January 2015 the Word UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF THE CROSS Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday to Us! Happy Birthday dear Church of the Cross! Happy Birthday to Us! Ever forget a card or Facebook greeting for a church family member? No worries, this is the party to remember and celebrate everyone's birthday at Church of the Cross! Our birthday party this year will be on January 25th at 5:00 PM. We are asking everyone to bring a dish to share for a potluck dinner. After dining we will all enjoy playing Bunco together. Every month of the year will be represented at our birthday party and if you'd like to host a month please see Judy Beck. Table hosts decorate their table for the month they have chosen and supply a birthday cake. Knowing Loving Serving
2 Notes from the Pastor s Desk: Happy New Year! It is a new year, at Church of the Cross! Is it possible to expect things, in the months to follow? Toward the end of 2014, I was talking with some of you, following a Sunday morning worship service. One person remarked: I do not want to repeat all of the difficulties of 2014 I m ready for a better New Year! Although this is a rough paraphrase of what she said, you get the idea. Another person was listening also, and agreed that we need a great 2015. I admit; I like the idea, a great 2015 but how do we go about making it happen? We all know that the future is not ours it is pregnant with possibility the chance of success and the possibility of failure. Is there anything we can do?? Planning is good and should be a part of our ministry focus. Prayer is essential! Fortunately, God doesn t ask us to face the future, without prayer! He is available. He is listening and also speaking. If we are in communication with our Creator, He may inspire our prayers and our hopes. Can He also impact our thinking? Can we expect specific things? In the Apostle Paul s letter to Corinth, he wrote: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 Is the order of these things significant? In order to have hope, do we need to begin with faith? Is the outcome love? As an education major, in college, we were taught that students will live up or down to our expectations. I do believe there is some truth in this thinking. So what are we expecting, in 2015? It s uncharted territory no one has lived through 2015 before so it s an adventure we share together or at least, we have the potential to share it. I would like to invite you to join me, in expecting great things in the life of Church of the Cross, in 2015. Will you add your faith to mine, so that we may hope and expect the Love of God to overwhelm us and lead us into the current of God s Love? Our hope and our expectation can be for: A caring community reaching out to transform lives through, Knowing, Loving, and Serving God! Bless Your Hearts, Pastor Michael A Caring Community
3 Children's & Youth Ministry at Church of the Cross by Marti Higdon Happy New Year!!! This time of year people like to make resolution to stop doing bad habits and start over. It gives us a sense of hope. This year I m hoping that some of you might resolve to start a new habit instead of breaking a bad one. That habit would be to give back to your church by helping spread your knowledge of God with our Children and Youth. Since, the idea of teaching Sunday school can sometimes seem like a lifelong commitment, I m offering smaller time frames for people to help out with Sunday school. Be looking for an email with more information, or contact me if you are interested. Sermons for January January 4 Rise & Shine Isaiah 60:1-6 January 11 Skylark Mark 1:4-11 January 18 Under the Fig Tree John 1:43-51 January 25 Fish Story Jonah 3:1-5, 10 All Sermon Titles are subject to change. Watch the Bulletins for more information. GAP Kids begins again on January 7th. Sign up has begun for the Progressive Dinner February 28th Get to know other members of the church as you travel from house to house eating delicious food. Contact Shirley Robertson at 825-9357 if you have any questions. United Methodist Women United Methodist Women will be meeting on Tuesday, January 13th at 1:30 PM. All women are invited and encouraged to attend.
4 Angel Academy News by Layla Peppers, Angel Academy Director When I reflect on 2014, I think about all of the people who have been such a blessing to Angel Academy. Thank you to our great teachers who pour their love into the precious children. Thank you to our awesome volunteers who graciously give of their time. Thank you to our Church of the Cross family who supports us faithfully. Thank you to the Angel Academy Ministry team for ensuring a smooth transition, and a great start to the school year. Having served as director of the preschool for 1 semester has been fun, exciting, challenging, and rewarding. Thank you to everyone who has been kind and supportive of my new role. I look forward to 2015 with anxious anticipation for what God has in store for us. I know it will be good. Jeremiah 29:11 says I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support. Wishing you a blessed new year! Ministry Opportunities Children s Blessing for 11:00 Service - Individuals needed to lead the Children s Blessing on a rotation basis. If interested, please contact Pastor Eurit. Computer & Soundboard Volunteers - Individuals would be trained to run either the soundboard or our worship software or both. Commitment would be at minimum once a month for one service. If interested, please contact Kay Rickard at 819-4205. Thank You Dear Church of the Cross Family, Joyce and I would like to thank you, for the gifts, prayers, kindness and the beautiful Julie Cates Cross, which we received for Pastor Appreciation Month. Your love and support are greatly appreciated! Love, Pastor Michael & Joyce Reaching Out 24 - Hour Prayer Vigils January 9 & 10 beginning at 5:00 PM on Friday All Church Wednesday Night Meal 5:15 PM in the Gym January 7 Chicken & Noodles January 14 Pigs 'n Blanket January 21 Crock Pot Pizza January 28 Meatloaf & Macaroni
5 As the Scripture says, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity, and my season as an employee of Church of the Cross has come to an end. After almost 16 years at COC the opportunity has come for me to move on to a new and different challenge in life and I am very excited! I have so many memories of such great times at COC and have learned so much from so many talented people. There are several co-workers from my time here that I wish to thank and I will probably miss a few so please forgive me if I do. Sue Davis, you taught me so much about how to manage an office and I will forever be grateful. Steve Spencer, you were such a joy to be around and I thank you for your creativity, your support and for sharing your gracious spirit. Therese Davis, you always see the positive side of life and that is a quality I so admire in you. Jennifer Redding, you are such a creative, giving person and I respect you greatly and I miss your cupcakes... a lot. Nadine Hiebert, what can I say you are real and you make me laugh thanks for your visits and keeping me sane. If there is a person that could move mountains, it would be you. Greg Lindenberger, I learned so much working with you. You are a great example of what a servant of God should be. I thank you for our chats, your bits of wisdom, your generous spirit, and the times you just let the staff have fun. To the current COC and Angel staff you will survive. As Glinda said to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, You ve always had the power, my dear. You ve had it all along. You may not think that in this moment, but you will grow through my departure because that is how life works. God will not fail you. It was just easy to come to me for the answers. You will figure it out on your own. Remember, there is always Google. It is your friend. To the various volunteers, too many to name, that I have worked with over the years: Thank you for giving of yourselves and your time to help me when I was so busy. It takes so many people to run ministries in a church and you are all vital to making that happen. Even though your role may seem small, remember it s the little things that count. Things don t just happen at the church. It takes loving people to recognize those little things that need to be done. To the COC congregation: Thank you for letting me be in your lives, for being there for me, praying for me and loving me and my family. Chad and I started attending COC when Sam was beginning kindergarten and Ethan was a baby. It seems like yesterday that we moved to Salina! Thank you for allowing me to have a job that was flexible enough that I could still be the mother and wife that I wanted to be. I am grateful that you gave me the privilege to serve you. It has been my honor. ~~Becky McCary
6 Worship Assistants If you would like to assist with worship by ushering, greeting, running soundboard or computer, please contact Kay Rickard at 819-4205. Soundboard January 4 Stephen Patrick (8:30) Dale Swindler (11:00) January 11 Randy Rowe (8:30) Dale Swindler (11:00) January 18 Stephen Patrick (8:30) Therese Davis (11:00) January 25 Marcus Swindler (8:30) Therese Davis (11:00) Computer January 4 Judy Plankenhorn (8:30) Brenden Carr (11:00) January 11 Julie Rowe (8:30) Gage Roberts (11:00) January 18 Judy Plankenhorn (8:30) Brenden Carr (11:00) January 25 Carly Redding (8:30) Sarah Fast (11:00) January Ushers Karen & Steve Cooksey (8:30) (11:00) January Greeters (8:30) (11:00) Our Prayers... Gary Gnuschke (Linda Reyes' cousin) Wayne Gualt (Linda Reyes' cousin) Shelly & Jack Mueller (Sally Hawkins' friends) Jacob Wilcox Christy Suttle Salmans (Carolyn Wright's friend) Sharon & Jack Desch (Judy Plankenhorn s sister & brother-in-law) Mark Brightbill (Rita Northup's friend) Zayden Higdon and family Steve Lindshield (Julie Rowe s friend) Carol Nelson (Cheryl Rutz's mother) Carol Rutz (Dave Rutz's mother) Miranda Burke Bob Biven (Linda Reyes uncle) Linda Reyes Doris Schramek (Margie McGreevy's aunt) David Sharp Stephanie Weiland (Linda Reyes & Teresa Perez's niece) To Transform Lives
Our Presence... Attendance Sun. School 8:30 Worship 11:00 Worship Total Wor. Nov 2 74 79 101 180 Nov 9 79 84 78 162 Nov 16 75 88 89 177 Nov 23 94 72 109 181 Nov 30 77 58 94 152 Our Gifts... Financial Summary November 30, 2014 2014 2013 YTD Actual YTD Budget Prior YTD Actual November Income Giving $26,770 $294,848 $339,167 $316,521 Angel Academy Income 12,465 117,917 129,714 128,620 Other Income (Expense) 450 5,739 6,417 5,992 Total Income 39,685 418,504 475,298 451,133 Staff Pastor Rev. Michael Eurit <meurit@greatplainsumc.org> Dir. of Music & Worship Dru Davis <dru.davis@coc-salina.org> Dir. of Youth & Children s Ministries Marti Higdon <marti.higdon@coc-salina.org> Angel Academy Director Layla Peppers <layla.peppers@coc-salina.org> Office Manager Accountant Julie Richardson <julie.richardson@coc-salina.org> Expenditures Ministerial & Staff 15,147 186,341 225,326 214,010 Operating & Education 1,983 23,426 34,798 29,967 Buildings & Grounds 4,233 49,795 52,588 43,255 Conference Missions & Ministry 3,526 30,017 33,361 31,714 Angel Academy Expense 12,465 117,917 129,714 128,620 Total Expenditures 37,354 407,496 475,787 447,566 Excess of Receipts Over (Under) Expenditures & Transfers $2,331 $11,008 $(489) $3,567 Unpaid Bills $- Cash & Investments Balances: General Fund $40,103 Restricted/Designated Funds $109,758 Memorial Funds $5,798 Emergency Building Fund $4,789 HVAC Funds $21,463 Total Cash & Investments $181,911 QUESTIONS? Call the church office at 785-825-5170 Find us on Facebook Like our page at United Methodist Church of the Cross Copies of the monthly financials are available at the Welcome Center. Please remember Church of the Cross Endowment Fund in your financial giving. If you would like to contribute or have questions please contact the church office at 825-5170. The February Newsletter Deadline is Wed., January 14th. Visit our website at www.coc-salina.org or e-mail at coc@coc-salina.org
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE P A I D PERMIT NO. 370 SALINA, KS 67401 return service requested CRAWFORD BROADWAY NINTH SANTA FE OHIO REPUBLIC SUNSET PARK CHURCH OF THE CROSS RUSH CLOUD CLAFLIN Cloud & Broadway Salina, KS 785.825.5170 www.coc-salina.org Worship Services Sundays at 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday School Sundays at 9:45 AM HS Youth Group Sundays at 5:00 PM MS Youth Group Wednesdays at 6:00 PM GAP Kids Wednesdays at 6:00 PM We gratefully acknowledge Consolidated Printing for the gift of printing this newsletter. All Church Birthday Party January 25th at 5:00 PM in the Webster Room Bring a potluck dish to share! Church of the Cross is... A caring community reaching out to transform lives through Knowing, Loving, and Serving God!