Dear Rockport Family and Friends, 

Lent 2021
Don't forget about our Lenten Calendar available on the Google Drive.  If you are in need of a printed copy, please contact Sara in the Church Office. Additionally, Bishop Malone has invited clergy and laity in the East Ohio Annual Conference to join her in prayer and scripture with another Lenten Calendar.  That calendar is also available in the google drive and can be downloaded from the Annual Conference Website here. 

Google Drive Reminder
Rockport All Church Information and Financial Reports are accessible here.

Strategic Planning Update: 
Rockport Leadership will be gathering with Rev. Kelly Brown and Rev. Rick Oaks beginning on March 8 for weekly meetings as we continue through the strategic planning process.  We commit to keeping you informed as we take these next steps in reimagining our ministry. 

We invite you to join us in daily prayer as we seek to discern God's direction for our future, setting a mission and vision that will help us live more fully into God's call.  Our 8:00 prayer appears below and we invite you to join us in daily prayer at 8am, 8pm, or both with our Rockport UMC 8:00 Discernment Prayer. More than that, we know that prayer is powerful, even more so when done in community.  Thanks to Lisa Kay, we will begin weekly prayer Thursdays at 7 via Zoom.  Please see the box below for Zoom information!

We can never have enough prayer, so we are also looking for additional weekly prayer group leaders, for both zoom and those who wish to gather outside in the parking lot (masked and socially distanced). If you are interested in leading a weekly prayer gathering, please reply to this email and let me know what your preferred method, time, and day of the week.  

Spaghetti Drive Thru Fundraiser
Check out the flyer below for information on the March 21, 2021 Spaghetti Drive Thru event and call to get your order in ASAP! We will again make deliveries to all homebound members. Those meals will be soup and bread this month. Each delivery and order will include a scripture, poem, and our prayers!

Zoom Worship
As of today, March 7, 2021, we have made the difficult choice to discontinue worship by Zoom. Worship will continue to be available via YouTube, Facebook, and on our website, www.rockportumc.org. 

Government Food Box Distribution
If you or someone you know is in need of groceries, member Dave Stephan asked me to pass along the information about a food distribution taking place for all in need at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds on Mondays in March.  The distribution contains about 40 pounds of food and is available between 12:00pm and 6:00pm on Mondays.  Drive in through the main gate for the fairgrounds on Bagley Road and volunteers will load the box into your vehicle. The next distribution is tomorrow, Monday, March 8, 2021 from Noon to 6:00pm.  (Dave reports that the most recent box contained the following items, but items will vary in each box! A gallon of milk, container of yogurt, bag of apples, bag of potatoes, cheese, sour cream, bag of pre-cooked chicken meat balls and cooked chicken legs, and onions.) Please take advantage of this distribution if you are in need or pass the details along to someone you know who might benefit!

Parental Leave and Appointment Update
In worship today, our SPRC Chairperson, Dan Newman announced that Rev. Dr. Steve Bailey has asked Rev. Laurie Bruce to serve as Rockport's interim pastor, from April 1, 2021-July 1, 2021 during my parental leave. Rev. Bruce is excited to come and serve among you at Rockport and I look forward to her arrival!  Let us join our hearts in prayer for her and for Rockport as we anticipate this transition and welcome Rev. Bruce into our midst.  

The Radzik family continues to await Baby Radzik's arrival. Rev. Radzik will continue to be the primary contact for Pastoral Care and will continue to attend meetings, etc., via zoom until Baby Radzik arrives.  (Don't worry, we'll share the good news so you can celebrate with us!) Once Baby Radzik makes his appearance, I will remain on staff, but will officially be on parental leave through the remainder of my appointment at Rockport UMC (June 30). Plans for emergency pastoral care between now and Rev. Bruce's arrival on April 1 are available in the Church Office.  

At this time, Bishop Malone and the East Ohio Conference Cabinet has not yet made the appointment of Rockport's next appointed pastor. SPRC will be in consultation with Rev. Dr. Steven Bailey, our District Superintendent throughout this process and will continue to keep the congregation informed as move forward. In the meantime, I invite you to join me in prayer for my family, Rockport UMC, the UMC of Macedonia, Pastor Russ Ham, the New Leaf United Methodist Church, Rev. Laurie Bruce, Rockport's interim pastor, and Rockport's next pastor as we move through this season of transition.  

As always, you continue to be in my prayers.

With hope, 



Rev. Lorrin Radzik