Penny Lane Goes Online!

Penny Lane, the infamous Australian Shepherd who is the subject of the children's sermon each week, is online! Her parents left town for a few days, and she's staying at the Pet Safe Village (http://www.petsafevillage.com/) in Knoxville, TN. Go to: http://12.198.248.30/jpegview.htm and choose Camera 4. As long as she's not playing outside, you can see Penny Lane!

(Note to users: Java is required to utilize the webcam feature.)

Come to church this Sunday to see what Penny Lane encountered at the Pet Safe Village!

Christmas Service Schedule

Sunday, December 21
9:30am, Children's Play
11am, Morning Worship
5:30pm, Community Candlelight Service

Wednesday, December 24
11pm, Communion Service

Sunday, December 28
9:30am, Sunday School
11am, Morning Worship

Deacons Announce Christmas Ministry

Matthew says Jesus came "not to be served, but to serve." Because the Deacons at RPC feel a desire to serve God and neighbors who have served them so generously, they are once again helping a family who cannot afford Christmas presents for their children. They adopted a family of three--a one year old male, a six year old female, and their single, working mother. You are invited to be part of this giving tradition by either contributing money to the Deacons (before December 17 when they will go shopping for the children) or buying a gift yourself (please bring to the church for delivery no later than December 21).

The one year old boy wears size 3T and is need of a coat and outfits. He also loves cars/trucks and educational toys. The six year old girl wears size 7/8 shirts and size 8/10 coats and needs both. Hannah Montana is her favorite star, and she adores purple, pink, and green.

Thank you for supporting children in our community who are in need.

Deck the Halls...

Snow on the ground, joy in our hearts, peace on our minds.

Time to deck the halls! Join us for carol-singing at 3pm and decorating the sanctuary at 3:30pm this Saturday.

Work off some of that turkey and mashed potatoes stringing garland, lighting the tree, and setting up the Nativity.

(Homemade) Soup Luncheon this Sunday

Following worship this Sunday, November 16, the Christian Education Committee invites you to attend a soup luncheon in Fellowship Hall. We'll have homemade soups--chicken, vegetable, and potato, to name a few--from our finest cooks, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches and dessert.

Donations are accepted, but certainly not required. Any donations received will benefit sending our children to Bluestone, the annual Christmas play, Vacation Bible School, and other Christian Ed projects that pop up along the journey.

Thanks for your support. See you for soup on Sunday!

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection: Rosemary Carter

Our dear sister Rosemary Carter died Sunday morning. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. A service of witness to the resurrection will be held here at the church on Tuesday morning at 11am. Please keep her family close in prayer.

Officer Nominations Due November 9th

The Nominating Committee requests that members turn their nominations in for officers in the Class of 2012 by Sunday, November 9th. They will meet the following night to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider a slate of officers.

This year, we need two elders, three deacons, and one trustee. Also, the committee will work to fill our committees with passionate people. If you feel called to serve and have yet to be nominated, nominate yourself! We need good folks...we need you...now!

Contact Stephen in the office if you have questions or suggestions.

Equipping Elders Workshop at RPC

The Presbytery of West Virginia held an Equipping Elders event at RPC this past Sunday. Participants came from Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers Counties, including Elders, Deacons, and Pastors of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Janice Johnson and Stephen Baldwin facilitated the workshop. At issue were committees. We asked, "How can they function efficiently and effectively in small church settings? What practices can we employ to involve people in the life of their church's ministry?" I'd give you our answers, but then I'd have to charge you--they were that good! Special thanks to the Deacons of RPC for hosting so hospitably.

Voting Values: War & Peace

Voting Values, our voter education workshop, continue tonight at 7pm in Fellowship Hall. We'll transition from economics to issues of war and peace (to use theological language), asking questions like: Should we talk to our enemies? Who will end the genocide in Darfur? What's the central front in the war on terror? When will we leave Iraq? What's just war theory? Was Jesus a pacifist? Come, share, decide.

Family Night, Oct 12 @5pm

Some things are just meant to go together--peanut butter and jelly, popcorn and movies, pizza and committees. Wait...pizza and committees??? This Sunday night from 5-7pm, we'll gather for a Family Night in Fellowship Hall. We'll all share a meal of salad and pizza together, before splitting into groups. Our children will watch "Chicken Little" while our youth and adults hear from the various committee chairs about what they do, what they need, and how YOU can help!

In our church tradition, everyone is a minister, blessed with skills and abilities to grow God's kingdom. Come and share yours with us. Besides, who could miss pizza and committees...together in the same room?

Nominating Committee

Each year, a committee forms to receive nominations from the congregation for the offices of Elder and Deacon. This is one of the most important and sacred duties of the church, and it can truly be an opportunity to deepen your faith in God and your community. The Book of Order requires at least two elders and one deacon to comprise the foundation of the Nominating Committee. Mike Dotson and Kay McCoy (elders), Sue Massey and Connie Stone (deacons) agreed to serve in the search for the class of 2011.

Nominations again will be taken from the congregation via a printed form in the bulletin. But we are also seeking a representative group of folks not currently serving as officers to sit on the committee. The more voices around the table, the better the slate of officers we will be able to present. If you would be willing to meet twice this fall in joining our efforts, please contact Stephen or the officers currently serving. Thanks for your assistance!

Bluestone Kid's Retreat

Two weekends ago, four of our folks participated in a retreat at Bluestone. Alexis Mays, a freshman at Marshall University, spent her weekend hanging out with Taylor Hill, Walker Hager, and Theresa Mays. Hooray for Bluestone!

Wish List

Material things do not a ministry make…but they sure can help! We are blessed with a number of folks who use their time and talents to help grow the church deep and wide. In order to take that growth to the next level, the Pastor and Session present this Wish List for your prayerful consideration. We've discerned these items as needs which would enhance our ability to do ministry:


Mission
o Van (transportation for fellowship and service projects)—$5,000
o Website domain name—$30/annually *BOUGHT*

Christian Education
o Children’s Bibles—case of 36 for $300
o Copier—$1,300 or $2,200 *BOUGHT*
o Rotation Props for Children's Sunday School—$300

Property
o Pressure wash building exterior—TBA
o Paint Fellowship Hall—$150 w/member labor, $500 for hire
o Decorate upstairs education room--$500

YOUth
o General Fund (supplies, food, fellowship)—$500
o Air Hockey Table—$500

Voting Values Class

Confused by all the conflicting news coverage? Distracted by e-mail rumors about candidates? Curious to find out what the future President of the United States believes about the issues that matter to you? Plan on attending "Voting Values" at RPC.

We'll meet each Tuesday night in October at 7pm leading up to Election Day on November 4. Each week we'll address a different set of major policy issues--war and peace, health care, the economy, and social issues (education, crime, church/state relations). The purpose of the class is to ensure that people of faith are educated about the issues and the candidates when they walk into the voting booth.

Stephen will lead the class, as his research specialty is the intersection of religion and politics in America. He previously worked in US Senator Jay Rockefeller's (D-WV) Washington office, State Senator Roy Herron's (D-TN) campaign, and State Senator Jack Johnson's (R-TN) campaign.

Bring an inquiring mind, questions, and a friend or three!

Sympathies to the Honaker Family

Our dear sister Ruth Honaker died on Friday. She was a long-time member of Ronceverte Presbyterian and served as both an Elder and a Deacon. Ruth held deep convictions about the need for evangelism, and she showed us all how to spread the Good News with candor and kindness. A service celebrating her life will be held here at the church on Tuesday at 2pm with a graveside service to follow at the Honaker Cemetery.

Ruth, we love you and will miss you.

Annual Church Picnic

it's that time of year already...church picnic!!! this Sunday, September 7, we'll gather at the Ronceverte Island Park for food, fun, and fellowship immediately following worship. we'll play for a while and begin eating around 1pm.

if you'd like to bring something, a side dish or dessert would be just great. we'll provide hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixin's.

come hungry, come with friends, come with dogs, come with joy, come!