weekend report

Man, I don't think we could have stuffed anything more in this busy weekend!

From a beautiful time of communion to our amazing Young Adult Pastor continuing our Ecclesiastes series, to old chairs being removed from the auditorium, a wedding shower right after church, to groceries for the most needy in our community!   The Lord was in this place and it was so good!

Well, see for yourself!

Our praise team lead us in beautiful worship!  I'm so thankful for them.
Several of them served on an additional weekend this week
to help out - summer time is difficult with vacations!

Our Chairman of the Elders lead us in preparing to take communion.

This beautiful couple helped Eric shoot a video before first service!

This little guy played the part of a young 'Keegan' another
one of the guys in our video shoot today!

One of my favorite things about Crossroads is we welcome kids
to serve next to their parents.  Here's Pastor Jesse's little one is
the one using the screwdriver to loosen the Bible holder on the back
of the chair!  So cute!

I was worried it would be an overwhelming job to remove all
the chairs preparing for shampooing - but many hands make
a job simple!

At the same time the chairs came out - the groceries got moved
in preparation for our grocery giveaway next Saturday.

In the back were the supplies waiting for our massive
backpack stuffing event in a couple weeks.  We will stuff 2,300
backpacks with school supplies - for our areas neediest kids.

It's all the serving, and projects behind the scenes that make the ministry real!   We heard a powerful message and then 'did ministry' together...all of us!

Our Setlist:

Announcements

This I Believe
Forever

Communion:
Chairman of our Elders lead us in scripture reading and the preparation of our hearts to take communion.  The team played a beautiful instrumental Blessed Assurance while we went to the tables.

Resurrecting

Message:  Ecclesiastes Pt. 4 The Test of Time - Young Adult Pastor Aaron James Nicolas

Exit Song: Resurrecting

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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

coming things

I'm very excited about coming things.

I'm emailing back and forth with Phil Wickham's guys discussing final details of an October concert at Crossroads.

While doing that I'm listening to a Gungor Christmas song that was given to me today - a beautiful piece!  It's such a beautiful song that it makes me want to work on Christmas services right now.  Instead I add that to my Christmas notes for this years' Christmas at Crossroads.

Earlier today I added our Mission partners to the list of comp tickets for the Global Leadership Summit - an incredible leadership event that will take place shortly at Crossroads.  Such an opportunity for area businesses to attend something local that features world class leadership experts!

This came just a couple hours after receiving the test results from my precious mom - her latest tests all came back just fine!

While I'm listening, and thinking and reading about these things - beautiful cardinals are playing in our trees after snacking on the suet we just put out.  It's quite extraordinary....quite extraordinary indeed.


I breathe out a final thank you to God Almighty for these coming things and worship Him in His magnificent creation.

And I pray as His nature closes it's eyes for the night, that all of you will sleep well leaning on those Everlasting Arms....

Can we live Sold Out

Is it possible to live sold out to the Lord outside of trial and trouble?

Let me confess, I'm not sure I can.

Our family has had quite a year, our country has had quite a year, our world has had quite a year...

As I've looked at the chaos readily viewable at any time of the day, it draws me right back into worry and sometimes fear so once again I lay it at the feet of my Savior and rest in Him.  A vicious cycle of trust, fear, confession and back to resting in Him.

But I see that over and over I pray the most, talk to the Lord the most when I'm in trouble or worried. When I'm in crisis or can't do it on my own...

I caught myself not long ago so completely content in just a peaceful night at home, wondering if the Lord can be glorified when I'm content,  or if it's when I'm dissatisfied and in the middle of trial and turn to Him?

I just thought I'd throw it out to you, is it possible to be Sold Out in the middle of being content? Should we ever be content?

weekend report

It was another amazing weekend studying Ecclesiastes together at Crossroads!  I'm so thankful that God laid this study on Pastor Dave's heart for us!

It was also a special treat to have Miguel, our Cedarville University Worship Intern in charge of worship this weekend.  What a promising future that young man has in ministry!  

Our setlist:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
It Is Well
Prayer for our Country
Unstoppable 
Scripture transition
Resurrecting
Message:  Ecclesiastes Pt. 3 - Lead Pastor Dave Vance
Exit song: Unstoppable

To watch our services on line go to crossroadswired.com

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

weekend report

Man, where has this week gone??

We're already in week 2 of the Ecclesiastes series, and it is SO good!   I think we may have come close to a record number of people requesting a CD of the message - I'm so thankful for the amazing teacher we have in Pastor Dave.

As I left the auditorium today, I heard music so I went to see were it was coming from.

There I found beautiful worship in the Student Ministry area of the church and was moved to a deep thankfulness for all the faithful people that work to serve our kids and to teach them what worship is!

Student Ministry worship - so good!

After I left the Student Ministry area I still heard loud music that I did not recognize and discovered more precious worship in our Elementary room!  Oh my word - I was so excited to see this!

Amy will be leaving soon to begin her masters degree - thanks
for serving Amy!

The video booth is always a super focused area - bringing us lyrics and
all of Pastor Dave's fill ins and scripture as well as every video you see come from this booth!

 Our setlist:

 Dust In the Wind
Announcements on Video
Resurrecting
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Unbroken Praise
Jesus Paid It All
Ecclesiastes Bumper Video
Light Our City video - Pastor Dave talked to the congregation about serving and giving, and not just sitting on the sidelines.  Telling them that we need everyone to be involved!
Message: Ecclesiastes Pt. 2 - Lead Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Song:  Dust In The Wind

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries are using in their worship services go to theworshipcommunity.com

 Have a great holiday  - I am so thankful for the freedom that allowed me to worship this weekend.

my day off

I often talk to people at church that speak of the things and places that help them relax after working all week.   Places at The Lakes, amazing vacations or beautiful places to eat out.

Again, I guess that's just not my idea of a day off.  Waking up when I want to, eating oatmeal on my deck, enjoying perfect weather that allows me to read God's Word and pray outside...these are what my soul longs for!  And today, finally, I have that type of morning to enjoy.  I am forever grateful!

Before going outside,  I sorted and created piles of laundry to be done, pulled my little laundry rack out to our deck and settled into my favorite chair - I drew in a deep breath and as I exhaled I began to praise Him.

When all is well praises are sometimes few.  When you walk through trials your appreciation deepens for even the most 'regular day'.

My devotions took me to several scriptures this morning, one of which was found in I Timothy - telling of Paul's persecution and his words that remind us that ALL who believe will be persecuted...

Persecution can of course come in all shapes and sizes, it can be physical, mental, imagined, disappointments that we choose to dwell on, mistreatment from people we considered friends and on and on....

So far today it's peaceful and event free - this time prepares me for what lies ahead.  My schedule is no more demanding than anyone else's, but the Lord knew how much I needed a regular day - and I rejoice in it and rest fully in it!

weekend report

One thing about Crossroads Community Church that no one can argue about is that things constantly change!  And I LOVE change - I love new challenges and opportunities to 'figure out' how to make something new work!  And this weekend was no exception - a new addition!

Crossroads welcomed the Taylor family to our ministry this weekend - and what a blessing they are going to be to us!  Their love for the Lord is evident from the moment you speak to them - and nothing encourages me more then to see a family that worships together, serves together and values 'the church' equalling.  Although there are certainly exceptions to this, it just helps you to be 'fully in' when your family stands with you unified in the calling!

Doug will serve as our Communities Discipleship Pastor.  We're dedicated to a commitment to really provide our congregation with opportunities to do life in a smaller community or class setting, to grow in the Lord together and to become a tight-knit community in the Him!

Our worship was great as always and it warmed my heart to see several of the young adults on stage that our senior worship leaders have poured in to,  giving them opportunity to lead!  We have a fabulous praise team and one of the things that make it that way is the multiple generations on stage together. We believe if our goal isn't to mentor and raise up the next generations - then our leadership has failed!  It takes a commitment to welcome and support all generations using all of their various life-experience, spiritual maturity and musical ability mixed together to give glory to our Lord!  Very exciting!

Worshipping and leading our congregation so well!

Jocelyn making announcements

The old song Turn, Turn, Turn - set up the study on Ecclesiastes beautifully

Brandon is one of our videographers on staff - welcome to the praise team!

Even on a beautiful summer weekend our congregation was faithful in their attendance!

Our Setlist:

Announcements:  Global Leadership Summit  (click her to register)- Jocelyn Nicolas

King of My Heart
One Thing Remains
Come Lord Jesus (Even so Come)
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
Special Music:  Turn, Turn, Turn
Message:  Pt. 1 - Ecclesiastes - Lead Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Song:  Turn, Turn, Turn

To watch our services on-line go to Crossroads Community Church

To see what other ministries used in their services The Worship Community

Thanks for reading - may God richly bless your week!