1️⃣ This Week’s Highlights
- It is week 1 of the Fall 2 session!
- The new recreation guide is out, so make sure you are aware of any changes to schedules and drop-in activities.
- The EET Committee’s staff Thanksgiving party is coming soon! Join us Thursday, November 19 for a time of fun, food, and gratitude for the Kroc Krew!
- A digital form will be sent soon for staff to sign up to bring a dish to pass. The main fixings (i.e. turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc.) will already be provided.
- Save the date! This years Kroc staff Christmas party will be Friday, December 5 at Craig’s Cruisers!
- Keep an eye out for more info to come!
2️⃣ Program Updates
- Fall 2 Session Week 1.
- Winter 1 programs open for registration Monday, November 16.
3️⃣ Facility Notices 🛠️
Facility Updates/Closures
- The Kroc Center will be CLOSED Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving.
- No program classes will be held November 26–29
- Friday, November 27 is an admin holiday.
- The Kroc will remain OPEN, so if you are a department supervisor, please ensure your department is fully staffed if you are taking the day off.
Rentals
- Tuesday: GR Rec Volleyball – Gym
- 8–10 PM
- Friday: Birthday Party – Fireside B
- 4:30–7:30 PM
4️⃣ Staff Announcements 🎉
👋 Welcome New Staff
- Nick Brouwer, our new General Manger, starts this Wednesday, November 4! Join us in giving him a warm welcome to the Kroc Krew. Make sure to say hi, introduce yourself, and get to know him as he acclimates into his new role.
- Join us for a meet and greet next Tuesday, November 10 from 9–10:30 AM in the Admin Conference Room with donuts, apple cider, and a chat!
Green Dot Moments & Staff Shoutouts
- Shoutout to the EET Committee for handing out fun Halloween candy bags to staff.
- Shoutout to Margarita for confronting families who weren’t allowed to be in the free weight area
- Green Dot moment to Carolyn for going above and beyond celebrating the Kroc Sweet 16 with members.
- Shoutout to Bram for his help with an onboarding plan.
- Shoutout to Jonathan for stepping in last minute as building lead on Saturday.
- Shoutout to Amanda for her successful promotions of program classes and boosting registrations.
- Shoutout to outdoor attendants, building leads, Jess, and Sammie for all of the help with outdoor rentals for the season.
- Shoutout to Allison for helping Amanda with CA.
- Shoutout to Amanda for her attending the Alger Heights Halloween 5k and sharing all about the Kroc Center to the community.
- Green Dot moment to Kennedy for her fun ice breaker questions to get to know staff.
- Shoutout to Jess and Allison for holding things down while Sammie was on leave.
- Shoutout to Amanda for being awesome!
- Green Dot moment to the Kroc Center and staff for providing a wonderful place for members.
- Shoutout to the marketing team for their good work.
- Shoutout to Kennedy for taking on all of the aquatics onboarding happening lately.
📌 Open Positions at the Kroc Center
- Boxing Instructor
- Child Watch Attendant
- Fitness Lead
- Lifeguard
- Welcome Desk Attendant
Apply here: grkroccenter.org/learn-more/careers
5️⃣ Reminders & Resources 📌
- Any marketing requests can be submitted here. Using this link automatically adds the requests to the marketing to-do list and ensures it gets taken care of ASAP!
- Similarly, for any printing needs, please use this form here.
- The quality of programs is just as important as the social media/email promotions to help our income grow. It takes a team effort. To ensure we are saving money to invest in things that directly carry out our mission, we need to think about cutting down the little expenses that will add up.
- Turning lights off more often, avoiding color print as much as possible, and making certain items last longer are some of the ways we can achieve that.
🙌 Missional Moment
The Salvation Army: Bringing Healing to a Hurting World
Living Out the Ministry of Jehovah-Rapha
From its earliest beginnings in 1865, The Salvation Army recognized that the transforming power of Jesus Christ reaches beyond spiritual needs to touch every aspect of human suffering. William and Catherine Booth understood that proclaiming the Gospel meant demonstrating God’s compassion through practical expressions of love. As the Army ministered among London’s impoverished communities, its mission grew to include feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, caring for the sick, and offering hope to those society had forgotten.
One significant expression of this ministry emerged in 1890 when William Booth published In Darkest England and the Way Out. His vision called for a comprehensive response to poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and human suffering. Through shelters, rehabilitation programs, employment assistance, and other ministries, The Salvation Army sought to address both the immediate needs and deeper struggles of those it served. Just as God met the Israelites at the bitter waters of Marah, Salvationists were called to meet people in the difficult circumstances of their lives, offering practical assistance while pointing them toward the healing and transforming grace of Jesus Christ.
Today, that same mission continues through Salvation Army corps, rehabilitation centers, emergency assistance programs, and community ministries around the world. Here at Kroc Church, we participate in this legacy whenever we extend compassion, provide encouragement, share a meal, or walk alongside someone facing life’s bitter waters. Our calling is not simply to tell others that God is a healer, but to become instruments of His healing love. As we serve in Jesus’ name, we remind a hurting world that no life is beyond the reach of God’s grace, no circumstance is beyond His concern, and no heart is beyond His power to restore.
“I am the Lord, who heals you.” — Exodus 15:26
✝️ Note from the Pastor
Healer Is His Name
Exodus 15:22–27
Just three days after witnessing God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, the Israelites found themselves in the wilderness of Shur, thirsty and discouraged. When they finally discovered water at Marah, it was too bitter to drink. Rather than remembering God’s faithfulness, they began to complain. Yet God responded with grace, showing Moses how to make the bitter water sweet. It was there that God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Rapha, declaring, “I am the Lord, who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
The Israelites discovered that God’s faithfulness does not disappear when life’s circumstances become difficult. The same God who delivered them from Egypt was present in their wilderness. Sometimes God allows us to experience the bitter waters of life, not to abandon us, but to reveal more of His character. He knows our needs before we recognize them, and His provision is never beyond our reach. More importantly, God desires to do more than simply change our circumstances; He wants to transform our hearts, strengthen our faith, and bring healing to our relationship with Him.
What bitter waters are you facing today? Perhaps you are carrying disappointment, struggling with uncertainty, or waiting for an answer to prayer. Remember that the God who made the waters of Marah sweet is the same God who offers restoration through Jesus Christ. Rather than allowing your circumstances to determine your faith, trust the One who remains faithful through every season. Our circumstances may change, but the character of our God never does. He is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals!
🙏 Prayer Requests
- Natyjah Atkins — Pray for God’s strength for her and her family, for a home, and for everlasting faith in the Lord.
- Cheryl Guerra — Pray for her vehicle to be repaired despite limited finances and for her son, Javier, to feel comfortable sharing his feelings with her.
- Nilda Rodriguez — Pray for health and guidance.
- Tia Lack — Pray for health and family.
- Sateka James — Pray for her and her family.