First 5 – Week of March 23, 2026

First 5 / By

1️⃣ This Week’s Highlights

  • Stair treads are scheduled to be repaired Thursday and Friday. Members will be rerouted to a back stairwell during this time. More instructions to follow.

2️⃣ Program Updates

  • Winter 2 Session – Week 5
  • Spring session registration continues.
  • Camp registration continues.
  • AYSO: 12U Girls and 14U Coed registration remains open through April 3. Spring season begins April 13. Volunteer coaches and referees are still needed.
  • GRPS swim lessons will kick off April 13 with Mulick Park and run through the week of May 11. We will likely need help with locker rooms, so please complete the background check form and get fingerprinted if this is your first time helping. If you have helped before, only the background check is needed.

3️⃣ Facility Notices 🛠️

Facility Updates/Closures

  • Stair tread repairs will take place Thursday and Friday. Members will be redirected to the back stairwell during this work.
  • The Kroc Center will be closed Sunday, April 5 for Easter, except for Kroc Church.

Rentals

  • Tuesday: GR Rec Volleyball in the Gym from 8–10 PM. New round begins this week and runs through May 5.
  • Saturday: Tae Kwon Do Instructor Training in the WPAC and Music B from 9:00 AM–12:30 PM.
  • Saturday: HOAP Inc. in Fireside A-C from 12–4 PM.

4️⃣ Staff Announcements 🎉

Green Dot Moments & Staff Shoutouts

  • Green Dot to James for finding a solution that kept the River Walk open one morning last week.
  • Shout out to Ivy for her work with a challenging child in Child Watch and for helping walk through the situation with the parent.
  • Shout out to Jessica and Sammie for their work on AYSO.
  • Shout out to our member Ron for making it back to the Kroc after some health struggles.
  • Shout out to Albert for helping with a situation in the art room last week.
  • Shout out to Angela for passing a Les Mills certification last week.
  • Shout out to Jim for his help fixing Major Heidi’s computer.
  • Shout out to Jessica for helping Mckenna with Safe From Harm issues.
  • Shout out to Major Heidi for the way she involves herself around the center and lives out the mission of the Kroc Center.
  • Shout out to the aquatics leads for helping James with the last in-service.
  • Shout out to Margarita for her work on the equipment replacement project.
  • Shout out to David for all his work filling in where needed.

🎂 Birthdays This Week

  • Samuel H – 3/24
  • Willow M – 3/24
  • Lily M – 3/24
  • Luke B – 3/26

👋 Welcome New Staff

  • No new hires this week.

📌 Open Positions at the Kroc Center

5️⃣ Reminders & Resources 📌

  • Spring Break week aquatics could use extra help on the pool deck. James has shifts in Sling listed as “pool attendant” each day from 1–4 PM. Please let your staff know if they are interested in picking up extra hours. If someone is only available for 2 hours, have them reach out and shifts can be adjusted as needed. Duties may include managing the slide line, fitting kids for wristbands and lifejackets, and occasionally helping with rule enforcement.
  • Spring Break is April 6–10. Please make sure your department is covered if you are taking time off.
  • Good Friday, April 3, is an admin holiday.
  • Makeup lifeguard in-service is Saturday morning.
  • Babysitter training is this Saturday.

🙌 Missional Moment

Missional Moment — World Services: A Global Mission

From its earliest expansion beyond England in the late 19th century, The Salvation Army carried its mission across borders, cultures, and continents. What began on the streets of London quickly spread to countries around the world, as Salvationists responded to both spiritual and physical needs in diverse and often challenging environments. This global vision laid the foundation for what we now recognize as World Services — a unified effort to bring hope, relief, and the message of Christ to communities in need worldwide.

Throughout the 20th century, The Salvation Army’s World Services initiatives grew in both scope and impact. From responding to international disasters and providing food security to supporting clean water projects, education, and healthcare, these efforts reflected a deep commitment to sustainable, community-centered care. Salvationists worked alongside local leaders to empower communities, ensuring that aid was not only immediate but transformative and enduring.

Today, World Services continues to embody the Army’s global mission, reaching into some of the most vulnerable regions of the world. Each project — whether drilling wells, supporting anti-trafficking initiatives, or strengthening local corps ministries — carries forward a legacy of compassion in action. As part of this mission, we are invited to pray, give, and remain mindful that our shared calling extends far beyond our local community, connecting us to a worldwide movement dedicated to meeting human need in Christ’s name.

✝️ Note from the Pastor

A Man Gives His Donkey

In Matthew 21:1–11, we see Jesus entering Jerusalem not with power or prestige, but in humility—riding on a donkey that had been willingly released by its owner at the Lord’s request. This simple yet profound act fulfilled prophecy and set the stage for Holy Week. The man who gave his donkey may seem like a small part of the story, yet his obedience positioned him within one of the most significant moments in redemptive history.

During this Lenten season, we are reminded that the gifts we offer to God are not measured by their size, but by our willingness to surrender them. The donkey was ordinary, yet when placed in the hands of Christ, it became sacred. Lent calls us to reflect on what we are holding onto—our time, our resources, our comfort—and invites us to release them for God’s purposes. True discipleship is often found in quiet obedience and unseen sacrifice.

As we journey toward the cross, may we consider what it means to give our own “donkey” to the Lord. What is He asking you to release, to trust Him with, or to place at His disposal? Just as the crowd laid down their cloaks and branches in worship, we too are invited to lay down our lives in surrender. This week, let us offer our gifts—however simple—believing that in Christ’s hands, they will be used for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
– Captain Jack Huffman

🙏 Prayer Requests

  • Mira – husband
  • Maira – sick child, Edwin (6 years old)
  • Ayisha – legs, back, family, health, and children
  • Dayerna – health
  • Tequilla – health, family, and housing