The WitnessRiver RoadPresbyterian Church8960 River Road,Richmond, Virginia 23229

804-740-7083www.rrpcusa.orgaskus@rrpcusa.org

May 1, 2017

The Fellowship and Hospitality MinistryLooks Forward to Summer!

Celebration Reception on June 11 - Following the one 10:00 a.m. Celebration Worship, there will be a reception in honor of Larry Heath, Director of Music/Organist, who is retiring this summer.

FreeBirds event on June 24 - The FreeBirds will head over to Dogwood Dell on June 24, for the Kings of Swing Band. Plan to arrive by 6:30 p.m. with your picnic to meet your RRPC friends for a fun evening of mu-sic and dancing.

Cookies and Lemonade on the Lawn begins July 2 - As we tran-sition to one Summer Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. July 2 through August 13, you can look forward to sharing cookies and lemonade outdoors on the lawn at 11:00 a.m. following worship.

Sundaes on Sunday on July 9 - Bring your own picnic and join us at 5:00 p.m. for games, fun, fellowship, and of course, ice cream sundaes.

AttentionGraduating Seniors

Please save the date of Sunday, June 4, 10:00 to 10:40 a.m. for the Annual Senior Recognition Breakfast in Kemp Hall. You will be receiving an invitation. You are also asked to send the following items to Susan Hockman at susanhockman@rrpcusa.org no later than May 15: senior photo, name of high school from which you will graduate, your favorite RRPC memory, and your plans following graduation.

Joys and ConcernsDeacons have been assigned on a rotating basis to contact people on our weekly Joys and Concerns list. These individuals are willing

to provide assistance in circum-st ances where other help might not be available. Please call Susan Hockman in the church office or one of the team mem-bers if you have a joy or concern to share.

May - Kirsten Gregory

Join Our Church Family!The Session of River Road Presbyterian Church cordially invites anyone who be-lieves in Jesus Christ to become a mem-ber of the Church. New members are received typically on the third Sunday of the month. If you are looking for a church home, please contact Susan Hockman at 740-7083 a week prior to the third Sunday to obtain information about the church and joining our church family.

LectionarySunday, May 7

Fourth Sunday of EasterActs 2:42-47; Psalm 23

1 Peter 2:19-35; John 10:1-10

Sunday, May 14Fifth Sunday of Easter

Matthew 21:1-11Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Sunday, May 21Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-201 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Sunday, May 28Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-351 Peter 4:12-14,5:6-11

John 17:1-11

Fellowship LunchAll are welcome to come downtown for the monthly fellowship lunch. This group typically meets on the third Thursday of the month at a downtown restaurant. Watch the Latest News email for location. RSVP or ask questions by calling or emailing Susan Hockman at 740-7083 or susanhockman@rrpcusa.org. You may also add your name to the evite that goes out each month. Ray typically gives a preview of his upcoming sermon and invites discussion. The group also enjoys fellowship and catching up with each other. Plan to join us this month.

From the Director of Music…At this writing the day after Easter, I am basking in the after glow of some wonderful music at RRPC. During the Sundays of Lent, we experienced the music of faith in several styles with our Music in a Sacred Space Lenten Vespers. Artists-in-Residence, Commonwealth Brass, led off the series with young artists Tess Ottinger and Forrest Glass, RiverSound following week by week with collaborative performances of Morten Lauridsen’s wonderful Lux Aeterna by the RRPC and Third Church choirs, which were stunning in both performances. We also enjoyed the music of our Music 4 Kids ensembles and the River Road Ringers during worship. Not to be overlooked, the sounds and colors leading and supporting congregational song and liturgy from our exquisite Margaret Reynolds Memorial Pipe Organ are a joy for Marianne and I to share.

The preparation for some end-of-season events has been completed or is well underway. The Worship and Music Ministry commissioned the 4th musical work during my tenure here in celebration of our congregation’s 60th anniversary. Make Us One was written by friend and composer, Greg Scheer, who holds a part-time position with the Calvin Institute for Worship. This anthem is scored for choir, brass, and organ creating a powerful setting of a new text fitting for the occasion. As we have done in the past, we were able to bring Greg to be with us for the RRPC premiere so you could meet him personally. Our Music4Kids Choristers are finish-ing preparations for a presentation of I Am …Chosen, a collection of scripture and songs affirming God’s call, affirming we are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood” for the day in which we live. They will present this during 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, May 7. River Road Ringers will be offering music for worship on May 21, and other music of this joy-filled Easter season will be plentiful as we move toward Pentecost and Trinity Sundays.

I encourage you to express your appreciation to the Music Leadership Team as these special events come along. They are:Abby Baird Marianne Crean Janet HostenskeKatherine Becker Jennifer Hanes Laurel Heath Joanna Avant Marcia Bell Sallie Roberts Ali Shenk Jim Wright

Pathways (Sunday School for Kindergarten-5th Grade)

Pathways begins each week in Hillside Theater at 10:00 a.m. with music led by our M4K staff.

May 7: Journeys and Letters of Paul (Thing #77); Jennifer Hanes, StorytellerMay 14: Acts; Jane Sewell, StorytellerMay 21: Ascension (Thing #65): Storyteller NeededMay 28: Catch-up LessonsJune 4: Last Day of Sunday School - 100 Things Celebration

Extended SessionThis year the Extended Session time is devoted to a survey of the Bible using the Spark Story Bible. This engaging Bible for children will be used along with a simple craft and/or some coloring pages and worksheets. Extended Session is geared for K-2nd graders and led by Caroline Ring and Kyle Riopelle.

Upcoming StoriesMay 7: No Extended Session - M4K CantataMay 14: No Extended Session - Youth SundayMay 21: Early Believers (Acts 2 and 4)

May 28: The Ascension (Luke and Acts)

AdultSunday School Classes

Faith and FamilyFocusing on family and parenting, this class examines a variety of fam-ily issues which challenge Christian parents. Come for the coffee - stay for the conversation. This class meets in the Parlor.

God in ActionThis class explores how the Bible is relevant in all aspects of our lives using a rotation style of teachers. This class meets in Kemp Hall.

May 7: Jenn Cornell leads Praying the News.May 14: Linda Thomas continues the Story of the Early Christian Church.May 21: Jim Ring teaches Bible Study.May 28: Ellen Guinther teaches about Mission and Service.

Martin B. WilliamsThis class studies the Bible using The Present Word, a curriculum based on the Uniform Lesson Series. This class meets in Room 01.

May 7: God’s Sustaining Love - Jo-nah 1; Rev. LoAnn Fairman, teacherMay 14: God’s Love Preserved Jo-nah - Jonah 2; Andrew Sanders, teacherMay 21: God’s Love for Nineveh - Jonah 3, Nahum 1-3; Pat Ellison, teacherMay 28: God’s Pervasive Love - Jo-nah 4; Tim Ailsworth, teacher

Christian Education @ RRPC

Family Fellowship Meeting

Look for information about this new opportunity for parents with young children. We plan to gather at the church (or other fun places throughout the year) for fellowship once a month.

Tuesday, May 16-Meet us at Maymont for fun and a picnic at 10:00 a.m.

Details are available from Sarah Childress at sptinsley@gmail.com or Lindsay Cobb Rayfield at lindsaycobb@gmail.com.

From the APNCThe Associate Pastor Nominating Committee would like to give a few updates about where we are in the process of finding a new Associate Pastor. Over the past several of weeks, our committee has been hard at work creating our Ministry Information Form, referred to as an MIF, which is used to call candidates to our church. It is a structured process that requires a lot of research and deliberate thought about what this church needs in an associate pastor. We have submitted key components of the MIF to the Session and will expect full MIF approval any day now. Very shortly after, our MIF will be posted to the Presbyterian Church USA website, and the process of accepting applications will begin! These are truly exciting times here at River Road. We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers as we search for the associate pastor that God is calling to join our ministry at River Road. -Malone McGhee

Confirmation Sunday is Sunday, May 21.Join the Session in welcoming our newest members from the Confirmation Class during each worship service. A special breakfast for the Confirmands and their families

will be held during Sun-

Save the date for VBS: 3 year olds—rising 5th graders9:00 AM - Noon, June 26-30, 2017

You can register your child/grandchild/neighbor online today! Volunteers Needed!

Whether you can work one day or five days your help is valuable—please register your willingness to volunteer online.

Youth Sunday isSunday, May 14!

Thanks to Betsy Riopelle and the High School Sun-day School Class for their planning and leadership. Thanks also to Heather Jenkins, Dana Moore, and the Middle School Youth for their leader-ship.

Art in theHalls

We continue to display art created by members of our congregation on the walls just outside of Saunders Hall. Please make a special effort to stop by!

In honor of Mother’s Day and Fa-ther’s Day, Sandy Spicknall shares photos of animal families she has taken in the Richmond area. Enjoy seeing the expressions of love shown by our furry and feathered friends.

If you would like to provide a dis-play, please contact Mary Jane Ould. Each display will remain around two months. If you have art that is not able to be displayed on the walls, let us know; we can find a perfect spot.

Thank You

Thanks to Ray and the Congregation for the love, support, cards, and phone calls that sustained us after my accident.

Barbara Maynard

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ASP Auction & BBQ DinnerSunday, May 7, at 6:00 p.m.

This is a congregation-wide dinner host-ed by youth and adults who are partici-pating in our 2016 trip to help make houses warmer, safer, and drier. There will be a $5 suggested donation for the meal. All proceeds will help finance our trip this year. It would be helpful to have an idea of attendance, so if you are plan-

ning on coming please let the church office know.

The ASP Auction items can be viewed Sunday morning in the church Parlor with bids closing at 7:00 p.m. that night. Come have some fun and bid on some great things.

Everyone is invited to donate an item for the auction. Please fill out a form (located on the bulletin board outside of the Youth office) and return it to Stephen Gwyn or Leigh Anne Ring before Wednesday, May 3.

Dinner will be North Carolina BBQ with traditional sides prepared by Stephen Gwyn. During dinner,we will look back at our previous trips—all the way back to 1996!

If you would like to attend this year’s trip, please contact Stephen Gwyn, ASAP. Vans are filling fast with eager youth and adults!

Learn the Ropes at LAMB’s BasketHave you been interested in helping out at LAMB’s Basket but don’t know where it is or what it is like when you get there? The Mission and Service Ministry would like to help you plug in! On the second Thursday of each month, Lesley Glotzl will meet you in the RRPC parking lot at 9:45 a.m. to caravan over, then work with you around the facility and get you charged up for return visits.  The volunteering window is short and manageable, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The work is not heavy duty and is suitable for ages 10 to 100! Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. If you have questions, call Lesley at 804-357-4917. Join her for the next trip down to the LAMB’s Basket. To sign up for RRPC dates/times at the LAMB’s Basket, click here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054FADA62EA31-lambs.

Our LAMB’s Basket carts are looking empty! When you are at the grocery store, please purchase an extra non-perishable item or two for our favorite food bank. It is an easy way to do a good thing, and when we all do it, makes a big difference! Some ideas of what to buy: cereal, tuna fish, saltines, jelly, or pasta sauce.

Your Mission and Service Ministry is looking for childrens’ book donations for a 3rd grade class at Reid Elementary. Please bring them to the Knuckle any time in the month of May, where you’ll find a labeled basket to deposit them. If you’re not sure if books you have line up with that age group, bring them anyway and we will sort out where to send them. If you’d like to donate money directly for purchasing books instead, please contact Marty Thornhill at marty.thornhill@comcast.net for details. Thank you!

Farewell to Kyle and Joseph Albert! Kyle’s doctor released him from his care, with his brain tumor removed and totally healed. Thanks be to God! They returned to St. Lucia last weekend, but not before Kyle was invited to throw out the first pitch at Friday’s Squirrels game. As they departed RIC airport, Joseph said, “Please tell River Road we will miss you — especially Wednesday Night Suppers. Thank you for choosing to sponsor us and giving Kyle a second chance at his life.” Mission and Service would like to thank the congregation for your hospitality over the last five weeks they have been here. They felt the love!

From the

Mission and Service Ministry

RRPC Spring Golf OutingRRPC will be holding its annual Cap-tain's Choice Golf Tournament at Prov-idence Golf Club on May 16. This will follow the same format as in previous years. The cost will be $55.25 (pay at the Pro Shop) and will include range balls, soft drinks, water, prizes, tro-phies, and an outstanding dinner. Mul-ligans will be sold at registration. The Shotgun Start will be at 1:00 p.m. Bring  friends, family, or your ringer of choice for a day of fun and fellowship. When you decide to play, please let Carroll Londoner know at clondoner@verizon.net or Bill Osborne at bosbo1@aol.com so they can plan meals and foursomes based on  turnout. Looking forward to seeing you on May 16!

60 Years - 1957 to 2017

Session ActionsAt the stated meeting on April 23, 2017, Session took the following actions:

● Received the following members of the Confirmation Class into membership of River Road Presbyterian Church, pending their Public Affirmation of Faith during worship on May 21, 2017:

Ashley Grace Cornell Katherine Landis Dawson Justin Hancock Phillips Clarice Nicole Pugh Joshua Wright Ring, II Sullivan James Stefanik Rebecca Caroline Watson

● Approved the following transfers from the Active Roll: Emily Lovell, letter of transfer to Clemmons Presbyterian,

Clemmons, North Carolina Gene and Janis Giordano, at their request.

● Authorized opening a church UZURV account for a three-month trial and empowered the Board of Deacons to set up and manage the program. UZURV is a reservation service that will provide on-demand rides to and from church events for those members needing transportation.

● Approved a RRPC Summer Kids program July 5 - August 9, 2017. The program will meet weekly on Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.-noon for ages 3 years through rising Kindergarten, and will use Bible stores as the basis for programming. It will be open to RRPC members, RRPC regular visitors, and RRPCC families at no charge to participants.

● Approved a High School Youth flamingo-based fund-raiser to benefit the Appalachian Service Project mission trip.

● Approved replacement of the air conditioning unit in the Monroe Wells Building.

● Approved replacement of the commercial freezer in the main kitchen with a residential unit. Both the air conditioning and the freezer had stopped working.

● Approved serving communion on May 21, 2017.

● Called a Congregation Meeting for Sunday, May 7, 2017 at noon in the sanctuary for the purpose of hearing the report of the Congregational Nominating Committee and electing a deacon to fill the vacancy in the Class of 2017.

Complete approved Session minutes are available in the Church Library.

PRAYERS DAY AND NIGHTPetitioners, RRPC members, or non-mem-bers may make prayer requests through voice mail by simply calling the church office at 740-7083, ext. 352.

RIVER ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH8960 River RoadRichmond, VA 23229

May 1, 2017

Church OfficersClerk of Session: Linda Thomas

Treasurer: Linwood CobbAssistant Treasurer: Sharon Cherry

Assistant Treasurer: Cheryl Duff

Session Class of 2017Rebecca Felton Ellen Guinther David MacMillanDan Murray Betsy Riopelle Andrew Sanders

Session Class of 2018Terry Byrne Pratt Cherry Jim CuthbertsonLee Ann McGhee Dana Moore Jim Stewart

Session Class of 2019Patricia A. Avery Lee Branch T. J. ChildressLesley Glotzl Curt Manchester Kristen Raper

Deacons Class of 2017Mark Ames Jennifer Hanes Cathey Brown Ann Spiers

Deacons Class of 2018Kimberly Dawson Jeff Glotzl Kirsten Gregory Scott Thornhill

Deacons Class of 2019Judy Busch Tim Evans Nancy Gleason David Tillar

River Road Presbyterian ChurchDefining Vision: Reach, Nurture, Send, and Serve

Vision—River Road Presbyterian Church is to be a vibrant congregation spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. As a Christ-Centered Church, firmly grounded in the basic tenets of the Apostles’ Creed, we will foster and encourage the spiritual growth of all in their faith journeys.Mission—To introduce Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him; To deepen the faith of those who know Jesus Christ; and To demonstrate His way of love in service to the world.

CHURCH STAFFPastor and Head of Staff..................Dr. Raymond R. Roberts (ext. 301)Director of Christian Education....................Leigh Anne Ring (ext. 306)Director of Music/Organist ....................Lawrence W. Heath (ext. 311)Assistant Director of Music/Organist..........................Marianne P. CreanDirector of Operations............................Susan G. Hockman (ext. 300)Administrative Assistant.....................................Brenda Chavis (ext. 302)Sexton.........................................................Larry E. Coleman (ext. 308)High School Youth Intern........................................Morrgan E. BrannanMiddle School Youth Intern.................................Katherine R. ThomisonChildcare Center Director...........................Melanie M. Davis (ext. 319)

Telephone: 740-7083 Fax: 741-7787 E-Mail: askus@rrpcusa.orgWebsite: www.rrpcusa.org Prayer Chain: 740-7083 ext. 352

Pastor Emeritus: Dr. Richard L. Sommers

DEACON’S CORNERAny member of RRPC unable to attend church who would like communion at home, please contact the church office at 740-7083 or Kirsten Gregory at 282-0772 to make arrangements. If you have a need for meals delivered to you, please contact Susan Hockman in the church office.

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Upcoming Newsletter DeadlinesMay 17 for June 1 issueJune 19 for July 1 issue

July 17 for August 1 issueAugust 18 for September 1 issueSeptember 18 for October 1 issueOctober 17 for November 1 issue

November 14 for December 1 issueDecember 12 for January 1, 2018

Nickels for HungerPlease note the Nickels for Hunger offerings are collected on the last Sunday of each month.