Neighborhood News- December 14th, 2017
Leaving Home
Dear Crossroads Family,
This morning Facebook ‘reminded’ me it was one year ago today (Dec. 12) that Keldy and I, and our quiver-full of childlike monkeys, boarded a plane with no return ticket home—because home for us had a new address. Occasionally in life, we have to leave home in order to find it. Such was this occasion.
Our journey from Kentucky to Washington went by way of North Carolina, where we stayed with family for about a week. The day we left for NC, after we had carefully placed the last of our belongings into a U-Haul and our friends had all returned home, Keldy and I did one last walkthrough early in the morning around 3:00 AM to make sure the house was completely empty. We concluded in the boys’ bedroom. No more rocking chair, no more bunk bed, no more reading nook, no more train table, no more giggling or screaming or rocking or wiping or singing or climbing or falling—just a bare empty room full of irreplaceable memories. With nothing else to do to prepare for our departure, for which we had been breathlessly preparing for weeks, the only thing left to do was feel the full weight of the moment. Our eyes met, and without saying a word we sat on the floor, leaned into each other’s neck, and wet our faces and the floor with one final goodbye.
Coming Home
When we pulled into the driveway on Jetty Place in Silverdale and walked in our front door, we were greeted with a house full of the artifacts of love. The U-Haul had arrived a few days before us, but so too had a small army of strangers we would soon know as family. They were on a mission. It’s the mission of every family: to make our house a home. So they emptied our truck and filled our empty house full of furniture and love and the hard work required for both. There was even a large package of precooked bacon waiting for me in the refrigerator. Love. Since that day, those strangers have indeed become our family and that house has indeed become our home.
Welcoming Home
There is an epidemic of homelessness in Kitsap County. I’m not talking about the 644 adult residents without a house and the countless number of people without a family, as important a consideration as they indeed are. Rather, I am talking about the 185,000+ adult residents who do not know Jesus, whose children do not know Jesus, and who therefore are estranged from their Father in heaven and the family of God in Christ on earth, the family of God in Kitsap County. They are our brothers and sisters, and they are lost.
In this past year, we have developed a new mission statement to give direction to our efforts to impact Kitsap County for Christ:
Leading all generations know to Christ and make Him known in our neighborhoods to all nations.
As I’ve reflected on the past year to consider personal growth areas as your pastor, one thing I realize I must do more clearly and emphatically in the coming years is to continually place the heart of this mission before us—to know Christ and make Him known—so that as we all turn our efforts toward this end, we can begin to see each of our efforts, both in our gathering and in our scattering, reinforcing everyone else’s efforts to know Christ and make Him known. Christ alone is the way to the Father, and the Church alone knows the Way Home. We are God’s welcoming committee.
Sociologists suggest the coming generation will be the least churched generation in modern American history—homeless. 185,000+ in our county do not know Jesus—homeless. The scope of the mission seems impossible—because it is. But may Crossroads Neighborhood Church never settle for a mission small enough to accomplish without God. Anything less than the impossible will never move us toward deeper dependence on God, or, for that matter, toward working together according to one common goal. So my plea as we look to the New Year is for all of us to lay down our personal preferences and individual efforts and consider how we can each contribute to the mission, to lay our lives down before our Lord so that together we can lift his Name high before the world.
In the words of Abraham Kuyper, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” Jesus has already purchased Kitsap County. It is but one wing of God’s big, earthen house (Ps. 24:1), but many of the rooms are still empty, many children still lost. God is calling us as a Body to furnish his house the way the Crossroads community furnished ours—with love, with family, and indeed with the name and example of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Brother of strangers, Friend of sinners, Savior of all—Emmanuel, who came to make this house, this world, a Home. It’s time to go. There are people waiting at the door.
Pastor Jeremy
Events
Wonders of Learning Preschool
We are approaching WOL’s 20-year anniversary. Please mark on your calendar Sunday, March 4th, 2018 for WOL Sunday!
Be sure to check out their new website www.wondersoflearning.com
Ecuador Mission Trip
December 17th:
Application and $100 deposit due
A partnering with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Envision Office, specifically missionaries, Rich and Lisa Brown, via Inca Link in the country of Ecuador. We will live out the mission God has given us here by serving the church God is building there.
Solid Rock Youth Christmas Celebration
Sunday, December 17, 2017
6:00-8:00pm
Youth Wing
Families will bring Secret Santa gifts purchased and wrapped for our secret family. We will also have our White Elephant gift exchange. Please bring snacks to share!
Life Together
Women Mentoring Women
This Mentoring Ministry is a ministry for women of all ages. It is a ministry that intentionally develops friendships among women of different generations. Women invest in the lives of each other through encouragement, guidance, listening, laughing and loving. The purpose of Life Together is to develop relationships where your Mentor will walk beside you to help you more deeply connect with God and the community of believers.
Winter Season: January 10- February 28
Sunday is the last day to sign up!
Sunday, December 10th Events:
9:00am Good News Discipleship, Johnson Hall
9:00am Youth Education Class, Room 101
9:00am Joy Choir, Room 105
Wednesday Evening Events:
6:30pm Men’s Bible Study, Room 111
Christmas Season Schedule
Sunday, December 24th at 10:30am
(Regular Sunday school and nursery)
Sunday, December 24th at 6:00pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
(Enjoy with your family)
December 25th– December 29th
Church Office Closed
Senior Rocker’s Events
All Seniors 50+ are invited!
12/27 No Game Day
Sign up at the Information Desk this Sunday.
Food Pantry Donations Needed!
Our Food Pantry is in need of replenishment. There is a steady need of food support within our church and community. Would you please consider making donations of nonperishable food items?
Canned vegetables, fruit, and meats.
Crackers, cereal, and granola bars.
Soups, rice, noodles/sauce, and meals with pop-top lids.
Coffee and juice.
Toilet paper, shampoo, soap, tissues.
Drop off is to the right of the Welcome Desk or to the Church Office.
Weather Postings
In case of inclement weather/snow conditions, please check the church’s answering machine (692.1672) or website (www.crossroadscma.com ) for closure information after 7:30 AM.