TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
Our church elders will meet this Friday afternoon with the owner of the building on Highland Avenue to sign a lease for the rental space (formerly the Missouri Job Center) at 621 Highland Avenue.
Imagine, this will be our first “home” other than using facilities supplied to us by the city or by the YMCA for Sunday mornings only! This is an exciting step and a big one for Crossroads! Thank you for your prayers, and please do pray for this last meeting to wrap things up on Friday.
There will be lots of little things to be done at the new place in order to equip it for worship, childcare, and other uses. We will need your help! Also, we’ll need to put in place a system for cleaning and attending to other weekly needs there once we begin to use the space. Finally, this will be a serious financial commitment that we haven’t had in the past, so here’s our opportunity to step up and answer God’s call sacrificially for his glory through more impactful ministry at Crossroads! We will remain at the Community Center through the end of December but will begin this month preparing our new home for a fresh start there in January.
As a church, we’ve not always been great at communicating needs and opportunities for service. If you ever have the question running through your mind — “Why doesn’t someone ask me to do something?” — please ask that very question of myself or of one of the elders. There are going to be lots of opportunities to serve as we step into this new phase of church life. Having everyone serve in some capacity, according to how God has gifted you, will be an important thing for us to strive for.
More…
Immerse
In the new year, we’ll be initiating an exciting Wednesday night small group plan called “Immerse.” It’s a unique Bible reading & discussion plan for the whole church. It will be a chance to grow spiritually, be re-charged midweek, make deeper connections at Crossroads, and to invite others to experience the joy of connecting with God. Be listening for more information.
Congregational Meeting – Sunday, December 17
Please plan to attend the meeting on December 17 following the worship service. On the agenda will be the following:
- Prayer
- 2023 Financial Report
- Vote on 2024 Church Budget
- Nominating Committee Report (The Nominating Committee is finalizing its work this week.)
- Vote on new Church Elder
- Information about Immerse.
- Update on new Crossroads home
Michaela is doing some work updating the Crossroads Facebook page. If she approaches you to ask for your opinions, please help her out! Thank you!
Christmas Eve Service, 6 pm, at the Community Center
We’ll have our usual morning worship service at 10 a.m. on the 24th, then a special time of worship and fellowship beginning at 6:00 in the evening. Please plan to attend! And bring your friends and family who will be with you that evening! There will be a special activity for children. We will finish no later than 7:00. Hot chocolate will be served.
This Sunday, December 10th
Worship this Sunday morning at 10 at the Community Center.
Youth group lunch, study and fellowship at Jessica’s following worship.
I was encouraged today by the many promises found in Psalms 145-147 (New Living Testament) — promises such as these:
The Lord helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads. Psalm 145:14
When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. Psalm 145:16
The Lord is close to all who call on him ; yes, to all who call on him sincerely. Psalm 145:18
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him ; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19
He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. Psalm 146:6-8
The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows. Psalm 146:9
Concerning winter weather (which will certainly be coming), Psalm 147 says this:
He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.
He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold?
Then, at his command, it all melts.
He sends his winds, and the ice thaws. (Hope!… from Psalm 147:16-17)
Did you know that we belong to an association of churches across America called the Evangelical Free Church of America ? Here’s a link to a really good 3-minute video about the EFCA:
This is the EFCA (Video) — EFCA Helps
This is the EFCA (Video) — EFCA Helps This fast-paced overview video provides viewers with a good sense of ministry in this movement known as “the EFCA.” |
Personal
Yes, Nevada Sam is engaged! He popped the question over Thanksgiving break and is now engaged to Maddie Golightly, a wonderful young woman from the Dallas area who, like Sam, works at Sky Ranch near Tyler, Texas. I’m happy for Sam and Maddie and proud of all my kids. I’m expecting a new grandbaby at the Harms home in northwest Iowa the first week of January. This afternoon, following high school show choir responsibilities, I’ll make the drive to Columbia for an early “Christmas” dinner with my mother-in-law, Inge Decker, at the family favorite, Olive Garden.
I hope to see you this Sunday morning!
— Tom
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