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Round Rock Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

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Embracing our neighbors with Christ-like love

February 22 , 2022

This coming Sunday in worship --

February 27, 2022

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

Luke 9:28-36

"The Appearance of His Face Changed"

From the Pastor

Two twenty-two twenty-two. That's today!

I remember seven seven seventy-seven (July 7, 1977). That was three days before my 16th birthday and I was journaling everyday at the time. I remember writing that date in my journal and thinking to myself that maybe it would be a lucky day with all those sevens! But beyond writing the date, I don't remember anything else about the day. Nothing. I suppose I could go back and look, if I could find the right journal notebook.

July 7, 1977 was almost 45 years ago, and it blows my mind that that much time has passed. As a kid, I remember wondering what life would look like when we reached the year 2000. I would already be "old" by then. But now at 60, 38 seems very young indeed!

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God...For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night. You sweep them away; they are like a dream...So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mitch

Online Giving

RRCC has three ways you can give your tithe:

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.

Use your bank's electronic bill pay feature to have a check mailed directly from your bank to RRCC.
Mail your check directly to RRCC.

Address your envelope to:

Financial Secretary

Round Rock Christian Church

22 Chalice Way

Round Rock, TX 78665

Let's start wearing our name

badges again

As a courtesy to our guests, please consider wearing your name badge while at church on Sundays. It's easy for us to remember one or two names; these visitors must try and remember forty to fifty names! Remember when you were new to RRCC? Thank you in advance.

Ash Wednesday

Worship Service

Ash Wednesday, the first of the forty days of Lent, is March 2nd this year. That's Wednesday of next week! RRCC will offer an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7:00 p.m. You may participate in person in our sanctuary, or via zoom (like Sunday mornings). This year, the Ash Wednesday service will include music, scripture, prayer, anointing with oil, Holy Communion, and of course the imposition of ashes. Please mark it on your calendar and include this special service on the first day of your Lenten journey.

Upcoming Events

Check for event details and ZOOM MEETING LINKS

on the RRCC Website Calendar.

Texas Heat Volleyball meets in the gym throughout the week.

Please check our website calendar for their latest schedule.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

11:00 a.m. - Book Study: Jerry Craft's New Kid

7:00p.m. - Elders Meeting

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

1:00 p.m. - Caring Hearts Prayer Group Link HERE

6:30 p.m. - Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, February 24, 2022

11:00 a.m. - Wired WORD Class

7:00 p.m. - Vacant Lot Task Force Link HERE

Friday, February 25, 2022

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

Romans 14:3

Saturday, February 26, 2022

8:00 a.m. -Shalom Congregation

Sunday, February 27, 2022

9:30 a.m. - Open Circle Sunday School Link HERE

9:30 a.m. - Explorers Sunday School Link HERE

11:00 p.m. - Worship Link HERE

12:00 p.m. - Lunch Bunch at GattiTown

3:00 p.m. - Ministerio Internacional Manantial de Vida

Monday, February 28, 2022

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:25

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 -- Shrove Tuesday

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them,

they will receive mercy. Proverb 28:13

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!

Sign up to join the Good Friday Prayer Vigil

Good Friday falls on April 15th this year. RRCC will again spend the day in prayer, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we hope you'll join us. Click the link below to sign up for one or two 30-minute prayer slots. If you want to pray from home, please sign up for a time in the morning. If you want to pray in the sanctuary, use one or more of the afternoon slots.

LINK to sign up for Prayer Vigil

Future Events

Hopewell $5 Incentive Gift Cards Donation Collection - March 6 & 13

Please Turn in Your Keys

Recently, a few things have come up missing from the Administrative Assistant's office over the weekends. If you have a key to this office (or an "Old Library" key), please turn it in to Mike Kelley. Due to the nature of the information stored in this office, it is important for access to be limited to fundamental personnel. Keys to this office will be checked out on an "as needed" basis. Thank you for your immediate cooperation.

Week of Compassion

DISCIPLES MISSION FUND SPECIAL DAY OFFERINGS provide an opportunity to highlight specific ministries as part of our faith celebrations. There are six Disciples Mission Fund Special Day Offerings received each year during Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving, and Christmas seasons, plus Reconciliation and Week of Compassion.

Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). When you give to Week of Compassion, you personify one of Round Rock Christian Church’s measures - extending compassion – by helping people in need all around the world. Through sustainable development projects, our partners help provide life-giving water and other critical resources. Let love flow, and share more than just water.

The 2022 Week of Compassion Offering is being received on February 20 and 27. You may give by check or online at www.rrdisciples.org designating your gift as Week of Compassion Offering.

Vacant Lot Task Force

We welcome members’ input as the Vacant lot Task Force makes plans for RRCC's land to the west of our campus. If you have questions or comments, please send them by email to the church office (rrcc-office@rrdisciples.org) before February 23, or contact a member of the task force: Steve Osteen, Susan Kessler, Dan Knight, Tricia Mouser, Perry Mouser, Kent Toomey, Pastor Mitch Maxted (ex officio),Tasha York (ex officio).

Open Circle Class New Study

The Open Circle class is now studying Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor.

"In Holy Envy, Taylor recounts her moving discoveries of finding the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the world’s religions to undergraduates in rural Georgia, revealing how God delights in confounding our expectations."

New Small Group Study Opportunity

A new small group discussion class will be offered for six Tuesdays in March/April. These are one-hour classes that meet via zoom on Tuesday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The book we will be studying is How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Here are the dates: Mar. 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12

If you're interested in participating, or just want more information, please contact Rev. Maxted by email or phone. If there is interest in starting an evening group as well, please let Rev. Maxted know.

Service of Installation -- Rev. Anna Kreisle

United Christian Church of Austin invites you to join them in celebrating a service of installation for their new Senior Minister, Rev. Anna Kreisle at their service taking place at 4:00 p.m. this Sunday, February 27, located at 3500 W. Parmer Lane in Austin. A reception will be held immediately following the service.

Rev. Anna is a fifth-generation native Austinite with an undergraduate degree in music from Washington University in St. Louis and Master of Divinity from Harvard University. She has been ordained in the United Church of Christ for 10 years and is working towards dual ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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February 29 - Carter Prince

Lunch Bunch

Everyone is invited to this week's Lunch Bunch gathering at

Gatti Town after worship on Sunday....whether you're worshiping in person or via zoom, all are invited.

Text or call Tasha York (512-567-8770) for more information.

2022 RRCC Sign Ups:

Elder Responsibilities Sign Up

Weekly Worship Leader Sign Up

Sunday Worship Deacons Sign Up

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Prayer Needs

LEADERSHIP

1. Our new and continuing Guiding Board members, 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, Dan Knight, Randy Preston, Rod Walker, and Katie Maybaum

5. Our Caring Hearts Prayer Group and Stephen Ministries (Care Receivers and Caregivers)

6. Our partnership with Iglesia Adventista Shalom & Ministerio Internacional Manantial de Vida congregations (and their pastors Edy Rosa Paez and Maria Rosario)

7. Reverends Andy Mangum (CCSW Regional Minister and President, and Rev. Alfred Walker, our Community Regional Minister (CRM) for Reconciliation and Anti-Racism.

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

1. For all who are grieving the loss of a loved one

2. For all who are or have been ill with COVID-19, and their families

3. Bell, Jean -- sister Margie recovering from COVID and pneumonia

4. Cueva, Rafael and Deb -- Rafael's mother Gladys is hospitalized in ICU with COVID

5. Fennimore, Nancy -- niece Thresa is undergoing radiation treatments for cancer

6. Glover, Linda -- recovering from knee replacement surgery

7. Grant, Lisa and Caleb -- both recently recovered from COVID

8. Harmel, Venessa -- ordination service is now set for the afternoon of Saturday, April 2nd

9. Jenkins, Bob -- Bob's sister Janet is receiving treatments for melanoma

10. Jocoy, Jim -- recovering from back surgery; praying for a continued reduction in pain

11. Johnston, Janette -- next door neighbor passed away 2/14 from COVID and pneumonia

12. Kessler, Jim -- continued recovery from heart surgery and a back injury

13. Knight, Dan and Pam -- Pam's sister-in-law Bonnie Cook-Cassens is receiving cancer treatments

14. Maxted, Jim -- (Mitch's father) being treated for pneumonia and shortness of breath

15. Nichols, Martha -- son Chris has reduced function in his one kidney

16. Osteen, Amy and Steve -- brother-in-law Mike Murphy being treated for pancreatic cancer

17. Preston, Randy -- sister Rita recovering from badly broken leg and surgeries

18. Scarborough, Carrol -- recovering following cataract surgery

19. Sherry, Bea -- adjusting to life at Franklin Park in Teravista

20. Toomey, Jill - recovering from recent surgery and blood clot

21. Tucker, Gary and Amy -- grandson James (13) recovering at home following auto accident and hospitalization; brother Terry Tucker is undergoing periodic chemo treatments

22. Walker, Lisa -- trying to get on a kidney transplant list

23. Whitley, Bea -- brother Darrel Hansen passed away Jan. 23; Bea had extensive hand surgery on Jan. 26

24. Wilson, Phyllis -- adopted sister Jane Hudson is battling kidney cancer

25. York, Tasha -- her mother Peggy is acclimating to her new home at Court at Round Rock

OTHER

1. All events at Disciple Oaks

2. All who don't know Jesus

3. COVID-19 (continuing efforts to reach "herd immunity" in the U.S. and around the world)

4. For all who have struggled physically, emotionally, and spiritually during these nearly two years of the pandemic--a long-term trauma

5. All people who are persecuted for their faith throughout the world

6. Our military personnel and families

7. Ukraine/Russia tensions

8. Development of an immigration policy for the U.S. that is fair, just, and responsible

9. Courage for teachers and administrators to resist efforts to censor the teaching of parts of our American history, no matter how uncomfortable they might be

10. For all efforts toward affordable health care for all Americans

11. All teachers, administrators, students, and parents of our two neighborhood schools: Union Hill Elementary School and Hopewell Middle School

Sunday School

[There will be no Sunday School classes in the church building 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) - 9:15 a.m. Sunday mornings in person and via ZOOM, studying Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor. ALL ARE WELCOME! Link HERE

Explorers (mixed adults) - 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings via ZOOM, facilitator is Mildred Adair; studying Paul's letter to the church at Corinth. Link HERE

The Wired WORD (adult men) - 11:00 a.m. Thursday mornings. Led by Rev. Maxted, this class looks at what the scriptures have to say about important current events and issues.

Office Hours

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

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

Wednesdays: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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

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

Elders Prayer/Closing Message

I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

-- Genesis 45:4

Many people live with a horrendous sin locked away in their heart. They continue to live their lives and may even have repressed conscious thought of that sin, but it shapes who they are. Joseph's brothers had sold him into slavery and then went on with their lives. Whether their act haunted them or whether they had repressed it, we are not told, but they continued with their lives. Then, when they least expected it, they encountered Joseph, and their past came hurtling back. The reason that we seek to repress the memory of such guilty acts is that we assume that their exposure would be destructive to us. It is no wonder that his brothers were speechless when he first revealed himself to them: "Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?' But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence." Not only had their past suddenly been exposed, but also it happened at a time when they were very vulnerable. Then the next shock arrived.

"And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." First the sin of their past was exposed, but next they heard that God had worked with their sin in a redemptive way. The question for Joseph's brothers was whether they could accept that God, through Joseph, had moved on beyond the guilt of their sin to a redemptive possibility. What the brothers were confronted with was the power of grace. They had clearly been guilty, but God was not locked into their guilt. God had used their deed to save the Hebrews from starvation. Joseph, the victim of their deed, had arrived at a position to save them from starvation.

As the story progresses, the brothers had a great deal of difficulty accepting that Joseph would not at some time in the future seek revenge for the evil that they had done to him. The power of grace is not seen in God's overlooking your sins but in accepting that God is capable of working through even the worst of your sins for a redemptive possibility. Many years later this same revelation of the transforming power of God's grace would be revealed again as God transformed the violent act of crucifixion into a means of salvation for the whole world.

Prayer: Forgiving Lord, Let us come, acknowledging our faithlessness. Allow us to request that you use us and our shortcomings as you did those of Joseph's brothers. Let us be a part of your goodness. In the name of our risen Savior, Amen

Contact Us

Round Rock Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

22 Chalice Way

Round Rock, TX 78665

(512) 244 3260