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SESSION NEWS
March Update - Two Worship Services
February Update - Moving Forward
December & January Updates
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Updates From Session: Plans For Our Two Worship Services: (March 2012)
The excitement is growing at RPC around the offering of two worship services beginning on Easter Sunday, April 8. Your Session has worked hard over the last several months to develop plans and to work with the congregation to realize the vision for RPC's future. The Session is proud to provide an update on the activities recently approved. For the longer term, Session will continue to explore budget adjustments and opportunities for giving.
1) The culmination of hard work over the last year is now reaping the fruits of our labor. What started as the Pastor Loril’s Vision Statement, moved forward with a lot of conversation, planning and praying, is now being realized as we move forward with two worship services; the Traditional service (9:30am) and the reKindle service (11:15am) beginning on Easter Sunday, April 8.
2) We need 30 people to commit to attending both services for the first six months. Thus far, we have commitments from 18 and need at least 12 more. A sign up will be posted in the Narthex and Custis Hall for interested parties. For any questions, talk to an Elders or other team leaders about this (team leads and Elders are listed on RPC's website).
3) Purchase of a new Audio/Visual system: With the status of our current sound system being in dire need of replacement and upgrade, Session has unanimously approved the hiring a professional group, specializing in audiovisual systems for churches, to design and install a new audiovisual system in the RPC sanctuary. This work will begin immediately in order to be in place by Easter Sunday, April 8.
4) To accommodate space for both services, pews will be removed from the Sanctuary. A task force is being formed to begin the removal of the pews as soon as possible and we expect this to happen on March 31. Three rows from each side in the front (to accommodate AV system requirements) and six rows from each side in the back (to accommodate a welcome area) will be removed. We have a church family member who has offered to take the pews we remove, refinish them and sell them, giving a percentage back to RPC. However, if any church member would like to have a pew for whatever reason, please contact Frank Randall.
5) The Highest Point Praise Band has been assembled and has begun rehearsing every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm.
6) The Pastor, Worship Team, Focus Teams, and Deacons are working together to coordinate needs of each service and to ensure the transition time between the Traditional service and the reKindle service goes smoothly.
RPC Growth Plans: Moving Forward
Presbytery Action
Your Council of Elders (formerly “Session”) has been busy over the last several months reviewing and adopting guidance provided in the revised Book of Order presented by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). The General Assembly took action for revision of the governance and published in July 2011 the Book of Order which contains the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity: the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Rules of Discipline. Pastor Loril led a joint meeting of Elders and Deacons in June as an orientation for new officers and review of vows in the context of roles and responsibilities for all church officers.
RPC Leadership Actions
The Elders addressed many business areas over the summer and fall to include approval for purchase of a new sound system, funding for re-surfacing of the parking lot (as a joint Board of Property Management and Boy Scout project), launching of the revised RPC web site (www.rivpres.org), support to outreach and other community mission activities, review of RPC bylaws to be in line with new Presbytery guidelines and contracting with a ministry professional to work with RPC in its discovery of future vision and missions.
Church Ministry Teams
Ministry Teams were re-defined to better reflect the needs of the church with Elders assigned as Moderators for each team. The Moderators look to the congregation at large to participate in areas where you feel the call to support. Please contact team Moderators with your ideas and willingness to serve so that RPC can continue the important work of the church.
RPC’s Ministry Teams and Moderators are as follows:
Christian Education: Fran Kemper
Communications: Brian Young
Evangelism/Outreach: Jean Kline, Gail Randall
Mission: Bill Cammack, Jackee Clark
Congregational Nurturing/Fellowship: Fran Kemper, Harriet Sunderhauf
Building and Property: Frank Randall
Stewardship and Finance: Bruce Beveridge and Dave Satterfield
Worship: John Prince and Irene Havas
Personnel: Jackee Clark and John Prince
Congregational Nominating Team: Gail Randall
January 2012 - News from Session
Ministry Assessment:
The ministry assessment report was provided to the elders in mid-December for review and consideration. The elders will meet in early January to review the findings in depth and to discuss the best direction for RPC going forward. Feedback and recommendations will be provided to the congregation shortly thereafter via mail, emails, bulletin announcements, minutes-for-missions, and future town hall-meeting style venues.
RPC Ministry Audit Report - See Roadmap to Future tab
Looking Forward to the Future:
As we enter into this new chapter for RPC, much work will be needed. The elders will look for active support and participation by all as teams are formed and we explore together our future and discern a vision that includes spiritual growth, diversity, and mission. Please keep your council of elders in your prayers and provide your strong support and encouragement as we enter together into a very challenging and exciting time for RPC.
Ministry Teams:
December was a busy month for ministry team leadership with budget and stewardship, the many outreach and worship team advent season activities and support to Christian Ed and fellowship.
Church Business:
RPC business addressed by the elders in December included building use coordination, furnace repairs, speaker replacements and general sound system adjustments.
In January the elders, in addition to the ministry assessment work, will support the preparation for stewardship drives, personnel reviews, nominating committee activities and the completion of statistical and other annual reports due to Presbytery.
Decembe, 2011 - The report from the ministry assessment was provided to the Ruling Elders last week for review and consideration. They will meet in early January to discuss the analysis and recommendations in depth. Feedback to the congregation will be provided shortly thereafter.
This is an exciting time for Riverdale as we together explore our future and discern a vision that includes spiritual growth, diversity, and mission. Let's all join together in prayer as we continue in our journey. In the spirit of keeping the communications flowing, I'd like to provide a status of the ministry assessment underway through the leadership of our elders. First a thank you again to everyone who shared their thoughts and dreams as we explore our vision, our culture and our growth strategies. Dr Tom Melzoni is busy reviewing background material from our previous ministry studies and vision statements; he's looking at our annual reports and statistics, and he's sorting through the many ideas received through the personal interviews and group sessions. Tom will provide a report to the Council of Elders in the next couple of weeks. It will provide analysis, recommendations and suggested next steps. Tom will meet with the elders to discuss the report in detail. The report then will be made available to any in the congregation that wish to read through it. Keep RPC in your prayers as we continue together to explore who we are.
The Council of Elders, with recommendations from the Futures Team, has engaged an experienced ministry professional, Dr. Tom Melzoni, to do a ‘ministry assessment’ of Riverdale Presbyterian Church. His initial assessment will occur on Friday, November 4 and Saturday November 5 (schedule information to follow). This was originally scheduled for October 31, and November 1.These days are very important for our church. The report from this assessment will be presented to the Council of Elders and be made available to the congregation. This report will serve as a guide to the next days of ministry for us. We believe the future of our church has great promise. Challenges certainly are ahead but God has been with us throughout our extraordinary history and will guide us into the next chapter of ministry at Riverdale. Your suggestions are needed and welcomed. The box located in the Narthex and Custis Hall provides you opportunity to engage in the process before us. Let’s join together in prayer as together we discern the next steps of exciting ministry for this wonderful and faithful church.