​July Outreach: Bookbags for Children in Foster Care
Each year in Wake County, nearly 500 children live in foster care. As we anticipate the start of the next traditional school year, our congregation is invited to donate new book bags for these children to help them start their learning experience with what they need.
We are also collecting the school supplies that will go inside the bags. Please donate what you are able to provide:

·      Sturdy bookbags for children, ages kindergarten (small) to high school (larger)
·      Packs of construction paper (25-50 count)
·      Composition books
·      Small packs of crayons
·      Packs of colored pencils
·      2” 3-ring binders
·      Wide-ruled notebook paper (pack)
·      Spiral notebooks - single subject, wide-ruled
·      Spiral notebooks - single subject, college-ruled
·      Sturdy pocket folders
·      Clorox wipes (small packages)
·      Small bottles of hand sanitizer
Please drop off the donations to the Faith Ministries Building (FMB) during this month in the marked bins. The deadline is Sunday, July 24. For questions, contact Margaret Albert, margaretcalbert@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting children in foster care.

VBS @ NRPC The Greatest Commandment is Love will be held August 8-11,
5:45-7:15pm. Bible stories, music, art, games, food and fellowship for all ages. 

Update on Welcoming Afghan Family
 
Celebration!
     This week our church helped an Afghan couple move into their first home in America. We supplied all the necessities for a home - dishes, a couch, a bed, a kitchen table and chairs, pots and pans, dish soap, towels, etc. We stocked up their refrigerator and their pantry. Since the couple is expecting their first child, our church bought them a crib. Two beautiful meals were delivered to the couple for their first nights in their new home. This week, thanks to a generous donation, our family now has a washer and dryer!  Our Afghan family is so grateful for all of the things that have been generously given to them.  As we left for the evening, the family was bursting with enthusiasm over their first home in America.
 
Needs
      The couple needs to buy a used car that is reliable. Right now, they take an uber to work, grocery store, and to doctor appointments.  If anyone knows of a used car that can be donated or is for sale, please contact Becky Pyrch at beckypyrch@gmail.com or Janet Livengood at janetblivengood77@gmail.com.  
 
Further Assistance Needed
    Finally, we will be helping this refugee family adjust to life in America. The husband has a job, but needs a car to get back and forth to work. They need help enrolling in ESL classes, getting a driver's license, learning how to pay bills, setting a budget for expenses and getting to doctor's appointments. We have already helped them negotiate a contract for internet service and assisted them with banking questions.  North Raleigh Presbyterian Church plans to continue to help our Afghan friends with these challenges.  If you would like to participate in this effort, email beckypyrch@gmail.com.
 

​Mens Bible Study For several decades, a group of NRPC men have met from 7:00am to 8:00am on Friday mornings to discuss the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel passage, share what is going on in their lives, and enjoy a healthful sausage biscuit (pre-Covid).
Covid forced the group to Zoom, where we have thrived and intend to continue. Due to the recent departures of stalwarts like Dick Christensen and John Minor, recruits are needed to fill our ranks with men who appreciate a friendly ear, lots of free advice, a warmup to Sunday’s sermon, or a good laugh. Dick still provides the farm report with his knowledge of plants, birds and bees, and the W-2ers (those gainfully employed and not drawing Social Security) regale us with tales of the workplace. We all take a moment to share weekly updates, and then we discuss the upcoming Gospel passage.
You don’t need to be a Bible scholar, or even an NRPC member. Just someone with a Zoom app and interest in connecting. The atmosphere is casual, the jokes are lame, but the relationships and support are terrific.
Have we piqued your interest? Care to give us a try? Contact me for the Zoom login information, and the list of Gospel passages to be discussed. You might just make a new friend and jump-start your weekend. Friday mornings: 7:00am to 8:00am sharp. Set your alarm.
Mike Ganey mike.ganey@gmail.com. 919-608-8009

​Tuesday Morning Bible Study will begin on May 24th, at 10am. We’ll meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings of each month in the FMB. We’ll get to know the Jesus in Matthew as we get to know each other. Bring your favorite Bible, your desire to know the risen Lord, and your compassion for one another. We’ll learn together what the scriptures say about becoming the disciples Jesus calls us to be amidst the conflict in our world. Contact Candy Tedrick  for more information.

​Pioneer Sunday School Class invites you to explore what it means to be a Matthew 25 church. 
You are invited to join the Pioneer Class in an exploration of what it means to be a Matthew 25 church using the resource from the PCUSA Presbyterian Mission Agency titled “Bringing Matthew 25 Into Focus.”. The class meets at 6:00 pm on Sundays both in person and on Zoom. Please contact Stormy Ingold for more information. stormydoug@mac.com.
Summer Bible Study Join Brandon Monday nights from 7-8pm on Lies My Preacher Told Me?  Please let Brandon know if you plan to attend and would like a book. Zoom login details will be provided.

NRPC College and High School graduates will be recognized on Sunday, May 22. Please contact the church office if you wish to list your graduate's information.