THE CROSSING WEEKLY
LOOKING AHEAD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6th
Serve Day from 9AM – 1PM to prep our property to invite the community into our annual Christmas at the Crossing! If you don’t know what Christmas at the Crossing is, check out our video below!
Community Movie Night at 7 PM in the sanctuary featuring “Yours, Mine, and Ours”, (1968) Come watch a movie and then afterward discuss how God spoke through the movie! Bring snacks and come in your jammies if you like! No children younger than 10yrs old, please.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14th
JOIN US WEEKLY
EY (Emerging Youth) 6:30 PM, is a gathering of ages of 12 – 18. Contact Josiah Armstrong to get involved jarmstrong@lifealliance.org
Prayer Furnace 7 PM in the sanctuary, Come pray and worship with us!
Young Adult Group 7 PM, contact Laura to get involved messinanc@gmail.com
Life Groups are at the core of our community expression and are the primary place for connecting with people in our community at a personal level. Find one near you!
Celebrate Recovery 7:30 PM in the sanctuary – Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. Contact Aaron to get involved aaron_tocci@yahoo.com
Life Groups are at the core of our community expression and are the primary place for connecting with people in our community at a personal level. Find one near you!
First Principles classes are at 6:30 PM. The First Principles Series is a set of 13, six-session Bible study guides used to establish believers and churches in the Christian faith. New enrollment occurs in fall and spring. Learn more about First Principles!
Coffee and Conversation Women join us every third Saturday morning of the month from 9 AM – 12 PM, contact Anna Benedict Anna.benedict@gmail.com
Worship Service 10 AM. Find our messages HERE.
Children’s Church drop off times are from 9:40 AM – 10:15 AM. Kingdom Kids (age 1-5) is across the street at the Daycare. Power Kids (ages 6-11) is in the main building’s hall. Learn more about Children’s Church.
Café Kerygma is our very own cafe which opens at 9:30 AM for coffee and fellowship.
Dreamers’ Ranch sells their products from 12-12:30, or directly after service. Come buy our beef, lamb, pork, and eggs as available.
JOURNEY SPOTLIGHT:
Paula Baker on Living Boldly Like Never Before
Journey is a six-month course providing in-depth discipleship and prayer support with the goal of helping individuals experience Jesus in their relationships, sexuality and identity.
We recently connected with Paula Baker, Journey alum and leader, who shared her experience with the course and how it changed her life. Paula was encouraged by others who had been through Journey previously and like many, she wrestled with the financial and time commitment that is required. Eventually, she realized that ultimately God would provide all she needed to take the leap.
How did you decide to get involved with Journey?
Paula: I just did it. Did I look back and think, “What are you thinking? This is such a huge commitment. Are you really ready to do this?” Yup, sure did. However, my obedience to the call of God outweighed all the chatter and now that I’m on the other side, I definitely have no regrets.
In what ways did Journey impact your life? What’s different?
Paula: The biggest change for me was getting my voice. I have been saved for 48 years and have been to several different churches. Having lived in three different states, I’ve also been involved in the Church in many different capacities. I always was involved, but I’ve never had the freedom that I’ve experienced from going through Journey.
Some short background info – I am from Syracuse, NY. I am the oldest of three and the only daughter. My brothers were both born with disabilities that required them to need a lot of attention. I experienced trauma and sexual abuse starting at a very young age. That’s actually when I first met Jesus, at age three. I knew He was with me and He held me and I felt His safeness at 3-years-old. I didn’t know who He was and I couldn’t see Him but He was as real as you are right now to me.
Because of the abuse, I learned early to be quiet and not to tell anyone anything. I believed I was “marked” as a target for all kinds of trauma and abuse until I was about 40. There are many stories I could tell in this space, but I want to share more on where I am now. Looking back to where I was when I started Journey and comparing to where I am today – I am at a place where I’m not afraid anymore to use my voice, to stand up for myself, and to declare who I am in Christ boldly like never before. I’m at a place where I no longer isolate. I have the attitude that I have Jesus, so what the heck do I need people for?
What is one thing you learned in the course? Is there an area of your life that has changed?
Paula: The biggest change I’ve made is that I’m not going to ignore emotions because I perceive them as negative. I’m a human and to feel is human.
This is a quote from a book I was reading – “When we deny our pain, losses, and feelings year after year, we become less and less human. We transform slowly into empty shells with smiley faces painted on them. Sad to say, that is the fruit of much of our churches. But when I began to allow myself to feel a wider range of emotions – including sadness and depression, fear and anger – a revolution in my spirituality was unleashed. I soon realized that a failure to appreciate the biblical place of feelings within our larger Christian lives has done extensive damage, keeping free people in Christ, in slavery.” (Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ)
God is an emotional being who feels. Having been created in His image, we have the gift of experiencing emotions. In the past, I feared that if I opened up about my feelings, I would fall into a black hole never to return. That’s a lie!
I learned that God is actually able to handle years and years and years of stuffed emotions. I become free and alive. I discovered His grace and the depth of His love. I’m not afraid anymore to speak up, to share my story, to advocate for myself. He is truly ALL I–or any of you–EVER need. He’s my source, our source for all we need! He’s my forever friend and my TRUE SAVIOR. Without Him, I surely would not even be alive to tell you this… for real!
How are you involved with Journey now and what do you hope to share with others?
Paula: My journey with Journey continues. I am now on the Journey team supporting others in this course. I’m looking forward to the upcoming sessions and seeing others move forward in freedom. I would encourage anyone who wants to move deeper in their walk and, even more importantly, to become free in areas you never would have realized otherwise – join us in Journey.