At The Crossroads
August 2018 Newsletter from Crossroads UMC
Missionaries and Monks
Part of my conference volunteer work is to help host United Methodist missionaries from time to time. They come to us from around the world to visit our churches to tell the story of work going in on our connectional system. I’ve been hosting some wonderful General Board of Global Ministries Missionaries from Laos this week. Beverly, Emmanuel, Angelita and I traveled to many churches this week to make connections with pastors and people. You can come to my house on Friday evening at 6:00pm if you want to learn more about their work. More about that later in this newsletter.
Like most mission work, Laos has challenges that are difficult to imagine here in the comfort of our free society. There are about 70 United Methodist Churches, but the church is not officially recognized. The churches exist at the pleasure of local officials who decide whether or not congregations can worship or organize gatherings. It’s a very tenuous relationship. The key point is that these relationships with officials are cultivated by loving and caring missionaries and church members, even if they disagree or have conflict with each other. Even if the neighbor is not Christian or even interested in Christianity. A missionary wants to love people because they have the image of God within them.
Case in point. We were driving to visit with Zoar UMC last Wednesday. Along Zoar Church road, just before the UMC, there is a colorful temple of some sort that I’ve passed a dozen times and never really thought about much.
As we passed, one of the missionaries excitedly said, “It’s a Lao Buddhist temple!”
“What?” I said, “Here?”
Apparently, the sign (written in Laotian) stated that it was a Buddhist Temple. Emmanuel immediately requested that we return after we met with the Zoar UMC pastor. He wanted to make a connection. I suspected he wanted some Laotian food since he was a little homesick!
After our meeting at Zoar UMC, we met one of the Buddhist monks and one the leaders of the temple. To our missionaries, it was like they had found a friend in a busy crowd somewhere. They exchanged pleasantries and talked about their mission in Laos. They introduced me and told them about the church down the street. We took pictures and shared contact information. The Zoar pastor will visit at a later date to meet the monks and build a relationship since they are neighbors.
The song says, “they will know we are Christians by our love”. This is the best method of evangelism--to love your neighbors. Didn’t Jesus say that well? You never know where the Holy Spirit will guide you. Maybe we all need to start with the neighbor next door.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pastor Dinner with Missionaries from Laos
Rev. Zack and Rev. Leigh Martin invite you to their house (2107 Tuck Drive, Conyers GA) on Friday August 3rd, 6:00pm-8:00pm for dinner and wonderful evening with Rev. Beverly and Emmanuel Barte and Angelita Broncano, our UMC missionaries to Laos. You'll hear first hand about their church planting work and mechanic vocational training. They do interesting work in a very difficult context. Come and see what your faithfulness to our UMC connection does around the world.
Memorial Service for Katherine Edwards
There will be a Memorial Service At Crossroads UMC, For Katherine Edwards, Saturday, August 4th. She is Mother/Mother-in-law of Crossroads members, Bill & Brenda Edwards, Steve & Miki Edwards, Kathy Edwards; and grandmother to Jennifer, JoBeth, Bryce and Brett Edwards. Family Visitation is 10:00am-10:45am, and the Memorial Service is at 11:00am.
Ladies Bible Study coming soon!
Wednesday Night Supper
Wednesday Night Supper is August 15, 2018, 6:00pm-7:00pm. The program and the menu are to be announced. Please RSVP by Monday, Aug 13, 2018.
Murphy-Harpst
Murphy-Harpst is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to meeting the needs of abused and neglected young people through residential treatment, placements in specialized foster care, and community programs that serve at-risk youth and their families. In partnership with the United Methodist Women national office, their services are available to all children regardless of sex, race, color, or creed, and whose needs can be addressed and treated within the scope of program services. We will be taking a special offering on Sunday, August 19th for this ministry. Please prayerfully consider how you can help.
ONGOING MINISTRIES
Happy Hearts
Retired and inspired members of the church normally gather the 1st Friday of every month at O'Charley's. Join us Friday, August 3rd at 11:30am.
Crossroads Men's Club Breakfast
Our Men's Club meets the first Sunday of each month at 7:30am for breakfast and fellowship. We will meet this month on Sunday, August 5th.
Rockdale Emergency Relief
We collect food donations for Rockdale Emergency Relief on the first Sunday of each month. On Sunday, August 5th, you may leave your donations on the cart in the Narthex. Items needed this month are:
Spaghetti sauce, boxed or bagged grits, canned pasta, canned chili, 1 pound box of elbow macaroni, green peas, pork & beans.
CLEO's
“CLEO" (Christian Ladies Eating Out) meets the first Tuesday of every month. We will meet on August 7th at 12:00pm at Outback.
United Methodist Women
The Walton Gang Breakfast
The Piecemakers
Promise Keepers Breakfast
Youth Group
The Youth Group meets every Wednesday, 5:00-7:00pm. All Youth 6th-12th grades are invited!
Children's Choir
Children’s Choir is every Wednesday at 5:00pm! All kids Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome!
Kid's Club
Every Wednesday at 6:00pm, Kid's Club has fun, games, refreshments and learning the Bible in a fun way! All kids Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome!
August Worship Volunteers
August 5th
8:45am Scripture: Joel Crissman
Holy Communion: David & Cheryl Copple, Artis Spencer, Artis Spencer
11:00am Scripture: Pat Harwell
Acolytes: Caylee Compton, Ben Helton
Holy Communion: Bobby & Sally Barfield, Paul Wine
Audio: Kathy Edwards
Video: Theresa Jones
8:45am Scripture: Brandon Thomas
11:00am Scripture: Sandra Rodrick
Acolytes: Savannah Martin, Evan Boyd
Audio: Debbie Carney
Video: Jennifer Edwards
August 19th
8:45am Scripture: Artis Spencer
11:00am Scripture: Susan Smith
Acolytes: Lily Moon, Sadie Moon
Audio: Reggie Charles
Video: Fred Watson
August 26th
8:45am Scripture: Pat Harwell
11:00am Scripture: Charlene Hutson
Acolytes: Caylee Compton, Ben Helton
Audio: Susan Smith
Video: Reggie Charles
September 2
8:45am Scripture: Bruce Carey
Holy Communion: Grady & Roxanne Dukes, Artis Spencer
11:00am Scripture: Abbie Walter
Acolytes: Savannah Martin, Evan Boyd
Holy Communion: Stephanie & Marty Boyd
Audio: Theresa Jones
Video: Jennifer Edwards
Crossroads Shut-In List
Many of you have asked about our church members and friends who can no longer make it to Sunday Services and other fellowship events. Below is a current list with contact information if you would like to reach out to them. We ask that you keep them all in your prayers and thoughts. If you would like to add someone to the list, please contact the church office.
Barbara Finlayson
Remington House Apt. 8a
1504 Renaissance Drive
Conyers, GA 30012
678-562-4068
Ruby Straley
1611 Pratt Rd
Covington, Ga 30014
770-786-2599
Nora Pelowski
1358 Manchester Dr
Bristol Village - Room 230
Conyers, GA 30012
770-760-8269
Effe Ashong
1500 Callaway Loop
Conyers, GA 30012
770-760-1075
Donna Peek
131 Vickery Dr.
Central, SC 29631
Happy Birthday! August 2018
August Birthdays 2018
Miki Edwards, 08/02
Connie Martin, 08/03
Carolyn Ashton, 08/05
Julian Harwell, 08/05
Beth Carey, 08/08
Chris Phillips, 08/09
Mark Bucknor, 08/11
Richard Hutson, 08/11
Britt Reagan, 08/11
Brenda Edwards, 08/12
Amanda Horne, 08/12
Steve Edwards, 08/15
Zach Dodd, 08/17
Barry Weaver, 08/18
Bill Hunt, 08/19
Kim Rowe, 08/19
Sidney Brinson, 08/20
Archie Head, 08/20
Sharon Spencer, 08/20
Grace Anne Dukes, 08/22
Angie Bryant, 08/23
Lucas Brown, 08/24
Will Green, 08/25
Ryan Hall, 08/27
Denise Davis, 08/28
Alexandra Silvey, 08/29
Cindy Thomas, 08/29
September 2018 Newsletter Deadline
The deadline to get information into the September 2018 Newsletter is Tuesday, August 28th. Submit all articles, information, and pictures to secretary@crossroadsumc.net or call 770-388-7438. If you wish to receive a mailed copy of the church's monthly newsletter, please contact the church office at secretary@crossroadsumc.net or
770-388-7438.
Crossroads United Methodist Church
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Email: secretary@crossroadsumc.net
Website: www.crossroadsumc.net
Location: 2460 State Highway 138, Conyers, GA, United States
Phone: 770-388-7438
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crossroads-UMC-Conyers/227593134052091