Nominate Christ-like servants Each year COC takes the time to pause and say thank you to the many servant leaders of this church at our annual Towel & Basin Servant Leadership Banquet. Without servant leaders where would COC or the Church as a whole be? God calls us to commit our time and talents to His service and spreading the Good News. This year's banquet will be held Wednesday, December 17th at 6:00 PM in the Webster Room. Enclosed with this newsletter you will find a nomination form. Please take the time to nominate the people you know that exemplify Christ-like service at COC. Additional forms are located on the information table in the church foyer.

Called to Care Update The Evangelism Committee has compiled the questionnaires that you, the congregation, filled out during October. The top 18 areas that you felt needed to be addressed by the Called to Care Ministry are: Depression, Cancer, Children and Divorce, Visitors at Church, Divorce, Death and dying, Stress, Substance abuse and addition, Homeless people, Financial Crisis in the Family, Child Abuse, Battered Women, Alcoholism, Grief, Alzheimer's Disease, Unemployment, Elder Care, and Suicide. Thank you for your help. This ministry can now move forward to form our Called to Care volunteer group for training to meet these needs in the church and community.

Angels Among Us Auction The Angel Academy 5th Annual Angels Among Us Auction, Dessert and Dance will be held on November 15th at 7:00 PM at the Salina Country Club. This is an opportunity for you to spend an evening together with your family or have a special "date night" while supporting a worthy cause. The auction provides scholarship funds as well as operating funds for the Angel Academy Early Learning Center Preschool and Childcare. Some of the auction items are: Trips to Colorado, St. Louis and Missouri. Beautiful Antique Leather Chair KU Basketball tickets Sports memorabilia and tickets Nights out on the town for families and couples Movie and refreshments from Dickinson Theater And new this year… Baskets created by the preschool classes themselves including: K-State Fan Basket KU Fan Basket I love Christmas Basket Pamper Me Basket Family Fun Basket Sports Extravaganza Basket Tickets are on sale now for $10 per adult, $5 per child 3-12 years old with children 2 years and under being free. You can purchase tickets from any Angel Academy Committee member or staff. Please plan to attend a fun filled evening of fellowship and yummy desserts!

Administrative Board meeting in November In order to prepare for our annual Charge Conference on December 14th, Administrative Board will be meeting on Sunday, November 16th at 3:30 PM in the Courtyard Room. We will be voting on COC's 2004 Budget. All members and friends of the church are welcome to attend.

Hanging of the Greens It's less than 60 days until Christmas! Yes, it is time for us all to start getting ready to celebrate the blessed event of Jesus' birth. On Sunday, November 23rd join your church family at 2:00 PM to enjoy Hanging of the Greens at Church of the Cross. Our Advent Craft Workshop will start at 2:00 PM with crafts that everyone can make. See our samples in the church foyer starting on Sunday, November 9th. You can purchase tickets on November 9th and 16th. At 4:00 PM we will put away our crafts and decorate our church for the Christmas season. Join your Sunday school class in decorating your classroom or join the group in the sanctuary that trims the tree. Pastor Jim will lead a short worship service at 5:00 PM in the sanctuary then at 5:30 PM we'll have a potluck soup supper. The soup will be provided and each family can bring something to go along with it like a side dish, relish tray, or dessert. This is sure to be wonderful day in which we can celebrate the relationships that we have with each other and our Lord. Mark November 23rd on your calendar today!

Dinner for 8's If you signed up for Dinner for 8's, you should have received you group assignment. Dinner for 8's are meeting during the month of November and then will break during December to resume again in January and February. Enjoy your fellowship. If you have any questions contact Judy Beck at 823-7069

ATTENTION ALL ADULTS! Pack your bags and prepare yourself for adventure. Travel to Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, and experience the Native American culture of the Lakota people. Share in the tribal customs and rituals of the sweat lodge and pow wow dancing. Come join us, June 5-12, 2004. For more information, contact Loren Robertson at 825-9357.

Operation Christmas Child During the month of November, you have the opportunity to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Information for this project may be found on the information table in the church foyer. The national drop-off dates are November 17-24th. The drop-off location in Salina is The Crossroads Church, 1125 W. South Street (823-0101).

Poinsettias Poinsettias will be on sale soon. The plants will be in 6" pots and can be ordered for a $6.00 donation. Your prepaid order must be in to the church office by Sunday, December 7th. There is an order form enclosed with this newsletter and there will be forms available on Sunday mornings. The poinsettias will be displayed in the sanctuary December 14th through 28th. Those plants purchased in honor or memory of someone will be listed in the bulletin. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 825-5170.

Fall Stewardship Campaign The We Are Family notebooks began circulating in the neighborhoods on October 19th. Hopefully you have found the notebooks to be informational, colorful, and exciting to look at as you made your decision on how you can support COC in 2004 with your tithes, talents, service, and prayers. If you have not been contacted within the next week, please contact the church office so we can send you this important information. A report of the success of this campaign will be furnished with the December newsletter.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Can you believe it's time to start thinking about Christmas? It is and we are ready to start rehearsals for COC's Christmas cantata. Our cantata this year is called Christmas Fantasia. It has some wonderful music, including O Holy Night, Little Drummer Boy and the Hallelujah Chorus! Anyone who loves to sing for the Lord, this is your chance! Start getting your voice in shape! Performance Date: Sunday, December 14th at the 8:30 & 10:45 Worship Celebrations Rehearsals: Every Sunday beginning October 5th Rehearsal Time: 5:45 - 7:15 pm Tapes and Books: These may be picked up any time at the church office. Please be familiar with the first two songs in the book before the first rehearsal. If you have any questions, please contact Elaine Austin at 827-9739 or email at eaustin50@alltell.net.

Happy Birthday to YOU! The All Church Birthday Party will be on November 2nd this year at 5:30 p.m. If you have a birthday sometime during the year, this is your party! We'll enjoy sharing a table with other friends who have birthdays in the same month-complete with birthday cake! A wonderful potluck dinner will be shared (which month will go first this year?). If you would like to hostess a table for the party, please see Judy Beck.

Pastor Appreciation Month By Bill Gies, Staff Parish Relation Committee Chairperson October is Pastor Appreciation Month. At Church of the Cross, we extend that appreciation to all the staff, as well. Please join Staff Parish Committee in showing your appreciation to the Pastor and our staff. There are many ways you can show your appreciation: send a card or make a quick phone call. You could donate your time, your service or your gifts to any of the many groups here at COC in their honor. Volunteer for WOW. Donate to the Early Learning Center. There are numerous ministries at COC that the pastor and staff would appreciate your support in. And it is always appropriate in the Methodist Church to share cooking and baking talents! Please feel free to bring your favorite dish to show your appreciation to the staff for a job well done. (Please Note - some staff members cannot eat chocolate, however there are several who can :)!)

Do You WOW? Ask How? WOW is in need of 2 adult volunteers to help as circle leaders. Circle leaders are paired with a small group of children and lead them to the different stations, assist them with their activities, and help them connect with God. It's a fun interactive time for all!

Thank you Messages Thank you notes written to the Church of the Cross family. Continue with article...

Birthdays in our Church Family Happy birthday to these friends and members! Continue with article...