Happening at The Rock
- Oct. 31, 2024, Trunk or Treat, 6-9pm
- June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
- July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering
The Rock is hosting our second annual Trunk or Treat event on October 31 from 6pm-9pm. This event is open to the whole community. If you would like to help with the event, donate candy or money, contact Brevin Sloup at [email protected].
Vote “yes” on 434 and “no” on 439
The state constitution currently does not have actual protection for life. It has been the practice of the legislature to interpret it as such, but 434 will add pro-life language to the constitution. 434 establishes a 12-week ceiling on abortion, but not a floor. The upper limit leaves room for future legislation to protect life from the moment it starts. This means that 434 will “hold the line” with the current 12-week abortion ban and leave room for further action in the future.
439 represents a tremendous and radical shift in state policy on abortion and parental rights. There is concern that if 439 is enacted, it will be much harder to return any protections for life to the state constitution. The polls of the public opinion shared by the Nebraska Catholic Conference show how close this initiative is to passing: Protect Women & Children publicly released a poll back in the spring showing that the abortion measure (Initiative 439) had 54% support among the general public.
Every person should vote their conscience, but with both initiatives on the agenda, whichever receives the greater majority will be the one placed into the constitution. The danger of pro-life voters voting no on both would likely give the advantage to 439. For a more detailed treatment on this topic you may wish to read: https://www.lincolndiocese.org/op-ed/legislative-update/18196-vote-no-on-both-is-wrong-harmful
Seward Area Lutherans for Life invites you to an Evening Prayer Vigil for the Unborn. It will be held Monday, November 4, at St. John, Seward, at 7 pm.
Pastors Rempfer and Dahlke will lead the service. Join us as we pray for the unborn and the life ballot measures on the ballot on Election Day.
We have three amazing opportunities to bless our community between now and Christmas.
Stuff The Turkey! Look for the turkey box on the second floor landing near the Stepping Stones classrooms. Grab a tag or two with Thanksgiving meal items listed on them and bring those things to stuff the turkey box before November 20.
Gift A Turkey! Between now and November 20, we are collecting money to buy turkeys for Blue Valley to distribute to local families in need. Turkeys will cost about $25 each and we hope to provide at least ten as a congregation. We will have a collection jar for your donations in the cafe area.
Fill The Pantry! In 2022, we collected more than 500 hygiene items in support of Blue Valley. Let’s give it a try one more time! Our usual November food pantry collection item is toothpaste, and we’ll add to that by also collecting feminine products, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, baby wipes, and diapers (especially larger sizes). You can drop those items in the blue wagon located in the cafe. Let’s try to get 500 hygiene items again between now and December 15!
As we approach a busy season that can be challenging, Faith Partners would like to focus on gratitude in November. After you make your name tag on Sundays, look for the leaves to write things that you are thankful for and place it on or around the tree trunk. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Help fill Concordia’s “Help Your Shelf!”
Concordia University is collecting 500+ individual containers of non-perishable foods or essential items from October 15 – November 15, to then receive $500 for the campus Help Your Shelf to help students who find themselves in need of food or personal items. This Fall Food Shelf Challenge food drive will be supplemented with a Generosity Multiplier Gift, courtesy of the Thrivent Member Network – Nebraska Region.
Concordia is also collecting new or gently used winter coats, hats, gloves for Help Your Shelf for students from warmer climates who may be in need as the weather gets colder.
Look for the large Basket in the Rock Café to donate no later than Wednesday, November 13!
Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.
We hold up in prayer to the Lord all those who are suffering from the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As we watch from afar in Nebraska, please consider supporting LCMS Disaster Response, which provides mercy care, disaster clean up, and support for those who are dealing with the aftermath of these hurricanes.
Here is a video showing the work that they are doing already in hurricane affected areas.
Here is where you can learn how to volunteer and where you can donate towards relief efforts in the southeastern US.
Do you have an announcement you’d like to have made in the Rock newsletter, on our social media pages, or on the screen on Sunday? Please use this new Announcement Submission Form.
Our November item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is toothpaste. Thanks for being a blessing to the community in this way. You can see our Blue Valley Pantry item schedule on our website. Year-round they also collect the following: pasta, pasta meal mixes, instant potato side dishes, and mashed potatoes.
The Rock Facility Improvement Project
We are still looking for people to partner with us in our facility improvement project. We’ve divided the entire building into 48 distinct areas, each with its own To-Do list, To make it easier for everyone to contribute, we invite you to “adopt” a room or area, and over the next year, enlist your friends or family to focus on just that ONE space. Whether it’s a big task or a small one, many hands will make light work, and there is something everyone can do to help.
With God’s people working side by side, we can accomplish amazing things! If you can help, please contact [email protected]. We have posted the To-Do Lists in each of the spaces so you can walk around and look at the areas before choosing your space.