Words from Pastor Mark – November 2015

We all love BABIES!

Over the last few months our church has seen a lot of new babies. We have baptized my new grandbaby, welcomed new babies Aiyana, Van and Gavin. You may not join me in this but I love to hear the noise of babies in church. We have said it over and over, “What a beautiful baby.” We all started there, but it has been so long that I don’t remember much about being a baby. Do you remember when you were a baby? One thing I know about babies is that they are not shy when it comes to letting you know when they want something. They will let you know when they are hungry, thirsty, sick, tired, or wet. Since a little baby doesn’t know how to talk, how can he or she tell you all these things? Right! A baby lets you know these things by crying. The baby doesn’t care if you are in church, at a movie, or eating dinner in a fine restaurant. If a baby wants or needs something, you are going to hear about it! As we get older, we learn to be more reserved about making our wants and wishes known. Or do we? One of my favorite Bible stories is the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Continue reading

Words From Pastor Mark – October 2015

Great Times
Let me start this article by thanking everyone who worked so hard to make the block party a wonderful success. It was great to see so many Crescent Avenue shirts helping serve the community.

Thank all of you for the great birthday and baptism celebration after church last Sunday. The many cards and thoughtful comments were appreciated by not only myself but my daughter as well. It is great to be part of God’s family. Continue reading

Words from Pastor Mark – September 2015

As I looked through the books on my shelf today I came across a Bible I purchased a number of years ago. I still remember the situation of how I bought it. I was watching the television one Sunday morning before going to church and Robert Schuller said. . . “I have a new bible I would like for you to buy from me. (He went on to explain what make his bible different because of all the additional resources he had put along with the text.) Then he said the words that got me to buy two and give one away. Continue reading

Words from Pastor Mark – May 2015

Looking with the Power of the Holy Spirit

The other day while walking down the hall of a building I was not familiar with, I saw what appeared to be someone walking toward me. On coming closer, I found it was my own reflection in a huge mirror. For a moment it frightened me. Somehow a full-length reflection of one’s self is a startling thing. Continue reading

FUEL – New Worship Experience

Tired of the same old same old. Looking for a new way to experience Jesus. . . FUEL starting Sunday, March 22nd at 11:15am. This is a place to be energized and re-fueled to live life to the fullest, to connect with new and existing friends, and to experience God like never before. Who you’ve been doesn’t matter anymore, celebrate a new beginning at FUEL!

An Energizing Worship Experience

An Energizing Worship Experience

Chili Cookoff 2015

The 15th Annual Chili Cookoff is coming up on Sat Feb 7 at 5-7pm! We invite all you chili cookers out there to bring a pot of your finest creation for the cook-off! Tasting and People’s choice judging of all the homemade competition chilis will run from 5:30 until 6:15. Mild house chili will be served from 5 until about 7 pm and a free will offering – generous donations (for a good cause)- cheerfully accepted. Desserts will be available to cap off the night. Whether you just eat or wish to compete, plan to come and invite everyone you know!

Chili Cookoff 2015

Words from Pastor Mark – Jan 2015

HELP! I need somebody. . .

Some of you will remember the old Beatles song from a number of years ago. Well the title of that song is just what we need at Crescent Avenue. Because the church is doing more things and reaching more people we need some persons to volunteer for a number of areas. Below is a list:  

1. Ushers and greeters. . .  one of the most important areas of our church is how we greet and welcome persons coming to our worship services. We have worked very hard to welcome every person both those we know and those new persons who are visiting with us each week.  

2. Flowers for the morning services. . . there is a sign up poster in the lounge for specific Sunday’s that you would like to provide flowers. You may also dedicate those to someone special.  

3. Tech team for morning services. We now have the need for persons who would be willing to learn and operate the tech support for worship services.  

4. Children’s workers. . . many of you have noticed that we are welcoming more children each week and we need persons who would be willing to work in the children’s ministry. We will also have another Kids Konnect this spring and will need a number of persons to share in that ministry.  

5. Each Sunday we have a time of sharing after services. We need persons or groups who would be willing to provide cookies and snacks for that event.  

6. Small group leaders and host. . . this spring we will be starting a small group discipleship ministry for our members and visitors. This will be a home based ministry and will need a group of persons who would be willing to host and lead those groups. As you can see we need you to help in the ministry of your church as we Connect, Grow and Serve the lakeside  community of Fort Wayne. Thanks for helping!  

Pastor Mark

Words from Pastor Mark – 11/2014

A Season of Thanksgiving

There is a challenge traveling around in the Facebook world about giving thanks. You challenge someone to post three things they are thankful for each day for seven days. Then everyone will comment about them and some will shake their heads in agreement.

November is the month of thanksgiving for most persons. Why, you ask? It could be because the holiday of Thanks-giving falls during that month. If we look back at history and it is most likely because it is a time of harvest in the northern half of the world. I am not a fan of the fall. Fall is a lot of work. Raking leaves, readying for a cold winter  (I am not a fan of the cold), and getting out the winter coats and boots.

While I would pass on fall I do like the thanksgiving part. I like to reflect on the many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for my beautiful wife, all of my children, my grandchildren and my brother and his family. I am very thank-ful this year for the new little ones God has brought into our home.

I am thankful because the month of October was a blessing to the Gough family. One afternoon I pulled into the drive of my house to be greeted by Linda Diaz on behalf of the church with a wonderful meal, (actually it was two meals), then the next morning Kay Feichter-Thistlethwaite brought hot dogs and all the fixings for another great meal. Many days throughout the month of October I would arrive at the office greeted by cards of thanks for my role as pastor of Crescent Avenue. This summer I was able to attend a number of Tin Caps games because of the gift of tickets from Robert and Joyce Kaufman and John Gingrich.  I have had a group of persons from the Firehouse ministry help me reconstruct the playground in my backyard.

I am thankful that each Sunday is a blessing as we gather to worship. How great it is to be greeted by the many  familiar faces I have come to know and appreciate over the last year. It is also wonderful to meet the many new friends each Sunday who are beginning to populate our church with new life. It is a joy each week to spend time with the many children during the children’s time, Kidz Konnect on Wednesday evening and my chapel time with the day school. I am thankful for the great musical persons at the church. Some of them are new but many have served the church for many years. What a gift it is to work with Paul Kendall each week. I am thankful for Cindy in the office and all of the Day School workers.

I guess you could say, I am blessed. And all of those blessings make me thankful. Most of all I am thankful that I can know that God loves and cares for me. He forgives me of all of my bad choices and desires to have a relationship with me. He loved me so much He sent Jesus to carry my sin to the cross. I am thankful that he wants me to be  special in His sight and pushes me to be everything I can be in this world. Because He loves me I can love others.  I guess you could say. . .  Life is good because of the many relationships I am privileged to have. All of the stuff can fade away but the people in our lives are forever. God Bless

Pastor Mark

Weekday School – November News 11/2014

I would like to thank everyone who help make the Pie Sale and the Craft Bazaar a  success. We depend on your kindness and good will to support our mission with the  children. Thank you, thank you, I cannot say it enough. Please know that a child will  benefit from your generosity.

October ended with a bang! The school-age children joined us for our Halloween/Fall celebration. It was the first year they were here all day. It was wonderful. They brought a new dimension to the day.

November will be spent enjoying the weather, preparing for Parent Conferences and the Christmas Gathering  program in December. We will be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after, so we can enjoy the holidays with family.

Mark your calendar for our Christmas Gathering on December 11 at 7:00pm. The children always put on a great  show and make super cookies for refreshments. The school-age children will be making a gingerbread house display and the children will be drawing pictures of what Santa looks like. It will be a fun night. Everyone is welcome!

Do not forget, we are always collecting Labels for Education (Campbell’s Labels) and Box Tops for Education. CAWS will receive a check in December for $318.48 from Box Tops. Believe me that is a lot of box tops labels! Our Labels  for Education has a total of 35150 labels that can be spent on items that they sell. Also, I would like to recognize  Carolyn Parks who takes care of this program for us. She cuts out, counts, sends them in and keep track of our total for us. We appreciate all your hard working and time you spend for us. You are Super!

I hope everyone has a wonderful November and Thanksgiving holiday.

Rhonda