Sunday and More at Crossroads (emails)

The following email went out just a few minutes ago from Crossroads -- also a copy of what went out yesterday below that --

Just a quick update on the potluck for Sunday - a large cake, some jello and milk have already been provided...

Before the Potluck, we're thrilled to have the Mahlstedt family here to share music and a witness to the Lord's work in their lives.  The planned order of worship follows... INVITE FRIENDS!

Here's a note from Lorna:
      We have been created with a purpose in this life;  what are we doing with what God has given us.  Do we hide and bury our talents or are we willing to multiply them?  This is where we were challenged as a family and decided that sharing music with others is one area that we can multiply what God has given us.
      It all started with violin lessons with the kids, and from there they diversified into more instruments.  The younger also learn the joy of music from the older.  And we are no strangers to the Cokato area as both Dean (Dennis & Adele Mahlstedt) and Lorna (Harvey & Heidi Barberg) have a deep family heritage in the area.  Of which we have seen that life is spurring each other on, especially the next generation.
      And our purpose is to share the music that builds our souls; music we enjoy and are encouraged from and find others are encouraged from it also.  We have experienced that life is short and has no guarantees, but we all can use EVERYTHING we have been given to find a way to glorify God.  Jesus in is humble beginnings born in a manger, to dying on the cross in place of our sins.  Showing us the perfect example of of what glorifying God with one's life is like.  We are far from perfect, but we are given a chance each moment of the day to practice.

      You too have been given talents. It may be talents of service, great cooking, encouraging words, prayer for others, wisdom, understanding, or compassion in an area because of things you have gone through, specific skills, or many other number of things.  So what are you willing to do to multiply what the Lord has given?  We all will get even better at our "talents" with practice, practice, and more practice.  So thanks, for joining us today as we practice at using our talents with you.   May you in return be encouraged to share with others as we have shared with you.
      It’s our prayer that we will all hear these words from our Lord when we meet face to face:

"Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord".  

      Blessings during this season of celebrating Christ's Birth,
      The Dean Mahlstedt family

Here's the plan for Sunday Worship:



And here's the email from yesterday -

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Sunday, Christmas Eve, and beyond
From: Crossroads Community Church

Good evening Crossroads!

This Sunday 2 wonderful things are happening:

1. We will be having a special Christmas service with the Dean Mahlstedt Family.  Dean, Lorna and their 9 children are quite musically talented and will be sharing their talents with us and their love for the Lord for our 10:15 am service. 
2. It is the 3^rd Sunday…that means POTLUCK!!!  I know just thinking about all the food that will be consumed in the next week is daunting, but think of it this way, you in training!  You need to do some warm up before the real dealJ.  If  you are able to bring a dish or 2 to share, that would be wonderful.  But please do plan on staying for food and fellowship!

Christmas Cards/letter:  We have decorated a little portion of our kiosk to be filled with your Christmas cards, letters and pictures.  Please bring them and add them to the kiosk.  If you received a card/picture from others that you feel Crossroads would enjoy seeing, please bring those as well.

Wednesday is Christmas Eve:  Our Christmas Eve service will be at 4:00 pm. The theme will be "JOY FOR ALL" based on Luke 2. Please bring family and invite and bring a friend or someone who may otherwise be left out. If you didn’t fill out a Christmas Worship Survey and would like to read a scripture (either one that you choose or one that can be chosen for you), or if you can help in any other way (greeting, hand out or fold bulletins, usher, communion, sound, handing out candles, be available to snow plow if needed, give someone a ride, or other etc.) please let Pastor Steve know.

Looking ahead to 2015, we're looking forward to all God will be up to among us and through us. Some of you have seen the first chapter of the book The Dangerous Kind that has been made available. We're praying about how the Lord will be guiding us into a series of messages and conversations around the Biblical and spiritual themes of that book on Sundays and in small groups. We're also looking ahead to some training for those who would like to be more effective in prayer ministry. God has opened up these opportunities and we're excited to see how the Lord will be utilizing them in our midst for the good of all those He loves.

Finally, please be in prayer, together whenever you meet and on Tuesday evenings and, of course, individually. Stay alert to topics for prayer in connection with what the Lord is doing in and through our church. One of the best ways you can do that is to spend some time on our church website, on our church's facebook page and on the pastor's blog. God has given us these means to stay in touch with one another; we encourage you to use them often. ALSO...

You can often can see quick updates of the work of our church and its spiritual direction at https://twitter.com/equalsharing. (This will take you to the pastor's "twitter" account.) When you see something interesting, share it. When something concerns you, pray and ask a question. We want to be open in every way to the Word and Work of the Holy Spirit. If you do not want to use "twitter," you can see those quick updates on the "web" version of his blog. If you wish, let him know you'd like to receive them as text messages and he'll set that up for you.

Peace to you in Jesus' name.

www.equalsharing.com