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REMINDER: New Church Email Address
Please make a note that the church office has a new address:
office.rrcc@gmail.com
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JOIN US FOR THE
OCTOBER FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON
AND RRCC'S BIRTHDAY!
This Sunday, October 14, the Chancel Choir will host our monthly Fellowship Lunch with a special celebration of RRCC's 35th birthday!
Plan to stay after worship for a delicious lasagna meal - with birthday cake for dessert!
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From the Pastor
I'd like to share with you this week a wonderful prayer by Tennessee pastor Scotty Smith. I shortened and adapted it slightly, but the central themes of hope, trust, and encouragement remain. His focus was Advent, but this prayer is appropriate for any season.
Rev. Smith's heartfelt prayer springs forth from scripture: Paul's message to the church in Corinth, found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Perhaps Rev. Smith's prayer can encourage us here at RRCC, as we face our own challenges with lower worship attendance numbers, service fatigue, and persistent financial strains. Through Christ we can be "renewed day by day."
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Mitch
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18
Heavenly Father, once again we praise you for the relevance, realness and rawness of the Scriptures. For there are times when we feel exactly like Paul felt. We are tempted to lose heart. We know ourselves to be wasting away-emotionally, mentally, physically... not metaphorically, but in reality.
Broken people, complex stories, strained relationships, old hurts bearing current pain... these things are sometimes far more visible to us than anything else. We go through seasons when our troubles neither feel light nor momentary, but "too much" and always. We sometimes wonder how we can embrace our neighbors with your love when we find ourselves busy with out own problems.
Father, thank you that we don't have to pretend. Grace is for sinners, not for the competent. Mercy is for messes, not for the manicured. Strength comes to the weak, not to the promising. Hope is for the heartless, not the hardy.
So we come... we come to you today, asking you to do what you did for Shepherds long ago. Simply show up, Father. We don't need an angelic visitation. We don't need another star. We don't need another manger scene. We just need to be taken "farther up and farther in" into the once-and-for-all manger.
You promised the Messiah, and you delivered... not only in Bethlehem, but also at Calvary. You have never lied to us, Father, never. We can trust you in the midst of our heartaches and heartbreaks. We can trust you with our angst and anger, our fears and failures, our brokenness and our bitterness. We can trust you for things we can barely see with the eye of faith.
When our thinking runs awry, bring us back to gospel sanity. When our emotions run amuck, lasso them in with cords of your love. When we want to run away, run ahead of us, turn around and let us collide into your welcoming embrace. You are so very good, Father, and so very in control. Hallelujah several times over. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus' merciful and mighty name.
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RRCC loves embracing Hopewell Middle School
and Principal Lynda Garinger
(Pictured, left to right, are
Rev. Maxted, Principal Garinger, Tara Pollock & Tricia Mouser)
HOPEWELL MIDDLE SCHOOL
FALL STUDENT INCENTIVE GIFT CARD CAMPAIGN
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Continuing our focus on children, we are seeking your support once again to help fund giftcards to be used as student incentives by the principals and counselors at Hopewell Middle School.
To "jolt" your memory---we donate a $5 giftcard to Hopewell Middle School and they in turn let the students earn the card with good behavior and improvement. It works very well with the program and so we are asking you to donate as many $5's as you feel you can. We will take the donations, buy the giftcards and give them to the principal. If you are so moved, please make your checks out to RRCC and put giftcards on the memo line and wallah, you have helped a student in his or her success. Feels good, doesn't it?
You can place your offering in the plate on Sunday marked "Hopewell." Thank you for your support in this project in serving our mission, "Embracing Our Neighbors with Christ-Like Love!"
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It's Time for Trunk n Treat!
Mark your calendar! Round Rock Christian Church is hosting its 7th annual Trunk n Treat on Halloween from 6:30pm-8:30pm! This is a wonderful family event which provides a safe and welcoming environment for all at no cost. The event includes live music and decorated trunks outside; with games, free hot dogs, popcorn, and lemonade and face-painting inside!!
Look for the sign-up poster in the Welcome Center - EVERYONE can have a part in this major event that truly embraces our neighbors with Christ-like love. You can sign up to decorate your car trunk for trick or treating, assist with refreshments, lead games, and so on. Let's show our neighborhood some great RRCC hospitality!
CANDY DONATIONS ARE NEEDED! If you can, bring a bag of candy and leave it in the Welcome Center tub.
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Congratulations Venessa!
Venessa Harmel was recently accepted into the process of ordination through our region, the Christian Church in the Southwest.
In May of 2017, Venessa was called to seminary that would lead to ordination. She applied to Brite Divinity School at TCU and was accepted. In September of 2017 she packed up and moved to the Fort Worth area to begin her studies. In April of 2018, Venessa secured employment at Juliette Fowler Communities as an Assistant Chaplain.
As her church home and sponsoring congregation, we play a vital role in supporting her on her journey. The Ministerial Candidate Congregational Care Committee was formed in May 2018. Serving on this committee are Lisa Breeding, Dan Knight, Susan Kessler, Patricia Mouser, Pastor Mitch Maxted and Mary Murray, Chairperson.
This committee represents the entire congregation in supporting Venessa on her journey. This will be a lengthy process for Venessa and us as a church family. Supporting Venessa during this time will require our prayers for her, communication with her and any financial assistance we can provide.
You may contact Venessa at:
421 Oak Street, Unit D
Burleson, TX 76028
I hope you will keep Venessa and this committee in your prayers as we share the journey with her.
In Christ's Love,
Mary Murray, Chairperson
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Hello, my dear church family!
I hope this finds each of you doing well! I cannot begin to express how much I miss seeing your smiling faces and feeling you precious hugs each week!
I miss knowing how you are doing and what all is happening in your lives each day. I do keep you in my prayers and read over the prayer list in the newsletter each week.
The Ordination Care Committee has suggested that I keep you all up to date on school and how it is going at Seminary, this is my first update.
At the end of my first year, I have completed 24 hours of the 81 that are required. I ended the year with a 3.2 GPA. The eight classes I took were: Intro to Theology, New Testament, Hebrew Bible, Church's Mission and Minister's Vocation, Ministering to the LGBTQIA Community, The Gap between the NT and OT, Theology in the Public Square, and Christian Worship. It has been wonderful. I am enjoying all that I am learning.
Last April I began working at Juliette Fowler Communities as the Assistant Chaplain in Dallas. This is a wonderful experience, My responsibilities include all the aspects of Spiritual life within the Fowler Communities. I encourage you to learn more about Juliette Fowler, at
Juliette Fowler Communities. They are in partnership with the Disciples of Christ.
August 2018 began the second year of my journey here; I am in four classes this semester. They are Pastoral Care, Spiritual Life and Leadership, Christian History I, and Supervised Ministry. I am continually challenged and expanding my understanding of who God is in my life as well as the universe. It is an experience I am grateful for beyond words. I know I am where I should be right now, it is a peaceful feeling of joy!
I would love to hear from you and know how you are doing! Thank you for supporting my ordination process, I look forward to seeing you the first Sunday I am free!!
Love to all - SEE YOUR BLESSINGS!
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2019 Stewardship Campaign
The Stewardship Campaign officially "kicked-off" five weeks ago with the distribution of the "Personal Strategies" for each member's response and a separate card (green) for the 2019 Stewardship campaign.
We received 45 surveys back of the hoped for 100. We want to remind members to return their completed forms to the church by placing them in one of the two large baskets in the sanctuary or in the church workroom plastic container on the computer desk.
This information is being used to plan the 2019 budget and to assist the nominating committee in identifying members with a heart for leadership. Committee leaders are also given the names of people interested in serving on committees. Special thanks to the 45 members who have responded so far!
Additional forms are available in the church workroom.
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PANTRY FOCUS FOR OCTOBER: PEANUT BUTTER
 "...love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39)
October is "PEANUT BUTTER MONTH"
at RRCC. Let's load our food pantry shelves in the Welcome Center to overflowing each Sunday! Your donations of
peanut butter
(or cash or check designated for the Round Rock Area Serving Center) will help stock empty shelves and serve people in our community.
Mark your grocery list every week for the Round Rock Area Serving Center.
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Disciples Women's Ministries
BBA/LRGVD Retreat
Front: Susan Kessler, Tasha York, Anna Marie Blair, Carrol Scarborough, Rilda Scarborough. Back: Tricia Mouser, Pat Carpenter.
Six women represented RRCC at the annual DWM retreat at Disciple Oaks (Camp Gonzo) on October 5-7. It was a weekend of spiritual renewal, fellowship, worship, and just plain fun. Carrol Scarborough shared her gift of music as part of the retreat praise team. Tasha York was named Coordinator for the Capital Cluster.
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BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
 The Box Tops for Education project has yielded 71 proofs of purchase from RRCC to be turned into the Union Hill Elem school in September. Each one is good for 10 cents which gives a grand total of $7.10. There were 23 expired box tops submitted which are not usable.
Please continue to place your Box Tops for Education in the container in the foyer. Check the date on each one to make sure it is not expired.
The school begins collecting the box tops in September and the earnings are paid twice yearly, in December and April. $1,134.30 was collected in the 2017-2018 school year. Let's set a goal of $200 in Box Tops from RRCC for the 2018-2019 school year! Only 1,929 Box Tops to go!
The school can use the money for anything it needs! Computers, books, and playground equipment are just some of the ways schools have chosen to use the funds raised through Box Tops for Education.
You can sign up at https://www.boxtops4education.com/ for special offers, coupons, and to track the progress of the school, Please look for the labels on all items you buy and don't forget to bring them to church and place in the collection box each week.
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Looking For a Small Group?
 Are you looking for a small group in which to enjoy great fellowship and inspiring Bible Study? Are you finding it difficult to attend one of RRCC's adult
Sunday School classes? Maybe Disciple Fast Track is for you! We're hoping to create a new small group or groups (day of the week, time, and location to be determined by the participants) that will use this excellent curriculum.
If you'd like to know more, please call or email Pastor Mitch! This is open to anyone interested, but we're especially encouraging those who are not currently attending a
Sunday School class to try it. Just as important as the study content will be the supportive fellowship of the group.
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CCSW Regional Assembly: Friday-Saturday, November 2-3,
Central Christian Church in Austin - REGISTRATION OPEN!
Registration is now open for Regional Assembly.
Please click
HERE for more information!
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Serving With You This Sunday, October 14
Worship Leader: Susan Kessler
Greeters: Linda Glover, Steven Glover
Sunday Treats: Liz Maybaum
Elders:
Gary Tucker, Steve Osteen
Deacons: Lisa Breeding, Mike Kelley, Sally Kelley, Ilene Kiser
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Find a Place to Serve here at RRCC
 Here are the ways you can contribute to Sunday Morning Worship:
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Round Rock Christian Church Prayer List
OUR CHURCH, RRCC
Let the Holy Spirit be with us & guide us
Guiding Board, Admin Team, Ministries Council, Elders, Deacons, Ministries and Committees
Pastor Mitch and family
Personnel and Admin Team as they work to fill needed positions
Shut-In Servers & Caring Hearts Prayer Group
Jackie Switzer and RRCC's reviving Stephen Ministries program
Agape Group leaders
Our music ministries: Randy Preston, Rod Walker, Jimmy Horowitz -Trunk n Treat, Christmas Cantata
Christina Harmel - last days at RRCC and a good transition to her new work
Enable us to develop a passion for praying and increasing our tithes and offerings
Our partnership with Shalom Seventh Day Adventist & Manantial de Vida congregations (and their pastors Edy Rosa Paez and Maria Rosario)
Our efforts as a congregation to embrace our neighbors with Christ-like love. Strengthening our strategies: WORSHIP SERVE GROW
All ministries that take place at Camp Gonzo; Camp Director Scott Miller
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
- Barnett, Barbara (recent hospitalization)
- Camarillo, Rudy - family prayer needs
- Christina & Crispin Harmel
- Davis, Marilyn (adjusting to The Oaks)
- Ellis, Sylvia (in her new home in Shoreline, WA)
- Guilbeau, Rick & Cynthia; Hubbard, Harold
- Maxted, Mana (ongoing magnesium treatments)
- Maybaum, Liz - platelet treatments
- Mehlow, Carolyn & Leroy
- Osteen, Steve (& brothers Bill, Vic, and Richard as they hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail)
- Plough, Paul & Margaret
- Pollock, Paula
- Pollock, Tara (fibula surgery recovery)
- Sanford, Collin (Emmiline's son-in-law, at Estrella Oaks Rehab & Care Center in Georgetown)
- Sherry, Bea (recent hospitalization)
- Snider, Rev. Ed
- Tucker, Amy (abdominal pain)
- Wilson (grandson of Tasha York, antibiotic reaction)
OTHER
- Our military personnel and families
- Pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world
- Congregations doing risk assessment and active shooter workshops
- Developing an immigration policy for the U.S. that is fair, just, and Christ-like
- Peace and justice
- President Trump, Congress
- For all efforts to ensure all Americans can have access to health care
- All who don't know Jesus
- Embracing our neighborhood through Trunk n Treat next month
- Our neighborhood schools, Union Hill Elementary and Hopewell Middle School
- Gift cards for at-risk students
- Literacy Partners with 2nd graders (large group of readers from RRCC this year-will begin reading with students at the end of October)
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Sunday School Classes
 Please, join us!
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) - Led by Jackie Switzer and Anna Marie Blair; studying,
"The Preaching Life" by Barbara Brown Taylor.
Explorers (mixed adults) - Facilitator is Mildred Adair; studying the gospel of Matthew.
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Upcoming Events
6:30pm - Texas Elite Volleyball
7:00pm - Shalom Congregation
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
1:00pm - Caring Hearts Prayer Group
6:00pm - Texas Elite Volleyball
7:00pm - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
7:15pm - Overcomers Bible Study
Thursday, October 11, 2018
7:00pm - Praise Band Rehearsal
7:15 Book Group
Saturday, October 13, 2018
8:00pm - Shalom Congregation
8:30 Disciples Men's Breakfast
9:30am - Handcrafters Ministry
Sunday, October 14, 2018
9:30am - Sunday School
10:30am - Fellowship
11:00am - Worship
12:15pm - Fellowship Lunch/35th Birthday of RRCC
4:00pm - Ministerio Internacional Manantial de Vida
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Elders Prayer Corner/Closing Message
Every time I read the story in Luke chapter 24, I find some additional truth that brings joy to me. Here is a simple paraphrase of that story. Two me were walking home in the deep discussion of the current events. As they walked along, a stranger joined them. The stranger asked them, "What are you talking about?" (Luke 24:17) They stopped and looked at him in unbelief. One of them Cleopas replies, "Are you a stranger in Jerusalem? Do you not know what has become to pass in these days?" (Luke 24:18)
Then the stranger said unto them, "What things?" They proceed by telling the stranger about Jesus of Nazareth. They explained how this Jesus was a prophet and how the rulers of the day crucified him. They continued by saying, "We were hoping that this Jesus would redeem us." What a hopeless reply!
Well, that stranger just happened to be the resurrected Jesus. I pray you realize that Jesus still walks the road of life with those who desire His company. He is right there with you but will never impose himself on anyone. He is just waiting for each of us to invite Him to be a part of our journey.
In the story, when Jesus' identity was revealed, he said unto them, "Peace be unto you." (Luke 24:36) Think of the power of these words. The world around them at any time was full of unrest and turmoil. They were fearful and filled with uncertainty. Jesus knew how much they needed peace of heart right then and in the days to come. And He knows that we too need this peace of heart.
This week, may the peace of God fill your hearts, home, and lives.
John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
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