RPC Newsletter. Just These Thoughts My Friends...

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1 RPC Newsletter Just These Thoughts My Friends... We are now almost half-way through our 100 Day Bible Challenge. During the first half of our readings, we have spent a good bit of time with Moses and the people of Israel, reading of God s choosing, calling, and provision for his people. We have been reminded of many of the important aspects of the life of David, a man who, scripture tells us, was a man after God s own heart. We walked with him through his miraculous defeat of Goliath, his military triumphs over those who opposed Israel, and his ascension to king. We read of his encounter with Bathsheba, leading him to sin greatly. We also read of his confession and repentance in Psalm 51. We watched as the kingdom was broken into two kingdoms, a northern and southern one. We have reflected on the judges and kings who fail God and his people, and the exile of God s people as a response to all of this. And we read over and over again the warning of the Prophets, calling the people of God to repentance and worshipful living. All of these readings have had a common strand; the love and faithfulness and righteousness of God. We will now turn our attention to the New Testament, and to the story of God s love, faithfulness, and righteousness as he brings about the new covenant for all who would believe. He does so through the life, death, and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. We will, in the days ahead, focus on so much of the life of Christ, and the life of his beloved church. The wisdom we received from the Old Testament will now be given even greater clarity as we reflect on the life, teachings, and service that Jesus models. We turn our eyes to Jesus and to his cross of sacrifice, and we remember all that God has accomplished for us; mainly our salvation. May the Lord bless his church as we continue to strive to know more and more of him, more and more of Jesus, and more and more of what it means to be his people. May God s Spirit strengthen us and encourage us daily to read, reflect, and respond to the word of God. Please note, we are just about two weeks away from Holy Week. Included in this newsletter is a special reminder of all that will take place between Palm Sunday and the celebration of Easter. I pray God will bless our travels through such a special and holy week. On the journey with you! Dr. Chris Leonard

2 Christian Education P AGE 2 RPC YOUTH THE GRID - APRIL 2019 HAPPENINGS Sunday, April 7 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 7:00 a.m. SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE! RPC MIDDLERS EASTER BREAKFAST (at the mall!) SENIOR HIGHS EASTER BREAKFAST 7:30 a.m. CHICK FIL A CHICK FIL A (Sunday, April 14 No Meeting! Happy Spring break!) (Sunday, April 21 NO MEETING! HAPPY EASTER!!!) Sunday, April 28 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. UPCOMING: Sunday, May 5 Sunday, May 12 TO SAVE A LIFE MOVIE NIGHT & DINNER! Outreach! 9:00 a.m./11:00 a.m. YOUTH SUNDAY! Week of May 26 Saturday, June 1 MINI-GOLF/BOWLING & DINNER OUT! END OF THE YEAR POOL PARTY! 8:00 a.m.- midnight Tuesday, July 23Saturday, July 27 CAROWINDS! at the Reagins (all youth & friends!) BIGSTUF! Panama City Beach, Florida VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - JUNE 17-20, 2019!! Rock s VBS To Mars and Beyond will help our children discover the wonders of God's universe. They'll become Voyagers on a journey through space, exploring where God's power can take them. Along the way, they'll learn how God walked with heroes of the Bible, and that God is always with them, too. This adventure begins June 17 and continues until June 20, so save these dates! We need a few more volunteers to guide our children through this incredible journey. If you can help, please contact the church office or Pam Fagan. Help us guide our children through this adventure with out-of-this-world fun, learning, and timeless Bible stories. Let s inspire our children to give glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine! April Memory Verse For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 April 7 April 14 (Palm Sunday) April 14 (Palm Sunday) April 20 Mary Catherine McCartha and Mundy Price Children Sing during 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services Ginny Edwards and Elizabeth & Chad Hinson EGGstravaganza

3 PAGE 3 Christian Education EASTER EGGSTRAVAGNZA Saturday, April 20 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. All children through 5th grade and their families are invited for a wonderful time of Easter crafts, walking through the Easter story, a Chick Fil A brunch, and an Easter egg hunt! Friends invited! New Women s Bible Study Wait and See" by Wendy Pope A 6 week Women's Bible study will begin at 9:30 a.m, Tuesday, April 2 - through May 7, at the Mission House. Short DVD lessons, no outside reading, homework and discussion done together. Cost for book is between $8-$10. Bring your Bibles. End time: 11:30 a.m. or earlier. We will explore the lives of Joseph, Moses, David, Nehemiah, Abraham and Sarah, and Noah to see how well they waited on God s promises and what we can learn from them. We ll discover how to trust God s ways rather than doubt His delays; look forward to the future, wait with God, not on God, experience God rather than endure the delay, focus on the Person of our faith - rather than the object of our wait, push through the pause by doing what we know to do. Stewardship Jesus tells us in Matthew 6: 19-21, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We give thanks to God for working through our church family who has generously laid up treasures in heaven to support His work at Rock. Through the 1 st quarter of 2019, we have exceeded receipts, and under the eyes of our ministry teams, are under budget on expenditures. As always, you can see the current financial report in the monthly newsletter, and please let us know if you have any questions. Also starting this month, we have added a link to the newsletter from Crown Financial Ministries. Here you will find current and timely articles on issues we, our nation, and the world are, or may be facing later, along with Biblical counsel, resources, and tools to help us navigate our way. You can also sign up to receive these articles directly from Crown on a weekly basis if so desired. These have been a great encouragement to me for many years. Again, thank you so much for your financial support in building God s Kingdom. Jim Moneyhun Articles for reading: (you may have to copy and paste link) America s debt? Quit Worrying about Monday Grocery Pick up Services

4 PAGE 4 Worship 250th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THEME: THE SOLID ROCK Celebrating the Past. Rejoicing in the Present. Flourishing in the Future. Sunday, May 17, 2020 One Worship Service with Dinner on the Grounds EASTER LILIES for EASTER SUNDAY! Easter lilies are a great way to remember or honor your loved one. The cost is $17. Please contact the church office or sign up with bulletin insert to purchase one this Easter season. Sunday Sermons 100 DAYS THROUGH THE BIBLE...SERMON SERIES April 7 Who is Your Peter? Dr. Chris Leonard Communion Sunday John 1:35-42 April 14 A Holy Week Dr. Chris Leonard Palm Sunday Matthew 21 selected April 21 Our Triumphant Holy Day Dr. Chris Leonard Easter Sunday John 20 selected April 28 If It Is True... Dr. Chris Leonard Acts 2 and 3 selected April Ushers: Randall Smith (head usher), Debbie Smith, Margaret Moore, Dennis Murphy *Childcare is available for all worship services for ages four and under.

5 PAGE 5 Worship The Adult Choir will present It Is Finished by Mary McDonald on Good Friday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. Through music and narration, this Tenebrae service will share the events of the last week of the life of Jesus. The choir will be accompanied by piano, instrumental ensemble, and percussion. The service of darkness, or Tenebrae (Latin for darkness ), dates back to the 4 th century. This service is observed during Holy Week and focuses on the final hours of Jesus life and his crucifixion. During the service, the sanctuary is dimly lit as the narration is read, the choir sings, and candles are extinguished. The darkness of the sanctuary reminds us of Jesus last night on earth, as he gathers with the disciples in the upper room, is betrayed by Judas, and finally is led to Calvary where he is crucified. The Christ candle is extinguished last, leaving the congregation in near total darkness. The service ends and the congregation departs in silence because the end of the story does not occur until Easter, when we celebrate the glory of the resurrection. Mark your calendar and plan to join your church family for this meaningful worship service. Date 9:00 Infants 9:00 a.m. Preschool 11:00 Infants 11:00 Preschool April 7 Angela Easterling Susan Chasteen Linda Goldstein Mary Catherine McCartha April 14 Palm Sunday April 21 Easter Sunday Ellen Warner Ginny McManis Brooke Holloway Debbie Dill/girls Elizabeth Hinson Samantha Nelson Mundy Price Lillian Moneyhun April 28 Samantha Black Lynn Johnson Lauren Sullivan Ann Stoddard Missions DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Saturday, May 4, 9:30 a.m noon Rock will be participating in the Miracle League baseball for special needs kids at Burton Center on Saturday morning, May 4. This has become an annual event for Rock. Last year was the first year and we had 12 covenant partners come out. Everyone had a great time on Memorial Day weekend. We have been assigned to bring at least 20 people to pair up with these kids for a baseball game. This is a great opportunity for adults to show how important it is to interact and love those with special needs. Even if you are not physically able to play with the kids there are other jobs such as gate monitors and concessions. Please be in prayer for this event and your participation in it. For more information you can contact Lee Goldstein at GoldGramps@gmail.com or Thank you so much for your support! Reflections from Nicaragua We had a camp (Vida Joven) in our area to follow up with our young people who had recently started their walk with Jesus. Frank s experience meeting Jesus was really great. However, when he got back home, the daily battles got more difficult. He thought it wouldn t be possible to continue his relationship with God because of all that was happening. However, in his time at follow-up camp, he experienced a time of reflection and a greater understanding that when he is far from God, things only get worse. He asked God for forgiveness and renewed his commitment to follow Him and serve Him. His goal is to grow closer each day with Jesus. He s also excited about the idea of one day opening a Young Life club in his own neighborhood. His dream is that one day many other young people will meet Jesus because of him.

6 PAGE 6 Women of the Church **WOC 4th ANNUAL WOMEN S REtREAt** Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28, 2019 THEME: TRAIN THE MIND Final payment of $35 is due on Monday, April 18, Our guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Page Creach, who is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Jerome F.D. Creach, professor of Old Testament studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a teen-aged son, and a Scottish Terrier. She also has a daughter who is married and lives on the West Coast. CIRCLE MEETINGS THIS MONTH! CIRCLE #1 CIRCLE #2 CIRCLE #3 Monday, April 1, 10:00 a.m. in the Mission House Thursday, April 4, 7:00 p.m. in the Mission House Tuesday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. in the Mission House WOC Retreat Planning Meeting Monday, April 8, 6:00 p.m. in the Mission House Miscellaneous Church News

7 PAGE 7 Miscellaneous Church News HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4/4 Connor Fagan Ian Fagan Max Snelling 4/5 Roland Snelling Travis Stevenson George Young, III 4/6 Dennis Judge Aidan Warner 4/8 Leah Johnson Nicholas Leonard Reece Miller 4/9 Bob Pacheco 4/11 Joshua Dunford 4/12 Hannah Collins 4/13 Danny Doss 4/14 Rhett Brock Chad Hinson John Wesley Scott 4/16 Neeley Reagin 4/17 Mary Jane Bates Landen Chasteen 4/18 Teresa Fox 4/19 Suzanne Ramage 4/20 Alex Clayton Susan Jennings Melinda Snelling 4/22 Savannah Edwards 4/23 Sammy Deery 4/26 Karen Hicks Keison Justice Tammy Justice 4/27 Mary Kathryn dill 4/29 Laurie Cordell 4/30 Katherine Martin Joel Peterson HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 4/7 Mark & Rhonda Merritt 4/11 Chris Dunford & Mary Ann Edwards 4/14 Randy & Kathy McDaniel 4/17 Chris & Dianne Salter 4/22 Ryan & Susie Young 4/24 Richard & Wendy Whiting 4/26 Dennis & Debbie Dill 4/28 Matt & Kelsey Reynolds 4/29 Patrick & Shanon Jackson 2019 Young Seekers/Confirmation Class of RPC Rock of Ages Our group had a great time in March! We look forward to another luncheon on Thursday, May 9 at 12:00 noon. Thank you RPC for generously giving 55 lbs. to the Greenwood Food Bank. Your gifts will continue to help provide for those in our community. **Please note: egg cartons are no longer accepted.

8 Please keep in your prayers Church Family at home Sara Bizer (Ann Nunamaker s mother) Tom & Lucia Bryson (Presbyterian Community) Bill and Nancy Cochran Joyce Hawkins (Alison Fletcher s mother) Ann Hembree (Wesley Commons) Margie Moore (Pat Bouknight s mother) Mac Myers (The Renaissance) Charlene Pacheco George & Beverly Peet (Brookdale) Marjorie Roberts (Presbyterian Community) Active Duty Justin Goldstein Andrew Heath (Ken & Robin Leach s son-in-law) Adam Hix (Jeff & Sandra Hix s son) Matthew McManis Craig T. Watkins (Tom & Kathy Watkins son) James N. Watkins (Tom & Kathy Watkins son) Reserve Duty Chris Miller Rock Presbyterian Church wishes to express Christian Sympathy to Chris and Leah Deal and their family in the death of Chris grandmother Ken and Shelia Reynolds in the death of Shelia s nephew Rock Presbyterian Church 122 Rock Church Road NW Greenwood, SC Phone: mfisher@rpcgwd.org Website: Return Service Requested MAILING LABEL