March 6, 2021
Upcoming Events and Virtual Gatherings
Lent 2021- A Prayer a Day

Journey through Lent with a prayer a day! Let the short prompts on this prayer calendar inspire you and your family, and don't worry if you miss some days.

Print your own calendar, receive a printed version in the Children's Gift of Lent bag, or see daily prayer prompts on Instagram, @crossroadsnova_students
Gifts of Lent Bags
Pick up at Crossroads - Available Now

For our Lenten Series, Holy Vessels: A Season of Recovery, we are providing special Lenten bags with beautiful and meaningful items connected to each week of the series. These bags are available to be picked up at Crossroads or mailed to you.

In addition to the Lenten bag for each family, there will also be kid-friendly bags available for each child. These bags include a craft, coin bank for Crossroads Kids Feeding the Hungry mission, and more.

Please email Susan Yantis if you are unable to pick up your bag at Crossroads, and we will arrange to have one mailed to you.
Every Sunday Morning, 9:30-10:00a

Families with elementary-age children are invited to join us for an exciting, interactive gathering! Parents and children can join from home for bible stories, prayer, songs, crafts, and time to get to know each other.

Anyone is welcome, so invite friends or neighbors to sign up too!

Register here to receive the secure Zoom link
Student Zoom Game Nights
High Schoolers - Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00p
Middle Schoolers - Thursdays, 6:00-7:00p

Join us for virtual game nights with the same laughter, fun, and friendship as our Meet-Up events, hosted in the safest way possible for our community.
Anyone is welcome, so invite a friend to sign up too!

High School- Register here to receive the secure Zoom link 
Middle School- Register here to receive the secure Zoom link
HOPE Preschool Registration 2021-2022

After the long shutdown due to the pandemic, we are excited to safely welcome back our HOPE Preschool students, families, and teachers this Fall! Registration forms are available now online for HOPE Preschool for the school year 2021-2022.

Please visit their website for additional information, FAQs, and forms.
Weekly Scripture Focus
A story of Jesus healing the blind can be found on page 258 of the Growing in God's Love Story Bible, Jesus Touches People.
Jesus Heals the Blind
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
Matthew 9:27-31 (NIV)
A Reflection:
We read Bible stories of many miracles that Jesus performed. In this story, Jesus heals the blind men because of their faith. The men believe that through God's power, Jesus had the ability to restore their sight. I wonder if the men were nervous to ask Jesus for help. Sometimes, we are scared to face a challenge or try to overcome an obstacle. We can start by being brave enough to pray to God for help. Our faith in God's unconditional love can give us confidence and strength.

  • Can you remember a time that you felt nervous about a challenge or doubted you could overcome a problem? What happened?
  • What people were able to help you feel confident?
  • What words were able to help you feel confident?
  • Name a few people you can count on to help you when you feel unsure.
  • When have you seen people in the world do amazing things or overcome obstacles?

A Prayer:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for always being by my side, in the easy times and the challenging ones. I know I will face difficult choices or obstacles. My faith in You gives me confidence, knowing I have a friend named Jesus who is always with me. Show me ways I can live with faith today and do great things, to show love to myself and others! Amen."

This Week's Highlighted Resources

After a few weeks of gloomy winter weather and extra time spent indoors, it's time to get creative with ways to have fun as a family! This list offers 50 activities, plus favorite ideas from your kids. As a family, you could write down each one on a piece of paper or craft stick to created an Activity Jar. The next time someone says "I'm bored!" try picking out an activity.

Our Lenten series, Holy Vessels: A Season of Recovery, focuses on different aspects of our health. This week, Pastor Larry will be focusing on ways to improve our mental health. Check out this article for ways parents can support the mental health of their children through loving relationships, building up their self esteem, and learning to welcome all kinds of feelings and emotions.

During March, we celebrate Women's History and the brave, resilient, and forward-thinking women devoted to gender equality. Reading age-appropriate historical stories with your children is a great way to share how far we've come and how we can continue to pursue equal treatment. This link lists some books and activities for different ages.

We are excited to resource you and your family by sharing diverse figures and forgotten history throughout the month of March.
Additional Resources