1️⃣ This Week’s Highlights
Kroc Center 15th Anniversary Celebration
We’re excited to celebrate 15 years of the Grand Rapids Kroc Center this October!
15 for 15 Kroc Challenge
- Runs October 1–31
- Challenge cards available at the Welcome Desk and Fitness Desk
- Members complete activities to earn 15 points and finish the challenge
- Finishers will receive a special edition 15th Anniversary Kroc t-shirt (distribution in November)
Staff T-Shirts
All staff will receive the 15th Anniversary t-shirt to wear on October 23. Please sign up to select your size here: grkroc.org/staff-shirt
Please submit your size by Sunday, October 5th.
Gratitude Cards
Throughout October, there will be gratitude cards on the Kroc refrigerator for staff and members to share their love for the Kroc.
Membership Special
From October 1–15, all memberships are just $15 for the first month.
Anniversary Day Celebration – October 23
- Members can bring a friend for free
- Morning refreshments
- Evening refreshments
- Photo booth
2️⃣ Program Updates
- Fall 1 programs – Week 3
- Fall 2 registration is now open
- FAME – Tuesday, WPAC, Fireside C, Art Room, 12:45–2:45 PM
- UPREP – Tuesday & Thursday, Fireside, Art Room, Gym, Classroom C/D, 9–10 AM
- AYSO – Tuesday–Thursday & Saturday
- Restoring Health – Tuesday & Thursday, Music Room & WPAC, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM
- Potter’s House Gym – Wednesday, 1:30–2:30 PM (South Gym closed during this time)
- Fit Kids (returning this week):
- Wednesdays, October 1–November 12
- Normally: 5–8 PM in Fireside and Music Room
- During symphony this Wednesday: Outdoor Courts and North Gym (Green Room rain location)
3️⃣ Facility Notices 🛠️
Rentals
- Monday & Wednesday: East FC Fall Practices, 5–8 PM
- Wednesday–Thursday: GR Symphony, Green Room, Music Room, WPAC, 8 AM–5 PM
- As of now, Restoring Health will be using the fitness floor during the symphony
- Friday–Sunday: East FC Games
- Friday, 5:30–7:30 PM
- Saturday, 12:30–7 PM
- Sunday, 9:30 AM–7 PM
4️⃣ Staff Announcements 🎉
Green Dot Moments & Staff Shoutouts
- Shout out to Joselyn for all her hard work as we are short staffed at the welcome desk
- Shout out to the existing welcome desk staff for filling in all the empty spots in the roster
- Shout out to James and Jess for their work in securing more swim lesson scholarships
- Shout out to Allison for her help with the swim scholarships
- Shout out to Ronda’s son, Luke, for helping Mark out at church
- Shout out to Pam for helping the Reeds
- Shout out to everyone for continuing to be welcoming to the Reeds
- Shout out to Carly and Xavier for being willing to be on camera and promote classes
- Shout out to Laura Madrigal for her help in maintaining the rules and consistency at the Kroc
- Shout out to facilities and everyone who helped take down the slip and slide
- Shout out to Ronda for her help in the process of purchasing new computers
- Shout out to Ray for all his help, especially with the slip and slide
- Shout out to Joselyn for all her hard work with the welcome desk
- Green Dot for Eddie for fixing a fitness machine allowing a member to get back to her fitness routine
- Shout out to Margarita for helping bring in the water ex instructors
🎂 Birthdays This Week
- October 5 – Saddie U.
👋 Welcome New Staff
- Jonathon B. – Lifeguard
📌 Open Positions at the Kroc Center
- Lifeguard
- Welcome Desk Attendant
- Fitness Attendant
- Aquatics Lead
- Child Watch Attendant
- UPREP Instructor
- Dance Instructor
- Swim Instructor
Apply here: grkroccenter.org/learn-more/careers
5️⃣ Reminders & Resources 📌
- Staff Christmas Party – Save the Date: Saturday, December 6, 5–8 PM
- Have a prayer request? All staff are invited to leave their requests on the tree prayer wall in the admin office. Grab a leaf and place your request on the tree.
- Benefit Enrollment (opening this week):
- October 1–31 (enroll/re-enroll in ADP)
- Changes effective January 1, 2026
- Monster Mash – The Kroc Center is taking a break from Monster Mash this year. We will be looking at different options on how we can serve the community throughout the year. If members/guests are asking about it, please let them know that it will not be taking place this year.
Missional Moment
I have been working, thinking, and interacting with both the history and corollary events that have shaped our ministry lives here at the Kroc and beyond. To that end, I want to begin sharing with you some short and meaningful stories and thoughts as we continue to serve Jesus and make disciples in His Kingdom.
William Booth ended one of his most famous addresses with these words:
“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, I’ll fight.
While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight.
I’ll fight to the very end!”
Booth didn’t settle for safe thinking; he asked the hard questions that pushed him into the streets. Jesus did the same, asking 307 questions in the Gospels.
Scripture: “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)
Reflection Question: Where in our ministry are we clinging to what feels safe instead of listening deeply to the Spirit and to people?
Practice: Write down one “safe answer” you hold that may be more cultural than biblical. Pray over it this week.
— Pastor Mark
✝️ Note from the Pastor
Do You Want To Be Well?
In John chapter 5, Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Throughout the days of his disability, the man would lay around a pool that was known to heal people of their ailments if they entered the water when it was stirred. This man, however, never entered the water because he made the excuse that anytime he tried to enter the water someone else would go before him.
Jesus, upon seeing the man, asked of his condition, and after the man told it to Him, said to the man in verses 7–9 of John 5: “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”
Friends, while we are sitting around waiting for the miracle to occur, Jesus is waiting for us to simply speak to Him about what is hindering our quality of life so He can help us. If you want to be well, then I encourage you to speak the name of Jesus into your circumstances, and just like the man at the well, you will be healed, according to His will.
🙏 Prayer Requests
- Prayers for our employees dealing with sickness.
- Prayers for aging parents.
- Prayers for a staff member handling a family emergency.
