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

• Tour the Holy Land in 2008

Our trip to Israel has been finalized. We will go 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. The total cost per person based on double occupancy from Dayton is $2658. An additional $375 is charged for a single room. Payment is due 90 days before the trip begins.  Sites we will visit include Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee.

You may register online at www.eo.travelwithus.com. The deposit is $250 per person. Be sure to list John Charles Whitaker as your host; his Tour Host Identification Number is 50821.  Next year in Jerusalem!

• It's time to register for the Women's Retreat

Registrations are now being accepted for our first, and hopefully, annual women’s retreat. We have a limited number of spots available for the retreat, so sign up early. The cost is $120.00 for the weekend not including dinner on the way up and lunch on the way back from Widewater Retreat Center in northwest Ohio.

We understand that budgets can be very tight for some families so we are offering a payment plan. You can make three $40.00 payments to help spread the cost out for the retreat. We will also be offering a few scholarships for the retreat. You may pick up a scholarship application at the registration table or from the church office starting July 1.

• Second local mission project accomplished

Thanks once again to our COTC volunteers (Bud Dean, Rick Dean, Tim & Becky Grinstead, and Karen Gratz), we were able to undertake the second mission project in our local community this year. We helped a handicapped woman re-landscape her gardens. Old over-grown bushes were removed and a large maple tree was trimmed. Our team of five went in and planted new shrubs, bushes, and flowers, then we edged and mulched the new landscaped beds. The home owner was thrilled! She has also expressed an interest in coming to our church to meet more of the congregation. Thanks also to the supplier of the new shrubbery, Top Notch Tree Service.

• Summer water park fun

July 15 is the date of our Annual Picnic and Water Park Party. Everyone is welcome—World of Love and Church of the Cross friends too. The picnic begins at Indian Riffle Park at 4:45 p.m. Bring a dish to share. Meat, drinks, and table service are provided. The party will move to the Kettering Water Park at 6:30 p.m. Call Chris Farris, 293-8123, if you have questions.

• Youth back from mission trips

Welcome our Youth back from their mission trips.  The middle school youth went to Camp Otterbein’s “Mission Adventure”.

The Sr. High Youth worked at Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project).

• School bag contents being collected

The Mission Work Area is once again sponsoring the collection of school bag materials for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) during July and August. The plastic bags with the list of needed items are in the lobby. There is an additional box for any “leftovers” you may have—or need—to complete your kits. Money donations may also be made to cover the required $1 per kit for shipping.

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