Hello Crosswalkers,

Just a reminder that this Sunday, December 13th, is the last day we of the Harlem Explorers Christmas Gift Drive. This is a church-wide effort to bless the children of the HE program and also the children and families of the East Harlem community who participate in the special Christmas Celebration on the 19th.

Every Christmas, close to 100 children from the community participate in the Harlem Explorers Christmas Celebration. IN2 Crosswalkers were blessed last year to serve with the program by setting up game stations and a picture booth for the Christmas Fair. This year we are participating in this celebration as a church by donating gifts for the children.

As Pastor Marc has been sharing with us, we are growing as a church in learning to serve and give to our local community. We remember the teaching in scripture to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39) and to give (Acts 20:36)!

As you prepare gifts for the drive, please remember that we are looking to give $10 non-gender specific gifts. Please wrap them and put them on the front of the stage in the sanctuary.

Blessings to you as you give!

- Outreach Ministry

Last small group we talked about being measured by society's standards. Today, it made me realize how much i unconsciously rely on such measurement.

I sent an email at work with a spelling error. I wrote 2MP rather than 2PM. Unluckily, my spell check didn't catch it and it got forwarded on to clients by other colleagues. A manager caught the mistake afterward and emailed a massive number of people pointing out my error.

I have been thinking about this for the past two hours. Wondering how careless I was. How could I have been so stupid to sent that email. How awful it is that he addressed it involving my entire dept when a simple email to me wouldn't done the trick. The truth is my eyes just glazed over the email and didn't catch the mistake.

I am dreading going to work because I knwo i'll get in trouble. It was my mistake and I am taking responsibility for it. But the amount of hold it has on my thouhgts/mood/feeling and my self worth, it is incredible. For the past two ho urs, I have been defining myself based on the society's measurements.

I wonder how i could measure up based on God' measurement. I think God would've said, "Be more careful next time." But I think He would've reprimanded me for resenting the boss who sent the email to the entire dept. God would've seen through my heart - as He always does.

Dear God, please forgive me for resenting my manager when I was the one who made the error. Forgive for not having the grace to forgive but to react in resentment and blame. Help me to always remember that myworth is not based on society's measurements but by Yours. Help me not to be so easily swayed. Amen.


by: Bomee Chu