is the 10th of each month to appear in the next month's newsletter.
This Week @ RCPC
The This Week @ RCPC is published every Monday morning via email. This publication is for weekly activities at RCPC. If you would like to receive this email please contact Julie Satterwhite at julie@rcpres.org or call the church office at 540-343-5541 x 107. The deadline for the This Week is noon on Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. |
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Prayer Requests
Alice Cabaniss, Rachel Erb Birch, Dawn Blakeman, Mary Frances Donnelly, Bill Gordge, James Harrison, Dick Kepley, Susan Lindstrom, Bruce Long, Helen Lovelace, Ann Moomaw, Susan Moore, Bob Nelson, Jennifer Owen-O'Quill, Lois Pollash, Marion Raney, Bryan Tims, Marcia Via, and all caregivers.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are extended to Susan Honeycutt on the
passing of her mother, Ana Emans on April 4.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are extended to the family of Ann Totten, a long time member of RCPC,
on her passing on April 5.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are extended to Warren Via on the passing of Marcia this pass week.
(Prayers request as of Friday, April 9 Names in bold indicate an addition to the prayer list this week.)
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Monday, April 12
9:00 AM - Preschool
10:00 AM - Monday Morning Prayer Group
1:00 PM - Small Group - Whaley
7:00 PM - Deacons
Tuesday, April 13
9:00 AM - Preschool
12:15 PM - Preschool Board Meeting
12:30 PM - Open Door Prayers
4:30 PM - Small Group - Dixon
7:15 PM - Bells
8:00 PM - Small Group - Bryant
Wednesday, April 14
7:00 AM - Communion Outdoor Worship
9:00 AM - Hunger Mission Packing
9:00 AM - Preschool
3:45 PM - God Alive Hiking
6:00 PM - Fellowship Parking Lot Picnic
7:00 PM - Small Group - Sackett
7:00 PM - Confirmation Class
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Thursday, April 15
9:00 AM - Preschool
10:00 AM - Centering Prayer
8:00 PM - Evening Prayer Service
Friday, April 16
9:00 AM - Preschool
10:00 AM - Small Group - Hansard
Sunday, April 18
9:00 AM - Worship
11:00 AM - Worship
5:00 PM - Youth Bells
6:00 PM - Youth Group - 6th Graders to Join
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1837 Grandin Road SW, Roanoke, Virginia 24015 540.343.5541 |
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