Dear Church,

As we work our way through the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament we are faced with trying to keep straight all the evil kings, struggling kingdoms, pagan gods and a just a few good kings who followed the holy God.  If you are like me, the task can feel frustrating and my mind tends to both wander and wonder.  It wanders to other topics (e.g., work issues, kid responsibilities, or calendar demands) and wonders if I will really be able to understand what God is trying to teach me.

Hopefully you are pressing on and seeking God for what he wants to reveal to you through your reading, discussions in your Community Group, and the teachings on Sunday mornings.

The next couple of weeks we will be looking at prophetic words from Jeremiah to see how they apply to our lives today.  We have the benefit of knowing that history has proven the truth of his forecasts.  And we have the opportunity to learn from both the prophecies and their fulfillment.

Looking forward to learning together as we continue to read God's Word throughout the rest of 2010. 

Mike Wiese on behalf of the Leadership Council"

This Sunday:

• Community Worship, 9:15 am
• Baptism Class in the Sanctuary following Community Worship

Other Announcements:

Baptism Class

There will be a 45-minute Baptism Class this Sunday, August 1st in the sanctuary following Community Worship for anyone wanting to be baptized on Sunday, August 29th. Children wanting to be baptized must attend this 45-minute class with their parents.

Baptism Celebration Lunch 

Join us for lunch following Community Worship on Sunday, August 29th as we celebrate the baptisms!

Kamp KidStuf Registration Still Open:

Registration for Kamp KidStuf is still open! Registration forms are available by clicking http://www.crosswinds.cc/media/KampKidstuf2010.pdf or at the table in the back of the sanctuary on Sunday. Mail your forms to Crosswinds, 400 W. Union St., Bloomington, IL 61701 if you cannot drop it off at church. Kamp KidStuf (August 10-13) is an incredible outreach opportunity, so be sure to invite everyone you know (and maybe a few that you don’t!). Let’s take Brad’s challenge to get 100 kids registered! Click here for more important details regarding Kamp KidStuf! . 

Volunteers Still Needed:

Looking to get connected? Volunteers are still needed to help make Kamp KidStuf happen. This is a great chance to connect and serve with others at Crosswinds, as well as with new kids and families that come during Kamp KidStuf. Please take a minute to fill out this online Volunteer Form (Kamp Kidstuf Volunteer Sign-up) to let us know how you can lend a hand and someone will contact you. Thank you!

Snack Donations

In order to provide some fun and delicious snacks for Kamp KidStuf, we need the following items. If you would like to donate, please have your items to the church no later than Monday, August 8^th. You can drop your donations in the tub next to the Kamp KidStuf registration table in the sanctuary. Thank you!

Items needed include:

Fruit Juice Boxes

Small Bottles of water (4 to 6 ounces)

Vanilla pudding cups

Vanilla sandwich cookies

“Peach Ring” candy

Teddy Grahams

Graham Crackers

Powdered sugar

Butter (blocks or sticks, not tubs)

M&M’s

Raisins – larger size not individual boxes

Mini-pretzel twists

Mini-marshmallows

Cheerios cereal

August FX

To top off three great nights of Kamp KidStuf, we will have our monthly FX (Family eXperience) on Friday, August 13th, 6:00-7:45 pm. We will start the night with a great meal served at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will end the night at our “After FX” at 8 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Be sure to pick up a ticket at the ticket counter located in the hallway under the Orange bulletin board. No ticket, no chance to win some great stuf! 

Jr. High Camping Trip August 1 -2:

Jr. High Students (grades 6-8) will be camping at Comlara Park Campground this Sunday, August 1^st. Students should meet at the campground at 4 pm on Sunday and be picked up there at 5 pm on Monday, August 2^nd. Cost is $18 per person. Sign up by emailing Brad at . For more camping details click here. For permission andmedical forms click here. All fees and forms must be turned in no later than this Sunday, August 1st.

Sr. High Camping Trip August 4-6:

Sr. High Students (grades 9-12) will be camping at Comlara Park Campground on Wednesday, August 4th and Thursday, August 5th. Students should meet at the campground at 4 pm on Wednesday and be picked up there at 5 pm on Friday, August 6th. Cost is $28 per person. Other fees may apply depending on activities, so bring extra money. Sign up by emailing Brad at  by Wednesday, August 4^th. For more camping details click here. For permission and medical forms click here. All fees and forms must be turned in no later than August 4^th. You can get them to Brad, put them in the offering basket in an envelope marked “Sr. High Camping” or mail them to the church at 400 W. Union St., Bloomington, 61701.

Two Bible Study Opportunities:

Ladies, we have two Beth Moore Bible study opportunities for you this fall!! The 12-week Beth Moore study, Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy, will begin Tuesday, August 17^th, 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost for the workbook is $15. Contact Alie Nelson at for more information and to sign-up. A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections on the Life of David will begin Tuesday, September 7^th, 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost for the workbook is $16. This is an 11-week study also by Beth Moore. Contact Lisa Brittingham at  for more information or to sign-up for A Heart Like His. The exact locations for the Bible studies will be determined based on the number of ladies signed up.

Lost and Found:

There are several items in our Lost and Found waiting for their rightful owner. Stop by and see if your long lost item might be among them. The Lost and Found is located under the coat rack in the Roosevelt Street foyer. Any items not picked up by this Sunday, August 1st will be donated.

Community News:

Donations for Haiti: A group from Resurrection Lutheran Church, Bloomington, will be traveling to Haiti in September and are asking for donations of small toys to take to the children. Items needed are: Matchbox cars, hair ribbons and Beanie Babies. If you wish to donate, please contact Sherry Mauschbaugh at .

Love For A Lifetime Workshop at Heartland Community College August 12^th: Do you long for a love that lasts a lifetime?  When we say “I do,” most of us have the expectation that our love will last a lifetime. What most of us don’t know is that it takes work to have a marriage that goes the distance.  In this workshop, Mark and Jill Savage will look at six intentional decisions we can make each and every day to make our marriage the best it can be. Find more information and to register online go to www.heartland.edu/communityEd or call 309-268-8160.