Merry Christmas!  I know we may have said that already but it's ok to say it more than once right?   So from Andrew and myself, and all the leaders of The Rock SM, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We truly do love serving and partnering with all of you.  We have the best parents and students in the world.  We treasure every opportunity to be together in person or online.  The task of helping students, leaders and parents to know Christ and make Christ known is never ending.  There will always be a need for this task.  In fact, Christmas helps us stay committed to this task. Christmas is a beautiful reminder that God keeps His promises.  That's encouraging in light of the promise that God would help us in the task He's given to us.  The task is to do exactly what our ministry is about, know Christ and make Christ known.  So thank you for yet another year of this being done.  It may have looked a bit different, but by God's grace and with His help it was done!   Please join us in praying for yet another great year.  I can't begin to imagine what 2021 will look like.  What I do know is this, God holds our future in His hands. He is capable and can be trusted.  He keeps His promises!

• MIDDLE SCHOOL REFUEL - We are coming off a great time together for Middle School Refuel.  I'm so full and so encouraged.  Refuel is always a favorite trip of mine and this year did not disappoint.  While it looked different, what is most important remained the same. We journeyed through Galatians and were encouraged at the amazing reality that in Christ we are free!   Thanks to all who helped make this trip happen!
• HIGH SCHOOL REFUEL - We are currently still praying through this trip. Basically we are waiting to see the latest Covid trends.  We want to be smart in this, like with the Middle School trip.  We will communicate all we know, as soon as we know it.  We have a few options but simply want to make the most wise decision.  Join us in prayer for that to happen!  In the meantime students can sign up.  This is very important as we continue to order shirts.  So this shirt deadline is December 30th in order to have shirt here on time.  And the shirts do look pretty cool.
• NO ROCK on December 23rd & December 30th.  Enjoy the time off with family.  We'll continue our walk through our FREE theme by walking through Hebrews on January 6th.  What does it mean for Jesus to be KING?  Why should this matter to me?  How does it change how I go to school and live my life?  Does it even matter?  Some good, relevant questions as we dig into a better understanding of how King Jesus brings freedom to His people.

Have a great weekend and we hope to see you all Sunday morning.  Simeon's Song!  Jesus is the greatest expression of God's love and has come to redeem the world.  I can't wait!

​Chris

Happy Thursday to all!  Christmas is here.  The time for breaks, too much food, last minute gift ideas or the dreaded remembering that you need that one last gift.  Whatever your lot I pray "IT IS WELL" is the message ringing in your ears.  While there seems to be so much going on around us that can easily distract and deter us from this one reality, we pray you cling to the promise that God is good and always working!  The King has come and has brought a peace that passes all understanding.  May we all worship and live in light of this peace this Christmas.  With that said, Merry Christmas from The Rock SM!

Our planned bonfire did not happen last night due to weather.  In light of this we retreated back indoors and enjoyed a creative walk through the Christmas Story.  We sang, read, laughed and loved as we celebrated Christmas together.  There was no live stream due to there being some "non-mic'ed" moments.  But I do trust your students were encouraged and reminded that Jesus has come and his life is the greatest gift.

We are planned and ready for Refuel.  We've shared with you our schedule and changes but wanted to share that again, along with some other details.

• REFUEL is Sunday through Monday.  Overnight is an option. But we do need to know at check in if your student is staying.
• All students will arrive at The Rock at 8pm.   We will have a check-in inside, temp check, and then a quick orientation/game . We'll jump into our session pretty quick.
• Cost is $20.
• Students not staying overnight can be picked up at 10pm and brought back for breakfast at 8:30am on Monday.
• All students need to bring one snack item, a Bible, Pen (preferably one highlighter), a notebook, good attitude and a mask.
• Overnight students need to bring an air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow and a change of clothes.
• Students can be picked up at 4:30pm on Monday.   If that changes we'll make you aware well before then.
• Important:  Any student with any type of symptoms needs to stay home.  No reason to take a chance.

If you have any questions please email or text Chris/Andrew. 
Though we hate to have to change up Refuel, we're thankful this option is available.


Again, have a great Christmas and we hope to see you all Sunday Morning!

Hope you're all having a great Thursday.  Praying for many of you who are sick and dealing with different things. Please know you have a ministry and family here at The Rock that are praying for you and fighting with you.

Next week we'll have our annual Tacky Christmas Party.  This will be a bit different as we'll be in the far back left of the church property.  We'll have some folks showing you where to go but you can head to the back left of the cemetery to park.  Comforting I know.  Regardless, we'll be in the field just away from this spot.  You'll see the lights, smoke and fire.  Our night will be simple.  We'll read the Christmas story from Luke 2, enjoy some hot chocolate, maybe sing some carols and then just hang out, safely.   We'll need you help with this.  You can help by reminding your student to bring and wear a mask while also following all the directions from our leaders as we're together.  We don't want to get to lax in our safety stuff as we get comfy with the new normal.

By now you've probably heard about our changes for our Middle School Refuel trip.  We hated to do this of course but felt it was necessary.  The good news is we can still accomplish the heart of the trip.  We can be together, study together, have fun together and then do so closer to home.  I've sent out a few details but quickly want to again list some broad details.   We'll have more specifics next week, after another round of leaders meetings this Sunday.

• Students arrive at 8pm on Sunday night, December 20th.
• Students are to be picked up TBD on Monday afternoon. (est. 4:30-5:30pm)
• Students have the option to stay overnight or be picked up Sunday night and then magically re-appear Monday morning (a time will be given later for this option.)
• We will have breakfast and lunch on Monday.
• Any student with any symptom of sickness will need to stay home.
• Each students needs a mask.
• We will cover the entire book of Galatians in a creative, interactive and hopefully fun way.  We pray the students will leave knowing the heart behind this amazing letter which will bring them comfort and hope in light of faith in Christ Jesus.  We pray students will leave with a confidence that they can read the Bible, understand it, and apply it on their own.  We desire they slowly become independently dependent in their faith in Christ.  We desire they own their faith.  We realize they are young, we also realize they are the most able to develop these principles now.  But we will strive to make this time together fun as we learn together how to read and apply God's Word.
• Cost will be $20 and will cover shirt, food and some material cost.
• Any parent already paying the original price can contact Chris to figure out how to handle any reimbursement or applying that to another trip.  If you haven't already.
• We will send out a "what to bring" list next week along with any opportunities for you as parents to assist, if you desire to do that.

Again, while this isn't plan A we realize God can still be glorified and sought after.  We plan to create a jam packed overnight event for our middle schoolers.  We ask and hope you'll be praying as the planning and carrying out of that plan go forth.

At this time our High School Refuel trip will be as planned.  We will communicate any changes or plans closer to that event.

Our last official Rock of 2020 was last night.  Yes, we will be meeting next week but it's our Tacky Christmas Party.  If the weather helps that will actually be outside, in the field to the far left of the campus and we'll have a bonfire.  So not exactly a normal night.

Last night was all about what Jesus said about himself.  Our short Christmas series was spent looking at this King that was promised way back when.  We've seen what the Old Testament folks said and what God himself had promised.  Now we see what Jesus himself says.  It was a great night together.  It's below if you missed it or want to see it again.

Happy December!  We made it.I sure do love this time of year and am always reminded of the hope we have in Jesus.  This hope is not seasonal but there's just something about the newness that Christmas brings.  It seems to rejuvenate the reality of hope that is always present, offering an opportunity to refocus on that which matters most.    

We have a few things that are inching closer and closer.  Follow closely and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

• TACKY CHRISTMAS & BONFIRE, DEC. 16th  - We're adding a little heat to our annual Tacky Christmas gathering.  This year we'll be outside and around the fire.  We'll have hot chocolate and some games.  We'll also settle our hearts around the Word and in song as we reflect one last time as a ministry on the King who is coming.  

 

• MIDDLE SCHOOL REFUEL - Deposits are due and final payments will be due Dec. 13th.  For more information or to register/pay, please visit our  Refuel PAGE.   T-shirt order are past due for Middle School but please go ahead and get this done for the High School trip.  Keep in mind we have options....a maroon and hunter green shirt.  Choose wisely.

​​

• NO ROCK during Christmas.  That would be December 23rd and 30th. 

We began our last series of 2020 last night by looking at the coming of the King.  We spent our time looking back at prophecies made regarding this king and then looked at how Jesus actually fulfilled those prophecies.   This gives us hope and confidence as we walk with Him today.  Below is the video from last night.  

Love you all and thankful for your partnership in the gospel!