Rock News for March 6, 2021

This past week, the Seward City Council repealed the ordinance that mandated the wearing of masks in all public buildings, including places of worship. This removes the mask mandate from municipal code.

In response to this change, The ROCK will implement the following additional update to its “Returning To Worship Guidance Document” beginning MARCH 7, 2021:

–Appropriate physical distancing and wearing of masks will be at the discretion of each worshipping group.

–The distribution of Holy Communion will continue to utilize our current practice: use of masks and hand sanitizer by communion assistants, recipients come forward in one single file line.

The Rock encourages those who attend public worship to keep everyone’s safety in mind and respect their personal decisions. Each worshiper must make a personal decision about the levels of safety and normalcy they require, as well as, their individual facts and circumstances.

Visit our website for the full details: https://www.therockseward.org/worship/


We hope you’ll stick around after the service on Sunday, March 21 for another Forever Family meal. We’ll have a baked potato bar set up with lots of toppings, and we’ll provide all plates, utensils, etc. Please bring some dessert to share. 


Let The Rock egg your house (or someone else’s) just in time for Easter. On the evening of April 3, 2021 we will come to your home (or the home of a friend or neighbor) and hide 12 Easter Eggs in the yard. There will be 11 candy-filled eggs and 1 empty egg as a reminder of the empty tomb! $10 per dozen eggs

Please contact jen axt (308) 631-7065 by text/phone or by email: jen.axt@gmail.com

Payment by cash, check, or venmo (@Jen-Axt) by March 29, 2021.  Please provide the following information: Purchaser’s name and phone number; family and address of “the egging”; # of dozen eggs to be delivered; any message to be delivered with the eggs (there will be a flyer explaining the fundraiser left on the door).


Plan now to join us on Easter morning, April 4, for Easter breakfast before the service starting at 9 a.m. No tickets are required—instead, we will collect a free will donation to help fund our teens and leaders who will attend the 2022 National Lutheran youth gathering in Houston, TX. 


Attention high school students who are part of the classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, AND 2025! If you are interested in attending the National Youth Gathering in Houston in 2022, please contact Jen Axt (308) 631-7065 by text or phone, jen.axt@gmail.com by email, or join The Rock LCMS Youth Gathering Facebook page.  You can also join the Remind group @therocklcm.

Fundraising efforts are underway for this exciting, fun, Christ-centered gathering of youth from all over the country!  


We are looking for volunteers who are interested in learning how to manage the audio-visual, livestream, and lighting console on Sunday mornings. We’ll teach you everything you need to know! Contact Pastor Mike, Tim Moll, or Shane Sloup. 


Our March item for the Blue Valley food pantry is peanut butter. The collection box is in the Rock Cafe. Thanks for being a blessing to the community in this way! You can see our Blue Valley Pantry item schedule on our website.


View The Rock’s service each week from home!

We will continue to provide viewing options on Facebook and YouTube for those who need to or prefer to worship from home at this time.

We’re so glad  you join us for worship in whatever way you do, and we look forward to being together again as a Forever Family!


YogaFaith is offering both in person classes and online classes.  Class offerings are as follows:  All Level YogaFaith – Tuesday and Thursday nights at 5:30 pm and Restorative Candlelight YogaFaith is every Sunday night at 7:00 pm.  YogaFaith has also added a Saturday morning class (twice a month) at 8:00-8:45 a.m.

To stay 6 feet apart, we are limiting the number of people in the room to 6 (including Sara and Erika) so you will have to register in advance for an in-person class. Please click on this link to sign up for a class. If you would like to take the class online please email Sara at tmoll@neb.rr.com and she will give you instructions!  As always please check our Facebook page for more information.   https://www.facebook.com/YogaFaith-Seward-256010628294784/



If you have any questions about The Rock, need information about our events, or anything else, please contact us at info@therockseward.org.  Also, if you have a prayer request to submit during the week (or anytime) send it to prayers@therockseward.org. Our prayer warriors will receive these, as well as Pastor Mike Meyer. 

Update for In-Person Worship

This past week, the Seward City Council repealed the ordinance that mandated the wearing of masks in all public buildings, including places of worship. This removes the mask mandate from municipal code. Governor Ricketts and Nebraska public health officials continue to ask, but not require Nebraskans to wear face coverings for added public safety.

In response to this change, The ROCK will implement the following additional update to its “Returning To Worship Guidance Document” beginning MARCH 7, 2021:

–Appropriate physical distancing and wearing of masks will be at the discretion of each worshipping group.

–The distribution of Holy Communion will continue to utilize our current practice: use of masks and hand sanitizer by communion assistants, recipients come forward in one single file line.

The Rock encourages those who attend public worship to keep everyone’s safety in mind and respect their personal decisions. Each worshiper must make a personal decision about the levels of safety and normalcy they require, as well as, their individual facts and circumstances.

Out of love and concern for our forever family, if you have tested positive for COVID19 and have not yet recovered, if you are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, or if you have been recently exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID, we encourage you to participate with us using our livestream option rather than attending in person.

Forever family in Jesus,

The Ambassadors, Directors, and Pastor of The ROCK

Rock News & Seward Mask Mandate

The Directors and Ambassadors at the Rock are grateful for your willingness to adapt to our frequently-changing COVID-19 worship precautions.  This week, the City of Seward passed an ordinance requiring face coverings in public indoor spaces when groups of 10 or more people gather, including in churches. Aligning our worship practices with this ordinance, face coverings will be required for anyone aged 5 years or older, with exceptions for those with some health conditions. Our face covering practice will apply to in-person worship and all other activities at The Rock until the ordinance is amended or no longer in effect. Please keep in mind that we will continue offering an online worship alternative.

Thanks for cooperating with our local health and policy-making officials who are endeavoring to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  As we all walk through this time together, let us continue to walk in the Lord.


The Rock’s Advent Challenge with Heifer International: Help us meet our goal of raising enough funds to provide 10 sheep for families in developing countries.  10 sheep X $120/sheep = $1200.  To learn more, go to heifer.org.


 

Bell ringing for the Salvation Army red kettles will be at the Seward Wal-Mart.  All sign-up is done on-line at https://www.registertoring.com/Default.aspx  Simply find Seward, NE and sign up for a time to ring.  Remember, that 90% of the funds collected stay in Seward County to do the most good right here. The Salvation Army funds are dispersed in Seward County by the Seward Ministerial Association.


 

Our December item for the Blue Valley food pantry is tuna. The collection box is in the Rock Cafe. Thanks for being a blessing to the community in this way!


 

The Rock has been blessed throughout 2020 with continued strength in monthly giving that has allowed us to meet our budget, even amidst difficult economic conditions. Praise God for this!

This fall, however, components of a large roof air conditioning unit failed and the Directors have authorized repairs for Spring 2021 at a cost of about $20,000.  We will use available cash and the church’s line of credit to cover this work.

If your family is in a position to make an extra gift at the end of 2020, it would be a blessing to The Rock and reduce the amount we place on our line of credit.  If you choose to do so, indicate the extra gift is for the “A/C Repair Project.”

Finally, consult your tax advisor about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act legislation.  It allows 2020 tax deductions for charitable donations of up to $300, even if your family does not itemize deductions.


View The Rock’s service each week from home!

We will continue to provide viewing options on Facebook and YouTube for those who need to or prefer to worship from home at this time.

We’re so glad  you join us for worship in whatever way you do, and we look forward to being together again as a Forever Family!


YogaFaith is offering both in person classes and online classes.  Class offerings are as follows:  All Level YogaFaith – Tuesday and Thursday nights at 5:30 pm and Restorative Candlelight YogaFaith is every Sunday night at 7:00 pm.  To stay 6 feet apart, we are limiting the number of people in the room to 6 (including Sara and Erika) so you will have to register in advance for an in-person class. Please click on this link to sign up for a class. If you would like to take the class online please email Sara at tmoll@neb.rr.com and she will give you instructions!  As always please check our Facebook page for more information.   https://www.facebook.com/YogaFaith-Seward-256010628294784/


Thank you for being so faithful in your giving. As a reminder, we have 4 giving options other than the offering basket:

  • You can mail your offering checks to us at: The Rock Church, PO Box 199, Seward, NE 68434
  • Download the GivePlus app and give to The Rock using your smartphone. Enjoy the convenience of making credit or debit card donations as a guest user, or create an account to set up recurring donations and view your giving history.
  • Give online through InFaith and your donation can be made via credit/debit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through your checking/savings account. Through a collaboration with the InFaith Community Foundation and Thrivent Financial, The Rock will not be assessed any fees if you give through this online portal.
  • Joyful Response is a way for individuals to make their stewardship commitment to God through The Rock on a regular basis. They can determine the start and stop date of the giving as well as the intervals of payment. This is a simple way for each of us to support the ministry through The Rock. People can designate their gifts to be split out towards the general fund or maybe they want some money to go into a building fund or outreach fund.
  • Click here for an electronic offering form. Forms need to be turned in to Rock treasurer Dave Kumm for processing, or mailed to The Rock.

 



If you have any questions about The Rock, need information about our events, or anything else, please contact us at info@therockseward.org.  Also, if you have a prayer request to submit during the week (or anytime) send it to prayers@therockseward.org. Our prayer warriors will receive these, as well as Pastor Mike Meyer. 

COVID Safety Update

Among the Directed Health Measures from the office of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is one that applies directly to churches, including The Rock.  From November 11 through at least November 30, all those attending worship will be required to maintain six feet of physical distance between family groups.  To aid those in attendance, every other row of chairs in the worship area will be removed.  For those seated in the same row with others, please leave 6 feet of distance (3 chairs) open. Governor Ricketts and Nebraska public health officials are asking but not requiring Nebraskans to wear face coverings for added public safety. The Rock encourages those who attend public worship to keep everyone’s safety in mind.

Each worshiper must make a personal decision about the levels of safety and normalcy they require while also protecting others in the Forever Family.  The safest worship alternative remains online worship; the most “normal” worship remains in-person.  Both are available and important for our personal and congregational spiritual vitality, so you are encouraged to join us!

 

Rock News: Quick Survey

The Ambassadors continue to meet every Tuesday to prepare to tentatively reopen in-person worship on June 7th. When we return, we are concerned for those who are at-risk and not able to return to The Rock at this time. We will continue to record  our services and put them online for anyone to view. (The recordings will be available on Sunday afternoons until we’re able to get properly set up for livestreaming the services.)

Our concern is also for those who will be able to return.  Loving our neighbor at this time may include doing things that are uncomfortable to you personally, yet could be a blessing to your neighbor.  Social distancing is still a government requirement.  We’d like you to take this short, two question survey to get your feedback about in-person worship: https://forms.gle/Ja2bbSHoW2KEJQHUA 

 


We are offering one more “drive up” Holy Communion for those who are interested. We’ve been using a safe process for packaging and handling the elements (gloves, masks, letting things sit for a few days) and then a two-part process of giving you a bag with your bread/wine as you drive up and then driving forward to pray with Pastor Mike. We will offer communion on Saturday, May 30 in two time slots: 10-10:30 and 10:30-11:00. Your response lets us prepare properly for how many will be taking communion.

Please respond by Wednesday, May 27 at noon for communion on the 30th. Click here to make your reservation now.

 



If you have any questions about The Rock, need information about our events, or anything else, please contact us at info@therockseward.org.  Also, if you have a prayer request to submit during the week (or anytime) send it to prayers@therockseward.org. Our prayer warriors will receive these, as well as Pastor Mike Meyer. 

Rock News: Drive Up Communion and Tentative Opening Date

Join us for church tomorrow, for part three of our new series, “Love Does.”

Watch on YouTube     //    Watch on Facebook    //  Watch on our website


We are going to be offering “drive up” Holy Communion for those who are interested. We’re working on a safe process for packaging and handling the elements (gloves, masks, letting things sit for a few days) and then a two-part process of giving you a bag with your bread/wine as you drive up and then driving forward to pray with Pastor Mike. We’ll have three Saturday morning sessions and one Wednesday evening session available, and are asking families to indicate which dates they will come, whether they will come at the top or bottom of the hour, and how many will be taking communion so we can prepare properly for each date.

Please respond by Sunday evening for Wednesday communion and by Wednesday noon for Saturday communion. Click here to make your reservation now so we can prepare properly.


 

After prayerful consideration, hearing from our church body leaders, and reading through “Nebraska State Guidelines to Resume Worship,” The Rock leaders have decided to tentatively resume public (in-person) worship gatherings June 7th. We will visit each week about opening earlier than June 7th if restrictions change. Until then, The Rock will continue to stream worship each Sunday at 10. We will continue to provide some form of online worship once we resume Sunday services.

This was not an easy decision knowing people are on both sides about public gatherings. At this time there are many unanswered questions. Read more by clicking here to read the full announcement.


 

Spring has sprung and the lawn at The Rock is growing! We try to mow and trim at least once a week. Please consider signing up for  a week when you can mow and/or trim. If you can mow, but not trim, that’s okay. Or maybe you can trim, but not mow. That’s okay, too. Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Mowing is generally done on Friday or Saturday. If you’re signing up to mow for the first time, you’ll be contacted and instructed how to get the mower and how to operate it.  Click here to sign up and help us keep our lawn from becoming a jungle. 


We now have 4 giving options:

  • You can mail your offering checks to us at: The Rock Church, PO Box 199, Seward, NE 68434
  • Download the GivePlus app and give to The Rock using your smartphone. Enjoy the convenience of making credit or debit card donations as a guest user, or create an account to set up recurring donations and view your giving history.
  • Give online through InFaith and your donation can be made via credit/debit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through your checking/savings account. Through a collaboration with the InFaith Community Foundation and Thrivent Financial, The Rock will not be assessed any fees if you give through this online portal.
  • Joyful Response is a way for individuals to make their stewardship commitment to God through The Rock on a regular basis. They can determine the start and stop date of the giving as well as the intervals of payment. This is a simple way for each of us to support the ministry through The Rock. People can designate their gifts to be split out towards the general fund or maybe they want some money to go into a building fund or outreach fund.
  • Click here for an electronic offering form. Forms need to be turned in to Rock treasurer Dave Kumm for processing. You can mail them to The Rock while we’re not gathering.

 

Join YogaFaith through Facebook Live! Since it looks like we will need to continue to practice social distancing for a while longer, YogaFaith will still be teaching via Facebook Live for the rest of April.  Sara will teach on Friday, April 24 at 9:00 am, and Erika will teach on Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30 pm.  Once May rolls around, we will review the situation again and decide how much longer we will need to offer class via Facebook. The classes are available live at the set times on “YogaFaith-Seward Private Member Group” found at the following link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/240000133788419/.  If you are not already part of the group, click on the link and request to join.  

With Facebook live, you will be able to see the instructor, but we will not be able to see you.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions during the class.  We will have one person teaching the class and another filming and watching for comments or questions.  Also, since we can’t see you, you will need to be extra careful to make sure you are able to comfortably complete the class.  If there are positions you aren’t sure of or aren’t comfortable with, don’t force anything.  Send us a question, do an alternate, or just relax until the next pose.

 


It’s been a few years since we’ve asked our members to share their personal contact information with us. We’d like everyone, even if you’ve been members from the start or only occasionally gather with us for worship, to visit the form at this link and fill in as much personal information as possible. This information is for our leadership only. Your contact information will eventually be shared in a members’ directory that will be password protected, and you will have the opportunity to decide how much of your contact information will be public. If you have questions about how we’re keeping your information secure, send them to info@therockseward.org and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.



 

If you have any questions about The Rock, need information about our events, or anything else, please contact us at info@therockseward.org.  Also, if you have a prayer request to submit during the week (or anytime) send it to prayers@therockseward.org. Our prayer warriors will receive these, as well as Pastor Mike Meyer. 

The Rock’s Plan to Tentatively Resume Public Worship, June 7th

The Rock’s Plan to Tentatively Resume Public Worship, June 7th

After prayerful consideration, hearing from our church body leaders, and reading through “Nebraska State Guidelines to Resume Worship,” The Rock leaders have decided to tentatively resume public (in-person) worship gatherings June 7th.  We will visit each week about opening earlier than June 7th if restrictions change.  Until then, The Rock will continue to stream worship.

God’s Word reminds us in Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV),

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

 

Guidelines for the Conduct of Faith-Based Services Including Weddings and Funerals Held in Houses of Worship from the State of Nebraska says,

Faith leaders are responsible for the safety of those who attend services in houses of worship and must limit physical participation on the premises depending on the size and structure of the house of worship. This document anticipates flexibility in the timing of reopening of services at houses of worship throughout the State based on the judgment of the faith leaders responsible for making such decisions.”

 

You can see the full guidelines at http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Guidelines-for-the-Conduct-of-Faith-Based-Services.pdf#search=Faith%20Based%20Service

 

This was not an easy decision knowing people are on both sides about public gatherings.  At this time there are many unanswered questions.  How do we continue social distancing with the space at The Rock?                                                                                                                                  

Would we need additional worship gatherings?  If so, how many?  How would we do Holy Communion?  How do we thoroughly clean after each worship gathering and how many people are needed to accomplish this?  What will be required to do a public worship gathering(s) AND continue Facebook, YouTube online worship for those at risk, sick, older population, and those who do not feel it is safe to be in a large group?

 

We tried to make this decision as being the best witness of Jesus Christ to the Forever Family, community of Seward, and the surrounding area.  Even now, the Ambassadors are crafting a plan to offer “drive thru” Holy Communion in the days ahead.  The leaders are very thankful to God that we can worship online through Facebook and YouTube.  We also understand everyone may not be able to worship this way.  If you’d like to discuss other ways we could bring God’s Word to you, please contact us through one of the following methods:

  • Phone:  402-643-6624 (please leave a voice message)
  • Email:  info@therockseward.org
  • Facebook message:   The Rock

 

How can I best help our ministry right now?

Pray: please keep our Forever Family, Pastor Mike and our entire community and world in your prayers.  Pray boldly that God will use this time of hardship to show us His power and love.

Engage: use the tools and/or resources you have available to connect with people and offer the Christian care and concern they need.  People are anxious, and there is no better remedy than Jesus, our Rock.  We are Jesus’ hands and feet, and we can make a difference by showing His love or sharing an encouraging Bible verse with others.

God is good, all the time…all the time, God is good!

Your Ambassadors, Directors, and Pastor of The Rock

Rock News: A Word of Encouragement

April 7, 2020

 

Dear Forever Family at The Rock,

 

We definitely are in uncharted waters in our world, community and our church today.  While it is frustrating for all of us to not have our regular worship gatherings in-person and other Rock activities, it’s important for all of us to keep perspective on what we have control over.  We certainly have no control over a virus, public health directives, and executive orders.  Yet, we do have control over how we react to social distancing and new, creative ways of connecting with each other.  We look forward in hope, anticipating the joy of our Forever Family’s awesome reunion in worship, to the future days when all this will be past.

 

The Rock is a “Word and Sacrament” Church.  We have three means of grace:  The Word of God, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion.  Historically, the Church has had to rely on the Word of God and our Baptisms when we could not celebrate Holy Communion together.  Congregations would wait weeks for the circuit riding pastor to arrive and then they would celebrate Holy Communion.  God’s Word assures us of forgiveness of sins, provides faith-producing promises of God, and instructs us in living as a child of God, even if we do not have opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

If you desire to have a conversation or a web-based meeting with Pastor Mike or your Ambassador, we encourage you to contact us in one of the following ways:

 

1) call The Rock at 402-643-6624 and leave a voicemail,

2) send an email to info@therockseward.org,

3) send a personal message to The Rock’s Facebook page.

 

We encourage you to join with us in continued prayers for health, safety, and a speedy end to this virus and our current situation.  Pray for God’s blessing and provision to be upon The Rock!

 

Forever family in Jesus,
Pastor Mike
The Rock Ambassadors

Rock News: 3/28/20

  • While we are unable to gather in person for services, you can still send your offerings in via mail to:
    The Rock
    PO Box 199
    Seward, NE 68434

     
  • Order carry out from La Carreta on Monday, March 30th from 11 a.m-9:30 p.m. to support the Guatemala Mission Team.  20% of your total will be donated back to the team.  In addition to all day carry out orders, the mission team is willing to deliver meals locally to your porch from 5-7 pm if you don’t want to venture out. Call La Carreta to place your order (and pay using a credit card if you want delivery) on Monday at 402-643-9544.  Thanks for supporting both the Guatemala Mission Team AND La Carreta during these uncertain times.

     
  • For the time being, YogaFaith is not meeting. But once they do meet again, everyone will be welcome to YogaFaith – flow and stretch with Erika or Sara at The Rock (237 South 3rd). YogaFaith has moved into its new room at The Rock!  Where: Room 120 (Located in the north east corner of the basement of The Rock:  Enter the south doors, walk past old Yoga room. Keep walking to the staircase at the end of the hall.  Walk down the ½ flight of stairs, turn right, walk down another ½ flight and the room is to your left.)

    Join us for an all-levels Christian yoga class to help you focus and connect with Him while you strengthen, stretch and balance.  Please bring a mat, if you are able, but we do have mats that you can borrow. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Fridays at 9:00 a.m.  Also, on Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m., join us for a gentle and relaxing Candlelight YogaFaith class at The Rock. These classes focus on stretching and slow movements.  They are Christ-centered, restful and appropriate for all levels. First class is free; after that it is $5.00 per class. Please arrive at least 5-10 minutes early in order to settle into your space. 

 


If you have any questions about The Rock, need information about our events, or anything else, please contact us at info@therockseward.org.  Also, if you have a prayer request to submit during the week (or anytime) send it to prayers@therockseward.org. Our prayer warriors will receive these, as well as Pastor Mike Meyer.