Christmas Tea and Cookie Swap In the Works (UPDATED)

Ladies, a Christmas Tea is being planned for Tuesday December 13, 2011 to get you in the mood for the holiday season. Tea, coffee, and other beverages will be provided. Also a cookie swap is to be included. More details will be forthcoming.

Update: The Tea will begin at 6:30 pm. Treat yourself to a variety of sweet delights. The program will be stirred with a special brew from Romans 8:6, sure to bolster your spirituali-TEA.

Church Thanksgiving Dinner Planned (UPDATED)

Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the church on Saturday November 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm. A list for food items needed and a sign-up sheet are available. Please sign up so we know how many to plan for. Come and enjoy dinner and fellowship!

Update: A concert will follow the dinner featuring Dawna Walsh and Divine Delay.

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes Due

A reminder that Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts are due Sunday November 13, 2011. We will dedicate these special gifts during the morning service.

Supplies Needed for Rescue Mission

In lieu of desserts for the next Rescue Mission Trip that takes place on Wednesday December 7, 2011, we are asking for donations of supplies for the Mission. A list of items needed is given below. Please drop off all donations at Crossroads by Tuesday December 6, 2011.

Supplies needed:

• peanut butter and jelly
• canned tuna
• cereal
• syrup
• over-the counter medicines (cough, allergy, and cold medications - non-drowsy)
• antacids, ibuprofen, aspirin
• aerosol deodorants for men and women
• men’s and women’s underwear (L & XL, new only)
• socks (new only)

The purpose of the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley is to serve and glorify God through Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion that responds to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women, and children without regard to race, color or creed.

Special Speakers at Senior Saints Luncheon

All Senior Saints are invited to a luncheon on Thursday November 10, 2011 at 12:00 noon here at Crossroads. The meal will be provided, and Pete and Joyce Keeley will be sharing about their two-year sailing experience! Please sign up if you plan to attend.

Elder Care Groups Realigned

Due to the recent "retirement" of Pete Keeley as an Elder, the 'Elder Care Group' assignments have been adjusted effective November 1, 2011. Thank you Pete for your many years of selfless service to the Lord and His church.

Here are the current assignments:

Bill Haller	A
Chuck Murrin	B-D
Matt Courtney	E-F
Frank Weese	G-H
Todd Jaussen	J-L
Gary Meikle	M
Ron Beil	N-R
Lee Earnhardt	S
Bill Haller	T-Z

If you are in need of spiritual care, guidance, or help, feel free to contact your Elder. The desire is to be able to best minister to each and every one of you and to be your servants in the Lord. Please pray for the Elders as they seek to care for Christ's dear sheep as men who must give an account.

It's Time to Ring Some Bells Again

It's that time of year again and the Salvation Army needs our help. As times have gotten tougher, there's more demand on the services they provide to the Greenville area. Their Christmas kettles not only allow them to provide holiday assistance, it also helps provide services throughout the entire year to families and individuals who are experiencing financial difficulties.

We will be manning the kettle at the Greenville WalMart on Saturday December 3, 2011 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Two or more volunteers are needed for each one hour time slot.

The Christmas kettle effort is the Salvation Army's largest fundraising endeavor, accounting for a third of their annual budget.

Please sign up if you are interested in helping support this project.

Special Missionary Presentation

On Sunday October 30, 2011 the Peter and Pam Van Der Decker family, missionaries with New Tribes Mission to Papua New Guinea, will present a Mission Moment during the worship service and then also during a combined Sunday School hour.

Sunday Evening Bible Study Moving into 2 Kings

The Sunday evening Bible Study recently completed 1 Kings and is ready to begin 2 Kings on Sunday October 30, 2011. It will continue to look at Israel's history as a lesson for today. More heroic and tragic figures are expected along with God's faithfulness and justice.

Bible Study is Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm at the church.

Quarterly Congregational Meeting Voting Results

At the quarterly congregational meeting held on Thursday October 27, 2011 the 2012 proposed church budget was approved and Ruben Soto was elected to a second term as Deacon.

Cookies Needed for Rescue Mission

The next Rescue Mission Trip is scheduled for Wednesday November 2, 2011 and we would like to take cookies for their dessert. If you could provide a dozen or more, please bring them to the church by this date and be sure to mark "Rescue Mission" on the containers.

Willing Short-Term Missionaries Seeking Financial Assistance

Some of our people wanting to go on the next Dominican Republic mission trip in January 2012 are in need of financial assistance. For anyone willing to donate towards someone’s trip, there is  a list of names available to choose from. Non-designated donations will also be accepted. Please make checks payable to  Crossroads Christian Fellowship and place 'Trip' and the designated name on the memo line.

How to Teach a Sunday School Class

A Sunday School Teacher Training Seminar will be held on Saturday  November 5, 2011 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The theme will be "How to teach a Sunday School Class." Topics include: how to study for the lesson; how to prepare a lesson; how to capture and keep the student’s attention; and other aspects of
successful Sunday School teaching. We will be introducing our new Bible curriculum for our youth Sunday School classes. Interested? Please sign up so we know how many to prepare for. If you would like to help out but are not ready to
take on a class, please attend anyway. There are going to be many opportunities to serve as aides and substitute teachers.

The Power of a Simple Gift

It's time once again to fill shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child presented by Samaritan's Purse. We are now distributing empty boxes for this program. The simple gifts, toys, and other items in the box will bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world. Along with the things you put in, each box will contain an evangelistic message telling the Good News of God's love.

The boxes are available now at the church and are due back by Sunday November 13, 2011 for shipment.

Quarterly Congregational Meeting Scheduled

The congregational meeting for this quarter has been scheduled for Thursday October 27, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Voting will take place for one deacon 3-year term and the proposed annual church budget. Agendas will be available Sunday October 23, 2011.

The Top 4 Reasons to Visit Our Website

Here is a short presentation prepared to highlight the top 4 reasons to regularly visit the Crossroads website. Click anywhere in the viewing area or hit the play button at the bottom to start the video. (There is no sound.)

Use this link to enlarge the viewing area: Pop-Out

Note there are many other useful tools available on the site so have a look around.

Help Wanted: Sunday School Teachers

We are looking for those who have a heart to see our children come to Christ and to see them grow in their knowledge of the Lord through His Word. Would you like to be a part of this wonderful work of God? Please pray and ask God if He would want you to serve in this way. We will be hosting a Sunday School Teacher’s Training Seminar on an upcoming Saturday morning, and will be providing teachers with easy to use curriculum to help in all preparations. Please see one of the Elders if you are willing to serve in this area.

Fruit Needed for Good Shepherd Center Thanksgiving

The Good Shepherd Center has begun holiday preparations and is planning for 380 Thanksgiving distributions. We here at Crossroads have been asked to contribute 130 cans of fruit towards this endeavor. Please bring these to the church office by November 13, 2011.

Info on Next Dominican Republic Mission Trip

The next mission trip to the Dominican Republic through Meeting God in Missions is scheduled for January 14-21, 2012. Please sign up immediately if you plan to take part as a head count is needed by mid-October, 2011. An initial deposit of $500 is due by the end of October, 2011.

Youth Hosting Ice Cream Social

Following the Congregational Prayer Meeting on Sunday October 2, 2011, the youth will be presenting an ice cream social for all attending. Come fellowship with us over some delicious desserts!