TO THE ROCKPORT CONGREGATION, 
   Blessings to everyone during this Lenten Season.  The Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) wanted to provide an update on the Pastoral transition. 
   Pastor Don Kraps will be retiring on July 1, 2025.  Pastor Don will be out of town on Sunday, June 29^th so his last Sunday with us will be June 22, 2025.  Please plan on joining us on June 22^nd to celebrate Pastor Don’s ministry with Rockport. 
   Our new Pastor has been named, Tennille Power.  Pastor Power has been serving as Pastor of Elyria First United Methodist.  See below for information relating to Pastor Power’s background.   In conjunction with Pastor Power’s being named, Rockport will also be entering a “Cooperative Church” relationship with North Olmsted United Methodist Church.  Under a Cooperative Church relationship, Pastor Power will be the Pastor for both parishes.   The two parishes maintain their own identities, just with one Pastor leading both congregations.  The two SPR Committees have met and will continue to work together.  Rockport will be sending funding to NOUMC for our portion of the Pastor’s salary, benefits and continuing education.  In addition, both Rockport and North Olmsted church leadership teams will work together to develop plans on how we can jointly support one another.  Examples would be, RUMC’s Dinner and a Movie or NOUMC Nehemiah Mission program.  Another example might be to have a joint service in Rockport’s outdoor chapel.  It is exciting to consider the possibilities.  On Thursday, April 10^th both Staff Parish teams along with Pastor Power will be attending an East Ohio Training Event – Harmony in Transition.  At this meeting, we will explore and discuss various topics relating to the Pastoral transition and the Cooperative Church relationship.  We will continue to keep our Rockport Church family updated.  Please continue to pray as we move through this transition. 
Blessing to all, 
Staff Parish Relations Committee 
Jim Leitch (chair), Deb Bryant, Beverly Cavanah, Dan Newman, Juanita Pariano, Lynn Wilkenson 

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 15: 5 -6.





 

MILITARY BOXES:  
We will be packing Rockport military boxes AFTER WORSHIP ON MARCH 30TH.  Please stop in room 22/meeting room following worship to help with this very important ministry of Rockport.  Also, if anyone has names of family, friends, or loved ones serving our country, please let Jeff Zullo know.




UMCOR SUNDAY (UMC FUND 9206) IS MARCH 30TH: 
This offering supports the administration and foundational work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). UMCOR is the global humanitarian aid and development organization of The United Methodist Church. UMCOR’s work can be categorized into three major areas:

• Humanitarian Relief / Disaster Response
• Sustainable Development
• Global Health (in collaboration with Global Ministries)

UMCOR’s goal is to assist vulnerable people affected by crisis or chronic need without regard to their nationality, race, religion or status. We believe all people have God-given worth and dignity.





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! 





SAVE THE DATE:  PANCAKE BREAKFAST & EGG HUNT: 
April 13^th (Palm Sunday) after our 10am worship service, all are invited to a pancake breakfast with homemade buttermilk pancakes (Gluten free also available), sausage, eggs, and fruit in Wesley Hall. There is no charge but donations will be accepted. Please let Diana Leitch know if you are willing to help.





BOOK CLUB: 
Please join us April 16^th, 7:00pm in the church parlor for our next book club. We will be reading "The Berry Pickers" by Amanda Peters who tells the story of a Mi'kmaw family who travel from Nova Scotia to Maine each summer to pick blueberries, where their young daughter Ruthie mysteriously disappears, leaving her older brother Joe haunted by the loss; the narrative also follows Norma, a young woman growing up in a seemingly perfect Maine family who harbors unsettling memories and gradually uncovers a dark secret connected to Ruthie's disappearance, exploring themes of grief, family secrets, and the lingering impact of trauma across generations.” If you’d like to bring something to share, bring something with blueberries in it, to go with our book!  A book club Kit with 11 large print copies of this book are available in the church office. Hope to see everyone on April 16^th for food, fun, fellowship, and discussion. 





MEAGER MEAL AND MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE:  
Please join us on Thursday, April 17^th at 5:30pm for a soup and bread meal, served by our youth, followed by a 7:00pm worship service, with choir singing and communion.  Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples and reminds us of the importance of humility, selflessness, and service to others.










DINNER & A MOVIE:  
Join us on Saturday, April 26^th at 6pm for dinner and 6:30pm for the movie Cabrini by Angel Studios.  This movie is based on the inspiring true story of a woman’s fight for humane treatment, better living conditions, and increased compassion for immigrant orphans.  Sign-up sheet is posted or online.  Hope you will join us!





BIBLE STUDY!  
Currently meeting is our Disciple short-term study on GENESIS. It is an 11-week study which meets every Wednesday, with a break during Holy Week, and finishing on May 28. Jim Spallino is teaching. 




MUSIC AT ROCKPORT:  
We are looking for about 10 “clean,” “like new” or “new” 5-gallon paint buckets to be used as drums.  Please see Susan Shick, or call the church office.





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.! 

Spring Dates: 
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 above. We will be collecting THROUGH EASTER/MAY! 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:
February 2025 Church financials can be found here.
Go to the Rockport All Church Information folder, Financial Reports folder, 2025 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

Good Morning, Cuyahoga County Pastors and Churches, Please see the information below, shared by EOC Director of Missions & Community Engagement Kathy Dickriede. Immigration Concerns and the UMC You are all invited to Strongsville UMC, 13500 Royalton Road, Strongsville, 44136 on Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to discover how your congregation can be engaged in the immigration crisis in your community.  Come and learn from local resettlement agencies, AMIS, USCRI and Resource Cleveland about the ways churches can connect with international newcomers and be an answer to prayer.  The event will be held in the parlor, which is between the main entrances.  Please bring your ecumenical friends and concerned neighbors.  To learn more contact Brian at Strongsville. postma.brian@gmail.com

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

Bishop Jung Shares About His
Days Apart with Clergy & Laity

To view and download this video, first click the image above.
Then, on the Vimeo page click the download link underneath the video window.

In this video message, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung shares about his days apart with clergy and laity in the four districts of the East Ohio Conference and the six districts of the West Ohio Conference. The theme for the bishop’s days in each district was “Healing & Restoration in Community” grounded in the words of Mark 2:1-12.

View & download Bishop Jung's videos on his EOC Vimeo page.