Chalice News
 
Round Rock Christian Church


Embracing our neighbors with Christ-like love 
October 27, 2020
In This Issue
This Sunday in Worship -- November 1, 2020

The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
ALL SAINTS' DAY

"They in Glory Shine"
Matthew 5:1-12
 1 John 3:1-3

All Saints' Day is a universal Christian Feast 
that honors and remembers all Christian saints, 
known and unknown. 
In the Western Church (esp. Roman Catholics, 
Lutherans, Anglicans) it is celebrated on November 1. 
The Eastern Orthodox Churches observe it on 
the first Sunday after Pentecost.

A Message from the Pastor

In these final days prior to Election Day, I suspect that Americans are dealing with a host of strong emotions. Certainly many of us are exhausted from the incessant political adds on television and online. Many are worried about being able to vote safely in person, though it seems most have already done so (as of the end of today, according to the wilco.org website, approximately 60% of registered voters in Williamson County will have voted in-person early). My own voting experience was smooth, quick, and felt quite safe. I hope yours was too. 

Also, I suspect that many Americans are dreading the possibility of a long and drawn out vote-counting process, and even the possibility of political maneuvers to confuse or to de-legitimize the results. Let us pray these fears are not realized. 

I share with you "A Call to Prayer" from our Regional leadership, which focuses on the Church's role in cultivating reconciliation, healing, and unity throughout our country's election process. Though this newsletter will be emailed after the suggested prayer time (noon), I encourage you to pray at noon in the days leading to and including Election Day. 

Peace in Christ, Pastor Mitch

A CALL TO PRAYER
"Praying for a Peaceful Election Response"

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Christian Church in the Southwest Family,

The time has come for us to join forces and collectively pray for a peaceful response to the coming elections and a healing of our nation. Let us come together to pray for seven days leading up to the day of Election. The Power of Prayer must move into the community with a sense of urgency to change the rhetoric from violence to peace.

We cannot sit quietly by and allow others, who are more vocal, to lead the way. The Church must really stand up now and be counted as willing to lead our country to the place of oneness. Only we who believe in the power of reconciliation and healing can. As Christians, we are called to lead the way to peace and love.

On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 12:00 PM (noon), we ask that every Christian Disciple take time to pray for a peaceful election response for this country. No matter where you are, we encourage everyone to take a few minutes and pray. This joint prayer shall continue daily until Election Day, November 3, 2020. On Election Day, we recommend that some members from each CCSW church gather in your present tradition (in-person, drive-up, or Zoom conference) to form a (socially distanced) gathering in the parking lot of their church and allow the community to witness the Power of Prayer. If your congregation or ministry is planning to host a prayer service over the next week leading up to election day or on election day, please share that information with the Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum at amangum@ccsw.org.

Also know that Rev. Mangum will devote his standing 9 PM (CST)/8 PM (MST) Facebook Prayer time to praying for peaceful election response and the work of building unity. You can join him at www.facebook.com/andy.mangum or by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8172478120.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support of this joint effort. May God continue to bless you, our Lord's Church, and our nation with the "Peace that passes all understanding".

Grace and Peace,

Reverend Alfred Walker, Chair of the CCSW Reconciliation Committee

Reverend Andy Mangum, CCSW Regional Minister

RRCC Online Giving

Even though we are unable to meet in person,
RRCC has three ways you can still give your tithe:
  1. Go to the RRCC website rrdisciples.org and click on the "GIVE HERE" button at the top of the main page. Or use the link at the top of each newsletter. It will take you to the same place.
  2. Use your bank's electronic bill pay feature to have a check mailed directly from your bank to RRCC.
  3. Mail your check directly to RRCC.

     
Address your envelope to:
Financial Secretary
Round Rock Christian Church
22 Chalice Way
Round Rock, TX 78665
Upcoming Events 


There will be no events/meetings held in the RRCC facility until further notice.  
Many RRCC activities and events have been cancelled until further notice. Some are continuing online.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020
1:00 p.m.
- RRCC Quarterly Pest Control Treatment
7:00 p.m.
- Shalom Congregation (via Zoom)

Wednesday, October 28, 2020
1:00 p.m.
- Caring Hearts Prayer Group (via Zoom) Link HERE
7:00 p.m.
- Chancel Choir (via ZOOM) Link HERE

Thursday, October 29, 2020
11:00 a.m.
- "Shall We Pray" Small Group Study (via ZOOM) Link HERE

Friday, October 30, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Vision Advisory Team

Saturday, October 31, 2020
8:00 a.m.
- Shalom Congregation (live stream)

Sunday, November 1, 2020  ALL SAINTS' DAY
9:45 a.m.
Explorers Sunday School (via Zoom) Link HERE
9:45 a.m.
- Open Circle Sunday School (via Zoom) Link HERE
11:00 a.m.
- Worship with us (via Zoom) Link HERE
Evening
- Manantial de Vida Congregation (off site)

Monday, November 2, 2020  ALL SOULS' DAY
Romans 6:3-4
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

Tuesday, November 3, 2020  Election Day
7:00 p.m.
- Shalom Congregation (off site)

Events and details can be viewed on the RRCC Calendar
Annual Congregational Meeting

Coming in November:

Annual Congregational Meeting
Following the Morning Worship, November 15, 2020

Mark your calendar for the November 15, annual meeting of the Congregation following morning worship. In addition to a brief state of the congregation recap, the 2021 slate of leadership and the proposed budget will be presented for vote.

This brief meeting will also include the latest plans of the Reopening Task Force
on the schedule to return to our campus at 22 Chalice Way.
Community Outreach

 Delivering a Social Distance Hug:


Over the past 2 weeks, the RRCC Outreach team delivered small care packages to the teachers and staffs of the two schools in our church neighborhood: Union Hill Elementary and Hopewell Middle Schools. Also, student incentive gift cards were delivered for the Hopewell Counselors to provide to select students as part of a student incentive program for improvement. A hand-crafted "Christian Note Card" was enclosed for the Principal and Counselors with the scripture of Psalm 32:8: "Relax and let me lead you through this day."

The enthusiastic staffs said they miss seeing RRCC members in the schools, and wish everyone well.

Throughout the year, Round Rock Christian Church supports these schools in many ways, including reading with at-risk second grade students, providing student incentive gift cards, participating in the Holiday Student Adoption program, and more. In past years, many church members have helped bake and serve breakfast to the staffs. Since an in-person event isn't possible these days, we created small individual packages that were delivered to the schools to be placed in each staff member's mailbox.

Pictured from Union Hill Elementary is the school secretary, Berna Miranda and from Hopewell Middle School is the Principal, Lynda Garinger, along with Pastor Mitch, Tricia Mouser and Tara Pollock.

"Shall We Pray" Study is Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. via ZOOM
 
Katherine Cratin is leading these class sessions, which will continued to be held
 on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. through December 17th (of course no class on Thanksgiving Day--November 26).

If you think you would be interested in this series and haven't let Katherine know yet, please send a text to her at (281) 728-6448 or an email to katecratin@yahoo.com

You can still participate.
RRCC Newsletter Deadlines

Please submit your
Tuesday Newsletter articles and pictures 
before 10:00 a.m. on Mondays.
 and your Friday Reminders articles and pictures 
before 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
Thank you!
CYF Fall Rally Registration
Mission South and Disciple Oaks are happy to announce that registration is NOW OPEN for CYF Fall Rally, "Finding the Chaos Within," which will be held December 4-6, 2020. Registration deadline is November 20, 2020 (4115) You can register on our website. For a copy of the flyer you can download it here
If you need the CampDoc Registration Instructions you can download them here
Chancel Choir
 
Chancel Choir will be meeting via ZOOM Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.:
Preparing to Vote Safely

With all of the uncertainty and conflicting information surrounding voting options and procedures for the coming general election, some churches are offering to do all they can to help ensure their members have the opportunity to vote, in person or by mail ballot. Please contact Rev. Maxted if you need assistance navigating the county website, wilco.org which has lots of helpful information. 

Also, if you need transportation to your polling place to vote, please be in touch with Rev. Maxted. A number of RRCC members have said they are willing to help with this. 
Did You Miss a Newsletter?

Past newsletters dating back to mid-March 2020 are currently archived under the "ABOUT US" tab on the RRCC Website.

Upcoming Birthdays

 
November 4
- Mark Jackson
Prayer Needs

LEADERSHIP
1. Our Guiding Board, Ministries Council, Elders, Deacons, Ministries and Teams 
2. Our staff: Jimmy, Mitch, Katie, Randy, and Molly
3. Our music ministries and their leaders: Randy Preston, Rod Walker, and Jimmy Horowitz
4. Our tech team: Gary Collier, Tara Pollock, Katie Maybaum, Randy Preston, Rod Walker, and Dan Knight
5. Our "Reopening" Task Force--Perry Mouser (chair), Gary Tucker, Gary Collier, Mildred Adair, Amy Tucker, Pam Knight, Amy Osteen, Tricia Mouser, Pastor Maria Rosario of Manantial de Vida, Omar Roque, Juan Pena, and Carlos Cortez of Shalom, Pastor Mitch Maxted, and Linda Glover
6. Our Caring Hearts Prayer Group
7. Our Stephen Ministries (Care Receivers and Caregivers)
8. Our partnership with Shalom Seventh Day Adventist & Manantial de Vida congregations (and their pastors Edy Rosa Paez and Maria Rosario) 
9. Reverends Christal Fisher (South Texas) and Andy Mangum (CCSW)
10. Our stewardship campaign

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS 
1. Mary Acree -- fell and injured her hand and tailbone
2. Carr, Norris -- Rev. Carr, Transitional Minister at Bethany Christian Church in Austin, died last week
3. Davis, Marilyn
4. Guilbeau, Rick & Cynthia. Cynthia is healing well from hip replacement surgery. Her father, Harold Hubbard, is receiving hospice care from HospiceAustin
5. Habtemariam, Solomon and Meaza
6. Heeney, Mary (mother of Brenda Heeney Collier) health issues. Brenda is currently caring for her in Ohio.
7. Jackson, Gwen -- cousin Georganna (Adams) Sonnenberg hospitalized in San Angelo
8. Maxted, Katsuo -- seeking new employment opportunities
9. Maybaum, Liz --recovering from broken shoulder
10. Mouser, Tricia -- rheumatoid arthritis; death of 91-year-old aunt in Kansas City
11. Nichols, Martha -- daughter Tamara Rodenberg (heart valve); granddaughter Lanae injured in horse accident
12. Plough, Paul 
13. Pollock, Paula -- toe infection
14. Myra Schuchardt -- blood sugar fluctuations
15. Roberts, Sheila -- breast cancer (Susan Kessler's daughter Erica's mother-in-law)
16. Sherry, Bea
17. Snider, Rev. Ed -- failing health 
18. Walker, Lisa (siblings Connie and Dale with significant health issues)
19. Terry Tucker, brother of Gary Tucker, radiation treatments end this week
20. Kathleen Vercellino's daughter-in-law April, who is in ICU following a stroke

OTHER
1. All who don't know Jesus
2. COVID-19 (the ill, their families, medical professionals, essential workers, treatment and vaccine researchers)
3. Those who have lost jobs during the pandemic; businesses that are struggling
4. That our election process will proceed safely, lawfully, and without hindrance or interference 
5. All people who are persecuted for their faith throughout the world 
6. Our military personnel and families
7. International cooperation in responding to climate change challenges
8. Development of an immigration policy for the U.S. that is fair, just, and responsible 
9. For all efforts toward affordable health care for all Americans; that pre-existing health conditions not be a barrier to securing health insurance coverage
10. U.S. lawmakers and community leaders to work together to solve the problem of frequent, deadly mass shootings
11. All teachers, administrators, students, and parents. Our neighborhood schools: Union Hill Elementary School and Hopewell Middle School.
Sunday School Classes
.
[There will be no Sunday School classes at the church for the foreseeable future. Some classes will be meeting via Zoom during this time of social distancing.]
 .
Early Childhood Class (ages 4-7) -
Taught by Lisa Walker

.
Intermediate Class
(3rd - 5th grade) - Taught by Jennifer Kienzle 
Chi Rho Class - (6th - 8th grade) (studying the book, "Middle School TalkSheets" for ages 11-14.  "These TalkSheets present every aspect of Jesus' life in a way that young teens can connect with as they learn to apply the lessons to their own lives.")
 .
CYF Class (9th - 12th grade)  
 .
Open Circle (primarily adult women) - 9:45 a.m. Sunday mornings via ZOOM, Studying The Cherry Log Sermons by internationally recognized preacher and accomplished teacher Rev. Fred Craddock. "These sermons on a variety of topics and texts show Craddock's deft use of storytelling, an astounding ability to interpret the biblical text for our day, and a keen pastoral sensitivity to the everyday needs of listeners." ALL ARE WELCOME!  Link HERE
 .
Explorers (mixed adults) - 10:00 a.m. Sunday mornings via ZOOM, Facilitator is Mildred Adair; studying the New Testament Book of Acts, using the resource by John MacArthur. Link HERE
RRCC is on Social Media

Follow us on Social Media!

We can be found on:
Twitter as @ChurchRound
Instagram as rrccdisciples
Photo Submissions

Submitting a photo? Awesome! 
We love pictures of congregational life!
Please remember to include
identification (who, what, when, where, why) 
 for each photograph submitted to the office.  
Also, please indicate where you would like the photo to be used (RRCC website, social media, weekly newsletter, etc.)
.
Please email photos to the church office: info@rrdisciples.org
RRCC Office Hours


Mondays:
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Tuesdays:
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesdays:
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Thursdays:
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Fridays:
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Elder's Prayer Corner/Closing Message
 
The role of Elders in the New Testament church involved prayer for the sick. If anyone is sick among you let him call the elders, they shall anoint him with oil, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up. James wrote this scripture in his New Testament Book. His assertion was so firm that it left no doubt of the outcome of the prayer of faith. Faith is a powerful thing. It sustained the disciples throughout the treacherous times that followed Christ's atoning death, burial and resurrection. Belief can make or break us as followers of Christ and there will be moments when your faith will be tested. 

I have had numerous opportunities to put my faith to the test. One occurred some 34 years ago. Having just arrived home from the church I was pastoring near Pasadena, Tx, my phone rang. I picked it up and said "Hello," but before I could say any more, my younger brother said, "The doctors have put a hole in our baby's lung. She wasn't breathing so well when she was born a short while ago. She is dying." Before I realized what had transpired, I heard myself say, "Kennith she is fine the hole is closing." When I spoke those words, I really didn't know where they came from but I knew she would be fine. He later called back and said, "The doctor said the hole is starting to close.  It is a miracle. " My immediate response: "Praise God!" Later, my brother told me that he didn't believe I fully understood the seriousness of the situation; however, God did. It did not matter if I understood or not, God took charge of the entire incident. It wasn't quickly forgotten, as God had performed a miracle. We need to learn to trust and believe God for His amazing faithfulness and love. He will not let you down.