the ChronicleCrestwood Church Richmond & Midlothian, Virginia January 2019 www.crestwoodrva.org

LIVING NEW LIFE

The Pastor’s Pen - Rev. Dr. Matthew A. Merrill

Friends,

As 2018 ends, we have a lot to celebrate. This year, God has widened our circle. Overall attendance is up more than 6% over 2017. But God doesn’t add percentages to the church, He adds people, with names and great stories He’s writing in their lives. How rich we are to have one another. The best part of my first 15 months here at Crestwood has been learning some of your stories with God - and I can’t wait to hear more.

As 2019 opens, we do so without The City. The City has been a tool we’ve relied on to communicate with you, with mixed results. The company that makes The City will no longer be offering this service. During our transition away from The City, we remain dedicated to improving communications around the church.

The first enhancement you will notice is a weekly email. Each Thursday afternoon, you can expect an email highlighting news and event information. This email will be concisely written, so that you can read it on your phone, if that’s what you desire. We hope to have links from the email to more information about the news and events mentioned.

I need your help during this transition. Will you please let me, Rob, Cathy or Susie know what is working well, and what still needs to be improved? Your input is invaluable to helping us improve communications with you.

Thank you for your prayers and support during my first full year with you.

In Him,

In ThIs Issue...P. 2 PrimeTimersP. 3 Egypt Mission TripP. 4 Albania Mission Trip FellowshipP. 5 Feed My Starving Children P. 6 Trail LifeP. 7 Parish NewsP. 8 January Highlights

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Rev. Dr. Matthew A. MerrillSenior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Robert K. BurnsAssociate Pastor &

Lead Pastor, Richmond Campus

Josh WeeksDirector, Family Ministries

Margaret K. Webb (Peg)Director of Children’s Ministries

Kayte KeimRecreation Coordinator/ Youth

Ministry Assistant

Jennie O’NeilMidlothian Campus

Nursery Coordinator

Chipper ViaRichmond Campus

Music Director

Janice S. BaumRichmond Campus Organist

Maura BrighamMidlothian Campus

Accompanist &Early Worship Choir Director

Morgan HydeSound Technician

Susan L. Martin (Susie)Church Administrator &

Executive Assistant

Cathy D. MarshallAdministrative Assistant

Daniel SmithFinancial Assistant

William CainSexton, Midlothian Campus

Crestwood - Loving and Leading People to the Life-Changing Jesus

www.crestwoodrva.org

Editor’s Note:Submissions due on the 15th

of each month. Please send to: cathymarshall@crestwoodchurch.org

Don’t miss our first gathering of the new year as our own Brian Regrut comes to share from his personal mission experiences. Here is part of his story...In 1912 church leaders erected a brick building in the middle of an empty field in the Bronx to serve as a place where missionaries could stay in preparation for overseas departure and to decompress upon returning home. Thirty-four years later it became home for the son of an immigrant, his wife who had been orphaned at 10 and their three children, the youngest of whom was a dying three-week old infant. The baby was Brian Regrut.Miraculously, God healed Brian and allowed him to grow up interacting with missionaries who had spent decades in India, Africa, the Far East and Egypt. He learned of other cultures from these missionaries and from the variety of “permanent” tenants of the Missionary Home including families from Greece and Ukraine, and college students from around the world. Through the years, he and his wife, Joan, along with their five children, brought the world into their home hosting internationals from Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Germany, France, Venezuela, Spain, Colombia, South Africa, The Netherlands, England and more.All this helped prepare Brian for his role as Crestwood’s elder responsible for Global Missions. This past year he led a team to Haiti for a construction and dental mission; carried Crestwood’s greetings to our sister church in Sadat City, Egypt; and joined the team that conducted Vacation Bible School and constructed a church building on the Navajo reservation in Arizona’s high desert.This month he’ll relate some of his adventures and talk about what God is doing through Crestwood around the World.RESERVATIONS: If you do not hear from your assigned caller, please contact Cathy Marshall at 320.2269 to make your lunch reservation.

Date / Time: Tuesday, January 15 - 11:00 a.m.Location: Richmond Campus, Boyd HallSpeaker: Brian Regrut (pictured below)

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Join us for a Mission Trip to

Tuesday, March 26 Depart Richmond

Wednesday Arrive Cairo and lodge at the Evangelical Seminary

Thursday Tour seminary; travel to Sadat City for Prayer Meeting, disburse to church member homes for dinner

Friday Church retreat during the day; youth meetings in the evening

Saturday Tour of nearby monastery and visits to church members

Sunday Rest Day with Church service and communion in the evening

Monday Tour Sadat City and visit Christian-owned manufacturing facility; travel to Cairo for evening Prayer Meeting and “Tea” at an ancient market

Tuesday Camel Ride and Pyramid visit; lunch on the Nile and visits to Coptic museum and churches

Wednesday Tour famed Cairo Museum

Thursday, April 4 Rest and shopping before departing for airport and overnight travel home

(Crestwood covenant partners are eligible for an $900 subsidy) Estimated cost includes airfare from Richmond, lodging, meals, local trans-

portation, venue admission fees, insurance and visa

Lodging in Cairo will be at the Evangelical Seminary (single or double rooms with private bath); In Sadat City we will stay in homes of church members.

If you are interested in participating, or want more information, contact Brian Regrut ASAP. brianregrut@crestwoodchurch.org; 804-744-3234

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We are now looking forward to the winter/spring season. Wednesday Night Dinners begin again on Wednesday, January 9th. Dinner is served from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. It is an opportunity to study God’s Word in Christian community while enjoying a delicious meal together. What a treat!

Of course the amazing dinners take many hands to prepare, serve, and clean up. We need cooks to plan and prepare the meals. Along with our experienced cooks, we would love to have some new cooks in the kitchen. If you have never been a cook, do not worry. The Fellowship Committee can help with planning for a large group, shopping, and preparation. Servers are also needed each Wednesday from 5:25 to 6:15 p.m. In addition, we need people to clean dishes and put away items. Desserts can be made at home and brought before dinner. Meal preparation is a wonderful way to show love to our congregation and we do have a great time in the kitchen!

If you would like to help, please call or email Chris Payne (804-543-2041 / clgpayne@gmail.com) or use the link to sign up on Sign-Up Genius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0445a9af2fa2f49-wednesday3).

For those who worship at the Midlothian Campus, we also have the opportunity to help with Coffee Hour. On Sunday morning, coffee and refreshments are served following both services. If you are available to help with coffee set up and refreshments, email Chris Payne (clgpayne@gmail.com) or Bill VanBenschoten (bvanbenschoten@gmail.com). We are particularly in need of someone who is able to clean up after the eleven o’clock service.

What a joy it is to share fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ!

FellowshipMinistryThe Fellowship Committee would like to thank the many people who helped with Wednesday Night Dinners, Sunday Morning Coffee Hour, and special events this fall.

Albania Mission TripJune 27 - July 7, 2017Join us as we partner in ministry with the Evangelical Church of Bilisht, Albania as they celebrate their 25th anniversary with 25 weeks of special ministry efforts. We anticipate ministry with children, teenagers and adults, sharing faith stories and reaching out into the community. As you can see from the photo above, dynamic ministry is happening in this once hardened Communist nation. If you have interest or questions, contact Rob Burns - rob@crestwoodrva.org. The cost per person will be $1,650.

21 new believers baptized in July 2018!

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Crestwood Church Feed My Starving Children MobilePack

March 9, 2019

Needed:

1200 Volunteers (Volunteer Registration begins February 1, 2019)

$56,000

(For giving options: crestwoodrva.org/fmsc)

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Trail Life Troop 1200 Fireside Chat

Trail Life USA is a Church-Based, Christ-Centered, Boy-Focused mentoring and discipleship journey that speaks to the heart of a boy. Established on timeless values derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure, boys from Kindergarten through 12th grade are engaged in a Troop setting by male mentors where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for whom they were created.

Troop 1200 was chartered on September 11, 2018 at Crestwood. The troop began with boys between kindergarten and the fourth grade. As of now we are blessed with 9 registered Trailmen & 8 registered leaders. The K-1st graders are in the Fox Patrol and the 2nd and 3rd graders are in the Hawk Patrol. Thus far we don’t have any Mountain Lions, who would be in the 4th grade.

Canyon C. William M. Thomas D. Carter V. Jackson H. Owen H.

Grayson K. Luke V.

Christian V. Our troop leadership is as follows:

Troopmaster Jon Crain Treasurer T. J. Hughes Committee Chair Rob McCann Advancement Chris Dorer

Chaplain & Charter Org. Rep. Matt Merrill Ranger David Keim Secretary Bennie Good Registered Adult Ann Good

So far most of the troop members have met most of the joining requirements (learning the oath, handshake & sign). They meet twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Monday nights at 6:30. In November and December the themes were flag etiquette and hobbies. The highlight of December was building and launching model rockets. Each month has a “Hit the Trail” event to take the boys outside or on a service project. The two such events for the troop have been the Operation Christmas Child packing party and the model rocket launching.

If you know someone who would like to join the troop, contact benniegood@gmail.com to receive an invitation. And you are always welcome to come by on 1st and 3rd Monday nights at the church’s Midlothian address to visit the troop in action!

Parish NewsHospitalized / Elsewhere: Joanne Peters, Morningside (Parham & Skipwith)Christian Sympathy:Sympathy of the congregation is extended to: Kit Tyler on the death of his mother.Active Military: Stephen Johnson, Ft. Benning, GA (son of Mary Johnson)

John Kennedy, Virginia Beach, VA (son of John & Betty Kennedy)

Navy Lt. Ruth Cook, Newport, RI (granddaughter of Priscilla Cook)

Air Force Lt. Samantha Cook, F.E. Warren AFB, WY (granddaughter of Priscilla Cook)

Air Force 2nd Lt. William Cook, III, Columbus AFB, MS (grandson of Priscilla Cook)

Brian Swenk, Ft. Story, VA (son of Rob & Trisha Barton)

15 Heather Anderson15 Michelle Dellicompagni15 Elijah Scorzelli *16 Emery Wilkerson16 Grace Merrill16 Sarah Crespo16 Ryan Brinkley17 Amy Allessie18 Jon Crain18 Chikezie Emeruem18 Amanda Beck18 Trey Ashby19 Josh Pace20 Bennie Good20 Tori Smith20 Cameron Martin *22 Holly Rowland22 Elsie MacIver *24 Ryan Barto25 Judy Neff25 Abby Fines25 Jeremiah Millacci *26 Steve Cross26 Barbara Dougherty26 Kolbey Durrette27 Anna Beth Kozusko28 Beth Harlan29 Denise Cole30 John Pearman30 Bredford Gregg *31 Judy Herr31 Mackenzie Campbell* child / youth

01 Aron Ntezinyayo01 Ngongoro Gaharure01 Cecelia Mtamwishimlo01 Sadock Ngendakumana01 Neema Ngenitakumana01 Emerine Gaharure01 Eugene Habimana01 Janeti Habimana01 Mapendo Valeriya01 Toyi Mtamwishimlo01 Bukuru Mtamwishimlo01 Ciza Odeta01 Erick Valeriya *01 Maria Gaharure *03 Iris Philebaum03 Synthia Niyhungeko *03 Julianna Dudding *04 Chipper Via05 Marjorie Williams06 Aaron Hill06 Antoinette Ntirandekura06 Josh Moody06 Paige Moody06 Jackson Hughes *08 Jeremy Scorzelli08 Gerald Mbonimana10 Lee Hall11 Edith Matze11 Eli Denton *14 Ann Welch

Happy Birthday to...Chipper Via, January 4

Staff Anniversary...Matt Shelton, January 31, 2016

Richmond CampusNursery Schedule January 2019

06 Bonnie DorwinEmerine Ndiragakura

741.1310594.5509

13 Gerry NixonJudy West

240.4037233.7175

20 Cathy DavenportMadelaine Hiniye

233.0641594.5509

27 Catherine EarnestRozine Hafashimana

272.5424433.0542

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Page 8 the Chronicle www.crestwoodchurch.org

Midlothian Campus

Sunday Morning ScheduleWorship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.

Date Time Event

06 8:30 & 11:00 Worship & Communion

09 10:00 Women’s Bible StudyResumes

5:30p Wednesday Night @Crestwood Resumes

13 9:35 & 12:05 Crestwood in 10

5:00 Winter Social

21 Martin Luther King, Jr.Holiday - Offices Closed

Richmond Campus

Sunday Morning ScheduleWorship, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School, 9:15 a.m.

Date Time Event

06 10:30 Worship & Communion

15 11:00 PrimeTimers

21 Martin Luther King, Jr.Holiday - Offices Closed

On January 6, we are beginning a sermon series called “In the Meantime.” It’s all about what you can do, when you are stuck in a difficult circumstance that’s not likely to change anytime soon. If you’re stuck in an office with a terrible boss, but can’t afford to make a career move....or you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness... or you have a difficult family relationship that’s not getting better – what can you do, when there is nothing you can do? That’s coming this month.