CrossTalkNovember 25, 2016

JUST A THOUGHT…I hope you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a safe trip to and from Monroe with our family on Thursday. Cowboys won. Tigers won! It was a great day!

Let me know if you’re planning to be a part of our Church Growth Retreat next weekend. Just hit “Reply” (below) or let me know on Sunday. Very important…

And our Advent and Christmas schedule is shaping up. We won’t be able to be at the Country Inn for each Sunday in Advent but we’ll fall back to our home in the process. Just be sure and watch the calendar.

I’ll see you on Sunday as we begin our Advent Season together...Blessings to you all!

Steve

CHURCH GROWTH RETREATDECEMBER 2-3

We’re planning a Church Growth Retreat on Friday & Saturday, December 2-3. Many of you have asked and discussed how we can grow as a Church. Our friend, Steven Saul with be with us on that weekend to lead us in looking honestly at where we are and how to get to where we want/dream to be.

I’m going to be asking you to sign up for that event. Steven has a questionnaire he wants to get into your hands before that weekend – so let me know on Sunday. And we’ll want to make sure everyone has materials for the Retreat. Make your plans now to attend!

UPWORDS“Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life,”

(Proverbs 4:13).

Adult Bible Study Begins January 8A Study of John’s Gospel

8:45 AM Each Sunday QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Live by this creed: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness and not sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations,”

(Red Skelton).

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS

Sunday, November 27The First Sunday of Advent

The Sunday of HOPE“The Reason for the Season”Meet at Country Inn & Suites

Friday & Saturday, December 2-3Meet at Fowler’s Home

Sunday, December 4The Second Sunday of Advent

The Sunday of PEACERev. Steven Saul to Speak

Meet at Fowler’s Home

Sunday, December 11The Third Sunday of Advent

The Sunday of JOY“What to Give Jesus for Christmas This Year”

Meet at Country Inn & Suites

Sunday, December 18The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Sunday of LOVE“Understanding Jesus”Meet at Fowler’s Home

Saturday December 24Candlelight Communion Service @ 5:30 PM

“The Greatest Love”Meet at Country Inn & Suites

Sunday, December 25(Very Brief!) Worship Service @ 9:30 AM

“The Greatest Name”Meet at Fowler’s Home

Sunday, January 1No Services TodayHappy New Year!

Sunday, January 8Regular Schedule of Services Resumes

Bible Study at 8:45 AMWorship at 10:00 AM

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER APP FOR YOUR PHONE

Many of you have commented on the readings we commit to on Sunday mornings. Those are from the Book of Common Prayer. If you’d like to have that study opportunity each day, you can download an APP for your phone that’ll allow you to commit Bible verses to instruction and memory every day.

Find BCP (the icon is a black Bible with a Cross on the front) in your phone’s APP Store. It’s a free download! And additionally, when you get to a particular day – say, November 18 – you can hit the arrow (upper right hand corner) and it’ll read the verses aloud for you.

It’s a great way to continue to read God’s Word daily…!

CROSS CHURCH WEBSITE IS ACTIVE!crosschurchpineville.com

The website is active! Hit it and see what’s new…crosschurchpineville.com. Along with Facebook, this will give us another avenue with which to broadcast our news and invite others to join us. Check it out!

And one more thing - We’re also looking at creating an APP for our phones that’ll keep us connected even more. Very excited about this, too!

CROSSTALK REFERENCESIf you know of someone who might like to receive “CrossTalk” each week…a friend or family member…or prospect…Just send their name and e-mail address to me (steve@crosschurchpineville.com) – or see me on Sunday – and I’ll make sure they get it.

KNOW YOUR BIBLEIt actually wasn’t Delilah who cut off Samson’s hair (Judges 16:19).

COUNTRY WISDOMIf everything’s coming your way, you’re probably in the wrong lane.

THANKSGIVING TRIVIAL PURSUITSDoes turkey naturally contain an ingredient that makes us sleepy? Turkey does contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is a natural sedative, but so do a lot of other foods, including chicken and pork. Many believe the amount of tryptophan in a turkey is what

makes us feel sleepy, but it’s more likely the combination of fats and carbohydrates people eat WITH the turkey that makes them feel like a nap after their Thanksgiving meal.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRYBe a part of our Children’s Hour! Our children have certain needs and attention spans, and we’re moving to address that need. If you’re interested in helping in this most important ministry, just see me or Tina Butterfield or Jennifer Winslett on Sunday. And bring your children on Sunday. A Sign-Up Sheet is available!

OUR DAILY BREADNinety percent (90%) of all Christians have never read the Bible through. Amazing!

We’re read the Bible through as a Church Family…chronologically, that is, as it occurs. The Bible does not come to us historically year by year, but moves about – History, Wisdom & Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels, Letters, Revelation. We’ll be reading about three chapters a day and we’ll see the presentation of God’s love to us throughout history…

Monday, November 28: Acts 9-10; Tuesday, November 29: Acts 11-12; Wednesday, November 30: Acts 13-14; Thursday, December 1: James 1-5; Friday, December 2: Acts 15-16; Saturday, December 3: Galatians 1-3; Sunday, December 4: Galatians 4-6.

CROSS CHURCH MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIESLittle Things Can Mean a Lot

Pill BottlesIn developing third-world nations, there aren’t enough pill bottles to go around. It’s often that tissue paper is used to wrap up medicine (pills & tablets) to send home with patients. Wonder what to do with your empty pill bottles when they’re empty? Peel off the personal information label and bring them with you to Church. We’ll gather them up and send along to Matthew 25:Ministries for distribution.

That’s all you have to do to make a big difference in someone’s life. Thanks!

Hotel SundriesGather up those hotel soaps and shampoos and bring them to Church with you. These small contributions make a big difference in the life of a family with immediate personal needs through our local homeless shelters.

Soda Can TabsSoda can tabs make a difference in a child’s life at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis. We all know someone whose life has been altered at St. Jude’s. Bring those tabs along with you each week for recycling!

PRAYER REQUESTSLet’s talk about prayer requests…If you have any prayer requests you’d like to share with our group – and I know not all prayer requests ought to be made public – send them along to me, along with their relation to you (Example: Don Porter, Cousin to Steve Fowler). I’ll post them here and we can know where our hearts are coming from on a regular basis.

Scott Bullett – Friend to Eddie ButterfieldBill Butterfield – Brother to Chuck & John ButterfieldBob Butterfield – Brother to Chuck & John ButterfieldBill Charles – Uncle to John & Chuck ButterfieldJerry Cronin – Friend to Randall KeiserWanda Cummings – Sister-in-Law to Ronnie & Cathy PowellEdna Dauzat – Aunt to Danny HinesAlbert Dean - Friend to Leisha HinesLeon Gowan – Friend to Chuck Butterfield & Brittany CombelRoy Kevin Gray – Friend to Ronnie PowellBetty Hines – Mother to Danny HinesMorgan Hines – Friend to Laura FowlerCindy Hodgkinson – Friend to Leisha HinesJ. T. Harrell – Friend to John GoldenLarry Hutchins – Friend to John ButterfieldKeith Johnson – Friend to John GoldenBeverly Lackey – Friend to Steve & Laura FowlerLuke & Donna Lewis – Friends to John & Jan GoldenMark McKay – Friend to many at Cross ChurchCheryre McGowanReggie McKinney – Friend to John GoldenDavid Miller – Father to Tina ButterfieldMary Mobley & Grace Aplin – Friends to Ronnie & Cathy PowellSylvia Montpelier – Friend to John GoldenLaura Peacock – Friend to John GoldenJessica Pennison – Friend to Jacob ButterfieldTami Powell – Relative to Ronnie & Cathy PowellBob & Flo Price – Friends to Laura FowlerAshley Rosenberg – Friend to Danny & Leisha Hines“Sallys” and their Families – Friends to Laura FowlerDavid Sexton - Friend to Laura FowlerMatthew Simon – Cousin to Ronnie & Cathy PowellClifford Stacey – Step-Father to John & Chuck ButterfieldJ. T. Stokes – Grandson of Ronnie & Cathy PowellJared Stokes – Son-in-Law of Ronnie & Cathy PowellJoy Trevathan – Friend to Jan GoldenBecca Villavaso – Friend to Danny & Leisha HinesEarl Washington – Friend to John & Tina Butterfield

Mike Womack – Friend to John Golden

Our City, State and NationOur First Responders & Their Service to Us AllAll of our Family and Friends Affected by the South Louisiana FloodingOur Troops and Their Families Serving at Home and AbroadUnspoken Requests of Our Church Family.

BUMPER STICKERS I’VE SEEN RECENTLY

I don’t do drugsAnd I don’t drink.

At my age I can getthe same effect by

standing up too fast.THE LAST WORD

“The devil is always discovering something novel to use against the Truth.” (Pope Leo the Great)