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.

• Women's Retreat in northwest Ohio

Please keep our retreat participants in your prayers October 5-7:  Carol Carter, Kathy Combs, Phyllis Combs, Amy Dean, Pam Dean, Faye Duncan, Jeri Evenden, Joyce Evenden, Sydne Holt, Cathy Jenkins, Amy Uhler, Mary Lynn Whitaker, Rachel Williamson, and Cheryl Wilson.

• Festival of Sharing

The Festival of Sharing has a new home for 2007. That home is the campus of Otterbein College in Westerville. With this change, we are giving all that come an opportunity to help continue the work of the Festival of Sharing along with introducing one of our United Methodist Colleges to those who have not experienced it.  Church of the Cross will be there delivering 112 school bags filled with supplies, along with the funds to send them to needy children. The festival will be held on Saturday, October 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  For more information, see the West Ohio Conference web site.

• Holiday Bazaar coming soon

The Holiday Bazaar will be held on November 3, 2007, from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. If you have craft or hobby items that you would like to share for a good cause, the United Methodist Women (UMW) welcomes handmade items for the November Holiday Bazaar. If you are doing fall cleaning and come across holiday decorations or attic treasures that you no longer will be using, please set them aside and keep the Holiday Bazaar in mind; you will be able to bring them to the Church beginning October 29 through November 1. There will also be a jewelry table; if you have jewelry you no longer wear, please contact Karen Baldasare. Buckeye making will be Monday, October 29, in the parlor at 8:30 a.m. until finished. If you have any questions, please call Lucille Hatfield.

• Youth Director reports on Russian mission

Dan Craig, our Director of Youth Activities, has written a report on his recent mission trip to the Volga District of the United Methodist Church in Russia.  Dan says that although the surroundings were strange (they held their summer camp in an empty orphanage), the Youth there were much the same as our own Youth.  See this month's issue of The Reporter for details and pictures.

• Tour the Holy Land in 2008

We will be traveling to Israel during Lent. 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. Payment is due 90 days before the trip begins.  Sites we will visit include Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana, the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum.

If you are interested speak with Pastor John or pick up a brochure from the Mission Bulletin Board. This trip is a way to build your faith and enhance your ability to visualize the Bible. Pastor John will serve as host for the trip with his lovely wife, Mary Lynn, also attending. There are 19 people who are signed up for the trip with several others still considering.  If you don't already have your passport, now is the time to apply for one.

• Would you like to share your gift of music?

The Chancel Choir is open to anyone from high school on up and new members are always welcome.  They rehearse at 7:15 pm on Thursdays and sing at our 11:00 service.  (For a shorter commitment, Christmas Choir rehearsals will begin on Thursday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m.) The Praise Team performs at our contemporary service and rehearses from 9:45 to noon on Saturdays.  The Youth Choir (grades 6 - 12) rehearses at 5 pm on Sundays.  The Handbell Choir rehearses at 4 pm on Sundays.

New for this year, Kingdom Kids offers music, rhythm and motion activities for kids ages 5 through fifth grade. They meet in the chapel (room 201) at 5 pm on selected Sundays.  Currently scheduled dates are Oct. 7 and 14, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, 9, and 16.

• Like to visit with old friends?

Do you like to visit with old friends? Do you like to make new friends? Would you like to perform a valuable ministry to members of our congregation who are no longer able to attend services and activities due to physical limitations, illness, or a change in circumstances? The Visiting Important People (VIP) Ministry provides an “opportunity to do good” to some of our “family of believers.” If you believe you are called to such a ministry, come to the next VIP Ministry orientation and training session on Sunday, November 4 at 3:00 o’clock in the parlor. The training will last approximately an hour, and you may decide after attending the training whether you wish to participate.

• Hospitality training session scheduled

Dean and Gloria Blimline have volunteered to direct our Power Visitor program. Dean and Gloria are relatively new to our church so they have experienced COTC’s hospitality first hand. They have scheduled a new Power Visitor training session for October 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor. If you would like to become a Connection Partner, this is a great way to learn more about the program. If you have a computer with internet access and like to meet new people, please consider becoming a part of this exciting new ministry. Youth are encouraged to participate too! Contact Dean or Gloria Blimline, or call the church office at 293-5217.
 

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