ADVENT DINNER AND PRAYER / SCRIPTURE READING:
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 6-7:30 P.M.:
Please join us for some homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Bread, prayers, reading of advent scriptures, and review of the meaning of the advent candles. All are welcome! Please e-mail office@rockportumc.org to sign-up. There will also be a sign-up sheet on the church bulletin board. This will be a great opportunity for fellowship to feed our stomachs and our souls!
LADIES CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON:
All church ladies are invited to a Christmas lunch here at church at noon on December 14th. Please come hungry for an Italian feast of chicken Parmesan, Eggplant Parmesan, Italian Sausage, Noodles, Salad, Garlic Bread and Dessert. There is no charge but donations will be accepted for Rockport Missions. Please come ready to share a Christmas memory. Sign-ups are requested but not required. Please let the church office know of any dietary restrictions or if you need a ride. Look for more Ladies Luncheons in 2023. Diana Leitch, 440-759-5980.
ROCKPORT COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The year 2022 has been a productive year for Rockport UMC’s efforts to Reflect Christ in Community. We helped Holly in Fairview Park by making needed updates to her house. This project took us 8 work days and involved siding replacement, repairs, paint, plumbing, gutter and roof cleaning. At Janice’s house, also in Fairview Park, we replaced her stairs in the rear of her house. This took two work days. We also just finished work on Beverly’s house in Rocky River. This project required significant plaster rework in her vestibule, as well as some electrical work and landscaping. This project took about 45 hours of volunteer time.
Every project we worked was on a neighbor in need, who clearly could not make these needed repairs themselves. Also, our improvements increased safety in these homes.
We also have begun on a new task at the church across the street, which is now called Everything Recovery, a non profit working to help addicts recover. They seek to remodel a room in the basement to facilitate counseling. They want us to install a new counter and sink, drywall, and to paint the walls and floor. We will be working on this project in the upcoming Wednesday’s after Thanksgiving, from 9 am until about 1pm. Join us!
Our volunteers include Dennis Kay, Dennis O’Neil, Mike Wilkenson, Nick Berardi, Andrew Allen, Don Kraps, and myself.
Our goal is to reflect Christ in our community, a mission without end. Along that unending path, Rockport UMC met that challenge In 2022, at Holly's, Janice's, and Beverly’s homes.
Community Outreach Chair, Dave Plachta
Galations 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Dave Plachta & Dennis Kay
THANKS EVERYONE!
Our November 12th, 2022 Spaghetti Dinner raised $1,523.13 for Outreach missions.
Many thanks to our diners, servers, bakers & kitchen crew.
Don't forget to stock up on quarts of sauce, 4 meatballs in sauce and 7 meatballs for $10/each.
Look for the next Spaghetti dinner sometime in February.
DON’T FORGET YOUR COMMITMENT TO ROCKPORT!
As we approach the end of the year, don’t forget your commitment to Rockport. If you are unsure of where you are with your 2022 pledge, please call the church office.
Thank you, The Finance Committee
DECEMBER MEN’S GROUP CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION:
The Annual Rockport Men’s Group Christmas Celebration will be on Wednesday, December 7th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the church. Nick will provide pasta, meatballs and sausage. Bring a salad, vegetables, side dish or desert and your Christmas spirit! We always have a great time at this festive gathering.
This meeting is on Wednesday instead of Thursday because the Community Service Alliance along with other organizations are presenting Song of Celebration ... in a Season of Recovery! on Thursday, December
BOOK CLUB:
ALL LADIES OF THE CHURCH are invited to join us on Monday, December 12 @ 6:00pm for a Christmas gathering! Main dish will be provided by Lisa who will host this gathering at her house in Westlake. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share and a wrapped book of your choice for a book exchange.
Also, our next book discussion will be on Wednesday, January 25 @ 7:00pm. We will be meeting at Bonnie’s house on the corner of Story and Carol. The book we will be reading is “Call Your Daughter Home” by Deb Spera. This book is “a bold and mesmerizing debut set in a time and place lost to history; a world rescued now by Deb Spera, a talented storyteller. With lush language, Spera illuminates a powerful story of women, of motherhood and survival.” Hope to see everyone both in December and January for fun, fellowship and discussion.
CONSECRATION SUNDAY AND 2023 PLEDGE UPDATE:
What a blessing it was to have 64 people in Worship on Consecration Sunday, November 20th. We enjoyed a wonderful worship, a pancake breakfast with delicious food and fellowship and then decorated the church for Advent. To date, we have received 42 pledges totaling $92,621. Thank you to those who have already pledged. Your financial commitment to Rockport is greatly appreciated. You may still mail in your pledge card, email or call the church with your pledge, or fill out a pledge card available in the narthex. Pledges help leadership set budgets and plan for next year. Please remember all money received goes toward the operating budget, as well as, paying our apportionments! Thank you, The Finance Committee
GOOGLE DRIVE REMINDER
Rockport All Church Information, CHARGE CONFERENCE PAPERWORK,
which includes the Pastors report and Church Council Leaders,
and Financial Reports can be found here or in the church office.
KIDS & YOUTH FALL & ADVENT MINI MISSION PROJECT:
We are collecting hats, gloves, and scarves to go for the Take What You Need Cabinet all season, AS WELL AS, the Sister’s Haven Mission, in Cleveland, who is also pairing with Rocky River UMC. Please leave them on the Christian Ed Table in the hallway, outside the Sanctuary! Thank You! Please be watching our Mini Mission Schedule each month!
WE NEED CABINET DONATIONS!
We need help replenishing our cabinet stock! If you are able to grab something off of our monthly list, we’d surely appreciate it!
Donations can be left underneath the Christian Ed table!
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
CONFERENCE NEWS:
Click on the link below for some highlighted conference news.
http://eocumcnews.com/2022/11/17/project-feed-packs-thousands-of-meals-for-those-in-need-worldwide
Or check out the conference website https://www.eocumc.com/
