1️⃣ This Week’s Highlights
Kroc Center 15th Anniversary Celebration
We’re continuing to celebrate 15 years of the Grand Rapids Kroc Center all month long!
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)
Gratitude Cards
Throughout October, there are gratitude cards on the Kroc refrigerator for staff and members to share their love for the Kroc.
Anniversary Day Celebration – October 23
- Members can bring a friend for free
- Morning refreshments (8–11 AM): Cider, donuts, and coffee
- Evening refreshments (5–7 PM): Cider and donuts
- Photo booth
- Special Gift from Congregational Life!
Congregational Life has a small gift for staff celebrating the 15th Anniversary! Please see Majors Reeds during the employee tailgate or stop by their offices to get your gift.
🏈 Michigan vs. Michigan State Employee Tailgate
It’s almost time for our Michigan vs. Michigan State Employee Tailgate!
Join us Thursday, October 23, from 12–1 PM in Fireside C for great food, fun, and a little friendly rivalry as we gear up for Saturday’s big game.
Whether you bleed maize and blue or green and white (or just love a good lunch), come enjoy the food, fellowship, and fun!
Everyone’s invited—even if you’re not scheduled to work that day.
Go Blue! Go Green! See you Thursday!
— The E.E.T. Committee
2️⃣ Program Updates
- Fall 1 programs – Week 6
- Fall 2 registration continues
3️⃣ Facility Notices 🛠️
Facility Updates/Closures
- As an extension of our shutdown week and because of a giant donation coming our way, we will be making room in the back gym storage. Mike has rented a dumpster for Friday and we will be cleaning out anything that is unnecessary, unused, or broken from the storage room. Please let Jessica know if you are able to attend from 10am-12pm. If not, please make sure that you let Luke, Mike, or Jessica know if you have items that you need to keep.
Rentals
- Monday & Wednesday: East FC Fall Practices, 5–8 PM (Last Week)
- Saturday & Sunday: East FC Games
- Saturday, 1–4 PM
- Sunday, 9:30 AM–2:30 PM (Last Week)
4️⃣ Staff Announcements 🎉
Green Dot Moments & Staff Shoutouts
- Shout out to Brent and Pam for working through the current audit!
- Green Dot for Kathleen and Laura for filling in as needed and creating content while we are short staffed.
- Shout out to everyone who has participated in the Kroc Gratitude Wall!
- Shout out to Steve for presenting the 15th Anniversary info to the Grand Rapids Advisory Board.
- Shout out to Margarita for taking part in the next Kroc Leadership Certificate program!
- Shout out to everyone who has been so helpful and welcoming to Greg!
- Shout out to Jessica for leading the charge on cleaning out the back storage area!
- Shout out to Captain Jack for his encouragement to members on the fitness floor.
- Shout out to Allison Dyk for her work on revising program information.
- Shout out to everyone who helped set up and tear down for the Women’s Auxiliary event.
- Shout out to Mckenna for giving her first tour!
- Shout out to Albert for unloading the kiln so all the kiddos could finish their projects.
- Shout out to Sammie, the refs, coaches, and Jess for all their work with AYSO!
🎂 Birthdays This Week
- October 5 – Bailey R.
👋 Welcome New Staff
- Lucy C. – Welcome Desk Attendant
📌 Open Positions at the Kroc Center
- Lifeguard
- Fitness Attendant
- Child Watch Attendant
- Dance Instructor
- Swim Instructor
Apply here: grkroccenter.org/learn-more/careers
5️⃣ Reminders & Resources 📌
- Benefit Enrollment Continues
- Enroll by October 31
- Changes effective January 1, 2026
- Staff Christmas Party
- Save the date! Saturday, December 6, 5–8 PM at Craig’s Cruisers
🙌 Missional Moment
When One Advances, All Advance — Kingdom Unity in Action
Paul described the church as a body: many parts, one organism. When one part suffers, all suffer; when one part rejoices, all rejoice. The Army has always fought shoulder to shoulder — no soldier fights alone.
At the Kroc, one department’s success is everyone’s success. A child’s victory in swim class, a breakthrough moment in worship, a connection at Family Night — these are all wins for the whole body.
When we celebrate shared wins, we push back against silos and competition. We embody Kingdom unity — an Army moving forward together.
Practice:
- Celebrate another department’s success this week.
- Write a thank-you note to someone whose work supports yours.
- In your next meeting, name one win outside your department.
Scripture:
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:26
— Pastor Mark
✝️ Note from the Pastor
From Past to Future: New Mercies Each Morning
Lamentations 3:23
In the ruins of Jeremiah’s lament, Lamentations 3:23 shines like a quiet ember: “His mercies are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” In the midst of loss, the prophet remembers that God’s compassion is not exhausted by yesterday’s failures or pain — even sorrowful mornings carry the promise of renewed mercy and sustaining presence.
Theologically, this verse bridges past and future: God does not erase our memories but meets them with faithful renewal. Our history — the mistakes, the grief, the lessons learned — is held by a God whose character does not change; His mercy begins anew each day and therefore reorients our hope toward a future shaped by grace rather than guilt.
Practically, this means we can bring our past honestly to the Lord and step forward without being imprisoned by it. I invite you this week to begin each morning with a short prayer of surrender and thanks, to confess what needs healing, and to trust God’s daily mercy as you make choices for the future.
Join us this Sunday as we worship and open space together to receive the new mercies God offers.
— Captain Jack Huffman
🙏 Prayer Requests
- Pray for Ronda’s mother and mother-in-law who are dealing with health issues, and for Ronda as she navigates these challenging times with aging parents.
- We continue to pray for Nancy’s mother.
- Prayers for health and strength for all our staff as we begin to get busier with the colder weather.
