At The Crossroads
December 2018 Newsletter from Crossroads UMC
Moving on from Crossroads
As you know, my family and I are leaving Crossroads UMC for another appointment at Clayton First UMC at the end of this calendar year. The moving van will load up the Martin family's stuff at the end of the month. I will preach my last Sunday on Dec. 30th at 10:00am. It's a combined service so please put that date and time on your calendar. Historically, that's a low attendance Sunday, so there will be a goodbye reception on Dec. 23rd after the 10:00am Choir Cantata. I'd love to see you and say goodbye if you are around for either date.
It has been an honor to walk with you these last five and a half years. Thank you for letting me baptize your babies (and a few adults!) into the community of faith each year. I loved teaching the basics of Christian faith to our confirmands. I pray those seeds will grow in their hearts and minds in the coming years. The weddings were a blessing to officiate, but I felt like the most powerful work was done in the pre-marital counseling moments. Funerals were never easy, but I'm grateful to have been a part of the sacred moments at the end of your loved ones lives. Most of all thank you for letting me be a part of your ordinary, everyday life of faith here at the crossroads of faith and real life.
The memories here are precious and I'll share more with you all over the next few weeks. Just know that words will always fall short of explaining what you have here at Crossroads UMC. I look forward to hearing about your faithfulness as Rev. Julie Schendel comes to serve among you. My prayers will always be with you. God bless you all.
Peace,
UPCOMING EVENTS
Christmas Poinsettias
Help make the sanctuary a sight to behold. As we enter the holiday season, the Crossroads Worship Team invites you to help us “deck the halls” with poinsettias. You may place a poinsettia in the church in honor or memory of a loved one for $15.00. Any amount given over the $15.00 cost of your poinsettia will help the Worship Committee purchase new banners and paraments. The plants will be placed in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 16th and 23rd. Please help us make our church home more beautiful this Christmas Season! Sunday, December 2nd, order forms will be available in the bulletin.
“The Gift of the Nutcracker” Advent Combined Sunday School Series
Join us for a combined Sunday School during the Season of Advent. Beginning on December 2nd, Sunday School classes will meet together at 10:00am in the Gathering room for the DVD lesson by Rev. Matt Rawle, then go to their respective classrooms. During our worship services, Rev. Zack Martin will preach on themes related to the lessons. Come and learn how this classic ballet story teaches us timeless truths about Jesus birth on Christmas morning.
Breakfast for Dinner with Santa
Come and enjoy Breakfast for Dinner with Santa, Wednesday, December 5th, 5:30pm-7:00pm. Kids will enjoy games, having a photo made with Santa, making crafts, and secret shopping for parents gifts! The cost is $5.00 per person and $15.00 per family. Volunteers are needed. Sign up in the Communication Center or contact Leigh Martin at leighsmartin@gmail.com if you would like to help. All volunteers should be here by 5:00pm on December 5th.
Oxford Carolers to sing December 9th
A Message from the Staff Parish Relations Committee Members
Dear Crossroads Church Members:
As we celebrate the season of Christmas, we want to express appreciation to our wonderful staff for their dedication and ministry throughout the entire year. Our tradition at Crossroads has been to contribute to an annual love offering as a way of saying “thank you” for the many ways in which the staff has blessed our church. Over the next few Sundays you will have the opportunity to contribute to the Staff Love Offering. Please designate “Staff Love Offering” on your check or offering envelope. All contributions need to be made by Sunday, December 16th. We would like to give the gift to the staff on Christmas.
While we realize that not everyone is able to give in a monetary way, we hope that everyone will let our staff know how much they are appreciated with cards and notes.
Thank You & Merry Christmas,
Your 2018 Staff Parish Relations Committee Members
Bruce Carey, Roxanne Dukes, Fred Watson, Jennifer Edwards, Susan Smith, Artis Spencer, Chizo Okafor, Jimmy Jones, Kim Gillespie and Nancy Crissman
Christmas Caroling!
"Go Sing It On the Mountain"
Reception for the Martin Family
Christmas Eve Service
December 30th Combined Worship Service
January 6th Combined Worship Service 10:00am
Christmas at Crossroads
Here is a calendar of events for the month of December.
December 2nd - "The Gift of the Nutcracker" Advent Worship and Combined Sunday School Series begins.
December 5th - Breakfast for Dinner with Santa 5:30pm-7:pm
December 9th - The Oxford Carolers will be singing in the 11:00am worship service.
December 16th - The Handbell Choir will be playing in the 11:00am worship service.
December 19th - The Youth Group and Kids go Christmas Caroling
December 23rd - 10:00am combined worship service. The Chancel Choir will perform the cantata "Go Sing It On the Mountain" as our worship service.
December 24th - Christmas Eve Service at 4:00pm
December 30th - 10:00am combined worship service. This is Rev. Zack Martin's last service with us.
January 6th - 10:00am combined worship service as we welcome Rev. Julie Schendel to Crossroads UMC.
The United Methodist Children's Home
In His Name Thanksgiving Feast
ONGOING MINISTRIES
Men's Club Breakfast
Rockdale Emergency Relief
We collect food donations for Rockdale Emergency Relief on the first Sunday of each month. On Sunday, December 2nd, you may leave your donations on the cart in the Narthex.
Items needed this month are:
canned pasta, canned chili
bagged or boxed grits
canned meat
saltine crackers
tuna helper meals
spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles
CLEO's
“CLEO" (Christian Ladies Eating Out) meets the first Tuesday of every month. We will meet on December 4th at 12:00pm at Mandarin Gardens.
Happy Hearts
Retired and inspired members of the church normally gather the 1st Friday of every month at O'Charley's. Join us Friday, December 7th at 11:30am.
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!
December Worship Volunteers
December 2nd
8:45am Scripture: Cindy Watts
Holy Communion: Nancy Jackson, Leigh Martin, Patsey Schaal
11:00am Scripture: David Hammonds
Acolytes: Evan Boyd, Thomas Martin
Holy Communion : Key & Brenda Ellis, Sandra Rodrick
Audio: Kathy Edwards
Video: Jennifer Edwards
8:45am Scripture: Bruce Carey
11:00am Scripture: Brenda Hutson
Acolytes: Lilly Moon, Sadie Moon
Audio: Fred Watson
Video: Jennifer Edwards
December 16th
8:45am Scripture: Savannah Martin
11:00am Scripture: Steve Brinson
Acolytes: Ben Helton, Savannah Martin
Audio: Debbie Carney
Video: Michelle Sinclair
December 23rd
10:00am Combined Service
Chancel Choir Cantata
December 30th
10:00am Combined Service
Scripture: Brenda Edwards
Acolytes: Lilly Moon, Sadie Moon
Audio: Debbie Carney
Video: Michelle Sinclair
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.
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
Martha Bryant
2592 Abbey Ridge Road
Conyers GA 30094
770-483-4648
Mattie Lou Hammonds
1239 Milstead Avenue
Conyers GA 30012
770-483-7162
John Luke, Sr.
4116 Indian Lakes Circle
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Happy Birthday! December 2018
Natalee Dukes 12/04
Sora Rose 12/04
Lianne Ashton 12/07
Rachael Carver 12/08
Martha Hopkins 12/09
Brandon Rose 12/11
Chizo Okafor 12/12
Tim Willis 12/12
Paul Wine 12/12
Amy Childers 12/15
David Lea 12/15
Ben Helton 12/16
Anna Hollinsworth 12/16
Devon Silvey 12/16
Tanya Hunt 12/17
Leigh Martin 12/18
Joel Crissman 12/20
Allison Luke 12/21
Charles Walton 12/21
Karen Floyd 12/23
Shiree Nation 12/24
Bonny Watson 12/24
Gerald Dean 12/25
Bobby Hanson 12/25
Brenda Hutson 12/28
Joyce Robinson 12/30
Thomas White 12/31
December 2018 Newsletter Deadline
The deadline to get information into the January 2019 Newsletter is Thursday, December 27th. 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