Congratulations to our Confirmand! And WELCOME! We’re so proud of his hard work this past school year, not to mention the  dedication and faithful and loving heart. 
     Please join in congratulating Christopher Paige  when you encounter him next! 
     We send out thank you’s to his sponsor, (and Grandmother!) Eileen Seppelt, as well as the love and commitment from his parents, Emily and Justin Paige, and our Youth and Adults who helped out in worship and along the way - we appreciate the commitment that you all made to guide and love our Confirmand!
     Special thank you to our own Rev. Don Kraps, who marked his last Confirmation experience here at Rockport.
 

REV. DON'S
last Sunday is on June 22. Join us as we wish Don well as he retires. There will be a light coffee hour/ lunch after the worship service. If you want to contribute a food item contact Debbie Bryant by text or email. We also will have a book for everyone to write a note of gratitude to Pastor Don for all he has done for Rockport!




PEACE WITH JUSTICE SUNDAY:  
Peace with Justice Sunday celebration is June 15, 2025. This offering is collected the first Sunday after Pentecost and it supports peace with justice ministries through the General Board of Church and Society and the annual conferences. Envelopes are available by the treasure chest.





DINNER & A MOVIE:  
Join us on Saturday, May 31^st at 6:00pm for dinner and 6:30pm for the movie “The Case For Christ” which tells the true story of Lee Strobel, a journalist, who embarks on an investigation to disprove his wife's newfound Christian faith. Initially a skeptic, Strobel's pursuit of evidence leads him to interview experts and uncover historical and scientific findings that challenge his beliefs, ultimately leading him to reconsider his own faith.   Sign-up sheet is posted.  Hope you will join us!




PASTOR’S VACATION:  
Rev. Don will be on vacation from May 19^th – May 28^th and Rev. Dan Bryant will be leading us in worship on May 25^th.  For any pastoral emergencies, please call Rev. Barbara Davis at 440-774-1660.  




OUTDOOR WORSHIP BEGINS MAY 25^TH:  
Rockport is blessed to have a beautiful hidden gem, our outdoor sanctuary.  Beginning May 25^th at 10am service will be outdoors so please dress accordingly.  In the event of rain, we will move indoors to our air-conditioned sanctuary.  EMS remains at 8:30am in our indoor chapel.




GRADUATES! 
If you have a graduate from high school, college, or trade school, please let us know! We will be recognizing all graduates at our Youth Sunday Worship in July.  





SAVE THE DATE:  
Trustees are hosting a mulch spreading/outdoor clean-up party on Saturday, June 14^th from 9-12.  All hands are welcome to help beautify Rockport!





ROCKPORT MUSIC MINISTRY:  
    A note of appreciation to our Rockport music ministry. Thank you, choir, Ramblers, instrumentalists, soloists and percussionists.  We have shared music, fellowship, laughter, learning, prayers, and worship together. The choir will return to rehearsal and worship in September.  
     As we move to summer, please consider signing up to do special music during worship while the choir is off.  Sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board. We share our ministry through music, "Tell the World."
In Service, Susan Shick, Director of Music /Organist cell,440-364-9672.



ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY VBS! 
June 9-13th 8:50 to 11:40 am at Rocky River Presbyterian Church. Rockport, RRPC, & St. Christopher’s Church unite in Christ and offer our community a wonderful experience to celebrate God and His wonderful Creation! See Kira Holchin for more info! 




CHAT & CHEW! Lunch & Chat Adult Discussion Group!  
Come and join us! Bring your lunch and enjoy your food AND a great discussion! We will explore various topics in the church and Bible. 12 to 2 p.m.! 
June - NO MEETING
July 21st - We will see you at noon!
August 18th - We will see you at noon!


 

BOOK CLUB: 
Please join us June 4^th @7:00pm in the church parlor for our next book club. We will be reading "Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade." From the New York Times bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles and based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France—this is “a moving tale of sacrifice, heroism, and inspired storytelling immersed in the power of books to change our lives” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author). Hope to see everyone on June 4th for food, fun, fellowship, and discussion.





PRAY & BIKE OPPORTUNITIES:
 Thursday, June 26 & Thursday, July 17
 6:30 – 8:00 PM
 Meet at the Church Parking Lot (Weather Permitting)
Join us for a time of scripture-focused prayer for our community and church, followed by a refreshing bike ride!
 Bike Route Options:
  Lake Erie
 Metroparks
All are welcome—let’s pray and exercise together!




HELP GROW ROCKPORT CHURCH! 
Are you passionate about growing Rockport Church? If so, join us for a dinner and study session based on the book:  Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic: Seven Simple Keys to Growing Churches
 Tuesdays | 6:00 – 7:30 PM
 Location: Outside, weather permitting or in the Conference Room.
 Light dinner, prayer, study, and discussion
Dates: June 17, 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
 Please email the church office or sign up the bulletin board for a book. 
 
All are welcome to participate in this engaging and insightful study!
Book Synopsis:  The pastor of one of today’s most dynamic churches illumines the basic principles of attracting the unchurched to the Christian message. Using the story of Bob, a successful swimsuit salesman whose business takes a turn for the worse when he moves to Alaska, Adam Hamilton reminds us that all of life is about sales. Whether we are in a job interview, a candidates’ debate, or a classroom, we are selling something: our skills, our convictions, our selves. The same is true of presenting the gospel to the unchurched. In leading a friend to a saving relationship with Christ, in inviting them to join us at church, we are presenting them with something that we believe they need, that will make all the difference in their life. 




BOTTLE CAPS!  
The Youth Group are collecting bottle caps for a mission project. The plastic kind - for example, 2 liter and 16/20/24 oz bottles. 
  During these past weeks we have been asking you, the congregation, to collect bottle caps, and we are providing the boxes to collect them with to make it easier. (courtesy of Dave Stephan! THANK YOU!) You can grab one on your way out of the church on the Christian Ed table in the hallway…   We have been asking to collect these caps in order to create our own bench, fully from the caps we have collected. This bench will signify how recycling can be seen and the process. This bench will be placed in a chosen location on the church grounds.  Along with these recycled caps, we will also accept donations to use towards the processing of the caps to the bench. Through our collective efforts we will eventually have a product that can be enjoyed by everyone.
  You can find the acceptable caps and lids list posted on the table with the boxes, and also above. We will be collecting THROUGH JULY! Thank you!

The link for information…
 https://www.greentreeplastics.com/abc-program/




COFFEE HOUR:  
Please consider hosting coffee hour and sign-up on the bulletin board.  Fellowship is so important to the life of the church and why not have a little snack at the same time!




GOOGLE DRIVE REMINDER:
April  2025 Church financials can be found  Here 
or get a hard copy in the church office.




REMINDER:
Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 - 2:00pm and Fridays from 8:00 - 1:00pm.  
Rev. Don's office hours are Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:00 - 1:00pm




DISTRICT NEWS: www.eocumc.com/northernwaters

The United Methodist Church Unveils New Guiding Vision Statement

CHICAGO, IL – The Council of Bishops, in conjunction with the Connectional Table, is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new vision statement for The United Methodist Church. This vision reflects the Church's deep commitment to embodying God's dream for the world.

The vision states:

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

This vision statement complements the Church's longstanding mission statement, inspired by Matthew 28:1-20: "The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

The vision encourages United Methodists to embody the following principles:

• Love Boldly: Passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender and walk of life.
  • Inspired by Matthew 22:37-39 and John 13:34-35
     
• Serve Joyfully: With a Christ-like heart, journey alongside the most vulnerable, offering care and compassion with joy.
  • Inspired by Psalm 100:1, Nehemiah 8:10, John 13:14-15 and 1 Peter 4:10
     
• Lead Courageously: Follow Jesus’ example by resisting and dismantling all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice and reconciliation.
  • Inspired by Joshua 1:9 and Ephesians 6:10

“This new vision is not simply a statement or a plan, it is a catalyst for transformation,” said Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, President of the Council of Bishops. “It is a vision that will help the Church embrace the opportunities before us, to follow where God is leading us, and to more fully engage in our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table will work with General Agencies to create resources that inspire and equip disciples, leaders, and congregations to live into this vision. Resources will be shared at Annual Conference sessions and with leaders within local churches this summer, with lay member resources anticipated to follow in late 2025/early 2026.

Learn more about the vision, access the informational video and get resources as they become available at ResourceUMC.org/vision.

 

CONFERENCE NEWS: https://www.eocumc.com

Storyboard Episode 58

By EOC News on May 5, 2025 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EIGpRnypYrgpOvlnmPkJU Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation is a podcast highlighting ministries across the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church that are transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally. Produced twice-a-month by EOC Communications, each podcast episode focuses on one of the core values of the #BeUMC campaign: Disciple Making; Belonging & Inclusion; Influence, Connection & Impact; and Experience of God through The United Methodist Church. In Episode 58 “My Call Story: Pastor Tennille Power” ‘the pastor of Elyria First United Methodist Church shares from the heart about the process she went through answering Gods’ call into ministry. “I consider myself an ecumenical ball. I have United Methodist roots, and I have roots in the United Church of Christ, and I have roots in Catholicism,” Power said. She has answered calls from God throughout her life that have led to different occupations and experiences and eventually to seminary. “I believe all of us have a call. We all have a calling to do something for the work for the Kingdom of God. I think sometimes the challenge with clergy and those discerning is that we believe our call is just set. No, your call is big and global, but your assignment is for a season,” Power stated. Listen to previous Storyboard podcast episodes. View clergy and laity sharing their #BeUMC stories.