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Rock The Week

03 March 2024

Breath Deep and Settle Into the Rhythm of Lent

You Are Worthy

Make Us Part of Your Chosen Spiritual Family

This Sunday at 10:15 A.M.

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 on Sunday is in the Blue Room, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Spiritual Play for 3 (potty-trained) - 8, 9-11:30 a.m.
• Kindlings (parent group), 9 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

• Worship in the sanctuary.

11:15 a.m.

• Sermon Reboot will NOT happen this Sunday after worship. Please attend the Congregational Meeting for a presentation of our budget.

1:00 p.m.

• Celebration of Life for Shannon Tackman

4:00 p.m.

• Loveseed at North Mountain Brewery



Our Sacred Sites group will be visiting the Heard Museum.

Sacred Sites invites you to the Heard Museum for a private group tour, on March 9th, at 11 am.

HOME: Native People in the Southwest - Embark on an unforgettable journey through the Southwest and explore the vibrant arts and cultures of Native people. The exhibition showcases the Heard Museum's most prized masterpieces, sweeping landscapes, poetry, and personal collections.

During the tour, you can visit their exhibition galleries, which feature ongoing shows and changing exhibitions that showcase a diverse array of artists and art forms. The Heard Museum utilizes its collection and employs a first-person voice to tell the stories of American Indian cultures, while also celebrating the achievements of contemporary artists. You can also enhance your experience by arranging to have lunch at their acclaimed Courtyard Café.



All are invited but will need to confirm the number of people attending. Please contact Arlene Dominguez to get your name on the list. She can be reached at 602-882-0967 or rleendom@gmail.com.

The Transition Team Discussion 2/25

Part of the discussion was answering a question that came up last month, "Why are some churches bursting out the doors and some churches are not? Take a look at the charts below. Also, the links in the narrative notes can help you dive deeper.

WHY ARE SOME CHURCHES BURSTING OUT THE DOORS AND SOME CHURCHES ARE NOT?

CULTURAL TRENDS

CONSERVATIVES INVITE CHILDREN AND TEACH ADULTS VS. LIBERALS INVITE ADULTS BUT TEACH CHILDREN

65 MILLION ADULTS HAVE DROPPED OUT OF ACTIVE RELIGIOUS ATTENDANCE, AND THIS NUMBER GROWS ABOUT 2.7 MILLION MORE EVERY YEAR. (Josh Packard, Ashleigh Hope, Todd Ferguson, and Jeremy Myers are authors of books and articles outlining this trend.)

IS DOUBT AND SKEPTICISM ABOUT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS A CULTURAL TREND, A STAGE OF LIFE, OR A STAGE OF FAITH?

The link gives data from the Pew Research Center. These are only two charts of many that convey research data about religion in America. The home page is https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/religion/

The two graphics show a contrast in attendance at religious services between conservatives and liberals. When someone asks why some churches are "bursting at the seams" and some are struggling, this is part of the answer. The reality is not all conservative churches are bursting at the seams. We see the ones that are growing but we do not see the ones that are struggling. However, you would indeed be hard-pressed to find a liberal mega-church. Conservatives go to church and liberals do not. This is only one metric. Take a look at the website and its various pages.

This link is to an article about spirituality in America.

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/

There is a lot here but it might help formulate some answers to some of the questions we hear.

The data is good but I am not sure if people will hear it. The questions our people ask are not based on a desire to know information. The questions are motivated a lot by emotion and grief. Throwing data at people in the emotional process of grief is an uphill climb. It is also important to let people know that you hear their grief as well as their questions and reassure them they are not alone. I know you will do this.

WHY ARE SOME CHURCHES BURSTING OUT THE DOORS AND SOME CHURCHES ARE NOT?

What is Shadow Rock’s answer to this question?

Other articles read by Transition Team members and pertinent to our discussion.

NPR article.



Pastor Carey Nieuwh article.

WE ARE RECRUITING FOR ART SHOW 2024!

If you want to be part of the art show leadership contact the church office. At this time, the church staff is gathering information and collecting names of interested persons.

We want to have our team in place by March 31st.