Month: October 2015

Dear Friends:

Here’s your Rock news for the week:

SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK THIS WEEKEND!  Daylight savings time ends this weekend.  Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.

THIS SUNDAY:  The first week at the new Rock was great!  Praise God and thanks to all who worked so hard to get everything ready.  Guess what?  We get to do it again.  Join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for our second worship gathering at the Rock at 237 S. Third Street.  We’ll take a look “Behind the Music” and see how God used tragedy to birth a song that has been a comfort to many.  We get to have another baptism too!  Caution:  The contractor is still working on a few things so look out for some continued messiness.

ROCKER ROOM HELP:  Now that we have a new big Rocker Room for the kids, we are looking for some volunteers to help keep things organized and keep an eye on some kids during worship on Sunday mornings.  Would you be willing to help?  Respond to this email or sign up at church this Sunday.  Have questions?  See Holly Parry.

DEDICATION:  Here’s the schedule for worship at the new Rock the next few weeks:

November 1, 2015:  Sunday gathering at 10:00 a.m.
November 8, 2015: Sunday gathering at 10:00 a.m.
November 15, 2015:  NO MORNING GATHERING.  WE’LL GATHER AT 2:00PM IN THE AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE AND OFFICIALLY DEDICATE THE NEW FACILITY!
November 22, 2015:  Sunday gathering at 10:00 a.m. – Stay for a great LUNCH to celebrate and hear about final plans for the building and year-end fundraising.

NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8:  Parents and youth who have committed to attend the National Youth Gathering should plan to attend a meeting Sunday, November 8, at 1pm at the Rock.

COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE:  The Youth attending the National Youth Gathering are selling delicious Bean Smith coffee (ground or beans) to help raise funds to attend the Gathering.  Bean Smith Coffee Roasters is an Omaha company that makes great coffee.  Have a favorite youth attending the gathering?  Find them and place your order.  Don’t know anyone going but still want some great coffee?  Go to the table in the fellowship area and find Sara Moll before or after church.  Orders will be taken through November 15 with the coffee to arrive by early December – just in time for Christmas gifts!  Want to know how the coffee tastes?  Have some at the Rock.  The Rock will be serving “Mockingbird” a light roast blend from Bean Smith coffee the next two Sundays.

LADIES BIBLE STUDY:  The ladies of Morning Amigos are starting a new study for the Christmas season.  Beginning Thursday, November 19 and continuing through December 17, the group will be working through “The Purpose of Christmas” by Rick Warren.  Cost of the study guide is $7 and there is little or no homework.  All ladies are welcome.  The group meets at the Civic Center from 10:15 am to 11:30 am on Thursdays.  Interested?  Respond to this email or contact Sara Moll or Andrea Sloup.

NEW LOCATION FOR ROCK PRAYER GROUP:  The Ladies Prayer group is now meeting in the cry room on the third level at the new Rock.  The group generally meets on Fridays at noon.  See Sara Moll for a schedule and more information.

BLUE VALLEY PANTRY:  The item for November is TOOTHPASTE.  Grab a few tubes and drop them off at the Rock any Sunday next month.

Blessings on your weekend.

Dear Friends:

Here’s your Rock news for the week (in chronological order):

WORK DAY ON SATURDAY: Thanks to everyone who has been helping this week.
We’ll have another work day this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon or so. The
outdoor cleanup work is mostly done so we’ll focus on cleaning up, setting up
chairs and getting the worship and fellowship space ready. Bring a vacuum
cleaner if you can.

THIS SUNDAY – NEW HOME FOR THE ROCK: Join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
(or a few minutes after) for our first worship gathering at the Rock at 237 S.
Third Street. We’ll be finishing up iBelieve by looking at baptism and top it
off with a real live baptism. Remember, things will be kind of messy as we get
things finished up and figured out. We plan to relax, go with the flow, and
celebrate the fact that God can work through us in any circumstance. Come early
and look for the Rock leaders to guide you in for some coffee and cookies before
worship.

NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING ON SUNDAY: Parents and youth who have
committed to attend the National Youth Gathering should plan to attend a meeting
THIS SUNDAY at 1pm at the Rock. We’ll be discussing travel, fundraising and
other items.

FAITH INK & STEPPING STONES AT THE ROCK: Stepping Stones and Faith
Inkubators will continue to meet at the new Rock this Wednesday evening from
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

DEDICATION: Here’s the schedule for worship at the new Rock the next
few weeks:

* November 1, 2015: Sunday gathering at 10:00 a.m.
* November 8, 2015: Sunday gathering at 10:00 a.m.
* November 15, 2015: NO MORNING GATHERING. WE’LL GATHER AT 2:00PM IN
THE AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE AND OFFICIALLY DEDICATE THE NEW FACILITY!

Blessings on your weekend.

Dear Friends:

Here’s your Rock news:

NEW HOME FOR THE ROCK:  Our first worship gathering at the Rock (237 S. Third Street) will be Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m.!!  Here’s what you need to know:

237 S. Third Street is the old Seward Middle School located just south of Main Street (Highway 34).  There is a new bank under construction next door.
Parking will be a little bit of a challenge for a while until the parking lot is completed.  The best place to park for now is along Third Street.
Worship will be on the 3rd Level.  You can enter on the south side or on the north side and head upstairs.  If you wish to use the elevator, go to the south entrance and enter the door on the left (west).  You will go directly to the elevator.  Rock leaders will be outside and inside guiding you.
Come early (there will be cookies and coffee by around 9:30) to give everyone plenty of time to get parked, look around and get settled for worship.  We’ll probably start a few minutes late to allow time for those who forget and go to the Lied Senior Center.
Plan for things to be kind of messy (literally and figuratively).  Not everyone is or will be completed with the renovations so things will be a little unfinished.  Also, we’ll be learning how everything works so it will all be kind of disorganized.
After worship, leave those chairs alone!!  There won’t be anything to tear down after worship.  You can just relax and visit with your forever family.

LOTS OF WORK DAYS THIS WEEK.  Please come help if you can anytime this week to help get the Rock ready for this Sunday.  There are a lot of little things to get done that will go quickly with lots of help (lots of cleaning, unpacking chairs, hauling trash, etc. ).  Come the whole time or just part of the time any of these days:

Monday – 5:30 pm to 8pm or so
Tuesday – 5:30 pm to 8pm or so
Wednesday – 5:30 pm to 8pm or so
Thursday – 5:30 pm to 8pm or so
Saturday – 8:30 am to noon or so (we’ll do some outdoor cleanup too)

FAITH INK & STEPPING STONES AT THE ROCK:  Stepping Stones and Faith Inkubators will continue to meet at the new Rock this Wednesday evening from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

WOOF WOOF:  That’s dog lingo for thanks to everyone who stayed for lunch last Sunday.  Over $1,800 was raised to help with the costs of a comfort dog for the Rock.  Want to know more about what a comfort dog does?  Click here:  www.lutheranchurchcharities. org and go to the K-9 Ministry link.  Or, click here to check out Moses the comfort dog’s facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/ MosesComfortDog.

NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING ON SUNDAY:  Parents and youth who have committed to attend the National Youth Gathering should plan to attend a meeting next Sunday at 1pm at the new Rock.  We’ll be discussing travel, fundraising and other items.

APPRECIATE YOUR PASTOR:  We’ve been a little distracted with all the stuff going on with the move, but don’t forget that October is pastor appreciation month.  If you haven’t already, drop Pastor Mike a note and let him know how thankful we are that he and his family are serving with us.

Blessings on your week.

Friends:

As we announced at church this morning, the date is set!  Our first worship gathering at the new Rock (237 S. Third Street) will be Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m.!!  Here’s what you need to know:

We’ll meet next Sunday (October 18) at 10:00 am at the Lied Senior Center for one last time.

We’ll have our first Sunday gathering at the new Rock (3rd level) on Sunday, October 25 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The next few Sundays will be kind of messy.  We’ll be getting things moved and finished and cleaned and figuring out how everything works in the new space and learning all the little things we still need to make Sundays go smoothly.  Also, parking won’t be convenient right away.  We are still working on the timeline for acquisition and completion of the parking lot and drive way that will be directly south of the building.  Please pray for God’s blessing and guidance on the whole process and keep an eye out for how God will be at work in this season of extra messiness.

We’re planning a celebration gathering to dedicate the new space.  It will be a time for the Rock family to celebrate and give thanks along with our community.  Watch for scheduling and details soon.  This would be a great opportunity to invite someone you know to the Rock.

Stepping Stones and Faith Inkubators is already meeting at the new Rock and will do so again this Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Pastor Mike will be moving into his office at the new Rock soon.  Watch for news soon about new phone numbers and contact information for the Rock.

Please spread the word so everyone knows not to head to the Lied Senior Center after October 25.

Blessings on your week.

Here’s your Rock news which is late for last week and early for this week:

THIS SUNDAY:  We’ve completed the Game Day series on spiritual disciplines, but just because the series is over, don’t forget about prayer, fasting, silence and service.  Keep working to make these a part of your daily life – not to earn brownie points, but to build your relationship with Him.  This Sunday we’ll revisit a series called iBelieve.  It will be a time to review how God touches us with the gift of the sacraments (Baptism and Communion).  Join us at 10:00 am at the Lied Senior Center.

STAY FOR LUNCH THIS SUNDAY!  Plan to stay for lunch this Sunday.  There will be a baked potato bar set up right after our morning gathering.  You can eat some awesome potatoes and support the Comfort Dog Ministry at the Rock at the same time!  The Rock’s application for a comfort dog has been accepted.  Your donation will help pay the costs of acquiring the dog and help us move forward.  Want to know more about what a comfort dog does?  Click here:  www.lutheranchurchcharities.org and go to the K-9 Ministry link.  Or, click here to check out Moses the comfort dog’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MosesComfortDog.

FAITH INK & STEPPING STONES AT THE NEW ROCK!!  Stepping Stones and Faith Inkubators will be meeting tomorrow at the new Rock (237 S. 3rd Street) on the 3rd level.  Woo hoo!

UPDATE ON THE NEW ROCK:   First, work night at the new Rock was tonight instead of Wednesday night this week.  Second, we have been granted temporary occupancy to begin using the new Rock while a few remaining items are finished up to meet code requirements.  Faith Ink and Stepping Stones will be the first groups to use the new space tomorrow night and Pastor Mike will have an office their soon.  Third, we’ll be ready to announce a schedule for our first worship in the new space and other related events soon.  Fourth, be watching soon for more information on how you can help and celebrate.  It’s going to be a fun and messy time as we figure out how everything works in the new space.

NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING THIS SUNDAY!  If you are interested in attending the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer, please plan to meet at the Lied Senior Center this Sunday at around 1:00 pm (when the baked potato festivities are done).  This meeting is the deadline to bring some initial forms and a $100 deposit to reserve a spot.  Once we have committed numbers, we can make decisions on transportation and fundraising and related issues.  If you can’t make the meeting, please respond to this email or contact Pastor Mike.

BLUE VALLEY PANTRY:   Brown, white, boxed, bagged or even o’roni.  Grab some rice for the pantry any time this October and drop it in the box at the Rock.

Blessings on your week.