weekend report

I don't know when my heart has been more full than it was after being at Crossroads this weekend.

It was a weekend so full of promise and I was just so thankful for all the students in love with the Savior - willing to give up their weekend to totally run the church.  They were amazing in the parking lot, greeting everyone that attended, serving in the Coffee House, running all the technical areas of sound, lighting and video and leading us in worship.  Simply the perfect demonstration of health in the church.

Students serving in the Coffee House

More help in the Coffee House

Pastor Dave encouraging the students before the service

Our parking lot and front doors were well manned with students!

Greeters at the front doors

Greeters in the lobby to welcome everyone!

More student greeters!

Professionals in the parking lot

 Another precious moment in the service today was our Child dedication!  10 families committing to raise their children in a Godly home!  So important!!

Our Children being dedicated to the Lord - parents making the commitment to raise them in a Christian home!

One of my favorite moments of the weekend - our Senior Worship leader Dan, playing
for his precious granddaughter to sing Jesus Love Me!

Our Setlist:

9:00 a.m. service -

Jesus Loves Me

Child Dedication

Only Wanna Sing
The Stand
Great Are You Lord

And one of the other exciting elements this weekend was to finally get to hear the original song written by Austin Hart, the 'theme' song for their mission trip this past summer.  I kept hearing how much the students loved it and now I know why - it was beautiful!  It was called

First Loved Us

Bumper video

Message: 7 Churches; The Corpse Church

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their services go to theworshipcommunity.com

weekend report

Eric was the worship leader this weekend!

Where do I begin…

Crossroads started the practice of using our youth band every time there is a 5th weekend.  It's become something our congregation really looks forward to, and this weekend was no exception!

Our adult worship guys, work with one of our student ministry pastors and our youth worship team to help them prepare for 5th weekend on the main stage.  But, it's truly lead by them - not our main guys.  This serves SO many purposes - it communicates to our youth that we value them as a current part of the ministry.  It teaches them commitment as we hold multiple rehearsals, and it allows our congregation to be lead and hear from different leaders.  It demonstrates a vibrance, an alive-ness in our ministry in addition to our excellent adults praise teams.

The other thing we do is allow the teens to serve in all of our tech areas!   It was excellent!

Our CG operator , Lizzie for the weekend!

Video directing behind the scenes with Blueberry

Running sound is serious business - Tim and Alex!

Wesley running lighting and our fog machine!

(not pictured here were our youth camera operators too - sadly I'm not sure I have pictures!)

You can watch our services tomorrow at www.crossroadswired.com !

Our Service:

We began with one of our youth recorded doing our announcements!  She was great too!

Our Chairman of the Elder Board, Mike Sloan, then gave an update on our pastor search.

The band began playing under Mike's prayer and another student came to the stage reciting 'spoken word' pieces he had written!  It was great!

Spoken Word
Whom Shall I Fear
Oceans
Stronger
Spoken Word within Stronger
You Won't Relent
Message:  The Gospel of John Pt. 11 - Senior Pastor Tim Armstrong
Exit Song:  Stronger (shortened)

Powerful spoken word by Bailey!

You won't relent - amazing lead by Emily!

Hannah and Hendrick covered keyboards!

A fantastic praise team!

To see what other ministries used in their worship services you can go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

Thanks to all the parents that faithfully bring your students to Crossroads, we NEED them so much!

Have a blessed week!

weekend report

Oh my my - what a weekend!

Our student ministry band was amazing leading us in worship this weekend - preparing us to hear Pastor Tim's message from Habakkuk.

The students also ran most of our tech areas - it was a very encouraging weekend to see how much talent exists at Crossroads!

Here are a few shots of the weekend!

our students leading

looking past the drum cage toward the baptism

Our students even running tech

Our setlist:

One Thing Remains
Be Thou My Vision
Lead Me To The Cross
From The Inside Out
Blessed Be The Name
Message:  God, What Are You Doing Pt. 1
Exit song:  Blessed Be The Name

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries are doing in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

The Church - as supporter

Never in my life as a church attendee have I felt the kind of support I feel from Crossroads.

Recently God presented our daughter Jocelyn and her husband Aaron with the opportunity to go to Cambodia for a full year.

Immediately Crossroads' congregation began giving toward the $22,000 that was required.  And as usual when there's a need they met this need in a matter of weeks.  Also involved in the preparation was a need for musical instruments that would allow them to give the rescued children music lessons.There have been additional funds given toward that need as well.

Never have I ever been associated with a more generous church.

Our congregation is generous in other ways as well.

They forgive and they move forward.  They embrace new.

As we send our daughter and son-in-law out, Crossroads leaders decided to bring our son and daughter-in-law in.  He replaces a much loved young leader who is no longer at Crossroads.

I have heard many conversations regarding the release of this young man.  Some were spoken out of hurt at the loss of a friend.  I saw ugly words written to staff in charge and heard youth declare they would never follow anyone new.  This was hard.

And when the person coming into replace is your own son it is personal.

I realize it would not have mattered who the incoming person was - students experienced loss and that always hurts.

Finally, over the last week or two I have heard breakthrough conversations regarding forgiving and trusting leadership and being kind to those in charge.  This makes me hopeful.

Last night as the student ministry kicked off the new format for Wednesday nights, I had the privilege of sharing with the students 'why we have the rules we have' when you are up front serving.  I looked into their eyes as I spoke and almost became overwhelmed with passion to do everything within my power to contribute in some way to help move them quickly through any remaining sense of loss.

The support Crossroads has given to our family is something I can never express enough thanks for.  I love you all and count it the most high privilege to serve at Crossroads and do life in The Church!