RTW is Rock The Week and There Is A Lot Happening!

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Building Bridges of

Inclusion, Justice, and Spirituality

Gathering of Wise Council of Elders

The Shadow Rock Octogenarians Celebrate Life!

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey,

you are welcome here!

This Sunday at Shadow Rock

9:00 am

Spiritual Formation/Sunday School for adults or children, 9 a.m.
Childcare is in the Blue Room for our worship service,9-11:30 a.m.
Spiritual Play for 3 (potty-trained) - 6, 9-11:30 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

Worship in the sanctuary.

11:15 a.m.

Sermon Reboot will not happen this Sunday after worship. Instead, we will have Coffee Chat (Thank you, WISE Team!) and a Q and A session with the Transition Team.

BTW, while we have your attention, new office hours Monday through Thursday will be 9 am - 3 pm.

Dr. Rev. Patricia StandTal Clarke Preaches January 28th

Dr. Patricia is part of the Shadow Rock staff as our Minister of Wholeness. She is a medical doctor, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and a member of our congregation. She is driven by a vision to help people see the integration of physical health and spirituality. She also has great compassion for Indigenous People and a fire for justice for them. Her latest endeavor is being involved with the World Council of Churches as a member of their Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network (EIPN) Reference Group.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples’ Networks is an attempt to help Indigenous persons take their rightful place as important actors of the ecumenical mission movement. It is not possible to over-emphasize the desperate situations facing Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Their continuing subjection to colonial subjugation, socio-political oppression, economic exploitation, suppression through militarization, and forced displacement in conflict-torn areas must be stopped. The ongoing impact of the so-called Doctrine of Discovery that deprives Indigenous Peoples of their sacred lands through resource extraction, ecological catastrophe, land grabbing, and human trafficking leaves their communities utterly devastated with psycho-social consequences that have decimated and continue to traumatize Indigenous peoples both now and for generations to come. These are the true stories of Indigenous Peoples and their territories. The project is therefore integral to the WCC’s work to bring healing and transformation to the whole ecumenical movement, embodying the full reality and integrity of Indigenous life. Integral to the healing of Indigenous Peoples and for the transformation of oppressive institutions and relationships, is the provision of safe spaces and opportunities that enable and make possible reconciliation. Such healing is imperative for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and reconciliation between the two groups is necessary, especially in the context of ecumenism.

A New Study Continues At Shadow Rock, January 18th at 11 am.

This study is led by Pastor Ken and will center on the parables of Jesus. It will be every Thursday at 11 am on the Shadow Rock campus. The study will go through March 7th. The first study looked at 2 of the "Lost and Found" stories. This week we will spend time with the Father Who Lost Two Sons.

If you want to join by way of Zoom, click here.

Last week's study can be viewed by clicking below. It took us a while to get started. The best place to start is at the 17-minute mark. It took us a while to work out all the connections but once we did we had a fabulous time. Click the link below and enter the passcode.

Click here!

Passcode: 46%K5W?5

Scrappin' and Craftin'

Overnight January 19-20

This is a fun time with good people. You do not need to know how to scrap or craft. Plenty to do, lot's of good food, and laughter! Contact Lois Beberniss for more information.

Spiritual Play is our experimental program focused on the spirituality of children. Located n the Education Building and meets on Sundays, 9-11:30 am.

Contact Developer of Spiritual Play with

Questions

Dr. Cindy Hoard, EdD

Cell: 602-616-9682

[email protected]

Realms of Caring is the companion program for the parents whose children are participating in Spiritual Play and Sunday School. If you want to explore how to talk with your children or grandchildren about spirituality this program is for you. We are thankful to Laurie Folsom for hosting and leading this program. Plus, it serves some pretty good coffee in addition to some great conversation.

BEGINNING SEARCH FOR A NEW PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR!

Please keep our search for a new director in your prayers and direct any interested people to Liz Curry. Liz can answer questions about minimum qualifications, the application process, and the timeline for hiring.

"Q and A" About the Work of Our Transition Team January 21st

The Transition Team will hold a Q&A session to update everyone on their work.

The scope of their work is to oversee the process of moving Shadow Rock UCC into an organizational model that is sustainable and adaptive, with the motivation that the preservation and promotion of our core values, vision, and mission are key to the survival and thriving of Shadow Rock.

The chair of the team is Marylin Rampley. Feel free to contact her.

Congregational Meeting January 28th

We are moving forward with a conversation about our 2024 budgeting process. Join us in a congregational conversation after worship, January 28th. Here is some Shadow Rock history.

For decades we have accepted the following pattern:

Begin a stewardship campaign in the Fall that would last for 3-4 weeks.
At the end of the stewardship campaign we will have only about 30% of the people who financially support Shadow Rock respond.
Our financial officers, financial oversight team, and the board would struggle to make their best guess at the numbers on the expense and income sides.
The months of November, December, and January another 20 - 30 % of financial supporters would respond.
The conversations about creating a budget would include how to make up a deficit, what to cut, who to cut, what kind of fundraiser can we implement (Pick a Party, 50 for 50, Bridge the Gap, etc.)
The strategies to decrease the deficit would be added to the budget as a line item and the number would often be "padded" to address anxiety.
February through April a few more financial commitments would trickle in. Based on giving for the months of January through April the numbers on the income side would be adjusted.
In the month of May a deficit budget would be presented to the board for board approval and the board's recommendation to the congregation.
In June we have our usual congregational meeting when we elect new board members and finally pass a budget.

Every year we present a budget with a deficit of tens of thousands of dollars. Every year we end up with a few thousand on either side of our actual income. Usually to the positive side.

The leadership of our congregation wants to break this pattern by bringing it to your attention and opening it up for your ideas.

Look for more information that will include numbers and context.