what a week and weekend

We've been moving at hyper speed this past week going into this week before Easter!

Our ministry enjoyed everything from an amazing re-done Student Ministry room to video after video being shot for Easter and the weeks that follow, to life-change celebrated in baptism!  And we have Ernesto back where he belongs too!  So good!

Take a look here!

Ernesto leading us to the throne!

Not sure I love my hubby more than when he baptizes fellow
believers!

As I worked all day Sunday in the back alone
(my glorious happy place!), I listened to the beautiful
music of Easter and prayed over our services!

In the middle of the Easter chaos - our tech guys working with Pastor Mike, mister Greg
and special volunteers - the students rooms was completely re-done!

I love our praise team!

Our talented team lead us well in worship!

Our Tech teams are tucked away either at the back of our
auditorium or in the Video Directing room.  NOTHING
up-front could take place without their dedicated work!

This was just 1 of maybe 5 video shoots that took place this week!

Our setlist:
Announcements on Video
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Baptism during the song Testimony
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
The War is Over

Message: Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit - Pastor Jesse Rider

Exit Song: 10,000 Reasons

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

We are excited about Easter and all the lives that will change for all of eternity!  Please invite that friend, neighbor or co-worker that needs to meet their Savior!

weekend report

I am WAY behind this week - my week took a huge U-turn and I'm still trying to get my bearings - but, that story is for another day!

We had a great time in worship and celebrated God's goodness as we began our OVERWHELMED series.

We always enjoy our brass weekends and this weekend was no exception!   I continue after nearly 20 years to be amazed at the level of excellence in our weekend services.  Our staff and volunteers alike take it very personally as an opportunity to  use they gifts and talents to honor the Lord!

Here's a few photos!

Jocelyn lead the weekend for us!  So good!

Great Praise Team!

Austin and the Brass

Our setlist:

Announcements on Video

First - Special Music

Message:  Overwhelming Pt. 1 - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

It Is Well
In Christ Alone
Great Are You Lord

Jocelyn dismissed and reprised back into Great Are You Lord

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

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

weekend report

This week was one for the books!  People often ask me how our process works as we prepare the weekend services.

It begins with God laying on Pastor Dave's heart what our congregation needs to hear, and then the staff begins to work.  Songs are chosen thematically to support the teachings, creative elements are dreamed up, missional work happens, caring for the sick takes place, preparing the teachings for the children and students happens, and the endless cleaning and maintenance of Crossroads is completed  and when it all comes together it's a perfect representation of all the different gifts and talents God gives to His children used to tell His story!

Just as the weekend was ready to being we had a staff member involved in an accident, a key volunteer too ill to serve and last minute volunteers that came to the rescue because they understand that God planned for us all to work together unselfishly giving of our time and talents!

This week's beautiful worship preparation took place, hours of video work happened as our dreams and ideas became reality - and our congregation responded by giving as they figuratively 'picked up their brick'!

Here is a peek behind the scenes!

 

snack break!  someone sent our staff an amazing box of goodies this week!

This was one early morning this week...thankful, so very thankful!

We worshiped - oh how we worshipped this weekend!!

Shooting videos includes some trial and error - here our base broke so the glass didn't break!

I can't wait to work on next week's services!

Our setlist:

Lord I'm Ready Now

Welcome and announcements - Jocelyn Nicolas

Unstoppable God

Forever Reign

It Is Well

Build That Wall -  theme song

Message: Nehemiah Pt. 4. Hand Me a Brick - Pastor Dave Vance

Exit Song Lord I'm Ready Now

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

To wee what other ministries used in their worship services this weekend go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

working on Easter

I just finished writing the video revisions to our Easter videos that are in the process of being prepared.

My ultimate goal is to have every part of our service to be God-honoring and to be used to bring understanding about who Jesus is to those who attend.  In order for that to happen, we must work as hard as possible to eliminate any mistake or lack of excellence.

As I typed out words that I needed removed from the video and images I need slowed down and speeded up, I wondered if the Lord is pleased with our work.  I wondered if the Lord needs our work?

The fact that He has chosen to use us to 'create' services to lead the lost to Him is crazy!  He could have just chosen whom He wanted leaving no part to play for any of us.

Instead, he uses us to create things like services and the details those require, with rehearsals and weeks of preparation and evaluation.  And he uses volunteers who carefully clean the church, and make the coffee and teach the children and greet and park the people.  All so they can see Him through us.  Amazing.

We are just 3 weeks away now, time is moving quickly like always.

Will you play your part in the preparations by inviting lost friends and relatives?

Will you hold every detail of things being prepared in prayer asking the Savior of the Universe to reveal Himself to many at Crossroads this year?

I cannot wait to see Him touch this place....

final countdown

And I'm NOT talking about Ohio State!

We are just a few hours away from hearing the first of 6 teachings by Ken Ham and Dr. Jason Lisle.

I could not feel more blessed already.  As we tested the sound last night - and I heard just a small portion of one video I was overcome with wonder at the power of God!  I think the video was a simulation of water upon the earth or something, but, just the roar of that water made it so easy to picture the omniscient power of God.

We then had a training on cash registers this morning in preparation to help our congregation and visitors purchase amazing curriculum.  The resources are going to be such a great asset to the families of Crossroads and our community as people seek to know the truth and teach that truth to their children and families.  Very moving to just look down the row of tables holding the resources and imagine how God will use them!

I have no way of knowing how many will be coming, whether it will be standing room only or just a regular sized crowd.  But I do know this.  Who ever God has chosen to attend these sessions will be here, will learn tremendous truths and leave able to defend their faith in a way that is life changing to everyone who crosses their path!

Please come expecting a great blessing!!  See you there!

watch this video

Kay Warren May 1-2, 2010
Click on the above link



Michelle Armstrong is such a gifted photographer! You can see her work on her website - Michelle Armstrong Photography.

Thanks for creating this video for us Michelle. I love you!

a precious family

I had the immense privilege of being at one of our Crossroads families' home for a video taping today. We will be using it for Mother's Day, it was very impacting and I cannot wait to see how God will use it.

When people share their stories God changes lives, both the person telling the story as well as those hearing it. This will be the case on Mother's Day, I'm sure of it! So many extraordinary things are coming.

I do not exaggerate when I say, the new opportunities and 'community building' aspects of our ministry that will be taking place in the next few months are super exciting! God is so good!

live drama kind of...

We found a drama that will work perfectly for the launch of our new series, our problem was no actors available for the weekend! So we got creative and shot the drama on video.

Location - graveyard!

We gathered the video troops and a couple of our actors, Maureen and Duke and headed for the cemetery.

I had the important job of closing my eyes (to avoid distractions)
and listening to the audio.



I can't wait to see the footage and use it in the One Month To Live series this weekend.