ROCK THE WEEK
September 16, 2020
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Our new round of Small Group Ministry discussions are just getting started, and it's not too late to join in! We meet Monday nights at 6:55 p.m. via Zoom. There are two different discussion groups that alternate weeks, and you are welcome to participate in one or the other, as well as both!
- Creativity Challenge (begins Sept. 21st) - respond to a prompt by creating something with items in your home; no art experience needed (check out the cool idea in the picture above!)
- Our Whole Lives Bookclub (18+)(begins Sept. 28th) "this is how it always is" by Laurie Frankel - a family-centered novel exploring gender and peaceful parenting, which is free on Kindle Unlimited!
Get the Zoom link or get your questions answered with a quick email to Karen. All are welcome to participate! |
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Wednesday (9/16): Connections Count on Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
A weekly video highlighting a different spiritual practice or concept. This week, we will read Psalm 51 together, exploring the beautiful and problematic language of this Psalm from King David.
Yoga Nidra will be on Facebook Live this week at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to participate.
Monday (9/21): Small Group Ministry on Zoom at 6:55 p.m.
New sessions have started and it's not too late to join! Monday is week 1 of the Creativity Challenge. The prompt is "Junk Drawer Challenge:" build/design/fabricate something using materials from your home's junk drawer. It's going to be so fun! Email Karen to get the Zoom link for this program.
Sunday, September 20
Virtual Worship is delivered to your inbox first thing in the morning. There is a lot of clutter, anger, fear and anxiety around the election process. Everyone is entitled to their political beliefs. However, there may be more guidance about our orientation to politics than "every person for themselves". What is a spirituality toward government that makes sense? The wisdom of our faith tradition may help, or at least give us some important things to talk about. This is at the heart of the question leveled at Jesus about taxes. We will explore Matthew 22:15-22 for some guidance. Again, we explore our core value of spirituality. This discussion will include a message via Zoom at 11 a.m., breakout groups and then regather as a large group to summarize our discussion. We hope you will add to the experience of becoming and belonging by participating.
Faith Formation is at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. You'll find the link in Sunday's worship email. This week, we're focusing on two concepts that are central to Shadow Rock's understanding of worship: Experimental and Experiential. Come be a part of this fascinating discussion - your voice and your ideas are welcome and needed!
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We celebrate crossing the finish line for our 4-way Covenant with Dr. Rev. Patricia StandTal Clarke. It is official as the Committee on Church and Ministry (COCAM) of the Southwest Conference UCC approved the 4-way partnership earlier this week. Please use this link that gives an overview of Patricia's vision and our covenant with her. |
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Thank you to all who responded to our recent Reopening Survey. Church leadership (including the board, the staff, and the safety team) were grateful for your input as we look at resuming in-person worship. Currently, we are exploring a target date of Sunday, October 18th for small, outdoor groups to meet. Pastor Ken is putting together a letter with more details as well as answers to the questions you asked in the survey. Please look for it in your inbox soon. For those interested in the raw numbers from the survey, you can find a summary here. |
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Each week we'll be spotlighting an organization or site that's worth looking into. If you would like to suggest a future group to feature, please contact Abeth.
Our United Church of Christ national office has an outreach called Disaster Ministries. These funds go directly to those impacted by natural or other disasters. Currently, their focuses are the West Coast wildfires, the Iowa storms, the recent explosion in Beruit, Lebanon, and hurricanes in the Atlantic. You can learn more about each need, as well as donate to a particular relief effort at their website.
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Reminders While the Campus is Closed |
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- Our mail service is on hold and being picked up more sporadically. If you have important mail that needs our attention, please contact Heidi and she will give you an alternate address so we can receive it quicker.
- If you need any assistance securing groceries, medicine or toiletries, please contact us via email. We want to do our best to make sure everyone is safe and well.
- One of the most important things we can do for each other during this time of isolation and distance is to keep in touch. We're a very social church family, and it's hard to be apart from one another! Try to take time every day or two to call, text, or email one of your Shadow Rock friends.
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Thank you for your love and support of Shadow Rock! Your financial support and donations are more important than ever as we go through this unprecedented time of uncertainty. If you have questions about giving electronically, please reach out to Heidi and she'll be happy to help! You can also give to our Pastor's Charitable Fund or Facilities Improvement Fund by clicking the yellow donate button below.
Miss a week? You can find previous Virtual Worship services as well as older editions of Rock the Week by going to our website and clicking "News" at the top of the page.
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Rock the Week is published each Wednesday, and covers the upcoming week and future special events. To submit content for Rock the Week, please email abeth@shadowrockucc.org no later than noon on Monday. We welcome all comments, criticisms, concerns, critiques, and compliments at the same address. |
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