Crossroads Connections

Transcription

1 M a r c h Crossroads Connections A c h u r c h i n t h e c r o s s r o a d s o f l i f e I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : A M o m e n t w i t h 1 P a s t o r M i k e T a i z é W o r s h i p 2 L e n t e n S u p p e r M a r c h S u n d a y 3 S e r m o n s P r a y e r s 4 W o r s h i p L e a d e r s 5 C a l e n d a r 6 M a k u n z i O l i v i e r 7 A M o m e n t w i t h P a s t o r M i k e Lynda Carlson, the current minister of the church at Albia, Iowa, where I went to high school so many years ago, wrote an intriguing column that I would like to paraphrase for you. She begins by asking if you can answer the following questions without looking it up on the internet. Name the five richest people in the world. Name the last five Most Valuable Players in the National League. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress. I didn t do very well on those, did you? The point is, we don t remember the headliners of yesterday. These people are all the tops in their fields. After the applause dies, though, awards sit on the shelf. Achievements are forgotten. Important people fade away. Now, here s Lynda s next list of questions. W o r s h i p t i m e s : S u n d a y S c h o o l a t 9 : 3 0 a m. W o r s h i p a t 1 0 : 4 5 a m. List two teachers who aided your way through school. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. It was easier to respond to this list, right? The people who make the most difference in our lives aren t the ones who are rich and famous. They re the ones who care. We are called to be God s people in the church the caring community. We care for one another, and we care for our neighbors in need. God has given us gifts and abilities to make a positive difference. We re invited to be the light of the world. As we journey through Lent, let us thank God for the people who have made a difference in our lives (and maybe tell them thanks, too, if possible). And let us try to be those who make that positive difference in the lives of those around us. Be the light in the darkness. Grace and peace, Pastor Mike

2 C r o s s r o a d s C o n n e c t i o n s Page 2 T a i z é W o r s h i p S e r v i c e Taizé worship is a prayer service consisting of meditative singing and periods of silence in order to reach a contemplative state. Reformed Worship, a publication of Faith Alive Christian Resources CRC (Christian Reformed Church) Publications, carries an article on their website that promotes the practice of Taizé worship. The article, "How to... Plan in the Style of Taizé," says that the students, faculty, and staff of Calvin Theological Seminary spend time together once a week in "contemplative services" in "the manner of the Community of Taizé." Taizé is a form of contemplative worship that incorporates mystical practices and interspiritual beliefs as this article describes: "Short chants, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character," the brothers explain in a brief introduction printed in the paperback songbook. "Using just a few words, [the chants] express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being." For those who may wonder if Calvin Theological Seminary's Taizé is the same as the Taizé in France, the article provides a link (to learn more) to Taizé Community In France. This article in Reformed Worship is just another indication that contemplative spirituality is no respecter of denominations. Nearly all are affected and influenced. L e n t e n S u p p e r W e d n e s d a y, M a r c h 9, a t 6 p m Our rescheduled pancake supper will be hosted on Wednesday evening, March 9, 2016 at 6pm. A Lenten Taizé worship service (see article above) will follow at 7pm. Make plans to join us for food and a contemplative worship experience.

3 M a r c h Page 3 C h i p s f r o m t h e B o a r d In case of bad weather and church or activities are cancelled, the information will be given to TV channels 2,4 & 5. It will be displayed on the ticker at the bottom of the TV screen and on their websites. On Wednesday March 9th, there will be a pancake/sausage supper at 6:00 PM followed by a Lenten Taize worship service. This will replace the Ash Wednesday services that were cancelled due to bad weather. There will be a Maundy Thursday worship service beginning at 6pm on Thursday, March 24th. The Chain of Prayer will begin at noon on Friday, March 25th and conclude at noon on Saturday, March 26th. An Easter breakfast will be hosted at 9am on Sunday, March 27th in lieu of Sunday School. M a r c h S u n d a y S e r m o n s March 6, th Sunday in Lent The Message: Seeking and Waiting Scripture: Luke 15:1-10 and Luke 15:11-32 Theme: A No-Matter-What love Loose Change Offering: Support of Makunzi Olivier March 13, th Sunday in Lent The Message: How Inappropriate! Scripture: John 12:1-8 and Psalm 126 Theme: A most precious gift BEACON is hosting a fund raising trivia night at St Augustine s Church in Belleville on April 9, 2016 at 7pm. We would like Crossroads to have a table of 8 or 10, if there are enough folks interested and available. Cost is $12 apiece, with a $2 discount on tables of 8 to 10. If you would like to be on the Crossroads trivia team, please the church office. March 20, 2016 Palm Sunday The Message: The Odd Parade Scripture: Luke 19:28-40 and Psalm 118:1-2,19-29 Theme: Saying yes to Jesus March 24, 2016 Maundy Thursday The Message: Come and Eat Scripture: Matthew 14:14-18; Matthew 25:31-40; Matthew 26:26-30 March 27, 2016 Easter Sunday The Message: A Matter of Death and Life Scripture: Luke 24:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 Theme: God wins; death loses

4 C r o s s r o a d s C o n n e c t i o n s Page 4 P r a y e r s Marie Reichling recent hospital stay Shirley (niece of Tom & Mary) doing better after heart procedure Betty Barsul (mother of Pat Hayes) health issues John (relative of Wayne & Marie) upcoming bone surgery Theresa (relative of Wayne & Marie) upcoming heart surgery W e e k o f C o m p a s s i o n U p d a t e Kabita Shrestha is dressed in a colorful blouse with a purple shawl tucked around her pink sari. She looks as if she doesn't have a care. However, the 26-year-old has seen her share of difficulty. Having lost her mother at a young age, Kabita did not have a chance to study or marry. Instead, she took care of her younger brother and sick father. In April of last year, Kabita injured her leg and lost all personal belongings when her home collapsed during the 7.8 magnitude Nepal earthquake. Then Kabita's brother, who worked as a driver, lost his job. His wife was pregnant. Kabita's father's medical condition worsened. More and more she was struggling to meet the needs of her family. Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa O u r H o m e b o u n d Ray Doctorman Vera Hudson Week of Compassion, in collaboration with our partner, ACT Alliance, to this day continues to accompany Kabita, her neighbors, and many other families in our efforts to restore their lives. The reconstruction of homes in Nepal has been delayed by a political crisis that followed the adoption of a new constitution last September. While Nepal's political crisis drags on, Kabita and other Sanogoan people have little time to talk politics: they are busy making bricks with supplies purchased from funds provided by Week of Compassion. The tight-knit community plans to rebuild 90 destroyed farm houses. The first bricks go to the most vulnerable families, whose homes will act as models for the rest. Kabita is hardly the only woman leading reconstruction. Emergency response officer Madhu Sunam enjoys her challenging job and has seen a major change among the women of Sanogoan. "When I first came, women hardly spoke in meetings. They were used to doing household work and farming. The earthquake pushed them out of their comfort zone. The women are now quite vocal, and in many ways lead the efforts in reconstruction." Despite her countless struggles, Kabita now feels a sense of hope. Together with her friends, she sums up the parts that make up her dream house: "An inside toilet, a comfy kitchen with piped water and a rooftop for sun bathing and drying vegetables." Thanks to your support to Week of Compassion, we will continue to be with Kabita and others in Nepal for the long term and help them move into their new homes soon.

5 Worship Leader Jan Evans Kay Marshall Ken Holmes Mike Thompson Elder Tom Petrekovich Bob Green Pat McAllister Ken Holmes Greeter Jim Buckhannon Pat Killian Jim Buckhannon Curt Sutton Audio-Visual Kay Marshall Pat McAllister Pat Hayes Pat McAllister Deacons Prepare Deacons Serve Deacons Candles Deacons Sanctuary March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27 Susan Johnasen-Smith Susan Johnasen-Smith Lay Worship Leaders March 2016 Marie Reichling Kay Marshall Wayne Reichling Susan Johnasen-Smith Kay Marshall Pat Hayes Pat Hayes Susan Johnasen-Smith Susan Johnasen-Smith Marie Reichling Susan Johnasen-Smith Wayne Reichling

6 6 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 13 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 20 Palm Sunday 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship 12:00 Board Meeting 27 Easter Sunday 9:00 Breakfast 10:45 Worship March 2016 Happy Anniversary! 16 Pat & Ed Hayes :30 Lunch Bunch 5:30 Dinner/Video 7:00 Choir Practice 6:00 Pancake Supper 7:00 Taizé Worship Tim Hampton 4 Mary Clay 5 Willie Burgess 6 Gwen Boggan 5:30 Dinner/Video 7:00 Choir Practice No Events Scheduled 5:30 Dinner/Video 7:00 Choir Practice :00 Elders Meeting 24 Maundy Thursday 31 SEGA Prayers for the Month 3/6-3/12 First Christian Church, Poplar Bluff, MO 3/13-3/19 The Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest offices and churches 3/20-3/26 First Christian Church, Sikeston, MO 3/27-4/2 All of the Christian Church (DoC) General Ministries 7:00 Worship Happy Birthday! 9 Mary Jane Tucker 15 Drake Clark 18 Jim Buckhannon 22 Joe Weygandt 23 Wayne Reichling 25 Good Friday Prayer Vigil Begins At Noon 25 Jennifer Lewis 27 Mike Thompson 28 Brittany Clark 30 Clay Marshall 26 Prayer Vigil Ends At Noon

7 M a r c h Page 7 M a k u n z i O l i v i e r Crossroads Loose Change Offering for March will go to help sponsor Mukunzi Olivier, a young boy who is sponsored by the choir. Mukunzi is 16 years old and lives in Rwanda with his mother along with 2 other children in the family. He resides in a hillside community, home to approximately 4,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, adobe walls and corrugated tin roofs. The regional diet consists of maize and beans. Most adults in his village work as subsistence farmers and earn the equivalent of $12 per month. This community mainly needs scholastic materials and land for cultivation. Our sponsorship through Compassion International of $32.00 per month allows the staff of the Student Center in his village to provide Mukunzi with Bible teaching, medical checkups, lessons on nutrition, hygiene supplies, recreational activities, educational reinforcement, tuition and transportation to health centers. The center staff also provides Bible lessons and workshops on child development for Mukunzi s mother. We also provide a gift for him at Christmas and for his birthday. It is important to note that we are his only sponsors. The choir has been sponsoring Mukunzi for 8 years. Over the years we have corresponded with Mukunzi, received updated photos, and we have come to care for him very much. At first, when the choir was larger, it was not too hard to come up with $32.00 per month; however, during the last year it has become more difficult each month, so we are coming to you this morning to ask for your help. Please remember Mukunzi in your prayers and know that your love and support will help him to receive the assistance he needs to grow and develop.

8 C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h 2415 North 89th Street Caseyville, IL (618) Interim Pastor - Rev. Michael Dixon medixon2@earthlink.net Office Manager - Patrick McAllister crossroadsdisciple@sbcglobal.net Hours: M,T,W,Th 8-12 Music Director - Carol Brookshier clbrookshier@charter.net Nursery - Connie McAllister Custodian - Richard Reichling We re Disciples: a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world U p c o m i n g E v e n t s H o l y W e e k a t C r o s s r o a d s L u n c h B u n c h On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, the Lunch Bunch will meet at 11:30am, at Zapata s Mexican Restaurant, 4660 N. Illinois, Fairview Heights, IL A sign-up sheet is in fellowship hall. Thursday, March 24, 2016 Maundy Thursday worship service at 7pm Good Friday, March 25, hour Prayer Vigil begins at noon Saturday, March 26, hour Prayer Vigil ends at noon Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 Easter Breakfast at 9am Worship at 10:45 am