Worship Service Times

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

10:00 AM - Sunday school

Baby & Toddler Nursery is available

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 15: 4-7

Steadfastness and encouragement. They’re repeated by the Apostle Paul here. Steadfastness and encouragement. It’s an important combination in cultivating and sustaining hope.  

Consider one without the other. Someone can be steadfast- reliable, dependable, there when you need them. But they can be critical, always seeing what went wrong, continuously developing ways you could improve. This is an incredibly loyal person, but over time they leave others diminished because their steadfastness was absent of encouragement.

But encouragement that is not steadfast is unhelpful as well. This is the person who praises you and thanks you and expresses their desire for your well-being, but then all of a sudden they no longer text or call. They stop showing up. And in crises, they disappear. You can’t trust encouragements from someone who is dependable. They're like sugary candy, pleasurable in the moment but no real nourishment.

But God, we read, is one of steadfastness and encouragement. God accompanies us, equips us, sees what is possible, and draws even the impossible out of us. With God there is a faithfulness that never leaves or abandons and a word that encourages us to keep after the way of Jesus and that, indeed, that way is trustworthy and ultimately full of joy.

As we grow into people of hope, we become people who carry forth both steadfastness and encouragement. Those two traits knit together the Church into a witness to the joy of God in the world, and we come to sing in one voice of the grace we know.

I don’t know of anyone whether in Advent or any other time, he does not need a friend or companion who is steadfast and encourages. So acknowledge those who are steadfast encouragers to you and commit to being a steadfast person of encouragement to another. It is how we sustain our hope.

PRAY:

Help us, O God,

To sing with one voice,

To be steadfast

To be encouragers

And to experience again and again

Your steadfast encouragement too.

Amen.

-The Rev. Andrew C. Whaley, Head of Staff

New Financial Administrator

This week we welcomed Lori Tosoni to our staff as our new Financial Administrator. Lori brings a long background in accounting and financial management to our office and is returning to the workforce after being home with her two daughters for the past ten years. She and her husband moved to Roanoke from Ontario, Canada ten years ago for his work and recently this year became United States citizens. Through the end of the year, Lori will be operating with the same contacts as Lois Morgan did, so you can call her at the office at Lois's extension (107) or email her at lois@rcpres.org.

Poinsettias for Advent

If you would like to dedicate a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone special, please complete the form linked below with name(s) for dedication or complete the envelope in the pews and place the envelope in the offering plate. Please note on the memo line of the check "Poinsettia” or the notes field if paying online. The deadline to order is December 11. A list will be included in the bulletin on December 18. The cost per dedication is $12.

Order Form

History Committee Update

You must have heard about it! Have you actually taken a look yet? On October 28, the RCPC History Committee debuted an accessible link on the current RCPC Website. So take a look and see what you might be missing in discovering information about our church, its people, building, activities, and ministries. Questions? Contact Carole R. Banks at pixiebowls@gmail.com

Do not be transformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12: 2

As Christians, the Christmas season is complicated. On the one hand, we move through the rituals of Advent, lighting a candle each week for love, hope, peace and joy, as we move to celebrate the humble birth of our Savior. On the other hand, we move through this season with ads coming at us from every direction encouraging us that the only way to show our love is through spending and adding more presents to the pile under the tree on Christmas day. It’s a paradox we all sit in. As Christians, we are to be transformed not to this world but to be transformed by Christ. This transformation of our minds in Christ enables us to walk through the Christmas season with our faith shaping our giving practices. One easy way for our faith to shape our giving practices at Raleigh Court is to participate in Alternative Giving.

Alternative Giving encompasses a variety of ways to give intentionally. Through physical items that provide those in need in our community much-needed items to giving financially in honor of a loved one to an organization in our community – we can give this Advent. Alternative Giving continues throughout Advent. Here are all the ways you can join in this faith practice this year:



• You can donate a gently used stuffed animal to go to our Police and Fire Departments to be given out to kids in need, by placing your stuffed animal in the stable in the Gathering Area by Christmas Day.

• You can participate in the Sudanese Refugee Gift Drive supporting Christmas for refugee families in our area. Sign up by picking an item off the tree in the Gathering Area or sign-up using the link found in the This Week. @ RCPC. You will sign up to give a specific gift for a specific young person. Drop off your wrapped gift in the Gathering Area by Sunday, December 11.

• You can participate in the Turning Point Drive supporting adults and children of intimate partner and family violence by collecting specific items to meet their needs during the month of December. The list of items is below and can be dropped off in the Gathering Area by Sunday, December 11. Items needed: clear shower curtains, white twin sheets, umbrellas and bus passes.

• You can participate in the West End Center collection of socks and underwear aiding in each child at the West End Center receiving a full outfit with the efforts of other local churches. Sign up to give using the link found in the This Week @ RCPC. You will sign up to provide a specific size of socks and underwear for a specific student. Drop off the socks and underwear in the appropriate box in the Gathering Area by Sunday, December 11.

• You can give a gift by donating to our mission partners in honor of a loved one. Stop by the tree in the Gathering Area, use the link below, or visit our Community Christmas Tree on Grandin Road near the prayer line. Whether by physical form or an online sign-up, let us know the gift you wish to give to support mission partners (Family Promise, House of Bread, RAM, Hunger Mission Team, Haiti Mission Group, Presbyterian Community Center, and West End Center) in honor of your loved one. Submit your gift online or submit the form and payment via check or cash to the church office to the attention of Anne Currin. Whichever way you donate to our mission partners in honor of a loved one, the Deacons will collect the submitted information to mail a card of thanksgiving to your loved ones. All Forms must be submitted by Sunday, December 18.

House of Bread Update

House of Bread will be a vendor at the Wasena Last Minute Market on Wednesday, December 14, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, where we will be selling goodies packaged for Christmas gift-giving. A limited quantity of items will be available for pre-order and can be picked up at the Wasena market or at the RCPC fellowship dinner and Christmas pageant, which is the same evening. To place an order, please visit our website. We are also in need of volunteers to help with the event; please contact Lisa Goad if you would like to bake or help set up at the event. Thanks for your support of this ministry!

Haiti Mission Group Update

The Haiti Mission Group gives thanks yet again for the generosity of the RCPC congregation in their support of the lunch feeding program at St. Timothee School in Haiti. The final total of contributions following our recent Minute for Mission announcements is $8500, which will allow for hot and nutritious lunches to continue to be served each school day. Please pray for the children of Haiti and their country.

Sudanese Mission Updates

Achol and Kingston have moved to a wonderful apartment on the second floor of a renovated historic house and are in need of a small bookshelf, a dresser, a chest of drawers or other storage pieces. Please contact Sandra (540-330-3451; sandrarcpc@yahoo.com) if you have any to donate.

Prayer Requests

Easton Beckett, Dawn Blakeman, Donn Branch, Brendan Brown (Kathy and Les Brown's grandson), Jennifer Bryant, Eugene Cooley, Courtney and Ken Cronin, Billy Grove, Norma Hall, Skip Hastings, Susan Lindstrom, Joe McCrobie, Betsy Neathawk, Ramona Simmons, Nancy Smith (Alan Smith’s mother), Roger Tims, Jill Wood, and all caregivers.

(Prayers request as of Friday, December 2. 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