Pastor's Letter to Congregation

A NOTE from Pastor Bryan on July 18th, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday, July 19th we continue to make our important shift in our Sunday Services. WE have been meeting in-person for 10 weeks now with the focus on safety: wearing masks and social distancing, making sure the area is clean and setting off the back area (under the back screen) as isolated for those at risk. WE have now shifted to a fellowship in Worship with live streaming of the Service, for those who are unable to attend. The focus will be on our Worship time and we will have a "regular" Living Praise Service with Holy Communion in the Service and all live streaming. I know this was different as the focus moves from the camera to the congregation, but I believe it was edifying to those at home. We will be trying to do both with excellence, worshiping the Lord and serving HIS people with our whole heart! WE are continuing our Series on WHAT WE BELIEVE: Looking at Matthew 13 Why do bad things happen to Good People? Weeds! 

We continue to offer programs for us to grow spiritually, here are a few: 

1. On Wednesday evening we continue ALPHA at the Chapel, you can join us at the Church or on Zoom, in-person and on Facebook Live at the time. Thank you to those who joined us on Zoom and Facebook Live! Please join us Saturday afternoon at 4:30pm for the Sunday EVE Devotion, I will be teaching on Psalm 119. https://www.facebook.com/bryanschindel

2. Thank you to everyone who has been joining us each Sunday.  Please read the newsletter announcement or our website http://www.crossandres.org for information on the policy regarding being present here at the Chapel.  I am thankful for those who have joined us the last 10 weeks but please remember to wear a mask and listen to the usher about seating and we will do the rest to keep us safe! If you are at home please join us at 10:40am Sunday on http://facebook.com/crossandreslutheran

3. PLEASE INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO JOIN US for worship and for ALPHA @ the Chapel on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. We are still using Zoom for interaction and Facebook live plus YouTube live for the study. Check out on www.crossandres.org. Please check it out and invite people to join us this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm This is a great opportunity to invite folks to check out our church!

4. Last Sunday we celebrated Confirmation Sunday!! We are praying for our confirmands and their families as they did such an amazing job sharing their faith and telling us why they wanted to be Confirmed, why they want to be a member of Cross and Res, and how they will share their gifts with us! Well done Alicia, Grace, Chloe and Jack!

5.We continue to reach and help our members and community. We continue to collect gifts for Hope Clinic, (still in need of donations!) make and deliver masks, surgical garb and as well, we continue to serve people with the Agape Fund. FOOD MINISTRY IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! BUT Paul and Joanne have signed us up to serve at HOPE Clinic on one Tuesday night each month. Look forward to serving this way! We do hope to have Food Ministry back soon. We will keep you informed. Please pray for guidance and wisdom on how to serve our community!

6. We are excited about our Awards Ceremony and final program for American Heritage Girls and Trail Life this Saturday at 2pm-3:30 at Scio Community Church (outside).

7. We are planning our Church Picnic for 10:30am at Marsh View Park on Textile Road just east of State Street in Pittsfield Township on Sunday August 2, 2020. Please keep tuned for more information!

We are also continuing to serve in the Congregation. I have offered many personal services to many as well as been texting and emailing. Thank you to our faithful leadership teams! We are utilizing multiple communication platforms. We need help with the Audio, Visual, Lighting and Live-Streaming team. As summer season is starting, we will need more volunteers, please talk to me or Ricke Jr as soon as possible so we can do training!

AGAIN, I wanted to THANK everyone for their faithfulness in mailing in gifts! We also have an online option on the website. I am humbled, blessed and amazed by those who have sent in offerings by checks in the mail and through their banks who mail them to us. I do not open the mail, they go directly into the safe, but I know they are offerings! (We personally use the www.kindrid.com option on the website but all of these methods are allowing us to weather this unique situation.)

Please continue to BE THE CHURCH by taking care of your families, neighbors, and others. Well done, good and faithful servants! 

Please continue to pray for our faith family as we recognize the POWER of PRAYER. Please pray for all our family who need healing and peace!

In conclusion, please join us on Sunday at 10:40am. Please note these services will be available at any time after the live presentation ends on our youtube.com/pastorbryans channel or on www.crossandres.org. Also on the website you can find links to print or view the Order of Services for these services. We will be using Zoom to fellowship after the Service on Sunday.  

If you are need of Prayer, Food, Holy Communion, or other needs please call or email me pastor@crossandres.org or 734-474-1626

Thank you so very much to Annaliese, Ellen, Chris, Jake, Peter, Sam, (and all worship team members) Don, Bruce, Ricke Jr. and others who have helped with the Sunday Services, your help is very appreciated! 

Love you all and pray for you! 

Love in Christ our RISEN Lord,

Pastor Bryan

All other programs and activities are canceled except: AGAPE Fund help, individual pastoral care with the pastor, masks, and donations to HOPE, until further notice... 

undefined

 

6.19.2020

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Michigan District,

 

The Coronavirus has certainly had—and continues to have—its “heyday!” I don’t doubt at all the Devil has thoroughly enjoyed this time when Christians have not fellowshipped in worship and especially at the Lord’s Supper. Please remember that it was as good neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40) and out of respect for authority (Romans 13:1-7) that our congregations generally agreed not to meet publicly when the Government – Federal and State – first announced constraints to fight COVID-19. 

 

Nonetheless, how thankful we should be that our congregations quickly made use of alternative delivery systems to maintain as many ‘services’ as they could for our people and often for the community as well! Initially, thousands more people were being reached by our online worship services and Bible Studies. We have, as is the Christian habit, gone the extra mile by continuing, as we did, not to gather when the ‘Stay Home/Stay Safe’ orders were ‘continually’ extended.

 

People of Hope ... IT’S TIME! ... for Christians to gather together in person for worship, for Word and Sacrament ministry which we know will bring healing, encouragement, and strength not just to the worshippers, but for the community as a whole, as God’s people “shine like stars in the universe.” (Philippians 2:15)

 

Here’s What We Know, Share, and Recommend in Christian Love ...

 

  • Other businesses and industries are being allowed to open up as long as they follow health and safety guidelines. Congregations are able to follow similar guidelines.
  • When congregations gather, they should follow generally accepted recommendations and safety/health precautions in dealing with COVID-19 (e.g., distancing [6’], wearing of facemasks, handwashing, etc.). These recommendations are usually found on each County’s Health Department website.
  • Each congregation should have a plan for re-opening that comes from careful study and has been determined by congregational leadership and is published. Each congregation must come to its own conclusions and determine its own plan.
  • When congregations gather, they do so in smaller numbers than they might otherwise (the current recommendation is 25% of capacity). More services whenever honoring the recommendation may be an answer.
  • We recommend that congregations are especially sensitive to the relative level of infections in their community and act accordingly.

 

** Congregational members should be gentle with one another as they begin to gather respecting and honoring the relative comfort level of other members. ** Do not let Satan have a foothold and try to divide us.

 

I believe that Martin Luther addressed “physical distancing” in a letter dealing with the 1527 bubonic plague: Let us “[not] tempt God by exposing oneself to contagion”  Let us “warn against the over-bold who scorn ordinary precautions against contagion, thus tempting God, who has created medicine and given us the intelligence to care for our bodily health. Furthermore, such recklessness endangers others with whom one comes in contact.”

 

With all that has gone on with this pandemic, dear friends in Christ, let me, then clearly discourage the following ...

 

  • not commending ourselves and our mission to God;
  • forgetting or fleeing from our faithful God in faithlessness;
  • living in Satan’s “groupthink” and continue to cocoon being infused only with fear and panic;
  • failing to see and be engaged in the expanded opportunity for mission to the community and world that even this crisis presents;
  • showing no love for our neighbor by giving no witness to Christ and His love or finding a way to do so;
  • not taking our needs and the needs of the world to God in prayer;
  • distancing ourselves spiritually, mentally, and emotionally from others by disengaging with them; and
  • falsely believing or sharing that it is distrust in God to insure, make changes, or take precautionary measures, etc.

 

And, by God’s grace, forgiveness, and mercy as well as the strength He daily and richly supplies in His Word, let me strongly encourage ...

 

  • living “Emmanuel,” God with us, as we commend our life and mission to Him;
  • recognizing our saving faith, a gift of the Spirit, clings to the God Who saves and turns everything to good;
  • leading with Christ, His gift of forgiveness and eternal life so that they predominate our life and sharing;
  • trusting in God through Christ and not in man, human endeavors, and strength;
  • embracing the fact that God’s Word is not hindered or bound as we make use of every opportunity to share His Word;
  • using the rational and intellectual gifts God has given us in creation to make life/mission decisions under His Word;
  • loving and serving our neighbor even as considering how to protect their health and life in precautionary ways;
  • the saving faith that clings to God’s steadfast love and care, which is NEVER quarantined and contained;
  • living and practicing the vibrancy of relational discipleship with Christ and others in His mission; and
  • Hebrews 10:22-25, that is, that we  
  1. draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us
  2. hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to
  3. stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together [we are having virtual meetings temporarily through various media], as is the habit of some, but
  4. encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

I do thank God for you and for all of God’s servants who serve us all in our congregations and schools. I thank God that we are ALL given the opportunity to pursue life under Good Friday’s blood-stained cross but in clear view of Jesus’ victorious, open tomb of Easter knowing the life and living hope He has given us and that it has the power to give that life and living hope to others.

 

May God bless you in your continued walk with Jesus.

 

Sincerely, trusting in and continuing to walk with Jesus with you.

 

Pastor David P. E. Maier

President, The Michigan District

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

 

A NOTE from Pastor Bryan on July 11th, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday, July 12th we continue to make our important shift in our Sunday Services. WE have been meeting in-person for 5 weeks now with the focus on safety: wearing masks and social distancing, making sure the area is clean and setting off the back area (under the back screen) as isolated for those at risk. WE have now shifted to a fellowship in Worship with live streaming of the Service, for those who are unable to attend. The focus will be on our Worship time and we will have a "regular" Living Praise Service with Holy Communion in the Service and all live streaming. I know this was different as the focus moves from the camera to the congregation, but I believe it was edifying to those at home. We will be trying to do both with excellence, worshiping the Lord and serving HIS people with our whole heart! WE are continuing our Series on WHAT WE BELIEVE: Looking at Matthew 10 and our call to Discipleship! We will be honoring Father’s on Sunday!

We continue to offer programs for us to grow spiritually, here are a few: 

1. On Wednesday evening we continue ALPHA at the Chapel, you can join us at the Church or on Zoom, in-person and on Facebook Live at the time. Thank you to those who joined us on Zoom and Facebook Live! Please join us Saturday afternoon at 1:30 on zoom for our Prayer Meeting and then at 4:30pm for the Sunday EVE Devotion, I will be teaching on Romans. https://www.facebook.com/bryanschindel

2. Thank you to everyone who has been joining us each Sunday.  Please read the newsletter announcement or our website http://www.crossandres.org for information on the policy regarding being present here at the Chapel.  I am thankful for those who have joined us the last 4 weeks but please remember to LET ME KNOW if you are coming, wear a mask and listen to the usher about seating and we will do the rest to keep us safe! If you are at home please join us at 10:40am Sunday on http://facebook.com/crossandreslutheran

Please let Pastor know if you are planning to attend the Service this Sunday and going forward so we can follow the policy of Reopening! I am in an "at risk" group and so we are going to be incredibly careful in implementing the social distancing, wearing masks and sanitary conditions. Bob will be ushering, and we do ask everyone to be diligent in abiding by the policy.

3. PLEASE INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO JOIN US for worship and for ALPHA @ the Chapel on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. We are still using Zoom for interaction and Facebook live plus YouTube live for the study. Check out on www.crossandres.org. Please check it out and invite people to join us this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm This is a great opportunity to invite folks to check out our church!

4. We will be announcing the Confirmation Sunday coming soon!! The Elders asked that we postpone Confirmation so the Johnsons and Varblows may invite family and friends to celebrate with our Confirmands. We are thinking about July 12th. We will let you know as soon as we have the date.

5.We continue to reach and help our members and community. We continue to collect gifts for Hope Clinic, (still in need of donations!) make and deliver masks, surgical garb and as well, we continue to serve people with the Agape Fund. Thank you to Ellen for organizing the masks. Thank you to Paul and Joanne and their whole team for the Food Ministry, which unfortunately got canceled! FOOD MINISTRY IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! Paul said they are hoping to start back up soon. We will keep you informed. Please pray for guidance and wisdom on how to serve our community!

We are also continuing to serve in the Congregation. I have offered many personal services to many as well as been texting and emailing. Thank you to our faithful leadership teams! We are utilizing multiple communication platforms. We need help with the Audio, Visual, Lighting and Live-Streaming team. As summer season is starting, we will need more volunteers, please talk to me or Ricke Jr as soon as possible so we can do training!

AGAIN, I wanted to THANK everyone for their faithfulness in mailing in gifts! We also have an online option on the website. I am humbled, blessed and amazed by those who have sent in offerings by checks in the mail and through their banks who mail them to us. I do not open the mail, they go directly into the safe, but I know they are offerings! (We personally use the www.kindrid.com option on the website but all of these methods are allowing us to weather this unique situation.)

Please continue to BE THE CHURCH by taking care of your families, neighbors, and others. Well done, good and faithful servants! 

Please continue to pray for our faith family as we recognize the POWER of PRAYER. Please pray for all our family who need healing and peace!

In conclusion, please join us on Sunday at 10:40am. Please note these services will be available at any time after the live presentation ends on our youtube.com/pastorbryans channel or on www.crossandres.org. Also on the website you can find links to print or view the Order of Services for these services. We will be using Zoom to fellowship after the Service on Sunday.  

If you are need of Prayer, Food, Holy Communion, or other needs please call or email me pastor@crossandres.org or 734-474-1626

Thank you so very much to Annaliese, Ellen, Chris, Jake, Peter, Sam, (and all worship team members) Don, Bruce, Ricke Jr. and others who have helped with the Sunday Services, your help is very appreciated! 

Love you all and pray for you! 

Love in Christ our RISEN Lord,

Pastor Bryan

All other programs and activities are canceled except: AGAPE Fund help, individual pastoral care with the pastor, masks, and donations to HOPE, until further notice... 

A NOTE from Pastor Bryan on June 10th, 2020

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday, June 14th (Flag Day) we will make an important shift in our Sunday Services. WE have been meeting in-person for 4 weeks now with the focus on safety: wearing masks and social distancing, making sure the area is clean and setting off the back area (under the back screen) as isolated for those at risk. We have acted as a fellowship in a studio setting and an audience, which we have had since the beginning of this COVID 19 situation. WE are now shifting to a fellowship in Worship with live stream of the Service, for those who are unable to attend. The focus will be on our Worship time and we will have a "regular" Living Praise Service with Holy Communion in the Service and all live streaming. I know this will be different as the focus moves from the camera to the congregation, but I believe it will be edifying to those at home. We will be trying to do both with excellence, worshiping the Lord  and serving HIS people with our whole heart! WE are continuing our Series on WHAT WE BELIEVE: Looking at Matthew 10 and our call to Discipleship!

WE found out on Monday that Pastor Ted passed away and is with the Lord (and Lois)  Obit: "He was called home to Jesus on June 8, 2020 exactly 10 years to the day after his beloved wife Lois was called to her heavenly home. He suffered a stroke on Saturday, June 6, while doing what he loved, teaching his men's Bible Study." Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 2:00-5:00 pm & 6:00-7:30 pm at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 4205 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Funeral service will be take place on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 10:30 am at St. Luke's Lutheran Church.

We continue to offer programs for us to grow spiritually, here are a few: 

1. On Wednesday evening we continue ALPHA at the Chapel, you can join us at the Church or on Zoom, in-person and on Facebook Live at the time. Thank you to those who joined us on Zoom and Facebook Live! Please join us Saturday afternoon at 1:30 on zoom for our  Prayer Meeting and then at 4:30pm for the Sunday EVE Devotion, I will be teaching on Romans. https://www.facebook.com/bryanschindel

2. Thank you to everyone who has been joining us each Sunday.  Please read the newsletter announcement or our website http://www.crossandres.org for information on the policy regarding being present here at the Chapel.  I am thankful for those who have joined us the last 4 weeks but please remember to LET ME KNOW if you are coming, wear a mask and listen to the usher about seatinhg and we will do the rest to keep us safe! If you are at home please join us at 10:40am Sunday on http://facebook.com/crossandreslutheran

Please let Pastor know if you are planning to attend the Service this Sunday and going forward so we can follow the policy of Reopening! I am in an "at risk" group and so we are going to be very careful in implementing the social distancing, wearing masks and sanitary conditions. Bob will be ushering and we do ask everyone to be diligent in abiding by the policy.

3..PLEASE INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO JOIN US  for worship and for ALPHA @ the Chapel on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. We are still using Zoom for interaction and facebook live plus youtube live for the study. Check out on www.crossandres.org. Please check it out and invite people to join us this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm This is a great opportunity to invite folks to check out our church!

4. We will be announcing the Confirmation Sunday coming soon!! The Elders asked that we postpone Confirmation so the Johnsons and Varblows may invite family and friends to celebrate with our Confirmands. 

5.We continue to reach and help our members and community. We continue to collect gifts for Hope Clinic, (still in need of donations!) make and deliver masks, surgical garb and as well, we continue to serve people with the Agape Fund. Thank you to Ellen for organizing the masks. Thank you to Paul and Joanne and their whole team for the Food Ministry, which unfortunately got canceled! FOOD MINISTRY IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! Paul said they are hoping to start back up in the near future. We will keep you informed. Please pray for guidance and wisdom on how to serve our community!

We are also continuing to serve in the Congregation. I have offered many personal services to many as well as been texting and emailing.Thank you to our faithful leadership teams! We are utilizing multiple communication platforms. We are in need of help with the Audio, Visual, Lighting and Live-Streaming team. As summer season is starting we will need more volunteers, please talk to me or Ricke Jr as soon as possible so we can do training!

AGAIN, I wanted to THANK everyone for their faithfulness in mailing in gifts! We also have an online option on the website. I am humbled, blessed and  amazed by those who have sent in offerings by checks in the mail and through their banks who mail them to us. I do not open the mail, they go directly into the safe, but I know they are offerings! (We personally use the www.kindrid.com option on the website but all of these methods are allowing us to weather this unique situation.)

Please continue to BE THE CHURCH by taking care of your families, neighbors and others. Well done, good and faithful servants! 

Please continue to pray for our faith family as we recognize the POWER of PRAYER. Please pray for all of our family who are in need of healing and peace!

In conclusion, please join us on Sunday at 10:40am. Please note these services will be available at any time after the live presentation ends on our youtube.com/pastorbryans channel or on www.crossandres.org. Also on the website you can find links to print or view the Order of Services for these services. We will be using Zoom to fellowship after the Service on Sunday.  

If you are need of Prayer, Food, Holy Communion or other needs please call or email me pastor@crossandres.org or 734-474-1626

Thank you so very much to Annaliese, Ellen, Chris, Jake, Peter, Sam, (and all worship team members) Don, Bruce, Ricke Jr. and others who have helped with the Sunday Services, your help is very appreciated! 

Love you all and pray for you! 

Love in Christ our RISEN Lord,

Pastor Bryan

All other programs and activities are canceled except: AGAPE Fund help, individual pastoral care with the pastor, masks and donations to HOPE, until further notice... 

 

A NOTE from Pastor Bryan on May 29th, 2020

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ has Risen! He had Risen INDEED! Hallelujah! As we continue our journey through the Easter Season for 50 days to the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot) or Pentecost, THIS SUNDAY!  I wanted to let you know what is happening.  I LOVE PENTECOST SUNDAY AND EXPECT OUR LORD TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT POWERFULLY THIS SUNDAY!

I just finished an article on The Christian Post that claimed: "Nearly half of churchgoers haven't watched an online service in the last four weeks, and among those who have, only 40% say they've been watching services from their regular home church, according to recent polling data."  This saddened me because as a church family we need to stay connected and gather around Worship and the Word until we can all gather around Worship, Word and Sacrament!  Please make time to join us for worship and other events! We miss you all and SO desire to keep CONNECTED in whatever way we can during this unusual times! Here are a few ways:

1. On Wednesday evening we had our first ALPHA at the Chapel, we had 10 join us on Zoom, in-person and on Facebook Live at the time. Thank you to those who joined us on Zoom and Facebook Live! Please join us tomorrow (Saturday afternoon) at 1:30 on zoom for our  Prayer Meeting then at 4:30pm for the Sunday EVE Devotion, this time on Numbers 11:24-30. https://www.facebook.com/bryanschindel

2. Thank you to everyone who has been joining us each Sunday.  I have been thankful for the last two Sundays as we  have been in  "phase 1" of "reopening," please read the newsletter announcement or our website http://www.crossandres.org for information on this policy.  I am thankful for the 28 and 39 that have joined us the last two weeks but please remember to LET ME KNOW if you are coming, wear a mask and listen to the usher about seating and we will do the rest to keep us safe! If you are at home please join us AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH THIS PENTECOST SUNDAY!  Please watch us at 10:40am Sunday on http://facebook.com/crossandreslutheran

Please let Pastor know if you are planning to attend the Service this Sunday and going forward so we can follow the policy Phase 1 of Reopening! I am in an "at risk" group and so we are going to be very careful in implementing the social distancing, masks and sanitary conditions. Bob will be ushering and we do ask everyone to be diligent in abiding by the policy.

3..PLEASE INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THIS PENTECOST SUNDAY. Lauren Varblow will have 1st Communion. Ellen Johson will be sharing a great Children's Message. PLEASE INVITE PEOPLE TO JOIN US in ALPHA @ the Chapel on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. We are still using Zoom for interaction and facebook live plus youtube live for the study. Check out on www.crossandres.org. Please check it out and invite people to join us this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm 

4. Please remember to join our Prayer Meeting tomorrow- Saturday at 1:30pm, in Prayer for the church, world, government and those who need prayers. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81196999863?pwd=WVBjc254TGh3VGJGN2FMZHlRdlZjUT09 Meeting ID: 811 9699 9863 Password: 140261.

5. Thank you to Rev. Doug Campbell, Director of Hope Clinic for sharing with us last Sunday. Thank you to all who have been so faithful in donating to the important work that HOPE is doing in our community!. 

6.. Normally on Pentecost, this Sunday, we would have Confirmation. WE are thrilled to have Lauren Varblow's First Communion on Sunday! The Elders asked that we postpone Confirmation so the Johnsons and Varblows may invite family and friends to celebrate with our Confirmands. So we are postponing until June at this time. We will send more information as things proceed.

7. As the Governor has extended her stay at home order until at least June 12th, with the exception of Religious Houses of Worship, we will continue to offer many ways to communicate online. We continue to reach and help our members and community. We continue to collect gifts for Hope Clinic, (still in need of donations!) make and deliver masks and as well, we continue to serve people with the Agape Fund. Thank you to Ellen for organizing the masks. Thank you to Paul and Joanne and their whole team for the Food Ministry, which unfortunately got canceled! FOOD MINISTRY IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! Paul said they are hoping to start back up in the near future. We will keep you informed. Please pray for guidance and wisdom on how to serve our community!

We are also continuing to serve in the Congregation. I have offered many personal services to many as well as been texting and emailing.Thank you to our faithful leadership teams! We are utilizing multiple communication platforms. We are in need of help with the Audio, Visual, Lighting and Live-Streaming team. As summer season is starting we will need more volunteers, please talk to me or Ricke Jr as soon as possible so we can do training!

AGAIN, I wanted to THANK everyone for their faithfulness in mailing in gifts! We also have an online option on the website. I am humbled, blessed and  amazed by those who have sent in offerings by checks in the mail and through their banks who mail them to us. I do not open the mail, they go directly into the safe, but I know they are offerings! (We personally use the www.kindrid.com option on the website but all of these methods are allowing us to weather this unique situation.)

Please continue to BE THE CHURCH by taking care of your families, neighbors and others. This may mean being isolated in close proximity or by staying home so the virus is not shared. I do so appreciate all of those who have been helping in providing prayer, support, Agape Ministry, mask making etc... Well done, good and faithful servants!
 

Please continue to pray for our faith family as we recognize the POWER of PRAYER. Please pray for all of our family who are in need of healing and peace!

In conclusion, please join us on //fb.com/crossandreslutheran Sunday at 10:40am. Please note these services will be available at any time after the live presentation ends on our youtube.com/pastorbryans channel or on www.crossandres.org. Also on the website you can find links to print or view the Order of Services for these services. We will be using Zoom to fellowship after the Service on Sunday.  

If you are need of Prayer, Food, Holy Communion or other needs please call or email me pastor@crossandres.org or 734-474-1626

Thank you so very much to Annaliese, Ellen, Chris, Jake, Peter, Sam, (and all worship team members) Don, Bruce, Ricke Jr. and others who have helped with the Sunday Services, your help is very appreciated! We are looking forward to seeing more "in-person" on Sunday.

Love you all and pray for you! 

Love in Christ our RISEN Lord who WILL POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT ON US ABUNDANTLY,

Pastor Bryan

All other programs and activities are canceled (except the AGAPE Fund help, individual pastoral care with the pastor, masks and donations to HOPE) until JUNE 12TH or further notice... 

 

A NOTE from Pastor Bryan on May 15, 2020

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ has Risen! He had Risen INDEED! Hallelujah! As we continue our journey through the Easter Season for 40 days until Ascension on May 21st and 50 days to the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot) or Pentecost on May 31, I wanted to let you know what is happening. 

1. On Wednesday evening we had our 1 John study on chapter 4. Thank you to those who joined us on Zoom and Facebook Live! Please join us tomorrow (Saturday afternoon) at 1:30 on zoom for our  Prayer Meeting then at 4pm for the Sunday EVE Devotion, this time on John 14:15-21. https://www.facebook.com/bryanschindel

2. Thank you to everyone who has been joining us each Sunday.  I look forward to this Sunday when we begin "phase 1" of "reopening," please read the newsletter announcement or our website http://www.crossandres.org for information on this policy.  I will be continuing our Sermon series on 1 Peter "the Letter for the suffering 5. Real Blessings!" Please watch us at 10:40am Sunday on http://facebook.com/crossandreslutheran

3..We continue our Study on 1 John each Wednesday. We are still using Zoom for interaction and facebook live plus youtube live for the study. Check out on www.crossandres.org. Please check it out and invite people to join us this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm at Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86475447932  After our 1 John study is complete this coming Wednesday. I have signed up for us to have an Alpha Course online which will begin at 6:30pm on Wednesday May 20th. (Please invite your friends and family to join us)

4. We will have a special Devotion and Service on Thursday, May 21, for the Ascension of Lord Day. Please join us at 7pm for this special Service. 

5. Please remember to join our Prayer Meeting tomorrow- Saturday at 1:30pm, in Prayer for the church, world, government and those who need prayers. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81196999863?pwd=WVBjc254TGh3VGJGN2FMZHlRdlZjUT09 Meeting ID: 811 9699 9863 Password: 140261.

6. On May 24th, Ascension Sunday (7th Sunday of Easter) Doug Campbell, Director of Hope Clinic will be sharing with us

7. Normally on Pentecost Sunday, which is May 31st this year, we have Confirmation. WE are thrilled to announce that Lauren Varblow will celebrate First Communion on Pentecost Sunday! The Elders asked that we postpone Confirmation so the Johnsons and Varblows may invite family and friends to celebrate with our Confirmands. So we are postponing until June at this time. We will send more information as things proceed.

8. As the Governor has extended her stay at home order until at least May  28th, with the exception of Religious Houses of Worship, we will continue to offer many ways to communicate online. We continue to reach and help our members and community. We continue to collect gifts for Hope Clinic, (still in need of donations!) make and deliver masks and as well, we continue to serve people with the Agape Fund. Thank you to Ellen for organizing the masks. Thank you to Paul and Joanne and their whole team for the Food Ministry, which unfortunately got canceled! FOOD MINISTRY IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! Paul said they are hoping to start back up in the near future. We will keep you informed. Please pray for guidance and wisdom on how to serve our community!

Please let Pastor know if you are planning to attend the Service this Sunday and going forward so we can follow the policy Phase 1 of Reopening! I am in an "at risk" group and so is my granddaughter who is staying with us, so we are going to be very careful in implementing the social distancing, masks and sanitary conditions. Bob will be ushering and we do ask everyone to be diligent in abiding by the policy.

We are also continuing to serve in the Congregation. I have offered many personal services to many as well as been texting and emailing many.Thank you to our faithful leadership teams! We are utilizing Zoom. Tomorrow at 9:30 we will have our Elders Meeting on Zoom.  FYI: The Admin Team has received the money for the Payroll Protection Plan loan from the Small Business Administration. We have 8 weeks to spend it and then apply for forgiveness of the loan in the future. Thank you for your prayers.

AGAIN, I wanted to THANK everyone for their faithfulness in mailing in gifts! We also have an online option on the website. I am humbled, blessed and  amazed by those who have sent in offerings by checks in the mail and through their banks who mail them to us. I do not open the mail, they go directly into the safe, but I know they are offerings!

(We personally use the www.kindrid.com option on the website but all of these methods are allowing us to weather this unique situation.)

Please continue to BE THE CHURCH by taking care of your families, neighbors and others. This may mean being isolated in close proximity or by staying home so the virus is not shared. I do so appreciate all of those who have been helping in providing prayer, support, Agape Ministry, mask making etc... Well done, good and faithful servants!
 

Please continue to pray for our faith family as we recognize the POWER of PRAYER. Please pray for all of our family who are in need of healing and peace!

In conclusion, please join us on //fb.com/crossandreslutheran Sunday at 10:40am. Please note these services will be available at any time after the live presentation ends on our youtube.com/pastorbryans channel or on www.crossandres.org. Also on the website you can find links to print or view the Order of Services for these services. We will be using Zoom to fellowship after the Service on Sunday.  

If you are need of Prayer, Food, Holy Communion or other needs please call or email me pastor@crossandres.org or 734-474-1626

Thank you so very much to Annaliese, Ellen, Chris, Jake, Peter, Sam, (and all worship team members) Don, Bruce, Ricke Jr. and others who have helped with the Sunday Services, your help is very appreciated! We are looking forward to seeing more "in-person" on Sunday.

Love you all and pray for you! 

Love in Christ our RISEN Lord,

Pastor Bryan

All other programs and activities are canceled (AGAPE Fund help, individual pastoral care with the pastor, masks and donations to HOPE) until May 28th or further notice... 

 

Pages