Announcements
2023-24 Annual Budget
It is budget season again. The church budget goes from July 1st - June 30th. A congregation vote on the budget will take place on Sunday, June 25th. (Voting will be conducted electronically, starting June 19th; all members will be emailed a ballot).
Elementary Sunday School Class Pausing July - August
The elementary Sunday school class will not meet during July and August. Elementary aged kids will stay with their parents in service, and class will resume in September, during the new serving year. Kids, pick up a Sermon Notes for Kids sheet from the Resource Table to fill out during the service!
EFCA National Meeting 2023
Our denomination, the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), held its biannual national gathering June 20-22th. See a recap video (below), as well as business meeting results, and a statement issued from denominational leadership about their position on key contemporary cultural concerns, ideologies, and trends.
Upcoming Events
Summer Park Meet-Ups | 9:30 - 11:30 AM | Various Days/Locations in June, July, & August
Let's hang out at the park this summer! Bring your coffee, kids, and/or pets. We will meet from 9:30 - 11:30 AM. In June, we will meet at West Milwaukee Park. In July, we will meet on Wednesdays at Konkel Park (south side playground off of 51st St.). In August, we will meet on Thursdays at Jacobus Park.
Elder Candidate Q&A and Vote - Nick Matula | Sun., July 9th | After Service
A church meeting will be held immediately following the service, Sunday, July 9th. The purpose of this meeting will be to allow the congregation to examine Nick Matula as a candidate for eldership, and to ask him any questions they might have. If you would prefer to submit any questions in advance, please email them to Kirk. Then barring any changes, a congregational vote to appoint Nick Matula for eldership is planned for Sunday, July 30th. (Voting will be conducted electronically, starting July 24th; all members will be emailed a ballot).
Getting to Know CrossWay (Membership Class) | Sun., July 9-30 | 8:45 AM | Alverno classroom
At CrossWay, we believe it is the Biblical pattern and privilege for every believer to publicly join themselves to a local church. If you are not yet an official member of CrossWay, we would highly encourage you to attend this class to learn more about our church and what it means to become a member. (Note: Text Group will continue during these weeks.)
Women's Ministry Bonfire Prayer Night | Thurs., July 13th | 7:30 - 9 PM | Anderson Home
CrossWay Ladies join us for an evening of prayer on July 13th in Hannah Anderson's backyard. What an enjoyable time to come together as sisters in Christ before God's throne to praise, confess, request, and honor our God! Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Family Gathering | Sun., July 16th | 5 - 6:30 PM | Stibbe Home
Join us for a whole church dinner and time of fellowship on Sunday, July 16th from 5-6:30 pm at the Stibbe’s home. Find more info and sign up to bring food at the resource table, or on the CrossWay Connections facebook page.
Summer Camps for Kids | July 17th - 21st | 5:30 - 7:30 PM | Sweet Communion Baptist Church
Our friends at Sweet Communion Baptist Church are hosting two fun camps for kiddos ages 5 and up. Both camps, Jump Rope Camp for Girls and Boys Battleground Boot Camp, are Monday, July 17th through Friday, July 21st from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at their church building (3765 N. 35th St. Milwaukee). Both camps are free to attend and no pre-registration is required. Also, we are invited to their block party on Saturday, July 22nd at 4 PM!
Andrew Fink’s Baptism | Sun., July 23rd | Miller’s house | 11:30 AM
Join us on Sunday, July 23rd for Andrew Fink's baptism. The baptism will be held immediately after the service at the Miller's house, just down the road from Alverno.
Instruction
Marriage Cohort | Second Sundays of the Month | 3:30 - 5 PM | Starting in July
Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts, but also one of life’s greatest challenges. Therefore, we want to encourage couples to pursue marriages that thrive by the power of the gospel for the glory of God. The “Marriage Cohort” training seminar meets every second Sunday, beginning July 2023, from 3:30pm-5:00pm. Childcare may be available (if this is needed please see a host). A couple may join the cohort at any time, but they are encouraged to commit to the full twelve sessions. Please note: homework is given. Afterall, marriage takes work. Please see Sam & Abby Park, or, Dan and Danica Allen for more details.
Discipleship Opportunities
Are you interested in being discipled or other ways of pursuing more intentional growth? Consider completing the Personal Development Assessment, available on the members' page of our website. Once submitted, an elder will reach out to review your responses and help you create a plan for growth. And in addition to other training ministries (e.g., Text Group, Training Seminars), we look forward to connecting you with one-on-one (Mentorship) or smaller group ("Growth Groups") discipleship opportunities with other members in the church. We encourage all members of CrossWay to fill out the Personal Development Assessment at least once each year.
Text Group | Sundays | 8:45-9:45 AM | Alverno classroom
Text Groups are weekly gatherings of individuals seeking to grow in their ability to read scripture. Each week someone prepares a worksheet on a different passage of scripture (typically from the current sermon series); and together we strive to improve in our ability to handle God’s Word. Texts Groups meet at various times throughout the week, with one Text Group occurring Sundays at 8:45 AM before the service.
Lafto Trip Debrief | Video Recording
For those who weren't able to attend, you can access a video recording of June 11th’s Lafto debrief session. You can also access and browse all of the trip pictures here. Or feel free to grab coffee with Kirk; he'd love to share with you personally about the trip and the things he learned!
Monthly Children’s Material
This month, our children will continue to work through their Gospel Story Bible lessons, the New City Catechism, our hymn of the month, and their monthly memory verse. Be sure to grab a copy of the hand motions for the memory verse at our Resource Table. View the full schedule and access these materials on our members' webpage. Parents, we encourage you to use and reinforce this material with your children in your family devotions!
Divorce & Remarriage with Andy Naselli (Church Theology Podcast)
Jesus taught that divorce "from the beginning ... was not so" and that those who divorce commit adultery. Yet he also added, "except for sexual immorality" (Mt 5:31-32; 19:3-9). And Paul says believers are "not bound" if their unbelieving spouse leaves them (1 Cor 7:15). These texts are source of much debate. And yet their implications are extremely pressing and practical for many. What does the Bible have to say about divorce, and if divorce any possibility of remarriage thereafter? New Testament scholar Andy Naselli joins Kirk to discuss these matters.
The Pastoral Ministry of Richard Baxter with Tim Cooper (Church Theology Podcast)
Richard Baxter was a 17th-century English Puritan pastor best known for his rigorous and methodical approach to pastoral care. What can we today learn from Baxter about pastoring, what it looks like to be pastored, and the nature of the Christian life experienced within the church. Church history professor, Tim Cooper, joins Kirk to talk about the legacy of Baxter for the church today.
Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel by Russell Moore (Book Recommendation)
In Onward, Russell Moore provides a manifesto for Christian cultural engagement in a post-Christian society. As Christians, Moore calls us to embrace the “strangeness” of Christianity and to see an opportunity for Christian mission precisely in a society where a Christian veneer of nominalism is now out of style.
Archive
How to Read the Bible (Core Seminar)
God claims that his Word gives hope, rejoices the heart, and makes his people strong. Yet we often struggle in reading it. This class, led by Kirk and Dan, aims to help us read God's Word faithfully and consistently.
Finances
Online giving options are available via PayPal or Tithely.
Our weekly giving and year-to-date totals can be found on our website.
Sermon Materials
Current Series - The Gospel According to Mark | The Unexpected King
According to Mark, Jesus is the coming King who is bringing God's kingdom. But the sort of King he is, and the sort of kingdom he brings, is quite unexpected. Jesus is a king who suffers and serves. And he calls his followers, the citizens of his kingdom, to do likewise—to walk in his way and carry their cross.
Sermon Schedule
Access the sermon schedule on the members page of our website to review upcoming passages.
