THE CROSSFIRE. Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. June Church of the cross Issue 239 ON THE INSIDE

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1 Church of the cross Issue 239 THE CROSSFIRE June 2017 Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World ON THE INSIDE 2 Pastor s page 3 Missions Happenings 3 Birthdays 4 Creation Mtg. 4 Youth Summer studies 5 CrossKidz News 6 Praises 6 Lead Team Notes 7 Finances 7 Congregational Notes Josiah Luke Son of Pastor Keith & Sheri Luke Northview High School University of Toledo studying Computer Engineering Special Dates in June: Communion Sunday, June 4 Open House for Jessie Stein, June 8 Blair Family & Jessie Stein at COTC, June 11 Blair s Evening Presentation, June 14 Father s Day, June & Olive Garden REFIT, Tuesdays(6:30) & Saturdays (9:00) Pantry Days, June 13 & 27 Jessica Borrillo Daughter of Christine Borrillo & Donato Borrillo Springfield High School Attending University of Toledo Studying Speech Pathology Adam Chamberlain Son of Lisa & Tim Chamberlain Springfield High School Attending Kent State, Studying Nursing Luke Breymaier Son of Jeff & Susan Breymaier Ohio State University Beginning dental school in the fall. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6

2 Page 2 Issue 239 A NOTE FOR PASTOR KEITH Dear Members and Friends of Church of the Cross, In Ministry with you I am excited to announce that we have filled three positions to our staff. Church Staff Keith Luke Lead Pastor keith@cotcumc.com Lisa Gleason Administrative Assistant Chuck Albright Visitation Pastor chuckalbright@ymail.com Kristin Miklovic Director of Children s Discipleship kristinm@cotcumc.com Barb Maniak Creative & Technical Coordinator bamaniak@cotcumc.com Lisa Wagoner Connections Coordinator Debbie Corpe Director of Adult Discipleship Rich Dubler Traditional/Blended Worship Director Donna Myers Keyboard Musician Creative and Technology Coordinator We are pleased to announce that we have hired Barb Maniak as part of our staff as our part-time Creative and Technology Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities will be to give leadership to Worship Design and Technology, Graphic Design, Website/Social Media and Signage (both indoor and outdoor). The goal of this position is to effectively communicate both to the people of Church of the Cross, as well as the community, enhancing the church s mission of making new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Barb has demonstrated her gifts and talents in these areas for many years as a volunteer and we are happy to have her on staff. Barb s first day on staff was April 24 th. Director of Adult Discipleship We are pleased to announce that we have hired Debbie Corpe to be our part-time Director of Adult Discipleship. Her primary responsibilities will be to give leadership to Adult Sunday School, Bible Studies and Small Groups, among other things. Debbie has a great passion for people to grow deeper in their faith in Christ and their connections to one another within the church. She joins our staff with a variety of experiences both in the church and in other positions that will help us to create and enhance a discipleship process. Debbie s first day on staff will be June 5 th. Connection Coordinator We are pleased to announce that we have hired Lisa Wagoner to be our part-time Connections Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities in this position will be to help people move from being a guest to becoming fully engaged in the life of Church of the Cross, as well as helping current attenders and members to find new ways to connect to ministries and people of the church. Lisa has a desire for people to find their connection in the church where they can build meaningful relationships, grow in their faith and live out their gifts. She brings to this position an ability to listen to people and a passion for helping them find their connection point whether they have been a part of Church of the Cross for many years or a newly arrived guest. Lisa s first day on staff will be Sunday, May 28 th. Andrew Brammer Contemporary Worship Leader Aaron Keaster Bell Choir Director Joanne Born Tita Wood Will you please join me in welcoming these new members of the COTC Staff and hold each one in your prayers? I look forward to working with them, seeing what God will do in providing fruitful ministry in our congregation and community. In Christ, Pastor Keith

3 The Crossfire Page 3 M ISSIONS HAPPENINGS IN JUNE Welcome Home Grant & Gail Blair & Jessie Stein! Our own missionaries Grant & Gail Blair and Jessie Stein will be here in June. Join us Sunday, June 11 as we welcome the Blair Family and Jessie back home to COTC! June 11 th Schedule Grant Blair will be guest preacher and Jessie will do a brief presentation at each service. 9:30 Jessie will be doing a presentation to the kids(6th grade and under) during the first half of Sunday School and the youth (7th grade and up) during the 2nd half of the Sunday School hour. Migrant Lunch after 11:11 Service and more presentations Jessie Stein Open House Thursday, June 8 th 4-9pm Open House at the Stein s, 3203 W. Lincolnshire Blvd. Toledo, Ohio, Everyone is welcome. Blair Family Fellowship & Presentation Wednesday, June 14 th 7pm at COTC, Grant & Gail Blair will offer a time of desserts, presentations & fellowship. Everyone is invited! Migrant Camp Training Cancelled The training scheduled for Monday, June 12 th has been cancelled. We have learned that due to immigration changes, In keeping with our mission s theme for the day, the Migrant Camp team will be providing lunch; the same meal that is served weekly to the Migrant workers they minister to. Lunch will consist of hot dogs, rice, beans, cookies, beverage, and possibly other items. We will serve lunch, on the lawn outside the gathering space. Lunch may be eaten casually outside, in the gathering space (seating will be limited) or in the sanctuary. Following lunch, presentations will be made by Grant & Gail Blair and Jessie Stein in the sanctuary. FLOC, the organizers of this outreach, is expecting much lower numbers of people. We had hoped to take larger groups to the camps and add more activities, but that seems unnecessary at this time. You can still join in the migrant camp ministry as it currently operates, contact Chuck Corpe at for more information or questions. Migrant camp dates have changed slightly, the correct dates are here below. July 18, 25 & August 1, 8, 15. Keith Luke 6/1 Jon Strole Sr. 6/1 Kayla Breymaier 6/3 Jason Roundtree 6/4 Larry Martin 6/6 Pamela Pennington 6/6 Philip Stein 6/6 Bruce Schwabel 6/7 Bill Huber Jr. 6/8 Rachel Zsarnay 6/8 Helen Brown 6/16 Corrine* Gaylord 6/16 Sue Taylor 6/16 Beverly Schaefer 6/18 Jon Strole Jr. 6/18 Jacob Coon 6/19 Isaiah Schwabel 6/20 Agneta Seeley 6/22 Joshua Yeager 6/22 Leah Dubler 6/23 Barbara Maniak 6/23 Lori Bailey 6/25 Mike Stein 6/25 Karolyn Suter 6/25 Jo Hunter 6/26 Steve Maniak 6/27 Elfriede Wurster 6/28 Donnie* Crozier 6/29 Jacob Maniak 6/30

4 Page 4 Issue 239 Creation Meeting Your Origins Matter! Creation Meeting: Monday evening June 26 at 7 PM in the Gathering Area. Is Genesis true? Does it even matter? Many Christians join modern culture in dismissing the biblical account of origins, preferring the secular story of evolution. Yet this rejection profoundly affects our faith. In this DVD presentation, ICR s Dr. Jason Lisle discusses the importance, truth, and relevance of Genesis. Discover how the first book of the Bible lays the foundation for the rest of Scripture and is critical to understanding the Gospel message. Were the creation days literal? Was Noah s Flood global? The Word of God speaks clearly on these issues, yet the fallible mind of humans tells a different story. What we believe about origins has consequences. Genesis is relevant to culture, our faith, and the whole story of redemption and it is true from the very first verse. Join us for Your Origins Matter: Why Genesis is Crucial to Your Faith. N EW SUMMER STUDIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL/ COLLEGE AGE HIGH SCHOOL/ COLLEGE GUYS BIBLE STUDY Place: Roth s Home (7445 Fox Lane, Holland) Dates: Wednesday nights July12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16 Time: 7-8:30pm (On July 12 th because of VBS the study will be later! 9-10:30pm) This is a 6-week summer study! Cost: $15 HIGH SCHOOL/ COLLEGE LADIES BIBLE STUDY Place: Julie Zaborowski s House (4545 Shadowood lane) Toledo, Ohio Dates: Wednesday nights July12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16 Time: 7-8:30pm (On July 12 th because of VBS the study will start later 9-10:30pm) This is a 6-week summer study! Cost: $15. Crossover Youth June Schedule June 1 -Parent meeting for mission trip at 7pm at the Roth s house. June 4- FCA University of Toledo Football and volleyball athletes speaking in the Zone. (6-8pm) June 11 - cook out at the Zaborowski s house (545 Shadowood Lane) *Bring a snack to share June 18 Father s Day (No youth) June Mission Trip

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6 The Crossfire Page 6 G OD S ANWSERS TO OUR PRAYERS This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that is we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 Praises for safe return of grandson after witnessing a traumatic situation! Praise the Lord for walking closely with a member through the most difficult time in her life and allowing her to experience a complete recovery! Prayers of praise for celebrating 12th year wedding anniversary! Praises for a 52nd wedding anniversary! Praises for a safe travel and fellowship with church sisters! Praises for an awesome God, the One who goes beyond what we think, say or need through Christ by whom I am strengthened. Praise for cheerleading granddaughter who has received a scholarship. Praise that daughter has been accepted as a transfer student at BGSU this next fall! Praise that cousin is now home and returning to good health. Thankful husband did not break any bones when he fell in the bathtub praises to our God who protects us! Praise for finding things which had been lost. Praise God young man loves our granddaughter well. Praise God for our strong pastor who loves God and His people deeply! Praise for a safe trip home and for our wonderful church family. The above praises were taken from requests at the altar, from s or from Sunday connect cards. L EAD TEAM NOTES KEEPING YOU UPDATED Lead Team Notes March 2017 The meeting was opened by a devotion and prayer by Pastor Keith on Luke 14: Finance team reported on reports for February. The 3-month operating reserve fund (rainy day fund) was up to 118 % of goal. Trustees reported on a water leak in the ceiling of one of the classrooms. They will have an evaluation and repair estimates done. Motion was passed to give the no longer needed parsonage lawn mower to Chuck Corpe, who had been maintaining and repairing it and previously used it to cut the church grounds. Trustees will be requesting updated and more detailed plans for the next phase of the Sanctuary Upgrade from the engineering firm. We are awaiting another quote before the men s bathroom drain is repaired. Pastor reported that Jay Miklovic resigned from Lead Team due to his wife s taking a staff position at the church, so as to avoid any conflict of interest. He asked for prayers from the team concerning finding candidates for the empty lead team positions, and prayers for Chuck Albright who had surgery and has not been able to work for a while. Pastor Keith also reported that Kristin Miklovic accepted the position of Children s Ministry Leader. Her acceptance and compensation package were voted on and accepted unanimously. The pastor also reported on activity concerning the other open staff positions. There have been some applications received and interviews will be scheduled. There were a few changes that were needed to the personnel handbook regarding pensions. He also reminded us of the dates of upcoming events in the life of the church regarding Easter, Grant and Gail Blair visiting in June, and ideas for resuming Vacation Bible School.

7 Page 7 Issue 239 F INANCES AT A GLANCE A PRIL 2017 & YEAR TO DATE Consider Online Giving Life is busy! And that means you may not be at church every Sunday. We hope you won t forget Church of the Cross even if you are not here every Sunday. Online giving is a great way to continue your financial support of the mission and ministry programs at COTC, even though you may not be able to be here every week for worship. To donate electronically using your debit or credit card or checking account transfer, please visit our website at and click on the link that says give. C ONGREGATIONAL NOTES 55 & Over Luncheon The June 55 & Over Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. at Olive Garden (1919 Reynolds Rd.) Sign up at the Adult Ministry Corner. Crossfire Deadline The deadline for the July edition of the Crossfire is June 15. Please submit articles via at or drop them off at the church office. Thank you for meeting this deadline. Dear Church of the Cross Family, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you for the prayers, cards, calls and the excellent meal following the service after Bob s passing. I do appreciate all you have done. Thanks so much, Geraldine Frosch Grames New Address: Jessica & Chuck Schroeder 6113 Dixon Ave. Toledo, OH Jennie Sparks 6861 Old Pine Lane Maumee, OH Richard Hare 7 W. Market St. Tiffin, OH 44883

8 Church of the Cross, UM 1750 East gate Rd. Toledo, OH Address Service Requested Prepared Especially For: Phone: Fax: Eastgate Rd. Toledo, OH Church of the Cross Phone: Fax: We re on the Web: Church of the cross We re on the Web! Sunday Worship 8:00 AM The Chapel 9:30 AM The Gathering 11:11 AM Cross Community Food Pantry Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday 4:00-6:00 p.m. Community Meal - 4th Tuesday Prayer Line Number# M-TH 8:30am-4:30pm Editor: Lisa Gleason Deadline for copy: 15th of each month.