The Rock Weekly – November 22, 2023
- ***NO Services or Meetings this Wednesday (including Prayer & Worship, Growing in the Word, & Youth) due to Thanksgiving! – Enjoy your time with your family
- 🏈 Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament – Thanksgiving Morning at 8am at Bison Park!
- 🦃 Community Thanksgiving Meal– Join Us! Thursday 11/23; Carry-out at 11am, Dine-in at 12pm, or volunteer. More info here.
- 🎄 Giving Tree: Don’t forget that gifts are due back THIS Sunday, 11/26.
- Giving Tuesday is next week! Please consider donating to The Rock’s food bank, compassion, or missions funds during this giving season. Click here to donate.
- River of Life – Tuesday, Nov 28th at 6:30pm in the Chapel. A Spirit led creative time with Sarah Keesen and Luna Nemeth.
- ⛺ Youth Winter Retreat – January 4-6th. More information here.
Thanksgiving is a Key to God’s Heart
“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with THANKSGIVING, and His courts with praise. Give Thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues throughout all generations.” Psalm 100:3-5
On January 1, 1795, President George Washington made a proclamation to America for the first official Thanksgiving Day for our nation. In the Thanksgiving proclamation Washington made a powerful statement… “that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our…transgressions, to enable us all…to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue…and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.” Our first president understood that if we were a nation with a thankful heart to our Lord, we would be blessed with wisdom and prosperity and given a place of Godly influence to other nations.
This was later followed by President Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, proclaiming Thanksgiving Day as a national day of “Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens”, and praying for the Lord to “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation.” Not only does thanksgiving bring blessing, but also healing!
I love that our nation’s forefathers understood the importance and effect of honor, praise, prayer, and thanksgiving to our God! I pray that we, as the generation that now holds the baton and is running the race set before us, will run it with Godly perseverance (joyously, prayerfully, and thankfully), with our eyes fixed on Jesus!
“Be joyful always; Pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:16-18)
As we celebrate this special national holiday of Thanksgiving this Thursday, may our hearts and mouths be filled with thanksgiving and praise to our Creator, Lord, and Shepherd. For God made us, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture! (Ps 100:3) I want to encourage you to take time to pause throughout these next few days to reflect on what the Lord has done and how He has moved in your life. Prayerfully give Him thanks for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do. “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever!” May His praises always be on our lips and may thankfulness overflow in our hearts. For it is the very will of God that we are full of joy, praying continually to the Father, and giving thanks to God in the midst of every circumstance we face, whether good or bad.
Lord Jesus, May we be like the one leper out of the ten who were healed, who came back praising you with a loud voice and thanking you! Thank you Lord that as we come to you with thankfulness, our faith is exercised and you give us a Sozo life…the complete healing of body, soul, and spirit. (Luke 17:17-19)
I am very thankful for all of you and for the way you are living your lives for Jesus. Happy Thanksgiving Rock Family!
Love, Pastor Mike and your Rock Staff
IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE 7:00pm * In-Person & On-Line *
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream: https://www.therock.org/live/
YOUTH ~ BASE CAMP (6th – 12th Grade) – WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 7:00pm
Invite a friend and come have a great time. If you have any questions, email jaden@therock.org
EMBER – Young Adults (Ages 18-29) – Friday Nights at 6:30pm
https://www.therock.org/ember/
Meet in the Chapel for a time of worship, prayer, teaching, and connection.
FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month
https://www.therock.org/foodbank/
Email Lindy@therock.org if you would like to volunteer or have questions.
SUNDAY MORNING PRE-SERVICE PRAYER 8:15-9:15am – *In-Person & On-line*
ZOOM Direct Video Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85340164797?pwd=V0lmWFRRL0R6Tm56QTdRUHNoMWI3QT09
ZOOM Meeting ID: 853 4016 4797
ZOOM Phone Option +12532158782,,85340164797#
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE 9:45am *In-Person & On-line*
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream: https://www.therock.org/live/
OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE Here are some ways you can partner with The Rock as you practice generosity – our regular tithe/giving, compassion help, missions, and our food bank. Click on the following link or graphic. www.therock.org/give
Have a Question, Need Prayer, Help, Feel Alone, or Disconnected?
Please email us at family@therock.org and put QUESTION, PRAYER, NEED HELP, or CONNECT ME at the top of your email.