Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, and Pastor Dan introduced the new sermon series, "Out of the Dark". The season of Advent often explores themes of moving from darkness to light, as we wait expectantly for the arrival of our Lord and Saviour!

This Sunday, December 5, Pastor Jordan Cavanaugh brings us the second installment in the series, with a message titled "Light in the Dark", based on John 1:3-5.

Hope you can join us! Services are Sundays at 9am, 11am & 6pm, with the 9am & 11am services streamed live here.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

There will be an invitation to partake in Communion during the services this Sunday. If you are joining us online, please prepare Communion elements that you have at home -- any bread & juice will do -- as we share in The Lord's Supper together.

Our Christmas Compassion Campaign is underway! During the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve, we will be reminded of the great work being done by our Global and Local Compassion Partners in Uganda, Rwanda, Haiti and right here in Central Alberta. 

We've been running the Compassion Campaign since 2010 and each year your generosity has enabled us to keep supporting our partners. Thank you!

This year, we will be sharing with you a number of stories and ways that you can pray for our Compassion Partners. On each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve, you will see and hear from all of our partners through a short video presentation, based around the themes of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. The videos will also be available to re-watch on our YouTube channel the Tuesday following each of the respective Sundays.

Another way to engage with our partners during this season is to read our 28-Day Prayer Guide, filled with stories that tell of celebrations and the ongoing needs each of our partners are experiencing. Follow along with us by picking up a copy on Sunday or during the weekday between 8:30-4:30. You can also download a PDF copy or read the articles on the Compassion Campaign blog.

If at any point during the Campaign you would like to support our partners financially, you can give in-person by placing a cheque or cash in one of the red envelopes available throughout the building, or by credit or debit at the Hub. And, you can give any time here on our website.

We are so grateful for however you choose to engage with this year's Compassion Campaign!

You're invited to visit the Advent Experience for an interactive journey through Advent in the Bible. A different display will be added each week of Advent, leading up to Christmas Eve.

Our prayer is that, during this season of Advent, we who have been in a season of a particular sort of darkness, will begin to see the Light that came to Bethlehem so long ago. And, as we anticipate the arrival of Christmas day, we also anticipate with you the arrival of the Light who will one day come again.

Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Bible-based, Christ-centered recovery program that addresses any Hurt, Hang-up, or Habit. CR uses the 8 recovery principles based on the words of Jesus from the beatitudes. CR leaders, understand your struggles, as they have experienced freedom in their own lives. They have been trained to provide a safe environment for personal growth and building authentic relationships. CR draws people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can bring healing to their lives.

We are here every Friday night, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Program starts at 7 pm with optional dinner at 6 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

HELP & HOPE as you navigate the Christmas season

Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Christmas? Are you dreading this holidays, knowing that everything has changed & that happy memories from past years can’t be recreated?

Surviving the Holidays is an upcoming seminar designed especially for people who are grieving a loved one’s death. You’ll learn:

1. How to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays
2. What to do about traditions & other coming changes
3. Helpful tips for surviving social events
4. How to discover hope for your future

Space is limited, so please register online at CrossRoads Groups Catalogue. Please choose which date you would like to attend:
* December 11th: 1-3pm
* December 14th: 7-9pm

For more information: griefhare.org/holidays

We are so excited our kids ministry is growing (yay!). But with this, the need for people to serve kids is increasing as well. Some specific areas of need is with 56ers in the evening service, and with K-Gr.4 at the 11am service. We could obviously use people at all times in all areas, but we want to highlight those specific areas as areas of need. Thank you for prayerfully considering serving our kids! 

For the month of December, the Tree of Remembrance will be set up in the Foyer. It is with honour that we dedicate this tree to our loved ones who have passed away.

Feel free to fill in a Tribute Card, & place it on the tree, in remembrance of your special person. Please see this tree as a place to stop & surrender; an opportunity to grieve, acknowledge loss, loneliness & place it all into His loving hands.

We are looking for anyone interested in hosting or facilitating a group starting in January, 2022. We're open to new group / special interest ideas, and are always looking for new group leaders. If this is something that interests you, please email us: communitylife@crossroadschurch.ca

In response to the current Alberta Government health regulations, CrossRoads Church will operate at 1/3 fire code capacity for all activities, including Sunday services. Masks and two-meter physical distancing between cohorts are required in the building. Masks and sanitizer will be available at all entrances and we are continuing with enhanced sanitizing protocols.

Registration is not required for attending our services. If capacity is exceeded in the Sanctuary, we have overflow areas ready for additional people. Please come and worship together!

For the days you can't be with us in-person, tune into listen to the message every Sunday at 9am on ShineFM (90.5 on the FM dial).

We encourage you to share this information with those you know who may not be able to connect with us in-person or online.

Stay connected to the stories and day-to-day happenings at CrossRoads in these simple ways:

• WEBSITE - CrossRoadsChurch.ca
  
  
• WEEKLY TEXT UPDATES
  Text: Updates to 1-833-460-1788 to subscribe. (Standard message rates apply).  
  
  
• ARE YOU NEW to CrossRoads? Introduce yourself!
  Text: ImNew to 1-587-844-2133 (Standard message rates apply).  
  
  
• MINISTRY UPDATE VIDEOS
  Find them posted here & on Facebook
  

To give to the ministry at CrossRoads and those we support, we encourage you to do so through your online banking or e-transfer:

For online banking, please contact Finance@CrossRoadsChurch.ca for your payee account number. 

For e-transfer, please use Giving@CrossRoadsChurch.ca as the recipient. In the notes section of the e-transfer, specify where you would like the giving designated to: General, Missions or Building. If no designation is made, it will be allocated to the General Fund. To receive a year-end donation receipt, please also include your address in the notes section of the e-transfer.

Other options can be found at CrossRoadsChurch.ca/Giving.

You might notice that at our public events, including Sunday worship services, a photographer may be present and capturing moments to share for invitational and promotional purposes of CrossRoads Church. If you prefer to not be photographed, please approach the photographer directly during the event.

Following each service, prayer team members are ready to pray with you. If you join us in person, prayer is available in the Sanctuary. If you're watching online, let us know your prayer request by clicking here. Someone will then follow-up with you to pray together.

 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him." - 1 John 5:14-15