Volume 13 Issue 12 “Sharing Christ’s Compassion” December 2007
But let me invite you to do something Easter. I know I’m a bit early...or
C alendars separate and organize
different as the Advent and Christmas
season approach us:
a bit late. But maybe I’m practic-
ing for that great feast.
days into weeks, months and years;
it’s how we mark time passing. Cou- Consider Revelation 9:19: it states
pled with the dramatic rising and fal- “Blessed are those who are invited to At the wedding supper,
the wedding supper of the Lamb!”
ling of temperatures and holidays, we’ll celebrate each of
anniversaries and birthdays, we have This is the celebratory feast at the end
of time, where all believers will be the “God-Events”
a good reference to help us gage just
how quickly time is passing. You gathered together. It will be a holy all at once
may even hear yourself saying some- day (holi-day?) full of food and fel-
thing like “seems like yesterday we lowship and celebration.
were sitting around the pool cele- I’m not painting Easter eggs or
brating the 4th of July...and now it’s Celebrating what? hiding Easter baskets now. Our
December!” or “I can’t believe I’m Christmas tree is in our living
26…56..or 96 already.” Advent. room. Presents will be open later.
I don’t mean that type of external
Did you know there is a biblical way Christmas. celebration. By celebrate, I guess I
of marking time? It’s organized mean worship. My favorite time
around “God events--”those times Epiphany. to worship God’s intervention
when he steps into time and history and actions at Easter is now, dur-
and intervenes in dramatic ways. Let Easter. ing Christmas.
me list a few of those events, some
of which we’ve even incorporated Pentecost. Just celebrating Jesus’ birth is in-
into national holidays: Advent, complete for me. It misses part
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy It will be a grand feast. The largest of the story. It’s like reading the
Week, Easter, and Pentecost. (a brief feast in the history of creation, cele- beginning of a good book, and
wikipedia search will give you a basic brating each of the “God events” all at waiting a few months to finish it.
understanding of each, if one’s a bit once. I can’t separate his birth from his
fuzzy). death. I can’t wait for the 4
Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuff- months of suspense! I only cele-
Our finite minds have spaced out ing, cinnamon roles, milk. “Here’s a brate now because of what will
these events months from each toast to Christ being born,” one will happen later. In fact, his birth is
other, perhaps to give us the oppor- say. “Here’s to his death and resurrec- only significant when positioned
tunity to absorb the weight, impact, tion,” the next shouts.” Massive cele- in light of his death and resurrec-
and significance of these events for bration ensues. Someone wrote about tion. These aren’t mutually exclu-
our lives a huge choir concert, too--millions of sive events, yet we often celebrate
voices strong. them exclusively.
(especially guys, who can only con-
Here’s my point. Christmas is becom- Continued on page 2
centrate on one thing at a time).
ing my favorite time to celebrate
Page 2 CrossRoads
A gift-giving idea…..
So, in the middle of our “silent
nights” and “joy to the worlds” What a cute hostess gift to take to a holiday gathering!
we should be singing “Hosanna,
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed
Cherry Almond Cake in a Jar Recipe
is he who comes in the name of
the Lord.” His birth anticipates
his death. 9 (12 oz. straight sided) canning jars
2 cups cake flour
People in the first century were 1 1/2 teas. Baking powder
excited at Christ’s birth because 2 cups maraschino cherries, drained, dried and cut in half
of the hope of the promise ful- 1/2 cup blanched almonds, finely ground
filled, not of a baby being born 1/4 cup cake flour
necessarily, but of a savior rescu- 1 1/2 cup sugar
ing God’s people. The fact that 8 oz. Cream cheese; softened
God came incarnate as a baby
1 cup butter, softened
has plenty of significance and
1 teas. Almond extract
implications, and is rightfully
celebrated, but without the cru-
4 eggs
cifixion and resurrection, the
isolated birth of Jesus bears little Wash the jars, lids and rings in hot soapy water and rinse well. Allow the
impact for the world’s redemp- jars to air dry. Once the jars are dry, generously grease the inside of each
tion. jar with shortening.
Our Christmas hope should be Stir together the 2 cups flour and the baking powder. In a separate
firmly rooted in Easter celebra- bowl, mix together the cherries, ground almonds and 1/4 cup cake
tions, and resurrection morning flour; set aside. Cream together the sugar, cream cheese, butter and al-
redemption.
mond extract until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and continue beating
until well blended. Slowly add the flour mixture, mixing well. Fold in
I’m not sure how you mark
time. Our methods are tempo-
the cherry mixture until well blended.
rary anyway. Soon, we’ll cele-
brate all of history and these Divide the batter among the 9 jars, filling them about half full. Wipe
God events all at once, all the any batter off the rim of the jar. Place jars on a baking sheet and bake at
time. 325 for 35—40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cakes comes
out clean.
I’m just starting to do that a bit
early. Want to join me? While the cakes are baking, place the lids and rings in a pan of water and
Merry Christmas! bring to a boil. Remove from heat and leave them in the water until the
Hosanna!
cakes are done. Remove the cakes from the oven one at a time, place
the lids and rings on them and tighten. Allow the jars to cool, then
Pastor Adam
check to be sure they have sealed. There should be no movement on
the lid. If any have not sealed properly, eat the cakes within a week.
CrossRoads Page 3
Calendar of Events
Weight Watchers each Saturday morning at 9:00 AM
December 4 - Tracy Parker
December 1 - Board Retreat 9:00—Noon December 5 - Pam Morrison
December 2 - F.C.J. “Trim the Tree Party” 6:15 PM December 6 - Caleb Kumamoto
December 3 - Men’s Ministry Dinner 6:30 PM December 11 - Miguel Martinez
December 6 - Ladies Christmas Extravaganza 6:30 PM December 15 - Robert Kaiser
Reservations are required
December 17 - Katherine Firsdon
December 8 - Hauck’s Small Group 4:00 PM
December 18 - Jessie Ansteatt
December 8 - Evans’ Small Group 6:30 PM
December 21 - Austin Parker
December 9 - Visitor Sunday
December 22 - Cameron Evans
December 9 - Prayer Time 6:30 PM
December 23 - Ruth Wimmer
December 11 - J.A.M. 6:45—8:15 PM
86 W. McKinley Street, S. Lebanon, OH December 24 - Chuck Witmer
December 13 - Board Meeting 6:30 PM December 27 - Brian Christeson
December 16 - Kelly’s Small Group 6:00 PM December 31 - Jonathan Firsdon
December 24 - Christmas Eve Service
December 25 - Merry Christmas! “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. Today in the town of
December 28 - Bewley’s Small Group 7:00 PM David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10
PRAYER TIME
MEN’S MINISTRY DINNER Sunday, December 9th
Monday, December 3, 2007
6:30 PM
The men’s ministry will have another in-
Want to give a gift that keeps
home gathering this month . Ken Kelly,
on giving all year? Prayer
1466 N. St. Rt. 123, Lebanon, OH will
knows no time constraint!
host this group on Monday, December Come on December 9th to
3rd. Bring a friend, $3-$5 for food and praise, pray and celebrate the
arrive at 6:30 PM for great fellowship, connection we have with the
games and lots of food! Holy One. Questions? Com-
Need directions? Contact Ken Kelly. ments? Contact Dennis Evans
Page 4 CrossRoads
Health: Juanita Ansteatt, Joe & Shirley Dansberry, Mike & Cindy Kumamoto, Jerry Miller, Bonnie Nitzsche, Jenny
White, Megan Anderson, Cathy Ball, Bob Bartley, Jim Baxter, Slone Chapman, Connie Cope, Pat Edwards, Katie
Eppert, Kenny Evans, Don Fullmer, Ray Gagne’, Maddie Gers, Anthony Hall, Doug Hall, Steve Hall, Roger Hauck,
Lori Hollingsworth, Mr. Hopson, Desmond Kingston, John Knight, Linda Kohler, Susie Mayburg, Bob Morrison, Dylan
Nitzsche, Sandy Pugh, Lorraine Reeder, the Roberts Family, Pete Roderick, Ken Rohr, Kim & Nathan Schmidt, Mike
Sheffel, Allen Spring, Eddie Stillwell, Eve Sylvester, Claire Taylor, Patty Turkall, Jana Urban-Buzek, Bill Young.
Other: Adam in Iraq, Samantha Ansteatt, the Ron Bachmann family, the Christeson family, Becky Clifton, Jenny
Cunningham, Lee Cutter, Charlotte Eads, the Elfers family, the Dave Evans family, the Ken Evans family, the Steve Gibson family, Mabel
Hauck and her family, Nicole Johnson and family, the Mallory family, Miguel Martinez, the Mathews family, the family of Carolyn Mattox,
Tess McHenry, Adam & Tonya Metzger, Claire Molitors, the Nitzsche family, Jerry & Mitzi Peters, Dan Reale, Greg Schmidt, the Swicegood
family, Sandy Thayer, Men’s & Women’s Ministries, 2007 Board and Team Members, F.C.J.! Events, Pastoral Relations Team, Finance Team,
Prayer Team, and our volunteers, our nation and Military Personnel .
Answers: Adam, Tonya and Aiden Metzger, Prayer Time, Small Group Ministries, F.C.J. Events, new Youth Sunday School class,
Children’s Ministry in South Lebanon, and God’s abundant opportunities for KingsWay and His miraculous financial blessings for the ministry.
KingsWay
Community Ladies Christmas Extravaganza
Church Thursday, December 6, 2007
5188 Cox-Smith Road 6:30 PM
Come to the church and
Mason, OH 45040
Worship 10:30 AM
Fellowship Time 11:30 AM
Join in the celebration of the
Adam Metzger Christmas Season!
Senior Pastor
Marlene Evans
Office Administrator
We’ll enjoy a catered dinner!
398-5900 (Reservations @$12.00 are a must )
Email:
Kingsway_church@yahoo.com Entertainment! Door Prizes!
Web Site:
Kingswaybaptist.org Party Favors! Christmas Carols!
Did You Know? This year we are offering a “giving tree” for the
children of South Lebanon and an IHN family.
At the November 4th Congrega-
tional Meeting the members of If you would like, take a star or a bell from the
KingsWay Community Church tree, purchase a suggested gift, then bring your
voted unanimously to begin the
process of selling the building/ wrapped gift to the Extravaganza on the 6th!
property on Cox Smith Road, and
to search for a new ministry loca- Gifts will be delivered on December 15th
tion.
CrossRoads Page 5
December 2nd we’ll be gathering around the Christmas trees for the next F.C.J.
event!! Decorating the sanctuary, trimming the tree, making ornaments,
munching on Christmas cookies and listening to the wonderful Christmas story
that never grows old will round out the evening. What to bring? Bring your
friends and families!! We’ll be looking for YOU!
Come along and join the fun and fellowship of J.A.M.!!! Each
month’s activities include Jesus and Me Bible Adventure, Crafts,
Snacks, Music and Games. Do you know a child who would
benefit from time like that? Contact Tonya Metzger!!
Page 6 CrossRoads
December 2007
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Board Retreat
9—Noon
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Ladies’ Hauck’s Small
F.C.J.! Men’s Ministry Christmas Group 4:00 PM
6:15—8:00 PM Dinner Extravaganza
6:30 PM 6:30 PM Evans’ Small
Group 6:30 PM
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Visitor’s Sunday
J.A.M. Board Meeting
Prayer Time 6:45—8:15 PM 6:30 PM
6:30 PM
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Kelly’s Small
Group
6:00 PM
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Christmas Eve Bewley’s Small
Service Group
7:00 PM
30 31
CrossRoads
KingsWay Community Church
5188 Cox-Smith Road
Mason, OH 45040