ROCK THE WEEK
December 16, 2020
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Poinsettia Deadline This Friday |
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Every year, we decorate our sanctuary with poinsettias for Christmas. Many people sponsor a plant in honor of a loved one. Because we are virtual this year, our flowers will also be "virtual." For 2020, we're simply asking people to let us know who or what they are celebrating, remembering, or lifting up this year. We're compiling the list and will publish it on Christmas Eve. No donation or money is necessary - we want to make sure everyone is heard during this unprecedented Advent season. You can send us your requests by using the form here. Requests are due this Friday, December 18th!
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Wednesday (12/16): Connections Count on Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday (12/17): Spirituality Thursday
In December, Spirituality Thursday comes home for Christmas. Look for a new Spirituality Thursday video on our Facebook page each week with the theme "Leaning Into the Holidays." This week, it's a special gingerbread edition, Leaning Into Baking.
Monday: Small Group Ministry
In November and December, our small group ministry participants shared their feelings around mindful and safe holiday celebrations. Informal and vulnerable conversations in a welcoming and supporting space helped the group make peace with the times. Small Group Ministry is on hiatus until January. Have ideas or areas of life in which you need the support of your church family? Please email Karen with your thoughts and ideas.
Sunday, December 20
Virtual Worship is delivered to your inbox first thing in the morning.
Due to increasing positive COVID test results in our local area, we have returned to a Zoom-only worship experience. Click the Zoom link at 11:00 a.m. in the worship email for music, prayer, sermon with discussion, and celebrations! Our Advent journey would be pointless without love, the theme of the fourth week of Advent. We travel together even now toward the point of the wedgeblade of history. The Advent sermon series is "Hope and History." Re-visit Ken's explanation here.
Adult Spiritual Formation is at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. The link is in the worship email. This Advent, we have been exploring four songs in the gospel of Luke. This week's song is the last one in Luke's 2nd chapter: the song and prophecy of Simeon (and a beautiful example of "a comprehensive view of life"). Spiritual formation is a time to connect our values to our experiences. This is our last meeting until January - spiritual formation will take a Christmastide break on December 27.
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Many questions came up after Pastor Ken's message on Dec. 7th. The main question was, "What is a Freedom School?" This link is the beginning of an answer. We'll learn more about this concept in January, so stay tuned! |
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Christmas is coming! Look for a special edition of Rock the Week next Wednesday with all the links and details. |
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The holidays are usually a joyous time, but for some, it can be a difficult and troubled season. Southwest Conference Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness Michael Curry has put together a document that might help. These resources for mental health range from general to specific niche groups, and are all free to use. Please reach out! |
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Heidi has recently created a new giving portal on our website! Now giving online is easier to use and navigate. You can find it here.
If you are an e-giver, you'll want to use the email address already associated with your giving in order to avoid creating multiple profiles. Contact Heidi if you want to double-check your address, or if you have any questions about e-giving. |
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Many thanks and appreciation to Joe, Gene, Roy, Greg, Bill and Pastor Ken who finished the repairs on the water main last Saturday (which was also Greg's birthday). Gene took this photo, with the caption "Old Guys Leaning on Tools and Sitting on Walls." But we just see hard-working volunteers who make Shadow Rock great! Thanks! |
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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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