Sunday, December 17, 2017

Crossroads Church

Today we worshiped at Crossroads Church Cranberry, 8533 Peters Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, 412.494.9999, www.crossroadsumc.org, Mike Arnold, Campus Pastor.


Scripture – NIV

Revelation 5:1-14 –

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Hebrews 12:28 –

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

2 Corinthians 5:21 –

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


Bob’s thoughts:

We were back to Crossroads with plans of taking Christmas pictures of some of our grandchildren. We knew, sitting with the children during the first service, we would miss some of worship. We would stay for the second service and take pictures after. It seemed like a good plan, but changed into something special.

The youngest looked and moved around a lot and talked a good bit, except when it was time to pray, then reverently bowed her head to the seat back in front of us. On the other side, another granddaughter did her own liturgical dance with the music. When she requested help finding where they were on the Scripture reading, I shared my phone app. She read along and then continued to read. When she shared my phone with her sister on the end, she also read for a while. I am used to the grands immediately scrolling through the pictures quicker than I can, but they both read Scripture until it was time to pray.

It was a joy to receive Communion with our grandchildren. Our grandson stayed with us for the second service, during which I noticed him looking down, reading his Bible. This brought back the memory of noticing my oldest son during the message with his head down. He was playing a game with one of his sisters and reading his Bible at the same time. Fortunately, I forgot to say something to him after the service, because mid-week he brought up an intellectual question on the pastor’s sermon…he was only doing two other things at the time so for him it was easy to capture the pastor’s message too. Years later here I am listening to the message twice and having trouble keeping my mind on it.

The pastor opened his sermon talking about when the Sears Wish Book would come and children would pour over it looking for what toys they wanted for Christmas. The store that was a mainstay of mail order after all the stores they opened has seemed of late to want to recapture the mail (internet) sales and close the stores.

A special joy today was one of my young granddaughters explaining Communion to me, and my grandson taking my hand to walk up to take Communion at the second service. Their progress and growth in Christ warms my heart.


Jan’s thoughts:

Admittedly part of the reason we enjoy visiting this church has to do with seeing family, but this church is blessed in many ways. The sanctuary is comfortable and inviting, the music is superb, the members are friendly toward us and each other, and our family are being taught and nurtured here. Also, the coffee is exceptional.

The Advent series, Come Let Us Adore Him, continued with part three, Worship Christ the Lord. The pastor began by talking about the things we grow out of as we grow up. He pointed out that when we reach Heaven we will have outgrown things like confession of sin, since there will be no sin, and evangelism, since everyone there will know Christ Face-to-face. An interesting concept I had not previously considered.

He stressed the one thing we will never outgrow, in Heaven or Earth, is worship, and that worship, in fact, reflects what we will do in Heaven. Based on Scripture from Revelation, he spoke of the scroll with seven seals and displayed a photo of one. For me, seeing the photo helped me feel the weight of the worth of the One Who is worthy to open the scroll.

He pointed out that worship reflects our hearts, and we should aim to worship with both humility and gratitude.

I appreciated the readings from Revelation, I cherished the opportunity to participate in Communion accompanied by our granddaughter, and my heart was glad to see family and friends.


Our prayer for this church:
Lord, we are thankful for the way Your church is helping raise the children to know and love You. Amen.

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