Sunday Wrap – January 22nd

Hey, remember that time we had church? Yeah, that was crazy. Oh, you weren’t there? Well, read this blog post and then you can pretend like you were. Here we go!

First lesson of the day: Don’t let Pastor Jamie shave your head. Or at least buy a good, stable razor.

We then kicked off week 2 of our “Once Upon a Time” series with some stellar worship from Ruthie, Shea and the crew. Here’s the setlist if you want to hunt some of those songs down:

“Your Grace Is Enough” Matt Maher, Empty And Beautiful
“Sing My Love” Jesus Culture, Your Love Never Fails
“Glory To God Forever” Vicky Beeching, Eternity Invades
“The Wonder Of Your Love” Hillsong, Faith + Hope + Love

Huge thanks to Darren Stewart for sharing his story via video this week. Wow. Powerful stuff. LOVE these stories. We could’ve seriously just prayed and sent you home the last two weeks after watching these things. And there’s more stories to come!

This week’s parable was the Story of the Rich Farmer; aka, the guy who just built a bigger barn for all of this stuff, and then had a surprise visit from God.
The main issue we wrestled with was, “God has blessed me with SO MUCH money, time energy and resources, but am I ‘loving my neighbour as myself’ or just building a bigger barn?”

When faced with multiple scriptures all admonishing us to take care of those around us, and then comparing that with our own spending, I think we all had a good reminder of what God is calling us to do. “Well done always trumps well said.”
So, the challenge was given to everyone at all three services: Come to the altar and make a sacrifice. A real, literal sacrifice. Leave your coats. Your shoes. Your hat and mittens. The things you love the most. And give them away to people who need them in our very own city. And WOAH. You responded.

Fur coats. Leather jackets. Brand new boots. The sweaters off your back. More gloves than we can count. A personal tablet. And on and on it goes.
You gave God your best. You walked out to your cars in your socks. You walked out to your cars in your t-shirts. (and it was -30! I promise, we didn’t plan that!)

And we committed to stop building bigger barns.

It was a powerful, memorable morning. I hope and pray that your commitment wasn’t a one-time offering of a coat, but a lifestyle change that will continually show the love of Christ to everyone around us. Awesome stuff, Crosspoint. Keep writing a better story.

Couple of notes:
1) We launch our tithing challenge next Sunday! Have you been talking and praying with your family about this? More details to follow on Sunday.
2) Be praying for Pastor Tim and his family – he’s in Atlanta at the biggest church in the Wesleyan denomination, being poured into by the leadership there. A very cool opportunity. He’ll back this week and ridiculously fired up!
3) Your Connect Groups will be kicking off this week or next, so stay tuned for information about when your group launches. We had lots of new people sign up for a group…awesome!

Sunday Wrap

Thanks for checking the blog and staying plugged in to what’s happening at Crosspoint. We are far from perfect but we’re doing our best to help as many as possible follow Jesus. Yesterday was a very exciting day. Here’s the look back:

- Baptisms!!!! 4 exclamation marks. One for each of the people who were baptized yesterday. Baptisms are my absolute most favorite thing to do in ministry. I love seeing people step forward and go public for Jesus. Congratulations again to those who took this very important step/plunge!

- We kicked off our new series, “Once Upon A Time”! It was one of my favorite Sundays ever in the past 5 years. Yep. God’s presence was with us, worship was powerful, and it seemed like a lot of people were doing business with God. The tag line of the series, “write a better story”, is going to be a life changer for many. Forget about your past, what can your future look like if you let God script it?? Anything is possible!

- We’ll use a different parable of Jesus each Sunday in the series. Yesterday’s parable was a more obscure, and I think hilarious, parable, “The Parable of the Friend at Night”. No doesn’t always mean no. Persistence pays off. Ask. Seek. Knock. Receive. Find. Open. Pray about it, look around, and make some noise.

- Yesterday’s video testimony was off the charts impacting. Huge props to Chris Johnson for sharing his story with us and showing us how we can write a better story when we trust God with our lives. Not a dry eye in the place as we watched Chris’s video. Be looking for the video on our Vimeo site and forward it to everyone you know. God is alive and he is working!!

- Huge thanks to AJ Guptill and Brandon Ingraham for creating our best looking stage and lighting design yet!

- Huge crowd yesterday. One of our largest non-holiday non-special event attendances ever. Invite someone this week. Really. It’s a great time of year to invite someone and this series is going to be huge. Found people find people.

- Get in a group, register for Uprising, give like never before, get to know new people, pray hard, thank God for what he is doing and ask how you can be a part of the future!! Great days ahead Crosspoint!

Set List/Artist/Album
“Hosanna” Paul Baloche, A Greater Song
“Knees To The Earth” Christy Nockels, Passion: Sacred Revolution
“None But Jesus” Hillsong United, With Hearts As One
“Bless The Lord” Watermark, A Grateful People
“Lord, I Need You” Chris Tomlin, Passion: Here For You

Sunday Wrap!

Every week, well almost every week, I do a quick blog summary of the services at Crosspoint for those who weren’t there, those who are never there, and those who like to follow from afar. This is that post.

- Gigawatts!! It was week 2 of our mini-series “Back to the Future”. One week to look back and one week to look to the future. Special props go to guitarist/vocals Martin S (no one can spell his last name) for wearing some seriously retro back to the future sneakers. Nice.

- Loved, totally thoroughly enjoyed, the worship set! The songs fit the message and the theme perfectly. Great energy and by far the best ‘transitions’ between songs that we have ever, ever had. Thank you again to all of you who work so hard on this behind the scenes. You know who you are. And to Ruth Woodworth who ultimately gives point leadership to everything we do musically.

- Since we’re on the topic of worship, let me say again how much I love the total media, tech, and lighting package we present every week. It’s so good that you often don’t notice it. Exactly! It’s not intrusive but it helps us focus on Jesus.

- Well, the preacher was rusty and the crowd was kind. Ha! That’s the best way I can describe the message.

- Every January I share a few things that remind us of why we do what we do. Let’s never take for granted what God is doing here people. Our culture, our mission, and our style are all working together to help us share Jesus with as many people as possible. Many churches would give their choir robes to be doing what we are doing.

- Great crowd yesterday! Great to see new faces and to see some faces we haven’t seen for awhile. Seriously. Great to see you. If you know anyone who is missing, give them a little nudge. Or a big nudge.

Sunday Set List/Artist/Album
“Holding Nothing Back” Jesus Culture, Consumed
“You’ll Come” Hillsong, This Is Our God
“Amazing Grace” The Almost, Southern Weather
“Hosanna” Hillsong United, All Of The Above
“I Will Exalt You” Hillsong, Faith + Hope + Love

Coming up!!
- Youth Baptisms this Wednesday! Come out and cheer them on! 7 PM
- Baptisms this Sunday morning, January 15th, all 3 services!!! If you haven’t been baptized we would love to celebrate this very important step with you. What are you waiting for? Dive in!
- Connect Groups! Every person who goes to this church should be in a connect group. Sign ups are coming. Start the new year right and join a small group of people!
- Brand new series for the new year, “Once Upon A Time”. You can write a better story! Follow the parables of Jesus and see how your story meets God’s story! Invite someone!

Stuffs

Hey Church!Hope that your 2012 is off to a great start. We had a slamtastic time in Ontario last week. Good travels, great company, and way too much eating. It’s good to be back in the Ville and we are totally amped, pumped, stoked, (and other words that used to be cool years ago) about this coming year at Crosspoint!! Seriously.

- Crosspoint Christmas at the Playhouse!! By far, like really far, our best night ever. I am so thankful to God for the entire evening at the Playhouse. The kids were awesome. The youth were incredible. The quartet, the worship, the band, the video announcements with Aaron Cambers, the crowd (the HUGE crowd!), the response to the message, and on and on. We probably had between 1000 and 1100 people and 80+ indicated a new decision for Jesus!! Thank you so much, so many of you, for the many hours of hard work, the praying and the inviting. You are making a difference. Jesus is making the difference. Wow.

- We left for Ontario early in the morning on Christmas eve. I think it’s only the 2nd time in 20 years that we’ve been to Gayla’s home for Christmas day. Great drive. No problems. No speeding tickets. I only get speeding tickets when Conard is in the car with me.

- Heard great things about the Christmas morning service here at Crosspoint. Way to go Mark, Jamie, Ruth, Emily and others for putting in the extra effort. Looks like we had many new faces on Christmas Sunday and January 1st.

- We kicked off a 2-week miniseries on Sunday titled, “Back to the Future”. It was an icy morn and New Year’s Day and we still had a very decent crowd. We had multiple shredders at the front of the church and gave you an opportunity to put the past in the past. Now, let’s focus on our future in Jesus!!

- I’m looking forward to preaching this Sunday. Uh, that’s the understatement of the year. (The year is only 3 days old!) I can HARDLY WAIT to preach this week. I’m always a little more wound than usual when I haven’t preached for a Sunday or two. Should be entertaining. Come to the first service for the full effect.

Two things that I am really, really excited about:
Youth Baptisms next Wednesday!! Wow. All invited. Come cheer on some of our teens who are taking this huge step in their journey with Jesus. It’s going to be power-full!!

New series starting January 15th, “Once Upon a Time”. We’re throwing a lot into this series because we truly want everyone to ‘write a better story’. Each week you will hear from a Crosspointer whose life has been radically transformed by Jesus. We’ll be preaching from the parables of Jesus and seeing our story in God’s story. Also, we’re doing BAPTISMS in all 3 services on January 15th. Get the year started right, don’t wait, don’t put it off. Let us know if you’d like to be baptized on the 15th!!

Sunday Set List/Artist/Album
“One Thing Remains” Bethel Live, Be Lifted High
“Jesus Paid It All” Kristian Stanfill, Passion: Everything Glorious
“I Will Exalt” Bethel Live, Be Lifted High
“Freedom Reigns” Jesus Culture, Come Away
“Break Every Chain” Jesus Culture, Awakening: Live From Chicago

The Playhouse

Hey Peeps! We’re just a few days away from our largest outreach event of the year and I wanted to give it one last push. Thanks for reading along and praying for our services!

- Not long ago it would have been laughable for us to reach 1000+ people in one evening.
- We won’t be at the Playhouse nest year because it is booked for their own Christmas production. So, let’s take full advantage of this year.
- It is going to be the best 60 minutes we’ve ever put together.
- Many people have been working hard for weeks to make this an exceptional evening.
- If you knew someone’s life would be changed for eternity, would you invite them?
- People in Fredericton love going to the Playhouse. It’s an easy invite!
- We need you to pick up a bunch of the remaining tickets for the 8:00 service and give them to everyone you know. Hand them out at the office. Get creative.
- Put an invite out on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Neighbors, friends, relatives, hairdressers, person who serves you coffee, whoever!
- Check with other Crosspointers and make sure they are going. I’m amazed at the number of our own people who simply don’t go to this service.
- We’ll make a simple and clear presentation of the gospel.
- We’re going to have offering boxes on the way out this year. Low key for people who want to give.
- God has been doing something completely awesome in our church over the last few years. Let’s not take it for granted. Let’s do our part and be willing to put some feet to the vision.
- Last thing. We seriously need your prayers for the Playhouse. Pray for the tech, sound, and lighting crew at the Playhouse that we’ll be working with. Pray for our band, vocalists, and all involved. Pray for every person who will be showing up!

Thanks
PT

Sunday Wrap!

Good morning church, happy Monday and welcome to another wrap back on all things yesterday here @ Crosspoint! Hard to believe that Christmas week is here! I’m sure you have lots to do this week but settle down for a few minutes and rejoice with us over what God is doing in the Ville.

- Yesterday was the 4th and final week of our ‘Scrooged’ series. The 4 ‘Somewhere’s’ of the series were, somewhere unexpected, somewhere unbelievable, somewhere unknown, and somewhere undeniable. Wherever you are on your journey, we trust that God used these themes to draw you closer to Him.

- We had 3 people in the first service invite Jesus into their lives!!! Crossing the line of faith. Declaring that they believe in Jesus. That never gets old. That is why we do what we do.

- There have been several, many severals, new believers this Fall at Crosspoint! Our baptism service in January should be off the chain, off the hook, off the chizzam awesome. Cannot wait!!!

- Loved the “How He Loves” song with the video montage. So good. Powerful. Really reminds us that the baby came to be a sacrifice for us. Let’s keep that in perspective this week.

- How about the closing song with the extra vocalists??!! Again, very powerful and moving. Thanks to the creative peeps behind the scenes that put that together. You know who you is. Ya done good.

CROSSPOINT CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAYHOUSE!!!
- Tickets still available for the 8:00 PM service. Absolute best opportunity of the year to invite someone to a pro-quality event with a clear presentation of the gospel. It’s not too late to invite people.

- One service Christmas Sunday, 10:30 – 11:30 AM. It’s Christmas. Go to church.

- “Back to the Future” two week series, January 1st and 8th! What year do you want to travel to?? Don’t miss it. We are back to 3 services on the 1st. Yes, 3. Wakey wakey and get your year in gear.

Sunday Set List/Artist/Album
“Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)” Hillsong, Born Is The King
“He Has Come For Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)” Meredith Andrews, Various Artists: Come Now Our King
“How He Loves” David Crowder Band, Church Music
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” Ginny Owens, Bring Us Peace
“Hark The Herald Angels Sing” Chris Tomlin, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs Of Worship
“All The Poor And Powerless” All Sons & Daughters, Brokenness Aside

Sunday Wrap!

Whew and Wooooo! Lots going on. This is the first chance I’ve had to jot down a few thoughts from Sunday. Grab some egg nog and gumdrop cake and look back with me on another great Sunday at Crosspoint.

- It was week 3 of our ‘Scrooged’ series, ‘Spirit, where are you taking me?’ Sunday’s theme was ‘Somewhere Ubelievable’. We looked at the father of a sick child in Mark chapter 9 who said to Jesus, “I believe, help me with my unbelief.”

- We had another person cross the line of faith and believe in Jesus on Sunday!!! So exciting. This is why we do what we do. Seriously, God has been using this series to change lives for eternity. Let’s never take this stuff for granted!

- Have you noticed that we’ve been opening every Sunday with the same song, “Born is the King” by Hillsong? I love how it sounds a little different every week. It’s also quite funny to see people hustling into the sanctuary with their coffee when they hear that song start. Don’t wanna be late for those video announcements!

- We took a special offering on Sunday to love and support a couple of pastors and their families who are facing some real needs this Christmas. You gave, drum roll please, pause for suspense, …………., $4600!!That is incredible. Way to go Crosspoint!

Sunday Set List/Artist/Album
“Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)” Hillsong, Born Is The King
“He Is Lord” Hillsong, This Is Our God
“O Little Town Of Bethlehem”
“Away In A Manger”
“What Child Is This”
“Glory To God Forever” Vicky Beeching, Eternity Invades

PLAYHOUSE — Call, email, blog, facebook, twitter, phone, get your tickets and invite everyone you know. Be a part of what God is doing and has been doing at Crosspoint. This is your church renting an awesome venue to share the message of Jesus with as many people as possible. It’s going to be a really, really, great evening.

Christmas Wrap

So, it’s apparently almost Summer again in December. Like +15 today!! I am definitely not complaining. The only snow I ever need to see is on TV or on a postcard or in a snow globe. Great day y’day @CP. Here’s the wrap back:

- It was week 2 of our ‘Scrooged’ series, “Spirit, where are you taking me?” Week 1 was, ‘Somewhere Unexpected’. Yesterday was ‘Somewhere Unknown’. 

- 11 people (+/-) stood to accept and declare God’s call in their lives!! People are being called to missions and ministry around the world and here at home!! Very, very cool. If you missed it, well, you missed it! 

- We had another 2 or 3 people indicate that they were crossing the line of faith and believing in Jesus!! That never gets old. That is why we do what we do. Changed lives for eternity!!!  

- You are far better off in the unknown with Jesus than in the known by yourself. God won’t call just to watch you fall. What he calls you to do he will see you through. Don’t be afraid to trust God and step out into His adventure for your life if you don’t have all the answers or all the information. Trust. Faith. Believe. 

- Love how we are opening every service of this series with the same song. You did notice that right? Right?? 

- Loved Nancy singing ‘All the Way My Saviour Leads Me’ for the closing song. Perfect. Powerful. 

- We announced a Baptism in January! Do it! Jump in. Dive in. Follow Jesus. It’s going to be awwwwweeeesommmme. 

Set List/Artist/Album

“Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)” Hillsong, Born Is The King
“Angels We Have Heard On High” Chris Tomlin, Glory In The Highest
“Angels From The Realms Of Glory” Downhere, How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” Chris Tomlin (Feat. Christy Nockels), Glory In The Highest
“All The Way My Savior Leads Me” Chris Tomlin, Hello Love

***DON”T FORGET***

Playhouse Tickets!! If you haven’t already reserved them contact us soon and let us know how many you need. It is going to be the best service we have ever had in our church’s history. Pray hard. Invite like crazy. Come expecting Jesus. 

Ugly Sweater Sunday, this week, Dec 11th. Get hideous! 

Christmas Wrap!

Crosspoint!! Welcome to another look back at another great Sunday at a little church that has a lot of people and a Big God. I hope your week is going very stellar. Since we kicked off our Christmas series yesterday, let’s call this the ‘Christmas Wrap’ instead of ‘Sunday Wrap’. K? K. Here we go!

- Sunday was week one of our Christmas series, ‘Scrooged’. Like I mentioned yesterday, it’s the sub-theme that I am really stoked about, “Spirit, where are you taking me?” We truly hope that the Spirit of God takes you to some brand new places in your relationship with Jesus this Christmas!

- Our text was John 2, Jesus’ first public miracle, the water, the wine and the wedding. God might do something totally unexpected in your life to take you where he can make you more like Jesus. Sometimes change is painful. If I have to choose between risk and regret, I’ll take risk. When a woman has made up her mind (Mary) not even God gets his way. What does God need to do in your life for you to see who he is and believe?

- 3 People believed in Jesus and invited him into their lives yesterday!! Whooooo!! That never gets old. That is why we do what we do. There are several new believers at Crosspoint. We’re planning a baptism for January. Can’t wait!!

- Loved the Christmas music, especially the opening song, “Born is the King”! Great job Shea and Catherine!! Also, I could watch Chris Saad play drums for hours. I don’t know if he could play for hours, but I could watch him for hours!!

- Loved all the new lighting! Whooooo Special props to AJ Guptill, Brandon Ingraham, and anyone else who had anything to do with making it look spectacular. Way to go Pastor Mark for casting vision for excellent looking environments for worship.

- Yesterday was week 1 for reserving your Playhouse tickets. You can also reserve them via twitter, facebook, email, whatever. Just let us know! One more week for reserving!! Don’t miss the biggest, easiest, no brainer invite of the year! It’s going to be fantabulous. Honest.

Set List/Artist/Album
“Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)” Hillsong, Born Is The King
“Rooftops” Jesus Culture, Come Away
“Hosanna” Hillsong United, All Of The Above
“Joy To The World” Hillsong, Born Is The King
“O Come All Ye Faithful” Chris Tomlin, Glory In The Highest

Other Stuffs:
- Ugly Sweater Sunday, Dec 11th
- Annual Christmas Missions Offering, Dec 11th

Your mission this week is to invite people to our Christmas service at the Playhouse!! December 23, two identical services, 6 and 8 PM, refreshments in the new Trade and Convention Centre. Found people find people!

Sunday Wrap!

Hey Church! Happy Monday and welcome to another look back at another great Sunday at Crosspoint!

- Yesterday was the final Sunday in our ‘Elements’ series. This was an impacting series for sure! I’m constantly amazed (not surprised) at how God leads us to exactly the right series and themes for exactly the right time. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from Crosspointers who have found this series to be a lot of help. God is good!

- We took time in all three services to honor and appreciate Bud Pond who is retiring after serving Crosspoint (Olivet) as custodian for 46 years! Bud and Wilda joined us on the stage while their daughter Carolee and Pastor Conard presented them with gifts and words of appreciation. Thanks again Bud for doing far more than just cleaning the church. You served the Lord with excellence!

- Sunday’s ‘Element’ was ‘The Bible’. It was a fitting way to wrap up the series. Pastor Mark brought another slammalicious stupendtacular sermon! I am still laughing over the “Under 30 men’s swim team bible with water proof pages.”

- Always love hearing the soaring harmonies of the ‘Staples Sisters’ from Maple Ridge! That’s Amanda Collicott and Leah Staples for those of you who are wondering what I’m talking about.

- Lovvvvvvvvved hearing you sing yesterday!

- Another big crowd yesterday! We need a bigger auditorium for the 10:00 crowd. Just sayin’.

- Hope you caught the video announcements. Lots going on.

- Communion this Saturday, 4-6 PM. Drop in. Live worship. Pastor Conard and I will serve you communion. Stay for a few minutes, as long as you like. If you want to come and spend time in prayer or just sit in God’s presence for awhile, feel free. Looking forward to kicking off Advent and our Christmas series with communion!

- Crosspoint Christmas at the Playhouse!! Whooooooo! Tickets will soon be out. Please be inviting people now. It’s going to be an amazing evening!

Set List/Artist/Album
“I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)” Chris Tomlin, Passion:Everything Glorious
“Unending Love” Hillsong Live, God Is Able
Doxology
“Lead Me To The Cross” Hillsong United, All Of The Above
“You Gave Your Life Away” Paul Baloche, Our God Saves