weekend report

Happy Mother's day to all the mom's we love and to all the ladies in the world who 'mother' those around them!

We honored mom's this weekend with words, and videos and teachings and hugs!  It was a great family weekend at Crossroads!

While we were in the auditorium, the students created this video 'live'!
Mother's Day Video

Here are the looks of Mother's Day at Crossroads today!

Pastor Dave teaching us about Pharaoh's daughter saving Moses!

Milo and the team leading us!

Julie - one of the stars of our Mother's Day video!

Jeanette - leader of our Children & Student Ministry areas
worked for days preparing to treat the moms volunteering
behind the scenes this weekend serving our kids!

Worship was sweet!

Sergio took care of our lighting!

Arnie - captain of the Tech ship up high in the booth!

Our Setlist:

Claire took care of announcements for us!

This Is Amazing Grace

Forevermore

Broken Vessels

A Mighty Fortress

Mother's Day video - take off on the Geico commercial!  Mother's Day Video

Message: A Time For Mom - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

Exit Video:  Sermon Spice - Portrait of a Mother

To watch our services go to crossroads community church

To see what other ministries used in their setlist go to The Worship Community

what I learned today

Today I learned how much God can use people in the most hopeless of circumstances. 

Our GoMissions team is currently in Cambodia - and for one of their outreaches they visited a remote village where every person there has the HIV virus.  This was caused by a well-meaning doctor who used the same needle to give every person shots.

How sad that the very thing intended to help the people - doomed them to sure death.  And chances are very high they've never heard about our Lord.

Our Crossroads team held them, hugged them, talked to them and the Asia's Hope leaders gave them everlasting hope in the message they taught.  All the people listened intently and were very, very grateful!

Our team took them money for rice, a few clothes and the hope of Jesus Christ.  They are praying to turn a death-sentence into a life full of hope found only in our Savior even if HIV makes their time on this earth limited.

Please continue to cover our team in your prayers!   It's so amazing to understand that Crossroads gets to share in the lives won for eternity each time we send teams 'out' as Jesus commanded.

Obedience = eternal results

Can't you just see the day when we all gather around the thrown of Jesus to celebrate the ways God used Crossroads people to deliver this precious message?

What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory

my day off

I often joke about once we create and execute a service at Crossroads, I forget about it.  No matter how dynamic if I'm not careful to be fully engaged it can become a 'checked off item'.

This morning as I enjoyed (kind of) a cup of instant coffee, (anyone who knows me knows this could potentially ruin my day - (Crossroads' Coffee House did not have any bags of Lousanteville to purchase yesterday).. I'm still relishing yesterday's services at Crossroads.

The process of 'team' means all the names of 'who did what', disappears into a seamless crescendo of effort completed as the worship comes pouring out of the congregation in response to God's touch on our week's work.  For the God of the Universe to allow our team to participate in this ending to our week's labor causes a praise to build up within me - never to be adequately expressed.

 Tomorrow I turn my attempts toward Christmas - please pray for a break through!

Before I begin to craft the pieces of a crucial service like our Christmas services, I feel completely overwhelmed and unworthy.  But, as I cover the pieces in prayer - God's assurance washes over me and reminds me that all He expects is one pieces, one attempt, one try at a time.  All I have to do is build the framework and invite the team in - and together we complete it.  No service is one persons' efforts or ideas, it's always collaborative or it will hold no appeal or value to the masses.

So on my day off - I just listen to and look at all the Christmas pieces I've collected in my desktop folder all year long.  The pieces that could possibly fit together to form what we've dreamed of, or could simply become pieces that lead us on
to other things - things not yet discovered.

Please pray that Christmas at Crossroads will be a pouring out of prayerful work that fills eyes with wonder and hearts with understanding of the new born King...

The things I saw

       Today we spent all day in our little bus traveling between the ocean and Battambang - playing euchre for hours, snacking constantly and non- stop talking!  I love these people!

These pictures are the sites we saw !

Ready to begin out journey!!

Greg prepared peanut butter sandwiches for us!

Crazy Cambodia gas pumps!

Cambodia food truck!

I think one of the things that draws me to this place is it's simplicity.  The beautiful, simple,

lush rice fields are such a quiet contrast to the horrifying things that once took place here.

It's hard to believe some of history's worst murders happened not so long ago here.

It was a fun day of traveling with friends and just seeing the countryside in Cambodia!

The team is heading to Cambodia

We made it to Korea safe and sounds - when we board here we only have about 5 1/2 more hours until I attack my daughter and son-in-law!!  Can't wait!

Please pray for us we're weary after traveling 24 1/2 hours so far!

Keep your eye on our blogs and we'll keep you updated!

Praying Crossroads is filled with God's amazing presence these next two weekends!!

Love you all!!

First day in Cambodia

We just finished our first breakfast in Cambodia - we are thankful for a night's rest, but our hearts are heavy for our friends back home who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Separated by miles of ocean, sky and culture does not remove the depth of sadness we carry in our hearts today for our friends.

Pray for us today as we begin to unpack the mystery of why God chose us to be here - representatives from Crossroads coming to see what God could possibly use us to accomplish for His kingdom...

I will try to write more later - we love you all!

leaving for Cambodia

Pray for our team as we prepare to leave for Cambodia tomorrow please!

More info to follow - hopefully later today!

weekend report

I decided after all the work to get ready for Easter to take a few days off.  So, I took off from writing too, but I just have to talk about Easter - it was wonderful and meaningful and had very special significance.

It was a weekend full of firsts and lasts.

It was the first Easter my son helped lead worship.
It was the first time I've ever cut an art performance, with the blessing of the artists,  from our Easter service the night of rehearsal.
It was the last time Crossroads will ever hear from Pastor Tim at an Easter service. 

It was full of beautiful music and worship and a great teaching no one will soon forget!

Our setlist:

Heart of Courage - instrumental that ran during EP opening
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus - Kingdom
Christ is Risen
Heart of Courage - shortened instrumental with second EP words
Jesus Paid it All
Forever Reign
How Great Thou Art
Jesus Son of God
Message: 316
Victor's Crown




Here's what it looked like!

Deep behind the scenes in the Video Booth

Happy audio guy!

John on Camera!

 

drumming away for Jesus!

Eric leading "Nothing But the Blood" - powerful!

Milo and team rehearsing just moments before first service!

Chrystie lead beautifully even with a horrible cold!

Our Creative Arts Team...we will miss you Pastor Tim!

Worshiping with guitars - God has blessed us with great musicians!

To watch our services on line go to www.crossroadswired.com

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

A unique learning

Being taught

I John,taught by my kids,workers,Learning

You're never too old to learn- today was a unique learning experience in Cambodia.  As workers worked all around us - we studied together!  

I was taught by my kids.  

Aaron our son-in-law lead our team devotions from I John and it was amazing to watch and amazing to learn.

The thoughts that went through my mind ... I have prayed for this man since my daughter was born ...while I held her in my arms I prayed that God would protect her and choose the man He had created just for her and He did!

I am filled with thankfulness for my kids and their spouses - I learn from all of them every time I'm with them!  

It's such a role reversal, humbling and gratifying - to be taught by my kids.... God is good!

preparing to go

To go on a trip to Cambodia requires so much more preparation then just packing to travel, you must be willing to give your heart away!

It's because of this that this trip forces you to consider if your life is focused on what's most important - and that is to give your life away.  Just as Jesus did.

I heard someone recently excitedly talking about how they are living and working just for retirement.  It occurred to me when I heard it that retirement has never entered my mind.  At least not the kind of retirement where you move somewhere warm and sit in a beautiful house.  Now don't get me wrong - I know the time to step down from my current position will come allowing the brilliant creative young adults preparing for ministry to step in.  But, what a life full of giving we can have long after our 'jobs' end... In fact if we live well within our means maybe we can be ready to go wherever God calls us!  That's what I pray for - to always be ready...

Please pray for us as we leave early Thursday morning

- we'll need it as we explore what God has waiting for us and as we wrap our arms around little ones who are waiting for us.  And as I grab my daughter and her husband and celebrate the amazing opportunities God has laid before them!

May God richly bless you Crossroads - we have no idea how many, many people God is using our ministry to touch for eternity!!

the Mag guys

I have the privilege of working with 4 amazing guys at Crossroads.  They make up the Creative Arts team at Crossroads better known as the Magnification staff.

Dan Fleming, one of our worship guys,  was the first staff member hired after Pastor Tim started the church.   Dan had Tim as a student at one time and they often joke about old times in the classroom.   Dan came to Crossroads from a long history of working with award winning school choirs!  He traveled extensively with choirs all over the county and into Canada - winning awards everywhere they went.  He is a fabulous vocal coach, superb pianist and an even better spiritual mentor.  His attention to detail and organization of our teams is a huge part of Crossroads' excellence.  He is a faithful, dependable very talented staff member.  And he is my friend.

Steve Browning is our fearless 'all things technical' leader.  Steve oversees the creation of all videos, all lighting, everything you see on our screens including the Environmental Projection that helps set the mood for our services.  He's involved in all the behind the scenes technical aspects of the ministry including assisting with the website and IT issues when needed.  When there is a job to be done I never have to worry if it will be completed.  Steve is one of the most dependable people I've ever met and his work is a key part of what sets Crossroads apart!  And he is my friend.

Milo Sgambellone, is one of our worship guys.  Milo is one of the most talented guitarists I've ever known and his voice is amazing too.  He has an impressive history of performance and has become a great worship leader.  His ability also spills over into recording - the recent Crossroads original CD project had Milo at the helm, organizing, writing and mixing the CD.  He has worked tirelessly to develop our youth group's musicians and vocalist insuring that the next generation is connected to the church.  He currently is helping to organize the worship at our multi-sites.  And he is my friend.

Arnie Clawson is the newest member of our team.  He was hired in December to oversee the Audio needs of our ministry.  For the first time in 15 years we have consistent sound in our weekend services.  An answer to prayer! Arnie brings tremendous talent to our team with an ability to not only set the stage for our bands and prepare the sound, but has extensive ability in video, IT and website related needs to name a few- basically a jack of all trades.  He has actually been a part of Crossroads forever and formerly played bass on the praise team!  We needed him desperately and are thankful for him!  And he's my friend.

These men help make Crossroads excellent and to run smoothly.  They help people use their God-given talents to build the Kingdom....I love them all and never want to work without them..I am a very fortunate girl that they are my friends and that I get to be part of this amazing team!  And my prayer for us is - that God would grant us the honor of being a part of Crossroads together until we no longer work!

 

weekend report

The weekend was both exhausting and exhilarating! Those of you involved in ministry understand completely!

So many visitors that we pray will continue to come to Crossroads if they are looking for a church home - some I am sure, hearing the tremendous message of God's love for the first time!

Our set List:

Opening Song: Carol of the Bells - Sixpence None the Richer

Announcements: Deering Dyer Small Group Pastor

Special: Christ Is Come - Big Daddy Weave
Joy To The World - Tomlin
My Savior Lives - (from A break to end)
Rescue
Hallelujah A Savior is Born - original by one of our worship guys Milo

Drama: Sticky Jesus - Skit Guys

Message: Part 3 - The Incarnation Senior Pastor Tim Armstrong

Closing Special: Winter Snow - from Tomlin Christmas CD

I was honored that our daughter Jocelyn got asked to sing/play the final closing song to our series. We do not do a separate mix for our recordings - so you cannot hear the piano or the excellent backup singer Cody very well. But, people asked me if it would be on my blog so set your volume kind of quiet to avoid our over modulation and enjoy! It was such a great weekend - and not just because our daughter got to participate...

God was there and people expressed how moved they were - I was very thankful for such a dedicated team that comes prepared even on the busiest weekend of the year.

Enjoy what others used in their services this weekend by going to Fred McKinnon's site.

You can watch our entire service at www.crossroadswired.com on Monday afternoon. May God richly bless your week!

group first - team second

Brilliant! It only took me 12 years at Crossroads to figure out probably what everyone else already knew. When you want to begin a ministry, or start a new team. Small Group first - team second!

I have started teams through the years that serve a purpose then disintegrate. Reason? I think because they weren't a group first. People with things in common want to be together, they have instant connections. Then you add a purpose beyond the usual benefit of small groups and you have a team!

Now the group not only does life together, they accomplish together. This is the setting for a very, very strong bond to form. A bond that can withstand change and tough times. This, I believe is how God intended for us to do life...group and team all wrapped up in one.

BAD NEWS

Hey, just a heads up, the audio is so bad on this past weekend's service on the web, that I'm going to pull it off as soon as my guy Steve gets in. Of all the services this year that I wanted to be excellent, this praise and worship is not a good enough mix to broadcast. So it is coming down.

If Steve has the time to edit pieces out of it, we will do some fade outs as Rick's solo parts come to an end and the team comes back in.

To my amazing teams: THIS IS NOT HOW IT SOUNDED IN THE HOUSE! You rocked!! Something got messed up in the recording of the service. No one is more disappointed then I am.

Maybe we would have gotten all proud and arrogant if we sounded great with Rick! ha ha!! Anyway, tune back into our web site tomorrow, and hopefully we can put something up that gives people of glimpse of Rick's greatness and our team's true fabulous sound!