What's going on at Church of the Cross?  Check out the following headlines adapted from The Reporter, our monthly newsletter.  For news about our Youth Fellowship, see this month's Youth activities page.

• A Night of Praise and Music

You are invited to join the praise team on Sunday, April 13 at 6:00pm for a Night of Praise and Music. It will be an evening of worship when we will explore the promise that Jesus made when he said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” A love offering will be taken to support the praise team as they plan to attend a worship conference this fall.

• Holy Land carry-in lunch

Many thanks for your prayers and support as 25 of our members toured Jordan and Israel February 17-26. It was a fabulous experience that brought the scriptures to life. They are anxious to share their experiences with you.

Plan to join them for a carry-in lunch on April 6 in the Social Room. After lunch, the travelers will share their stories and pictures from their trip.  The lunch will follow the 11:00 service (approx. 12:15). Please bring a dish to share. Meat, beverages and table service will be provided.

• Class for potential new members starting

Want to learn more about the United Methodist Church and our beliefs? Pastor John is teaching a New Members Class on three consecutive Sunday afternoons from 3:00pm to 4:30pm beginning April 20.

If you would like to attend the class, contact Pastor John or the church office. Taking the class does not obligate anyone to join Church of the Cross. If you want to learn more about your faith and United Methodism, please consider attending. Those who desire to join Church of the Cross with the class will do so on May 18.

• Swing Dance is Youth fundraiser

Step back in time with the youth on Saturday, April 26, 2008 as they transform the Social Hall into a Lindy-Hopping Swing Dance! This unique fundraiser for our 2008 Youth Mission Trip to New Orleans is sure to create a night of fun, laughs, learning, and Big Band sounds.

Don’t know how to swing dance? No problem! Arrive at 7:00 pm and receive a 45-minute swing dance lesson taught by the youth. The dance begins at 8:00 pm and concludes at midnight. This event is open to all those young and young at heart. Tickets will go on sale starting Sunday, April 6th.

• Youth Confirmation Class to join the church

Members of the youth confirmation class will complete their third confirmation retreat on April 11-12. The class will then have opportunity to join the church on April 27th. Members of the class include Allyssa Bennett, Holly Madliger, T.C. Holtz, Courtney Lybrook, Amanda Crouch, Chauncie Holtz, Sarah McAllister, Colleen Dowler, and Ryan Jeffers. A number of people have helped support the Confirmation process including Youth Director Dan Craig, Jenni Duncan, Emily and Chuck Stumpf, Susan Condy, Kelly Lybrook, Kevin Robillard, Rachel Williamson, Brian and Beth Lybrook, Sarah Miller, and all the parents of the youth.

The youth have studied material led by Pastor John based on the Apostles’ Creed. The youth have memorized the Apostles’ Creed, completed notebook assignments about the church, and entered into various prayer experiences. We trust the youth will be ready to make decisions about their relationship with Christ and church membership on April 27.

• Family Fun Night, April 25

Family Fun Night in January found us having fun watching Meet the Robinsons and eating ice cream. In March we had fun at the Washington Township Recreation Center swimming and fellowshipping with one another. Join us on Friday, April 25, at 6:30 for game night. Bring your favorite game and a snack to share. COTC will provide drinks for this night of games and laughter.

• Kids Adventure Club

Kids Adventure Club had a great time at the Washington Township Recreation Center on March 15. Our next outing will be on Saturday, April 19, at Indian Riffle Park from 1:00-2:30, weather permitting. Come and have fun playing and hanging out with your church buddies. Things to look forward to in the upcoming months include going to Possum Creek Metro Park in May to visit the farm animals and do a little hiking. We will go to Activity Center Park in Centerville in June for some wet and wild fun. Our own VBS program will be taking center stage July 27-31.

• Dr. Charles Williams, Jr., to be ordained deacon

Pastor Charles, our Associate Pastor of Spiritual Care, passed his final interview by the Board of Ministry to become a Full Member Deacon on March 11, 2008, in Worthington, Ohio. It has been a number of years of study to complete the Master of Divinity Degree at United Theological Seminary and four years of Supervised Years.

Pastor Charles will be ordained at the 2008 West Ohio Annual Conference on Wednesday, June 11th, at 7:30pm. The first appointment for Pastor Charles following his ordination will be to St. Paul’s UMC in Dayton. Church of the Cross has been so blessed through the last nine years as Charles has preached, taught, counseled, visited, and worked with our youth.

• Student from Africa University coming

This is Sylvain Illunga, the Africa University student who will serve as an intern with Church of the Cross this summer in June and July. He is very excited about coming to the United States for his first time. We are brainstorming about ways to make this the best experience for Sylvain that we can. If you have ideas to be considered, please talk to Pastor John Whitaker, Jane or Dave Wise (leaders of the entire project who are now attending COTC), Lisa Adams (Lay Leader), or Pam Dean (Mission Chair).

To see a year's worth of archives of this page, visit our Old news page.