TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
What a week it has been already! I’m sure the same is true for you. Here’s some of what I’ve been up to…
- After church last Sunday, Evan, Allie, and I drove to Springfield for a late lunch with Esther, Spencer, Billy, and Hannah at the home of Diana’s hospice chaplain. This is a person who, because of Diana’s short stay on hospice care, only actually saw her twice before she passed away. Yet, for eight years Van has continued to accompany our family through grief and recovery. How grateful I am for his care, for his commitment, and for the generosity he and his wife Debbie showed in welcoming us to their new home for sandwiches and homemade strawberry shortcake. (Interestingly, I nominated Van for a Chaplain of the Year award when we lived in the St Louis area, and he won the award! Isn’t that something?)
- On Monday, our church elders and I were able to spend time with two Evangelical Free Church colleagues — one, Todd Brooks, is the new Associate Superintendent for the Central District, responsible for Church-Planting in Missouri and Arkansas ; the other, Mark Farran, is a friend and pastor at the E-Free Church in Bland, Missouri (east of Jeff City). It was good to connect with Todd and Mark, to receive encouragement, and now to know they’ll be praying with greater clarity for Crossroads. They gave us some good input on our situation, some of which I’ll share Sunday.
- Yesterday, I had the bittersweet blessing of officiating at the funeral of my brother-in-law Lee Hopler who died unexpectedly last Friday at the age of 67. God blessed our gathering which included my sister Carrie, five of her seven children, and several of her grandchildren. The Word of God spoke to us, and the Holy Spirit ministered God’s comfort, peace, and love. It was about a 9-hour round-trip drive for me but a special time.
- Today was my first day back at Nevada High School, and also my first day accompanying the Cottey College Chamber Singers which I’ll be doing this year on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:00 – 9:45. It was great to be with this small choir — beautiful voices, and a completely different style of music from what we work on at the high school. I look forward to friendships God will open up for me at Cottey.
These are days of transition and opportunities for all of us. It’s good to know the Lord is directing our steps, individually and as a church.
I was grateful for the spirit of attentiveness and commitment at last Sunday’s worship service, as God spoke to us about “Why Bother With the Church”. I hope to see you this coming Sunday morning for worship at the Y. We’ll follow up on last Sunday’s sermon and continue on to the next section of the EFCA Statement of Faith which is on “Christian Living.” My sermon has a long title: “What If There Were No Churches? What If There Were No Christians?” A long title doesn’t necessarily mean a long sermon! It should also be posted on the Crossroads Facebook page by Saturday evening.
This coming Sunday, August 29, will be our last Sunday at the Osage Prairie YMCA. It’s an important Sunday, so I hope as many of us as possible can be there (and stay, if you can, for the potato bar lunch and Crossroads Connection). It’s also an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness to Crossroads Church through all these years in which the Y has been our home.
At Crossroads Connection this Sunday, we’ll talk about our transition to a new meeting place; the elders will share from their heart and from the vision God has given them; we’ll have a financial update; we’ll look forward to input and conversation from you; and we’ll make time to pray. Please plan to attend. We should finish up by 12:30.
Coming Up…
Some quick reminders:
Youth Swim Party Tonight, 6:30, at the Vestals.
Snacks and fun. Bring a friend!
Worship this Sunday at the Y, 10:00 am.
Crossroads Connection following worship this Sunday.
Good food, fellowship, important discussion, and prayer.
Worship Sunday, September 5, at Riverside Cowboy Church Outdoor Pavilion
We’ll meet outdoors on Sundays in September in the covered pavilion at Riverside Cowboy Church. There are new bathroom facilities at the pavilion. We’ll start at the usual time, 10:00. Address: 16001 S. 1250 Road, Nevada.
The Big Serve, September 25-26
The Big Serve is coming up in September. If you’re interested in local outreach and would like to participate (or would like to organize a small team from Crossroads), you can find out more at www.BigServeVCMO.com, or you can call Lynda Jones at 417-448-4495.
Congratulations to Andrew and Olivia Pitkin who were married last Saturday!
We rejoice with Andrew & Olivia and their families! Let’s pray for Andrew and Olivia as they begin a new chapter in their lives!
“Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).
See you Sunday!
— Tom
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