Dear Church of the Cross family,
Another day, another dollar, and another drop of 400 or more in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Rarely do outsiders see how clearly it is that Wall Street is ruled by only two emotions: fear and greed.
President Bush puts forth a plan to obligate taxpayers for 700 billion dollars (It's like co-signing a loan that you don't get to not co-sign). But it doesn't work. He calls out to America to stay calm. That doesn’t work. All the nations of the world come together to orchestrate a financial rescue plan. That doesn't work either. Meanwhile, homes are in foreclosure, jobs are in limbo, and neighbors are anxious (me too).
The Bible has plenty to say about fear and greed, so how can we combat them? First, it is important to recognize that the two go hand in hand, even if the one hand wants to stay blind to the other. Second, fighting fear and greed is not something you can pick up for a day or a week and then put down again, and at the same time expect to be any good at it. It takes more than discipline – it takes discipleship, the conscious decision not to walk in the way of the world but to walk according to Jesus' way.
Third, rarely is the battle against fear and greed a battle that you can win alone – it takes community. A fearful person (or child) doesn't want to be alone in times of fear; we ought not to be alone either. Instead use your church connection, pray for one another, encourage each other, and together let us trust in God and cast our cares upon him. Isn't this what we are taught as followers of Jesus?
As it is with fear, so it is with greed – we do better against it when we are in community, when we give and receive, when we share and practice generosity. There's no rocket science involved, just the honest hard prayer to be a cheerful giver. Isn't this what we are taught as followers of Jesus?
I Timothy 6:6-12 pulls no punches: "Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called."
To a world haunted by fear and shackled by greed, let us offer a different way: the freedom of faith and generosity, of trust and sharing. With God's amazing grace, we can do it.
Pastor Tom
Page 1
A VIEW FROM THE PEW
FEAR, FAITH AND FORGIVENESS
Another day, another dollar, and another drop of 400 or more in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Rarely do outsiders see how clearly it is that Wall Street is ruled by only two emotions: fear and greed.
President Bush puts forth a plan to obligate taxpayers for 700 billion dollars (It's like co-signing a loan that you don't get to not co-sign). But it doesn't work. He calls out to America to stay calm. That doesn’t work. All the nations of the world come together to orchestrate a financial rescue plan. That doesn't work either. Meanwhile, homes are in foreclosure, jobs are in limbo, and neighbors are anxious (me too).
The Bible has plenty to say about fear and greed, so how can we combat them? First, it is important to recognize that the two go hand in hand, even if the one hand wants to stay blind to the other. Second, fighting fear and greed is not something you can pick up for a day or a week and then put down again, and at the same time expect to be any good at it. It takes more than discipline – it takes discipleship, the conscious decision not to walk in the way of the world but to walk according to Jesus' way.
Third, rarely is the battle against fear and greed a battle that you can win alone – it takes community. A fearful person (or child) doesn't want to be alone in times of fear; we ought not to be alone either. Instead use your church connection, pray for one another, encourage each other, and together let us trust in God and cast our cares upon him. Isn't this what we are taught as followers of Jesus?
As it is with fear, so it is with greed – we do better against it when we are in community, when we give and receive, when we share and practice generosity. There's no rocket science involved, just the honest hard prayer to be a cheerful giver. Isn't this what we are taught as followers of Jesus?
I Timothy 6:6-12 pulls no punches: "Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called."
To a world haunted by fear and shackled by greed, let us offer a different way: the freedom of faith and generosity, of trust and sharing. With God's amazing grace, we can do it.
As we look around us and observe the things that are happening, we could almost wonder where God is. Look at the
World Trade Center bombing, the Twin Towers on 9/11, the unrest between Israel and Palestine, the financial crisis
with our banks and the stock market, the Iraqi war, the rising prices on gas, medications, food – everything you go
to buy. You cannot pick up a daily newspaper without reading of war, murder, rape, drugs, stealing, and fraud.
Consider all the natural disasters: tornadoes that wreak havoc throughout the country, earthquakes, famine, pestilence,
hurricanes that have destroyed so many homes in the south, and so on.
Our faith in God could almost be shaken. We look at these things and feel fear, anxiety, and turmoil inside. So we start singing, “Troublesome times are here, filling our hearts with fear.” But should we be fearful? Where is our faith? Where are we going? Where are we laying up our treasure?
Let’s look around us again and observe some things. Did the sun rise this morning? Did it set last night? How about the moon and stars, were they still up there? Didn’t we just come through the beautiful summer months? How about the changing colors on the trees – aren’t they gorgeous? Didn’t your garden and flowers grow and bloom this spring and summer? Did you do that or did God? Who makes it rain? Do we decide when it’s enough? Can you unfold the petals of a rose? Can you unfold your life with the beauty and meaning that God can? If your heart becomes fearful or proud, take the time to watch the sun rise and the rose bloom. Psalms 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you”.
We need to let God be God. We need to realize there is nothing we can do to change the past, present or even the people around us. God works in people in ways we do not understand. We need to accept the fact that there really is nothing in our own power left to do but to accept the things as they are and allow God to move people the way He sees fit.
If we truly believe this in our hearts, we see there is only one thing left to do with the situations facing us today, including the people that hurt us. We need to simply release it all to God and forgive from our hearts. We allow God to cleanse our hearts from all bitterness. We keep our focus on our own shortcomings that we, through God’s help, can respond properly to those who hurt us.
Think of the things and people you need to forgive. Tell God everything. Ask God to fill your heart with love that we can share this with the world.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! AMEN!
May God's blessings be upon each one of you.
Bill Miller
Page 2
THE GREAT COMMISSION CORNER
Our faith in God could almost be shaken. We look at these things and feel fear, anxiety, and turmoil inside. So we start singing, “Troublesome times are here, filling our hearts with fear.” But should we be fearful? Where is our faith? Where are we going? Where are we laying up our treasure?
Let’s look around us again and observe some things. Did the sun rise this morning? Did it set last night? How about the moon and stars, were they still up there? Didn’t we just come through the beautiful summer months? How about the changing colors on the trees – aren’t they gorgeous? Didn’t your garden and flowers grow and bloom this spring and summer? Did you do that or did God? Who makes it rain? Do we decide when it’s enough? Can you unfold the petals of a rose? Can you unfold your life with the beauty and meaning that God can? If your heart becomes fearful or proud, take the time to watch the sun rise and the rose bloom. Psalms 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you”.
We need to let God be God. We need to realize there is nothing we can do to change the past, present or even the people around us. God works in people in ways we do not understand. We need to accept the fact that there really is nothing in our own power left to do but to accept the things as they are and allow God to move people the way He sees fit.
If we truly believe this in our hearts, we see there is only one thing left to do with the situations facing us today, including the people that hurt us. We need to simply release it all to God and forgive from our hearts. We allow God to cleanse our hearts from all bitterness. We keep our focus on our own shortcomings that we, through God’s help, can respond properly to those who hurt us.
Think of the things and people you need to forgive. Tell God everything. Ask God to fill your heart with love that we can share this with the world.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! AMEN!
May God's blessings be upon each one of you.
You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4:2
Those of us who gather together for men’s group on Wednesday mornings have recently been reading Jim Cymbala’s book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” This month I have decided to share an excerpt from his book as he writes of what initiated a drastic change in his struggling congregation:
“Early in the service I said, ‘Brothers and sisters, I really feel that I’ve heard from God about the future of our church. While I was away, I was calling out to God to help us – to help me – understand what he wants most from us. And I believe I’ve heard an answer. It’s not fancy or profound or spectacular. . But I want to say to you today with all the seriousness I can muster: From this day on, the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church. What happens on Tuesday night will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us.
“’If we call upon the Lord, he has promised in his Word to answer, to bring the unsaved to himself, to pour out his Spirit among us. If we don’t call upon the Lord, he has promised nothing – nothing at all. It’s as simple as that. No matter what I preach or what we claim to believe in our heads, the future will depend upon our times of prayer. “’This is the engine that will drive our church. Yes, I want you to keep coming on Sundays – but Tuesday night is what it’s really all about. Carol and I have set our course, and we hope you’ll come along with us.’
“A minister from Australia (or perhaps it was New Zealand) happened to be present that morning – a rare occurrence. I introduced him and invited him to say a few words. He walked to the front and made just one comment:
‘I heard what you pastor said. Here’s something to think about:
You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning.
You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night.
But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting.’
And with that, he walked off the platform. That was all. I never saw him again.” (“Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”; Jim Cymbala; pp. 27-28)
It would seem that the direction that Jim Cymbala received was similar to that which came out in the first visionary meeting this year. We need to pray. We need revival. We need to prevail in prayer.
OUTreach begins by first asking God to reach INto our hearts to transform us. Evangelism proceeds from the direction we receive thereafter. Conversions in our community will occur when our prayers unleash greater levels of the Spirit’s power in the hearts of others.
I am thankful that we as a church are moving in a renewed way toward a greater emphasis on prayer. We now meet in the sanctuary on Tuesdays at noon, have tentative plans to offer an additional opportunity to pray on Wednesday nights, and now have a class on prayer taught by Pastor Tom on Wednesday nights. Join us.
Mark Weaver
Page 3
Those of us who gather together for men’s group on Wednesday mornings have recently been reading Jim Cymbala’s book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” This month I have decided to share an excerpt from his book as he writes of what initiated a drastic change in his struggling congregation:
“Early in the service I said, ‘Brothers and sisters, I really feel that I’ve heard from God about the future of our church. While I was away, I was calling out to God to help us – to help me – understand what he wants most from us. And I believe I’ve heard an answer. It’s not fancy or profound or spectacular. . But I want to say to you today with all the seriousness I can muster: From this day on, the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church. What happens on Tuesday night will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us.
“’If we call upon the Lord, he has promised in his Word to answer, to bring the unsaved to himself, to pour out his Spirit among us. If we don’t call upon the Lord, he has promised nothing – nothing at all. It’s as simple as that. No matter what I preach or what we claim to believe in our heads, the future will depend upon our times of prayer. “’This is the engine that will drive our church. Yes, I want you to keep coming on Sundays – but Tuesday night is what it’s really all about. Carol and I have set our course, and we hope you’ll come along with us.’
“A minister from Australia (or perhaps it was New Zealand) happened to be present that morning – a rare occurrence. I introduced him and invited him to say a few words. He walked to the front and made just one comment:
‘I heard what you pastor said. Here’s something to think about:
You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning.
You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night.
But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting.’
And with that, he walked off the platform. That was all. I never saw him again.” (“Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”; Jim Cymbala; pp. 27-28)
It would seem that the direction that Jim Cymbala received was similar to that which came out in the first visionary meeting this year. We need to pray. We need revival. We need to prevail in prayer.
OUTreach begins by first asking God to reach INto our hearts to transform us. Evangelism proceeds from the direction we receive thereafter. Conversions in our community will occur when our prayers unleash greater levels of the Spirit’s power in the hearts of others.
I am thankful that we as a church are moving in a renewed way toward a greater emphasis on prayer. We now meet in the sanctuary on Tuesdays at noon, have tentative plans to offer an additional opportunity to pray on Wednesday nights, and now have a class on prayer taught by Pastor Tom on Wednesday nights. Join us.
Mark Weaver
From the Lay Leader:
Complete Victory
“And he said to the king of Israel ‘Strike the ground’; so he struck the ground three times and stopped. And the man
of God was angry and said ‘You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria till
you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” (I Kings 13:19)
When Elisha was dying, Jehoash, the king of Israel, came to see him. Syria was threatening Israel. Elisha prophesied a partial victory for Israel by telling Jehoash to strike the ground with his arrows. Had he struck enough times Elisha could foresee total permanent victory. But Jehoash only struck three times so Elisha saw only a temporary reprieve. The lesson is that we should never be halfhearted in our goals and prayers.
I have had the honor this year of being the Lay Leader. As such I have personally contributed an article each month to the “Crosswinds”; I’ve had the pleasure of occasionally having a lay role in our worship services; I’ve even sometimes filled the pulpit in Tom’s absence. I have seen hopeful changes overall: I am thrilled to see a few more families with small children at our services. My vision is that we’d have many more. I’ve sensed a greater depth in our worship. I see movement toward accomplishing some of the church’s structural and spiritual goals. I’m pleased with that. I hope to see us move forward in the direction we’ve been going: for the contemporary, “third hour” service to have greater enthusiasm from the entire church so that it might increase our appeal to more young people and families; for our Tuesday noon prayer group to expand and a similar evening prayer fellowship to become available to, and enjoyed by, many more in the church.
I see Church of the Cross as a fellowship of good people, seriously committed to doing services, projects and works that will positively influence God’s kingdom on Earth. That’s good. I wouldn’t change or discourage any of these. My vision for our fellowship is for even more; it is that we become more typically a transparent people who are able to expose our inner feelings for and about God, to ourselves, to others, and to Him. I feel there is a discomfort there, a feeling that too much expression just wouldn’t be or isn’t proper. That confuses me. If we were at a sports event where the excitement of the game has the crowd cheering foolishly, none would feel out of place wildly expressing his or her enthusiasm. Yet in church we often stand expressionless, some not even moving their lips during a hymn, as if to express joy at the meaning of our worship would be wrong? Why? Does it mean we really don’t see anything very exciting about why we are here?
I see exciting change. I wish to see much more. At a recent meeting, Janet described the new antiphonal speakers with their ability to play “surround sound” throughout the sanctuary. I asked facetiously if she could make them play that loud base “kaboom” that some young people like to play on their car speakers, and drive people from the back pews to the front. I know Jesus told us to take the lower seats at the banquet so that the host could tell us, if He chose to, to move to a more honored place. My vision is for everyone to recognize that he or she is Jesus’ cherished guest whom He does want to seat in a place of honor at the front of the celebration, for each to feel and express the thrill of knowing that he or she is the honored guest at the Master’s banquet.
I have enjoyed my role as Lay Leader, but I recognize there’s more that could be done in that role. Likewise, I do see successes in the direction the church has gone this last year. My hope and prayer is for even more. Total victory is possible. Let us continue to strike the ground with our arrows until the victory is complete.
Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ, Pete
Page 4
September Financial Report
When Elisha was dying, Jehoash, the king of Israel, came to see him. Syria was threatening Israel. Elisha prophesied a partial victory for Israel by telling Jehoash to strike the ground with his arrows. Had he struck enough times Elisha could foresee total permanent victory. But Jehoash only struck three times so Elisha saw only a temporary reprieve. The lesson is that we should never be halfhearted in our goals and prayers.
I have had the honor this year of being the Lay Leader. As such I have personally contributed an article each month to the “Crosswinds”; I’ve had the pleasure of occasionally having a lay role in our worship services; I’ve even sometimes filled the pulpit in Tom’s absence. I have seen hopeful changes overall: I am thrilled to see a few more families with small children at our services. My vision is that we’d have many more. I’ve sensed a greater depth in our worship. I see movement toward accomplishing some of the church’s structural and spiritual goals. I’m pleased with that. I hope to see us move forward in the direction we’ve been going: for the contemporary, “third hour” service to have greater enthusiasm from the entire church so that it might increase our appeal to more young people and families; for our Tuesday noon prayer group to expand and a similar evening prayer fellowship to become available to, and enjoyed by, many more in the church.
I see Church of the Cross as a fellowship of good people, seriously committed to doing services, projects and works that will positively influence God’s kingdom on Earth. That’s good. I wouldn’t change or discourage any of these. My vision for our fellowship is for even more; it is that we become more typically a transparent people who are able to expose our inner feelings for and about God, to ourselves, to others, and to Him. I feel there is a discomfort there, a feeling that too much expression just wouldn’t be or isn’t proper. That confuses me. If we were at a sports event where the excitement of the game has the crowd cheering foolishly, none would feel out of place wildly expressing his or her enthusiasm. Yet in church we often stand expressionless, some not even moving their lips during a hymn, as if to express joy at the meaning of our worship would be wrong? Why? Does it mean we really don’t see anything very exciting about why we are here?
I see exciting change. I wish to see much more. At a recent meeting, Janet described the new antiphonal speakers with their ability to play “surround sound” throughout the sanctuary. I asked facetiously if she could make them play that loud base “kaboom” that some young people like to play on their car speakers, and drive people from the back pews to the front. I know Jesus told us to take the lower seats at the banquet so that the host could tell us, if He chose to, to move to a more honored place. My vision is for everyone to recognize that he or she is Jesus’ cherished guest whom He does want to seat in a place of honor at the front of the celebration, for each to feel and express the thrill of knowing that he or she is the honored guest at the Master’s banquet.
I have enjoyed my role as Lay Leader, but I recognize there’s more that could be done in that role. Likewise, I do see successes in the direction the church has gone this last year. My hope and prayer is for even more. Total victory is possible. Let us continue to strike the ground with our arrows until the victory is complete.
Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ, Pete
The month of September closed out with all necessary bills paid. Included was the $10,000 invoice for the new roof over
the Fellowship Hall, which was paid using special donations from the congregation and a $2500 boost from the Howard Rugh
family fund. Thank you!
For most of this year we have paid our bills and slowly watched the reduction of the general fund balance needed to operate the church. In September, for instance, we received $14,075 and spent $16,200. Through the first nine months of 2008 we have received $145,442 and have spent $157,283. These are moneys used to pay utilities, maintenance, salaries, class materials, music and worship items. It also covers the parsonage mortgage and taxes. Giving for Missions is covered in a completely separate mission budget.
If you extrapolate the numbers out to the end of the year, it looks like we will have income of $192,600 and expenditures of $209,600. This adds up to a deficit of $17,000. As the Finance Committee reviews this, and tries to project a budget for 2009, it appears the costs of running the church will continue going down the deficit road. It is only a matter of time before serious decisions will have to be made.
There are several things we can do. (1)The best thing is to grow our church. More members mean increased giving. That’s easy to figure out. (2)We can reduce staff, staff salaries, and/or programs. That’s painful, but a way out. (3)Each member can increase their giving by 10%. That would do a lot to solve the problem. (4)We can stop paying our apportionments. That is a question that always comes up. These are just a few ideas and there are many combinations of things to be considered.
This year we did stop paying some of our apportionments. But we are United Methodists, and as long as we belong to this denomination, we have an obligation to support the UMC with our funds, our time and our talent. Our apportionments are divided into several categories and here is an explanation of them: • World Service and Benevolences – Covering world missionary outreach, congregation development, media and publication coverage, teen and youth ministry, camps and retreats
• Connectional Support Services – Covers administration of East Ohio offices, Bishops residence, pastoral care, pastor moving expenses, local church support, East Ohio publications and conferences
• Ministerial Pension and Hospitalization – Retiree medical costs, Pre-65 medical costs, pension payments, supplemental income and administrative support
• Clergy Support Fund – Bishop and District Superintendent salary and benefits, new church start salaries, salary support for pastors not making minimum salary, District Superintendent parsonage
• Education Fund – Education and recruitment of ministers, Black College Fund, Africa University If you look at our checkbook you will see a balance of $55,800 at the end of September. That sounds real good until you realize $29,500 is tied up in designated funds to be used only as directed.
This leaves $26,300 to keep the lights on and pay staff salaries. It means, using September expenditures, we have about five weeks of float in our account before we have to dip into our emergency funds. Praise the Lord that everyone continues to pay their share.
Bearing these issues in mind, the Finance Committee is working on a new budget. Keep this committee in your prayers as the members seek God’s direction and wisdom to move our church forward to serve each other and reach out to our community.
Page 5
MISSION NEWS
The latest mission letters and updates can be found located on the bulletin board just inside the front door to your left. Please stop by and acquaint yourself with what is going on in our mission projects. The latest newsletter from Bryan Wiles includes the announcement of their new son Samuel Duncan Wiles born August 29th. For pictures and more details of the work going on at Bowling Green Univ. check the bulletin board.
Mission Budget has been reviewed and some cutbacks have become necessary as our giving has been down this year (2008). With much regret we have had to cut back our giving to the local agencies, Salvation Army, People to People, Wayne United Chaplains, and Haven of Rest while remaining faithful to those serving in the Mission Field. I pray that in 2009 you will consider any unexpected change or monies you come upon as Faith Promise as we suggested several years ago. These unexpected blessings can go toward reaching those in our community who desperately need us to be faithful to help the poor and the hungry. God bless you as you support the mission projects of Church of the Cross. Cindy
Page 5
For most of this year we have paid our bills and slowly watched the reduction of the general fund balance needed to operate the church. In September, for instance, we received $14,075 and spent $16,200. Through the first nine months of 2008 we have received $145,442 and have spent $157,283. These are moneys used to pay utilities, maintenance, salaries, class materials, music and worship items. It also covers the parsonage mortgage and taxes. Giving for Missions is covered in a completely separate mission budget.
If you extrapolate the numbers out to the end of the year, it looks like we will have income of $192,600 and expenditures of $209,600. This adds up to a deficit of $17,000. As the Finance Committee reviews this, and tries to project a budget for 2009, it appears the costs of running the church will continue going down the deficit road. It is only a matter of time before serious decisions will have to be made.
There are several things we can do. (1)The best thing is to grow our church. More members mean increased giving. That’s easy to figure out. (2)We can reduce staff, staff salaries, and/or programs. That’s painful, but a way out. (3)Each member can increase their giving by 10%. That would do a lot to solve the problem. (4)We can stop paying our apportionments. That is a question that always comes up. These are just a few ideas and there are many combinations of things to be considered.
This year we did stop paying some of our apportionments. But we are United Methodists, and as long as we belong to this denomination, we have an obligation to support the UMC with our funds, our time and our talent. Our apportionments are divided into several categories and here is an explanation of them: • World Service and Benevolences – Covering world missionary outreach, congregation development, media and publication coverage, teen and youth ministry, camps and retreats
• Connectional Support Services – Covers administration of East Ohio offices, Bishops residence, pastoral care, pastor moving expenses, local church support, East Ohio publications and conferences
• Ministerial Pension and Hospitalization – Retiree medical costs, Pre-65 medical costs, pension payments, supplemental income and administrative support
• Clergy Support Fund – Bishop and District Superintendent salary and benefits, new church start salaries, salary support for pastors not making minimum salary, District Superintendent parsonage
• Education Fund – Education and recruitment of ministers, Black College Fund, Africa University If you look at our checkbook you will see a balance of $55,800 at the end of September. That sounds real good until you realize $29,500 is tied up in designated funds to be used only as directed.
This leaves $26,300 to keep the lights on and pay staff salaries. It means, using September expenditures, we have about five weeks of float in our account before we have to dip into our emergency funds. Praise the Lord that everyone continues to pay their share.
Bearing these issues in mind, the Finance Committee is working on a new budget. Keep this committee in your prayers as the members seek God’s direction and wisdom to move our church forward to serve each other and reach out to our community.
The latest mission letters and updates can be found located on the bulletin board just inside the front door to your left. Please stop by and acquaint yourself with what is going on in our mission projects. The latest newsletter from Bryan Wiles includes the announcement of their new son Samuel Duncan Wiles born August 29th. For pictures and more details of the work going on at Bowling Green Univ. check the bulletin board.
Mission Budget has been reviewed and some cutbacks have become necessary as our giving has been down this year (2008). With much regret we have had to cut back our giving to the local agencies, Salvation Army, People to People, Wayne United Chaplains, and Haven of Rest while remaining faithful to those serving in the Mission Field. I pray that in 2009 you will consider any unexpected change or monies you come upon as Faith Promise as we suggested several years ago. These unexpected blessings can go toward reaching those in our community who desperately need us to be faithful to help the poor and the hungry. God bless you as you support the mission projects of Church of the Cross. Cindy
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 –
Ruth Circle is August 9th (Saturday) at 6pm at the home of Sharon and Larry Ouwerkerk. Please bring a guest, a dish to share, meat to grill, and table service. Rolls and beverages will be provided.
Trustee Meeting – New Date in August –
The August Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, August 11, at 8 pm. (This is a change from the previously scheduled date of August 4.)
Summer Home Small Group Bible Study -
Mark and Linda Weaver will be hosting and leading a Small Group Bible Study this summer on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. at their home at 657 Giffen Drive, across from the main entrance to OARDC. We will worship, pray and study the book of Nehemiah together. All are welcome. If you have questions or need directions, please call us at (330) 263-5023.
Young Women’s Bible Study -
This is a group of young women who meet for encouragement, prayer, and Bible study. We are considering changing our schedule to make the study meeting times more convenient. At the time the Crosswinds was being prepared, our November schedule was not confirmed, so please check the bulletin and your e-mail for our November dates or contact Linda Weaver at lsweaver@embarqmail.com or 330-263-5023
Youth Fellowship Activities -
Our Sunday night meetings have begun! Youth Fellowship includes youth from 7th to 12th grades. Brandon and Marcie Craig have joined Linda Weaver as adult leaders.
In October we began a study on the Fruits of the Spirit by making a fruit bouquet and throwing plastic fruit at each other (it was an ice-breaker!) Watch the Youth bulletin board to follow our progress as we study the different fruits of the Spirit over the coming year.
In October we also had our Fall Festival, and plans for that included making costumes out of duct tape!
We will meet on November 9 at the church for our Sunday night Youth meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Watch the bulletin for details about the second Youth meeting for November.
A.I.M. Nights (Always in Ministry) -
Our AIM Night ministries for the fall began in September. The schedule for these Wednesday evening is as follows: Light Supper 5:45 p.m. ($3 adults, $1 children, under 6-years old free) Classes 6:20 p.m. Chancel Choir 7:30 p.m. Classes for children and for adults are offered. Two adult classes will be offered this fall. Ron Borton will lead the Bethel Bible Study, which will cover the New Testament. Pastor Tom will lead a class on Prayer. We hope to see you Wednesday nights!
Page 6
“Hope Has Hands”
Christmas Dinner Concert is Friday Dec. 12th and Saturday Dec. 13th. Doors open at 6pm and the meal will be served at 6:30pm. Tickets are $11.00 and will go on sale Sun. Nov. 2nd. You may also purchase tickets during the week between 8am and noon at the church office.
If you have attended the Dinner Concert before you are our best source of advertising. Please encourage friends to come or purchase tickets as a gift to thank someone for the hope they give you.
Sunday Dec. 14th the concert will be presented at 2:30pm, followed by refreshments. No ticket is needed for the concert.
“Help is Needed”
It is said that “many hands make light work”. With that said, please consider how you can help with this years’ concert weekend. Please check the sign up poster near the Welcome Center or call Janet Borton to let her know how you can help. There are still openings for table decorators, servers, cooks, clean-up, parking, greeters, and art gallery crafters.
Speaking of the art gallery, “Hope Has Hands” might challenge you as to what to make. Consider how HOPE affects your life. Search the scriptures, thinks about the gift of HOPE we all have in the life Christ. Attach the word HOPE to a pillow, painting, metal, ceramics, paper, etc. When you open a catalog or go to a store, be keenly aware of that word, HOPE. See how that can inspire you.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and help.
“The Journey of HOPE”
In July some people start asking if I’ve chosen this years concert music. My reply is usually “not yet. I’m waiting on music samples and reading sessions to be held at music stores”. The end of July I opened a catalog advertizing a Christmas card that had a poem about HANDS. That was the first seed. Barb Mekoleske had just learned pf her diagnosis of cancer. I started searching the scriptures for words of HPOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT I could share with her. Several days later my massage therapist asked what I was doing. I shared, I was waiting to find the music for this years’ concert-perhaps with the thought of HOPE or HANDS. She shared that the devotion she had read that morning was II Thessalonians 2:16,17. (Hope is a gift!) later that same week, samples of music arrived with the one of the musical titled “Hope Has Hands”. Did I get excited! Yes, I did!
More music kept arriving and so many of the ones I really liked had the word HOPE in them. The music selections were made and thus “Hope Has Hands”.
The narrators are Simeon and Anna, little known characters in the Christmas story. Luke 2:25-38 tells you of their importance. Simeon will be portrayed by Jim Sellers and Erma Dilyard as Anna. Please pray for them as well as all the Grace Ringers, singers, other musicians, and all the behind the scenes personnel. --Janet Borton—
“Musical Ministry Outreach Concert”
The theme of this years’ Christmas concert is HOPE. With that in mind the opportunity for focus on part of the churches mission statement, “reaching out to those beyond our doors” became a reality.
Page 7
SUNDAYS SERVICES IN NOVEMBER
November 2 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Sunday School for all ages from 10:30-11:30 unless
otherwise noted.
November 9 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 16 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 22 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 30 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Page 8
November 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 10
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 11
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 –
Ruth Circle is August 9th (Saturday) at 6pm at the home of Sharon and Larry Ouwerkerk. Please bring a guest, a dish to share, meat to grill, and table service. Rolls and beverages will be provided.
Trustee Meeting – New Date in August –
The August Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, August 11, at 8 pm. (This is a change from the previously scheduled date of August 4.)
Summer Home Small Group Bible Study -
Mark and Linda Weaver will be hosting and leading a Small Group Bible Study this summer on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. at their home at 657 Giffen Drive, across from the main entrance to OARDC. We will worship, pray and study the book of Nehemiah together. All are welcome. If you have questions or need directions, please call us at (330) 263-5023.
Young Women’s Bible Study -
This is a group of young women who meet for encouragement, prayer, and Bible study. We are considering changing our schedule to make the study meeting times more convenient. At the time the Crosswinds was being prepared, our November schedule was not confirmed, so please check the bulletin and your e-mail for our November dates or contact Linda Weaver at lsweaver@embarqmail.com or 330-263-5023
Youth Fellowship Activities -
Our Sunday night meetings have begun! Youth Fellowship includes youth from 7th to 12th grades. Brandon and Marcie Craig have joined Linda Weaver as adult leaders.
In October we began a study on the Fruits of the Spirit by making a fruit bouquet and throwing plastic fruit at each other (it was an ice-breaker!) Watch the Youth bulletin board to follow our progress as we study the different fruits of the Spirit over the coming year.
In October we also had our Fall Festival, and plans for that included making costumes out of duct tape!
We will meet on November 9 at the church for our Sunday night Youth meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Watch the bulletin for details about the second Youth meeting for November.
A.I.M. Nights (Always in Ministry) -
Our AIM Night ministries for the fall began in September. The schedule for these Wednesday evening is as follows: Light Supper 5:45 p.m. ($3 adults, $1 children, under 6-years old free) Classes 6:20 p.m. Chancel Choir 7:30 p.m. Classes for children and for adults are offered. Two adult classes will be offered this fall. Ron Borton will lead the Bethel Bible Study, which will cover the New Testament. Pastor Tom will lead a class on Prayer. We hope to see you Wednesday nights!
Christmas Dinner Concert is Friday Dec. 12th and Saturday Dec. 13th. Doors open at 6pm and the meal will be served at 6:30pm. Tickets are $11.00 and will go on sale Sun. Nov. 2nd. You may also purchase tickets during the week between 8am and noon at the church office.
If you have attended the Dinner Concert before you are our best source of advertising. Please encourage friends to come or purchase tickets as a gift to thank someone for the hope they give you.
Sunday Dec. 14th the concert will be presented at 2:30pm, followed by refreshments. No ticket is needed for the concert.
It is said that “many hands make light work”. With that said, please consider how you can help with this years’ concert weekend. Please check the sign up poster near the Welcome Center or call Janet Borton to let her know how you can help. There are still openings for table decorators, servers, cooks, clean-up, parking, greeters, and art gallery crafters.
Speaking of the art gallery, “Hope Has Hands” might challenge you as to what to make. Consider how HOPE affects your life. Search the scriptures, thinks about the gift of HOPE we all have in the life Christ. Attach the word HOPE to a pillow, painting, metal, ceramics, paper, etc. When you open a catalog or go to a store, be keenly aware of that word, HOPE. See how that can inspire you.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and help.
In July some people start asking if I’ve chosen this years concert music. My reply is usually “not yet. I’m waiting on music samples and reading sessions to be held at music stores”. The end of July I opened a catalog advertizing a Christmas card that had a poem about HANDS. That was the first seed. Barb Mekoleske had just learned pf her diagnosis of cancer. I started searching the scriptures for words of HPOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT I could share with her. Several days later my massage therapist asked what I was doing. I shared, I was waiting to find the music for this years’ concert-perhaps with the thought of HOPE or HANDS. She shared that the devotion she had read that morning was II Thessalonians 2:16,17. (Hope is a gift!) later that same week, samples of music arrived with the one of the musical titled “Hope Has Hands”. Did I get excited! Yes, I did!
More music kept arriving and so many of the ones I really liked had the word HOPE in them. The music selections were made and thus “Hope Has Hands”.
The narrators are Simeon and Anna, little known characters in the Christmas story. Luke 2:25-38 tells you of their importance. Simeon will be portrayed by Jim Sellers and Erma Dilyard as Anna. Please pray for them as well as all the Grace Ringers, singers, other musicians, and all the behind the scenes personnel. --Janet Borton—
The theme of this years’ Christmas concert is HOPE. With that in mind the opportunity for focus on part of the churches mission statement, “reaching out to those beyond our doors” became a reality.
November 2 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Sunday School for all ages from 10:30-11:30 unless
otherwise noted.
November 9 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 16 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 22 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
November 30 - Worship services at 9:15am and 11:30am
Anniversaries = A
Birthdays = B
| 1- Jordan Spellman - B Emma Eggerton - B |
| 2- |
| 3- |
| 4- James Sellers - B Erik & Janene Graber - A |
| 5- |
| 6- Sue Massoni - B Chad & Jill Ackerman - A |
| 7- Heather Foran - B |
| 8- |
| 9- |
| 10- Ralph Cochrell - B |
| 11- Maxine Shelly - B Calin Baxstrom - B |
| 12- |
| 13- Elizabeth Greinig - B Dianne Collins - B Dale & Pam Gerber - A |
| 14- Peyton Ann Mullet - B |
| 15- John O’Planick - B |
| 16- Paul & Jeannie Grim - A |
| 17- Amy Baxstrom - B John Mathys - B Natalyn Baisden - B |
| 18- |
| 19- Bob Eby - B |
| 20- |
| 21- Deb Carroll - B |
| 22- Tom Kreider - B |
| 23- |
| 24- JKellie Mullet - B |
| 25- Shanna Finn - B Jeannie Grimm - B |
| 26- Joseph Pfeiffer - B |
| 27- |
| 28- Bob Lake - B Rich & Judy Ratzel - A Lindsay & Grace Jackson - A |
| 29- Doug Billman - B |
30- Gina Phillips - 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.
NEW ARRIVALS
IN LOVING MEMORY
Church Calendar
November 2008
November 2008
| 1 - Saturday |
| 2 - Sunday ALL SAINTS SUNDAY Parish Nurses Kitchen Shower Grace Ringers |
| 3 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts 7:00 - pm - Visioning Workshop 8:00 - pm - Trustees |
| 4 - Tuesday Elction Day 6:00 - pm - Women's Bible Study |
| 5 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study AIM |
| 6 - Thursday 9:30 - am - Bonnie Circle 7:00 - pm - Promise Keepers 7:00 - pm - Ruth Circle 7:00 - pm - Scout Leaders |
| 7 - Friday Set Up for bazaar |
| 8 - Saturday 9:00 - am - 3:00 pm - HOLIDAY BAZAAR |
| 9 - Sunday Grace Ringers |
| 10 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
| 11 - Tuesday |
| 12 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study AIM |
| 13 - Thursday 9:30 - am - Bonnie Circle 7:00 - pm - Scout Leaders |
| 14 - Friday |
| 15 - Saturday |
| 16 - Sunday Grace Ringers |
| 17 - Monday 6:00 - pm - Tops 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
| 18 - Tuesday 6:45 - pm - Finance Committee 7:30 - pm - Admin Board |
| 19 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study AIM |
| 20 - Thursday 9:30 - am - Bonnie Circle 7:00 - pm - Promise Keepers 7:00 - pm - Scout Leaders |
| 21 - Friday |
| 22 - Saturday |
| 23 - Sunday Grace Ringers |
| 24 - Monday - 6:00 - pm - Tops 7:00 - pm - Boy Scouts |
| 25 - Tuesday |
| 26 - Wednesday 6:30 - am - Men's Bible Study AIM |
| 27 - Thursday THANKSGIVING DAY |
| 28 - Friday OFFICE CLOSED |
| 29 - Saturday |
| 30 - Sunday 1st Sunday in Advent 1:00 - pm - Caroling 3:00 - pm - Refreshments |
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
