ROCK THE WEEK
August 26, 2020
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Our Sunday Morning Experience |
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Friends, we keep growing and changing as we adapt to the times in which we live. Our Sunday morning experience together has grown and changed as well. Right now, this is what you can look forward to as we gather for worship:
- Discussion and sharing at 10:00 am - Spiritual Formation right now involves a lot of sharing and listening. We are reaching toward understanding and stretching our spirits together. For an overview of fall topics, click here.
- Live sermon at 11:00 am - Pastor Ken is giving the sermon live on Zoom around 11 o'clock. This is a change from our earlier online worship format, and it's working well. Hearing the Word About Life in the present more closely resembles our in-person worship experience.
- Breakout Rooms at 11:30 am - We are using this Zoom feature to give everyone an opportunity to go deeper into the sermon topic in smaller groups. The technology of Zoom makes this easy and pretty fun.
- Fellowship and Celebration - This part hasn't changed! Throughout our time together, Shadow Rockers are sharing their lives, connecting and supporting one another.
If you've been reluctant to participate in virtual worship so far, consider giving it a try this week. The Spirit of Life is at work among us!
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Wednesday (8/26): Connections Count on Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
A weekly video highlighting a different spiritual practice or concept. This week, we're talking about creativity!
Yoga Nidra will be on Facebook Live this week at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to participate.
Small Group Ministry on Zoom
Our July/August small groups were fun and encouraging! After a short hiatus, we'll be starting again: Mondays at 6:55 pm on Zoom, beginning on September 14. Our new topics (alternating weeks) are...
- Our Whole Lives Bookclub (18+) "this is how it always is" by Laurie Frankel - a family-centered novel exploring gender and peaceful parenting
- Creativity Challenge - respond to a prompt by creating something with items in your home; no art experience needed
Get the Zoom link or get your questions answered with a quick email to Karen. All are welcome to participate!
Sunday, August 30
Virtual Worship is delivered to your inbox first thing in the morning. The message for this Sunday will extend our discussion on spirituality. We seem to come to consensus about a very basic definition. Next, we will discuss how we can help ourselves by acknowledging how we exist between the universality and particularity of spirituality. In other words, we stand with our feet on the ground and our eyes to the stars at the same time. It is not either/or, but both! This discussion will include a message 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 begin a new topic: Worship for God's People. When we say “that was a great Sunday,” what do we mean? Click here for an updated flier with all of our fall Faith Formation Topics.
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There will be a virtual memorial service for Shepherd of the Hills Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Donald Heinrich (August 18, 1922 - July 18, 2020). It will take place on Thursday, September 3rd at 3:00 p.m. on Shepherd of the Hills' website: www.sohucc.org.
In addition to serving at Shepherd of the Hills, Rev. Heinrich also served as the interim pastor at Shadow Rock for a period in the early 90's. We remember fondly his love of Peanuts cartoons and the clever ways he found to work them into his sermons.
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We are giving serious consideration to restarting in person gatherings September 13th! Our first thoughts are small groups of 10-12 people in Smith Hall. We will observe social distancing, wear masks, and clean after each gathering. The days and times will be Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m., and Thursday at 7 p.m. It would be a first come, first served basis with the exception of prioritizing seniors to day time gatherings.
We want to keep this as simple as possible but we also want to take the pulse of the interest in our congregation. A survey will be released via email later today (Wednesday). Please take the survey and help us craft our time together.
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Our church staff is starting to resume office hours on campus. Not all staff members will be onsite, and those that are keep very limited hours. The church office is now open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you come by at those times, you will need to wear a mask at all times and use the hand sanitizer by the front door. We're taking "baby steps" to resume normal operation and need your help in following safety procedures. |
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A reminder that our campus security alarm system has gone though an upgrade. There are new instructions for arming and disarming the buildings. Now that the church office is starting to reopen, we ask anyone who has a set of keys to the building to please contact Lois so you can get new directions for the alarm system. Thank you. |
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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.
One-n-Ten is a local non-profit whose mission is to serve LGBTQ youth and young adults ages 11-24. They provide empowering social and service programs that promote self‐expression, self‐acceptance, leadership development, and healthy life choices.
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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 [email protected] no later than noon on Monday. We welcome all comments, criticisms, concerns, critiques, and compliments at the same address. |
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