TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
September 19, 2019
www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org
Hello, Crossroads Family!
Thanks to everyone who stayed for the congregational meeting last Sunday following the worship service! Your participation is very much appreciated! A summary of Sunday’s meeting is at the end of this email.
This Sunday we’ll gather at the Y for youth Bible Study (“The Truth Project”) and Adult Bible Study (“Why We Can Believe the Bible”) at 9:00; then for worship at 10:00. I look forward to being with you to be refreshed through worship, study, and fellowship. We’ll continue in our sermon series from the Book of Esther. Chapter 3 of Esther introduces us to the villain of the story, a man named Haman. Who was Haman, and what does he teach us about our own lives?
Don’t forget about the Young Life Ice Cream Social Sunday evening for students! Meet at the park on the corn of Ash & Hunter Streets across from the Community Center. The time has been changed: 6:31 – 8:00 is the new time ! Be sure to invite your friends!
We’re in need this fall of a church Nominating Committee that will have the task of gathering nominations for the election of a church elder in January. Our by-laws state that there should be five people on the Nominating Committee. Anyone may serve on the Nominating Committee who is currently a church member. If there is someone you would like to nominate to be on the Nominating Committee, please speak with one of the current elders. Thanks for your help in this important task!
Calendar
Worship this Sunday. 10:00 at the Y. Bible study classes at 9:00.
Young Life Ice Cream Social. Sunday, 6:31-8:00 pm.
Home Group this Wednesday, Sept. 25. Home group will take place this coming Wednesday evening starting at 6:30 at Cris and Donna home, **Contact us for location/directions**. Activities for high school and middle school students; study, sharing, prayer, and encouragement for adults. I hope you’ll plan to be there!
The Big Serve – Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-5 pm. Please join several from Crossroads helping to meet needs in Nevada on the 29th in the afternoon. If you can commit to an hour or two, or to the whole afternoon, you’re welcome to help! We don’t have a definite assignment yet, but it seems likely we may be involved in some deep cleaning at the home of an individual living in Nevada.
Church Problems
I’ve been listening this week to a very interesting series of radio broadcasts on the subject of “Church Problems.” These broadcasts were given years ago by Elisabeth Elliot, former missionary, author, and speaker. Here’s just a part of her broadcast from Wednesday of this week. I think you’ll find it relevant, challenging, and helpful.
“We can spend the rest of our lives concentrating on the problems in church. I think what we need to do instead is to concentrate on Christ Himself, remembering that it is His church. He hasn’t let go of the church. He hasn’t given up on us. He waits in patience for us to come to Him,… to confess our sins ; to confess the sins of our church ; to confess our prayerlessness, our pettiness, our own personal gripes and hurts.
“Somebody has hurt you in the church, and you can’t stand it. You can’t stand to see that person. In fact, you can’t stand it so much you decide to leave the church. What do you think you’re going to find in the next church? Whatever happened to courage, to forgiveness, to grace, to the simple kindness of overlooking a sleight? Very often the sleights that we feel so painfully were not intentional at all ; the other person hasn’t the least idea that they’ve hurt us. Let’s start concentrating on Christ Himself! We are His people, the sheep of His pasture, and the psalms say we are to enter into His presence with thanksgiving!
“Why go to church? Primarily to hear the sermon? No, I think the main reason we should go to church is to worship together with other people who love Christ. Worship should be the central focus; not worship of the man in the pulpit, but of the Christ of whom he speaks.
“God promises perfection in His church,… but not yet. Isn’t it wonderful to think that some day it’s all going to be sorted out? One day the Bride in all her glory will be presented perfect and without spot. But in the meantime, here we are, incomplete, imperfect, until that time.
“Jesus predicted all of this; we ought not to be surprised. He said the kingdom of heaven is like a net; it brings in all kinds of fish – good ones and bad ones. It’s like a field of wheat where not only does the wheat grow but also the weeds! What do we expect to find in the church of Christ other than sinners? There really isn’t anything else, is there? Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘Well, I used to go to church, but I quit because the place is full of hypocrites’? Hypocrisy is a sin, yes; but where is a hypocrite supposed to go, if not to church? We’re the ones who need the church!”
God bless you as you as you finish out this week! A summary of Sunday’s congregational meeting is below. Let’s be mindful to pray for members of our church family, including the following:
- Shane Dahmer and family. Shane’s dad is having open-heart surgery today.
- Heather Hall’s brother, Jon, gaining strength following emergency surgery and ongoing health challenges.
- Ashley Chadd’s friend, Tedie, recovering from an accident and the loss of her father.
- Josh and Hope Hunt’s grandmother, fighting cancer.
- Dave Reedy’s dad.
- All our students in area school systems and at Cottey College, and the teachers who serve them.
I hope to see you Sunday!
— Tom
Summary of Congregational Meeting of Sunday, September 15
Update from four ministry teams:
— Follow-Up Team:
- working on a new visitors card
- looking into the purchase of a gift for first-time visitors
- Discussion took place on additional follow-up for new Cottey students.
— Children’s Church Team:
- needing to choose themes for October, November, December
- Thanks to those serving!
— Set-Up Team:
- Set-up and break-down needs are being met. Thanks to those who help!
- There is a need for someone to be in charge of supplying and sprucing up the refreshment table on Sunday mornings.
— Worship Team:
- meeting regularly
- A group of young people from the church will lead worship on September 29.
Home Group / Youth Group
- plan is to have Home Group once a month
- The first Home Group will be Wednesday, Sept. 25. There will be activities for the young people.
The Big Serve
We are waiting for our assignment for The Big Serve. It may likely involve some deep cleaning at the home of a person in need in Nevada. Anyone is welcome to join the team Sept. 29, 1-5 pm. Heather is coordinating for us.
Church Finances
- Income for the year is $906 over budget, and expenses are $3046 less than budgeted, so we are nearly $4000 ahead of where we budgeted for this year. God has been more than faithful in our expenses and in moving in the hearts of the church to support His work here at Crossroads. Thanks to those who give sacrificially and generously! Thanks to Judi for her work on the financial records! Let’s pray and work to finish the year strong.
- It was decided to support the local Young Life ministry $100 / month for the remainder of 2019 and to attempt to budget regular support for Young Life in the 2020 budget.
Nominating Committee
An election for the office of elder is scheduled for January. A Nominating Committee needs to be formed this fall that will lead the process of discerning God’s will for nominating someone to fill that office. The Nominating Committee must give its recommendation to the congregation at least three weeks prior to the January meeting. The Nominating Committee should be made up of five people who are currently church members. If anyone wants to nominate someone for the Nominating Committee, they should tell that to one of the current elders.
Other Ministry Connections
- Discussion took place on helping a local family at Christmas. Julie will pursue more information about this opportunity.
- Dave shared information about a chili cook-off being held October 12 in the lot next to Great Southern Bank, if anyone is interested in participating.
- A representative from our local Birthright chapter will come one Sunday morning to share more about the ministry of Birthright. Tom will coordinate that visit.
- A suggestion was made to look into the possibility of hearing from a representative of Peterson Outdoor Ministries. Erlinda and/or Dave will pursue that possibility.
- A suggestion was made that if anyone would like to use the church outdoor cooker for outreach in their neighborhood, the cooker would be made available and the church could possibly provide hot dogs, etc, for such an outreach.
Fellowship
- Discussion took place on the possibility of having a Thanksgiving meal for the church family and friends they would like to invite. Erin accepted to work on this idea.
- It was suggested to have a Christmas Eve service such as we had last year at the Y again this year. Tom would organize the service with possible help from the Worship Team.
Tom Vacation
- Tom will take some vacation time, October 24-28.
- Shane will check with Shane McCasslin about possible pulpit supply on Sunday, October 27.
We closed the meeting with a time of open prayer. Thanks to all who are involved in, and who pray for, the life of this Scrappy Church!
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