RPC Newsletter Just These Thoughts My Friends…

Have you ever been on your way to an important meeting, or headed home after a long day of work, or off to pick up the kids from school or dance, and gotten stuck at a red light that seems to last forever? Or worse, how many of you have been stopped at a red light when you are running late for church? I often wonder how many traffic laws are broken on Sunday mornings. We are, without a doubt, a people in mo-tion. We like moving forward and getting things done. We have places to go, people to see, things to do. Yet at times we are hindered by things that are absolutely out of our control, and sometimes we are brought to a complete stop.

This Covid-19 season that we are experiencing feels a little bit like that. It feels like a massive “stop” in the midst of our busy and productive lives. This is a stop that we neither planned for nor have time for. We have far too much to accomplish, both personally and as a church. Yet this is precisely where we find ourselves at the moment: stuck at the longest stoplight ever, waiting desperately to GO.

Of course, another way to think about this is that maybe we aren’t as much at a place of “stop,” as we are at a place of “rest.” Maybe, just maybe, this season is a reminder to us to stop the excessive running around and enjoy life at a slower pace with our family and friends. Maybe God is asking us to think about our lives and what is important. Perhaps he is using this time to draw our hearts closer to him. It’s another way to think about what we are going through for sure. At some point, and hopefully soon, restrictions will be lifted, and we will GO again. As this happens, let us strive to not return to the normal rat race, but instead run a more balanced and God-centered race.

As we move through these early days of May, the staff is working on a proposed “plan” for re-opening the church, and I will be presenting this at a called meeting of the session on May 5. Our nurses and doctors are also providing helpful information and opinions regarding when and how we should go about this, and the session will hear their thoughts as well. When we began our current season of social distancing on March 16, our initial hope was to be back by Easter Sunday. When that didn’t happen, we began looking to the first Sunday in May. That is this Sunday. Clearly, this “stop” has been longer than we were expect-ing. But at some point, when it is right, we will be back together in person. Until then, we will continue forward together in Spirit.

Blessings in Christ!

Dr. Chris Leonard

PAGE 2 Christian Education

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2

(Facebook Live or RPC Website Livestream)

Christian Education PAGE 3

SAVE THE DATE!!

Calling all children K4-5th grade! Join us for Vacation

Bible School, Monday, June 22 - Thursday, June 25, 9:00 a.m.-

12:00 p.m. Volunteers needed for all ages and stations.

Contact Pam Fagan for more

information or to volunteer!

ROCK JAM May Memory Verse: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Share your memory verse in our Facebook group, and you will get a prize!

PAGE 4 Stewardship

Worship

Sunday Sermons

May 3 Dieu Et Les Dames Dr. Chris Leonard Selected Verses

May 10 RPC Youth Youth Sunday

May 17 Rejoice, Church Dr. Chris Leonard Selected Verses

May 24 Getting Well Rev. Plumstead Marshall John 5:1-18

May 31 Are We There Yet? Dr. Chris Leonard Mark 4:35-41

May Ushers: Warren Mundy (head usher), Jan Rushton, Bill and Darlene Mallow

CROWN FINANCIAL QUESTIONS (copy and paste link)

Ask Chuck: Implementing A Crisis Budget https://www.crown.org/blog/ask-chuck-implementing-a-crisis-budget

Ask Chuck: Everything You Need to Know About Liquidity https://www.crown.org/blog/ask-chuck-everything-you-need-to-know-about-liquidity

PAGE 5 Worship

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11 Edward Mote, the son of poor innkeepers, was born in London in 1797. His parents did not allow Bibles in their home but in spite of that, Edward heard the gospel and became a Christian when he was a teenager. He learned a trade as a carpenter and as his skill improved, he finally was able to open his own cabinet shop. In addition to his vocation as a cabinetmaker, Edward also enjoyed writing poems. This gift bore fruit during his life with him writing more than 150 hymn texts. He also served as a dedicated layman in his church, ministering there the rest of his life, and being the driving force behind a church building being built where he lived. As he walked to his cabinet shop one morning these words came to him, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” During that same day, he wrote verses to go with this refrain and created the hymn, The Solid Rock. The well-known musician, William Bradbury, composed the music for this hymn in 1863 and it was included in the only Baptist hymnal published during the Civil War. How blessed we are to know that during these uncertain and difficult times and through “every high and stormy gale, our anchor holds within the veil.” We can trust Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith, to be our everlasting hope and our “solid rock.”

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in him be found. Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.

Missions PAGE 6

Miscellaneous Church News

Connecting in Quarantine

How Young Life Nicaragua is continuing with ministry while

social distancing.

At 6:00 a.m. each morning team leaders, Bayardo, Uriel, Sonia, and Katherine wake up and log onto a Zoom call where they see their area director, Doña Martha, waiting for them on the video calling platform. The group of five reads the Word, prays, and hears how everyone's day went yesterday. Afterwards, they say their goodbyes and start connecting electronically with their own teams of Young Life leaders, teens, and new contacts until the next morning at 6:00 a.m. when they'll meet and do it all over again. "This experience of spending every morning with my team has been really sweet. This is the only way we can see each other, be together, motivate each other, and share the Gospel with each other right now. It's so important to be able to love and care for others." - Doña Martha

"At the beginning of the crisis, I started yearning to be able to see the coordinators, leaders, and teens in my area, and technology has been an answer to this prayer!" Doña Martha had a steep learning curve when it came to figuring out Zoom, but she put all her energy into it because it was important to her to stay connected. "I was reflecting on Acts 3:6, "Peter said, 'I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.'" I asked myself, 'What do I have to give?' I have Jesus! I can give love, hope, joy, and Jesus."

God is good, and He is still changing hearts!

THOUGHTS ON THE RECENT ECO NATIONAL GATHERING DALLAS, TEXAS - February 4 - 6, 2020

(Written before our “new normal”.) It was a joy to be with Mary Ann, Gus, and Joel at our National Gathering in Dallas a few weeks ago. One highlight was a dinner that we all got to share with everyone, followed by a night of music and prayer. We prayed in groups as led for many different topics, including our churches and senior pastors! I know God will answer those prayers, and be working in ECO and all of our churches in a mighty way. We loved being with some friends from our “MAG” (mission-affinity group) – Alps Road Presby-terian in Athens, GA and Fairview Presbyterian in North Augusta. There were people of all ages at the Gather-ing – young ministers (men and women), high school students attending a special ECO conference for them, as well as many middle-aged folks and senior citizens. I was reminded of the faithful Presbyterian elders, many now elderly and some who have gone on to heaven, who have stood for our Lord Jesus and His Word through the years, who are the reason why ECO exists today. I am so thankful for their faithfulness, for Rock Presbyter-ian’s faithfulness, and the Lord’s grace and mighty working that makes it possible for us to serve and walk alongside such like-minded brothers and sisters in ECO! Another highlight was a keynote by an Egyptian pastor who leads a 10,000 member church “without walls” in Egypt where so many are coming to Christ. God is at work in our world! May we see great fruit also for his

kingdom here in Greenwood!

Debby Plumstead Marshall

Miscellaneous Church News/National Gathering Thoughts Continued PAGE 7

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

5/1 Lib Grier John Scott Tatum Thomas 5/2 Libba Derry Lyles Yarochowicz 5/9 Nealy Shiles 5/11 Alene Brothers Katherine Grant 5/14 Douglas McCartha 5/15 Kathy McDaniel 5/16 Peggy Childress Van Taylor 5/17 Hannah Hobbs Robin Leach Patty Nickles Bill Watkins

5/18 Leslie Blackmon Mac Price 5/19 Bernie Sanford 5/20 Bill Murphy 5/21 Lisa Grant Joe Prothro 5/22 Kathy Facey 5/23 Ryan Young 5/24 Lexi Cordell 5/25 Rebekah Hobbs Ellie Clayton 5/26 Samantha Black 5/27 Sue Colaw Mary Anna Gerrard John McManis 5/28 Kathy Scott

5/30 John Ashworth Keely Fagan Naomi Payne Sue Weaver 5/31 Dakota Cordell

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

5/1 Mike & Nancy Hobbs 5/2 Ryan & Tracy Stevenson 5/6 Kevin & Sue Carson 5/7 Chris & Leah Deal 5/14 Jon & Andrea Lockwood 5/16 Alex & Andrea Clayton 5/18 Van & Ann Newell Grant & Patty Reagin 5/20 Sam & Harmon Deery 5/23 Ray & Whitney Lewis

5/25 Wayne & Lindsay Thomas 5/26 Bob & Charlene Pacheco 5/28 Bryan & Laurie Cordell Larry & Flo Haynes Bob & Judy Lentz 5/31 Mark & Teresa Fox

Over February 4,5, and 6, I had the privilege of being one of Rock’s delegates to the 2020 ECO National Gathering in Dallas-Fort Worth. This was a an inspiring opportunity to get together with enthusiastic ECO delegates and members from around the United States for worship and for learning. We learned about the many aspects of our church’s mission within the ECO church itself and within the communities we serve. The meeting allowed us to learn of the connections our church is making with faithful evangelical communities around the world. The spirit of oneness in Christ permeated the worship and the business sessions.

Highlights:

Worship services and music were awesome with moving participation from both the local Highland Park Presbyterian Praise Band and nationally known artists Shane and Shane.

Keynote speaker Ruth Haley Barton, a well-known Christian author, delivered the keynote address in the first session. She emphasized the necessity that a transforming leader must first be transformed herself by a deep connection of her soul to God. This deep connection is necessary so that she can continue to help God’s word transform the lives of others. Ms Barton emphasized the necessity of time in solitude for reflection and prayer to be able to maintain that vital connection of her soul to God despite the many pressing distractions of ministry.

Keynote speaker Eugene Cho emphasized that the Bible is filled with imperfect people used by God to deliver his message to the world. He used the Biblical text about the believers who lowered the paralytic to Jesus through the roof to emphasize that Christians should be marked first by faith in Jesus, then by a spirit of compassion, then by action, then by collaboration and perseverance in their ministry.

Keynote speaker Dr. Sameh Maurice of the Egyptian Evangelical Presbyterian Church Synod of the Nile gave a moving address about spreading the Gospel in Egypt among the Muslim population. He emphasized the central importance of prayer and acts of kindness in opening doors and hearts to the true gospel in that difficult and dangerous setting.

Dana Allin’s keynote and many of the small meetings focused on efforts at church renewal and growth in ECO with an emphasis on spreading the Gospel to the currently unchurched. The unchurched are a growing segment of our population, especially among the millennial generation. Dana strongly encouraged us to take a Flourishing Next Step to advance the Gospel.

At the Synod meeting, We heard from the leader of a seminary training ministers for the underground church in Iran, which we learned numbers 3 million Christians meeting secretly. (Yes, 3 million Christians meeting in Iran.) This seminary is training leaders for that church.

As delegates and commissioners we approved foundational statements of our Presbyterian faith that have been updated to more modern language without changing the original doctrine. These included the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism among others.

The National Gathering was a moving experience and an excellent opportunity to connect and to hear from dynamic leaders of ECO an of the international evangelical church. I recommend future attendance to anyone who has the opportunity and recommend the keynote addresses and the worship services available online at http://econationalgathering.org/pastgatherings/ng2020/

I thank the Rock Presbyterian congregation and session for the opportunity to attend this inspiring event.

Gus Ramage

Rock Presbyterian Church 122 Rock Church Road NW Greenwood, SC 29649 Phone: 864-538-4932 Email: mfisher@rpcgwd.org Website: www.rpcgwd.org

MAILING LABEL

Return Service Requested

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) 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 Chris Miller Craig T. Watkins (Tom & Kathy Watkins’ son) James N. Watkins (Tom & Kathy Watkins’ son)

Reserve Duty

Thank you RPC for generously giving to the Greenwood Food Bank. Your gifts will continue to help provide for those in our community. During this time, please take your donations to the Food Bank directly on 222 East Street (until we can meet again).

**Please note that the Food Bank cannot accept any expired food and egg cartons are no longer accepted.**

ROCK OF AGES

We miss seeing our fellow church members and seniors but think it may be best to postpone Rock of Ages at least another month. We hope to be able to get together again soon.