Rock News

  • Forever Family Reunion:  Please plan to stay after worship this Sunday, March 31, for a Taco Fundraiser Meal to celebrate Nicodemus Comfort Dog’s 3rd Birthday.  Everything will be provided! There will be a free will offering with all the proceeds going to support the Rock’s Comfort Dog Ministry.

  • We’re wrapping up our collection of our March item for the Blue Valley Food Pantry (peanut butter) and getting ready to collect paper towels for April. The collection box is in The Rock cafe and our community appreciates your generosity.

  • The Youth Group of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Goehner (1042 May St. Goehner, NE) invite you to join them April 20th, Holy Saturday, for their second annual Resurrection Run!  There is a 1 Mile FUN-Run ($20 per runner), 5K ($35 per runner), and new this year a 10K ($45 per runner). The cost includes food, drinks, a t-shirt and tons more great giveaways. The Holy Cross Facebook page has more information, and you can click here for the online registration form.  The funds will be used to defray the costs of our youth attending the 2019 LCMS National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, MN.

  • We have faith growth opportunities on Sunday mornings:  Going Deeper, room 213, 8:45 with Pastor Mike. Women’s Bible study with Ann Schranz will resume sometime in the next year.

  • Ladies’ Bible Study, Morning Amigos, meets from 10:15 to 11:30 in the Rock Cafe.  Questions? Contact Karen Hoffbauer (karenhoffbauer@hotmail.com) or Marcia Newsome (mooma496@hotmail.com).

  • Yoga at The Rock:  Marge Rhodes teaches Yoga at The Rock on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome!

 

  • Sara Moll and Erika Rolf teach YogaFaith classes in Room 216 on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm and Friday mornings at 9:45 am.  Also, we offer a Sunday Candlelight class at 6:30-7:30 pm twice a month. Everyone is welcome to join us for 1 hour long Christ centered yoga classes – your first class is FREE!  Please contact Sara at tmoll@neb.rr.com if you have any questions. Check for the March and April YogaFaith schedules  here on Facebook for more updates or here on Instagram. Weather Policy: If the Seward school system cancels school due to the weather, then we will not have class.

 

Rock News

  • You are invited to join Trail Life for an Evening of Fishing and Fun on Aug 26th at 4:30 pm at the Seward Pond at the Fairgrounds. There will be fishing, games and a hot dog meal.  Trail Life is a Christian Outdoor Adventure group for boys, ages 5-17. Contact Troopmaster Rick Backhus 402-532-2143 or email at tltroop48@gmail.com with any questions.  We hope to see you there!
  • Stepping Stones & FaithInk Kickoff Picnic:
    When:  Wednesday, Sept. 5th at 6pm
    Where:  Plum Creek Park – Softball fields  (at the shelter that’s part of the 2-plex on the west side of Karol Kay Blvd, next to the tennis courts).
    What:  Sloppy Joes, buns, plates, and utensils will be provided
    Note:  Please bring drinks for your family and a side dish or dessert to share
    *If it rains, we’ll hold the picnic at The Rock in the cafe on the third floor.
  • Nicodemus Comfort Dog needs more handlers!  Handlers accompany Nico on all his outings and need the following qualifications:  (a) available for a minimum of 2-5 hours two or three times a week; (b) open to learning; (c) committed to learning Nico’s commands; (d) physically able to work with and exercise Nico; (e) open to listening and being quiet; and (f) able to pray with others during ministry moments.  It is a big commitment and an awesome opportunity to see God at work. Please feel free to talk to any of Nico’s current handlers for more information (Corey Gray, Danna Seevers, Sara Moll, Marcia Newsome, Linda Brettman, Brenda Rief, and Randy Newsome). They are all available with more information about being a handler and the application and training process.  The next Comfort Dog handler training you could attend is in Northbrook, Illinois in January 2019. Please contact Top Dog, Randy Newsome at ranewsome@live.com or 402-643-6595 for more information.
  • We’ve got one more week to fill up our Blue Valley Food Pantry collection box with canned fruit, our  item for August. Add some to your shopping list and bring it along to bless others. The collection box is in The Rock cafe. Start stocking up on September’s item of boxed meals.
  • On August 26, at 12:30 in the fellowship hall at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Tim Moll will present a free seminar on preparing your will. Lunch and childcare will be provided. Register here.
  • We have faith growth opportunities on Sunday mornings:  Going Deeper, room 213, 8:45 with Pastor Mike; Women’s study, room 217, 8:45, with Ann Schranz.
  • National Youth Gathering: Registration for the 2019 national youth gathering will be due in early October, along with a non-refundable deposit (for teens & adult leaders). Some specific info to help you plan: the fee for the Gathering is $365 per participant. Another $40-50 for the Nebraska District event. Most of the rest of the cost will be hotel, food, and transportation. Look for information soon on a meeting with more details.

    Families of those who are interested, please click here and fill out this quick survey with some basic information to help us get started with our planning. Teens attending the youth gathering (July 11-15, 2019 in Minneapolis) should be entering ninth grade in the 2019-20 school year, or be new high school graduates. Those who are interested should join our Facebook group to keep up with news, or send their contact information to Kim Myers by replying to this newsletter.

  • Women’s Midweek Bible Study:  If you are free in the mornings, there is a Bible Study open to all women.  We meet every Thursday morning from 10:15 am-11:30 am in the Rock Café. There is no homework!  We study a Proverbs 31 devotion and usually have time for prayer. We would love to have you join us.  Please email Sara Moll at tmoll@neb.rr.com if you are interested in joining us or if you have any questions.
  • YogaFaith at The Rock:   This fall we are happy to announce that we will be keeping the Friday morning YogaFaith class!  Our August schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 5:30 pm on August 7, 14, 21, and 28 and Fridays at 9:45 am on August 10, 17, 24 and 31.
  • Did you know that you can give to The Rock electronically? 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.

Rock News

  • This Sunday, August 12, Missionary Ashley Johnson will share what God is doing in Cambodia.  She was with us last year prior to her deployment.

  • We’ll be having a potluck lunch followed by a voters’ meeting after the service on Sunday, August 19. The Rock will provide table service and drinks. We hope that you will provide the rest! Those with last names starting with A-M, please bring a main dish and a side dish to share. Those with names ending in N-Z, please bring a main dish and a salad (fruit or vegetable) to share. But even if you can’t bring something to share, please do stay with us and join the celebration. That is also the first Sunday Concordia University students will be back with us in worship, so be sure to greet them that day.

  • Take some time to look at the resources that anyone can “check out” on the shelves in the back of the worship center.  Most are youth related, but not all.

  • Nicodemus Comfort Dog needs more handlers!  Handlers accompany Nico on all his outings and need the following qualifications:  (a) available for a minimum of 2-5 hours two or three times a week; (b) open to learning; (c) committed to learning Nico’s commands; (d) physically able to work with and exercise Nico; (e) open to listening and being quiet; and (f) able to pray with others during ministry moments.  It is a big commitment and an awesome opportunity to see God at work. Please feel free to talk to any of Nico’s current handlers for more information (Corey Gray, Danna Seevers, Sara Moll, Marcia Newsome, Linda Brettman, Brenda Rief, and Randy Newsome). They are all available with more information about being a handler and the application and training process.  The next Comfort Dog handler training you could attend is in Northbrook, Illinois in January 2019. Please contact Top Dog, Randy Newsome at ranewsome@live.com or 402-643-6595 for more information.

  • Our Blue Valley Food Pantry item for August is canned fruit. Add some to your shopping list and bring it along to bless others. The collection box is in The Rock cafe.

  • On August 26, at 12:30 in the fellowship hall, Tim Moll will present a free seminar on preparing your will at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Lunch and childcare will be provided. Register here.

  • The Rock is looking for people willing to serve on the congregation’s Board of Directors. If you would be willing to serve in this capacity, contact Tim Moll or Pastor Mike.

  • We have faith growth opportunities on Sunday mornings:  Going Deeper, room 213, 8:45 with Pastor Mike; Women’s study, room 217, 8:45, with Ann Schranz.

  • National Youth Gathering: Registration for the 2019 national youth gathering will be due in early October, along with a non-refundable deposit (for teens & adult leaders). Some specific info to help you plan: the fee for the Gathering is $365 per participant. Another $40-50 for the Nebraska District event. Most of the rest of the cost will be hotel, food, and transportation. Look for information soon on a meeting with more details.

    Families of those who are interested, please click here and fill out this quick survey with some basic information to help us get started with our planning. Teens attending the youth gathering (July 11-15, 2019 in Minneapolis) should be entering ninth grade in the 2019-20 school year, or be new high school graduates. Those who are interested should join our Facebook group to keep up with news, or send their contact information to Kim Myers by replying to this newsletter.

  • Women’s Midweek Bible Study:  If you are free in the mornings, there is a Bible Study open to all women.  We meet every Thursday morning from 10:15 am-11:30 am in the Rock Café. There is no homework!  We study a Proverbs 31 devotion and usually have time for prayer. We would love to have you join us.  Please email Sara Moll at tmoll@neb.rr.com if you are interested in joining us or if you have any questions.

  • YogaFaith at The Rock:   This fall we are happy to announce that we will be keeping the Friday morning YogaFaith class!  Our August schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 5:30 pm on August 7, 14, 21, and 28 and Fridays at 9:45 am on August 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Rock News

1. Nicodemus, our amazing comfort dog, turned 2 this week! We’re going to celebrate his birthday with a potluck lunch after the service this Sunday (April 8). The Rock and Nicodemus will provide table service, drinks, and cake. We hope that you will provide the rest! Those with last names starting with A-M, please bring a main dish and a side dish to share. Those with names ending in N-Z, please bring a main dish and a salad (fruit or vegetable) to share. But even if you can’t bring something to share, please do stay with us and join the celebration. We’ll also have a basket to collect any donations you might want to make to help support Nico’s ministry here in Seward and beyond.
2. Thanks to all who joined us for Easter breakfast and donated to help support our youth as they plan to attend the upcoming 2019 National Youth Gathering. To learn more about this event, talk with Pastor Mike or Kim Myers. Tom and Sue Briggs and Tim and Sara Moll can also share information on what it was like to be an adult leader for our teens at the 2016 Gathering. Teens who will be entering 9th grade in the 2019 school year, through those who have just graduated that summer will be eligible to attend with us in July 2019 in Minneapolis.
3. We have faith growth opportunities on Sunday mornings:  Going Deeper, room 213, 8:45 with Pastor Mike; Women’s study, room 217, 8:45, with Ann Schranz.
4. The next ACCESS The Rock event is scheduled for April 22, 11:30a-1:00p, in the Rock Café.  This is one way that people can 1) learn about the Mission, Vision, and Values of the Rock, 2) learn what The Rock believes, teaches and confesses regarding God’s Word of the Bible, and 3) learn what it means to be a disciple/member of the forever family at The Rock.  Those interested should indicate their intent in one of the following ways:  by signing up in the Rock Café on the counter, send an email to pastor@therockseward.org, or call 402-643-6624.
5. Current college students! Enter a drawing with Thrivent Financial’s Student Resources for your chance to get a $5,000 scholarship. No membership necessary. The first drawing is April 2, so enter now! https://offer.thriventstudentresources.com/scholarship  Check out their website for lots of free resources for student financial planning.
6. Our Blue Valley Food Pantry item for April is paper towels. Drop some off in the collection box in the cafe at any time during April. Thanks for your generosity!
7. If you wish to dive deeper into a study about the names of God that we have been learning about in our series “What’s in a Name?” check out the book Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler.

Rock News

Come this Sunday to learn about what Jesus meant when He said He was the Bread of Life. Then join us again next week for two things to celebrate: Palm Sunday and the rite of Confirmation!

We have two opportunities for Sunday morning Bible study groups: Going Deeper, meeting in room 213 at 8:45 with Pastor Mike; and a Women’s study, meeting in room 217 at 8:45, with Ann Schranz.

Nicodemus Comfort Dog Team is meeting on March 25 @ 11:20a in the Rock Café.

The Youth Group of Holy Cross LCMS 1042 May St. Goehner, NE invite you to join them March 31st, Holy Saturday, for their first annual Resurrection Run! They will have a 1 mile FUN for the kids (and any adults up for the challenge)and a 5K for adults (and any kids up for the challenge.)  Your $25 fee includes a Resurrection Run shirt, snacks and hydrating drinks after the run, and a GOODIE BAG provided by local sponsors!  They would love to have many participate and assist in making this a great event, not only for the youth group and Holy Cross, but also for the greater Goehner community. Spectators are more than welcome. You can register one of two ways: by mail by using the registration form, OR online, by using the jotform, https://form.jotform.com/80146229332148.  Need more information? Call, email, or Facebook message, Rev Seth Meyer (sahmeyer@yahoo.com).

Rock News

 

  1. ROCK GARAGE SALE THIS SATURDAY!!  There is stuff leftover from when the Rock facilities were the Seward Middle School.  Since we don’t have use for it, we are offering it for sale.  The silent auction is concluded.  There are items in the small gym and a couple other rooms on the first floor.  That area will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 1pm Saturday and the public is welcome.  Items will be available to take in exchange for a free will donation.  Tell your friends!
  2. THIS SUNDAY:   Join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for the beginning of a new series called a “Bridge to Jesus.”  We’ll focus on how comfort dogs can be a bridge to reaching people and connecting them to Jesus.  Come relax and learn and worship!
  3. COMFORT DOG MEETING THIS SUNDAY:  Want to learn more about Nicodemus and the comfort dog ministry?  Plan to attend a meeting after worship at 11:15 a.m. this Sunday at the Rock.  You are not making any kind of commitment by attending the meeting but it will be a great way to hear about the many ways you can help.  Questions?  Respond to this email or contact Pastor Mike or Randy Newsome.
  4. MARK YOUR CALENDAR – PASSING THE LEASH:   Plan to be at the Rock on Sunday morning, September 24 at 10:00 a.m.  As part of our regular worship gathering, Lutheran Church Charities will be on hand to commemorate the completion of Comfort Dog Nicodemus’ training and officially “pass the leash” to the Rock.  We anticipate a number of other Nebraska comfort dogs will be on hand to help us celebrate.  There will be an opportunity to stay for lunch as well.  Watch for more details soon.
  5. FAITH INK & STEPPING STONES & GODPARENTS:  Wednesday night activities for kids from age 3 through 12th grade will be starting up again after Labor Day.  To learn more and to register, go to our web site and click on the “CONNECT” tab.  www.therockseward.org.
  6. BLUE VALLEY PANTRY:  Last Sunday for canned fruit!