Rochester Christian Reformed Church

Church Life Newsletter

January-February 2023

Previous Editions:

November - December 2022

September-October 2022

July - August 2022

May - June 2022

March - April 2022

January - February 2022

November - December 2021

RCRC and Creation Care

Our church installed rooftop solar panels in 2021 to power its building entirely with clean electricity, seeking to encourage environmental stewardship and follow the biblical mandate to care for God’s creation.

According to Rochester Area Interfaith Climate Action, ours is the first solar-powered house of worship in the Rochester area.

A 90-panel array sends surplus power onto the grid of Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. during the summer and draws electricity from the grid to make up for any shortfall during the shorter, cloudier days of winter. The system’s performance in its first year suggests it will produce about 35,000 kilowatt-hours annually and meet our building’s need.

GreenSpark Solar of Ontario, Wayne County, installed the system. The project cost approximately $72,000, partially offset by a subsidy of about $12,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

A financial analysis by GreenSpark estimated that the system will slash the church’s electricity bills by enough to pay for itself within 14 years, The output of the solar panels is covered by a 25-year warranty, and they are expected to generate power for 30 years or more.

We offer Sunday School for all levels -- Kindergarten through Adult.

We invite you to join us each Sunday from 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM.

Class Offerings

Our elementary and middle school students will be exploring Old Testament stories, beginning with creation and moving through the story of Daniel. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 11:15 AM and be dismissed to three separate classes at 11:30 AM.
This fall our high school students will be learning all about Scripture with a series entitled "Treasuring God's Word." The four units in this series are:
What's so special about the Bible?
What's the big story of the Bible?
How do we interpret the Bible?
How do we use the Bible?

The spring series will be a study of the first 10 chapters of the book of John in which we will explore questions such as:
Who is Jesus?
"I'm spiritual but not religious" - is that enough?
How is Jesus the Light of the World?
Why are Jesus' words of eternal life confusing - or even offensive - to many people?
Join us for a post-sermon discussion!

The primary purpose of this class is to encourage and help one another grow closer to God. Class members will be encouraged to focus on their own reaction to and plans for responding to the message in the coming week.

Guiding questions will be centered on:
Heart (ie. What about this sermon made you feel uncomfortable or convicted?)
Head (ie. What do you know now you didn't know 2 hours ago?
Home (ie. What will you do differently this week based on this message?

Connection Groups

1 Corinthians 14:26

What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Connection groups are open to all people...RCRC members, non-members, Christians, and non-Christians.

They provide a setting for:

... faithful loving of each other as Christ loved us.

... understanding what it means to believe and live as followers of Christ.

... visitors and new members to immerse themselves in our church life.

... people to share joys and struggles with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

... a group to plan service projects that reach out to others in our church or community.

... working out the implications and application of the gospel in our lives.

The Connection Groups listed below are open to new participants.

Cancer Support Group, 1st Saturdays of the month at 10 AM

Meeting in RCRC Lounge

Contact: Christina Thompson 880-3275