Crossroads Notes:

Calling All Stars, Calling All Stars...           Would you like to make a difference in the life of the church? In the life of one of our young children? Would you like to share your knowledge of the Bible and love of God with another? Now is your chance! The Christian Education program Needs You! We are now looking for volunteers to teach Sunday School in the fall. Our class groupings are: Nursery (ages newborn - 3); Preschool (ages 3 - 5); Kindergarten - Grade 2; Grades 3 - 5; Grades 6 - 12; & Adults.           Our goal is for each class from Preschool to Grade 12 to have a team of four (4) teachers. The curriculum is provided and guidance from the Christian Education Team is always readily available. Your commitment would include a few Sunday mornings a month, leaving the service after Word for Children to teach until the end of the service, just in time for coffee hour! (Nursery volunteers would help with the littlest ones throughout the worship service and the Adult class meets prior to worship at 9:15 a.m.) This is a great opportunity to be involved in church and you often learn more about your faith through teaching others! Please contact Heather Dinsmore. Thank you! Is Your Pledge Up-To-Date?           Church members made a wonderful commitment to support the mission of this congregation in 2007. It is important to honor that commitment. Despite bad weather and school vacations, the Church’s expenses continue so we urge you to keep up with your pledges. If there is a problem, please see Jim Brunner. Picnic In The Park           Our Church picnic is scheduled for July 15, after worship, at Springs Brook Park in Bedford. See map below which gets you to the access road to the park. Bring lunch for yourselves and a dessert to share. There are grills available, and a snack bar. Activities include swimming, volleyball, and a play ground. The park opens at 10a.m. There is a fee of $7.00 per person not to exceed $25.00 per family, children 1 and under admitted free. If you have folding lawn chairs or beach chairs you may want to bring them. Your membership committee at work! Sunday Morning Rides Needed           There are two people who need rides to and from church. Please speak to Amoah Yeboah-Korang. Sign up in Fellowship Hall.

Deacons Corner           The Burlington food pantry needs your help! They ran out of food in April, so your donations would be greatly appreciated. Please remember that the first Sunday of every month (Communion Sunday) is Pantry Sunday. A basket will be placed at the front of the sanctuary for your food donations. Items that are needed include peanut butter, mayonnaise or, dry milk, disposable diapers, shampoo, conditioner, soap, detergent, canned meats, and cereal. Please be sure to check the expiration dates of any food that you bring. Money to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables would also be helpful. If you forget to bring food on Pantry Sunday, it can be left in the bin outside the church office at any time.           Tools and Blankets Sundays are continuing. We will be collecting for this event between Mothers Day, May 13 and Fathers Day, June 17. The Tools and Blankets program is a special mission opportunity that supports Church World Service in responding to disasters around the world. Approximately 8,000 congregations and groups across the United States hold Tools and Blankets events, providing more than $3.7 million to help people in 80 nations, including the United States. It’s Time to MATE again!           Let’s explain that… our summer work crew will head for central Maine and Mission At The Eastward for the week of July 29-August 3. We are eager again to work on renovations and repairs on homes of the rural poor and elderly, coordinated by the North Parish Housing Ministry of MATE (MATE is a cooperative parish of 9 congregations in the region, mostly Presbyterian).           We’ll be joining with good folks from the Waltham and Needham Presbyterian Churches. We stay in a dorm of the U. Maine, Farmington, and share good times together. COME ALONG (even for part of the week)! See Rod for more info. You Can Help!           Donations toward our “board” – There will be more info soon about specific items you can help provide. Baked goodies are always welcome, of course!           Donations toward scholarship assistance – Our joint crew will include some folks who would be helped greatly by some assistance with cost. We are able to cover most of the $150 per person MATE fee (for building supplies) for all; but added costs per member include about $100 for a week’s lodging in a dorm at the U. Maine, Farmington, and up to $40.00 for food supplies. Checks (made out to Presbyterian Church and memo’d for MATE assistance). Tithing Definition: The giving of a tithe, one tenth of the annual produce of one's land or one's annual income, to support a church. Promise: ‘Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.’ Malachi 3:10 Challenge: Try tithing for a few months. See what God can do through and for you.

Spring Brooks Park for the Church Picnic           Turn left out of church onto Route 62/3A towards Billerica. Turn left onto Francis Wyman/62. Continue to follow 62 into Bedford for about 4 miles at which point 62 is also Page Road. Turn right to continue on Page Road (departing 62) to 4 way stop at Springs Road. Turn right onto Springs Road for 0.1 mile to access road to Springs Brook Park.