Crossroads

United Church of Christ  

Indianola, Iowa 

 an open and affirming congregation

Worshiping at Smith Chapel

on the Simpson College campus

 

Pastor: Rev. Julia Tipton Rendon
Worship at 10:30 
 Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 
We worship on Zoom every Sunday.
Sunday School "meets" at 9:30.


Here are the CDC guidelines for faith-based organizations.

 

Bulletin for Jan. 24, 2021

 

WORD FOR THE DAY: BROKEN

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We gather as people on a journey.
PEOPLE: WE BELIEVE & WE HAVE DOUBTS, WE DO GOOD AND WE SIN.
WE ARE IMPERFECT HUMANS, AND STILL BELOVED BY GOD.
Leader:  Love and grace. Hope and faith.
PEOPLE: THESE ARE THE ESSENCE OF THE ONE WE CALL GOD.
Leader: We seek forgiveness and grace from God and from those we’ve harmed.                  

PEOPLE: ASSURED OF THAT GRACE, WE ARE READY TO GROW AGAIN.
Leader:  We yearn for a new way, a new perspective, and a clear path.
PEOPLE:  THOUGH WE ARE FULL OF TRUST AND FULL OF DOUBT, WE ARE HERE.  

 

HYMN     TFWS #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center”

 

1.  Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,

find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed;

clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see

all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

 

2. Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,

God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,

making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,

raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

 

3.  In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,

let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain;

there’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,

in the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare.

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 5:1-11

 

HYMN NCH #173 “You Have Come down to the Lakeshore”

 

1.  You have come down to the lakeshore

seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,

but only asking for me to follow.

 

Refrain

O Jesus, you have looked into my eyes, kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.

On the sand I have abandoned my small boat; now with you I will seek other seas.

 

2.  You know full well my possessions.

Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,

Just these my fishnets and will for working.

 

Refrain

 

3.  You need my hands, my exhaustion,

working love for the rest of the weary—

a love that’s willing to go on loving.

 

Refrain

 

4.  You who have fished other waters;

you, the longing of souls that are yearning:

as loving Friend, you have come to call me.

 

Refrain

 

SERMON

 

PRAYER HYMN TFWS #2200 “O Lord, Hear My Prayer”

 

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer.

When I call, answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer.

Come and listen to me.

 

PRAYERS

 

LORD’S PRAYER

OUR MOTHER-FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME.  YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN.  GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.  FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US.  SAVE US FROM THE TIME OF TRIAL AND DELIVER US FROM EVIL.  FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOREVER.  AMEN.

 

HYMN S&S #170 “Be Not Afraid”

 

1. You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.

You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way.

You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand.

You shall see the face of God and live.

 

Refrain

Be not afraid. I go before you always.

Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

 

2.  If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown,

If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow’r of hell and death is at your side,

know that I am with you through it all.

 

Refrain

 

3.  Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs.

Blest are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh.

And if wicked tongues insult and hate you all because of me,

Blessed, blessed are you!

 

Refrain

 

BENEDICTION

 

SUNG BENEDICTION  TFWS #2129 “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”

 

1.  I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus—

no turning back, no turning back.

 

2.  The world behind me, the cross before me . . .

 

3.  Though none go with me, still I will follow . . .

 

 

 


Crossroads members Easter 2014

Here we were at Easter breakfast!

 

What we believe

The United Church of Christ is a non-creedal church.  It is the responsibility of every member to work toward a coherent and informed faith.

 

The United Church of Christ embraces a theological heritage that affirms the Bible as the authoritative witness to the Word of God, the creeds of the ecumenical councils, and the confessions of the Reformation. The UCC has roots in the "covenantal" tradition—meaning there is no centralized authority or hierarchy that can impose any doctrine or form of worship on its members. Christ alone is Head of the church. We seek a balance between freedom of conscience and accountability to the apostolic faith. The UCC therefore receives the historic creeds and confessions of our ancestors as testimonies, but not tests of the faith. 

 

 

Want some links to scientific information about climate change?  Go to our Links page!

 

Some of what we do at Crossroads

We worship by Zoom.  If you'd like to join us, email the pastor, identify yourself, and we will send you a Zoom link.  Pastor *at* crossroadsucc *dot* org


We serve two meals a month at the Catholic Worker House in Des Moines. 


We micro-lend to small business owners through Kiva.  We have lent about $21,000 to help people start or expand businesses!


We are a Jubilee Congregation, supporting efforts to serve, protect and promote economic participation by the most vulnerable. Find out more about Jubilee here!

 

When it is safe and responsible to be out and about, we'll resume our other social activities.

   
 

About Crossroads UCC

Crossroads United Church of Christ is an open and affirming congregation of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ.  We believe that we are called by God, as Christians, to gather people

into community, build them in a relationship

with God, and send them into ministry.

 

We try to make our congregation a place where you can be yourself, and we believe that the practice of hospitality helps us to learn the mind of God.

 

We are "the church you didn't know you were looking for"--a small but active congregation

that is focused on mission, spiritual growth, and community involvement--that doesn't take itself too seriously.

 

Visitors are always welcome.  If you're looking

for a church home, or if you're just curious, please come worship with us!

 

 

 

PO Box 811, Indianola IA  50125


tel.: 515-961-9370

email: pastor *at* crossroadsucc *dot* org 

 

 

head and shoulders of womanThe Rev. Julia Rendon

 

Where to find us

We are in Indianola, Iowa, a community of 14,000 just 12 miles south of Des Moines on Highway 65/69. 

 

Crossroads UCC does not own a building.  We meet in Dirlam Lounge in Smith Chapel of Simpson College.  Here is a campus map. 

 

Here is a Mapquest map. 

 

We invite interested parties to contribute to our mission projects.  These include the Indianola Helping Hand Food Pantry, the Des Moines Catholic Worker Charitable Fund, and support for families on the Rine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  Please mail CHECKS only to PO Box 811, Indianola IA  50125 and make payable to "Crossroads UCC Charitable Fund."  Donations will be reserved for mission projects only, not the ongoing expenses of the church.

 

 

Worship and Sunday School

Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:30 during the school year, and worship is at 10:30.  

 

We have a Safe Church policy for our Sunday School and youth programming.

 


A good resource for learning about dismantling racism is here.