so proud of our team

We, like many other ministries around the world, did Christmas Eve services to a standing room only crowd, then turned around and did completely different services for the weekend. This is when you find out what your teams are made of!

Ours are made of determination and very, very high skill. They rocked the house tonight! Excellent worship, drama, technical execution and teaching! Such a high level of excellent preparation.

A perfect ending to a wonderful holiday weekend! More about today's service including video tomorrow! I hope you all can join us, you won't be sorry!

Christmas Eve rocked!!

I have never, never had so many people tell me that our Christmas Eve service was the best ever, as I have this year.

I have to give credit, where credit is due - the picture shows our Magnification Staff. What an amazingly talented group! From the left is Jonathan Pierce, the most brilliant human being I know in the areas of IT and all things technical, next to him is Milo Sgambellone - band recruiter and worship leader extraordinaire, that's me on the piano, to my right is Dan Fleming worship leader - scoring genius and vocal coach of America! and next to Dan is Sr. Pastor Tim Armstrong, not a teaching goes by that someone doesn't tell me they have never learned as much as they have at Crossroads due to Tim's teaching, very, very gifted, very, very ornery! Last but certainly not least, in the front is Steve Browning everyone's right hand man - creative genius with everything video related, also oversees sound, lighting, roadie team and everything else no one else knows how to do or wants to be responsible for. The most exciting thing about this team is that they are my friends as well as co-workers! Cool!!

This team can take any wacko idea that Pastor Tim or I come up with and make it happen. They can shoot it, edit it, write the music for, score for any instrument known to man - anything it takes to support Tim's teaching and the mission of Crossroads!! You can watch the Christmas Eve service here.

This picture was taken immediately after the final Christmas Eve service at Crossroads - we were exhausted but oh so thankful for the amazing attendance and God's goodness!

The Christmas Eve drama was out of control good!!! Maureen Browning and Jeff Fellure were AMAZING and brought the house down with their performance of the Skit Guys drama "Innkeeper's Dilemma". Click on the title to watch it on God Tube!

The music was fabulous, the artistic video support was top notch, we tapped into all the senses to bring everything toward, A Baby Changes Everything the theme of the night supported with the new song by the same title from Faith Hill and performed by Michelle Armstrong who rocked the walls out! Amazing performances also by Cody, Melissa and Penny and Milo and Dan!! Magnificant!! I couldn't be more thankful!!

AMAZING Christmas Eve services

I can't talk long tonight, but, tomorrow I will be talking about the details of Christmas Eve at Crossroads. I wanted to wait until it was uploaded and I could include links.

It was just the most amazing service. And tons of people came, we had to get chairs from every area possible to add to the auditorium. Just so amazing! I'll post concerning the details tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you!

my day off

Do you feel less than excited to buy gift certificates instead of a more personal gift for friends and family? I feel like I have some how failed when I finally give up trying to find the perfect gift.

This year even my son cannot think of anything he wants or needs!

I love to give gifts and think long and hard about them, so just take my fun away! Yes, it's all about me!

Today, knowing it is the last day I have time to shop, I raised the flag of defeat and sent my hubby to the bank to pick up gift certificates. So, all done!

Seriously, some of the reason I asked him to just go get them was so I could turn my focus to what I should be focusing on instead of gifts. We have perhaps the best chance to minister to the lost on Christmas Eve then any other time of the year. Our attendance climbs at Easter too, but, at least in our ministry it seems more non-churched people come at Christmas. I will spend time praying in advance that God will reveal himself to them this Christmas at Crossroads. Please join me praying for our services. I am so thankful to share in this ministry..

I will spend the rest of my day off preparing my own mind to fully grasp the true meaning of that first Christmas. Join us Wednesday night at 7:00 or 9:00 p.m.

preparing for Christmas Eve

Just days away from our Christmas Eve services and everyone is hard at work! Ok, so they don't look like they are too stressed out!! We received these recliners in our Media Coordinator's office today, an anonymous donation! They were the second team that I saw working hard in that suddenly popular office today.

Maureen Browning and Jeff Fellure are preparing the drama, "The Innkeepers Dilemma". It is a great drama and will kick off our Christmas Eve services this year. It will be excellent with these two amazing actors!

We will also enjoy a string quartet in Town Square as well as amazing worship and message in preparation for Christmas!

Please join us at 7:00 or 9:00 on Christmas Eve at Crossroads Community Church, 1188 Park Avenue West, Mansfield, Ohio. We will look forward to seeing you there!

Christmas is almost here

I LOVE Christmas! I love decorating, cooking, visiting, wrapping, shopping, cookies, parties, shopping, cards, planning church services, giving presents, shopping, trees, and friends.

We finished the details on all of our Christmas services today - I am so excited about them! I cannot wait to share what we have planned with everyone that attends. I have already begun to pray for each person that walks through our doors.

No matter where they come from, what background, no matter what they are currently dealing with in their lives they will come because God draws them there. They do not just accidentally come. Their attendance is a divine appointment, I really believe this! And with God's help we will be ready!!

Jesus was sent that night for us.

God was creator of the entire universe and all that there was within it and chose to give us what He treasured the most, His son!

I hope you will plan to attend each weekend as well as one of our Christmas Eve services, at 7:00 or 9:00 p.m. Celebrate the season with us at Crossroads.