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 United Methodist Youth Fellowship, see this month's Youth activities page.

• Christmas celebrations overview

Dec. 01  Friends Fellowship Holiday Dinner  6:00 p.m.
Dec. 02  Children’s Christmas Craft Fair  4:00 p.m.
Dec. 12  World of Love Christmas Program  6:45 p.m.
Dec. 16  Chancel Choir Service of Lessons & Carols
               9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Dec. 22  Live Nativity  7:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 23  Live Nativity  7:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 24  Christmas Eve Family Service
               7:30 p.m.  (Childcare available for 2 yr & under)
Dec. 24  Live Nativity  8:30-9:30 p.m.
Dec. 24  Christmas Eve Candlelight Service  11:00 p.m.

• Children's Christmas Craft Fair

Attention parents! On Sunday, December 2, 2007, we will be having our Annual Christmas Craft Fair for children in kindergarten - 5th grade. (If you have a young children who would like to come, they are welcome but you will need to stay and help them.) Please dress your child in clothes that can get messy and bring a bag to hold all the stuff he/she will make. We will be working on our crafts in the Social Room starting at 4:00 and will clean up in time for dinner at 6:00. Please sign up in the lobby so we know how many children and adults are coming.

• Adopt-A-Family gifts needed

Don't forget to stop by the Adopt-A-Family posters located in the church lobby. You can help make Christmas happier for five needy families by purchasing a gift from their wish lists or by giving a cash donation for food or gifts not purchased. The families have been referred to us by the East Dayton Food Pantry and include 20 people! The COTC Youth Fellowship will be delivering the gifts on Sunday evening, Dec. 16, so we only have two weeks to collect everything. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

• Men's Retreat

Men, are you ready for a weekend with the guys? Then the weekend starting February 8 is for you.  Church of the Cross is having a men’s retreat from Friday, February 8, through Sunday, February 10, at the Maria Stein Center. Pastor John will be leading this special weekend just for men. The cost for the weekend is $130. Please sign up and pay your deposit of $50 to save your spot. The rest of the fee will be due by January 13, 2008, as we have to inform the retreat center of the number of men coming.

• Director of Music position in transition

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee has good news and bad news to share. The bad news is that our Director of Music, Phyllis Combs, has tendered her resignation effective at the end of 2007. She is leaving us to be with her new husband, Pastor Jay Nesselroad, in southeastern Ohio. The good news is that Debbie Robillard has agreed to step in as acting Director of Music. A small reception will take place in the parlor after the second service on Dec. 23 (Phyllis’s last Sunday with us). We hope you’ll stop by then to say goodbye to Phyllis and to congratulate Debbie on her new appointment.

• Kingdom Kids schedule for December

Dec. 2 – 5:30 to 6 (We’ll take a quick break from the Craft Fair)
Dec. 9 - 5 to 6
Dec. 16 - 5 to 6
Dec. 23 - 5 to 6
Dec. 24 – 7:30 Christmas Eve Service

• Kids Adventure Club

Come meet us at COTC on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 1:00 to go Ice Skating at the Kettering Ice Rink. We will skate from 1:30-3:30 and be back at COTC at 4:00. Please bring $2.00 to cover the cost of your skates if you do not have any and any money you or your parents think you will need for the snack bar.

On Saturday, February 16, 2008, come join us at 1:00 for an indoor summer picnic party. Bring your flip flops, crocks or sandals for this day filled with games, food and friends.

On Saturday, March 15, we will be out and about again. We will be combining with Family Fun Night—or should that be day—for a day at the pool.  We will meet at 1:00 at the Washington Township Recreation Center for some wet and wild fun. Not every child is at the same swimming level, so we are making this a family event. COTC will pick up half of the cost for swimming. That will make the price for an adult non-resident $4.00 and children only $2.00. Please be on time for this event as we must be together to pay.

• Family Fun Nights

What is a family?  No matter who you are, you are a part of the family of God and we would like you to be a part of the Church of the Cross family. Because of that fact, you “qualify” for our first Family Fun Night on Friday, January 25, 2008. Come join us in the Sanctuary at 6:30 for a movie (hopefully, “Meet the Robinsons”) and then we will end our evening in the Social Room with some ice cream.

On Friday, February 22, we are asking everyone to bring some games and some snacks for a family game night. We will be in the Social Room starting at 6:30 and will continue until everyone is gamed out. COTC will provide drinks for this night of fun and fellowship.

On Saturday, March 15, note this is a different day of the week. We will be combining with Kid’s Adventure Club for a day at the pool (see item above).

• Confirmation class begins in January

Confirmation for our youth will begin in January, 2008, and be in an entirely new format. Confirmation will be taught primarily by Pastor John over the course of three weekend retreats. Dates for the retreats are January 11-12, February 29-March 1, and April 11-12. The retreat format allows for an extended time of concentrated teaching and interaction with space for more group interaction. If you would like to be included in this process, please contact Pastor John. The youth will join the church on April 20.

• COTC offers Crown Financial study

The Bible has much to say about money and wealth. In fact, there are 2,350 verses in the Bible that make reference to the faithful and responsible use of money, possessions, work, debt, stewardship, giving, and investment. Church of the Cross is offering a Crown Biblical Financial Study beginning in January, 2008. A brief informational meeting regarding the upcoming class will be held immediately after the 11 o'clock worship on December 16 in the church parlor.

• Pastor John to be an Emmaus Walk spiritual director

Pastor John has accepted being a Spiritual Director on the Men’s Emmaus Walk, January 24-27, 2008, at Normandy United Methodist Church. The Spiritual Director gives a talk, chooses an Assistant Spiritual Director, arranges clergy talks, leads special times of worship, and is available for personal counsel with the pilgrims during the three and one-half days of retreat. Pastor John will also be participating in six team meetings in preparation for the retreat. Pray for Pastor John, the team, the pilgrims, and all volunteers that they will be open to the wondrous works of God in Jesus Christ.

• Holy Land tour

Twenty five of us have signed up to travel to Israel during Lent. We will be going on the Holy Land via Jordan 2008 tour which includes the lost city of Petra. Our ten day Holy Land trip begins on February 17, 2008. Preparatory meetings for the group will be on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. on January 20 and February 3 in our Social Room.

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