Category: News

Happening at The Rock

• March 5, 2025, Taco & Nacho Meal – 5:30pm, Ash Wednesday Service – 6:30pm
• March 9, 16 & 23, After Church Bible Study
• March 30, 2025, Consecration Sunday
• April 6, 2025, Celebrate Nico’s Birthday after worship
• May 6, 2025, Communion Class – 6:00pm
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

There will not be regular Stepping Stones, Faith Ink, or Confirmation tonight. Instead, everyone is invited to attend the Ash Wednesday worship service!

The Guatemala Mission team will be serving a taco and nacho meal before worship on Ash Wednesday, March 5, from 5:30-6:30 pm. A freewill offering will be collected.

The Guatemala Mission team is also having a silent auction in the Rock Café starting March 5 and ending on Sunday, March 23. Come check out all of the great items to bid on and support those going on the Guatemala mission trip in June!

The Lord’s Grace and Peace be with you!

When Jesus called His disciples in the Gospels, and even now calls us to be His disciples, He calls His disciples to commitment. In life, no growth truly happens without commitment to that growth: this includes practicing the ways of Jesus and living out how Jesus wants us to live. Because the Lord is the giver of every good thing and He calls us into a life of discipleship, the Lord calls us to consecrate, to give to Him our lives, to set ourselves apart for every good work He has for us to do. What does that look like? LOVE! God’s love. It looks like God using us to love others. It looks like the Lord using us to be testimonies of His love to the world. That’s something we can and should commit to, something for which we can consecrate ourselves.

With great joy, The Rock is entering into a new season called CONSECRATED STEWARDS, starting THIS SUNDAY. We will dive deep into how God calls us to be set apart and calls us to be stewards of the wonderful gifts that He gives us, not just financially, but also in the skills and abilities with which the Lord blesses us. Please make it a priority to join our church family in worship throughout the month of March. This season of Consecrated Stewards will culminate in CONSECRATION SUNDAY on March 30th, in which we will enjoy a meal together after service as a congregation and celebrate what God has done and what He is doing!

Let’s go, church! The Lord is doing amazing things!

In Christ,
Rev. Jon Bartels

Consecrated Stewards is a time of growth and commitment in which the people of God celebrate His gifts and grow in the joy of giving and serving.

Each Sunday beginning March 9th and ending March 30th, we will:

• Celebrate one of the ministries here at The Rock in which faithful stewards use their gifts in the service of God and His people.
• Hear the witness of one of our members who shares their stewardship journey.
• Study the Scriptures each Sunday using a video-guided Bible study entitled “God Chosen Stewards.”
• Coordinated lessons for Stepping Stones and Faith Ink.

Consecration Sunday is March 30
Every member is asked to make a special effort to attend worship on Sunday, March 30, and to make a reservation for a special luncheon to be held at The Rock that day.

A new After Church Bible Study that will go along with our sermon series is starting this Sunday (March 9)! We will dive deeper into the sermon series topic and have opportunity for discussion with others in the Bible Study.

It’s for everybody!

The Rock and St. John youth (58 students!!) attending the youth gathering in New Orleans are hosting a Tastefully Simple fundraiser March 1-23. The youth will receive 20-25% of all sales from the online fundraiser. And one lucky customer will receive the host rewards (free products)!!!

Tastefully Simple sells signature seasonings, sauces and baking mixes, all prepared by adding two additional ingredients or less. Their TS EatWell products, which constitute 85% of the product line, are clean-label foods that contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Our church family is growing!

Baby Owens – Parents Dylan & Emmi

Sizes: 1-3 Preferred brands: Millie Moon, Hello Bello, or Honest

Collecting from March 2-30

Please brings diapers to the Rock Café and put by the sign.

New Baby Meal Trains

Help these families welcome their new addition by providing a meal during these first weeks! Click on the link below to sign up for an available date.

Brevin & Micky Sloup and baby Nick

Eric & Lesley Lemmerman,
big brother Gavin and baby Brooks

Nicodemus “Nico” Comfort Dog turns 9 on April 2. We will celebrate with treats after worship on April 6. Stick around and help us celebrate the Comfort Dog Ministry and all that Nico has done for the Seward Community. Your prayers and support of Nico and his team are very much appreciated.

Are you a Thrivent Member? If so, you can select to donate your Thrivent Choice Dollars to The Rock by March 31! Simply visit the website, log in, and search for The Rock Lutheran Church.

Changes to Recurring Giving

Do you have an automatic offering set up through Joyful Response (Vanco)? We are switching to giving through Church Center (Stripe)! Please reach out to Wayne Bruns or Jackson Hackbart to get set up on the new system. You can also email [email protected].

Our March item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is peanut butter. 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.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• March 5, 2025, Taco & Nacho Meal – 5:30pm, Ash Wednesday Service – 6:30pm
• March 30, 2025, Celebrate Nico’s Birthday after worship
• May 6, 2025, Communion Class – 6:00pm
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

A Men’s Bible Study is starting for men who want to connect with other men of The Rock and reflect on what it means to be a disciple of God.  This study will look at 10 men in the Bible and reflect on how God transformed each one.  The group will meet every Tuesday from 7pm – 8:30pm at The Rock starting February 25, 2025 (informational meeting).  Contact Todd Johnson for more details – 402.610.1936

A new After Church Bible Study that will go along with our sermon series is starting in Lent! We will dive deeper into the sermon series topic and have opportunity for discussion with others in the Bible Study.

It’s for everybody!

The Guatemala Mission team will be selling Guatemalan coffee. It will be available before and after church on February 16 and 23 OR by contacting a member of the Guatemala mission team.

The Guatemala Mission team will be serving a taco and nacho meal before worship on Ash Wednesday, March 5, from 5:30-6:30 pm. A freewill offering will be collected.

Our church family is growing!

Baby Owens – Parents Dylan & Emmi

Sizes: 1-3 Preferred brands: Millie Moon, Hello Bello, or Honest

Collecting from March 2-30

Please brings diapers to the Rock Café and put by the sign.

How Can You Serve at The Rock?

Many hands make light work and there are several ways that you could help out!

A few examples of opportunities:

• Manage the children’s clipboards by keeping them stocked with coloring pages and crayons
• Keep seat back pockets clear of trash and stocked with information cards, prayer cards, giving envelopes, etc.
• Welcome people as they enter and get name tags
• Be trained on how to run the slides, livestream, or sound
• Use your musical gifts in the band
• Help set up and clean up the Café on Sunday mornings
• Leading a Bible study
• Helping with children and youth activities

If you are interested in serving in any of these ways (or others not listed) please reach out by emailing [email protected].

Nebraska Lutherans for Life Essay Contest

Nebraska Lutherans for Life would like to invite students in grades 6-12 who are members of a Lutheran congregation or attend a Lutheran school in Nebraska to participate in this year’s Lutherans for Life Essay Contest, based on the 2025 Conference theme: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made with the Bible verse: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14.

One winner will be selected for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Winning entries (one from Grades 6-8 and one from Grades 9-12) will be awarded $100 each. The winning Nebraska essays will be entered in the national contest. Grand Prize for the national winning entry at each level will be $250 plus free conference registration to the 2025 National Conference and one night at a conference hotel. Second place national winners at each level will receive a $125 prize.

Essays should, of course, be the students’ individual, original work, but pastors, teachers, and parents are encouraged to discuss the criteria on which the essays will be judged. The same criteria will be used at both the state and national levels. Please request a copy of the rules and judging criteria from Bob Saeger, Nebraska LFL president, at [email protected]. Entries must be submitted electronically by March 15, 2025.

Our February item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is soup. 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 item for March is peanut butter.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• February 9, 2025, Souper Bowl Meal after worship
• March 5, 2025, Ash Wednesday Service – 6:30pm
• March 30, 2025, Celebrate Nico’s Birthday after worship
• May 6, 2025, Communion Class – 6:00pm
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

It’s time for another Rock Family Souper Bowl meal! Join us on Sunday Feb. 9th after worship for food and fellowship. Chicken Noodle soup will be provided. Feel free to bring your favorite soup and/or side dish/dessert. A free will offering will be taken.

The annual Daughter Date Night Dance will be held Thursday, February 13 from 7 to 10 PM at the Harvest Hall at the Seward County fairgrounds. Tickets are $35 for a couple and $15 for each additional daughter. The night is full of fun and laughter with a live DJ, refreshments, photo booth and games.  Dads,  grandpas, moms, grandmas, anyone who loves a daughter is welcome to attend with their favorite girl(s)! Proceeds from this event will go directly to the youth attending the national youth gathering this summer in New Orleans.

Register Here

The Guatemala Mission team will be selling Guatemalan coffee. It will be available before and after church on February 16 and 23 OR by contacting a member of the Guatemala mission team.

Our church is family growing!

We are having a Diaper Drive for Baby Sloup! Parents are Brevin and Michaela.

Sizes: 1-3 Preferred brand: Pampers Please bring diapers by February 23 to the Rock Café and put by the sign.

Nebraska Lutherans for Life Essay Contest

Nebraska Lutherans for Life would like to invite students in grades 6-12 who are members of a Lutheran congregation or attend a Lutheran school in Nebraska to participate in this year’s Lutherans for Life Essay Contest, based on the 2025 Conference theme: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made with the Bible verse: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14.

One winner will be selected for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Winning entries (one from Grades 6-8 and one from Grades 9-12) will be awarded $100 each. The winning Nebraska essays will be entered in the national contest. Grand Prize for the national winning entry at each level will be $250 plus free conference registration to the 2025 National Conference and one night at a conference hotel. Second place national winners at each level will receive a $125 prize.

Essays should, of course, be the students’ individual, original work, but pastors, teachers, and parents are encouraged to discuss the criteria on which the essays will be judged. The same criteria will be used at both the state and national levels. Please request a copy of the rules and judging criteria from Bob Saeger, Nebraska LFL president, at [email protected]. Entries must be submitted electronically by March 15, 2025.

Our February item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is soup. 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.

You are invited to the movie “Unthinkable” on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7pm in the chapel at Weller Hall, Concordia University, Seward. Sponsored by Seward Area Lutherans for Life.

The movie, directed by Abby Johnson (a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who is now stridently pro-life), is a “shocking expose of the abortion industry’s dirtiest secrets,” told by dozens of former abortion clinic workers.

See the trailer at www.unthinkabledoc.com to get an idea of what the film is about. Because of its content, this documentary may not be appropriate for children under the age of 13.

Admittance is $2/person or a package of diapers or wipes, to be donated to a local pregnancy resource center.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• February 9, 2025, Souper Bowl Meal after worship
• February 24, 2025, Women’s Bible Study starts
• May 6, 2025, Communion Class – 6:00pm
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

It’s time for another Rock Family Souper Bowl meal! Join us on Sunday Feb. 9th after worship for food and fellowship. Chicken Noodle soup will be provided. Feel free to bring your favorite soup and/or side dish/dessert. Free will offering will be taken.

A new Women’s Bible Study is starting! This Bible study is for college age women and older. We are reading 10 Questions to Ask Every Time you Read the Bible by Andrew R. Jones, published by Concordia Publishing House. Contact Sara Moll or Andrea Sloup for more information and look for sign-up sheets on Sunday mornings before and after worship. Please sign up by February 2. We are meeting on Monday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm on Feb. 24, Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7 in Rm. 217. Cost of book will be $15-18.

We are having a diaper drive for the Lemmerman family! Sizes 1-3. Preferred brands: Seventh Generation, Honest, and Hello Bello. Please bring diapers by February 2 to the Rock Café and put by the sign.

God has blessed The Rock immensely for the first 15 years of its existence.  It’s now time to pray, consider, and plan for what He has in store for The Rock’s ministry going forward.

15 Forward is a campaign designed to shift our congregational attention to God’s future plans for The Rock.  You are invited to learn, engage and support this process of planning and action. Read this overview of 15 Forward today.

The annual Walk for Life in Lincoln will be held on Saturday, February 1. The walk will have its start at the north steps of the Nebraska State Capitol at 10 a.m. where we will hear from numerous speakers and then have a shorter walk than usual to our new location at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel (333 S. 13th Street). We will listen to our special guest speaker, Elisabeth Gillette, along with the opportunity to visit a host of pro-life booths.

In advance of the walk, Trinity Lutheran Church (724 S. 12th Street) welcomes you to its Fellowship Hall as they gather at 8:30 a.m. with donuts and coffee, sponsored by Lutherans for Life. Then everyone will head to Trinity’s Sanctuary for a brief service of the Word as we prepare to head over for the walk. (Trinity is approximately 2 blocks west of the Capitol Building). For those participating in the walk: please feel free to make use of Trinity’s parking lot immediately south of the Sanctuary.

Participants are invited to bring packages of diapers (larger sizes) and/or wipes to help support Forward, a ministry of Trinity. Forward serves over 350 families in Lincoln / over 600 children / with over 27,000 diapers per month. These weekly distributions help families of young ones with these necessary consumables.

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 January item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is soap and shampoo. 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

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• January 12, 2025, 15 Forward Pizza Preview (RSVP here)
• January 13, 2025, La Carreta Fundraiser for the Guatemala Mission Team
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

Please eat at La Carreta on Monday, January 13…lunch, dinner, take out…20% of all sales will support The Rock’s Guatemala Mission Team.  No cooking required!!

Download the Church Center app! This is a new way to see what’s happening at The Rock, access the directory, give electronically and more!

God has blessed The Rock immensely for the first 15 years of its existence.  It’s now time to pray, consider and plan for what He has in store for The Rock’s ministry going forward.

15 Forward is a campaign designed to shift our congregational attention to God’s future plans for The Rock.  You are invited to learn, engage and support this process of planning and action.  Here’s how you can begin:

• Read this overview of 15 Forward today
• Commit to learn details of the immediate Phase 1 projects at the Pizza Preview on January 12. It involves 30 minutes after church to learn, with your lunch included. RSVP to make sure we order enough pizza.

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 January item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is soap and shampoo. 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

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• Dec. 24, 2024, 4pm and 8pm, Christmas Eve Worship
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

Two Christmas Eve Worship Times! 4:00pm and 8:00pm

Come celebrate the birth of Jesus with us at The Rock! Everyone is welcome. We will celebrate and worship joyfully as our God meets us in His Word and we experience Christ this Christmas. Our service will be engaging for all. Bring your family, friends, your whole crew to experience Christmas!

God has blessed The Rock immensely for the first 15 years of its existence.  It’s now time to pray, consider and plan for what He has in store for The Rock’s ministry going forward.

15 Forward is a campaign designed to shift our congregational attention to God’s future plans for The Rock.  You are invited to learn, engage and support this process of planning and action.  Here’s how you can begin:

• Read this overview of 15 Forward today
• Commit to learn details of the immediate Phase 1 projects at one of the Pizza Previews to beheld on January 5, 12, or 19. It involves 30 minutes after church to learn, with your lunch included. RSVP to make sure we order enough pizza.
• Consider serving on a steering committee to lead Phase II beginning in February.  These are 8-week committee leadership roles that have a firm start and end point during February and March, part of the Nebraska District’s Consecrated Stewards program we are engaging with. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in serving as a committee leader.

Look for the Giving Tree in the Rock Café! Take a tag to contribute and return your financial gift to the gold box at the base of the tree. Thank you for supporting the 58 youth and 10 adults attending from The Rock and St. John!

Ethan and Amanda Hutton presented at The Rock on November 10. Here is how you can support Familia Hutton and the LightHouse ministry in Costa Rica!

Online: https://missionofchrist.org/hutton/

Check:
Made payable to: Mission of Christ Network
Memo: Huttons
Mailed to: Mission of Christ Network
PO Box 533
Concordia, MO 64020

Please also remember to lift them up in prayer!

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 December item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is tuna. 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.

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• Dec. 15, 2024, 6:30pm, Christmas Comfort Service
• Dec. 24, 2024, 4pm and 8pm, Christmas Eve Worship
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

Join us at the Rock for a Christmas Comfort Service on Sunday, December 15 at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome, especially those who are experiencing loss, grief, pain, loneliness, or hurt this holiday season. God made us for community. You are not alone! Come experience God’s peace and grace with others.

Two Christmas Eve Worship Times! 4:00pm and 8:00pm

Come celebrate the birth of Jesus with us at The Rock! Everyone is welcome. We will celebrate and worship joyfully as our God meets us in His Word and we experience Christ this Christmas. Our service will be engaging for all. Bring your family, friends, your whole crew to experience Christmas!

Watch for another email coming soon about 15 Forward!

Look for the Giving Tree on Sunday! Take a tag to contribute and return your financial gift to the gold box at the base of the tree. Thank you for supporting the 58 youth and 10 adults attending from The Rock and St. John!

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!

Ethan and Amanda Hutton presented at The Rock on November 10. Here is how you can support Familia Hutton and the LightHouse ministry in Costa Rica!

Online: https://missionofchrist.org/hutton/

Check:
Made payable to: Mission of Christ Network
Memo: Huttons
Mailed to: Mission of Christ Network
PO Box 533
Concordia, MO 64020

Please also remember to lift them up in prayer!

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 December item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is tuna. 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.

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• Nov. 29 and 30, 2024, Salvation Army Bell Ringing
• Dec. 8, 2024, 1pm – 4pm, Parade of Homes
• Dec. 15, 2024, 6:30pm, Christmas Comfort Service
• Dec. 24, 2024, 4pm and 8pm, Christmas Eve Worship
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

There are volunteer opportunities available on November 29 and 30 to be a Bell Ringer for the Salvation Army. Click here or scan the QR code to sign up for an hour (or more) at the Seward Walmart.

Free Thanksgiving Dinner! November 28, 2024 at Noon at St. John Lutheran Church, 919 Columbia Ave. in Seward. Everyone is welcome! Rides or delivery for homebound are available. Call 402-643-2983 by 4:00pm on Wed., November 27.

The Christmas Parade of Homes is back! Sunday December 8 from 1 PM to 4 PM, five local homes will be showcased during this event. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online here or in person at the St. John church office during business hours. All proceeds from the parade of homes will go directly to the youth from the Rock and St. John attending the youth gathering next summer in New Orleans. Have a great time with family or friends getting holiday inspiration and our supporting our youth!

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!

Ethan and Amanda Hutton presented at The Rock on November 10. Here is how you can support Familia Hutton and the LightHouse ministry in Costa Rica!

Online: https://missionofchrist.org/hutton/

Check:
Made payable to: Mission of Christ Network
Memo: Huttons
Mailed to: Mission of Christ Network
PO Box 533
Concordia, MO 64020

Please also remember to lift them up in prayer!

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 December item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is tuna. 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.

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

Happening at The Rock

• Dec. 8, 2024, 1pm – 4pm, Parade of Homes
• Dec. 15, 2024, 6:30pm, Christmas Comfort Service
• Dec. 24, 2024, Christmas Eve Worship
• June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission Trip
• July 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering

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!

Free Thanksgiving Dinner! November 29, 2024 at Noon at St. John Lutheran Church, 919 Columbia Ave. in Seward. Everyone is welcome! Rides or delivery for homebound are available. Call 402-643-2983 by 4:00pm on Wed., November 27.

The Christmas Parade of Homes is back! Sunday December 8 from 1 PM to 4 PM, five local homes will be showcased during this event. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online here or in person at the St. John church office during business hours. All proceeds from the parade of homes will go directly to the youth from the Rock and St. John attending the youth gathering next summer in New Orleans. Have a great time with family or friends getting holiday inspiration and our supporting our youth!

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)

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.

We are still in need of a backup caregiver for Nicodemus Comfort Dog. The role of the Back-up Caregiver is the same as the Primary Caregiver, only a much shorter time commitment. The Back-up Caregiver cares for the needs of Nico, getting him ready to go out to service when Randy and Marcia have scheduled time off. The Nico fund would set up that person or family with all needed supplies and training as to Nico’s verbal and house commands. 

The Back-up Caregiver does NOT have to be a member of the Rock Church or even a Lutheran, but must be a follower of Jesus. Policy from the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the head of the Comfort Dog Ministry who set the rules and commands for all the Comfort Dogs across the U.S.A., has changed.  Another pet within the Back-up Caregiver home is allowed but still not preferred.  

What the Nico Team is asking is that you sit with our Lord in prayer, to ask for a name that might be a possibility for a Back-up Caregiver for our Ministry. Please get that name with contact information to one of Nico’s Team members or one of the Rock’s leadership members, or submit it to our church office. Thank you for your prayers and help.

Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information.

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.