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26 FEBRUARY 2025

There is a large article and pictures for Spiritual Play. Look at all the activities for Sunday and join us. Also, study the themes for the Sundays in Lent and see what interests you. Thanks for your support of all we do!

All this and more in this week's Rock the Week!

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

• Childcare is in the Blue Room
• Spiritual Play is back this Sunday in the Lime Room
• Sunday School for ages 9 and up in the Green Room
• Yoga on the patio by the kitchen.
• Adult Spiritual Formation and Kindlings in the Multipurpose Room. We continue our exploration of Shadow Rock Theology, beginning with The Way Life Is.
• Hospitality Cart with coffee and cookies in the Parlor

10:15 am

• Worship in the Sanctuary (childcare is offered in the Blue Room of the Education Bldg 10 - 11:30 am)

11:15 am

• There will be Sermon Reboot after worship. All are welcome!

5:00 pm

• Beer Church at North Mountain Brewery, 522 E Dunlap Ave. Join us for food, fellowship, and discussion. The subject is "From Polarity Thinking to Prayer." All are welcome!

PLEASE HELP US CREATE OUR BUDGET!

Indicate your financial support to Shadow Rock! Please, link and fill out this quick form at the bottom of this note. If you have any questions, contact Heidi by phone (Shadow Rock #602 993-0050) or email (heidi@ShadowRockUCC.org).

Quick Form

This series is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. Each weekly sub-theme explores two supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the wisdom of our tradition, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between. And so, this season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers. 

We encourage you to notice the dichotomies that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This theme may resonate with anyone who is in discernment or trying to find their way through an undefined space. It will speak to anyone who feels as if they are living in a divided world. It is for those who seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it. This Lent, we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between. 

(From Sanctified Art Worship Resource)

SPIRITUAL PLAY HAPPENINGS!

YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY PROGRAM?

Details in the brochure. Ask for one in the church office.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY KIDS?

Correction: Creature Encounter will be in the Krieder Center which is the classroom space under the sanctuary.

Not the Multipurpose Room.

RSVP for Creature Encounter Here!

Hi all!

We had another great week with our focus being the desert. After the playground we headed out to the desert area on our campus. We gathered dirt and rocks to put in our terrariums. 

When we returned to the classroom we read an awesome story called “Life in the Slow Lane.” It’s a wonderful story about the benefits of living a slow life (like a tortoise in the desert) and persevering when things get hard. Another theme of the book was the effect of humans on the desert. We discussed how pollution, highways, cities, etc. have an effect on desert habitats for the animals who live there. The kiddos could not wait to get to make their clay snakes for their terrariums. We worked on those and wow they turned out great! 

I took a small group of kiddos to show off their artwork for the contest: Planting Seeds of Hope. We went to the sanctuary and greeted those entering the church. If your child has artwork to enter you will hear from me this week about entering! 

We also did a little coloring page which prompted the kiddos to find a creative way to get to the cookie jar in the drawing. I can’t believe what they came up with! 

At snack time we had an amazing conversation about grit! I asked if anyone knew what the word meant and the older kiddos defined it beautifully: when you keep going when things are hard, knowing you can do hard things, and when you work hard for something. We then shared stories about when we all showed grit. We heard about kiddos working hard to get a loose tooth out, studying and practicing for tests, trying to learn to ride a bike, etc. We discussed how it feels while you’re working hard versus how it feels when you accomplish what you worked for. 

Next, we spent time on our yoga mats. We did another Cosmic Kids Yoga video about an adventure with a camel. Boy do these kiddos love those videos. 

We returned to the classroom and they were able to color, build with blocks, or play quietly in the room. The day flew by!

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I would like to personally invite each and every one of you to return for our next Spring session after Spring Break. The theme Wander & Wonder is all about traveling the world. One really exciting aspect will be a play performed by the kiddos! If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me! 

Reserve your spot for Wander & Wonder today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLScx8f_iPoeTO3UKr9ufKMR_vU6GTszi2kZWSq-2KhsS91h30A/viewform

Have a beautiful week! We will see you next Sunday for the last day of All Creatures Great and Small!

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You are loved! 

Danielle Heckel

Lead Wonder Wizard 

Spiritual Play