Chalice News
 
Round Rock Christian Church


Embracing  our  neighbors 
with  Christ-like  love 
June 15, 2021
In This Issue
This coming Sunday in worship -- 
June 20, 2021

THE THIRD SUNDAY 
AFTER PENTECOST
 
"The Wind and the Sea 
Obey Him"
Mark 4:35-41

 A Message from the Pastor

Juneteenth (combining the words "June" and "nineteenth"), also known as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved here in our United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19 throughout the United States, with increasing official recognition. It is commemorated on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.  

On that day, Granger informed a reluctant community in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states two and a half years earlier. He pressed locals to comply with the directive. Although Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became effective Jan. 1, 1863, people who owned slaves were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, according to Cliff Robinson, founder of Juneteenth.com. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.

The annual Juneteenth holiday continues to be celebrated today, though of course the pandemic caused the events to be held in different ways last June.  USAToday.com writes in a piece published today: 
The holiday is looking a little different from most years. Millions of Americans took to the streets to protest racial injustice last summer in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans. The protest movement sparked an ongoing dialogue around systemic racism and police brutality. The protests also raised attention for the importance of Juneteenth as companies including Nike, Twitter and Uber are giving employees paid days off. With 144 million Americans fully vaccinated from COVID-19, many will gather in person after celebrating virtually in 2020.

There will be a celebration here in Round Rock. "The Voice" Inc. and the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department are joining forces again for the annual Round Rock Juneteenth Rhythm and Ribs Festival on Saturday, June 19, 2021 (4 p.m. to midnight) at the Lakeview Pavilion in Old Settlers Park located at 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd. For details, visit the Parks and Recreation page of the City of Round Rock website - roundrocktexas.gov

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Mitch

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
Re-Opening NEWS

The Reopening Task Force recommended to the Guiding Board to reopen for in-person Sunday worship, including music, with certain guidelines in place, on July 4th; and also recommended that in-person Sunday School and other activities resume on August 22 (the first Sunday after Round Rock schools begin classes).  The online option for worship will continue to be offered, even after we begin to gather on the church campus.

The recommendations have been approved by the Guiding Board. Our two sister congregations may also resume their  pre-pandemic schedules July 4th, using the sanctuary only. Look in coming newsletters for details on the safety measures that will be in place as we again begin to worship in our sanctuary.  Many heartfelt thanks to the Task Force for detailed and diligent work through this truly historic time.  You've kept us safe and we appreciate that!
Study Opportunity

I would like to invite you to view and discuss with me and others the documentary 13th, which takes a look at the historical roots of systemic racism in the United States. Netflix has made this movie viewable for free on YouTube. If you're interested in participating, please view the documentary on YouTube at your convenience, then join me for a group discussion via zoom on Tuesday, June 29th at either 11 a.m. or 7 p.m.  There is a study guide that I would be happy to email you if you are interested. Just let me know. --Pastor Mitch

Here's a bit of background on the documentary, from rogerebert.com: "When the 13th amendment was ratified in 1865, its drafters left themselves a large, very exploitable loophole in the guise of an easily missed clause in its definition. That clause, which converts slavery from a legal business model to an equally legal method of punishment for criminals, is the subject of the Netflix documentary "13th." Director Ava DuVernay's takes an unflinching, well-informed and thoroughly researched look at the American system of incarceration, specifically how the prison industrial complex affects people of color. Her analysis could not be more timely nor more infuriating. The film builds its case piece by shattering piece, inspiring levels of shock and outrage that stun the viewer, leaving one shaken and disturbed before closing out on a visual note of hope designed to keep us on the hook as advocates for change."

Upcoming Events 



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


Tuesday, June 15, 2021
5:00 p.m.
- Texas Heat Volleyball
7:00 p.m.
- Shalom Congregation (off site)

Wednesday, June 16, 2021  
1:00 p.m.
- Caring Hearts Prayer Group (via Zoom) Link HERE
5:00 p.m.
- Texas Heat Volleyball 
7:00 p.m.
- Chancel Choir (via Zoom) Link HERE

Thursday, June 17, 2021  
5:00 p.m.
- Texas Heat Volleyball
7:00 p.m.
- Praise Band Rehearsal

Friday, June 18, 2021
2:00 p.m.
- Vision Advisory Team Meeting Link HERE

Saturday, June 19, 2021     JUNETEENTH - Freedom Day
8:00 a.m.
- Shalom Congregation

Sunday, June 202021     FATHER'S 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 (via Zoom) Link HERE
1:30 p.m.
- Ministries Council Link HERE
Evening
- Manantial de Vida Congregation (off site)

Monday, June 21, 2021
5:00 p.m.
- Texas Heat Volleyball
7:00 p.m.
- Guiding Board Meeting Link HERE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
5:00 p.m.- Texas Heat Volleyball
7:00 p.m.
- Shalom Congregation (off site)

ZOOM MEETING LINKS, events and details can be viewed on the RRCC Calendar
Chancel Choir


UPDATED INFORMATION:
CHANCEL CHOIR ZOOM FELLOWSHIP

Chancel Choir Zoom will take place for the remaining Wednesdays in June at 7pm.

Chancel Choir Rehearsals will resume IN THE SANCTUARY
 on Wednesday, July 7, at 6:30pm. 
Masks must be worn. 
DWM in Action





















D
Disciples Women are ready to get back together!  Our Handcrafters met on Saturday, June 12, to distribute supplies and gather/bless finished items, which will be taken to Seton Williamson Hospital for newborn babies.  On Monday, June 14, nine ladies got together for social time, brainstorming for the next year, and to enjoy a few songs with Carrol Scarborough and her guitar.  What a blessing to have the newly-updated porte-cochere and two breezy (although hot!) mornings to enjoy each other's company.  DWM will gather outdoors again on July 12 for coffee hour, weather permitting.
 
Pictured: DWM Carrol Scarborough, Susan Kessler, Anna Marie Blair, Tara Pollock, Mary Murray, Ilene Kiser, Bea Whitley, Barbara Barnett, Jean Bell
Handcrafters Bea Whitley, Jean Bell, Lisa Walker
Mission South and Disciple Oaks Summer Camps 2021


Church camp changes lives! You can register online here.  You can also register on the Disciple Oaks website. For a copy of this flyer you can download it here For a copy of the Mission South Summer Camp 2021 Fees download it here For a copy of the CampDoc Registration Instructions download it here More information can be found at our website, link above. 

2021 Summer Camp Dates:
CYF Conference: June 21-July 3, 2021
Eighter's Camp: July 4-10, 2021
JYF Camp: July 20-21, 2021
Chi Rho Camp: July 25-31, 2021

Online Registration opens March 15, 2021
DWM Retreat

  The BBA/LRGVA Disciples Women will be meeting live and in person at Disciple Oaks camp in Gonzales - OCTOBER 2-3, 2021. Mark your calendar NOW for October 2-3, 2021.  If you think you might attend, please let Susan Kessler know (swkessler@austin.rr.com)

Early registration is $80 due by August 1; late registration is $90, due by September 1.  The Retreat will officially begin at 10am Saturday; if you'd like to arrive on Friday night, the cost is $100 and you can enjoy local Gonzales eateries for Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast. 
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!
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

 
June 20
- Kumi Maxted
Prayer Needs

LEADERSHIP
1. Our Guiding Board, Ministries Council, Elders, Deacons, Ministries and Teams. Our Elders discern how to share "40 Days of Prayer & Faith Sharing" 
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 and our Worship Ministry as they make detailed preparations for in-person worship next month
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 Andy Mangum (CCSW Regional Minister and President, and Rev. Alfred Walker, the newly called Community Regional Minister (CRM) for Reconciliation and Anti-Racism. We look forward to hosting Rev. Walker and his family in worship on Sunday, September 12th

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS 
1. For all who are grieving the loss of a loved one
2. For all who have been ill with COVID-19, and their families
3. Acree, Mary -- at home now following a heart attack, hospitalization, and rehab; celebrated her 80th birthday with her family this past weekend!
4. Breeding, Diane -- granddaughter Janelle and her husband Travis are expecting; the baby is having some medical issues; they live overseas
5. Cratin, Katherine -- friend Jeannie Quick is in hospice care
6. Fennimore, Nancy -- sister Joan Heckford died on Monday, May 31 in Indiana
7. Guilbeau, Rick & Cynthia; Cynthia's father, Harold Hubbard, died 5/22; family memorial service was held in Port Lavaca
8. Heeney, Brenda (Collier) -- funeral for her father, JD Heeney, was 5/29 in Cincinnati
9. Jenkins, Bob -- Bob's sister Janet is having some medical tests for a lung mass
10. Johnston, Janette -- granddaughter Izzy had surgery last Tuesday to correct a heart valve  anomaly; she will receive a pacemaker and remain hospitalized for several days before being released to go home
11. Kelley, Sally and Mike -- continued prayers for niece Tracy Chambers, battling cancer
12. Kessler, Jim -- continued recovery from heart valve surgery
13. Malone, Betty -- sister Carolyn receiving hospice care
14. Miller, Chris -- (son of Jean Bell) experiencing some neuropathy from cancer treatments
15. Mouser, Tricia -- grandson David experiencing symptoms from failing shunt in his brain
16. Smith, Lonnie -- friend of Jackie Culbertson, who lost both legs in an accident; please pray for his healing physically, spiritually, and emotionally
17. Walker, Lisa -- receiving dialysis treatments 3x per week
18. Wilson, Garvid -- began new chemo treatments on 5/18; Phyllis is experiencing leg issues due to a ruptured disc
19. York, Tasha -- Tasha and siblings caring for mother Peggy Massey

OTHER
1. All who don't know Jesus
2. COVID-19 (continuing efforts to reach "herd immunity" in the U.S. and around the world)
3. Those who have lost jobs during the pandemic; businesses that continue to struggle
4. All people who are persecuted for their faith throughout the world 
5. Our military personnel and families
6. Pressing immigration concerns at our border, development of an immigration policy for the U.S. that is fair, just, and responsible; cooperation and communication with Mexico and Central American countries
7. Developing policies and education programs to battle systemic racism in all of its forms
8. For all efforts toward affordable health care for all Americans
9. For all efforts to make voting safe, simple, and easily accessible for all in our country; and to oppose recent voter suppression legislation
10. U.S. lawmakers and community leaders to work together to solve the problem of mass shootings in schools, places of work, etc.
11. A restful, rejuvenating summer for all teachers, administrators, students, and parents in our neighborhood schools: Union Hill Elementary School and Hopewell Middle School
Sunday School Classes
.
[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) - 9:45 a.m. Sunday mornings via ZOOM, studying Gospel Medicine by Barbara Brown Taylor.  ALL ARE WELCOME!  Link HERE
 .
Explorers (mixed adults) - 9:45 a.m. Sunday mornings via ZOOM, facilitator is Mildred Adair; have recently begun a study of Paul's letter to the church at Rome.  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

 
John 16:33 (Amplified Bible) "I have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence; in the world you have tribulation, trials, distress and frustration but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm; I have conquered it for you."
 
Accepting Christ as our Savior is just the beginning of our walk with God. Just as a young couple begin their lives together growing to know each other more deeply, our walk with God just begins when we invite Him into our life. He is a patient and loving companion to journey with no matter how old or young we maybe. He deals with us on our level ever striving to bring us up to be more like Him each and everyday. There is no relationship that has a more committed partner than one with Him. God is our source of strength and sustainer. Everything that comes into our life has to be permitted by Him and nothing touches us that He will not help us bear. As days move into weeks, months and years, we can look back at who we once were and are surprised and truly humbled by the grace He has so freely poured into our lives. Not once has God allowed anything to come into our life that He wasn't right there giving us a hand up. When loss surrounded us, or sickness entered our family, or friends began to disappear and all eyes that looked our way seem to say you must have done something terribly wrong to deserve this. People shunned you for fear that what was going on in your life might touch theirs as well. This time, the testing time, is painful because during normal events people move closer not away. There is no greater pain than looking all about and seeing emptiness. The aloneness is hard to bear. But God, so rich in His mercy, so generous with His love has not left us. He is there and here to sustain us in the darkest hours of our life. He is the hand held out, the love felt, the comforting companion, the sustainer of the air we breathe and the strength giver. The wise person gives our Savior and Lord Jesus full reign of our life. He is truly all we need.
 
Prayer: 
Dearest Heavenly Father I come to You in the glorious name of my Savior and Lord Jesus the Christ. Thank You for loving me and reminding me of how daily You bestow benefits into my life that I could never merit. Because of Your love and grace, I know You are with me everywhere I go. I know that You heap into my life all I need to be spiritually healthy and safe. Thank you for sustaining me in all circumstances. I praise you with all my being. Amen