Crosstown Connection: December 4 - 17

Saturday, December 6

City of Lakes Choir invites Crosstown and our neighborhood to an afternoon of holiday fun. First, from 2-3pm a holiday market. Then from 3-4pm Christmas music from the choir, along with coffee and treats. This is a free event. Invite a friend.

This event will be hosted in the Crosstown Commons.

Thank you Crosstown for contributing towards our Advent Generosity thus far. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please consider giving to our neighbors. There are two ways to contribute. Check out the options below. Or give towards both.

Crosstown will be collecting both Target and Wal-Mart gift cards, in the amount of $25. These gift cards will be shared with Nokomis neighbors through the social workers at Lake Nokomis Community Schools. Crosstown's long-standing relationship with the social workers allows us to pastor our neighborhood well. This year, there is an anonomous donor who will match any gift card given. All gift cards must be turned in by Sunday, December 14. Questions, talk with Pastor Polly Inestroza.

Crosstown is packing a special holiday bag for all our Food Distribution guests to hand out on Christmas Eve. We need your help!

We will be packing 130 bags each containing

Bottle of cooking oil
Bottle of spices
Box of tea / coffee / hot chocoate.

Click the link below and order off the Amazon list and send items directly. Or bring in items on Sunday mornings in December.

**Bags will be packed at Living Nativity to be handed out on December 24 at Food Distribution.

Amazon Shopping List

A Note from Pastor Paul

Dear Crosstown friends,

We have stepped into advent – the time of waiting with anticipation to once again hear the good news of God keeping His promise by sending Jesus to be the Savior of the world.

Jesus came for you, and for me. He came for our fellow congregants. He came for the people who live around us in our neighborhoods and at work and at school. He came for people living in other parts of the world, for young, and old and everyone in between.

I invite, and urge you – be an inviter this advent. Use the handout that details Advent activities at Crosstown, and personally hand it to someone else you want to invite to join us this advent at Crosstown. They too need to hear the good news of great joy which is for all people.

Praying as we go - Pastor Paul

A Note from the Leadership Team

Greetings Crosstown,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving Holiday, whether in quiet reflection or boisterous community. We wanted to make you aware of two important changes that were approved at the November Leadership Team meeting. First, Pastor Polly’s job description has been refined to bring a deeper focus for this role. Her title has been revised to “Pastor of Family Ministry” with the revised responsibilities of leadership and guidance of Children, Youth, and families, both within our congregation as well as outreach of these groups. For the time being, the responsibilities of communication remain with this role. Pastor Paul and Pastor Polly have met with the Ministry Team Leaders about this change of Pastor Polly’s focus in supporting and coaching these teams.

Second, after months of discussion and discernment, three of our ministry teams have merged in order to increase collaboration and support as well as efficiency and effectiveness. The Community Caring, Prayer, and Life and Mission’s Ministry Teams have merged under the umbrella of Life and Mission Ministry Team. Our Interim Lead Pastor Paul will support and coach the team as they continue in their

ministry to our church.

Focusing our staff and ministry team responsibilities has implications that will help us clarify the type of skills and profile of what we are looking for in our next Lead Pastor.

If you have any questions about these changes, please reach out to any of the Leadership Team members or the Pastors.

We look forward to continuing together in our congregational priorities and pressing forward in the work the Lord has for us.

Heather Polhemus, Leadership Team Chair & Paul Murphy, Interim Lead Pastor

End of the Year Giving Statements

The finance team is gearing up to send out end of the year giving statements. Have you moved? If so, please send your updated address to Liana Ogawa.

ogawas4@hotmail.com

Construction in the Neighborhood

The city of Minneapolis has begun construction on Crosstown’s corner. While there will be road barricades, access to Crosstown will remain open.

Homegoing for Georgia Matzdorff

Crosstown grieves with the Matzdorff family at the homegoing of Georgia on Thursday, November 27. We celebrate knowing that she is with Jesus now. Memorial Service will be held at Ecumen Seasons, (4th Floor Chapel)

Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 PM. 15359 Founders Lane. Apple Valley. 55124