COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR SENIORS: We are seeking volunteers this spring to meet a need identified by Fairview Park Senior Center and confirmed by Nick Berardi and myself to make repairs at two homes.  The first house, on 210th street, needs new wooden steps off the back door landing.  The existing steps are not safe.  The second house, on 220th street, has more extensive needs.  The siding on the south end of the house needs repair or replacement. The front porch rail needs replacement. Tree branches need trimming and the gutters need cleaning.  Along with the south side, the front of the house needs painting.
     Sign-up on the bulletin board or let the church office know of your interest.  This is a good opportunity to reflect Christ in our community.  Please consider helping.  Dave Plachta


NEHEMIAH MISSION: (6515 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102)
    Nehemiah Mission has hosted more than 60 Afghan families since October 1,^, 2021. Nehemiah hosts youth sports teams in its gym, AA meetings, Glory to the Second House church services, and other youth programing.
    There are numerous ways in which the Rockport family can help Nehemiah Mission in its outreach efforts in the community.

• Paint worship area, remodel area behind worship area, tear out old carpeting for new carpet to be laid in the worship area. This might be an opportunity for Rockport’s Community Outreach group.
• Prepare and plant their garden. The food they grow is used for their community meals, Bread on Bridge. We can also launch a garden at Rockport and take the produce to Nehemiah Mission to prepare and serve at their community meals. I think we can offer to do a spaghetti dinner for one of their Bread on Bridge meals too.
• Harry, a student at St. Eds, is planning a mission trip to El Salvador. Children there do not have homes. We can provide monetary assistance for this trip (May 10-15).
• Assist with Orchard in Hough.
• Help with 4H program that will launch this summer
• Knitting Program (Maybe our Rockport knitters would like to participate)
• Luke 3:11 Trailer that delivers food in the community…. Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. Unfortunately, after three weeks, the trailer was stollen.
• A Life of Hope now partners with Nehemiah. Clothing, personal items etc. donated by United Methodist churches to Nehemiah Mission is now distributed to women and men in shelters and on the street.

How is the Holy Spirit calling the Rockport Family or you personally to take action?


ROCKPORT GARDEN:  
     An idea of planting a garden here at Rockport is being discussed.  We are seeing if we have enough interest from folk so as to be able to implement and sustain it.  If this is something that you would want to be involved in, please let the church office know. 


SAVE THE DATE FOR THE NEXT SPAGHETTI DINNER--MAY 14TH:  
Save the date for the next spaghetti dinner on May 14th from 4-8pm.  If you are interested in helping in any way, please call the church office.

  
BOOK CLUB: 
Please join us on Monday, April 25th at 7pm in the church parlor.  We will be reading the book “In Five Years” by Rebecca Serle. This book is about a successful and recently engaged woman, Dannie, who sees a vision of herself five years into the future. In that vision, she’s engaged and in love with a man she’s never met and living in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. This is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you’re expecting.  Hope to see you all on March 21st for fellowship and discussion!

ROCKPORT’S 200^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – SEPTEMBER 18, 2022:
Join us to help celebrate Rockport’s 1822 – 2022, 200 years! 
     Please mark your calendar for Sunday, September 18^th for a special worship service followed by a catered meal and fellowship with past ministers and prior members.  We will honor our church’s history and celebrate our continued mission going forward.
     Help is needed in contacting our prior membership so if you have old members names, addresses, e-mails or phone numbers, please let Sara in the church office know.  We hope to make this a grand affair and it will only be such with everyone’s help! 
     Just added is a tour of our prior church building across the street on Sunday, August 14th right after our 10:00 worship service.  The current church, Recovery Church is treating us to a pancake and waffle breakfast so please mark your calendars to join us as we remember Rockport’s sanctuary from 1857 - 1958.   Also, on Sunday, July 17th, we will have an outdoor Worship service at Mastick Pavilion at 10:00am followed by a potluck.  As history reveals, "in 1822 on nice summer days, the congregation would trek down Mastick Hill to enjoy outdoor services along the Rocky River."  We thought it would be nice to enjoy worship there as a reminder of where it all began. 
     Our hope is that everyone will be able to enjoy one or ALL of these special dates in celebration of Rockport's 200th Anniversary!  If you have ideas for the celebration, please contact Lisa Kay 440-570-0992 or Diana Leitch 440-759-5980.


SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE: 
Many of you have expressed wanting to help Ukraine. United Methodists are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian assistance through UMCOR. If you wish to provide support toward these efforts, you may contribute through the church, noting “Advance #982450-Ukraine” on the memo line.  Please continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, our world leaders and for peace in our world!


THE LORD'S PRAYER LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: The power and significance of the prayer Jesus taught.
      All are invited to this 6-week in person study, led by Bill Eyman and Dan Newman, which began on Tuesday, March 8th from 7-8pm in the church parlor.  Also, transportation can be provided to and from the Bible study by calling the church office.  
     Most Christians know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. We pray it often, at different times and in different settings. We remember it as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. But do we really understand and appreciate the meaning and power of its words, what we ask of God each time we pray it?
     When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave them this prayer. He likely taught it to his followers often, not just one time. He never intended the Lord’s Prayer to be a museum piece, framed and placed on a mantel or in a display case. It was Jesus teaching God’s people, through his disciples, how to pray.
     In The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught, pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton guides us to really know—and really pray—the Lord’s Prayer. He explores each of its rich lines and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves through its words. And he teaches us how to use it as a pattern for our own prayer life.


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


GOOGLE DRIVE REMINDER
Rockport All Church Information and Financial Reports are accessible here or in the church office.