Celebrating a year in ministry

Starting a new church or even a new worshiping community in an already existing church is a challenge. There is the challenge of the unknown. What should we expect? What will it be like? The challenge of fear. What if we can't make it? How long will we last? What if no one comes? There is also the challenge of societies view towards religion, particularly Christianity (of which, some of the criticism is deserved). It is daunting, challenging and overwhelming.

Yet, here we stand one year into our Crossroads ministry. The worshiping community is powerful. It is exciting. It is dynamic. It is deeply spiritual. It connects our life to the ever flowing life-giving baptismal waters that God touches us with. Each week, we are strengthened by God's grace through Holy Communion. Each week, our community reaches out to those who have gathered and say, "you are loved."

There is much to celebrate since we started one year ago. But like our spiritual journey, we are not where we want to be. We should be engaged in further mission to the community and larger city. We desire to go deeper in our Bible Study. We are challenged to think critically about our faith and the role of the church (in a society that increasingly has no use for it). So, we celebrate for a day the past year while we pray and sing about the future.

I hope you will join us for Crossroads this week. We will continue our Lenten journey, we will celebrate, we will worhsip, we will be in community, and we will hope.

See you at 5 PM this Saturday.

Jimmy

Do all the good you can...

Crossroads is participating in a food drive for Bread for the City. Through March 20, you are invited to bring items to Crossroads or our main office at Metropolitan (3401 Nebraska Ave.) to be delivered to Bread for the City.

Seeking to provide healthy food to their clients, Bread for the City suggest donations of the following items:

Canned Tuna, Chicken, or Salmon
Canned Fruit, preferably in its own juice
1 lb packages of Dried Beans
1 lb packages of Brown Rice
Whole Grain Pasta
Canned Vegetables, low-sodium preferred
Canned Tomato Sauce or Spaghetti Sauce, low sodium
Boxed Cereal
Oatmeal

Other non-perishable food items will be accepted as well. We’ve set an ambitious goal of collecting 2010 items. So please contribute generously! Volunteers are welcome to help with the sorting and delivery on Saturday, March 20 from 9 – noon in the Great Hall at Metropolitan Memorial.

We listen to hear...what is our response?

Last week at Crossroads, we explored what it means to really listen to hear God's voice. We listen to hear in the midst of the craziness of life. We listen to hear in the midst of turmoil. We listen to hear in the midst of struggles. We listen to hear when times are good. So what? What if we do listen? What if we don't like what we've heard? How do we respond? When Jesus taught in the synagogue in Luke 4, when he mentioned that he has come not only for the Jewish people but for others as well, they got ticked at him. They were so upset that they tried to throw him off a cliff. How do we respond?

Haiti Emergency

This past Tuesday, a massive 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti. Port-au-Prince was hit very hard, and thousands are feared dead, missing, and injured. People are without homes, food and water are scarce, and many are searching for loved ones. The United Methodist Church, and the Crossroads faith community is calling all people to be in prayer for the people of Haiti. We pray that rescuers will be able to do their jobs, that supplies will reach the needed areas, and that comfort will come to those affected in and outside the country.

In addition to our prayers, you are invited to give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). UMCOR is an outstanding United Methodist organization that provides relief across the world. 100% of what you give goes directly to the need. You are invited to give online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760

We will receiving a special offering for the relief effort in Haiti this Saturday night at Crossroads. We will also join together as a community of faith to pray for the people affected.

Bokamoso Youth Choir this Saturday

The Bokamoso Youth Choir from South Africa will be joining us for worship this Saturday, January 9 at 5 PM.

Finding Time

In the midst of Advent, some take time to slow down, reflect, pray and be silent. Some, not so much. For some, that is draining. Some people would rather spend time building community, talking with friends, or sharing a meal with family. Regardless of what it is, it is important to take time. After this week's worship on December 19, we at Crossroads will take time to reflect on the meaning of Advent and Christmas, and its implications for our lives. We will not gather as a community to worship on December 26 or January 2. However, we will resume the Crossroads experience on Saturday, January 9. Please join us as we explore spirituality and journey towards deeper discipleship through as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pass along the word to your friends to join us this Saturday, December 19 at 5 PM as finding time to seek God.

Finding Joy

The season of Advent begins this weekend. We will celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday, and immediately we will jump into the craze that is the Christmas season. But in the church, the season of Advent comes first. Advent means coming. It is a time where spiritually we prepare ourselves for the comings of Christ - in his birth, in his continually coming through Word and Spirit, and in his return. The mystery is this season is found in the waiting and watching. The community of faith is invited into the richness of this season as we hear the voice of the Prophet Jeremiah speak a word of hope to the Hebrew people, as we hear John the Baptist call us to repent, and we finally bear witness to Immanuel, God is with us through the birth of Jesus. Here are Crossroads, we will explore these themes through a series of worship experiences focused on the theme of "finding joy." We being this weekend with the "Joy of Home." Let us prepare to wait, watch and welcome together.