Dear Friends in Christ Jesus:

Our church family will begin a year of celebration on Sunday, September 13, 2009, marking our Fiftieth Anniversary as a congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  The celebration will culminate with a dinner on Friday, September 10, 2010, at a banquet hall off-site.  We will follow the dinner with a festival service on Sunday, September 12, 2010 commemorating fifty years of God’s grace and blessings.  Truly, we have much to be thankful for as we wander over the past fifty years!  One immediate blessing comes to mind, the continued presence of our founding Pastor, The Reverend William Grafe.  Pastor Bill will be the preacher on September 13, 2009 at both services.  What an amazing blessing to have Lucy and Pastor Bill within our church family!  Since we anticipate everyone wanting to be present on September 13, there will be NO SATURDAY WORSHIP ON September 12.

Many of you receiving this letter have only begun your journey of faith at Cross of Christ and may wonder about your part in the fiftieth celebration.  Well, each of you is the reason this congregation was started in the Bloomfield area.  Jesus called His Church to go into all the world and make disciples.  Each of us, no matter how many years we have been members is one of those disciples.  Only eternity will be enough to express our gratitude for a God who made provision to reach and win us to Jesus.  We sincerely pray our church will renew its dedication to the mission our Lord has given us, and join in joyful celebration of the blessings He has given through Cross of Christ.

Please plan to attend this service on September 13, 2009 either at 8:30 or 10:30am.  Following the 10:30am worship, there will be a fellowship luncheon in the Light Center.  This will be the first of seven celebrations scheduled over the following twelve months.  Our heartfelt prayer is that every member will attend these festival weekends. 

If you have questions, concerns or desire to volunteer, please contact Diann Richards, General Chairperson or one of the committee members listed on the enclosed information sheet.  If you have current addresses for former members of Cross of Christ, please send them to Diann’s attention in the Church Office or put them in her mailbox.

To God be all the glory for His marvelous grace to us!!!

Love in Jesus,

Pastor Jon