TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I enjoyed our worship and fellowship yesterday. I’m glad for those who were there, and if you weren’t able to join us, I hope you can catch up by watching yesterday’s sermon on the Crossroads Facebook page. It was great to see new faces among us yesterday! Please pray for the Johnson family who were attending for the first time ; it was great also to have one of our high school students from Youth Group for the first time ; another new face was little Annistyn Walker, with us for the first time on a Sunday morning !
Don’t forget that this coming Sunday we will have a picnic lunch together at Radio Springs Park after the worship service. We need your help organizing the picnic. Would you please contact Heather V by this Wednesday to let her know if you will be coming (or how many from your family), and also if you would prefer to bring a side, chips, drinks, or a dessert. Thank you! You can text or call Heather V. at *contact us for information*. Chicken, paperware and plasticware will be provided … and hopefully a little bit of shade!
Next Sunday, July 24:
- Worship – 10:00 am at the Community Center
- Picnic immediately following at Radio Springs Park
Other Reminders
Monday Night Prayer Tonight, 5 pm
Join us at my house, 628 W. Arch Street, for an informal time of sharing and prayer. Come when you can; leave when you need to. We’ll conclude around 5:45 or 6:00. Isn’t it interesting that someone visiting Nevada from California just called me up with a prayer request! When I answered the phone, he asked if this was “the church.” I like that name for Crossroads — kind of reminds me of buying the off-brand, generic product at the grocery store, rather than the name brand!
MAMS Women’s Group begins Wednesday, September 7, 7pm
This is a group for any women from Crossroads and their friends who would like to get together with others for encouragement, fellowship, and Bible-based discussion on issues that concern you. (MAMS stands for “Marys and Marthas”.) First meeting September 7, at the home of Michelle Mooneyham, *contact us for location*.
Pray for High School Camp This Week
Pray for Jessica, Forrest, Kelsi and others who are leading young people at Kamp Keirsey this week, Monday-Thursday, near Amsterdam, Missouri. Thank you! We look forward to hearing about God’s work in these young people’s lives.
Personal
I’ll be taking some vacation time from July 25th through August 7th. Thanks for carrying on the work of the church during that time. I won’t be checking texts and emails, so be sure to contact one of the other church elders if you have a need during that time. I’m looking forward to some down time and coming back refreshed in August. For a few days during my break, I’ll go see my daughter Annie and granddaughter Fiona in South Carolina. Filling in on Sundays for me will be Jerry Carlin (July 31) and Shane McCasslin (August 7).
As for the rest of my family…
- Emma and Jason have Fiona staying with them this week at their home in Tampa. So they’re busy with their own five kids plus cousin Fiona! Looks like everyone is having a good time — playing, reading, pool time, and probably the beach too! Jason preached yesterday, from Psalm 37, at their church, Oakwood Community Church, also an Evangelical Free Church.
- As some of you know, Samuel and Esther lost a good college friend, Caleb Hawley, who was killed last week in a traffic accident in Taney County. Caleb graduated from C of O last December and was just married two months ago. His wife works with Sam at the donut shop in Branson. The entire campus is profoundly affected by this loss. Caleb also attended church with Sam, Esther, and my mom in Forsyth.
- My daughter Betsy is working through a really bad bout of Covid. Thanks for your prayers. Her fiancé, Dan, has also tested positive but has been hit not quite as hard as Betsy. Betsy and Dan’s wedding is coming up on September 17. We’re very excited about that and looking forward to celebrating all together as a family!
- Andrew and Molly are enjoying their summer in Oregon, Andrew busy at Our Table Cooperative’s certified organic farm outside Portland, and Molly with her work as massage-therapist and member of push/fold, a contemporary dance company in Portland.
- Billy’s time is full with rotations in Springfield-area hospitals and continuing his medical studies. Hannah continues to work hard and serve well in her nursing position at Mercy Hospital, also in Springfield. They are active at Hill City Church in Springfield.
- Evan is making the transition from 628 W. Arch to Hard Work U. If you make a visit to the Branson area, be sure to take in the Ralph Foster Museum on the C of O campus (actually, a great museum!) where Evan can help show you around!
I’ve recently enjoyed some interaction with staff of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) who are planning new campus ministry opportunities in our area. I look forward to the possibility of God using us to be a support!
I’ve especially enjoyed some one-on-one discipleship I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of this summer with two people from our church and a third person who lives in Ft Scott.
Finally, Nevada High School show choir has kicked off with our first camp last week and 3 days of camp coming up at the end of this week. I believe we’re going to have some fun shows!
In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, in the New Living Translation, we read this encouraging reminder of our vision as followers of the Lord Jesus (and members of Crossroads):
“But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume.”
Paul finishes that passage by asking, “Who is adequate for this?” Of course, we are completely inadequate in ourselves; but as we live closely with the Lord and with each other in love and humility we can be this life-giving fragrance of Christ to our world!
Have a great week!
— Tom
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