Yup, it's that time already... no, not time to break out the lights and egg nog, but it is time to start talking about our Christmas series! I'd love to nail it down soon so we can get working on having an amazing Christmas season here at Crossroads.

So blog your ideas and let's get the discussion rolling. No idea is too crazy (Dean dressed up like a Christmas tree?, flying human snowflakes?, an ice slide from the Catwalk to the stage?).

The next 4 weeks!

Hey all, here are the next 4 weeks of topics. I'd love to hear your creative ideas (songs, movies, videos, stage props, dramatic stuff, etc.)

June 7 - Baptisms
idea: celebrating life change

June 14 - Communion/Confession
idea: sometimes we just need to take a long hard look inside
current ideas: candles, mirrors

June 21 - Father's Day
idea: celebrate fathers, challenge to take the lead on faith

June 28 - Making the Most of Summer (Honoring God with Summer)
idea:
- laugh a lot and enjoy time and family
- get to know someone who needs to know God
- follow close and look for God

New Series Ideas

Hey everyone, we're finally getting some time to look toward the future. So I did a little research on possible series that might be meaningful here at Crossroads and I wanted your opinions. Some are from other churches, some are just my ideas. Which ones do you like? Any you don't like? Any other ideas? Post your ideas if you get the chance. Thanks!
Andrew


Sync (getting life in line with God)
- community
- making the most of every moment
- living in grace

Sex for Sale (dealing with sexuality and all that it drives)

The Space Between
- You and Worship
- You and Truth
- You and Passion

Vintage Church (4 R's, Acts church)

Organic (back to the basic truth of life)

"You Asked" (Hard Questions)
- questions from the congregation

"Vent" (dealing with anger/relational problems)

Define the Relationship (relationships, where they’re at and where they’re going)

Balanced (life balance)
- finances
- time
- truth

Finding Hope (hope that this year can be great)

Influence (making a difference)

Now What? (Making Sense of Life)
- Why am I here?
- Why is life so hard?
- How does my life fit in God's plan?

A Change Will Do You Good (life change)
- changing the heart
- changing the mind
- changing the action

finding L.O.V.E. (Beatles music)
- love at home
- love at work
- love around the community/world

Can You See Him? (seeing God in the world around you, in the everyday)

True(ish) - finding real truth in the chaos
Living in the Gray (find the freedom to live beyond your black and white boundaries)

Urban Legends (Debunking Spiritual Myths)
- God is here for you
- Grace is free
- You can work it out

Called to Follow (we were called to more than believing, we were called to living)

You Can't Do It/ You Don't Have What It Takes (weakness is strength)

Getting Rich (finding true wealth and contentment)

Fearless (having courage to fight the battles)

Who Am I? (Identity, figuring out what we think of ourselves and what God says about us)

more info for after Easter!

Hey,
Here's more about the 3 weeks after Easter:

Series: A Moment Changes Everything
Series Idea: if we could learn to hear and see God in the moments we have, it could change our lives.
Creative Direction:
Dean mentioned this ad as a creative starting point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onr0GPiV_q8


Week 1: God speaking in the Moment
idea: - often life's going so fast that we miss what God's trying to say
- Moses' story, are we listening to what God's trying to say
creative direction:
the speed of life
hearing God - Bruce Almighty (God in the car sending him signs and he doesn't pay attention)


Week 2: Listening in the Moment
idea: - how do we learn to hear and see God in the moments we have
creative direction:
possibly trying to create a response moment at the end of service with a song about wanting to hear God more


Stand Alone Week Title: Unforgiven
idea: learning to forgive each other, through divorce, pain, loss, etc.
Creative Ideas:
Dean thought of the Eagles song "Heart of the Matter"

The next series (after Easter)

Here's the info. on the next series we'll be doing right after Easter:


Title: (still up in the air... but something about the power of a moment, but not so cliche)
Idea: God is speaking to us all the time. Can we hear it in the moment?

Week 1: How we react in the moment
- story of Moses (killed a man when younger, parted the Red Sea when older)
- took his whole life to figure out how not to just react, but listen for God in each moment


That's what we've got so far. I should know more about the second week in a day or 2, but we'll be working on planning this first week in the next day or so if you have ideas!

Series Title Ideas

Hey everyone,
Just wanted your opinions on the series title.

Dean's idea was to go with something more about Jesus' teaching and way of life being different than we expect, rather than using his name in the title.

Here are a few ideas Alicia had (Alicia, forgive me for posting these, but I thought they were a great start):
Who is He, Really?
UNorthodox (sort of silly, I know, bear with me)
Christ,Simplified
Simply Christ
It isn't Like That
Not As Expected
It's Not What You Think

And here's what I came up with from these:

The Unexpected

Like it? Hate it?

The next series!! (leading into Easter)

Just a few thoughts on the next series:

March 29th (It's not about rules, but grace)
the idea: being religious meant following rules in his day and he came to show that it was more because of love and grace.

April 5th (up=down, power=sacrifice)
the idea: that to be the greatest you have to be the least
Dean will be focusing on the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem knowing he was coming to give his life

April 12th (EASTER - power and transformation)
the idea: Dean will be talking about life transformation being all about the power God has rather than you working harder (geared heavily toward those that aren't Christians)
He really wants upbeat celebration type stuff at the beginning and then a more reflective (decision) moment near the end.