March 26, 2015March 26, 2015March 26, 2015March 26, 2015 Volume 21, Number 6Volume 21, Number 6Volume 21, Number 6Volume 21, Number 6

Newsletter

articles for the next issue are due in the church office

by noon Thursday, April 2nd

(You may e-mail articles to office@

eastcross.org)

East Cross East Cross East Cross East Cross

NewsNewsNewsNews

www.eastcross.org

Bi-Weekly

publication of

East Cross United

Methodist Church

East Cross United Methodist Church 820 S Madison Blvd. Bartlesville Oklahoma 74006 918-333-0810

learning to follow Jesus, inviting others to join the journey

Holy Week Worship Information:

Palm Sunday, March 29th Sermon Series: 40 Days With Jesus Sermon: “Palm Sunday: It Feels Like Jesus Showed Up” Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Pastor Jeff Burress

8:30am Traditional Worship 9:45am Traditional Worship at Grace Epworth 11:00am Contemporary Worship

Easter Egg Hunt immediately after the 11am service at East Cross

Holy Thursday, April 2nd, 7 pm, Grace Epworth Sanctuary Sermon Series: 40 Days With Jesus Pastor Jeff Burress Grace Epworth is located at 706 SE 3rd St., Downtown Bartlesville If you would prefer to park at East Cross and ride the church van to and from the service, please be at East Cross by 6:30pm.

Good Friday, April 3rd, 7pm, East Cross Sanctuary Sermon Series: 40 Days With Jesus Sermon: “Peter: It Feels Like We Lost” Scripture: John 18:1-19:42 Pastor Chad Perceful Easter Sunday, April 5th, 8:30, 9:45, 11am, East Cross Sermon Series: 40 Days With Jesus Sermon: “Easter Sunday: This Is the Day!” Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Pastor Jeff Burress 9:45 Worship Service at Grace Epworth—Bob Shell

Children & Youth Sunday School classes will not meet today. Adult Small Group classes may determine individually if they will meet. Children’s Worship will be offered for the 9:45 and 11am services. (Kindergarten through 2nd graders) Childcare for children 4 and under is available for all 3 services.

Be sure and stop by the Gathering Area on the first floor between and after services on Palm Sunday, March 29th or Easter Sunday, April 5th to have your picture or family picture taken. This is a great time to get a photo with visiting family members. We will use a green screen as a backdrop, so please remember...do not wear green!

CONNECTIONS will not meet on

Wednesday, April 1st (during

Holy Week) But will resume on Wednesday,

April 8th.

5:30pm Meal 6:00pm Classes for all ages

East Cross New s - page 2

Would you like a ride to worship on Holy Thursday or Good Friday? Give the church office a call at 918-333-0810 if interested.

MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS…

Brian, Heather, Hadley and Briley Davis officially became members recently by way of transfer. Brian teaches Eastern Hemi-sphere Geography and Heather teaches English and Language Arts. Both teach at Central Middle School. They are members of the Breakfast Club Sunday Small Group. Hadley is an 8th grader at Central and Briley is a 5th grader at Ranch Heights. The Davis family resides at 1048 Meadow Drive, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Phone: 918-914-2935

Also, Joan Snow came to East Cross by way of transfer from another denomi-nation in Sulphur Springs, TX and became part our membership on March 15th. Joan attends our Sunday morning Love One Another small group and is also an accomplished pianist. Her address is 1816 East Drive, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Phone: 918-876-4729

All are already involved in several ministry areas of the church and we are delighted that they have “officially” chosen East Cross as their church home. Be sure to introduce yourself and welcome them to our church family.

MUTUAL Tuesday House Resale

Shop, 327 S. Penn

will have a special opening on

Sat., March 28th 8:30 am-12 noon.

Sales support MUTUAL Girls Club and MUTUAL Gold.

Our East Cross group arrived safely back into the United States on Friday, March 20th after a wonderful 10 day trip to Israel in the Holy Land.

Dancing on the Sea of Galilee

Upper Right: Camel Rides in Jerrico Right: Herodion

Pastor Jeff snapped this pic of Bob & Pat Graham who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary! Congratulations and best wishes for many more happy years!

Always keep your eyes open for new faces. We are praying for and expecting many guests for Easter. Please wear your name tag and a welcoming smile on your face!!

The staff of East Cross wishes you a joyous Easter!The staff of East Cross wishes you a joyous Easter!The staff of East Cross wishes you a joyous Easter!The staff of East Cross wishes you a joyous Easter!

PARKING...If you are physically able, please choose a parking space a little further away from the church. Let’s leave the closest spaces for our guests. We will be running our golf carts on Easter Sunday, so be sure and please let us give you a ride to and from your car!

East Cross New s - page 3

Capt. Derek Smith Capt. Neil Gorham LTC Darrin Cox Mark Hathaway LCDR Robert Staten Captain Daniel Smith Major Todd Abshire Sgt.Justin Smith AB Jared Draney Sgt. Jared Seat SPC Gary Mabry Lt. Eric Rolfs Robbie Lawson All persons serving in the military and their families.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES…

EXPERIENCE IT!

East Cross Family

In The Hospital… Carol Stithem (GE) JPH #585

Pray For…Connie Black, Becky Balli, Val Cottle, Kathy Stewart, Betty Hicks, Jewell Baker, Eileen Kintner (Jerry’s sister), Briana Brooks (Rehab), Jack Clark, Mason Green (friend of Butlers and Bilgers), James Kuntz, Curtis McLaughlin, Bill Henning, Mike Paxson (brother-in-law of Coleen Williams), Janet Sloan (Cheryl Lansdown’s cousin), Doreen Hazelwood (friend of Cheryl Lans-down), Lucy Cross (friend of Car-ol Herman), James Greenway, Barry Knuth, Marcia Goode, Cindy Wilcox (Curtis McLaughlin’s daughter), Pat Smith, Darlene Coe, Ken Salamy, (nephew of Tootsie Bryan), Keith Hesslen (Liz McLaughlin’s son), Joan Collins (friend of Pam Knuth), Bill & Allie Zoldoske, Virginia Fugett (family of Carolyn Fugett), Velma Roby, Mona Frailey (Jack Clark’s sister), Linda Colberg, Bill Facker (Fred Facker,Mary Ann Clark’s brother.

Condolences to…Rick & Becky Bryant & family on the recent death of sister-in-law, Barbara Bryant.

Bob & Ginny Pahl on the death of Bob’s dad, Harold Pahl, in KC.

Matt Kirchman, Hazel Kirchman and family on the death of son and grandson, Toby Kirchman on Sunday, March 15th. Services will be in San Antonio, TX with burial in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Fred Morris on the recent death of his wife, Jocelyn.

Also to the Grace Epworth family on the passing of David Asa Howard and Keith McDowell.

We have also received word that Rev. Emery Mason has lost his mother recently. If you would like to send a card, his address is: 811 N. York St., Ste. A, Muskogee, OK 74403-3860

Pray for our Military

Thank you for your contributions. Because of you we Thank you for your contributions. Because of you we Thank you for your contributions. Because of you we Thank you for your contributions. Because of you we get to continue to have fun and learn new things with get to continue to have fun and learn new things with get to continue to have fun and learn new things with get to continue to have fun and learn new things with our friends! Thank you for supporting MUTUAL our friends! Thank you for supporting MUTUAL our friends! Thank you for supporting MUTUAL our friends! Thank you for supporting MUTUAL Girls Club...and all of US! Girls Club...and all of US! Girls Club...and all of US! Girls Club...and all of US!

To the congregation of East Cross United Methodist Church:

Dear Friends, As Betty Sparks’ stepdaughters, we would like to thank you for your care for and friendship with Betty Sparks, both while she was near you and even after she had moved. All her life, Betty had been a faithful Christian and loved acting out her faith in care for others.

We are very grateful for the use of her beloved East Cross for her Memorial service. We would also like to thank those who set up the church for this deeply meaningful ceremony, and for those who so graciously served the family meal. It was clearly lovingly done.

It is also comforting to know how those in Betty’s Sunday School class, and women’s groups cared for her. We were pleased to meet with some of them at the service, including those who had provided transport for Betty to attend Sunday services.

Our gratitude goes out to all of you. You meant so much to Betty.

Sincerely, Joyce (Sparks) Williams, Donna (Sparks) Handshy and Phyllis (Sparks) Maxwell

East Cross Easter Egg Hunt — Sunday, March 29th at 12:00 noon—Christian Life Center

There will be two egg hunts this year! A traditional hunt for children 2 years old and younger, and a Passion Week Egg Hunt

for children 3 years old through 5th grade. Bring your Easter baskets!

CIA for Kids! — Sunday, April 12th — 3:00-5:00pm Mission trip to Family Promise

CIA (Christians In Action) will take a tour of the Family Promise Day Center located downtown to learn how they will meet the needs of homeless families in our community and we’ll do a couple of service projects while we’re there! Sign up by the 2nd floor elevator by Wednesday, April 8th to reserve a seat on the church van. All 2nd -5th graders are invited to attend.

CIA for KIDS! “Serving God By Sharing His Love!”

Wall of Honor Update...SGT Jared Seat returned home to his family from his deployment in Kuwait on the morning of Jan. 8th. We would like thank him for his service and for the sacrifices made by him and his family on our country’s behalf. He is currently stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. WELCOME HOME, JARED! (Jared is the son-in-law of Teresa Dietz and the husband of Kendra Dietz)

EAST CROSS NEWS (USPS 164-540) Published twice monthly Postmaster: Send address changes to:

East Cross United Methodist Church 820 SE Madison Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74006-8533

PERIODICALS U.S. POSTAGE PAID AT BARTLESVILLE, OK 74003

USPS 164-540

East Cross News - page 4 Visi t our website at www.eastcross.org

Rev. Jeff Burress

Pastor

Chad Perceful Pastor

Drew Shahan Youth Director

Linda Smith Children’s Minister

Lesli Perceful Children’s Church Director

And Activities Paula Lindblom

Ministerial Coordinator

Rita Neff Treasurer-Membership

Coleen Williams Early Childhood Center Director

Aimee Bloom Nursery and Childcare Director

Ariel Ortega Music Director, 1st. Service

Margie Green Pianist/Organist Emily French

Music Director, 2nd Service

Seth Weimer Sound Tech

Nathan Snowden Building & Maintenance Coordinator

Church Office: 918-333-0810 FAX: 918-335-1664

E-Mail: office@eastcross.org Website: www.eastcross.org

Early Childhood Center 918-333-3814

STUDENT MINISTRY NEWS

Hello church family! I would like to thank our church family for allowing much of your staff to go on pilgrimage to Israel last week. It was truly an amazing trip, and was life changing in ways that have already become evident, and also in ways that surely will be revealed in the years to come. We are kicking back into gear this week, as we resume Connections on Wednesday evenings at 5:30pm. Our Wednesday series starting this week is called Thirst, and is about chasing after the right things in life, the things that will truly fulfill us. We will continue our series Guardrails in Sunday School. Sunday afternoon is a trip to Laser Quest in Tulsa. We will be leaving the church at 3:00pm and will be back around 7:30. Laser tag will be paid for, but bring money for a fast food stop. Please let me know if you’re coming ASAP. DrewDrewDrewDrew

Easter Baskets… Remember to return your Easter Basket with the egg gift tag this Sunday, March 29th. East Cross and Grace Epworth will be distributing 95 Easter baskets to Washington County foster children this year. Please contact Vicki with questions at 918-333-6181.

Church Council Thursday

March 26th 6:30pm

Fellowship Hall All are invited.

We hope that you and many others have noticed the East Cross billboard located on Frank Phillips just past Sterling’s Restaurant. We pray to have many in worship. Our ushers will offer you a postcard this Sunday. Please use this card to invite someone to Easter worship at East Cross!