1️⃣ This Week’s Highlights
- Please join us for the Staff Christmas Party! Last year was so much fun we’re doing it again. Saturday, December 6, 5–8 p.m. at Craig’s Cruisers.
RSVP by Wednesday, 12/3: https://partiful.com/e/kVmADk9pLALJsJHcd3MC
2️⃣ Program Updates
- Fall 2 programs – Week 5
- Winter 1 registration continues
3️⃣ Facility Notices 🛠️
Facility Updates/Closures
- No facility updates or closures this week.
Rentals
- Friday: GVAC Development – Fireside, 9:15 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
4️⃣ Staff Announcements 🎉
Green Dot Moments & Staff Shoutouts
- Shout out to everyone who helped with the Turkey Burn Off – well done.
- Shout out to Jim for coming in during the holiday (and his vacation) to fix things.
- Shout out to Facilities for taking care of the snow so well after the storm.
- Shout out to all our staff for your ongoing service and flexibility.
- Shout out to the Building Supervisor for letting Jim know about an IT issue.
- Shout out to Dave Crawford for getting trained on the Gator and taking care of business.
- Green Dot for Eddie helping Miss Shirley get her workout machine working.
- Shout out to Sammie and Jessica for facilitating the R&R Heating and Cooling donation.
- Shout out to Joselyn for handling membership while Lisa was out of the office.
- Shout out to McKenna for helping Jess set up and manage all the trainings our staff need.
Birthdays This Week
- No birthdays this week.
Welcome New Staff
- Julie T – Corps Ministry Assistant
- Isabella S – Child Watch Attendant
Open Positions at the Kroc Center
- Lifeguard
- Fitness Attendant
- Fitness Lead
- Child Watch Attendant
- Swim Instructor
- Fitness Instructor
Apply here: grkroccenter.org/learn-more/careers
5️⃣ Reminders & Resources 📌
- Thursday: Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events – Fireside, 12–1:30 p.m. This should be on everyone’s calendar, including leads and outdoor attendants. Our community officer will be walking us through the process for an active shooter emergency.
- Saturday: Staff Christmas Party – Craig’s Cruisers, 5–8 p.m.
- Sunday: Staff CPR Training – Fireside A/B, 12–5 p.m.
- If you have a marketing request, please use grkroc.org/marketing-request to submit your request.
- Inservice for lifeguards and instructors is on Saturday, 12/14.
- WSI training is Friday, 12/19–Sunday, 12/21.
🙌 Missional Moment
Truth in Love — Speaking with Grace and Honesty
A brief scene from Salvation Army history
In the early days of the Salvation Army, a young officer named Captain Mary Stillwell led a new corps in a coastal town. Her open-air meetings stirred revival—but also criticism. One respected local minister, Reverend Hartley, publicly accused the Army of being disorderly, shallow, and harmful to “proper religion.”
Mary’s soldiers urged her to defend herself sharply. Instead, she prayed—and then asked the Reverend for a meeting.
Sitting in his parlor, Mary listened carefully as he voiced his frustrations. When he finished, she responded with calm honesty:
“Reverend, I hear your concerns. We want the gospel to reach people who may never enter a church. We’re not trying to undermine your ministry—we’re trying to complement it. If you see anything in me that needs correction, please tell me. I want to honor Christ.”
Her mixture of truth and grace disarmed him. Hartley realized he had judged her without understanding. Over time, the two became allies in ministry, and the town witnessed deeper renewal because of their unity.
This courageous but straightforward conversation became part of the Army’s quiet legacy:
Conviction without harshness. Love without compromise. Truth spoken with grace.
✝️ Note from the Pastor
Luke 1:46–56 – Active Waiting
When Mary received the angel’s announcement in Luke 1:38, she responded with faith: “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled.” Her journey was not without waiting, yet she glorified God in the process. In verses 46–56, Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat, reflects her trust in God’s faithfulness, even as His promises were unfolding.
Active Waiting calls us to mirror Mary’s example—trusting God’s word, praising Him in anticipation, and remaining steadfast in obedience. While we wait for His blessings, let us glorify Him by serving others and staying faithful to His calling. Our actions and faith prepare us for the fulfillment of His promises.
As we wait, may we echo Mary’s words, trusting that God is mighty and faithful to complete His work in us. Let our waiting become worship and our faith give glory to the One who never fails.
– Captain Jack Huffman
🙏 Prayer Requests
- Continue to pray for Ronda and her family.
- Pray for health and wellness of our staff.
- Pray for aging parents’ health.
- Pray for the students of Brookside as they will be in our building next week for the FAME concert.
