Rock the Week for March 9
~Your Weekly Dose of Shadow Rock News~
It's Lent! What's up with that?

Welcome to the season of Lent, a season of preparation leading us to the joy of Easter. Just for fun, the graphic to the right is Jesus and the disciplines, made of LINT.

This year, spiritual formation topics and worship themes will coordinate around trauma and harm in faith communities. Here are the details:

  • Spiritual Formation Wednesday Small Group: on Zoom beginning TONIGHT at 7:00 pm. This will be a quieter, more reflective version of the Sunday morning discussions.
  • The sermon theme this past week was trauma in relation to mental health. If you missed the sermon or want to re-visit it, click here. This coming week's theme is trauma related to purity culture. Purity culture is the set of ideas about human sexuality being very limited and moralistic. It causes shame and neglects the beauty and science of the complexity of human sexuality.
  • If this theme of trauma is stirring things up for you, you're not alone. Pastoral care and spiritual companionship are available to you. Just call the Shadow Rock office or reply to this email to get connected.
  • Lent is often a time for contemplation and change. This could include additional giving. Our Lenten offering will support the Refugee Resettlement Fund. This fund is powering our life-giving work with refugees, in partnership with families and community agencies. Right now, a community donor has offered a match up to $10,000, so it's a great time to give and see our capacity grow.

Whatever spirit you bring to your Lenten journey is welcomed and affirmed. You are enough, just as you are. See you at hybrid worship this coming Sunday!
Southwest Conference 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting

The United Church of Christ Southwest Conference will gather for celebration, renewed covenant, and vital church business April 25 through 30. We celebrate our Shadow Rock delegates: Susan Glynn, Stephanie Moffett, and John Pierce. We can have up to five delegates, so if you are interested in serving, please contact Pastor Ken. This year's meeting on Zoom includes workshops and a terrific Friday evening concert with Heatherlyn Music. Stay tuned for additional updates.
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Ktizo Corner

An estimated 20 to 25 homeless guests receive a hot meal every Wednesday at Ktizo UCC's weekly dinners held at the 35th Ave church. Since January, an estimated 215 homeless guests have been served. As well as offering hot meals and snack bags, volunteers distribute clothing, toiletries and dog food for their pets. Every other Wednesday, guests are able to take a hot shower thanks to Sun City Church of the Palms UCC whose members bring their three-stall shower trailer to Ktizo. Find out how you can help by visiting the Ktizo website or sending a quick email.
Our Whole Lives News

You will have another opportunity on Sunday to peruse these beautiful books that are part of Shadow Rock Preschool's new parenting resource library. This particular group of books have Our Whole Lives themed topics: books on consent and boundaries, body positivity, gender expression, and the many beautiful ways that children come into families. If you missed last week's unboxing video, take a look here: Unboxing OWL Video. It's wonderful that there are so many affirming books for children now and wonderful again that our preschool is an affirming place for families to learn and grow. If you have Our Whole Lives questions, FANTASTIC! Please email Karen for information and answers. If you have Shadow Rock Preschool questions, FANTASTIC! Please email Liz for information, particularly regarding 2022-2023 registration (happening now!).
Rock the Week is published each Wednesday. 
To submit content or offer comments, please email karen@shadowrockucc.org.