Worship Service Times

10:00 AM - Fellowship Hall & Livestream

Baby & Toddler Nursery is available

Podcast June Herald

The wise in heart are called discerning,

    and gracious words promote instruction.

Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,

    but folly brings punishment to fools.

The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,

    and their lips promote instruction.

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

-Proverbs 16:21-24

My understanding is that Solomon, in this passage, is saying that a person who is wise shares wisdom with others, using soft, pleasant words as he offers this advice to others. We should all strive to discern God’s will and share what we learn and know with others,  but only using gentle and kind words.  Truth, when spoken in nice words and in a quiet voice, will be more persuasive to the those we are speaking to. 

The proverb describes wisdom of the heart and not of the mind. The effect is prudence, not brilliance. (I had to look up prudence in the dictionary).   Prudence, in other words, is practical wisdom for happy, joyful, and successful living.  And how should this wisdom be shared? With gracious speech and kind, sweet words.  Gracious speech is necessary. 

If you know me, you know that I am a NOISY person. I like to laugh, talk (too much), tell stories, and generally be the center of attention at all times. I’ve NEVER been accused of thinking before I speak, and as I’ve told my sermon group, I’ve never been told I OVERTHINK anything. And, I know there are times the members of this group wish that I could just BE QUIET. (In college we listened to a band called NRBQ. -I was told it meant, Nancy Roeder Be Quiet). I am not calm and I don’t speak “gently”.  I am generally a positive person and I take time to say kind things to people I meet.  However, there is another side to me. When someone disagrees with me, I can be quite intolerant, especially when it comes to politics, poverty, and my ideas of right versus wrong.  I can be negative, and preachy, condescending, and downright ugly.  You’d think I’d have learned that this way of communicating with others rarely, if ever,  has the result I’m hoping for – that is, to convince the other person that my position is the one and holy PERFECT stance.  I fail because my rude insensitivity turns the other person even further from the position I am espousing.  

In Proverbs, I am reminded that kind and gentle words are much more effective than the condescending and opinionated words I use. 

Gracious God, be with me today when I speak to others. Remind me to think before I speak. Help my words to be pleasant and nourishing to others. Let my words bring joy, and delight.  Give me opportunities today to share a kind word, a scripture, or a compliment, so that it can sow a seed of kindness in someone else’s heart. Amen.

-Nancy Trussell, Deacon

Renovation Updates

Repair work is underway on the east wall of the Sanctuary to prevent water intrusion. The playground is closed at this time.



Summer Worship

With our summer schedule, we do not have to reset the chairs in the fellowship hall each Sunday. From June 4 through July 23, we can leave the chairs set out in the room as they are. We thank everyone who has helped to clean up each week, but we can all take a breath for the next few weeks. Thank you!

Nursery & Children's Worship

Beginning Sunday, June 4 through July, the nursery will be in Room 203 and Children’s Worship will be in Room 102 due to renovations in the basement. 

Vacation Bible School “God’s Kingdom is Like ...”

July 31 – August 3, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Jesus showed us what God’s Kingdom is like through his actions and he also shared stories of what God’s Kingdom is like through his words. Come to VBS and hear the parables of Jesus and see them come to life! God’s Kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows and grows. God’s Kingdom is like hidden treasure, for God’s love is more precious than anything! God’s Kingdom is like the laborers of the fi eld, yet in this fi eld no matter what time you came to the fi eld and no matter who you are, you are loved and valued just as much as the first person to arrive … for God’s love is for everyone!

What is God’s Kingdom like to you?

Monday – Wednesday VBS will take place at RCPC. On Thursday we will be at Fishburn Park in search of God’s Kingdom! All Rising Pre-K – Rising 5th grade are invited to attend. Sign up today at tinyurl.com/RCPCVBS2023

June Book Study

Wade in the Water: Following the Sacred Stream of Baptism

In the month of June, you are invited into a small group discussion of this book by Eric Peterson. As we enter our "Summer @ the Lake" sermon series, it is appropriate to consider the holy use of water within our own faith life. Copies of the book will be available for participants, and you can sign up to join a discussion group at one of the times below:

• Mondays, June 5, 12, 19, & 26 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
• Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21, & 28 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Whether or not we are aware of it, everyone is being "baptized." While the church baptizes people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the culture in which we live is baptizing us into the trinitarian values of consumption, production, and acquisition. The respective baptism we choose to immerse ourselves in is consequential for the type of people we are becoming. Wade In the Water alerts us to the presence of these formative forces, so that we can choose the sacred ways that form us in the Jesus Way.

New Choir Chairs – Help Needed

New choir chairs are arriving the week of June 5 and assistance is need to unload and move them. If you are able to help please contact Linda Marshall (rcpcbuilding@rcpres.org) for more information.

Hometown Mission Week - Adult Support Needed

Twenty Youth will serve as the hands and feet of Christ throughout Roanoke July 24-26. We are in need of adults willing to give a day or two to help drive us to our volunteer sites and to serve among us. If you want to know more or are ready to say yes contact Isabella at isabella@rcpres.org.

CarePortal is coming to RCPC!

Did you know that Roanoke has the highest number of foster children in the state? I did not know that until just recently.

Often the most vulnerable in our community are also the most forgotten. This is especially true for at-risk children and their families. For many of us, an unexpected bill or need is simply an inconvenience. But for many families in our community, these unexpected needs create a crisis that could lead to instability and separation.

• CarePortal helps meet the need. It is a platform that connects our church to locally vetted needs of vulnerable children and families in our community.  It helps keep kids out of foster care, and it also supports foster families and kinship placements when kids must be relocated.
• CarePortal helps build community. The church works as a team with social workers and with each other to meet tangible, physical needs ranging from a gas card, paying an electrical bill to donating an old appliance or furniture depending on what's needed. Through responding to these needs, the church builds relationships with the families, and the families find support and community through the church. 
• CarePortal is part of Vision 30. “Every child in a thriving family, supported by a faithful community by 2030.”

If you are interested in learning more about this mission and how you can help, please contact Chris at chris.a.defalco@gmail.com. While the Herald says we are having an interest meeting on June 4th, we will wait to meet until August to talk through details and answer all questions. 

Presbyterian Community Center Updates

Pathways for Youth – High School Coordinator Position

Part time position is available with the Presbyterian Community Center; works with a professional staff to plan and implement programming in connection with a comprehensive after school program for at-risk youth and children. The open position is responsible for direct supervision of a high school group comprising 8-12 students.

Requirements: education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in human services, counseling, education, childhood development or related field; two to three years’ experience working with at-risk youth preferred. Applicant must have a love for, and desire to work with children of all ages, race, faith background, ability, and personality.

**Benefits are available to part-time employees.

Send resume to: Presbyterian Community Center, 1228 Jamison Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24013 or by email at njennings@pccse.org and/or call 540-982-2911 ext.116 and speak with Nicole Jennings, Director of Family Programs

Prayer Requests

Dawn Blakeman, Donn Branch, Brendan Brown (Kathy and Les Brown's grandson), Billy Grove, Steven Hampton (Mary Hampton’s brother), David Hollingsworth, Carson Kessler, Robert “Bob” Nelson, Snead Family, Roger Tims, and all caregivers.

(Prayers request as of Friday, May 26 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