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Due to the shelter-in-place guidelines which are in effect through Friday, May 1, we cannot at this time confirm whether we will be able to meet on Thursday, May 7, for the annual National Day of Prayer. If strict guidelines continue into May, we are planning to place NDOP materials on our website so you can still participate from home. We are considering other alternatives and when we are able to confirm our plans, we will announce those via our website and social media.

2020 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

LEAD LINES Hey Chapel Rock, I rarely do this, but I’m going to hand off this month’s column to someone else. A brother and fellow preacher named Lee Eclov wrote a WONDERFUL devotional in a Preaching Today email newsletter that I read this week, and I wanted to pass it along to you. I’ve edited it some for brevity, but these words are his. I hope you’ll be as blessed as I was by this. Lee, take it away. . .

Lee: “For pastors, the week after Easter is typically like one, long, tired-out Monday. This year, I suspect, we add a different kind of weary to the mix. Ironically, “sheltering in place” is tiring. Deeply tiring. Most of the time we’re meant to be with someone, to go somewhere, to accomplish something. And now all that is a lot harder. It’s as if we’re all wound up and then. . .nothing. Our emotional and spiritual muscles are tense and tired. A timely poem by John Milton ends, “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Well, even those who stand and wait get weary.

Luke writes, “Martha was distracted by her many tasks.” Literally, “to be pulled away.” It’s a strange thing to say, but we’re pulled away these days, not so much by our many tasks, as our few. “Martha, Martha,” Jesus said, “you are worried and upset about many things.” Disquieted is also a good translation. Isn’t that the truth! Nothing but silence yet we feel disquieted, unsettled, restless even when we don’t know what to do with ourselves.

Some years ago, I was sitting at my desk working on a sermon about this very text, Luke 10:38-42. It was a busy Friday and you know; a sermon doesn’t just fall out of the sky. It was 5 p.m. and I needed to get a little further. “Why don’t you just come and sit with me a little while before you go home?” Jesus whispered. “I’d love to, Jesus, but I have to get this done. Sunday’s coming, you know.” “No, really,” Jesus said, “just move over to this other chair and sit with me.” I don’t know how else to put it except that he nagged me. In a nice way. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be with Jesus. It’s just that I had so much to do. . .to serve him. “OK, OK,” I said finally, “But I have to get home pretty soon for dinner.””

Casey: I so appreciated brother Lee’s honesty there. I pray that this during this time, you can do the same. . . only without Jesus having to nag you into it. If you’ve been run ragged by your own life. Now is the time to sit at Jesus’ feet. Listen. Learn. Grow. Become more whole, even as the world fractures. Leading as I follow, Casey

On Mother’s Day, we’re going to begin a new four-week sermon series called “The Gospel According to Horton.” Don’t worry, you didn’t skip a gospel in your Bible reading and we haven’t found any additional ancient manuscripts. The “Horton” being referenced here is an elephant, and the main character of the classic Dr. Seuss book, “Horton Hears a Who.” Some of you may be wondering why we would spend four weeks talking about a 66-year-old children’s book, but there is a good reason! Two of them actually. The first is that as we have had to pivot our services to be online only, we are very aware that families are engaging in this content together, and so we need create an experience in which the whole family can participate and be edified. So, what better place to start than a classic children’s book? The second reason is that, well, “Horton Hears a Who” is NOT just a children’s book. The themes that it expresses – the intrinsic value of people, that there are realties that transcend the material, that fidelity is something worth fighting for, and that we all have a part to play – those themes are PROFOUNDLY Biblical. We will still only be able to meet online through May, and so we’re trying to create a “best of both worlds” experience. . .something that’s accessible for the kids, but meaty enough for moms and dads / grandpa and grandma. So how can you get ready? Well, maybe dig through your kids’ books and see if you can find a copy. Or, if you have Amazon Prime, you can rent the 2008 movie (or watch for free if you have Hulu). You’ll get some more information about this soon, but I wanted to take just a moment and make sure you knew WHY we were doing this. Thanks for hanging in there through this time. We’re so eager to see you again, and we will – Lord willing – at the earliest opportunity. God Bless, Casey

MAY SERIES: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HORTON

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FOOD PANTRY UPDATE On Thursday, April 16, Chapel Rock’s Food Pantry broke just about every record we’re aware of. On that evening alone we served 223 families which equates to a total of 979 individuals. All the food we had available was given away! And sadly, we had to turn away approximately 20 families because we had nothing left!

But we do have good news to share – our Food Pantry coordinators, Andy and Kim Harris, have established partnerships with the area owner of Entenmanns and Thomas Breads to now begin receiving all their extra products. Our Food Pantry was also the recipient of numerous homemade face masks for our volunteers to use from Terry and Jerry Crawford, Anita and Tom Bowman, and various groups affiliated with Wayne Township 4-H.

As we continue to adapt the way we do ministry during this period, Chapel Rock’s Food Pantry is the only community ministry still operating as our volunteers have modified our pantry into a ‘drive through’ pantry.

The Food Pantry remains open on the first and third Thursday each month, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. With the building being closed now at least through Friday, May 1, food donations cannot be accepted at Chapel Rock through the office or the DropZone, but your donations are still vitally important and can be made by calling or texting Andy at 317-313-9450 or Kim at 317-698-7271.

2020 SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS & CONFERENCES The Family Ministry Team is continuing to accept registrations for the 2020 summer camps and conferences. As of our publication date, all programming described below is still ‘on’ as scheduled. Programs are available for grades 2 through 12. Go to chapelrock.org/events or call the Chapel Rock office at 317-247-9739 for more information. A $50 deposit is required, and all fees are due by Sunday, May 7. KID’S SUMMER CAMP AT CAMP ALLENDALE: Grades 2, 3, and 4. Dates will vary depending on age. Go to chapelrock.org/ministries/kids for all the information. CIY MIX: Grades 5, 6, or 7. Dates are June 22 - 26. The cost is $299. $50 is due at registration. All payments are due by May 7. CIY MOVE: Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Dates are June 15 - 20. The cost is $319. $50 is due at registration. All payments are due by May 7. MISSION INDY - IMPACT FAIRFAX: Mission Indy leads us to help impact the Fairfax community. Dates are July 5 - 11. The cost is $150. $50 deposit is due by May 1. More info: chapelrock.org/events. CLASS OF 2020 SENIOR TRIP: Dates: July 30 – August 10. The cost of $300 for the trip includes all meals, transportation, and entrance and activity fees. For more information go to chapelrock.org/events or contact Nick Wilkes.

PASTOR’S BREAKFAST & STUDY CANCELED The May Pastor’s Breakfast featuring Indiana University Head Football Coach Tom Allen as our special speaker has been canceled. We will make every attempt to re-schedule Coach Allen later this year. We hope to be back together on Saturday, June 6.

All events and activities for the Chapel Rockets for the month of May are canceled. That includes the monthly lunch and program, Walk and Talk, Movie Day, and Lunch Bunch. Should you need additional information on any of the Chapel Rockets special events or to have your questions answered, please call Buddy or Ann Bernhardt at 317-238-0127.

CHAPEL ROCKETS EVENTS ARE CANCELED

Financial Report ending March 31, 2020 General Fund Offerings — YTD ..................................................................... $563,795 Missions Funding — YTD (distributed to several ministries) ...................... $47,992 Budgeted & paid to reduce long-term debt — YTD ....................................... $83,175 (mortgage balance is $1,854,527)

FACTS AND FIGURES 3/15 3/22 3/29 4/5 Ave Attendance — 2020........... 842 4/12

Worship Services — campus 0 0 0 0 (includes live streaming) 0

Worship Services — live streaming 401 448 469 489 Baptisms — 2020 ......................... 8 497

Sunday Morning Life Groups 0 0 0 0 Transfers — 2020 ........................ 7 0

Children, Middle School & High School Attendance 0 0 0 0 0

2020 N. Girls School Road | Indianapolis, IN 46214 | Office: 317 -247-9739 | Fax: 317-247-4672 Website: chapelrock.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: 9:15 a.m. & 11 a.m. 4

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD YEAR-ROUND 2020! We had planned to begin collecting items in our Operation Christmas Child bin on April 5, but that has been delayed indefinitely. You can, though, begin collecting the items mentioned below and drop off your donations when the mandates end. For the month May you are encouraged to collect boys’ and girls’ underwear, socks, shirts, etc. (to fit ages 2 - 14). Keep your eyes open for sale and clearances items! If you have questions about OCC, please contact Judy Heuss.

JR. GOLF CAMP AND SUMMER CAMP The Indianapolis Junior Golf Foundation will be offering a free golf clinic for boys and girls, ages 8 – 12, at Thatcher Golf Course on May 30 and June 6. The time will be 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. This is an activity-based program and is a preview of their Summer Camp. The Summer Camp will take place on various dates during June. For details about either of these special activities, please contact Gene Robertson at 317-417-8001. You may also register online at christian-endeavors.com; then click the Indy Jr Golf button. Their mission statement is developing character, honesty, and integrity through golf.

DISCOVERY DAYS ENROLLING FOR 2020-21 YEAR Discovery Days Preschool, a ministry of Chapel Rock, continues to enroll students for the 2020-21 school year which begins in mid-August. If you have a son/daughter or grandchild that is 18 months old (by September 1) through Pre-Kindergarten, Discovery Days may be the place for them! Classes are held Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. — 1 p.m., during the months of August through May. For further information contact Director Carolyn Milkie, at 317-240-2065.

Even though we are not able to meet on Sunday mornings we have arranged to continue our annual “Bottles for Babies.” The premise is simple – you pick up a baby bottle, fill it with coins, dollars, or checks and return the bottle on Father’s Day, June 21. All your donations will go directly to Life Center’s of Indianapolis to assist them in providing needed services and programs to women facing pregnancy decisions. We will distribute the baby bottles to you on Monday, May 11, from 12 – 2 p.m. and again from 5 – 7 p.m. at the main entrance at Chapel Rock.

LIFE CENTER’S BABY BOTTLES DELIVERY