Hello, Crossroads Family,

I thoroughly enjoyed our Crossroads 101 membership class last Sunday.  Thanks to those who came, and thanks to Bryan and Erin Townsend for the meal they provided.  It’s hard sometimes to believe how many new faces there are among us and the unique journey each person is on.  We had good conversation at the class and especially gained a realization of the need to work hard at relationship-building at Crossroads.  Growing the connections each of us has while, at the same time, living busy lives does not always seem obvious to us, but it’s doable, it’s rewarding, and it’s what will cause a church to remain healthy and unified while growing in number.  Let’s all consider ways we can connect with newcomers to Crossroads, not only at church “events” but also outside the walls of the church !

Thanks to those who have prayed for my daughter Betsy.  She is off the IV and fetal monitor that kept her bedridden at her Portland hospital, but she and the baby are not out of danger yet.  It seems clear that the baby will arrive prematurely, but the doctors are trying to hold her off as long as they can and also keep Betsy stabilized.  Preeclampsia is a rather unpredictable situation.  She will be hospitalized until the baby arrives.  She’s about 15 weeks early at this point.  Thanks for your prayers.  There are others needing our prayers for health needs, too :  Dave Prickett continues to undergo tests ; Heather Hall’s dad needs healing ; the Lyons family has a 1-year-old friend with a serious health need ; Catherine Moss will have knee surgery in just a few weeks ; Diane Ray is undergoing tests and making decisions concerning pain.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says …

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Let’s also be praying for Donna Rodriguez on her Eastern U.S. bike ride, for Erin Reedy attending the EFCA Worship Leaders Conference in Minneapolis this week, for Kylee Vestal & Dominick Goodwin whose wedding is quickly approaching.  Thank you for praying !  God delights in the prayers of His children, and He delights to give us what we need.

Still looking for three more members at Crossroads who will serve on the Nominating Committee.  Our elders meet this Sunday and will be calling on people if we don’t receive volunteers.    Thanks for your consideration.  Thanks to the two people who have volunteered — Catherine Moss and Heather Vestal.

Elizabeth Scheib is wondering if anyone from Crossroads would like to go as a group to Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson for a performance of David.  The idea is a group outing on either December 13 or 20.  Both are Saturdays.  If there is a group of 15 or more people, there is a 5% discount on the tickets.  Otherwise, seating is $79 for adults and $32 for children under 12.  Let Elizabeth know if you would be interested in an outing in December with some others in the church family.

Reminders

• Immerse tomorrow (Wednesday) night, 7-8:15 pm.  Would love to see you there !

• There is NO Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday, October 25.  The final session for Breakfast & a Bible study will be Saturday, November 1, at 8 am.

This Sunday :

• Children’s Church for ages 0-7 during the sermon.

• Worship at 10:00.  Don’t forget that if you have items to contribute to Christmas gift baskets for the staff at Nathan Richard Care Center (Kleenex, snacks, lotion, etc), please bring those items Sunday and place them in the basket at the back of the worship area.  Thank you !

• Elders meeting following the worship service.

• Sunday Night Bible Study — 6:00 pm, at Jenny Rives’ home.  We’ll study the psalms of thanksgiving.

Coming Up :

• Sunday, November 16 — Preparation of crafts and gift baskets for the residents and staff at Nathan Richard Care Center.  Come and help at the church at 3:30 pm on November 16th.  Thank you !  If you have questions, please speak to Jenny.

• Sunday, December 7 — Caroling and gift distribution at Nathan Richard.  Meet at the church at 4 pm.  Refreshments following.

• Sunday, December 14 — Congregational Meeting following worship.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you are interested in becoming a voting member at Crossroads, please let myself or one of the elders know.

• Sunday, December 14 — Women’s Christmas Party, 5 pm, at the church.  More details coming.  Mark your calendar !

• Wednesday, December 24 — Christmas Eve service, 6:30 pm, at the church.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or we would bring it.  You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  Our sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit ; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.  

        — Psalm 51:16-17

I look forward to seeing you soon, and I thank God for you !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Thank you to everyone who made the Hot Dog Dinner outreach such a good time last Sunday !  We were blessed with good weather, good fellowship, and opportunities to rub shoulders with several who joined us from the community.  Thanks to everyone who organized, contributed food, cooked, and facilitated interactions with people who came !  We also enjoyed a night of singing, Scripture, and prayer last night at the church.  Thanks to all who organized and to those who came to sing praises and prayers to God.  Immerse will resume next Wednesday night at 7:00.

A Need 

We’re still looking for five people who are members of the church and who would be willing to serve on the Nominating Committee this fall.  The job of the Nominating Committee is to seek God’s will concerning a nomination for a position on the Elder Board that will be open next year.  The person nominated will be voted on at the congregational meeting December 14.  In December, Forrest will finish his first term as elder and is eligible to be nominated for a second term.  Please let one of the elders know if you would like to serve on the Committee.  Thank you !

Men’s Recharge Tonight, 6:30

Looking forward to a great study tonight on the 9th commandment.  Hope you’ll be there tonight, men !

Coming Up

• This Saturday :  Women’s Breakfast and a Bible Study, 8 am, at the church.

• This Sunday
  • Worship at 10:00.
  • Children’s Church available for 0-7 year olds during the sermon.
  • 8-13 year-old Bible Class during the sermon.
  • Crossroads 101 membership class immediately following the worship service.
  • NO Sunday Night Bible Study this week.

• Next week :  Immerse — Wednesday, 7-8:15 pm.  We’ll begin discussing the book of Jeremiah.  This is a good time to jump in and join Immerse !  Contact Forrest if you need information or need a copy of the Immerse Bible.

Looking Ahead 

Erin Reedy will be attending the EFCA Worship Leader Gathering next week at New Hope Church, an Evangelical Free Church in the Minneapolis area.  Please pray for Erin, that she would be encouraged, make some great contacts with other EFCAers, and bring back some helps for worship ministry.  Thank you !

Our elders will meet next on Sunday, October 26, following the worship service.  If you have anything for the elders to include on their agenda, or if you have items to include on the church calendar, please let them know before the 26th.  Thank you.

On Sunday, November 16, you’re invited to the church at 3 pm to create some small crafts and gift baskets for residents at Nathan Richard Health Care Center, right across the street from our church.  Please speak to Jenny if you need more information.  We’ll deliver the gifts to residents and do some caroling on Sunday, December 7.  

The Crossroads women are having a Christmas Party for all women and their friends.  Mark your calendar :  Sunday, December 14, at 5 pm for celebrating the reason for the season together !  More details to come.

Please pray for Heather Hall and her family.  Heather’s dad was hospitalized this week and is undergoing tests.  Thank you !

Final Thoughts

I received this week, from a former missionary colleague, a review he had written of a book called The Local Church : What It Is And Why It Matters To Every Christian.  Here are eight thoughts from that book he found significant.  What’s your response to these eight thoughts about the church ?

1)     The church is not a human project ; it is God’s project from start to finish.

2)      Christ creates and commands the church.

3)      Belonging to and participating in a church is not an option.

4)      A churchless Christianity has no relation to Christ.

5)      The local church is the primary institution where your relationship with God happens, where your relationship with the Christian family happens, and where you are assigned to do ministry and missions; rather than being an add-on or helpful addition to your Christian life, your local church is your spiritual headquarters, your home, and your place of work.

6)      The local church nurtures God’s children, through preaching and teaching, counseling, pastoral care, ministries of mercy and service, and real authentic relationships.

7)      The church is not to be equated with the kingdom, but is an outpost and embassy, born from and bearing its authority (Matt. 16:18-19), serving as a sign, an instrument, and a foretaste of God’s kingdom.

8)      The church is the universal, international, and eschatological community of the new covenant between God and humanity, whom Christ creates and rules, whom the Spirit indwells and directs, through whom the Father is glorified, and to whom all Christians throughout history belong.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, are at least 18 years old, and have been through the Crossroads 101 class, we would love for you to join Crossroads as a voting member, in addition to your current involvement.  Please let one of the elders know if you’re interested.  Voting members are involved in decision-making such as will take place at our December congregational meeting (election of an elder, by-laws changes, vote on a church budget for next year).  We would love for you to participate in life at Crossroads in this way !

Finally, thank you so much for all the kind words, gifts, and cards I received last week for Pastor Appreciation.  I’m thankful for the relationship we have !  I have one of the kindest congregations in America, I’m sure !  I’m thankful to serve with you in Christ’s church, and I’m grateful that you are willing to accept the ministry of a less-than-perfect pastor.  Let’s continue to grow in love for, and obedience to, Christ in the coming year.  Thank your prayers for my family in the loss of a pre-born grandbaby last week.  Henry Decker Harms was the name that had been chosen for him, and was given to him, last week.  Thanks for your prayers for Emma and Jason and all our family.

I hope to see you Sunday !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family!

One of my favorite speakers and authors shared a podcast last weekend about a little verse in Jeremiah where God says to Baruch, the companion and note-taker for Jeremiah, “Are you seeking great things for yourself?  Do not seek them ; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh” (Jer 45:5).

The podcast had to do with ministry in big churches vs. ministry in small churches.  Are you seeking great things?  Do pastors (or parishioners, for that matter) feel like it’s necessary to be part of a big church?  

The speaker on this podcast had served as pastor in both large and small churches, and he recounted that he was just as happy serving God in a small church as he was in a large church.  Apparently, Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham who preached, some say, to over 200 million people during his life, said she and Billy would have been just as happy to have been missionaries in some remote part of the world where they would never have experienced the renown they did.

I’m happy that Crossroads Church is the church that it is, and I’m thankful for the changes we’re going through (and some of the challenges that go with growth and change).  Thanks for your patience, your involvement, and your prayers!  All of that is so important!  Your love for the church family and for those we’d like to bring with us into an ever-deepening relationship with God is also key.  Loving people is one of the best ways of serving in a church!

Jeremiah 45:2 starts this way:  “Thus says the Lord the God of Israel to you, O Baruch ….”  How would you like to be like Baruch and have a Bible verse with your own name on it ?  Something like, “This is God’s word to you, Jim, or Judy, or Tom!”  Even though we spoke last Sunday morning about the importance, in Bible interpretation, of determining who the audience is to which the biblical author was writing, the whole Bible is ours — God’s Word for us!  I hope you’re spending time in it this week and will take advantage of the opportunities we’ll have together this week to be nourished and built up in Him!

Some Notes & Important Reminders

This Sunday:

Worship at 10 am, followed by our Hot Dog Dinner outreach at the Walton Pool parking lot, 400 W Atlantic St.  Julie Kemper has been under the weather at the start of this week, so be ready for Julie to reach out to you as she starts to improve and as we get closer to Sunday!  Don’t forget, if you signed up, to bring part of the food or supplies!  Let’s all pitch in, and let’s be sure to pray for excellent connections to be made Sunday afternoon.  Thank you!

Other activities:

• There is a homeschool group using our building tonight, so we ask that you not plan on any activities at the church tonight.  Thank you!
• Immerse tomorrow night (Wednesday), 7-8:15.
• Women’s Breakfast & a Bible Study, Saturday morning, 8-9:15.
• Sunday Night Bible Study at the church Sunday evening, 6-7:15.

More:

• Oktoberfest:  Oktoberfest is this Saturday in Nevada.  The Vernon County Ministerial Association always has a pie stand at Oktoberfest as one its efforts to raise funds for its ministry.  If you would like to donate a pie, you may bring it to the Ministerial Alliance booth at the fairgrounds Saturday morning, or you may drop it off Thursday at First Baptist Church before 4 pm.

• 8-13 year-olds Bible Class:  The next class will be Sunday, October 19, during the sermon.

• Crossroads 101 Membership Class:  If you’re interested in learning more about Crossroads, and about membership at Crossroads, please join me following the worship service on October 19.  Lunch will be provided, and we should finish by 12:30.  Please sign up or let me know if you plan to be there!  Thank you!

• Wedding Reception:  Everyone is invited to the reception for Kylee and Dominick on Saturday, November 1, beginning at 5:30 pm at the Enchanted Prairie Farm.

• Gift Baskets:  Everyone interested — on Sunday, November 16, we’ll be preparing small crafts and gift baskets to deliver to residents of the Nathan Richard Care Center in December.  Meet at the church at 3:30 pm to help prepare the gifts!  Thank you!

• Congregational Meeting:  Don’t forget to mark Sunday, December 14, on your calendar for a congregational meeting following the worship service.  Everyone is welcome to stay for the meeting.  We will be voting on some by-laws updates, an open elder position, and a 2026 church budget.  If you are a member at Crossroads and would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, please let one of the elders know as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Prayers & Praise

• We thank God that David Prickett is home and feeling better.  Please continue to pray for David and Midge.  Thank you!
• Kim Reedy’s brother, Sean Murphy, has had a return of cancer.  Please be in prayer for Sean that he would find strength and help in the Lord.  Thanks for keeping all of Kim’s family in prayer at this time.
• Let’s pray for renewal in body and spirit for Julie Kemper.

Vocabulary

I had a request this week to provide some definitions to words used in the Bible, in church settings, and in songs.  But seeing as how this missive is already quite long, I’m just going to list a few of the words discussed and let you do the homework on them.  A couple of the words were used in the hymn we sang last Sunday, “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” (a great hymn and a great prayer — I hope you’ll work on learning it!  You can find the lyrics at hymnary.org or other websites.)  Other words on this vocabulary list come out of our Sunday night study in psalms, and one or two you’ll recognize from recent sermons.  How many do you know?  

It’s good to expand our vocabulary!  Some of the crude speech we hear these days results, in part, from people having a poor vocabulary.  Consider these two quotes as a motivation to keep learning!

“You can’t build up a vocabulary if you never meet any new words.  And to meet them you must read.  The more you read the better.”

“Words are important.  If you cannot say what you mean, you will never mean what you say.  And you should always mean what you say.”

Vocabulary list from last week:

• abase (verse 4 of “May the Mind of Christ My Savior”)
• channel (verse 6 of that same hymn)
• lament
• lamentation
• hermeneutics
• equity
• iniquity
• imprecation
• imprecatory

I hope you have a good week, and I hope to see you somewhere along the way!

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

There’s lots of opportunity for learning and lots of good worship going on at Crossroads right now !  It’s an exciting fall, and I’m grateful for you.  It’s amazing to me that, even in a small church, how many moving parts there are, and how many people’s participation is needed.  Thanks for all you do !  Thanks for your generous giving — our finances are currently in a good place, although we want to keep in mind our goal of moving to a full-time pastor’s salary next year in September.  That will require a significant commitment from each of us !  Thanks for praying and giving toward that important goal for the future of our church !

Our Sunday night Bible Study got off to a good start this past Sunday with an introduction to the book of Psalms.  We also spent time discussing how the psalms really are about, and for, Jesus !  Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor of the 1930s, reached the conclusion that the book of Psalms is “the prayer book of Jesus Christ in the truest sense of the word.”  That causes us to read the psalms in a new light !

As we said Sunday morning, however, we don’t want to just be learners of God’s Word.  We don’t want to be people who simply know the Bible, or who know things about the Bible ; we want to be people who put God’s Word into practice.  “Receive the word implanted,” writes the Apostle James (1:21).  “Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers” (1:22).

Our elders had a good meeting after the worship service on Sunday.  Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.  We set Sunday, December 14, as the date for our year-end congregational meeting.  We would love for everyone to mark that date on your calendar and plan to attend.  At that meeting, we’ll have some by-laws amendments to vote on ; a 2026 budget proposal ; and we’ll have an election for the office of elder.  Would you like to serve on this year’s Nominating Committee ?  The Nominating Committee has the task of seeking a nominee for election to next year’s Elder Board,  If you are a member at Crossroads and would like to serve on that committee, or if you know someone else who is a member and would serve well on the Nominating Committee, please let one of the elders know.  Thank you !  Cris will have a report on our elders meeting at the conclusion of this Sunday’s worship service.

Prophecy will be part of the theme of this coming Sunday’s message.  We’ll get back into the book of Daniel and the amazing prophecies God gives there concerning the world’s future !  As I listened to a portion of the news conference today between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu concerning a peace plan for Gaza and Israel, I wondered how all the prophecies concerning Israel will affect the efforts of these world leaders and others.  Joel 3:1-3 is an interesting prophecy that says one day God will enter into judgment with the nations who divided up His land.  The prophet Zechariah also indicates that the Lord Jesus will return to earth only after the people of Israel come to a place of repentance and receive their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10-11).  These are two interesting prophecies that may be in play with what we see happening in the world today.  Let’s be in prayer.  God will be true to His Word !

I’m planning on leading a church membership course Sunday, October 19, following the worship service.  If you’re new — or if you’re interested in joining Crossroads as a member — please join us !  The main thing accomplished by membership at Crossroads is that it qualifies you to vote on matters such as will arise at our December congregational meeting.  This membership course (sometimes called “Crossroads 101”) allows you to get to know us better and allows us to know you better.  If you’re interested in being part of the class on October 19, it would be helpful to me if you would let me know in advance.  Thank you !  We’ll have a good time !

Calendar

Immerse tomorrow evening, 7 pm

Everyone is invited and welcome !  Try to read as much as you can of Isaiah 43:14 – 66:24 (pp. 132-174 in the Immerse Bible).

Breakfast & Bible Study — Saturday, Oct 4, 8 am

All women are invited for a good time of study and fellowship !

Sunday Night Bible Study — Sunday, 6 pm

“How to Read and Understand the Psalms.”  We’ll be taking a look at the praise psalms this week !  Would love to have you join us !

Hot Dog Dinner Outreach — Sunday, October 12, at Walton Pool parking lot, following worship

Come for fun and to rub shoulders with people from Nevada !  If you can, please sign up at the church to bring buns, meat, cookies, chips, or drinks.  See Julie Kemper if you need more information.  Thank you !

Evening of Worship — Wednesday, October 15, 7 pm

Instead of Immerse on October 15, we’ll enjoy a time of worship at the church.  Please plan to join us and be refreshed in the Lord.

Men’s Recharge — Thursday, October 16, 6:30 pm

Men, we’ll look at the 9th commandment on October 16, “You shall not bear false witness.”  How can we help each other with this struggle ?

8-13 year-olds Bible Class — Sunday, October 19

The next class for 8-13 year-olds will be October 19th during the sermon.  Future dates for the class are November 9, and December 7.

Membership Class — Sunday, October 19, following worship.

For anyone interested in learning more about Crossroads and our journey in bringing people into an ever-deepening relationship with God and with each other !

Wedding reception for Kylee Vestal and Dominick Goodwin — November 1, 5:30-10:00 pm

Everyone at Crossroads is invited to celebrate Kylee and Dominick’s marriage at the reception at the Enchanted Prairie Farm.  

Prayer Needs

• Please continue to pray for Kim Reedy’s mother, Linda.  We thank God that she is recovering well from knee-replacement surgery.  Please pray, too, for Kim’s brother Sean in Arkansas.  Sean has been diagnosed with a serious illness and needs care and encouragement.  Thank you !
• Heather Hall has had some serious car trouble recently.  Please pray for God’s provision for Heather.
• We’re grateful for healing for Alex Lewis.  Continue to pray for Alex’s health and in particular for his injured finger.
• Pray for Shane Dahmer as he takes exams for a new position he has applied for.
• Did you know that at least four in our Crossroads family are coaches ?  Please pray for Ryan Walker, Jessica Baker, Forrest Drury, and Bryan Townsend who are all busy with coaching responsibilities this fall.  May they bless and live out the Gospel in front of their players  
• Let’s be sure to pray for our college students — Blaiz Pace, Rachel DeWeese, Zeke Lyons, Evan Rea. 

Sunday sermons can be found on the Crossroads Facebook page, but new policies at FB allow them to stay up for only three weeks.  Let your friends know we’re there !  We’ve also begun listing Sunday’s songs in the comments section of the page in case you’d like to listen to a song we sang on Sunday later in the week !

Finally, there is an up-to-date church calendar on the Crossroads website, Crossroads Community Church – Nevada Missouri Church

“Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law !”            — Psalm 119:18

Have a great week !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Lots of good things going on at Crossroads !  Lots of new faces too !  I’m thankful to God for each one of you and am looking forward to worshiping and serving Christ with you during the remainder of this week.

Don’t forget Immerse tonight at 7:00 at the church.  This would be a great time to jump in, even if you’ve missed one or two of the previous meetings.  Women’s “Breakfast and a Bible Study” meets this Saturday morning, 8:00-9:15, at the church for all interested women.  And, of course, worship this Sunday morning at 10:00.

I’m grateful for the good start to various activities this fall, including the women’s Breakfast and a Bible Study on Saturday mornings, a good men’s Recharge group last night, the relationship-building that took place last Sunday among our young families’ Family Fellowship group, and a good start to Immerse.  These are all helping us grow stronger as a church and be better equipped to minister together to our community and world.  I hope you’ll save room this week for a little spiritual “dessert” by joining our new Sunday night study group at 6:00 at the church.  We’ll begin a 6-part study on How to Read & Understand the Psalms.

Our men’s study last night was on the eighth commandment, “You shall not steal.”  Many stories were shared of having been on either end of the breaking of that commandment.  Yet, the deeper heart issue seemed to be whether we are more of a “giver” or a “taker” in life.  I enjoyed that deeper perspective.  It made me think that one of the ways we take, or steal, from others is by insisting on our own way, or on our own opinion of things as being necessarily the right one.  When we do, we often steal another person’s joy, or their trust, or we steal an opportunity for them to contribute toward some commonly held goal.  It was a good study.  It led me to remember something I have had a long time in one of my files which I’ve added at the end of this email.  

May we be doers of the Word and not hearers only !

Please pray for Linda Murphy who had surgery on her knee this week (Tuesday).  Linda, as you know, is Kim Reedy’s mother. 

Calendar

Saturday — Breakfast and a Bible Study for women.  8:00-9:15 at the church.

Sunday —

• Worship at 10:00 at the church.  Children’s Church during the sermon for 0-7 year-olds.
• Elders meeting following the worship service.
• Sunday night Bible Study at the church.  6:00-7:15 pm.

We’re looking at a tentative date of Sunday, October 12, for the next Hot Dog Dinner outreach at the Walton Pool parking lot.

Nine Words for Healing Relationships

I have in my files a church bulletin that’s probably at least 20 years old, from Ashley River Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, from a summer when our family was vacationing (camping !) in Charleston.  It was a good message and I hope will be a helpful reminder to you and me today.  From Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

The nine words that heal relationships are these :

1.  I was wrong.    (Honesty)

Fractured relationships prevent true worship (Matthew 5:23-24) and must be addressed quickly (Eph 4:26-27 — “the Sundown Rule”).

2.  Please forgive me.  (Humility)

True repentance is more than regret (“If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t do it”), and more than remorse (“I know I did a wrong thing ; I regret it and I’m genuinely sorry).  True repentance produces a change of heart and conduct.

3.  I forgive you !  (Harmony)

Biblical forgiveness is not forgetting what has happened ; rather it’s “letting go” of the desire for the offender to be repaid for their wrong.  Send away the grudge that remains.  It’s a choice, and for Christians it must be a predetermined choice.

Can we do it ?  I think we can with the Lord’s help !

Honesty, humility, and harmony : three good qualities to ask God to supply us at Crossroads Church !  

I hope you have a wonderful second half of the week, and I look forward to seeing you as God gives opportunity !

— Tom