Dear Church of the Cross family,
For a year or so in the advertising world, one credit card company has been hitting readers and viewers alike with the mantra, "What's in Your Wallet?" Get the right credit card (theirs) and apparently the world can be yours – and so can its debt.
For many months now in the political world, another question is being asked, "Who's got your ear?" This has come about because one preacher who has been connected to one of the presidential candidates, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has been getting airtime that most televangelists can only dream of. Now another pastor, John Hagee, who is connected to another candidate, has also been getting air time too. While pundits skirmish to magnify these connections, neither the preachers nor the politicians seem anxious to do the same.
Both of these questions, "What's in your wallet?" and "Who's got your ear?" point to a far bigger question: "What's in your heart?" A prayer in the church hymnal begins with this sentence, "Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart." And it continues this way, "In my heart, above all else, let love and integrity envelop me." So, what's in your heart?
When asked to render a tax decision (an old-fashioned offshoot of the question, "What's in your wallet?"), Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter, "Give to Caesar (the earthly authority) what is Caesar's, but save for God what is God's." Our hearts and our lives belong to God.
To the question, "Who's got your ear?" the psalm teaches us to "Be still and know that I am God." In a world of so many influences and so many distractions, to "be still and know that I am God" points us in a different direction.
Pastor Tom
And to that question of "What's in your heart?" the prayer in the hymnal points us in the right direction: a desire "to be more holy
in my heart," a prayer for mercy, and the longing to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
Come thou Fount of every blessing, tune our hearts to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!
Teach us some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
(Hymn 400)
Page 1
A VIEW FROM THE PEW
THE BEAUTY OF SILENCE
For a year or so in the advertising world, one credit card company has been hitting readers and viewers alike with the mantra, "What's in Your Wallet?" Get the right credit card (theirs) and apparently the world can be yours – and so can its debt.
For many months now in the political world, another question is being asked, "Who's got your ear?" This has come about because one preacher who has been connected to one of the presidential candidates, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has been getting airtime that most televangelists can only dream of. Now another pastor, John Hagee, who is connected to another candidate, has also been getting air time too. While pundits skirmish to magnify these connections, neither the preachers nor the politicians seem anxious to do the same.
Both of these questions, "What's in your wallet?" and "Who's got your ear?" point to a far bigger question: "What's in your heart?" A prayer in the church hymnal begins with this sentence, "Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart." And it continues this way, "In my heart, above all else, let love and integrity envelop me." So, what's in your heart?
When asked to render a tax decision (an old-fashioned offshoot of the question, "What's in your wallet?"), Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter, "Give to Caesar (the earthly authority) what is Caesar's, but save for God what is God's." Our hearts and our lives belong to God.
To the question, "Who's got your ear?" the psalm teaches us to "Be still and know that I am God." In a world of so many influences and so many distractions, to "be still and know that I am God" points us in a different direction.
Come thou Fount of every blessing, tune our hearts to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!
Teach us some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
(Hymn 400)
When I was in college many years ago, I had a professor of philosophy who was, (besides being listed in Who's Who in American Education),
a man of deep Christian conviction. He used a black board in his lectures to explain his views with great affect.
He once said to the class, "You say there is no God. Okay, let's represent that with a 0. Now, what is 0 minus 0. You're right, It's 0." He then said, "you see, there has to be a God in order to believe He doesn't exist, because nothing from nothing is nothing." He then told this story.
A young man claiming to be an unbeliever once said to an elderly Christian woman, "I once believed there was a God, but now since studying philosophy and mathematics, I am convinced that God is but an empty word."
"Well," said the lady, "I have not studied such things but since you have been so well taught, can you tell me from whence comes this egg?
"Why, of course. The egg comes from the hen."
"And where did the hen come from?"
The man reflected briefly and said, "From the egg."
The lady then inquired, "Which existed first, the hen or the egg?"
"The hen, of course."
"Oh, then the hen must have existed without having come from an egg."
"No, no, I should have said the egg was first."
"Then I suppose you mean that one egg existed first without coming from a hen."
The young man hesitated and said, "Well, you see, that is, of course, well, uh, the hen was first."
"Very well," she said, "but who made the first hen from which all eggs and hens come from?"
"What do you mean by all this?" he asked.
"Simply this," she said, "He who created the first hen is He who created the world. You cannot explain the existence of a hen or an egg without God. And yet you want me to believe that you can explain the existence of the world without Him."
Colossians 1:16 reads - For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be of thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.
Remember, other books were given for our information, the Bible was given for our transformation. May God's Blessings be upon each one of you!
Bill Miller
Page 2
THE "GREAT COMMISSION" CORNER
“GO!”
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,
Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
To send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:36-38
He once said to the class, "You say there is no God. Okay, let's represent that with a 0. Now, what is 0 minus 0. You're right, It's 0." He then said, "you see, there has to be a God in order to believe He doesn't exist, because nothing from nothing is nothing." He then told this story.
A young man claiming to be an unbeliever once said to an elderly Christian woman, "I once believed there was a God, but now since studying philosophy and mathematics, I am convinced that God is but an empty word."
"Well," said the lady, "I have not studied such things but since you have been so well taught, can you tell me from whence comes this egg?
"Why, of course. The egg comes from the hen."
"And where did the hen come from?"
The man reflected briefly and said, "From the egg."
The lady then inquired, "Which existed first, the hen or the egg?"
"The hen, of course."
"Oh, then the hen must have existed without having come from an egg."
"No, no, I should have said the egg was first."
"Then I suppose you mean that one egg existed first without coming from a hen."
The young man hesitated and said, "Well, you see, that is, of course, well, uh, the hen was first."
"Very well," she said, "but who made the first hen from which all eggs and hens come from?"
"What do you mean by all this?" he asked.
"Simply this," she said, "He who created the first hen is He who created the world. You cannot explain the existence of a hen or an egg without God. And yet you want me to believe that you can explain the existence of the world without Him."
Colossians 1:16 reads - For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be of thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.
Remember, other books were given for our information, the Bible was given for our transformation. May God's Blessings be upon each one of you!
Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
To send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:36-38
Today only 8% of people under the age of 28 years of age attend church! I find those statistics, provided by Bryan Wiles during a recent 3rd
Hour of Worship service, to be significant. Significant, but sadly, not surprising.
Pastor Dan Kimball in his article, “I Love Jesus…Not the Church” (Outreach; March/April 2007) writes of how his young adults ministry went to the college campus to conduct videos of students to learn their thoughts about Christianity. They noted that only 2 of the 16 students interviewed even knew any Christians personally. The remaining students had based their impressions of the Church “on church leaders they saw in the media, or on the more aggressive street evangelists passing out tracts and holding up signs”.
As Kimball examined himself and the Christians around him he took note of how they had isolated themselves from those outside the church. He writes, “As I thought about it even more, I had another pretty horrifying revelation. I looked at my own life and schedule and realized I, too, wasn’t building friendships with those outside the church. My schedule had become consumed with church meetings, and when I wasn’t in a meeting, I was in my office or at home preparing for the Sunday sermon. Even my social time was spent only with Christians, usually key leaders in the church”.
Kimball wrote further, “As I talked with numerous other pastors and our church staff, as well as Christians who worked outside the church, I realized that we were all doing the same thing. We were all immersed in this strange Christian Bubble. No wonder 14 of the 16 students we’d interviewed didn’t know any Christians. All the Christians were too busy going to the myriad of church activities, meetings and Christian concerts that we as church leaders scheduled for them. We were so busy staying in Christian ‘community’ that we had become isolated in our own subculture”.
I wonder to what extent am I guilty of the same isolation? Jesus left the glories of heaven to come into our messy world. He then called us to “go and make disciples of all nations”. Perhaps I need to re-examine my lifestyle to see to what extent am I staying where I am comfortable and failing to step out? Maybe I need to let go of some of my “Christian” activities and make deliberate efforts to become involved in the lives of those outside the Church? Perhaps I am not alone in my need to give these questions further consideration?
Mark Weaver
Page 3
Pastor Dan Kimball in his article, “I Love Jesus…Not the Church” (Outreach; March/April 2007) writes of how his young adults ministry went to the college campus to conduct videos of students to learn their thoughts about Christianity. They noted that only 2 of the 16 students interviewed even knew any Christians personally. The remaining students had based their impressions of the Church “on church leaders they saw in the media, or on the more aggressive street evangelists passing out tracts and holding up signs”.
As Kimball examined himself and the Christians around him he took note of how they had isolated themselves from those outside the church. He writes, “As I thought about it even more, I had another pretty horrifying revelation. I looked at my own life and schedule and realized I, too, wasn’t building friendships with those outside the church. My schedule had become consumed with church meetings, and when I wasn’t in a meeting, I was in my office or at home preparing for the Sunday sermon. Even my social time was spent only with Christians, usually key leaders in the church”.
Kimball wrote further, “As I talked with numerous other pastors and our church staff, as well as Christians who worked outside the church, I realized that we were all doing the same thing. We were all immersed in this strange Christian Bubble. No wonder 14 of the 16 students we’d interviewed didn’t know any Christians. All the Christians were too busy going to the myriad of church activities, meetings and Christian concerts that we as church leaders scheduled for them. We were so busy staying in Christian ‘community’ that we had become isolated in our own subculture”.
I wonder to what extent am I guilty of the same isolation? Jesus left the glories of heaven to come into our messy world. He then called us to “go and make disciples of all nations”. Perhaps I need to re-examine my lifestyle to see to what extent am I staying where I am comfortable and failing to step out? Maybe I need to let go of some of my “Christian” activities and make deliberate efforts to become involved in the lives of those outside the Church? Perhaps I am not alone in my need to give these questions further consideration?
From the Lay Leader:
To the graduates;
And any other who might find himself in this story.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6)
To the graduates;
And any other who might find himself in this story.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6)
Throughout the Midwest there is a tree, the hackberry. You see them growing from Indiana to Kansas, from Iowa to Texas. You seldom find
them in town gardens. They’d never be sold in a nursery. They grow in the country. Often they’re thought of as a weed. They come up on their own.
They sprout in fence rows and next to buildings. They get cut down only to send up multiple shoots to replace the trunk that was destroyed. Occasionally,
though, one grows to maturity and shows the world what God designed it to be. There is one standing in the yard back home on the farm where I grew up.
I don’t know how old it is. When I was a little boy, and that was over 60 years ago, I thought of it as a mature tree. So today it stands not as a scrub tree in
a hedge row somewhere but as a giant, facing every wind that blows across the fields. This is a parable about such a tree.
The Hackberry Tree
The little hackberry started life in a fence row, as many hackberries do. He was just across the fence from the rich man’s garden, which is probably the only reason the rich man’s gardener had not cut him out that first summer. The first year he didn’t pay attention to much except sending down roots and growing his first branches so he wasn’t really aware of anyone else around him.
The next spring though he noticed a bush with the most beautiful purple flowers growing a few feet from him. He said “Oh you have such beautiful flowers. I wish I could be like you.” But the bush said “Don’t be silly. I’m a lilac and you’re a hackberry tree. You can’t be a lilac. You’ll just have to be the best hackberry you know how to be.” The little tree spent the rest of the summer, growing a little taller and feeling a little sad to think he could never have beautiful flowers like the lilac bush.
The next summer he was a little taller. He noticed a little farther away a beautiful crab apple tree. His first thought was “Oh how I wish I could be as beautiful as the crab apple tree.” But he didn’t say anything. He knew he was destined to never be anything but a hackberry growing outside the fence of the rich man’s garden.
So the years passed and the little tree grew. And each year he could see a little farther. He saw more trees. One summer he saw a pine tree. It was straight and tall as only a pine tree could be, but when He thought how much he’d like to be straight and tall like the pine he heard once again “No you’re destined to be a hackberry. You weren’t meant to be a pine.”
Some years later he saw a maple. He saw pipes coming out of the side of its trunk. He asked what they were for. The maple told him they were there because he had the sweetest sap of all the trees in the garden and in the spring men came a got some of the sap from those pipes so they could use it to pour on their pancakes each morning.” The hackberry wondered if the maple could instruct him so he could make sap for the men to eat each morning with their pancakes. But the answer was no. He was destined to always be a hackberry.
Another year he saw a walnut tree, quite a bit farther away. (He was taller now.) But it was close enough for the hackberry to call to it. He could see the little squirrels running up and down the trunk and playing in the branches, but most of all they were gathering and storing and eating the nuts that grew from the tree. He wished that he could also grow walnuts so more squirrels would want to play in his branches. But he knew he could never be more than a hackberry tree.
Years passed. The tree grew. Many times he’d discover another tree who had some special gift. But he was resigned to think he could never be anything but a hackberry tree. He had nothing special to give. Nobody would ever notice him.
Then one day he saw, for the first time, out in a field, on the other side of the rich man’s garden, the most spectacular oak tree. It was tall, as tall as the pine had been. Men stood under it enjoying the shade made by its great branches. Squirrels and birds played in the top. The hackberry called, “My! but you’re a wonderful tree. How I envy you!”
But the old oak called back “What do you mean, friend tree? Have you looked at yourself? Look down at your feet.” So the old hackberry tree looked down at his feet, where the fence used to be that had run around the rich man’s garden. Way down there, far below his crown, he saw a tiny lilac bush that grew at his feet. And not far from there, also far below was a little flowering crab apple tree. He saw the great walnut. It had lost some of its branches. But the little squirrels still ran up and down its trunk, as he noticed they also did on his. The pine tree and the maple were gone.
Then the old oak called “Don’t you see what you’ve become? You’re as tall as I. You’re branches stretch just as high into the sky as mine. Men enjoy your shade just as they do mine. And when the strong wind blows, you stand proud and look it in the eye. And no one ever says “you’re ‘just’ a hackberry tree.
For many years after that all the trees in the garden sang the praises of the hackberry tree. The men enjoyed its shade. Children played beneath it and squirrels, in its branches. And the great wind only sang its song as it sailed by.
And to all his children and grandchildren the giant old tree only said “don’t worry that you’ll never be a lilac. Just be the best hackberry that you know how.
Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ, Pete
Page 4
Graduation
Church of the Cross would like to honor our graduates on June 1. If you are aware of anyone in our church family who is graduating from high school, college, or graduate school, please inform the church office, so that we can include everyone. Thank you
MISSION UPDATES
THANK YOU to everyone who attended and participated in the Mission Fair and Hog Roast Benefit. It was a wonderful day with representatives from People to People, Haven of Rest, College of Wooster, Bowling Green State Univ., Wayne United Chaplains, Gideons, CAMO and World Gospel Mission. Mission giving was around $l,500. This contribution will enable us to continue to meet our obligations for the 2008 year. A special thanks to Annie Michaels, Pastor Walker, and Bryan Wiles for being our guest speakers. We hope that you all enjoyed learning more about our mission outreach and especially the hog roast.
Early birds, Ron Borton, Jim Fisher, and Jim Borton, who began their day at 6:30, thank you for roasting and preparing the hog.
HAVEN OF REST has asked that we partner with them by using their prayer calendar that has been included in this newsletter. Continue to pray for our missionaries and projects and especially Emma Shaw who will be in the mission field with Wycliffe this summer. Mission Chairperson,
Cindy Mullet
"Here I Am, Lord"
Church of the Cross is privileged to have three young persons involved in ministries this summer. Amy Woods, who just completed 8th grade, will be part of the Youth Musicale ministry in Ohio, touring to different communities and churches in the state for one week in July. Lorrin Pringle, currently enrolled at Baldwin-Wallace College, will be serving a summer internship at the First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green. (This program is run by the West Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; its purpose is to offer young adults a hands on look at pastoral ministry.) Emma Shaw, who has finished her junior year at Bryn Mawr College, will serve in the country of Benin (located in West Africa) with Wycliffe Bible Translators, working in the rural and bush regions of the country.
Please lift up each of these persons in prayer as they seek to honor God in their lives and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they may be. And please pray for each other - young or old, whether it's Bowling Green, Benin or Wooster, each of us has been given the grace as the apostle says, to share the Good News "for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Children’s Festival
Yes, it is time to start thinking about the summer. This year, our aim is to keep the fun of Children’s Festival but make this event a true outreach for children who may have never heard of God’s love for them. We are now forming the group that will plan the activities for the Festival. Everyone is welcome. All you need is a heart for children, a touch of creativity, planning and administrative skills, or simply a willingness to help. The planning committee will meet for the first time in a few weeks, so please let Linda Weaver know if you are willing to help or sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board.
Greg Sellers To Be Ordained June 17th
Greg Sellers, former member of Church of the Cross, will be ordained as a pastor in the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 17, at Lakeside, Ohio. Following his years of seminary study and staff work at Church of the Cross, Greg has served as a full-time pastor, first in Burton City and most recently in Tiffin. His ordination on June 17 culminates many years of study, preparation and practical experience. Following the June 17 ordination ceremony Greg will no longer be on probation but will be a minister "in Full Connection with the East Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church."
The 7 pm worship service for ordination on June 17 at Lakeside, OH, is open to the public, and the Church of the Cross is welcome to attend too. If you wish to attend but need transportation, or if you are planning to attend and can offer a ride, please let the church office know. (The ordination service takes place at Lakeside because it is part of the week long Annual Conference meeting held once each year with clergy and lay representatives from each of the United Methodist churches in East Ohio.)
Greg and Kathy Sellers will be transferred from Tiffin and begin a new appointment in Lorain, effective July 1, 2008.
Youth Fellowship Activities
Youth – Our summer schedule begins in June. Watch the bulletin for announcements and details of our summer events!
One Day Adventure Camp at Camp Wanake
One Day Adventure Camp at Camp Wanake is offered for children and teens entering 1st – 9th grade in the fall. Camp Wanake is offering a one day camp on June 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The last half hour is a parent program.) Activities include games, a cookout, Bible study, swimming, and hiking – and possibly canoeing and rock climbing for the older children. The cost per child is $5 and children need to be registered by June 3. A sign-up sheet and a flyer describing the day is on the bulletin board. At this point, the church is not planning on arranging transportation for this day, but if several families are interested, perhaps we can arrange a carpool. If you are interested, please see Linda Weaver for registration information and forms and transportation arrangements.
Cedar Point Day
Cedar Point Day with the United Methodist Church East Ohio Conference is June 13, 2008. Discounted tickets are available from the conference. Adult pre-sale tickets (ordered by June 1) are $30 and tickets at the gate are $35. Junior admissions are still $13.95 and can be purchased at the gate. The bulletin board has a sign-up sheet and a flyer with more information, including information about the Worship and Communion Rally offered at the park that day. A carpool could be arranged if there is interest, but at this point no other transportation is being arranged by Church of the Cross. Please contact Linda Weaver if you are interested in this opportunity.
Page 5
The little hackberry started life in a fence row, as many hackberries do. He was just across the fence from the rich man’s garden, which is probably the only reason the rich man’s gardener had not cut him out that first summer. The first year he didn’t pay attention to much except sending down roots and growing his first branches so he wasn’t really aware of anyone else around him.
The next spring though he noticed a bush with the most beautiful purple flowers growing a few feet from him. He said “Oh you have such beautiful flowers. I wish I could be like you.” But the bush said “Don’t be silly. I’m a lilac and you’re a hackberry tree. You can’t be a lilac. You’ll just have to be the best hackberry you know how to be.” The little tree spent the rest of the summer, growing a little taller and feeling a little sad to think he could never have beautiful flowers like the lilac bush.
The next summer he was a little taller. He noticed a little farther away a beautiful crab apple tree. His first thought was “Oh how I wish I could be as beautiful as the crab apple tree.” But he didn’t say anything. He knew he was destined to never be anything but a hackberry growing outside the fence of the rich man’s garden.
So the years passed and the little tree grew. And each year he could see a little farther. He saw more trees. One summer he saw a pine tree. It was straight and tall as only a pine tree could be, but when He thought how much he’d like to be straight and tall like the pine he heard once again “No you’re destined to be a hackberry. You weren’t meant to be a pine.”
Some years later he saw a maple. He saw pipes coming out of the side of its trunk. He asked what they were for. The maple told him they were there because he had the sweetest sap of all the trees in the garden and in the spring men came a got some of the sap from those pipes so they could use it to pour on their pancakes each morning.” The hackberry wondered if the maple could instruct him so he could make sap for the men to eat each morning with their pancakes. But the answer was no. He was destined to always be a hackberry.
Another year he saw a walnut tree, quite a bit farther away. (He was taller now.) But it was close enough for the hackberry to call to it. He could see the little squirrels running up and down the trunk and playing in the branches, but most of all they were gathering and storing and eating the nuts that grew from the tree. He wished that he could also grow walnuts so more squirrels would want to play in his branches. But he knew he could never be more than a hackberry tree.
Years passed. The tree grew. Many times he’d discover another tree who had some special gift. But he was resigned to think he could never be anything but a hackberry tree. He had nothing special to give. Nobody would ever notice him.
Then one day he saw, for the first time, out in a field, on the other side of the rich man’s garden, the most spectacular oak tree. It was tall, as tall as the pine had been. Men stood under it enjoying the shade made by its great branches. Squirrels and birds played in the top. The hackberry called, “My! but you’re a wonderful tree. How I envy you!”
But the old oak called back “What do you mean, friend tree? Have you looked at yourself? Look down at your feet.” So the old hackberry tree looked down at his feet, where the fence used to be that had run around the rich man’s garden. Way down there, far below his crown, he saw a tiny lilac bush that grew at his feet. And not far from there, also far below was a little flowering crab apple tree. He saw the great walnut. It had lost some of its branches. But the little squirrels still ran up and down its trunk, as he noticed they also did on his. The pine tree and the maple were gone.
Then the old oak called “Don’t you see what you’ve become? You’re as tall as I. You’re branches stretch just as high into the sky as mine. Men enjoy your shade just as they do mine. And when the strong wind blows, you stand proud and look it in the eye. And no one ever says “you’re ‘just’ a hackberry tree.
For many years after that all the trees in the garden sang the praises of the hackberry tree. The men enjoyed its shade. Children played beneath it and squirrels, in its branches. And the great wind only sang its song as it sailed by.
And to all his children and grandchildren the giant old tree only said “don’t worry that you’ll never be a lilac. Just be the best hackberry that you know how.
Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ, Pete
Church of the Cross would like to honor our graduates on June 1. If you are aware of anyone in our church family who is graduating from high school, college, or graduate school, please inform the church office, so that we can include everyone. Thank you
THANK YOU to everyone who attended and participated in the Mission Fair and Hog Roast Benefit. It was a wonderful day with representatives from People to People, Haven of Rest, College of Wooster, Bowling Green State Univ., Wayne United Chaplains, Gideons, CAMO and World Gospel Mission. Mission giving was around $l,500. This contribution will enable us to continue to meet our obligations for the 2008 year. A special thanks to Annie Michaels, Pastor Walker, and Bryan Wiles for being our guest speakers. We hope that you all enjoyed learning more about our mission outreach and especially the hog roast.
Early birds, Ron Borton, Jim Fisher, and Jim Borton, who began their day at 6:30, thank you for roasting and preparing the hog.
HAVEN OF REST has asked that we partner with them by using their prayer calendar that has been included in this newsletter. Continue to pray for our missionaries and projects and especially Emma Shaw who will be in the mission field with Wycliffe this summer. Mission Chairperson,
Cindy Mullet
Church of the Cross is privileged to have three young persons involved in ministries this summer. Amy Woods, who just completed 8th grade, will be part of the Youth Musicale ministry in Ohio, touring to different communities and churches in the state for one week in July. Lorrin Pringle, currently enrolled at Baldwin-Wallace College, will be serving a summer internship at the First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green. (This program is run by the West Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; its purpose is to offer young adults a hands on look at pastoral ministry.) Emma Shaw, who has finished her junior year at Bryn Mawr College, will serve in the country of Benin (located in West Africa) with Wycliffe Bible Translators, working in the rural and bush regions of the country.
Please lift up each of these persons in prayer as they seek to honor God in their lives and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they may be. And please pray for each other - young or old, whether it's Bowling Green, Benin or Wooster, each of us has been given the grace as the apostle says, to share the Good News "for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Yes, it is time to start thinking about the summer. This year, our aim is to keep the fun of Children’s Festival but make this event a true outreach for children who may have never heard of God’s love for them. We are now forming the group that will plan the activities for the Festival. Everyone is welcome. All you need is a heart for children, a touch of creativity, planning and administrative skills, or simply a willingness to help. The planning committee will meet for the first time in a few weeks, so please let Linda Weaver know if you are willing to help or sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board.
Greg Sellers, former member of Church of the Cross, will be ordained as a pastor in the United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 17, at Lakeside, Ohio. Following his years of seminary study and staff work at Church of the Cross, Greg has served as a full-time pastor, first in Burton City and most recently in Tiffin. His ordination on June 17 culminates many years of study, preparation and practical experience. Following the June 17 ordination ceremony Greg will no longer be on probation but will be a minister "in Full Connection with the East Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church."
The 7 pm worship service for ordination on June 17 at Lakeside, OH, is open to the public, and the Church of the Cross is welcome to attend too. If you wish to attend but need transportation, or if you are planning to attend and can offer a ride, please let the church office know. (The ordination service takes place at Lakeside because it is part of the week long Annual Conference meeting held once each year with clergy and lay representatives from each of the United Methodist churches in East Ohio.)
Greg and Kathy Sellers will be transferred from Tiffin and begin a new appointment in Lorain, effective July 1, 2008.
Youth – Our summer schedule begins in June. Watch the bulletin for announcements and details of our summer events!
One Day Adventure Camp at Camp Wanake is offered for children and teens entering 1st – 9th grade in the fall. Camp Wanake is offering a one day camp on June 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (The last half hour is a parent program.) Activities include games, a cookout, Bible study, swimming, and hiking – and possibly canoeing and rock climbing for the older children. The cost per child is $5 and children need to be registered by June 3. A sign-up sheet and a flyer describing the day is on the bulletin board. At this point, the church is not planning on arranging transportation for this day, but if several families are interested, perhaps we can arrange a carpool. If you are interested, please see Linda Weaver for registration information and forms and transportation arrangements.
Cedar Point Day with the United Methodist Church East Ohio Conference is June 13, 2008. Discounted tickets are available from the conference. Adult pre-sale tickets (ordered by June 1) are $30 and tickets at the gate are $35. Junior admissions are still $13.95 and can be purchased at the gate. The bulletin board has a sign-up sheet and a flyer with more information, including information about the Worship and Communion Rally offered at the park that day. A carpool could be arranged if there is interest, but at this point no other transportation is being arranged by Church of the Cross. Please contact Linda Weaver if you are interested in this opportunity.
Bonnie Circle - Reglarly scheduled Thursday meetings will resume in the fall.
Prayer Shawl -
The prayer Shawl/Knitting Ministry meets in the Prayer Room at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evenings. Anyone who would like to learn to knit or join the group is welcome. Contact Sharon Ouwerkerk for more information.
Ruth Circle –
Women's Bible Study -
We meet in Linda’s office at 6:00 p.m. Childcare is provided. A light meal is also available for a small charge. Please contact Linda Weaver if will be joining us for dinner or if you have any questions.
Young Women’s Bible Study -
This is a group of young women who meet for encouragement, prayer, and Bible study. We are currently working through a study called Woman of God. We meet two Tuesday evenings a month at 6:00 p.m. in Linda Weaver’s office. Our dates for May are May 6 and May 20. Sub sandwiches are available for a small cost; please contact Linda the day of the study to let her know if you would like dinner. Childcare is available. We welcome newcomers – please join us!
Youth Fellowship Activities -
Youth – plan to join us for our meetings on May 4 and May 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church, for discussion, prayer, activities, and snacks. We will also meet on Saturday, May 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the church to bake muffins for Mothers Day. Come prepared to bake! In June, we will go to our summer schedule. Please continue to think about what you would like to do over the summer so that we can make plans. Page 6
Page 7
Military Personnel
For the month of May there will be US postal boxes in the narthex at Church of the Cross to collect items for the following soldiers in Afghanistan. On each box
will be a list of requested items which will give you an idea of things they like to receive. There will also be an additional box for someone who did not turn in a list.
Please donate only the items that you are comfortable sending or feel free to purchase those items you would like to send that are not on the list. Thank you very
much for caring and sharing with these courageous men and women.
SPC Gilcrist is the son of Church of the Cross members Bill and Patty Gilcrist, and the others are the troops in his unit. Anything on the lists may be sent. They also like beef jerky, popcorn, bouillon cubes, potato chips in a can, and chocolate.
Patty and Bill have purchased two desk lamps. Should you purchase one, please make sure it is not put together and will fit into the post office box. Bill Gilcrist would like to place the packages in the mail on Monday, June 2, 2008 so you only have through May 25th to gather items. Each of these flat rate boxes will cost 10.95 to send. You may also make a cash donation to defray the cost of shipping … or you may take a box and list and mail it on your own.
Each of the following men and women will be serving in Afghanistan for twelve more months. Their addresses will be on the table with their names. Thanks!
Amy Baxstrom And Kathie Hothem also will have additional boxes on the table for all the soldiers on the Church of the Cross
PFC Gonzalez
lawn chair, axe body wash, cheezits, twizzlers, command & conquer (computer game)
PFC LE (female) beef jerky, sunflower seed (barbecue), hot cheetos, orbit gum, black small hair clips, pillow, Marlboro smooth cigarettes, Kim chi
SSG Allen
desk lamp, 3 time zone watch, mp3 player, candy, coffee
SSG lamb
beef jerky, desk lamp or reading lamp, microwave popcorn
PFC Vinson
desk lamp, poster, peanut butter and jelly, bread, coca-cola gummys, any type of candy
SPC Redifer
beef jerky, MP3 player, fan, candy, and chew
SPC Esperacion
beef jerky, watch, laptop USB controller, candy
SPC Meziere
pistachios, book about being social, and lots and lots of candy
SSG Kissick
desk lamp, candy, and a Harley Davison model
SPC Gilcrist (son)
some food (canned), beef jerky, carton of Marlboro, letters from home, a blanket to keep me warm, junk food, photo of the family and Jennifer and her family and whatever else you would like to send
SUNDAYS SERVICES IN JUNE
June 1- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Sunday School for all ages from 10:30-11:30 unless
otherwise noted.
June 8- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
June 15- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
June 22- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Communion Sunday
June 29- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Page 8
Blessed are those to whom Easter is
not a hunt ... but a find;
not a greeting... but a proclamation;
not an outward fashion ... but inward grace;
not a day ... but an eternity.
(taken from an Easter Greeting Card)
June Birthdays
& Anniversaries
Anniversaries = A
Birthdays = B
Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Telephone the church office so we can add you to the list. Our apologies for the oversight.
Page 9
Wednesday Evening A.I.M. Night
5:45 - 6:15 pm - Light Supper
6:20 - 7:20 pm - Kids for Christ
6:20 - 7:20 pm - Adult Study Groups
7:30 - 9:00 pm - Chancel Choir
Page 10
Prayer Shawl -
The prayer Shawl/Knitting Ministry meets in the Prayer Room at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evenings. Anyone who would like to learn to knit or join the group is welcome. Contact Sharon Ouwerkerk for more information.
Ruth Circle –
Women's Bible Study -
We meet in Linda’s office at 6:00 p.m. Childcare is provided. A light meal is also available for a small charge. Please contact Linda Weaver if will be joining us for dinner or if you have any questions.
Young Women’s Bible Study -
This is a group of young women who meet for encouragement, prayer, and Bible study. We are currently working through a study called Woman of God. We meet two Tuesday evenings a month at 6:00 p.m. in Linda Weaver’s office. Our dates for May are May 6 and May 20. Sub sandwiches are available for a small cost; please contact Linda the day of the study to let her know if you would like dinner. Childcare is available. We welcome newcomers – please join us!
Youth Fellowship Activities -
Youth – plan to join us for our meetings on May 4 and May 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church, for discussion, prayer, activities, and snacks. We will also meet on Saturday, May 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the church to bake muffins for Mothers Day. Come prepared to bake! In June, we will go to our summer schedule. Please continue to think about what you would like to do over the summer so that we can make plans.
SPC Gilcrist is the son of Church of the Cross members Bill and Patty Gilcrist, and the others are the troops in his unit. Anything on the lists may be sent. They also like beef jerky, popcorn, bouillon cubes, potato chips in a can, and chocolate.
Patty and Bill have purchased two desk lamps. Should you purchase one, please make sure it is not put together and will fit into the post office box. Bill Gilcrist would like to place the packages in the mail on Monday, June 2, 2008 so you only have through May 25th to gather items. Each of these flat rate boxes will cost 10.95 to send. You may also make a cash donation to defray the cost of shipping … or you may take a box and list and mail it on your own.
Each of the following men and women will be serving in Afghanistan for twelve more months. Their addresses will be on the table with their names. Thanks!
Amy Baxstrom And Kathie Hothem also will have additional boxes on the table for all the soldiers on the Church of the Cross
PFC Gonzalez
lawn chair, axe body wash, cheezits, twizzlers, command & conquer (computer game)
PFC LE (female) beef jerky, sunflower seed (barbecue), hot cheetos, orbit gum, black small hair clips, pillow, Marlboro smooth cigarettes, Kim chi
SSG Allen
desk lamp, 3 time zone watch, mp3 player, candy, coffee
SSG lamb
beef jerky, desk lamp or reading lamp, microwave popcorn
PFC Vinson
desk lamp, poster, peanut butter and jelly, bread, coca-cola gummys, any type of candy
SPC Redifer
beef jerky, MP3 player, fan, candy, and chew
SPC Esperacion
beef jerky, watch, laptop USB controller, candy
SPC Meziere
pistachios, book about being social, and lots and lots of candy
SSG Kissick
desk lamp, candy, and a Harley Davison model
SPC Gilcrist (son)
some food (canned), beef jerky, carton of Marlboro, letters from home, a blanket to keep me warm, junk food, photo of the family and Jennifer and her family and whatever else you would like to send
June 1- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Sunday School for all ages from 10:30-11:30 unless
otherwise noted.
June 8- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
June 15- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
June 22- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Communion Sunday
June 29- Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
not a hunt ... but a find;
not a greeting... but a proclamation;
not an outward fashion ... but inward grace;
not a day ... but an eternity.
(taken from an Easter Greeting Card)
Anniversaries = A
Birthdays = B
| 1- Susan Parris - B James Pfeifffer - B Larry & Nely Harris - A Bob & Marilyn Stiffler - A |
| 2- |
| 3- Barb Mekoleske - B Ken & Bev Theil - A Tom & Susan Zimmerman - A |
| 4- Ruth Long - B Tom & Joyce Kreider - A |
| 5- John Finn - B |
| 6- |
| 7- Becky Pfeiffer - B John & Cheryl Pamer - A Jim & Nancy Riemann - A |
| 8- Ruth Gordon - B Connie Smeltzer - B |
| 9- Dana Phillips - B |
| 10- Tara Fought - B |
| 11- |
| 12- Janet Kasserman - B |
| 13- |
| 14- |
| 15- John & Carla Krichbaum - A |
| 16- Mark Weaver - B Lynn & Gayle Welker - A |
| 17- Wanda Miller - B Bill & Patty Gilcrist - A |
| 18- |
| 19- Larry Ouwerkerk - B |
| 20- Kathleen Schellin - B |
| 21- Nely Harris - B bill & Vicki Fagert - A |
| 22- Roy Carmony - B Margaret Schellin - B Jo Anne Page - B |
| 23- Lindsay Jackson - B Bev & Mike Shaw - A |
| 24- Sarah Lake - B Lorri Pringle - B |
| 25- |
| 26- |
| 27- |
| 28- Robby Lake - B Amy Woods - B Don & Lorri Pringle - A |
| 29- Forrest & Evelyn James - A Jason & Tanya Banfield - A |
30- |
Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Telephone the church office so we can add you to the list. Our apologies for the oversight.
NEW ARRIVALS
IN LOVING MEMORY
Church Calendar
June 2008
June 2008
| 1 - Sunday Graduation Sunday 7:00 - am - UMM Breakfast |
| 2 - Monday - 6:00 - pm - Tops 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
| 3 - Tuesday 6:00 - pm - Women's Bible Study |
| 4 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study |
| 5 - Thursday 7:00 - am - Ruth Circle |
| 6 - Friday |
| 7 - Saturday |
| 8 - Sunday Parish Nurses |
| 9 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops 6:00 - pm - Cub Scouts 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
| 10 - Tuesday |
| 11 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study |
| 12 - Thursday |
| 13 - Friday |
| 14 - Saturday |
| 15 - Sunday FATHER'S DAY Crosswinds Due for July |
| 16 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops 6:00 - pm - Cub Scouts 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 16-19 |
| 17 - Tuesday 6:00 - pm - Women's Bible Study 7:30 - pm - Education ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 16-19 |
| 18 - Wednesday 6:30 - pm Men's Bible Study ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 16-19 |
| 19 - Thursday ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 16-19 |
| 20 - Friday |
| 21 - Saturday |
| 22 - Sunday |
| 23 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops |
| 24 - Tuesday 6:45 - pm - Finance 7:30 - pm - Admin Board |
| 25 - Wednesday 6:30 - pm Men's Bible Study 7:30 - pm Evangelism & Outreach |
| 26 - Thursday |
| 27 - Friday |
| 28 - Saturday |
| 29 - Sunday |
| 30 - Monday - 6:00 - pm - Tops 6:00 - pm - Cub Scouts 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
5:45 - 6:15 pm - Light Supper
6:20 - 7:20 pm - Kids for Christ
6:20 - 7:20 pm - Adult Study Groups
7:30 - 9:00 pm - Chancel Choir
