Round Rock Christian Church
Weekly Reminders to
WORSHIP SERVE GROW
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RRCC Notices and Reminders for the Weekend of December 11-13, 2020
This Weekend


Friday, December 11, 2020
10:00 a.m. - Vision Advisory Team Meeting Link HERE

Saturday, December 12, 2020
8:00 a.m. - Shalom Congregation (live stream)
8:30 a.m. - Disciples Men's Breakfast Link HERE
9:30 a.m. - Handcrafters Link HERE

Sunday, December 13, 2020 The Third Sunday of Advent
Christmas Special Day Offering
9:45 a.m. - Explorers Sunday School Class (via ZOOM) Link HERE
9:45 a.m. - Open Circle Sunday School Class (via ZOOM) 
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service and Fellowship (via ZOOM) Link HERE
3:00 p.m. - Manantial de Vida (off site)

Events are available to view on the RRCC Webpage:



This Sunday in Worship -- December 13, 2020
   
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT


"When Your Identity is Questioned"
John 1:6-8, 19-28

 



You can also join the meeting manually at zoom.us/join
using the following meeting ID and password:

Meeting ID: 864 8287 2175
Password: 273770



December Special Day Offering

DISCIPLES MISSION FUND SPECIAL DAY OFFERINGS provide an opportunity to highlight specific ministries as part of our faith celebrations. There are six Disciples Mission Fund Special Day Offerings received each year during Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving, and Christmas seasons, plus Reconciliation and Week of Compassion.
 
Our 2020 Christmas Offering supports the work of regional ministries. Our own Southwest Region benefits the ministry and mission of Round Rock Christian Church by working to:
  • Connect congregations to each other
  • Foster faith development
  • Gather Disciples in camps, conferences, and assemblies
  • Nurture the development of a new generation of pastors
  • Assist churches in calling new ministers
  • Interpret the global mission of the Church
  • Represent the Church in ecumenical gatherings
  • Counsel and pray with those who are troubled of spirit
  • Lead the Church to address racism
  • Inspire leaders to experiment and create
  • Witness to the power of God to make things new
The Christmas Special Day offering will be received on December 13 and 20. You may give by check or online at www.rrdisciples.org, designating your gift as Christmas Special Day Offering.


Mahomet Christian Church, Bertram, TX

To the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest,
We are saddened to hear of the tragedy that has taken place at Mahomet Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Bertram, Texas. On December 9, 2020 at 10:30pm the fire department responded to a call about a suspicious incident involving a fire and the church has subsequently burned down. 
Regional Staff are currently in regular communication with the leaders of this church community and are doing everything we can to be as supportive as possible and help them as their needs arise. We understand and collectively feel the pain of this congregation, especially during the Advent Season. We ask that you hold this community in prayer as they grieve the loss of their church home and continue to navigate the path forward.
God in your mercy, 
Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum & CCSW Staff


Staff Love Offering


Annual monetary love gifts of appreciation for our senior minister and staff are a tradition at Round Rock Christian Church. Serving with Pastor Mitch are Molly Salzwedel - Administrative Assistant, Randy Preston - Director of Music Ministries, Jimmy Horowitz - keyboard, and Katie Maybaum - nursery. Each person will receive a portion of the giving.

With all of the changes we have experienced this year, we are especially grateful for the extra creativity and effort our faithful staff has contributed to our worship and church life.

Contributions may be sent in two ways: If you have registered to use the online offering link at rrdisciples.org just click on the "Give Here" button at the top of the home page. Indicate in the "Other-1" comment box "staff love offering." Or you can mail your check with "staff love offering" indicated on the memo line to:

Financial Secretary
Round Rock Christian Church
22 Chalice Way
Round Rock, TX 78665

Please complete your love offering so that it is received no later than December 15, 2020.


2021 Worship Leader Sign-Up


The 2021 Worship Leader Sign-Up is available to view!

Click here to reserve your date to serve:




DMM and Handcrafters

Join us for:


Disciples Men's Breakfast
Saturday, December 12, 2020
8:30 a.m.




Handcrafters Ministry
Saturday, December 12, 2020
9:30 a.m.
Link HERE



DWM


 The Disciples Women's Ministries Invite You to
A Morning of Inspiration With Venessa Harmell 

Save the date: December 14, 2020, 9:30 A.M.

In lieu of the traditional December fellowship luncheon, the Disciples Women's Ministries invites the entire congregation to join them via zoom this year, at 9:30 A.M. on December 14. This time for fellowship over coffee we will be blessed to hear from our own Venessa Harmel. Venessa is completing her seminary studies this week with a master's degree. Following the required ordination interview Venessa's service of ordination, a reception will occur late spring here at Round Rock Christian.

In addition to graduate coursework at Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Venessa is the director of Spiritual Life at the Juliette Fowler Communities in Dallas.

     Venessa's Christian service began many years ago when she held several positions of leadership in our congregation, including youth director. Three years ago, she began studies at Brite. During seminary, Venessa has held student pastorates, including one at Richland Springs Christian where Anna Marie Blair now ministers.

Next Monday Venessa will share her spiritual journey and bring information about her current ministry at Juliette Fowler. It is a remarkable faith-based, nonprofit organization founded in 1892. It is named for a Dallas philanthropist, Juliette Peak Fowler, who had a vision for helping people in need, especially women and children. Approaching 130 years of service, this organization now includes senior living apartments, licensed assisted living, certified memory care, skilled long-term nursing care, skilled short-stay rehabilitation, and out-patient therapy. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) www.fowlercommunities.org

The zoom invitation for 9:30 A.M., December 14 is:


The Order of Worship for This Sunday



Call to Worship  (from 1 Thessalonians 5)

On this Third Sunday in Advent, we remember Paul's words to the Thessalonian church--

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 

Let us give our whole selves to him in worship today!



Sunday, December 13, 2020
Third Sunday of Advent
Worship Leader: Katherine Cratin
Elders: Tasha York and Gary Tucker


O R D E R  O F  W O R S H I P
 
  • 10:55 a.m. Host opens meeting
  • Prelude
  • Welcome/Announcements/Instructions
  • "Angels We Have Heard on High"
  • Call to Worship/Invocation
  • Three Candles Lit on Advent Wreath
  • Passing of the Peace
  • Joys & Concerns
  • Pastoral Prayer/Lord's Prayer
  • Symbol of the Season
  • Scripture: John 1:6-8, 19-28
  • Message: "When your Identity is Questioned"
  • "O Holy Night" (Chancel Choir)
  • Offering Meditation
  • Invitation to Communion
  • Words of Institution
  • Communion Prayers
  • Receiving the Loaf and the Cup
  • Benediction
  • Fellowship

Scripture Reading




 John 1:6-8, 19-28 (New Revised Standard Version)
 
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light...

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 

He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 

And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 

Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 

He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 

John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

RRCC Online Giving

You can now give online via the RRCC Website,
or you can CLICK HERE to give.

Other ways to give are: 
  1. use your bank's electronic bill pay system feature to have a check mailed directly from your bank to RRCC
  2. mail your check directly to RRCC.
Address your envelope to:
Financial Secretary
Round Rock Christian Church
22 Chalice Way
Round Rock, TX 78665
RRCC Email Addresses:

info@rrdisciples.org (Molly)
rrcc-office@rrdisciples.org (Molly)
pastormitch@rrdisciples.org (Mitch)
bookkeeper@rrdisciples.org (Gary C.)

Prayer Updates

Mary Acree -- pray for improved balance 

Cynthia Guilbeau -- father Harold Hubbard is receiving care from HospiceAustin. 

Tricia Mouser -- ear and sinus infections; infusion treatments for rheumatoid arthritis 

Chris Pollock -- chest pains

James Shrader -- continued healing and strengthening from bypass surgery and procedure for femoral artery blockage

Gary Tucker's brother Terry (upcoming surgery)

Lisa Walker -- kidney biopsy on 11/10; siblings Dale and Connie

Garvid Wilson -- consultation with oncologist today