JOIN US FOR DINNER & A MOVIE:
Sat., Jan 18 & 20 - Jesus Revolution
Sat., Feb 15 & 17 - Sound of Freedom
Sat., March 15 & 17 - Sound of Hope
RSVP requested but not required
Everyone welcome!
GIVING TREE THANK YOU NOTE:
Many thanks to our congregation for their support of our Giving Tree which collected Christmas presents for the children of Ohio Guidestone. A van full of your gifts was delivered to Guidestone in mid December and used for their Holiday Shop. The Holiday Shop provides an opportunity for Guidestone’s counselors to choose Christmas presents for their clients. The staff at Guidestone told me that many of the children in their care would not get a single Christmas gift if not for donations from corporations and churches such as Rockport UMC.
OhioGuidestone offers services for mental health, substance use, family care, foster care, juvenile justice, residential treatment, home-based counseling, job training and more. Their main campus is in Berea, but they have locations across Ohio.
We will plan to do this outreach project again next year so keep your eyes open for kid friendly items to donate. Everything a child would like is welcome. Thanks again for your support. Diana Leitch
THE ROCKPORT MEN’S GROUP
will meet for breakfast on Saturday, January 18th at 9:00 am at The Original Pancake House at 3000 Westgate Mall. The Original Pancake House makes their batters from scratch, every day, and carefully prepares and blends by hand the batter using only the very freshest and finest quality ingredients available. Their preparation takes time and special care and the results are well worth the effort. In addition, their recipes use only the highest quality ingredients including premium butter, pure whipping cream, fresh Grade AA eggs, and hard wheat unbleached flour. The coffee blend they use is specially roasted just for their restaurant. Their ham and Canadian Bacon are naturally hickory smoked, and their smoked bacon is sliced extra thick. All Rockport Men are encouraged to come and enjoy fellowship and a great breakfast. Please sign up for the breakfast so we know how many will be there.
HUMAN RELATIONS DAY OFFERING ON JAN. 19TH:
Human Relations Day is one of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. Human Relations Day calls United Methodists to recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with one another. The special offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk teens through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. Envelopes are available by the treasure chest.
BOOK CLUB:
Please join us January 29th, 7:00pm in the church parlor for our next book club. We will be reading Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario. This is a true story of a young boy’s journey from Honduras to join his mother in America. Hope to see everyone on January 29th for food, fun, fellowship, and discussion.
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ROCKPORT FAMILY:
Are you ready to take the next step in your faith journey and join the Rockport family of faith? We would love to welcome you into our community!
If you're interested in becoming a member, please contact the church office or speak directly with Pastor Don for more information.
We look forward to growing together in faith and fellowship!
PLEASE NOTE:
The church office will be closed on Jan. 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
JOIN US FOR EARLY MORNING SERVICE (EMS): Start your Sunday with a quiet and contemplative time of worship. Our Early Morning Service meets every Sunday at 8:30 a.m., and communion is offered as part of this special time together.
If you feel called to lead this worship, we encourage you to prayerfully consider signing up. A sign-up sheet is available on the bulletin board. Additionally, a written and video tutorial is being prepared to guide and support those interested in leading.
We ask for your continued prayers for this ministry and for those considering leadership roles in this worship experience.
If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out to Pastor Don or Dan Newman.
PLEASE JOIN US
for the David Rice-Ohio Guidestone Valentine Luncheon, Sat. Feb. 15th. Volunteers and bakers are needed. The address is 202 East Bagley Road, Berea, OH 44017. We will meet there at 11 a.m. to set up the room and help Nick Berardi prepare a spaghetti lunch. We will treat the kids to face painting, crafts, basketball, bingo, & costumes to try on with a photo op option. Activities will end at approximately 2pm. Homemade desserts are appreciated, but please note that the dessert items cannot contain nuts or peanut butter. A sign-up sheet is posted for Volunteers and Bakers. Please drop off bakery items at the church on Friday the 14th or bring with you. You must be 18 yrs. old to attend. Questions, contact Dave Plachta, Outreach Chair, 440-829-3184.
YEAR-END GIVING STATEMENTS:
If you would like a 2024 year-end giving statement, please call, 440-331-9433 or email office @rockportumc.org, the church office. Thanks, Sara Chapman, Financial Secretary
BOXED OFFERING ENVELOPES:
Boxed offering envelopes are available in the narthex. These boxed sets are ideal for those folks who contribute weekly.
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.!
Winter/Spring Dates:
January & FEBRUARY - NO MEETING
March 17th - We will see you at noon!
April - NO MEETING (it is the day after Easter)
May 19th - We will see you at noon!
Summer Dates:
June - NO MEETING
July 21st - We will see you at noon!
August 18th - We will see you at noon!
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 below. We will be collecting UNTIL EASTER! 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:
October 2024 Church financials can be found here.
Go to the Rockport All Church Information folder, Financial Reports folder, 2024 Financials folder, 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
Altadena United Methodist Church in Altadena, California, is reduced to rubble after the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through southern California. Experts warn that Los Angeles is not yet out of danger as the fires remain uncontained. Photo by the Rev. Garth Gilliam, district superintendent, California-Pacific Conference. Read entire UM News article by Heather Hahn: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/united-methodists-see-loss-offer-relief-as-wildfires-rage.
Donations can be made through the East Ohio Conference Fund 1327 UMCOR US Disaster Response with LA Fires in the memo. Donate online at: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZEDZ/campaign/C-13T4N. Or mail a check to East Ohio Conference, PO Box 76019, Cleveland, OH 44101-4755. Be sure to write Fund 1327 LA Fires on the memo line. All donations will be forwarded to UMCOR.
Reminder: Do not self-deploy or send items unless specifically requested. Watch future editions of the East Ohio Conference E-news for more information.
Poverty Simulation Experience – February 8
Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families but unless you’ve experienced poverty, it’s difficult to truly understand. The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) on Saturday, February 8 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Westlake UMC will move participants from misconceptions to understanding about poverty. CAPS is an interactive, immersive experience that sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty. This is a simulation, not a game.
Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
2025westlakepovertysimflyer.pdf
CONFERENCE NEWS: https://www.eocumc.com
Postponed: MLK Day 2025 Worship Service
Due to expected arctic cold weather forecast to move into Ohio overnight on Saturday, the Sunday, January 19 service celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been postponed.
The event has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 23 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Garfield Memorial Church in Pepper Pike. The keynote speaker will be retired Bishop Julius C. Trimble, general secretary of the General Board of Church & Society.
There are many opportunities across the state of Ohio on Monday, January 20 designed to honor Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community rooted in justice, love, and hope. .
