View as Webpage

2 APRIL 2025

This issue has an update and pictures of our first Sunday back for Spiritual Play. We had 18 children. There was a lot of energy!! Read about this and more in this week's edition of Rock the Week.

All this and more in this week's Rock the Week!

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey,

you are welcome here!

FACILITIES WORK MORNING IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 5, STARTING AT 9 AM.

We would love to have your help with some small projects around the campus, including yard work. Wear shoes that resist thorns, and if you do not bring gloves, we can provide them. We usually end by 11 AM. Please RSVP Pastor Ken so he knows who is coming and how many donuts the Facilities Team needs to bring. Thanks in advance!

This Sunday at Shadow Rock

9:00 am

• Childcare is in the Blue Room
• YOGA on the kitchen patio
• Spiritual Play is meeting in the Lime Room.
• Sunday School for ages 9 and up in the Green Room
• Adult Spiritual Formation and Kindlings in the Multipurpose Room. We continue our exploration of Shadow Rock Theology. This Sunday we explore the problem of G-O-D. God is still a problem.
• Hospitality Cart with coffee and cookies in the Multipurpose Room

10:15 am

• Worship in the Sanctuary (childcare is offered in the Blue Room of the Education Bldg 10 - 11:30 am)

11:15 am

• Our Sermon Reboot experience will be after worship.



BEER CHURCH at North Mountain Brewing, 522 E. Dunlap Ave. at 5 PM.

Everyone is invited to join us for food, fellowship, and discussion. Our discussion is chapter 14 in Richard Rohr's book, The Naked Now. You do not need to have read the chapter to join us. The conversation will be about living in the present moment, which is a long-standing practice in our wisdom tradition.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Transition Team Listening Session last Sunday. We appreciate your thoughts and questions. Since this is a work in progress, we do not have all the answers yet, but we are recording the questions and will update you as we have answers. Please continue to ask questions and express your thoughts and feelings. These can be directed to any of the team members, and they will be forwarded to the correct team. Also, the Thinking of You Cards can be used for this purpose. We ask that you put your name on them so we know who to respond to. As mentioned in the Listening Session, the Search and Call Team, after meeting with the Associate Conference Minister, will meet in the very near future to plan their approach. More to come on that. We will have another Listening Session during Coffee Chat on May 18th, but we are available to talk any time before then.

Linda Merritt

Transition Team

PLEASE HELP US CREATE OUR BUDGET!

Indicate your financial support to Shadow Rock! Please, link and fill out this quick form at the bottom of this note. If you have any questions, contact Heidi by phone (Shadow Rock #602 993-0050) or email (heidi@ShadowRockUCC.org).

Quick Form

This series is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. Each weekly sub-theme explores two supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the wisdom of our tradition, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present in between. And so, this season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers. 

We encourage you to notice the dichotomies that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This theme may resonate with anyone who is in discernment or trying to find their way through an undefined space. It will speak to anyone who feels as if they are living in a divided world. It is for those who seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it. This Lent, we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between. 

(From Sanctified Art Worship Resource)

B3 Theater Performs Again At Shadow Rock

The play is based on the true story of a group of Russian Socialist-Revolutionaries who assassinated the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in 1905, and explores the moral issues associated with murder and terrorism. In the play, all but one (Stepan) of the "Justes" are based upon historical people, described in Memoirs of a Terrorist by Boris Savinkov.

Performance days and times!



• Thu. April 10th 2025, 7:00 pm
• Fri. April 11th 2025, 7:00 pm
• Sat. April 12th 2025, 2:00 pm
• Sat. April 12th 2025, 7:00 pm
• Sun. April 13th 2025, 2:00 pm

SPIRITUAL PLAY HAPPENINGS!

For our first Sunday back, we had 18 children!!

YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY PROGRAM?

Details in the brochure. Ask for one in the church office.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR OUR SPIRITUAL PLAY KIDS?

Hi all! 

Our first day of Wander & Wonder was amazing!!! 

We started on the playground and it’s finally warm enough to use our mud kitchen, and boy were they excited about that! 

Back in the Lime Room, we started by talking about the theme and how we would be traveling in our imaginations to distant countries. First, it is important to have an open heart and curious mind. What does it mean to have an open heart? Some of their answers were accepting others, being willing to try new things, and loving everyone. 

Next, we started our unit on India by reading a short story called The Scrawny Tiger, an ancient tale from India. The story is about a very hungry tiger that uses a gold bangle to lure a greedy traveler who ends up his dinner. We discussed what we thought of the story and what it means to be greedy. I introduced the inspiration behind the art projects by discussing lotus flowers and mandalas. Lotus flowers are not just beautiful but symbolic in Indian culture of the positive that can come from hard times. One child said, “Like a rainbow!” Mandalas can represent the transformation of a universe of suffering to joy and the connection of all things. These are all themes we will continue exploring together. 

Next we enjoyed snack which was watermelon and whole grain crackers. The blessing we say before having snack together each time: 

We got our yoga mats out and started with a breathing exercise called Box Breathing. I’m attaching the video we watched for you to see. We will continue practicing it throughout the program. 

Next, we did a Loving Kindness Meditation. You close your eyes and think of someone and say the following words:

We also did a Cosmic Kids Yoga adventure through the jungle. 

We always end our time together back in the Lime Room coloring or playing. 

We cannot wait for next week’s adventure to Australia!!! 

-- 

You are loved! 

Danielle Heckel

Lead Wonder Wizard 

Spiritual Play