| Happening at The Rock September 21, 2024, Rock the Block from 4:00-8:00October 11-12, 2024, Pure Freedom Retreat (high school girls)October 15, 2024, Communion Class, 6 p.m.June 19-26, 2025, Guatemala Mission TripJuly 19-23, 2025, LCMS Youth Gathering |
| Join us for Rock the Block on Saturday, September 21 from 4-8. Music, snow cones, bounce house, face paint, and BBQ! Bring your friends. |
| Teen girls are invited to attend the upcoming Pure Freedom Retreat on October 11-12 at The Rock. The retreat kicks off with a movie Friday night, followed by a day of fellowship, food, faith, and fun on Saturday. Register at this link. |
| 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. |
| The Rock and St. John partner to offer Godparent Groups for high school students. Currently, more leaders are needed for freshmen! If you are interested in leading a group of high schoolers, please reach out to Cayla Freeman, Godparent Coordinator at St. John Lutheran Church. What is Godparents?A Godparent (GP) group typically consists of one husband/wife GP Leader couple and a small group of high-school age youth. Groups are formed as confirmed youth enter their freshman year in high school. This group remains together through the four years of high school. Groups meet every Wednesday evening from September through April, as the group determines, primarily at the leaders’ home. Through the inclusion of Bible Study, discussion, activities and prayer, the GP ministry offers youth an opportunity to establish Christian relationships with their peers and adult leaders as they walk through formative high school years and prepare for life as a Christian man or woman. |
| Join the next Guatemala Mission Team! Are you passionate about serving others and sharing God’s love? This is a unique opportunity to grow in faith, build relationships, and make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve. Activities include: VBS, music and crafts, teen and women’s ministry. Consider joining the next trip scheduled for June 19-26, 2025. Contact Jen Janousek at [email protected] or Emma Dannehl at [email protected] for more information. |
| Sign up for the 4 Person Golf Scramble scheduled for September 22 to help support the teens from The Rock going to the LCMS Youth Gathering next summer. Don’t golf? You can still buy raffle tickets. See Jen Janousek or CLICK HERE for details. Sign up HERE. |
| Our September item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is boxed meals. 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
Category: News
Rock News, August 22, 2024
Happening at The RockSeptember 4, 2024, Stepping Stones and FaithInk Potluck at 6:30September 21, 2024, Rock the Block from 4:00-8:00 Important: All members with keys to the building, please check to see if you have a key that says “Control” on it and let Danna know that you have it. Join us for Rock the Block on Saturday, September 21 from 4-8. Music, snow cones, bounce house, face paint, and BBQ! Bring your friends. Thanks for your donations to improve the second floor classrooms! Thanks to your generosity last year, Stepping Stones has enough supplies for their activities this year. Now that our windows are repaired, they’re ready to use the second floor classrooms again and it’s time to spruce up those classrooms. You can make a donation to that project by donating online or in the offering basket and designating it for Stepping Stones. Thanks for your continued partnership in this ministry. Still time to sign up for children’s and youth ministry!
Stepping Stones, for ages 3-4th grade, and FaithInk for grades 5-8 meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. during the school year. We will kick off another year of fun starting with a potluck at The Rock on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30. Please bring a main dish and a side/dessert to share. The whole family is welcome! This is also a great chance to meet Rev. Bartels.
Help us plan our classes by signing your kids up as soon as you can.Stepping Stones RegistrationFaithInk Registration
What is Godparents? A Godparent (GP) group typically consists of one husband/wife GP Leader couple and a small group of high-school age youth. This group remains together through the four years of high school. Groups meet every Wednesday evening from September through April, as the group determines, primarily at the leaders’ home. Through the inclusion of Bible Study, discussion, activities and prayer, the GP ministry offers youth an opportunity to establish Christian relationships with their peers and adult leaders as they walk through formative high school years and prepare for life as a Christian man or woman.
Godparents (grades 9-12) will have an annual Kick off event at the St. John Fellowship Hall at 7:00 on August 28th, where the formed groups will meet for the first time with the leaders. They will have a meal and share announcements. Do you have a teen ready to start Godparents? Fill out the Letter of Intent attached HERE and send it to [email protected] ASAP. You are invited to join Trail Life USA & American Heritage Girls Sunday Aug. 25th for a joining event to learn about our group. Come on over at 6:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran in Waco (1011 Rd U). Trail Life is a Christian Outdoor Adventure group for boys ages 5-17. American Heritage Girls is a Christian group for girls ages 5-17. Contact Pastor Mau 402-363-1540 with any questions. We hope to see you there! 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. Our August item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned fruit. 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. 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. Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. July minutes from our Directors are available HERE.August minutes from our Ambassadors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News, August 1, 2024
Happening at The RockSeptember 4, 2024, Stepping Stones and FaithInk Potluck Important: All members with keys to the building, please check to see if you have a key that says “Control” on it and let Danna know that you have it. Help us improve the second floor classrooms! Thanks to your generosity last year, Stepping Stones has enough supplies for their activities this year. Now that our windows are repaired, they’re ready to use the second floor classrooms again and it’s time to spruce up those classrooms. You can make a donation to that project by donating online or in the offering basket and designating it for Stepping Stones. Thanks for your continued partnership in this ministry. It’s time to sign up for children’s and youth ministry!
Stepping Stones, for ages 3-4th grade, and FaithInk for grades 5-8 meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. during the school year. We will kick off another year of fun starting with a potluck at The Rock on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30. This is also a great chance to meet Rev. Bartels.
Help us plan our classes by signing your kids up as soon as you can.Stepping Stones RegistrationFaithInk RegistrationWe hope to share information about Godparents (high school) soon. 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. Our August item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned fruit. 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. Women’s Retreat: Coffee and Conversation with Deb Burma! A women’s morning retreat will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church. Deb Burma will speak on her recent Bible Study, “Leaning on Jesus.” The morning offers music, brunch, specialty coffees, and more! Details can be found here. Please pre-register for this free event. Register using this form, or call or text 402-617-3410, or email [email protected]. 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. Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE.
July minutes from our Directors are available HERE.
July minutes from our Ambassadors are available HERE.
Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News, July 19, 2024
Happening at The RockJuly 21, 2024, Annual Voters’ Meeting, after the service Our annual voters’ meeting will be held on July 21 after the service. If you would like to confirm that you are a voting member of The Rock, please see one of our Ambassadors. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them.
Access the Meeting Agenda and the Ministry Plan before the meeting. The Rock is hiring a part-time Administrative Assistant to support the Pastor, Ambassadors, and Directors. This position will enhance the ability for all ministries within the church to grow God’s Kingdom. Full details and information about how to apply can be found here on Indeed. Pick up a name tag on your way into church for the next few weeks. We’ll help the Bartels—and each other—learn everyone’s names.
Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. The Rock Facility Improvement Project
Thank you to all who participated in our clean-up weekends!
While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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. Your information is needed for our directory! Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. Our July item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned meat—but not tuna, as that gets its own month. 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. Women’s Retreat: Coffee and Conversation with Deb Burma! A women’s morning retreat will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church. Deb Burma will speak on her recent Bible Study, “Leaning on Jesus.” The morning offers music, brunch, specialty coffees, and more! Details can be found here. Please pre-register for this free event. Register using this form, or call or text 402-617-3410, or email [email protected]. 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. Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. June minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected] Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
2024 Annual Meeting Materials
Stay after the service on Sunday, July 21 for our annual voters’ meeting. If you aren’t sure whether you are a voting member, please check with an Ambassador.
Rock News
Happening at The Rock
July 7, 2024, Potluck lunch after the service
July 14, 2024, 2:00, Installation and ordination of Jonathan Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon)
July 21, 2024, Annual Voters’ Meeting, after the service
Stay after the service this Sunday, July 7, for a potluck lunch! We want to spend some time in fellowship with the Loeschens to thank them for serving us so faithfully during our vacancy. Please bring both a main dish and a side/dessert to share. Our current series is “Bible Verses to Highlight” so bring along your Bible and some highlighters, pens, or pencils to follow along. The Rock Facility Improvement Project
Thank you to all who participated in our clean-up weekends!
While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels, his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, have arrived in Seward.
While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.)
Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. Your information is needed for our directory! Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. Our annual voters’ meeting will be held on July 21 after the service. If you would like to confirm that you are a voting member of The Rock, please see one of our Ambassadors. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. We are hiring a part-time administrative assistant. We’ll share details soon. If you have questions, see one of the Ambassadors. Our July item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned meat—but not tuna, as that gets its own month. 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. 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. Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. June minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News, June 18, 2024
Happening at The RockJune 22-23, 2024, Clean-Up Weekend (10 a.m. Saturday, after service on Sunday)
July 14, 2024, 2:00, Installation and ordination of Jonathan Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon) Our current series is “Bible Verses to Highlight” so bring along your Bible and some highlighters, pens, or pencils to follow along. Rev. Loeschen just celebrated 40 years in ministry! If you didn’t get the chance to congratulate him on Sunday, make sure you do the next time you see him. This Weekend is The Rock Clean-Up Weekend!
WORK DAYS: June 22-23
Let’s come together, roll up our sleeves, and prepare The Rock for Pastor Bartels’ arrival and Installation Service on July 14! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m., and Sunday, June 23 after the service, and join us for Phase 1 of our Building Improvement Project. That weekend, we will remove unwanted items from all spaces, move them to the gym for sale, and haul trash to a dumpster. Please bring your own cleaning supplies, work gloves, and tools to complete the jobs!
YEAR-LONG FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 will also post the To-Do Lists in each of the spaces so you can walk around and look at the areas before choosing your space.
Looking forward to seeing you on June 22! Our Guatemala Mission Team leaves this Friday! Click here to download a list of daily prayer requests to use while they are away. (These requests will also be on Facebook each morning.) We are getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels, his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings!
While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.)
Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. A new women’s Bible study will start on Wednesday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 217 at the Rock. Our plan is to read and discuss Jennie Allen’s newest book “Untangle Your Emotions”. There will be reading assignments for each week and on Wednesdays, we will gather to encourage one another as we discuss the previous week’s reading. This group is for women of all ages, high school and up. We will meet on the following Wednesdays: July 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7 and 14.
If you would like to join the study, please sign up at church, or text Andrea (402-641-7221) or Sara (402-641-4200) by Monday, July 1.
Prior to the start date, you will need to purchase your own copy of the book: “Untangle your Emotions; Naming what you feel and knowing what to do about it” (ISBN: 9780593193419). It is available online through Wal-Mart at the following link. You can also order it at our local bookstore, Chapters. Please reach out to Kelley Limback (she works at Chapters) for a 20% discount.
If you want more information on the book, click on this link. Also, you can listen to the first two chapters for free through Jennie Allen’s podcast here. Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. Join FaithPartners for WRAP training. (WRAP is Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Create a personalized system of wellness and an action plan to care for yourself and others! The training will be on Monday, June 24th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Seward Memorial Library.Learn more here and also at this link. Registration is required. Contact Four Corners at 402-362-2621 or [email protected] to register. Class materials provided by Region V Systems. Lunch will be on your own. Our June item for the Blue Valley food pantry is pancake mix. They prefer the “just add water” type so the families don’t need extra ingredients to make the pancakes. 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. Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. April minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Join us for “The Rock Clean-Up Weekend”
WORK DAYS: June 22-23
Let’s come together, roll up our sleeves, and prepare The Rock for Pastor Bartels’ arrival and Installation Service on July 14! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m., and Sunday, June 23 after the service, and join us for Phase 1 of our Building Improvement Project. That weekend, we will remove unwanted items from all spaces, move them to the gym for sale, and haul trash to a dumpster. Please bring your own cleaning supplies, work gloves, and tools to complete the jobs!
YEAR-LONG FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 will also post the To-Do Lists in each of the spaces so you can walk around and look at the areas before choosing your space.
Looking forward to seeing you on June 22!
Rock News, May 23, 2024
Happening at The Rock
June 10-13, 2024, GLOW Vacation Bible School (age 3 through 4th grade)
July 14, 2024, 2:00, installation of John Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon)
We are getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels,d his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings!
While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.)
Registration is now open for GLOW: Go Light Our World, our Vacation Bible School, meeting this summer from June 10-13, 9am to 11am. Kids age 3 through 4th grade are invited to join and bring friends. If you want a T-shirt for your child, this Sunday, May 26 is the last day to sign up. (You can still register kids later, but they won’t get a shirt.)
Are you willing to help decorate for VBS or help during the event? Click here to see the different opportunities to volunteer. No need to committ to the whole time. Lessons and activities are already prepared!
The Rock is adding two baby boys to our forever family, so it’s time for another diaper drive! We will collect diapers for them through June 9. For one family, we’ll collect sizes 2 & 3, with no brand preference. For the other, we’ll collect sizes 3 and up, with no brand preference. If possible, please attach a gift receipt so they can exchange for a different size later, if needed.
Our May item for the Blue Valley food pantry is facial tissue. 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.
Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE.
April minutes from our Directors are available HERE.
Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them.
Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]
Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News
Upcoming at The Rock
June 10-13, 2024, GLOW Vacation Bible School (age 3 through 4th grade)
We have a new pastor! We are thrilled to announce that Jonathan Bartels has been placed at The Rock to serve as our next pastor. The announcement was made at Concordia Seminary’s Call Day service this week. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels will graduate from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis this May. He and his wife, Emily, and their newborn son will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings!
Thank you for joining us for our second rib cookoff. We raised $813 for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. Congratulations to Tim Preuss, who was crowned our winner. We have several others who want to enter the competition next year and win the apron!
Registration is now open for GLOW: Go Light Our World, our Vacation Bible School meeting this summer from June 10-13, 9am to 11am. Kids age 3 through 4th grade are invited to join and bring friends. We’ll share information soon about supplies you can donate and how you can volunteer to help.
We have many ways you can help support our Guatemala mission team:
The Rock has new shirts! Contact Micky Sloup by text at 319-830-9039 with your size. Proceeds benefit the Guatemala Mission Team’s trip this summer.
The Guatemala mission team still has some coffee for sale. $15 for regular blend, and $20 for premium.
Mother’s Day/Graduation Flower Orders: Please fill out this form so we can fulfill your flower order. All flower orders will be ready to be picked up at The Rock on Friday, May 10th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Cash, Venmo, or a check will be accepted at pickup. If paying with a check, please make it to The Rock and in the memo write Guatemala Mission Trip. Thank you!
Bring all of your loose change for a Noisy Offering after the service on Sunday, May 5. Those donations will also help support the mission trip.
Thank you very much to those who contributed to the Seward County Pro-Life Council by donating $1 for a mother’s name to be in the Mother’s Day ad in the Seward Independent on May 8. The Rock gathered 67 names and the amount of money collected was $97!
Tremendous thanks to Connie Butler, who served us as administrative assistant. We hope that her retirement is amazing!
Our May item for the Blue Valley food pantry is Kleenex. 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.
Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE.
Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]
Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News, August 22, 2024
| Happening at The RockSeptember 4, 2024, Stepping Stones and FaithInk Potluck at 6:30September 21, 2024, Rock the Block from 4:00-8:00 |
| Important: All members with keys to the building, please check to see if you have a key that says “Control” on it and let Danna know that you have it. |
| Join us for Rock the Block on Saturday, September 21 from 4-8. Music, snow cones, bounce house, face paint, and BBQ! Bring your friends. |
| Thanks for your donations to improve the second floor classrooms! Thanks to your generosity last year, Stepping Stones has enough supplies for their activities this year. Now that our windows are repaired, they’re ready to use the second floor classrooms again and it’s time to spruce up those classrooms. You can make a donation to that project by donating online or in the offering basket and designating it for Stepping Stones. Thanks for your continued partnership in this ministry. |
| Still time to sign up for children’s and youth ministry! Stepping Stones, for ages 3-4th grade, and FaithInk for grades 5-8 meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. during the school year. We will kick off another year of fun starting with a potluck at The Rock on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30. Please bring a main dish and a side/dessert to share. The whole family is welcome! This is also a great chance to meet Rev. Bartels. Help us plan our classes by signing your kids up as soon as you can.Stepping Stones RegistrationFaithInk Registration What is Godparents? A Godparent (GP) group typically consists of one husband/wife GP Leader couple and a small group of high-school age youth. This group remains together through the four years of high school. Groups meet every Wednesday evening from September through April, as the group determines, primarily at the leaders’ home. Through the inclusion of Bible Study, discussion, activities and prayer, the GP ministry offers youth an opportunity to establish Christian relationships with their peers and adult leaders as they walk through formative high school years and prepare for life as a Christian man or woman. Godparents (grades 9-12) will have an annual Kick off event at the St. John Fellowship Hall at 7:00 on August 28th, where the formed groups will meet for the first time with the leaders. They will have a meal and share announcements. Do you have a teen ready to start Godparents? Fill out the Letter of Intent attached HERE and send it to [email protected] ASAP. |
| You are invited to join Trail Life USA & American Heritage Girls Sunday Aug. 25th for a joining event to learn about our group. Come on over at 6:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran in Waco (1011 Rd U). Trail Life is a Christian Outdoor Adventure group for boys ages 5-17. American Heritage Girls is a Christian group for girls ages 5-17. Contact Pastor Mau 402-363-1540 with any questions. We hope to see you there! |
| 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. |
| Our August item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned fruit. 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. |
| 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. July minutes from our Directors are available HERE.August minutes from our Ambassadors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
Rock News, August 1, 2024
| Happening at The RockSeptember 4, 2024, Stepping Stones and FaithInk Potluck |
| Important: All members with keys to the building, please check to see if you have a key that says “Control” on it and let Danna know that you have it. |
| Help us improve the second floor classrooms! Thanks to your generosity last year, Stepping Stones has enough supplies for their activities this year. Now that our windows are repaired, they’re ready to use the second floor classrooms again and it’s time to spruce up those classrooms. You can make a donation to that project by donating online or in the offering basket and designating it for Stepping Stones. Thanks for your continued partnership in this ministry. |
| It’s time to sign up for children’s and youth ministry! Stepping Stones, for ages 3-4th grade, and FaithInk for grades 5-8 meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m. during the school year. We will kick off another year of fun starting with a potluck at The Rock on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30. This is also a great chance to meet Rev. Bartels. Help us plan our classes by signing your kids up as soon as you can.Stepping Stones RegistrationFaithInk RegistrationWe hope to share information about Godparents (high school) soon. |
| 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. |
| Our August item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned fruit. 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. |
| Women’s Retreat: Coffee and Conversation with Deb Burma! A women’s morning retreat will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church. Deb Burma will speak on her recent Bible Study, “Leaning on Jesus.” The morning offers music, brunch, specialty coffees, and more! Details can be found here. Please pre-register for this free event. Register using this form, or call or text 402-617-3410, or email [email protected]. |
| 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. July minutes from our Directors are available HERE. July minutes from our Ambassadors are available HERE. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
Rock News, July 19, 2024
| Happening at The RockJuly 21, 2024, Annual Voters’ Meeting, after the service |
| Our annual voters’ meeting will be held on July 21 after the service. If you would like to confirm that you are a voting member of The Rock, please see one of our Ambassadors. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. Access the Meeting Agenda and the Ministry Plan before the meeting. |
| The Rock is hiring a part-time Administrative Assistant to support the Pastor, Ambassadors, and Directors. This position will enhance the ability for all ministries within the church to grow God’s Kingdom. Full details and information about how to apply can be found here on Indeed. |
| Pick up a name tag on your way into church for the next few weeks. We’ll help the Bartels—and each other—learn everyone’s names. Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. |
| The Rock Facility Improvement Project Thank you to all who participated in our clean-up weekends! While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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. |
| Your information is needed for our directory! Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. |
| Our July item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned meat—but not tuna, as that gets its own month. 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. |
| Women’s Retreat: Coffee and Conversation with Deb Burma! A women’s morning retreat will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church. Deb Burma will speak on her recent Bible Study, “Leaning on Jesus.” The morning offers music, brunch, specialty coffees, and more! Details can be found here. Please pre-register for this free event. Register using this form, or call or text 402-617-3410, or email [email protected]. |
| 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. June minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected] Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
2024 Annual Meeting Materials
Stay after the service on Sunday, July 21 for our annual voters’ meeting. If you aren’t sure whether you are a voting member, please check with an Ambassador.
Rock News
Happening at The Rock
July 7, 2024, Potluck lunch after the service
July 14, 2024, 2:00, Installation and ordination of Jonathan Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon)
July 21, 2024, Annual Voters’ Meeting, after the service
| Stay after the service this Sunday, July 7, for a potluck lunch! We want to spend some time in fellowship with the Loeschens to thank them for serving us so faithfully during our vacancy. Please bring both a main dish and a side/dessert to share. |
| Our current series is “Bible Verses to Highlight” so bring along your Bible and some highlighters, pens, or pencils to follow along. |
| The Rock Facility Improvement Project Thank you to all who participated in our clean-up weekends! While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels, his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, have arrived in Seward. While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.) Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. |
| Your information is needed for our directory! Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. |
| Our annual voters’ meeting will be held on July 21 after the service. If you would like to confirm that you are a voting member of The Rock, please see one of our Ambassadors. Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| We are hiring a part-time administrative assistant. We’ll share details soon. If you have questions, see one of the Ambassadors. |
| Our July item to donate in support of Blue Valley Community Action is canned meat—but not tuna, as that gets its own month. 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. |
| 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. June minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
Rock News, June 18, 2024
| Happening at The RockJune 22-23, 2024, Clean-Up Weekend (10 a.m. Saturday, after service on Sunday) July 14, 2024, 2:00, Installation and ordination of Jonathan Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon) |
| Our current series is “Bible Verses to Highlight” so bring along your Bible and some highlighters, pens, or pencils to follow along. |
| Rev. Loeschen just celebrated 40 years in ministry! If you didn’t get the chance to congratulate him on Sunday, make sure you do the next time you see him. |
| This Weekend is The Rock Clean-Up Weekend! WORK DAYS: June 22-23 Let’s come together, roll up our sleeves, and prepare The Rock for Pastor Bartels’ arrival and Installation Service on July 14! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m., and Sunday, June 23 after the service, and join us for Phase 1 of our Building Improvement Project. That weekend, we will remove unwanted items from all spaces, move them to the gym for sale, and haul trash to a dumpster. Please bring your own cleaning supplies, work gloves, and tools to complete the jobs! YEAR-LONG FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 will also post the To-Do Lists in each of the spaces so you can walk around and look at the areas before choosing your space. Looking forward to seeing you on June 22! |
| Our Guatemala Mission Team leaves this Friday! Click here to download a list of daily prayer requests to use while they are away. (These requests will also be on Facebook each morning.) |
| We are getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels, his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings! While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.) Help welcome the Bartels family to the Rock and the Seward community by participating in our Meal Train! Sign up for a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to either drop a meal off, take them out, or have them over for a meal! Sign up for a date and meal at this link. |
| A new women’s Bible study will start on Wednesday nights from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 217 at the Rock. Our plan is to read and discuss Jennie Allen’s newest book “Untangle Your Emotions”. There will be reading assignments for each week and on Wednesdays, we will gather to encourage one another as we discuss the previous week’s reading. This group is for women of all ages, high school and up. We will meet on the following Wednesdays: July 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7 and 14. If you would like to join the study, please sign up at church, or text Andrea (402-641-7221) or Sara (402-641-4200) by Monday, July 1. Prior to the start date, you will need to purchase your own copy of the book: “Untangle your Emotions; Naming what you feel and knowing what to do about it” (ISBN: 9780593193419). It is available online through Wal-Mart at the following link. You can also order it at our local bookstore, Chapters. Please reach out to Kelley Limback (she works at Chapters) for a 20% discount. If you want more information on the book, click on this link. Also, you can listen to the first two chapters for free through Jennie Allen’s podcast here. |
| Please help our new pastor get to know your name. We are asking you to do two very easy things:If you haven’t already done so, please follow THIS LINK and check if you are in the directory, and if not, e-mail us and we’ll send you a form to fill out so that we can add you. The password currently is “ForeverFamily” but will change from time to time to protect our information.If you haven’t added your photo, go to THIS LINK for instructions on how to setup your login (which we won’t change on you) so that you can update your information and add a photo of your family. (link to Bill’s instructions)The quality of the directory depends on you updating your information, and we hope you will get in, update it and use it. |
| Join FaithPartners for WRAP training. (WRAP is Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Create a personalized system of wellness and an action plan to care for yourself and others! The training will be on Monday, June 24th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Seward Memorial Library.Learn more here and also at this link. Registration is required. Contact Four Corners at 402-362-2621 or [email protected] to register. Class materials provided by Region V Systems. Lunch will be on your own. |
| Our June item for the Blue Valley food pantry is pancake mix. They prefer the “just add water” type so the families don’t need extra ingredients to make the pancakes. 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. |
| Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. April minutes from our Directors are available HERE.Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them. |
| Contact Us | [email protected] Prayer Requests | [email protected]Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |
Join us for “The Rock Clean-Up Weekend”
| WORK DAYS: June 22-23 Let’s come together, roll up our sleeves, and prepare The Rock for Pastor Bartels’ arrival and Installation Service on July 14! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m., and Sunday, June 23 after the service, and join us for Phase 1 of our Building Improvement Project. That weekend, we will remove unwanted items from all spaces, move them to the gym for sale, and haul trash to a dumpster. Please bring your own cleaning supplies, work gloves, and tools to complete the jobs! YEAR-LONG FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT While we are blessed to have such a magnificent facility, its size brings unique challenges when it comes to cleaning and upkeep. Many of you have asked, “How can I help?”—and now, we have a plan for The Rock Family to come together and take action! 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 will also post the To-Do Lists in each of the spaces so you can walk around and look at the areas before choosing your space. Looking forward to seeing you on June 22! |
Rock News, May 23, 2024
Happening at The Rock
June 10-13, 2024, GLOW Vacation Bible School (age 3 through 4th grade)
July 14, 2024, 2:00, installation of John Bartels as pastor, followed by a reception (more details soon)
We are getting ready to welcome Jonathan Bartels to serve as our next pastor. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels,d his wife, Emily, and their newborn son, Shepherd, will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings!
While we wait for his ordination and installation day (scheduled for the afternoon of July 14), let’s prepare to shower them with local gift cards. Between now and their arrival in July, put any gift cards or Chamber Bucks you’d like to gift them into the offering basket. We’ll collect them and gift them to the Bartels at their welcome reception. (We will share more details about that day soon.)
Registration is now open for GLOW: Go Light Our World, our Vacation Bible School, meeting this summer from June 10-13, 9am to 11am. Kids age 3 through 4th grade are invited to join and bring friends. If you want a T-shirt for your child, this Sunday, May 26 is the last day to sign up. (You can still register kids later, but they won’t get a shirt.)
Are you willing to help decorate for VBS or help during the event? Click here to see the different opportunities to volunteer. No need to committ to the whole time. Lessons and activities are already prepared!
The Rock is adding two baby boys to our forever family, so it’s time for another diaper drive! We will collect diapers for them through June 9. For one family, we’ll collect sizes 2 & 3, with no brand preference. For the other, we’ll collect sizes 3 and up, with no brand preference. If possible, please attach a gift receipt so they can exchange for a different size later, if needed.
Our May item for the Blue Valley food pantry is facial tissue. 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.
Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE.
April minutes from our Directors are available HERE.
Visit our website leadership page to see who is serving and how to contact them.
Contact Us | [email protected]
Prayer Requests | [email protected]
Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/
Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email.
Rock News
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Upcoming at The Rock June 10-13, 2024, GLOW Vacation Bible School (age 3 through 4th grade) |
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We have a new pastor! We are thrilled to announce that Jonathan Bartels has been placed at The Rock to serve as our next pastor. The announcement was made at Concordia Seminary’s Call Day service this week. Soon-to-be Pastor Bartels will graduate from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis this May. He and his wife, Emily, and their newborn son will be moving to Seward this summer. Praise God for his wonderful blessings! |
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Thank you for joining us for our second rib cookoff. We raised $813 for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. Congratulations to Tim Preuss, who was crowned our winner. We have several others who want to enter the competition next year and win the apron! |
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Registration is now open for GLOW: Go Light Our World, our Vacation Bible School meeting this summer from June 10-13, 9am to 11am. Kids age 3 through 4th grade are invited to join and bring friends. We’ll share information soon about supplies you can donate and how you can volunteer to help. |
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We have many ways you can help support our Guatemala mission team: The Rock has new shirts! Contact Micky Sloup by text at 319-830-9039 with your size. Proceeds benefit the Guatemala Mission Team’s trip this summer. |
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The Guatemala mission team still has some coffee for sale. $15 for regular blend, and $20 for premium. Mother’s Day/Graduation Flower Orders: Please fill out this form so we can fulfill your flower order. All flower orders will be ready to be picked up at The Rock on Friday, May 10th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Cash, Venmo, or a check will be accepted at pickup. If paying with a check, please make it to The Rock and in the memo write Guatemala Mission Trip. Thank you! Bring all of your loose change for a Noisy Offering after the service on Sunday, May 5. Those donations will also help support the mission trip. |
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Thank you very much to those who contributed to the Seward County Pro-Life Council by donating $1 for a mother’s name to be in the Mother’s Day ad in the Seward Independent on May 8. The Rock gathered 67 names and the amount of money collected was $97! |
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Tremendous thanks to Connie Butler, who served us as administrative assistant. We hope that her retirement is amazing! |
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Our May item for the Blue Valley food pantry is Kleenex. 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. |
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Visit the YogaFaith Facebook page for a full calendar and more information. |
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Minutes from the Ambassadors’ and Directors’ meetings can be found HERE. |
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Contact Us | [email protected] Giving | https://www.therockseward.org/giving-at-the-rock/ Prayer requests are received by our prayer warriors. If you would like them kept confidential and not included in public prayers on Sundays, just let us know in your email. |