Crosscurrents weekly edition |
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New Adult Faith Formation Opportunites |
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Each week, Pastor Dave welcomes you to his study as he does research for his sermon. This week's study is for the three texts for Part 2 of the new preaching series. It includes a look at two benedictions for this week’s Bible readings, one which is Aaronic (but not ironic!) and one from the Apostle Paul that’s a pretty good synopsis of Christian living, as well as an exploration of what it means to give away peace (in a positive way).
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Share Your Advent Candle Lighting |
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We certainly wish we could worship together in person for Advent, but our concern for one another’s health and our duty to do all we can to help curb the spread of this coronavirus means we will continue to “worship together differently” in this coming season.
To help us connect, we’re asking members to record themselves lighting Advent candles to be shared in our Advent worship services. The candles can be part of an Advent wreath, but any candles will do.
If you are willing to share a short recording, please email Director of Worship and Music Ministries Ben Fowler – ben@cofclc.net - to receive some brief directions on how to make and send a recording. Thanks in advance for helping us stay connected as we share the light of Christ’s love during Advent.
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Upcoming Community Outreach Opportunities |
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Cross of Christ members have always been enthusiastic about the Hopelink Giving Tree and other opportunities to support the local community during Advent and Christmas. This year, the Community Outreach Committee is suggesting support for the following organizations: Imagine Housing Resident Holiday Gift Drive, Eastside Baby Corner, and the Hopelink Giving Tree Gift Card Gift Room.
Hopelink Giving Tree - Hopelink is adapting their annual Giving Tree campaign to the new realities of the pandemic, and will now distribute gifts through their Gift Card Gift Room program. The organization requests monetary donations so it can purchase gift cards so families can receive gifts this holiday season safely and equitably. Donations may be sent directly to: Hopelink/ Gift Card Room, P.O. Box 3577, Redmond, WA 98073-3577. Contributions are requested by December 11 to allow time to purchase and distribute gift cards to individuals served by Hopelink.
Imagine Housing Resident Holiday Gift Drive – Each year, Imagine Housing collaborates with community partners to provide holiday gifts to children, senior, and veterans living at their 15 communities. The organization's goal is to provide a $25 gift card to each of their 1,400 residents. If you are interested in donating to this organization, visit the Imagine Housing website to purchase a gift card to any of the following stores: Walmart, Target, Fred Meyer, or QFC.
Eastside Baby Corner (EBC) – Eastside Baby Corner is having a #GivingTuesday No Contact/New Toy Drop-off event on Tuesday, December 1 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at 1510 NW Maple Street in Issaquah. The organization will have an online sign-up form for drop-offs during this time.
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Next CrossCurrents Coming Soon |
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Office Administrator Judy Giseburt is planning for a full issue of CrossCurrents at the end of November. This issue will cover the months of December, January, and February, and will be published digitally. If you have an item you would like to include, please send it to Judy via email at office@cofclc.net. |
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One of the most frequently asked questions lately has been "will Cub Scout Pack 673 offer their wreath and greenery fundraiser again this year?"
We're glad you asked! The answer is YES!
Due to the pandemic, things will be slightly different this year. Pack 673 will miss taking our orders in person this year, but are embracing the Scout motto of Do Your Best by offering some new options for ordering.
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The deadline for orders made online or via mail is Monday, November 15.
Orders will be available to pick up on Saturday November 21st from 9:00-11:00am in the Cross of Christ parking lot. When picking up your order, you will be asked to remain in your vehicle and wear a face covering. A Cub Scout - wearing a face covering - will load your items for you.
If you are unable to pick up your wreaths on this date and time, please contact us about alternate delivery options. Contactless delivery can also be arranged upon request.
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The Days for Girls committee would like to thank all those who have contributed to their goal of suppling sanitary, reusable, menstrual kits to the Maasai Girls Lutheran School in Monduli, Tanzania. $3206 was raised in 2019.
Since then, the group has received applications for 350 kits for Plaster House, a rehabilitation home in Tanzania for children recovering from surgery, 100 kits for the Arusha Lutheran Medical school which trains nurses in Tanzania.
You can support this project, by can sending your contributions to Cross of Christ marked Days for Girls Tanzania. If you have any questions, look for more information in the upcoming CrossCurrents or call Carol McCandless at 425-885-3235.
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A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Lutheran Pastor walk into a Zoom meeting...
Planning and production has begun on this year's Thanksgiving Eve Interfaith Worship Service. In partnership with our brothers and sisters in faith in the Crossroads and Lake Hills neighborhoods of Bellevue, this year's service will be pre-recorded and posted on the Cross of Christ's YouTube channel as we cannot gather in person like we could in the past (as shown in this picture).
Stay tuned for more information on this service as details come together. As Pastor Dave mentions in the announcements during this week's worship service, we are making decisions on the fly. Thanksgiving looms near, though, and this service will be a special way that we can recognize that though our denominations and faiths differ in some ways, we are all children of God.
Please join the clergy and members of Cross of Christ and the other Interfaith Covenant faith communities for a Premiere viewing of the Thanksgiving Eve Gathering at 6 pm Wednesday, November 25, on the Cross of Christ YouTube Channel. A link will be sent to you via an All Member email a few days prior. If you can’t make the Premiere, the recording will remain available to you on the Cross of Christ YouTube channel.
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Office Hours and Campus Closure |
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While the physical office is closed, we keep “virtual” office hours Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 2 pm. Office Administrator Judy Giseburt is available to answer your phone calls and emails during these times. The office will be open this Wednesday - Veterans Day. We thank all veterans and their families for their service to our nation.
Other than our Ark Early Learning Center, the campus and facilities are closed due to COVID-19 to all visitors, including members. If you have a need to come on campus or to enter the church building, please email or call Pastor Dave to make arrangements in advance – email pastordave@cofclc.net or 425-746-7300. Thanks for helping us do our part to keep everyone healthy and reduce the impact of this pandemic.
Meetings on church campus
If you or your small group are interested in discussing the possibility of holding small group meetings of eight or fewer people on campus, please contact Pastor Dave. Accommodations for indoor or outdoor use may be able to be arranged if planned well in advance. |
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Cross of Christ Lutheran Church
CrossOfChristBellevue.org
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