Payroll Week Reminder: Did you approve/submit your timecard?
BLOOD DRIVE: There are still a couple of appointments left for our blood drive this Tuesday, October 29 from 3:00-7:30pm in the Music Room. You can make appointments at: https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/162028. Each person who shows up for their appointment will receive two Kroc day passes for friends or family!
COST-OF-LIVING PAY INCREASES: All Kroc Center employees hired prior to June 30 have received a 3% cost-of-living increase to their pay rates, effective as of October 1. Because of logistical challenges at our divisional headquarters, the increase was only applied to primary job codes for the October 18 paycheck; we have been in the process of also retroactively applying the increases to employees who transfer to other departments. If you have multiple job codes, the rate changes for the other transfer codes will take effect and be retroactively applied with the next paycheck on November 1. Please see Melissa Roemer if you have questions or something doesn’t look right with your pay statement.
HALLOWEEN FUN: This Thursday, October 31, you are welcome to join in the fun and wear a Halloween costume to work. (It must be family-friendly and otherwise meet general dress code guidelines.) Kroc Krew members will have the chance to vote throughout the day, with a prize going to the favorite costume!
FALL 2 PROGRAM REGISTRATION: This Wednesday, October 30 is the deadline to register for the Fall 2 program session. This is the Fall 1 makeup week, and the Fall 2 schedules begin next week, November 3.
INTERACTIVE BALLET PERFORMANCE WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS BALLET: Join us at the Kroc Center on Thursday, November 21 at 6pm for a FREE introduction to ballet performance! Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director James Sofranko will host this interactive 45-minute experience appropriate for all ages. You’ll learn about basic ballet terms and movements, hear from dancers about their journey into the world of professional ballet, and watch short performances from The Nutcracker and other ballets. No registration is required, and the event is open to both members and non-members.
OPEN POSITIONS: Visit the Central Territory’s ADP Recruitment system for all job postings and to submit applications online. We appreciate you sharing opportunities with friends and family! Current openings include: Fitness Attendant, Lifeguard, Welcome Desk Attendant, Welcome Desk Lead, Personal Trainer.
Send an email to RJ Kroc if you see someone going above and beyond for our guests!
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Pete Bentancourt received thanks from Jill Rice for helping to unload the kiln on short notice as she had to rush to clay class.
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The AYSO board thanks everyone who helped in a volunteer or other capacity with a successful fall season.
- Amy Mattson helped out in Child Watch so Kevin Chilton could cover the fitness floor during the free weight equipment installation
Each week, members of the Kroc Center and Kroc Church submit a number of requests for prayer. We welcome these from everyone in our community, and encourage all our Kroc Krew to lift up these requests in your own way. Don’t forget that you are always welcome to attend devotions on Tuesday mornings at 9am in the Administration Foyer; if you have a prayer request to share, you can post it on the board in the lobby, use the online form, or contact a member of the Kroc Church team.
- God we pray that you will continue to watch over and sustain our members, staff, and local community. We ask for your healing hand and never-ending love to keep us all safe and protected as we enjoy this beautiful campus you have so richly blessed us with. In Jesus name. Amen.
NEW! We’re featuring a “Note from the Pastor” and Bible verse in the First Five each week from Captain Jack Huffman and the Kroc Church team. If you ever want to hear more about these topics, join us for Kroc Church Sunday mornings at 10am.
A Peace That Sanctifies
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
Paul is writing to the church of Thessalonica with imperatives to help them in their struggling faith. This is a fledging church, and Paul knew they needed instructions on how to stay the course of their Christian walk. These imperatives convey a human response toward God, recognition that God is the source of our joy and thanksgiving. Jesus is always the true reason for a believer’s joy. While the exhortations to rejoice, pray, and give thanks are common in Paul’s letters, they take on new life when one considers that this church has been grieving over the death of some of its members. In chapters 4-5 Paul reminds them of the power of the gospel. This is a God who has conquered death and will not neglect the believers who have already died. God will raise them from the dead just as God raised Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). The gospel provides the very basis for rejoicing and thanksgiving, even in the midst of grief.
No matter what we are facing today, weather grieving, discouragement, or challenging circumstances, Paul’s instructions are as good for us today as they were for the 1st century church. Rejoice in the Lord; I say again, rejoice! If you can talk about it, pray about it! Give thanks with a grateful heart! All of these imperatives have the power to change our outlook and our disposition. When we trust God with all we are facing, we can be assured of His peace and His presence. That is good news for us all today!
God bless you,
Major Carol Huffman
Here are some of the upcoming events and groups at the Kroc Center:
- Blood Drive – Tuesday, 3:00-7:30pm, Music Room
Be sure to wish a Happy Birthday to our Kroc Krew colleagues:
- Branden Morris – October 29
