Crossroads Church

Today we worshiped at Crossroads Church, 707 Thomson Park Drive, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, 412.494.9999, www.crossroadsumc.org, Pastor Mike Arnold.

Scripture – NIV

John 20:11-16 –

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).”

Luke 24:31 –

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Philippians 3:7-11 –

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Bob’s thoughts:

After a meaningful worship service at Crossroads on Good Friday, we returned to celebrate Easter here. Most of our family was able to join us, which eased the pain of missing those who couldn’t be with us. I find it interesting to see how our family interacts with the people around them.

I was unprepared for the unusually loud (for here) volume at the beginning of the service, and even after finding ear plugs, the headache lasted.

They shared a clip of people who were colorblind seeing color for the first time with the help of special glasses. I often wondered how you describe color to someone who can’t see it. It must be a lot like knowing Christ before someone shares Him with you. The academics get you partway as you read and study but I don’t think you come to really know Christ until someone shares their story. Then you can see Christ in all his glorious color.

The pastor told of a member stricken with cancer who was thanking God in prayer for reorganizing his life’s priorities.

Jan’s thoughts:

It has been quite some time most of our family worshiped together, but today we did, and it was a joy. Some family belong to this church while some of us have visited several times; I have been grateful for the warm welcome and the friendliness of the people.

The message was entitled Living in Color, and started out with a video about several people who are colorblind who were given an opportunity to see color using some specially made glasses. It was deeply touching to watch the wonder and awe on their faces when seeing colors for the first time, especially a father who was able to see pictures colored by his son, and a man who saw a sunset for the first time. As someone who loves colors, I cannot imagine being unable to see them, but as someone living mostly without a sense of smell, I can identify in a way.

After the video, the pastor equated the dullness of life without color to life without Jesus. He stated that meeting the risen Jesus opens our eyes to new priorities, a new assurance, and a new hope.

The ushers distributed glow sticks to everyone present and, following an invitation and prayer for anyone who had not yet accepted Christ to do so, first those who prayed the prayer and then everyone else was permitted to break their glow stick so there was color everywhere. It was a great illustration and I know our grandchildren loved this part.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray that we remember to come to You in gratitude for reorganizing our life. And we pray the glow sticks passed out today remind us to look for Your full and glorious color. Amen.