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        <title>Worship Folders</title>
                                        <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                            <itunes:subtitle>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church - Liverpool, NY (WELS)</itunes:subtitle>
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        <description><![CDATA[Follow along with the live stream or past services using these worship folders.]]></description>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday Service of Darkness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
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                <description><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday: A Cleansing Fountain]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
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                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! God has provi...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! God has provided a fountain where we can be cleansed. On this Holy Thursday, let&rsquo;s hear the Holy Week Prophet tell us about that fountain in Zechariah 13:1-3]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Palm Sunday: Sunday of the Passion]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
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                <description><![CDATA[We have come to Holy Week. The prophet Zechariah draws our attention to a Savior King who will rule ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We have come to Holy Week. The prophet Zechariah draws our attention to a Savior King who will rule with gentleness and bring peace. Focus! Look up! Here comes the King who presents himself so lowly that you might miss the importance of his arrival. Hail the King who humbly comes to save us!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: The Kingly Priest]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
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                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f1703280-27b2-11f1-a632-fb0f244c69f9</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Our text from Zechariah this week is about an Old Testament priest being crowned as a king. The high...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our text from Zechariah this week is about an Old Testament priest being crowned as a king. The high priest Joshua receives the royal crown. In holding both offices, Joshua serves as a picture of Christ.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Exactly What I Need—Life]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1090d2e0-0e82-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
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                <description><![CDATA[I recognize the danger of death. I am tempted to wonder whether my life was worth it if I do not lea...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[I recognize the danger of death. I am tempted to wonder whether my life was worth it if I do not leave a legacy or live on in the memories of my loved ones after I die. When my soul separates from my body, will I also be eternally separated from God in hell? Jesus promises much better. He promises life. One day I will be reunited with my believing loved ones, both soul and body. I will live with Jesus forever in eternity. Jesus raised people from the dead to prove his power over death. That&rsquo;s exactly the power I need.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Look at the One Who Was Pierced]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e1102340-11b5-11f1-afae-e99c056bff0c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/219e4820-2169-11f1-ac0e-a5c9574ea5b1</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[In this week&rsquo;s prophecy from Zechariah, the Lord tells us to look at one who has been pierced....]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In this week&rsquo;s prophecy from Zechariah, the Lord tells us to look at one who has been pierced. He encourages us to look long and hard because he was pierced for us. Hear the Lord&rsquo;s message for his people from Zechariah 12:10-11.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Exactly What I Need—Sight]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1090d2e0-0e82-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cc4ac7f0-1f00-11f1-ab00-55c92120f548</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[I recognize that I am spiritually blind when I don&rsquo;t know Jesus. I cannot see the world as it ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[I recognize that I am spiritually blind when I don&rsquo;t know Jesus. I cannot see the world as it really is. I am tempted to see what is harmful as good, and what is good as meaningless. I cannot see the danger that lurks behind every temptation. I realize that Jesus gave physical sight to the blind. But he also gives me spiritual vision. He said, &ldquo;I am the light of the world.&rdquo; He comes to shine his light into my darkened eyes so that I see him and live.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Scattered Sheep]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e1102340-11b5-11f1-afae-e99c056bff0c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0d536520-1cba-11f1-bb14-fd7551d4ed05</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The shepherd of Zechariah&rsquo;s prophecy this week&mdash;the man who is close to the Lord, the one...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The shepherd of Zechariah&rsquo;s prophecy this week&mdash;the man who is close to the Lord, the one who will be struck by the sword of the Lord&mdash;is the same Good Shepherd we hear about every week. He was close to God in every way. Yet the sword would strike him nevertheless.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Exactly What I Need—Water]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1090d2e0-0e82-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/50de8830-19a7-11f1-982b-ed7b0425e30b</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting li...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting life. I am tempted to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed to failure. I realize that my thirst is satisfied only by the one who said, &ldquo;Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.&rdquo; Jesus meets my greatest need.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e1102340-11b5-11f1-afae-e99c056bff0c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5a881b00-1739-11f1-a123-e5734471fbb0</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[God is the father of the truth, and he hates lies. This week's text from Zechariah 8:14-17 makes cle...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God is the father of the truth, and he hates lies. This week's text from Zechariah 8:14-17 makes clear he expects us to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Exactly What I Need—Faith]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1090d2e0-0e82-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3e7e9930-14e0-11f1-8f01-67c35421c328</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[I recognize that I need to be saved. When Jesus said, &ldquo;No one can enter the kingdom of God,&rd...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[I recognize that I need to be saved. When Jesus said, &ldquo;No one can enter the kingdom of God,&rdquo; that included me. I do not deserve God&rsquo;s blessing. But long ago, God declared that I would be blessed by a descendant of Abraham who turned out to be Jesus. The blessing is salvation. I receive that salvation by faith in Jesus as my Savior. The good news is that faith is also God&rsquo;s gift, imparted to me through the gospel.]]></content:encoded>
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                <pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 20:01:13 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Return to Me]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e1102340-11b5-11f1-afae-e99c056bff0c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c3819c00-11b5-11f1-afae-e99c056bff0c</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The opening words of Zechariah state the theme of the book which will be the focus for the coming we...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The opening words of Zechariah state the theme of the book which will be the focus for the coming weeks of Lent: "&ldquo;Return to me,&rdquo; declares the Lord Almighty, &ldquo;and I will return to you,&rdquo; says the Lord Almighty."]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:19:35 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Exactly What I Need—A Champion]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1090d2e0-0e82-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f5fd1510-0e81-11f1-a1d2-bf8375675ff3</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[I recognize my inability to defend myself against spiritual enemies. The world is against me, but I ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[I recognize my inability to defend myself against spiritual enemies. The world is against me, but I look for ways to imitate it. I try to master my own sinful flesh, but I recognize desires in myself that war against my soul. And when it comes to the devil, I fall into temptation again and again. My impending death proves that I have sinned. I realize that what I really need is a champion. God the Father realized it, too. He sent his Son to be my Savior. Through the obedience of the Son of God, I have victory over my enemies.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday: What's He Worth to You?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/2456af20-0c25-11f1-9ded-5b3825d82d17/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/134b9600-0c25-11f1-9ded-5b3825d82d17</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) to Jesus&rsquo; cross and tomb in anticipation of Easter. It begins with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance. The ancient practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of Christians gives Ash Wednesday its name. The early church father Tertullian (c.160-215 AD) wrote of the practice as a public expression of repentance and of our human frailty that stands in need of Christ. Lord, tonight remind us that death will one day reduce us to ashes&mdash;and our hearts need to be reduced to ashes in repentance now.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus is the Son of God in Glory]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/81585070-0923-11f1-b254-8bbc47613ca9</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Jesus was a real human being, and he looked like it when he taught his disciples. But one day atop a...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus was a real human being, and he looked like it when he taught his disciples. But one day atop a high mountain, Jesus gave his disciples a glimpse of his glory as the Son of God. After he came down from the mountain, Jesus went to Jerusalem to suffer and die. It is good for us to view Jesus in glory on the mountain. It prepares us for Lent, and it prepares us for life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Calls You Salt and Light]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c8327a90-0467-11f1-8be3-4fa9a986e180</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us that form and function are closely connected. That mean...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us that form and function are closely connected. That means that who we are influences what we do. When God called us to faith, he declared that we were something new: light, salt, his children. Jesus encourages us to be what God says we are as a way of blessing the world through us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 20:58:41 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Calls You Blessed]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4cf31900-fed3-11f0-81ee-75653f005246</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4cf31900-fed3-11f0-81ee-75653f005246</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[You may not feel blessed when you are hungry or insulted or mourning the death of a loved one. You m...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[You may not feel blessed when you are hungry or insulted or mourning the death of a loved one. You may not be in the mood to boast when you feel foolish, weak, or lowly. But knowing your difficulties, Jesus still chose you to be his own. He gives you many gifts, and he calls you blessed.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Is the Light]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/737c3530-f711-11f0-8aae-95321ade6996</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/737c3530-f711-11f0-8aae-95321ade6996</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as &ldquo;people walking in darkness.&rdquo; Then he f...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as &ldquo;people walking in darkness.&rdquo; Then he foretold that a light would shine on them. Enveloped by sin, suffering, and death, we find our minds and hearts clouded. But Jesus is revealed as the promised light. He shines his light by preaching repentance and the good news of the kingdom. Our Savior is the Light of the world, and we reflect his light onto everyone around us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Is the Lamb of God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5014d8b0-f31d-11f0-8d32-09ee81f08cb1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5014d8b0-f31d-11f0-8d32-09ee81f08cb1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[For centuries, Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin. Over and over, a substitute shed its blood ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[For centuries, Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin. Over and over, a substitute shed its blood to earn forgiveness. Then Jesus appeared, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. He died as the substitute for sinful mankind. Connected to him by faith, you have a new perspective and new motivation for living a Christian life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Is the Christ, the Anointed One]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3b56b3c0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1f91c8f0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1f91c8f0-ee69-11f0-bd1e-01ea84e79bd3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Christ&rdquo; is not the family name of Jesus. It is a title. The Greek word &ldquo;Christ&rd...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Christ&rdquo; is not the family name of Jesus. It is a title. The Greek word &ldquo;Christ&rdquo; and the Hebrew word &ldquo;Messiah&rdquo; both mean the same thing: &ldquo;The Anointed One.&rdquo; Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid over the head of someone to signify selection for some special task. When the Lord had someone anointed, he also poured his Spirit over them. It was the fulfillment of promises made over centuries. Epiphany is the season when you see Jesus begin his public ministry. When he was anointed at his baptism, the Father revealed Jesus as the Son of God who came to earth to save us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 21:12:51 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Love’s Pure Light Beams from Thy Holy Face]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1c21b5a0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2993b210-e823-11f0-8de2-e56ae3d568ce</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2993b210-e823-11f0-8de2-e56ae3d568ce</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;reveal.&rdquo; When the Savior was born, he was firs...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;reveal.&rdquo; When the Savior was born, he was first revealed as love&rsquo;s pure light to Israelites: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds. Today, we see the Lord miraculously guiding foreigners across countless miles so the Savior&rsquo;s holy face could be revealed to them as well. The Festival of Epiphany is sometimes known as Christmas for the Gentiles. We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is a gift for all people, Christ the Savior of the world.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Son of God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1c21b5a0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7ce60950-e03e-11f0-9f14-81f1e2e5a8e5</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepare...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts are given, memories are made. But the memories might not all be good. Sometimes there are Christmas hurts or even tragedies. We live in a world still affected by sin. The sinfulness of the world cannot rob us of the peace God intends to bring through his Son. Christ the Savior is born, and through his life, God brings us into the family. He gives us the rights of redeemed sons and daughters, the privileges of inheritance.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day Festival Service: Holy Infant So Tender and Mild]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1c21b5a0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3f8ffdd0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3f8ffdd0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[From eternity, Jesus has been God, holy and majestic. When we look tenderly at the holy infant, we a...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[From eternity, Jesus has been God, holy and majestic. When we look tenderly at the holy infant, we are looking at the same God who once told the prophet Moses, &ldquo;No one may see me and live.&rdquo; Yet, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds all saw their holy God and survived. How? God became human, hiding his glory within flesh, so that he could come to us without instilling fear or dread.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Heavenly Hosts Sing Alleluia]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1c21b5a0-df59-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8a45e2b0-df57-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8a45e2b0-df57-11f0-aef7-bf61bda46fc8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Families often have many unchanging traditions in the way they celebrate Christmas. We might miss th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Families often have many unchanging traditions in the way they celebrate Christmas. We might miss the fact that the birth of Christ the Savior meant radical change for the world. Would the change be an improvement or another step in decline? The angels answer the question. They don&rsquo;t sing &ldquo;Watch out for impending doom!&rdquo; They sing &ldquo;glory&rdquo; and &ldquo;peace,&rdquo; praising God with alleluias!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Imminent Arrival of Emmanuel]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3198c860-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f85c1d90-dc56-11f0-8403-dbe8e7a3bcd5</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f85c1d90-dc56-11f0-8403-dbe8e7a3bcd5</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Emmanuel is an important person. &ldquo;Emmanuel&rdquo; means &ldquo;God with us.&rdquo; It was a sp...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Emmanuel is an important person. &ldquo;Emmanuel&rdquo; means &ldquo;God with us.&rdquo; It was a special name given to Jesus already 700 years before he was born. Who is with us when Jesus is with us? God himself. God became a human being in a special way, becoming truly human but remaining God. God is still with us. We encounter him in a special way when we gather with two or three others in worship. He is so near to us that the thrill of anticipation is almost unbearable. Let it wash over you as you celebrate Christmas this week.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Imminent Arrival of the Messiah]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3198c860-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a45f9020-d7a4-11f0-8a7b-9793a138b552</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a45f9020-d7a4-11f0-8a7b-9793a138b552</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Messiah is an important person. &ldquo;Messiah&rdquo; is the same word as &ldquo;Christ&rdquo; o...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Messiah is an important person. &ldquo;Messiah&rdquo; is the same word as &ldquo;Christ&rdquo; or &ldquo;Anointed One.&rdquo; He is someone who has been anticipated for a long time. Now we look at a time when his arrival is imminent! The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent &ldquo;Gaudete,&rdquo; which means &ldquo;Rejoice!&rdquo; As we reach the midway point of Advent, we ask Christ to empower us to do just that. We rejoice because God fulfills all his promises in Jesus.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Imminent Arrival of the Judge]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3198c860-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/92cccc70-d2ee-11f0-8da8-5773c8ef5ab7</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/92cccc70-d2ee-11f0-8da8-5773c8ef5ab7</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The judge is an important person. You stand when he enters the courtroom. What he says must be obeye...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The judge is an important person. You stand when he enters the courtroom. What he says must be obeyed. If you are the one on trial, his determinations make a big difference in how your life will continue. You might be quite nervous if the judge is about to arrive. John invited people to turn their nervousness to repentance. He says that the arrival of the Judge is imminent, and the kingdom of heaven is near! You are invited to hear John, repent, and believe the good news of the coming Savior.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Imminent Arrival of the One Who Calls]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3198c860-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/11c07830-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/11c07830-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[November 30 is the Festival of St Andrew, Apostle. This day commemorates the choosing of the first a...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[November 30 is the Festival of St Andrew, Apostle. This day commemorates the choosing of the first apostle. Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. Jesus calls us anew to follow him. As we learn his importance for our lives, we are moved to tell others about what we have seen and heard. Soon we will celebrate the first arrival of the Savior on earth. We look forward to the time when he will arrive again, and we celebrate his arrival in the lives of our family and friends.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/11c07830-caf5-11f0-b9d5-49048440e13d/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Scripture and Anticipation]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ad2c2130-c7d4-11f0-abd8-db74ec63e027</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ad2c2130-c7d4-11f0-abd8-db74ec63e027</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Church has marked the passing of yet another Church Year, waiting for its Lord to return. How lo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Church has marked the passing of yet another Church Year, waiting for its Lord to return. How long will we have to wait and watch for Jesus to return? We do not know. Jesus said he would return soon. However, the definition of &ldquo;soon&rdquo; for the One who has no beginning or end will naturally differ from ours. Whenever Jesus returns, it will take us by surprise. So, how do believers avoid growing lethargic? How do we remain ready and watchful for Christ&rsquo;s return? Our Savior points us to his Scriptures. No matter how many years we must mark, we watch with eager anticipation, and we pray, &ldquo;Amen! Come, Lord Jesus&rdquo; (Revelation 22:20).]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Judgment and Peace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a3582540-c23a-11f0-9e51-61606f0e6f82</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a3582540-c23a-11f0-9e51-61606f0e6f82</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When we are horribly wronged, what are our options? Taking matters into our own hands? Despair? Jesu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When we are horribly wronged, what are our options? Taking matters into our own hands? Despair? Jesus provides a better option. Trust that he will keep his promise to return, bringing judgment. The effect of that promise? We have peace, knowing that every wrong will eventually be righted by the one righteous Judge.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Cross of Christ's 50th Anniversary: God’s Grace in the Past and into Eternity]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a70f9fc0-b9ba-11f0-bdd3-2d797e0bcf9d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/25de8100-b9ba-11f0-bdd3-2d797e0bcf9d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/25de8100-b9ba-11f0-bdd3-2d797e0bcf9d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[On November 15, 1975, the &ldquo;Syracuse Mission&rdquo;, which had been meeting twice a month on Su...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[On November 15, 1975, the &ldquo;Syracuse Mission&rdquo;, which had been meeting twice a month on Sundays since January, was granted &ldquo;Mission Status&rdquo;. Their first resident pastor, Kenneth Kappel, was ordained and installed on July 11, 1976. On August 22, &ldquo;Cross of Christ&rdquo; was chosen to be the young congregation&rsquo;s new name. The story of Cross of Christ is a story of God&rsquo;s amazing grace carried out in his own time. Today, we thank you for joining us in celebrating the golden thread of that grace weaving through our past 50 years and extending into eternity.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Grace and Joy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cd472170-b9b7-11f0-bdd3-2d797e0bcf9d</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[King David once said that guilt makes you feel like your very bones are rotting. Guilt is an inescap...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[King David once said that guilt makes you feel like your very bones are rotting. Guilt is an inescapable fact of life. Everyone carries guilt about something. Worse, our efforts to deal with guilt&mdash;minimizing our mistakes, making excuses for our sin&mdash;don&rsquo;t help, but only make us feel worse. What alleviates the burden of guilt? Just one thing&mdash;God&rsquo;s gift of grace. Christ&rsquo;s love is undeserved and unconditional. He pardons every sin. This is the entire reason Jesus came to earth. This was his mission&mdash;to give the gift of grace! When we receive that gift, our guilt melts. Left in its place is the joy of our salvation.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:52:28 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Sainthood and Stamina]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/907241f0-b663-11f0-a033-c3f5dff0ccdf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/907241f0-b663-11f0-a033-c3f5dff0ccdf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God grants the status of &ldquo;saint&rdquo; (which means &ldquo;holy one&rdquo;) to every believer....]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God grants the status of &ldquo;saint&rdquo; (which means &ldquo;holy one&rdquo;) to every believer. For centuries, the Church has answered that question by celebrating the Festival of All Saints. This week we get a peek at the saints who have died and now live in the glory of Christ&rsquo;s light. Through eyes of faith, we see the saints enjoying glory in the place where &ldquo;there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain&rdquo; (Revelation 21:1-6). We understand that soon enough we shall join all the saints in that glorious heavenly city. And that gives us amazing stamina to face the challenges of this world with the strength Christ gives to all his saints.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Truth and Freedom]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9662ed30-b20d-11f0-abcc-3b403835de2b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9662ed30-b20d-11f0-abcc-3b403835de2b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[A key principle Martin Luther established through the Reformation is sola scriptura, Scripture alone...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[A key principle Martin Luther established through the Reformation is sola scriptura, Scripture alone. Who or what is the final arbiter of the truth that provides freedom? Scripture alone. Heirs of the Reformation still bind themselves to Scripture. Does restricting ourselves in this manner curtail freedom? Just the opposite is true. God&rsquo;s truth brings freedom from slavery to sinful delusions and the burden of guilt. This week we celebrate this cause and effect&mdash;the truth sets us free!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:46:25 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ Through Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/22298210-a9d1-11f0-80c1-99e87dabb411/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fc9302b0-a9d0-11f0-80c1-99e87dabb411</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fc9302b0-a9d0-11f0-80c1-99e87dabb411</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2025 under the them...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2025 under the theme &ldquo;Christ Through Us.&rdquo; From one seminary in 1865, one world mission in 1893, and 800 congregations mostly in the Midwest as of 1965, we can now easily see how Christ has worked through his good news of salvation in Word and sacraments to move this body of believers to establish a Scripture-based ministerial education system, world missions in 45 countries, and more than 1,200 congregations across the United States. The &ldquo;Christ Through Us&rdquo; theme will also inform the work of WELS in a ten-year detailed plan to proclaim our Savior&rsquo;s love.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fc9302b0-a9d0-11f0-80c1-99e87dabb411/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Generosity and Gratitude]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/786a0d80-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4c639b20-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4c639b20-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. Two factors ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. Two factors affect the intensity of gratitude: how deserving we are and how generous they are. Apply this to God. Deservedness. How deserving are we of his blessing? What does God owe us? Generosity. What has God done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As we answer those questions, we are stunned by the undeserved generosity our God has shown us. The effect? We overflow with gratitude.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4c639b20-a6ab-11f0-8130-f9f0d0c0767e/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Increased Faith, Increased Duty]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c502ce70-9f9e-11f0-af90-9de16d84b5bb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c502ce70-9f9e-11f0-af90-9de16d84b5bb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This week, Jesus has sharp words for those who want the benefits of being Christian but would shirk ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This week, Jesus has sharp words for those who want the benefits of being Christian but would shirk those responsibilities. However, to lead us to take up those responsibilities, our Savior doesn&rsquo;t threaten or cajole. He helps us see that while increased faith increases duty, increased duty increases delight. The believer knows he serves the One who came to serve us first. Just as Christ&rsquo;s service brought him great joy, so does our service to others.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c502ce70-9f9e-11f0-af90-9de16d84b5bb/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What Helps in Life Fails in Death]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/34cabe90-9bba-11f0-8d83-95b1de460fb4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/34cabe90-9bba-11f0-8d83-95b1de460fb4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus warns that those who live with hearts filled with love for money and void of love for God will...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus warns that those who live with hearts filled with love for money and void of love for God will receive the only eternity that money can buy&mdash;one void of God and filled with torment. Money seems helpful, but it fails in death. Conversely, what often seems of little help in this life will be our only source of help in death. The world scoffs at those who set aside plenteous time to listen to Jesus&rsquo; words. &ldquo;Of what practical good are such things?&rdquo; Only this. Such things enable us, at death, to receive a reward that dwarfs even the best things money can buy.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/34cabe90-9bba-11f0-8d83-95b1de460fb4/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: No One Can Serve Two Masters]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e0eb7600-93fa-11f0-9ff8-91e302d74916</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e0eb7600-93fa-11f0-9ff8-91e302d74916</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the li...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the list. This week, Jesus&rsquo; sharp words identify the impossibility of serving more than one master. More, Jesus teaches that if we dedicate our lives in service to money, money will always let us down. In contrast, God has proven that he is a master worth serving. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of it being a master to serve, it becomes a tool in our service of our true Master.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e0eb7600-93fa-11f0-9ff8-91e302d74916/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[The Christian Victory Service of Dawn Allen]]></title>
                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d55960f0-94a3-11f0-af74-8128a5c13c0c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d55960f0-94a3-11f0-af74-8128a5c13c0c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The family of Dawn Allen and our church family thank you for joining us today.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The family of Dawn Allen and our church family thank you for joining us today.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d55960f0-94a3-11f0-af74-8128a5c13c0c/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Found are Left; the Lost are Found]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/02f9e340-8f1d-11f0-b412-15c47dd9c445</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/02f9e340-8f1d-11f0-b412-15c47dd9c445</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Mankind&rsquo;s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. Wander...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Mankind&rsquo;s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. Wandering around physically lost can lead to winding up in bad places. Jesus&rsquo; wounding words this week teach that wandering around spiritually lost puts you in the worst place of all. Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us in our lostness. He relentlessly seeks us. He involves the rest of the Christian community in seeking the lost and rejoicing over the found.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/02f9e340-8f1d-11f0-b412-15c47dd9c445/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Count the Cost]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/11e9deb0-88f5-11f0-bdc0-8f9d26983935</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/11e9deb0-88f5-11f0-bdc0-8f9d26983935</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of ti...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations must not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/11e9deb0-88f5-11f0-bdc0-8f9d26983935/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Hymn Festival: Heaven Is My Home]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4f54cb60-84f0-11f0-b81a-71536d5d3227</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4f54cb60-84f0-11f0-b81a-71536d5d3227</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This Sunday, through hymns and songs, we focus on one of God&rsquo;s most comforting promises: heave...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This Sunday, through hymns and songs, we focus on one of God&rsquo;s most comforting promises: heaven. It gives us comfort in times of trouble, hope in times of hopelessness, and a reason to rejoice always.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4f54cb60-84f0-11f0-b81a-71536d5d3227/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Door is Very Narrow]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e4f44850-8057-11f0-8651-559ab18989fb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e4f44850-8057-11f0-8651-559ab18989fb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today someone asks, &ldquo;Lord, are only a few going to be saved?&rdquo; Jesus brushes all such que...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today someone asks, &ldquo;Lord, are only a few going to be saved?&rdquo; Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. &ldquo;How might I be saved?&rdquo; Jesus explains there is only one way&mdash;entering through a very narrow door. Jesus&rsquo; words cut deep! Jesus warns that many who think they are on the path to heaven will end up shut out. These wounding words of Jesus provide healing, pushing us toward that narrow door: faith in him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e4f44850-8057-11f0-8651-559ab18989fb/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word Divides]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f54543e0-79ee-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f54543e0-79ee-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God&rsquo;s Word create...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Only through faith in Christ is sin forgiven and the sting of death removed. God&rsquo;s Word creates that saving faith, but not in everyone who hears it. Fallen mankind retains the awful power to reject the Word and God&rsquo;s gift of faith. Therefore, God&rsquo;s Word produces the only people distinction that matters&mdash;believers and unbelievers. We desire to live in peace with other people. But Jesus teaches, this side of heaven, that desire is a pipe dream. Those who embrace the gospel in faith will inevitably face hostility. Following Jesus will come at a price. Yet he promises that our perseverance will be rewarded.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f54543e0-79ee-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.pdf" 
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/29b27030-79ef-11f0-9bf2-7574f24499e4/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On Heavenly Treasure]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fb612f40-7463-11f0-8cfe-99dcef119f21</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fb612f40-7463-11f0-8cfe-99dcef119f21</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. When it seems we lack providence or pr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This week Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. When it seems we lack providence or protection for our daily lives, it can be hard to avoid worry. So, Jesus asks us to give our undivided attention to him, that he might take our worries away. Jesus points to creatures that do not labor or toil yet eat every day. Even more, Jesus points to our Father who promises to give us the heavenly treasures of his kingdom. Jesus assures us that our Father will throw in any needed earthly possessions as well. We can rest from our worries, confident that our loving Father knows all we need.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fb612f40-7463-11f0-8cfe-99dcef119f21/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On Useful Resources]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1627e650-6fb6-11f0-a77c-6f4f442a8b4c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1627e650-6fb6-11f0-a77c-6f4f442a8b4c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, those things have the power to turn our attenti...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, those things have the power to turn our attention away from what is truly important. It is no surprise, therefore, that Jesus frequently teaches about wealth. Christ wants us to understand that it is our heavenly Father who provides us with those useful resources. But we need to know why our Father gives them. This week let us give our undivided attention to what Christ says about the useful resources our gracious Father provides to us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1627e650-6fb6-11f0-a77c-6f4f442a8b4c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On the Privilege and Purpose of Prayer]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8eeb56d0-6a93-11f0-9c23-fb68a8157cc4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8eeb56d0-6a93-11f0-9c23-fb68a8157cc4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Prayer is a privilege, based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship we have with God, our ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Prayer is a privilege, based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship we have with God, our Father. And the purpose of prayer is really not to tell God what we want, but to claim that which God wants for us. Prayer provides the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God&rsquo;s will, not the other way around. This week, we give our undivided attention to what God says about this access we call prayer. Along with Jesus&rsquo; disciples we say, &ldquo;Lord, teach us to pray&rdquo; (Luke 11:1).]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:43:53 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8eeb56d0-6a93-11f0-9c23-fb68a8157cc4/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The One Thing Needful]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6fe42780-61ba-11f0-be1f-2d768d55b071</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6fe42780-61ba-11f0-be1f-2d768d55b071</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus said, &ldquo;Few things are needed&mdash;or indeed only one.&rdquo; Now we might object. There...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus said, &ldquo;Few things are needed&mdash;or indeed only one.&rdquo; Now we might object. There seems to be more than one true need. We need water, food, clothing, shelter, friendship, etc. Yet, what Jesus said is true. Because only one thing&mdash;the gospel&mdash;can create and sustain the faith that makes one God&rsquo;s dear child and an heir of the everlasting kingdom. If you didn&rsquo;t have water, you would die in a few days; without oxygen, in a few minutes. But without Jesus speaking to us through his Word, there is no hope for eternal life in heaven. So, let us listen to Jesus speak, giving him our undivided attention.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6fe42780-61ba-11f0-be1f-2d768d55b071/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="857166" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Undivided Attention On a Neighbor In Need]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/539ba710-5f44-11f0-a867-7fe56fc70a79</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/539ba710-5f44-11f0-a867-7fe56fc70a79</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, &ldquo;If I spend time helping him, that will di...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, &ldquo;If I spend time helping him, that will distract me from other things that need my attention.&rdquo; This week, Jesus teaches us that he has set us free to live a life of such distraction. No matter the neighbor and no matter his need, we are free to give him our undivided attention, even if that seems senseless. Christ has set us free to bear any cost and go any distance to serve a neighbor as Christ himself would serve them.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/539ba710-5f44-11f0-a867-7fe56fc70a79/original/file.pdf" 
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On the Want for Workers]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2646d20-56e6-11f0-bbf3-6568bee97317</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2646d20-56e6-11f0-bbf3-6568bee97317</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scripture teaches that there is a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-ti...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture teaches that there is a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, etc. These workers are called by God himself through the Church to proclaim law and gospel in some public capacity. Called workers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through public ministry. Jesus taught there will always be a want for such workers. &ldquo;The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few&rdquo; (Luke 10:2). So, this is a topic worthy of our undivided attention.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f2646d20-56e6-11f0-bbf3-6568bee97317/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ’s Call for Commitment]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/562597f0-513b-11f0-a770-01c912f62a99</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/562597f0-513b-11f0-a770-01c912f62a99</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus wants followers who are all-in&hellip; who love him above all things&hellip; who would be will...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus wants followers who are all-in&hellip; who love him above all things&hellip; who would be willing to leave everything else behind if that were what it would take to be with him. We simply do not have it inside us to produce that level of commitment. But in the gospel, we see how Jesus went all in for our salvation. As we witness the way Jesus made our eternal happiness the focus of his undivided attention, the Spirit creates within us the very commitment that Christ seeks.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/562597f0-513b-11f0-a770-01c912f62a99/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On the Mission Right Before Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/db2005d0-4c7c-11f0-b7a8-7ff1cb7ea7f3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/db2005d0-4c7c-11f0-b7a8-7ff1cb7ea7f3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We tend to think of mission work as being &ldquo;over there,&rdquo; something done in a far-away pla...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We tend to think of mission work as being &ldquo;over there,&rdquo; something done in a far-away place. It is good and right to support foreign mission work with our prayers and offerings. However, something is off if we allow our appreciation for &ldquo;over there&rdquo; mission work to take our eyes off the mission that is right before us. Here is the two-fold reality worthy of our undivided attention this week. First, if we have seen the grace of God, we will serve as witnesses for Christ. Second, we need not cross the ocean to share the gospel. We can simply cross the street.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: On the Majesty and Mystery of Our God]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/778b01e0-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/58a3a160-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/58a3a160-47a5-11f0-ba16-b32e9df0c90f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scripture teaches that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God&rsquo;s ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture teaches that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God&rsquo;s very existence is far beyond our ability to comprehend. While we cannot understand everything about our God, he is still worthy of our undivided attention. For there is plenty about God&rsquo;s majesty that we can understand. We can understand that God provides for us as a loving Father. We can understand how much God loves us, for that was proven in the sacrifice of God the Son. We can understand that every time we gather in the name of our Triune God, the Holy Spirit grants us the greatest of blessings. These truths are worthy of our undivided attention!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ Sends Us His Spirit]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2886d40-43c9-11f0-a777-ed7ea2bee67e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2886d40-43c9-11f0-a777-ed7ea2bee67e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to spread around the world. For...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to spread around the world. For Jesus promised to send another advocate to represent God to the world: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the constant companion of believers in these Last Days. We conclude this worship series with this glorious thought: because he lives, Christ sends us his Spirit.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Reigns Over Everything for the Benefit of His Church]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3e717e60-3bda-11f0-aef6-f18ffdec0c7e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3e717e60-3bda-11f0-aef6-f18ffdec0c7e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus&rsquo; ascension marked the fact that his work was complete, in one sense. Never again will a ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus&rsquo; ascension marked the fact that his work was complete, in one sense. Never again will a sacrifice for sins need to be made. However, Jesus&rsquo; ascension also marks that, in another sense, his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us power from heaven, that we might take the gospel to the ends of the earth. More, he ascended into heaven and sat down on the throne of God. He lives and reigns over everything for the benefit of his Church.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Have Deep and Lasting Joy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cd10d100-35a6-11f0-9a3e-f51dad134ff8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cd10d100-35a6-11f0-9a3e-f51dad134ff8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Conventional wisdom says that joy is a direct result of circumstance. Our disposition is nothing mor...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Conventional wisdom says that joy is a direct result of circumstance. Our disposition is nothing more than the product of the events, conditions, and relationships of which our life consists. Therefore, it would seem that for our disposition to change, our circumstances need to change. But Jesus offers a joy that is superior. It is not a product of circumstance; it&rsquo;s a product of Easter. Our risen Savior gives us a joy that remains constant in the highest of life&rsquo;s highs and the lowest of life&rsquo;s lows. Because he lives, we have deep and lasting joy.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Live Lives of Lavish Love]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/50bde4e0-3339-11f0-ade3-5b476d91e94c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/50bde4e0-3339-11f0-ade3-5b476d91e94c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[If someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? Probably just about any...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[If someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? Probably just about anything they asked! You would be that grateful. Jesus not only saved us from eternal death in hell, but he won for us an eternity in paradise. What shall we do to thank him? This week we see that Jesus asks for just one thing&mdash;love. He asks us, in every interaction we have with others, to demonstrate the same selfless love that he has shown to us. That is how we thank him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/50bde4e0-3339-11f0-ade3-5b476d91e94c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Know Jesus is Trustworthy and True]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e11876d0-2ddb-11f0-95fe-5fe37156ae1a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e11876d0-2ddb-11f0-95fe-5fe37156ae1a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. But we are awa...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. But we are aware of what many of those people will do when it comes time to put those words into action. Jesus tells you in his Word that he cares for you dearly, that he would do anything for you, that he&rsquo;s leading you into the green pastures of paradise. How do you know you can trust him? Simple. Jesus followed up his words with action. Jesus promised he would die to save you from your sin. He did. Scripture promised the Savior would rise from the dead, proving that payment for sins was complete. It happened.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e11876d0-2ddb-11f0-95fe-5fe37156ae1a/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Can See Things Clearly]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/071680f0-2852-11f0-8562-c1bd4b1e114b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/071680f0-2852-11f0-8562-c1bd4b1e114b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Spiritual blindness can take many different forms. In some cases, it is hostile opposition to the me...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Spiritual blindness can take many different forms. In some cases, it is hostile opposition to the message of Jesus. In others, spiritual blindness might be demonstrated in confusion about Jesus&rsquo; true identity. In still others, spiritual blindness might be the inability to understand our spiritual condition. No matter the form spiritual blindness takes, Easter has the power to replace it with sight. Easter enables us to see the path through life that is worth pursuing. Spiritual sight gives us the ability to see who holds our future in his hands and who is worth our eternal worship. Because he lives, we can see things clearly.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/071680f0-2852-11f0-8562-c1bd4b1e114b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Have a Meaningful Mission]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/435980f0-2143-11f0-871d-eb6d1c6d5628</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/435980f0-2143-11f0-871d-eb6d1c6d5628</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[If Jesus remained dead, all he would provide is an example of a beautiful life. Therefore, if Jesus ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[If Jesus remained dead, all he would provide is an example of a beautiful life. Therefore, if Jesus remained dead, the mission of his followers would simply be to share advice. &ldquo;Here is how Jesus would want us to love one another. Or &ldquo;Jesus would want us to think about money like this.&rdquo; Or &ldquo;This is how Jesus would pray.&rdquo; But because he lives, his followers now have a meaningful mission. It is not to share advice, but to testify to what we have seen and know to be true. Christ has risen!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/435980f0-2143-11f0-871d-eb6d1c6d5628/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Sunrise Service: Rejoicing in Resurrection Hope]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a22dcf40-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a22dcf40-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today, on this most glorious of days as we gather around an empty tomb, we celebrate what repentance...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today, on this most glorious of days as we gather around an empty tomb, we celebrate what repentance for the forgiveness of sins means for each of us as God&rsquo;s children. We celebrate that because of our Savior and his resurrection from the dead, we poor and miserable sinners can rejoice in resurrection hope today and every day.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Festival Service: Death Has Lost Its Sting]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a1ad70-17c6-11f0-af78-6bf8665a79a6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e7480520-1945-11f0-8de8-e556a1fddb86</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Death can sting in many ways. Death stings by casting a shadow&mdash;no matter what earthly joy you ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Death can sting in many ways. Death stings by casting a shadow&mdash;no matter what earthly joy you are experiencing, death guarantees it won&rsquo;t last. It can sting by separating loved ones. It can sting by instilling fear of what follows. Deep down, every human being senses that after death there is some sort of reckoning. But Christ has defeated death. So, while death may still cause tears, death does not cause dread. Because he lives, death has lost its sting.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday Service of Darkness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/83a2aa80-1700-11f0-a6ac-f9a19bdd3aa5</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship s...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross. We are restored by his sacrifice.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday: Renewed Through the Gospel]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/12693a40-1238-11f0-8c10-d11c580e9255</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! In the sacram...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! In the sacrament, Jesus gives us his very body and blood to eat and drink so that through this most concrete and substantial dose of pure gospel, we may be renewed in our faith. Dear Christians, on this night be renewed through the gospel.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Palm Sunday: Sunday of the Passion]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8f04a110-14a5-11f0-8715-5188d37430e9</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to his crucifixion. Palm Sunday is named after the palms that were spread before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. The people&rsquo;s praise reveals that they hailed Jesus as the Messianic King. Yet only days later, they would cry out, &ldquo;Crucify!&rdquo; This contrast is reflected as the joy of Christ&rsquo;s triumphal entry gives way to the somber remembrance of his suffering and death. The extended reading of the Passion History sets before us all that Christ did on our behalf. Thus, the Church prepares for Holy Week&mdash;the most important week of the church year.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8f04a110-14a5-11f0-8715-5188d37430e9/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Remembering God's Perfect Demands]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e352a910-14a5-11f0-8715-5188d37430e9</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[While we can&rsquo;t live sinlessly in this world, we need to remember God&rsquo;s perfect demands o...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[While we can&rsquo;t live sinlessly in this world, we need to remember God&rsquo;s perfect demands of us. God demands that our hearts be holy, and in his mercy, he teaches us where to look for that holiness.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Hiding Treasure in the Trash]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5163dba0-1239-11f0-8c10-d11c580e9255</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5163dba0-1239-11f0-8c10-d11c580e9255</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In God&rsquo;s family, the things the world prizes and pursues are counted as worthless. Conversely,...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In God&rsquo;s family, the things the world prizes and pursues are counted as worthless. Conversely, what the world rejects and discards is considered priceless and worth pursuing. The best example of this is Jesus Christ himself. The Father sent his greatest treasure&mdash;God the Son&mdash;to earth. And many considered Jesus to be a trash that needed to be taken out&mdash;a troublemaker that needed to be killed. In truth, Christ is the precious cornerstone that God used to build his house, the one with the open door.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5163dba0-1239-11f0-8c10-d11c580e9255/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Removing our Guilt]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f8009870-0f34-11f0-8695-c3168f1bb6f9</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f8009870-0f34-11f0-8695-c3168f1bb6f9</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[As King David reminds us in his great penitential psalm, our Savior-God is, was, and always will be ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[As King David reminds us in his great penitential psalm, our Savior-God is, was, and always will be removing our guilt.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f8009870-0f34-11f0-8695-c3168f1bb6f9/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Grace Instead of Condemnation]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b9240af0-0d05-11f0-ac83-87d46ee1b4b0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b9240af0-0d05-11f0-ac83-87d46ee1b4b0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We assume people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. We assume God ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We assume people get what they deserve. We assume that what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who help themselves. Those assumptions are false. God does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. No one is beyond the reach of God&rsquo;s grace. God never turns it off. At the entrance of God&rsquo;s open door is not a Father looking to condemn us, but a Father who has eagerly longed for our return. When we do, he takes us in his loving arms and assures us we are still his child. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God&rsquo;s condemnation, he reveals his grace yet again.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2025 01:24:28 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b9240af0-0d05-11f0-ac83-87d46ee1b4b0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Relying on God's Grace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/70154740-09a2-11f0-b168-2b3b07626389</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/70154740-09a2-11f0-b168-2b3b07626389</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[From beginning to end we find ourselves totally relying on God&rsquo;s grace.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[From beginning to end we find ourselves totally relying on God&rsquo;s grace.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/70154740-09a2-11f0-b168-2b3b07626389/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Always Present, Always Patient]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/696817b0-0682-11f0-a69c-a54b40d4c010</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/696817b0-0682-11f0-a69c-a54b40d4c010</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The heavenly Father is always present in the lives of his children. He sees every sorrow we endure. He also sees every sin that we commit, even if it&rsquo;s only in our thoughts. He is always present. Yet, he is also always patient. God does not snap at us the second we turn from him. He gives us time to see the error of our ways. He assures us that the door back to him remains always open. By giving us room to share our struggles and shortcomings, he works in us the very repentance he desires and saves us from the judgment that would otherwise be ours.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Recognizing Whom We Sin Against]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9eccf830-0416-11f0-94a5-1550fe38c783</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9eccf830-0416-11f0-94a5-1550fe38c783</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This Wednesday, let&rsquo;s meditate on the mercy of God that works repentance in us so that we reco...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This Wednesday, let&rsquo;s meditate on the mercy of God that works repentance in us so that we recognize against whom we sin. In this psalm, David teaches us that all sins are acts of rebellion against God and that God judges justly in all things.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: No Detours Allowed]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a80b4640-01cd-11f0-98dd-f54c13baa0fe</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a very specific pathway to that door. It is not an easy one. As it did with Jesus, this route takes us through opposition, suffering, and even death. While our human nature may cause us to want to take a detour around these things, Jesus own life shows us that no detour is allowed. His cross came before his crown. The same path lies ahead of us. However, at the end of it, through the open door, we are offered a reward far superior to anything the world can offer.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: Revealing Our Sinful Nature]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/953dab20-fee4-11ef-933e-9fa2d24d3337</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/953dab20-fee4-11ef-933e-9fa2d24d3337</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The reality we face today is that our Lord God reveals our sinful nature&mdash;sin has thoroughly co...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The reality we face today is that our Lord God reveals our sinful nature&mdash;sin has thoroughly corrupted our nature. But Jesus frees us from ourselves.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: One Stands; Everyone Else Sits]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8404cc30-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/619667d0-fabb-11ef-8018-99ab5dd24121</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Normally in a family everyone must do their part and pull their weight. In God&rsquo;s family, he as...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Normally in a family everyone must do their part and pull their weight. In God&rsquo;s family, he assigns and accepts the work of one on behalf of all. In God&rsquo;s house, God&rsquo;s Son&mdash;our brother, Jesus&mdash;stands alone on the field of battle against our enemies in our place. He fights vicariously. He fights victoriously. We simply sit and watch with eyes full of wonder and repentant faith. Because Christ fought that battle as one of us, he won that battle for all of us. The door to heaven stands wide open for those who believe in him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday: Realizing Our Need for Repentance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f9fcbdd0-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/aa82ac10-f84f-11ef-b893-a59eeb9f3dbd</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) to Jesus&rsquo; cross and tomb in anticipation of Easter. It begins with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance. Our Lenten series, Reflections on Repentance, seeks to teach what repentance is on the basis of Psalm 51, considering not only the verses of the psalm but also the background: perhaps the greatest fall from grace and call to repentance in Scripture. In King David, we all see ourselves: needing God&rsquo;s grace so deeply and receiving it with such appreciation. Above all, we aim to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, the culmination of all of history and the reason that repentance is such a wondrous gift for the eternal life of even the worst of sinners.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Glory is Hidden in Order to be Revealed]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c2f41ab0-f6d1-11ef-98ca-73c19d77452e</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The Lord once told Moses, &ldquo;No one may see me and live&rdquo; (Exodus 33:20). Sinners would die...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Lord once told Moses, &ldquo;No one may see me and live&rdquo; (Exodus 33:20). Sinners would die of fear if they saw God in all his holy glory. How then can we possibly know God? How can we draw near to him without dying of terror? God hides his glory in order to reveal himself. To carry out his good and glorious work of salvation, Jesus hid his glory and went to the cross. To allow sinners to stare at his glory without fear or harm, God hides it in the gospel. In the gospel, we see the glory of Christ&rsquo;s love, power, and salvation. The reality is that when God&rsquo;s glory is hidden, it is most on display.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Love Your Enemies, Overcoming Evil with Good]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7f58dd50-f068-11ef-9216-0940402f6b5b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7f58dd50-f068-11ef-9216-0940402f6b5b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This week Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with g...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This week Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with good. Worldly logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet haven&rsquo;t we seen this tactic work? When we were Christ&rsquo;s enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily wrongs with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he won us for himself. Here is the epiphany we badly need to have. Following the strategy Jesus lays out&mdash;loving our enemies&mdash;is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7f58dd50-f068-11ef-9216-0940402f6b5b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Blessings are Cursed; Curses are Blessed]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/80aa72b0-ebca-11ef-b0ec-411fb80b0d65</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/80aa72b0-ebca-11ef-b0ec-411fb80b0d65</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;This is good. That is bad.&rdquo; We often think life is that simple. If we want to see the w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;This is good. That is bad.&rdquo; We often think life is that simple. If we want to see the world accurately, we need to have this epiphany. That which the world considers a blessing can often be a curse. Things like success and wealth and health can lead us away from our God. Conversely, there are hidden blessings in what we would normally consider curses. When we fail, when we suffer, and when things don&rsquo;t go our way, it forces us to put our trust in God and for our souls to be satisfied in him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/80aa72b0-ebca-11ef-b0ec-411fb80b0d65/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Least Qualified are the First Sent]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3a7d5eb0-e594-11ef-a0f2-75a03e3732d4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3a7d5eb0-e594-11ef-a0f2-75a03e3732d4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Imagine you need heart bypass surgery. When meeting with the surgeon, you ask, &ldquo;How many of th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine you need heart bypass surgery. When meeting with the surgeon, you ask, &ldquo;How many of these have you done?&rdquo; He responds, &ldquo;You get the honor of being my very first patient!&rdquo; With important jobs, we want the person doing that job to be well-qualified. So, you would expect Jesus would only give the job of sharing the gospel to those most qualified, like the angels. Nope. The least qualified are the first sent. In love, Jesus prepares and equips us to speak on his behalf. Here is this week&rsquo;s epiphany moment: You might think you are unqualified to share the gospel with those Christ brings into your sphere of influence. But the least qualified are the first sent.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3a7d5eb0-e594-11ef-a0f2-75a03e3732d4/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Popularity is Not Proof of Success]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b0b1800-e0b9-11ef-8172-43e9cd74ef2c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b0b1800-e0b9-11ef-8172-43e9cd74ef2c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Popularity is not proof of success. Though there will be times when Christ&rsquo;s gospel and those ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Popularity is not proof of success. Though there will be times when Christ&rsquo;s gospel and those who proclaim it are popular, popularity is never the goal. Nor does that popularity define success. If a church makes its central focus things that may draw a crowd it fails to carry out the true agenda Christ has given his Church. The gospel of forgiveness is to be the center of all our preaching and teaching. The agenda for Christ&rsquo;s Church is set. It&rsquo;s the same agenda that was followed by Christ himself.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5b0b1800-e0b9-11ef-8172-43e9cd74ef2c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rejection is Not Proof of Failure]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5574a0e0-db2e-11ef-967e-15bca7833dc9</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5574a0e0-db2e-11ef-967e-15bca7833dc9</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Here is this week&rsquo;s epiphany. Rejection is not proof of failure. Precisely because the gospel ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Here is this week&rsquo;s epiphany. Rejection is not proof of failure. Precisely because the gospel is divine revelation, it is guaranteed to be rejected by many. God&rsquo;s Word offends like an unwelcome diagnosis from the doctor. When someone rejects God&rsquo;s Word (including us), that rejection is proof that God&rsquo;s Word powerfully cuts straight to the heart of mankind&rsquo;s biggest problem&mdash;sin. Yet, what causes Jesus&rsquo; words to hurt is what gives them power to heal. That reality encourages us to receive God&rsquo;s Word with joy and to proclaim it boldly to others.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5574a0e0-db2e-11ef-967e-15bca7833dc9/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God Delivers More than We Ask, Not Less]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d6e64850-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9c5d3c70-d5ce-11ef-9e02-2d80ee848264</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[It is easy for us to assume that if God says &ldquo;no&rdquo; to a request, we are getting less than...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It is easy for us to assume that if God says &ldquo;no&rdquo; to a request, we are getting less than we wanted. We need to have an epiphany moment, seeing the reality&mdash;that God always wants more for us than we want from him. Saying &ldquo;yes&rdquo; to all our requests would often result in us receiving less joy, less blessing, a lesser life. So, when God says &ldquo;no&rdquo; to our request, we can be assured it is because he wants to give us more. His love for us exceeds all expectation and understanding. In that love, God always delivers more than we ask, not less.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Gift of God Is for All People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/abe319a0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f5e6cae0-cf93-11ef-bb4c-bfdbb28686b8</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Today we celebrate the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;rev...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today we celebrate the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;reveal.&rdquo; When the Savior was born, he was first revealed to Israelites: the shepherds, Simeon, Anna. But today, we see the Lord miraculously guides foreigners across countless miles so the Savior could be revealed to them as well. How did the magi respond? &ldquo;They were overjoyed&rdquo; (Matthew 2:10). The Festival of Epiphany is sometimes known as &ldquo;The Gentiles&rsquo; Christmas.&rdquo; We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is not just a gift for the Jews. He is a gift for all people&mdash;the Savior of the world.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Gift of Baptism]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/abe319a0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a23e8e20-ca14-11ef-89a9-8ff07d9c59f8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a23e8e20-ca14-11ef-89a9-8ff07d9c59f8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Who is Jesus?&rdquo; For the longest time, people thought the answer to that question was, &l...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Who is Jesus?&rdquo; For the longest time, people thought the answer to that question was, &ldquo;Mary and Joseph&rsquo;s son&rdquo; or &ldquo;a carpenter from Nazareth.&rdquo; While true enough, those answers do not adequately describe Jesus. But when Jesus was baptized, God the Father spoke, declaring Jesus&rsquo; true identity. Jesus was the dearly loved Son of God, chosen to be the Savior of the world. Who are you? &mdash; We must look to our baptism. There, just like he did with Jesus, our Father declares us to be his dearly loved child. Moreover, in baptism God anointed us with power for a life of selfless service.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God Gives Both Substitute and Sacrifice]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/abe319a0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9fa7a810-c55d-11ef-99bf-57a812911b7e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9fa7a810-c55d-11ef-99bf-57a812911b7e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. Understanding ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. Understanding we needed both&mdash;substitute and sacrifice&mdash;helps us better understand Jesus&rsquo; saving work. That work includes more than Jesus&rsquo; death on the cross. Jesus&rsquo; saving work began the moment he was born under the law and obeyed it. This week, we thank God that Jesus served us in both these much-needed ways!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day Festival Service: God Gives Himself as One of Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/abe319a0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c92359d0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c92359d0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What is this gift of God? This gift is God and man in one person, exactly what humanity needed to de...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What is this gift of God? This gift is God and man in one person, exactly what humanity needed to deliver us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and Satan. On the Festival of Christmas, we thank God for this greatest of gifts.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: The Gift of God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/abe319a0-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7e47af60-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7e47af60-c0dc-11ef-bdd9-15fe2ed4b427</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus is born into our world far from power, mired in poverty, and absent of any earthly fanfare. Th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus is born into our world far from power, mired in poverty, and absent of any earthly fanfare. The first guests he receives are not kings or emperors, but humble shepherds. Because God put heaven&rsquo;s best gift in earth&rsquo;s unlikeliest place, there will always be room at the manger for you. You will not need to stand in line, wait your turn, or prove yourself worthy first. Instead, you can know with certainty that God gave this gift&mdash;and all the gifts he brought with him&mdash;to you.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Real Christmas Will Lift Up the Lowly]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/88a28be0-af3b-11ef-be03-3f50e533060f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/25ccfa10-bfde-11ef-8e2f-e36f4ac36ae3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/25ccfa10-bfde-11ef-8e2f-e36f4ac36ae3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. If that is how we feel, perhaps t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. If that is how we feel, perhaps the frenzy of December has done us a favor. We have been stretched to our limits. We have been made painfully aware of our shortcomings. We have been humbled. Perfect! For being made aware of our weakness does not disqualify us from God&rsquo;s care. It does the opposite. It is what prepares us for the work he does best. He is a God who lifts up the lowly.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Real Christmas Results in Great Joy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/88a28be0-af3b-11ef-be03-3f50e533060f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9445f060-ba56-11ef-b2a7-61e416ab527b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9445f060-ba56-11ef-b2a7-61e416ab527b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[For some, the pressure to have &ldquo;a perfect Christmas&rdquo; can be overwhelming. For others, Ch...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[For some, the pressure to have &ldquo;a perfect Christmas&rdquo; can be overwhelming. For others, Christmas amplifies loneliness. We need a real Christmas, one that results in great joy. But joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from Christ assuring you of his abiding love and your glorious future. Therefore, happiness&mdash;&ldquo;holiday cheer&rdquo;&mdash;is fleeting. Joyfulness is enduring. The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent &ldquo;Gaudete,&rdquo; which means &ldquo;Rejoice!&rdquo; As we reach the midway point of Advent, we ask Christ to empower us to do just that.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Real Christmas is Rooted in Repentance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/88a28be0-af3b-11ef-be03-3f50e533060f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed3f0e80-b4f3-11ef-8325-ffbd1257bdd4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed3f0e80-b4f3-11ef-8325-ffbd1257bdd4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The closer we get to Christmas, the greater the pressure. There is so much work to be done! What a w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The closer we get to Christmas, the greater the pressure. There is so much work to be done! What a welcome relief, therefore, to hear what is required to really be ready for Christmas: only repentance. You see, repentance is the opposite of work. It is the candid and honest admission of our sin combined with the joyful trust that everything needed to bring us close to God has already been done by Christ. At this frenetic time of year, the call to repent is not another demand to do something more. It is a gracious invitation to set down our work to make way for Christ&rsquo;s work. Rooted in that repentant rest, we can fully enjoy a real Christmas.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Advent Devotion: Christmas Trees]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ce3a3f10-b0ce-11ef-8cf7-115bec1c6ae6/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b01c9730-b0ce-11ef-8cf7-115bec1c6ae6</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b01c9730-b0ce-11ef-8cf7-115bec1c6ae6</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It is the most widely recognized symbol of the season&mdash;the Christmas tree. Other religions had ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It is the most widely recognized symbol of the season&mdash;the Christmas tree. Other religions had used evergreen branches as ceremonial decorations to represent eternal life. However, in the 16th century, the Lutherans of Germany took the next step of bringing freshly cut evergreen trees indoors for the holidays. They decorated the trees with red ornaments, symbolizing the blood of Christ, and with candles, symbolizing the light of Christ. They would top the tree with a star or angel, both important in the story of Jesus&rsquo; birth. The Christmas tree is a special part of our Christmas celebration. Tonight, we will look at some Christmas trees. They are not evergreens, nor decorated with tinsel or garland or bright lights. Rather, we will look at some of the trees in the Scripture that point us to the Christ. These Christmas trees, more than the decorative ones, remind us of why the birth of Jesus Christ is so important.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Real Christmas Requires Remembering Christ Will Come Again]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/88a28be0-af3b-11ef-be03-3f50e533060f/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/437d6f80-af3b-11ef-be03-3f50e533060f</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[A parent says, &ldquo;I want to give my kids a real Christmas.&rdquo; Perhaps they are thinking of a...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[A parent says, &ldquo;I want to give my kids a real Christmas.&rdquo; Perhaps they are thinking of a freshly cut tree or finding the perfect presents or spending the holidays with extended family. All those are wonderful things. However, none of them are what makes Christmas real. If you want a real Christmas, then you need to observe Advent. Advent is Latin for &ldquo;coming.&rdquo; In the season of Advent, Christians observe the connection between the first time the Son of God came into our world as the Savior and the second time he will come as the Judge. Advent prepares our minds and hearts, so that we might soon celebrate a real Christmas.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Live with Your Eyes on Your King]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/015dda00-92f7-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/926f19a0-a9a4-11ef-9f91-01334df4896a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/926f19a0-a9a4-11ef-9f91-01334df4896a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Eyes on the prize.&rdquo; You don&rsquo;t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to k...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Eyes on the prize.&rdquo; You don&rsquo;t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to keep you from obtaining whatever that prize might be. The prize that we want most is spending eternity with Jesus. We end the Church Year with the lasting song of triumph for Christ our King who won the prize for us. The promise is sure: We will live with him in his kingdom, rejoicing in his goodness and resting in his eternal peace. Let us set aside all that would distract us from Christ. Let us be ready. Let us keep watch. Let us live with our eyes on the skies waiting for our King.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Live Free from the Fear of Judgment]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/015dda00-92f7-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dccc8620-a37f-11ef-967b-e17884b60d40</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dccc8620-a37f-11ef-967b-e17884b60d40</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[How do we overcome the fear of judgment? It begins by realizing that there is only one person whose ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[How do we overcome the fear of judgment? It begins by realizing that there is only one person whose opinion ultimately matters&mdash;the Judge. Everyone is going to live forever in one of two very different places. Where you spend eternity depends on a judgment that Jesus will render. This week we see why his judgment need not trigger any sort of anxiety. Judgment Day is something we can joyfully anticipate. We can live free from the fear of judgment.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Live a Life of Startling Generosity]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/015dda00-92f7-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4d1077c0-9f11-11ef-97e0-51fe64512b15</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4d1077c0-9f11-11ef-97e0-51fe64512b15</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Paul wrote, &ldquo;If the dead are not raised, &lsquo;Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die&rsqu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul wrote, &ldquo;If the dead are not raised, &lsquo;Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die&rsquo;&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 15:32). In other words, while you still can, use what you have in order to enjoy life to the fullest. However, note the &ldquo;if.&rdquo; That approach to life makes sense only if this life is all we have. But it isn&rsquo;t. Jesus will raise us from the dead and take us to live in his home, a place of perfect comfort and beauty. Knowing that, we are set free from the need to live a self-indulgent life now. Instead, we can be generous people, using the wealth that God has given us to serve both him and others. We can live a life of startling generosity.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Live Knowing Life Only Gets Better]]></title>
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                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/20987320-97a3-11ef-85f4-2f6ad6bf7e0b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/20987320-97a3-11ef-85f4-2f6ad6bf7e0b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;It will get better.&rdquo; We say that to try to comfort someone who is having a bad day. Per...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;It will get better.&rdquo; We say that to try to comfort someone who is having a bad day. Perhaps tomorrow will be better. But perhaps it&rsquo;s worse. In this life, there really are no guarantees that things will get better. That isn&rsquo;t the case with the life that is to come. It will be perfect. Since the seventh century, Christians have marked All Saints Day to celebrate those who have died in faith and now realize the perfect joys of heaven. We thank God for bringing our Christian loved ones out of the troubles and turmoil of this world and into eternal bliss and glory. And we ask God to preserve us in our faith so that we might one day join the saints in that place where life is far more than better.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Live a Life of Fearless Witness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/015dda00-92f7-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9f299500-92f5-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9f299500-92f5-11ef-930e-e1a282361a3b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Martin Luther wanted to reform the false teaching of the church. He stood firm in the truth of the g...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Martin Luther wanted to reform the false teaching of the church. He stood firm in the truth of the gospel, knowing it might cost him his life. But Luther knew that, thanks to Christ, he would live forever. So will we. Therefore, like Luther, let us live a life of courageous witness.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ Make Selfless Sacrifices]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4290abd0-8d8c-11ef-bdef-55a39a98ca79</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4290abd0-8d8c-11ef-bdef-55a39a98ca79</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;What&rsquo;s in it for me?&rdquo; It&rsquo;s easy to look at life through the lens of that qu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;What&rsquo;s in it for me?&rdquo; It&rsquo;s easy to look at life through the lens of that question, to make decisions based on perceived personal benefit. Perhaps at times we look at Christianity through that lens, wondering what we will gain from following Christ. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s in it for me?&rdquo; Jesus first disciples asked that question. They hoped that following Christ would bring prestige and honor. They assumed following Christ would make life easier. But it doesn&rsquo;t work like that. Followers of Christ are called to sacrifice for the well-being of others.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ Maintain Proper Priorities]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a1831910-87f7-11ef-a060-7d8110e588dd</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a1831910-87f7-11ef-a060-7d8110e588dd</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Establishing priorities is about more than ranking things in order of importance. We do not have unl...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Establishing priorities is about more than ranking things in order of importance. We do not have unlimited time and energy. So, establishing priorities enables us to say &ldquo;no&rdquo; to things which might be good yet not truly important. Without proper priorities, one inevitably will pursue that which is nice while downplaying that which is needed. Jesus calls for prioritization when he says, &ldquo;Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness&rdquo; (Matthew 6:33). So, followers of Christ maintain proper priorities. The good news is that followers of Christ receive his forgiveness for all the times their priorities have been improper.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ Know How to Love Their Families]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fbcf1bf0-80f2-11ef-b4c0-a7b527b5234d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fbcf1bf0-80f2-11ef-b4c0-a7b527b5234d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Love can cause harm. Consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everyth...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Love can cause harm. Consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything that child asks for. That father&rsquo;s love is shaping that child to be a selfish, entitled adult. In our families, it is not enough that there is love. We need to love in a way that leads to blessings for those we claim to love. In Jesus, we see perfect, self-sacrificial love. Jesus loves us as we are. He also loved us too much to leave us as we are. So, in love, he gave his life up so that we might be holy and blameless. His love for us shapes the way we love our spouse, our children, our parents. Today we see that followers of Christ know how to love their family.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ Have Powerful Allies]]></title>
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                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/046cf1e0-7dc6-11ef-b781-fddcd7b40429</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/046cf1e0-7dc6-11ef-b781-fddcd7b40429</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Green Berets. Rangers. SEALs. Delta Force. They are elite, highly trained with unique skill sets. Ma...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Green Berets. Rangers. SEALs. Delta Force. They are elite, highly trained with unique skill sets. Many of their important missions are carried out in total secrecy. Two weeks ago, we acknowledged that we are in the middle of a massive spiritual war. Today, we thank God that we fight this war with the protection of special forces. Since the fifth century, Christians have observed the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels. We commemorate that God has sent Michael, one of the great archangels described in Scripture, and countless of his fellow angels to protect and serve mankind. Let us rejoice that followers of Christ have powerful allies!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ are Humble Servants]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/710d1970-7852-11ef-b696-998757fe6926</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one&rsquo;s hunger for all other sins. As we see all Christ did to serve us, our hearts melt. Within us grows a Christ-like obsession to serve others, without counting the cost, without any desire to be repaid. Those who are in positions of Christian leadership understand that their leadership can only be achieved through service. For followers of Christ are humble servants.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ are Armed for Battle]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2de06300-72b2-11ef-bc29-373411e41623</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[What is the worst war in human history? One might point to World War II, which has the highest death...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What is the worst war in human history? One might point to World War II, which has the highest death toll of at least 90 million people. There&rsquo;s a worse one. The worst war in human history began when the first shot was fired in Eden. It is a war against &ldquo;spiritual forces of evil&rdquo; (Ephesians 6:12). It is a war for souls. The reality is that there are demonic forces that want to do more than kill you. The good news: Christ has already called you his own and equipped you for this war. Followers of Christ are armed for the battle.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ See the True Purpose of His Power]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0b2b1f00-6c7a-11ef-a337-7bb423a1aea1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0b2b1f00-6c7a-11ef-a337-7bb423a1aea1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus has limitless power, as the numerous accounts of his miracles demonstrate. Those who witnessed...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus has limitless power, as the numerous accounts of his miracles demonstrate. Those who witnessed those miracles understood that Jesus used his power for good. That doesn&rsquo;t mean they all understood Jesus&rsquo; true purpose. Some thought Jesus&rsquo; purpose was to make this temporal life better. And while Jesus did that at times, his ultimate purpose was to save us from sin and give us the gift of eternal life. Followers of Christ see the true purpose of his power.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ Obey His Law from the Heart]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/edf02dd0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d18517f0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d18517f0-67ca-11ef-a4ec-4d68f867e4ce</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;We need better leadership!&rdquo; Have you ever said that? Perhaps you were frustrated with t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;We need better leadership!&rdquo; Have you ever said that? Perhaps you were frustrated with the direction being taken by some elected official or by management at your workplace or by the coach of your favorite team. Jesus Christ is the leader of our congregation, our home, our lives. And his leadership is perfect in every way. Therefore, when things are amiss in any of those arenas, what is needed is not better leadership, but better followership. In this series, we ask Christ to empower us with his Spirit so that we might better follow his lead. Following Christ is not simply a matter of outward observance of laws. This week we see that followers of Christ obey his law from the heart.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Hymn Festival: Childlike Faith]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/38e4ae00-6155-11ef-a0e7-39f37e3eb0b3/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c7700850-6154-11ef-a0e7-39f37e3eb0b3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c7700850-6154-11ef-a0e7-39f37e3eb0b3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus said, &ldquo;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Go...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus said, &ldquo;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Bread that Gives Wisdom and Life]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/80938560-5687-11ef-89ac-d91238ec5fd5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/69dc4980-5c9d-11ef-a90b-01ea4de51cd0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/69dc4980-5c9d-11ef-a90b-01ea4de51cd0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[There are foods you might never have tasted without someone working hard to convince you to try them...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[There are foods you might never have tasted without someone working hard to convince you to try them. Likewise, this spiritual food that Jesus describes is something no one finds appealing at first, but distasteful. And so today Jesus explains that we need God to work within us, so that we have the wisdom to see that this food gives life and the faith to find this bread most delicious.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Spiritual Food for Those Focused on the Earthly]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/80938560-5687-11ef-89ac-d91238ec5fd5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1fe68730-5687-11ef-89ac-d91238ec5fd5</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1fe68730-5687-11ef-89ac-d91238ec5fd5</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Physical food is a blessing from God without which we would literally wither away and die. That is w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Physical food is a blessing from God without which we would literally wither away and die. That is why Jesus lovingly and miraculously fed thousands of followers with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Yet, while physical food is a good thing, it is far from the greatest thing God provides us. The greatest blessing God provides is spiritual food. The best thing God gives us is his Son, the bread of life. Without that spiritual food, we wither and die in a much worse way.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Fear Not, for The Lord is with You]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/613d9df0-3ae3-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/69b8cb60-51ba-11ef-9c7d-d589a015258f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/69b8cb60-51ba-11ef-9c7d-d589a015258f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[For several weeks, we have been discussing the reality that the Lord of the Church has called all be...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[For several weeks, we have been discussing the reality that the Lord of the Church has called all believers to meaningful ministry. Ministry will come with challenges. It can cause fears to arise: the fear of rejection, the fear of inadequacy, the fear of persecution. So, listen again to your Savior. &ldquo;I am with you.&rdquo; We conclude our series on meaningful ministry empowered by that gracious promise.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God Meets Our Need To Meet Others’ Needs]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/613d9df0-3ae3-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e6efcca0-4c29-11ef-85fb-3f661b6422c3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e6efcca0-4c29-11ef-85fb-3f661b6422c3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Everything you have was given to you by your good and gracious Father. We need to understand that. B...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Everything you have was given to you by your good and gracious Father. We need to understand that. But it is just as important that we understand why God provides for our physical needs. As we have seen throughout this worship series, God has called us to ministry. He asks us to reflect his love in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of others. Believers want to serve others in those ways. By providing for us, God meets our need to meet others&rsquo; needs. This week Jesus promises that he will provide the resources necessary to conduct meaningful ministry.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Models a Compassionate Shepherd’s Heart]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Pastor Birner</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/613d9df0-3ae3-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/616e99b0-45ff-11ef-9bdf-51f6635014ab</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/616e99b0-45ff-11ef-9bdf-51f6635014ab</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In Scripture, meaningful ministry is often pictured as a compassionate shepherd caring for his sheep...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In Scripture, meaningful ministry is often pictured as a compassionate shepherd caring for his sheep: Jesus&rsquo; care for us; a spiritual leader&rsquo;s care for his &ldquo;flock.&rdquo; Ultimately, meaningful ministry requires a compassionate heart&mdash;a profound caring for others. An individual might know God&rsquo;s Word backwards and forwards. But if they lack compassion, they will not fully perform meaningful ministry. Today, we ask the Spirit to see how Jesus models a compassionate shepherd&rsquo;s heart so that we might be filled with that same compassion.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Pastor Birner</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Sent with God’s Own Authority]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/613d9df0-3ae3-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3661fea0-4083-11ef-b997-d3f07ffecb90</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3661fea0-4083-11ef-b997-d3f07ffecb90</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When a child asks a sibling to do something there isn&rsquo;t much certainty as to the results. Howe...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When a child asks a sibling to do something there isn&rsquo;t much certainty as to the results. However, if that same child adds, &ldquo;Dad said so,&rdquo; it&rsquo;s a very different story! Now the father&rsquo;s authority is behind the child&rsquo;s request. As believers carry out gospel ministry, encouraging others to turn to Christ in repentance, people might push back. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re far from perfect. What gives you the right?&rdquo; Maybe we ask that question ourselves. In calling us to ministry, God isn&rsquo;t asking us to share our advice or our opinion or even our values. We are sharing God&rsquo;s own authoritative Word.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Not Glee And Gratitude, But Rejection And Resentment]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/613d9df0-3ae3-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9ca0d2a0-3ae2-11ef-907a-e7ae4f61d49b</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Ministry comes from the Latin word for &ldquo;service.&rdquo; Ministry involves serving others with ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ministry comes from the Latin word for &ldquo;service.&rdquo; Ministry involves serving others with love, compassion, and empathy. While pastors are called to perform gospel ministry on behalf of others, ultimately every believer is called by God to reflect Christ-like love and share the message of salvation as God provides those opportunities. Our efforts to meet the needs of those God brings into our sphere of influence is meaningful ministry. In our service to them, those people see God&rsquo;s love and God sees our faith. When people respond negatively to our acts of service, it doesn&rsquo;t mean our ministry is no longer meaningful. Even if others do not appreciate our efforts to serve them, God still appreciates our efforts to serve him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Living Lord Completely Changes Our View of Death]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dab92780-3647-11ef-91ae-2b5412745d4e</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Most people fear death to some degree. Some fear death because they assume it is the end. Others fea...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Most people fear death to some degree. Some fear death because they assume it is the end. Others fear death because they assume it isn&rsquo;t the end at all, but that there is some sort of reckoning waiting for them. Christianity teaches that for God&rsquo;s children, death is not discipline but deliverance. The living Lord gives Christians such a radically different view of death that they can have confidence to face death in their effort to give Christ glory. Finally, the Christian has been given the top-down faith that believes Jesus can wake us from death as easily as we can wake a sleeping child from his nap.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Our Gracious God Is With Us Through All The Storms Of Life]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/582b42c0-3003-11ef-a727-83d1dc021017</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/582b42c0-3003-11ef-a727-83d1dc021017</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Would you rather have a God who was distant from you but removed all the storms of life? Or would yo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Would you rather have a God who was distant from you but removed all the storms of life? Or would you rather have a God who allowed some storms to come but promised to be right there by your side within them, holding you close? May God give us the top-down faith that sees that the latter is by far the better option. God promises to be with us through all the storms of life. Sometimes he removes them. But when he doesn&rsquo;t, it&rsquo;s only because he has plans to use even storms for our eternal good.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: From The Tiniest Seed Grows The Largest Kingdom]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be61f5d0-2b25-11ef-a2a1-8124f9c32d73</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be61f5d0-2b25-11ef-a2a1-8124f9c32d73</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Usually, a kingdom advances and is secured through things like military might or political force or ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Usually, a kingdom advances and is secured through things like military might or political force or worldly wealth. It can be tempting to believe the same holds true in the kingdom of God. Perhaps we think churches would flourish if we had political force or worldly wealth. We need God to give us the top-down faith that grasps the fact that kingdom of God advances in ways that are imperceptible. Through something that seems insignificant to most&mdash;the gospel&mdash;the King of kings establishes his reign in human hearts. Even Jesus himself taught that the gospel seems unimpressive, for he often compared the gospel to a tiny seed. Yet within a seed is hidden life. As the seed of the gospel is planted, the largest of all kingdoms grows.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Devil Does His Worst, Yet Jesus Always Wins]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/154eeb20-22a0-11ef-8aca-85b4fc221264</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/154eeb20-22a0-11ef-8aca-85b4fc221264</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Look at our lives&mdash;the problems, the pains&mdash;and it&rsquo;s easy to conclude that we are lo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Look at our lives&mdash;the problems, the pains&mdash;and it&rsquo;s easy to conclude that we are losing. Look at the world&mdash;the brokenness, the bedlam&mdash;and it&rsquo;s easy to believe that the devil is winning. It all can lead us to despair. Yet this turmoil is exactly what God said would happen already in the Garden. There God declared that until the end of time enmity would prevail between the devil and mankind. But God promised more than that. He promised that from humanity would rise one who would completely defeat the devil.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/154eeb20-22a0-11ef-8aca-85b4fc221264/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rest Is a Gift, Not Something to be Earned]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16131c30-1f84-11ef-9f08-e3d78826f00e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16131c30-1f84-11ef-9f08-e3d78826f00e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[After a hard week on the job, you have earned the opportunity to relax a bit that weekend. This is h...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[After a hard week on the job, you have earned the opportunity to relax a bit that weekend. This is how we think: rest is something you earn through hard work. We even teach that to our kids: no gaming until homework is done, no playing with friends until chores are complete. In contrast, true spiritual rest cannot be earned. In fact, the harder you try, the more restless and the less peaceful you become. Spiritual rest is a gift that God gives. The rest we need most&mdash;from guilt, from worry, from shame, from hopelessness&mdash;is graciously given to us by the Lord of the Sabbath.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/16131c30-1f84-11ef-9f08-e3d78826f00e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Only a Triune God Can Deliver What Only a Triune God Can Offer]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46a1ed20-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/18b555a0-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/18b555a0-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Ch...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We have entered the second half of the Church Year, the half that focuses on the teachings of the Christian faith. When we call Christianity a &ldquo;top-down faith,&rdquo; we mean that the Christian faith contains teachings that are so wonderful that we would never even believe them unless God himself revealed their truthfulness to us. So, God sent his Spirit from heaven to earth&mdash;from the top down&mdash;to empower his children to believe that which would otherwise be totally unbelievable. No Christian teaching demonstrates that we have a top-down faith more than the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. We believe in the Triune God without fully comprehending his existence, simply because the Spirit has given us the gift of faith.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/18b555a0-1ab3-11ef-82e4-074fed27980b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ Has Not Left Us Alone]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b4eb0040-146f-11ef-8e96-099cc7288f1c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b4eb0040-146f-11ef-8e96-099cc7288f1c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus told his disciples that, though he was going to ascend into heaven, he wasn&rsquo;t going to l...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus told his disciples that, though he was going to ascend into heaven, he wasn&rsquo;t going to leave them alone. He was going to send &ldquo;the Advocate,&rdquo; a title for the Holy Spirit. But Jesus wasn&rsquo;t sending the Spirit just to keep us company. Jesus would have the Advocate give us spiritual power so that we might participate in Christ&rsquo;s saving work. Here is the final resurrection reality: the Spirit gives us the ability to raise the spiritually dead to life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ's Ascension Means He Is Closer than Ever]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/88ae83d0-0f0b-11ef-82c7-ab2c7ffe4caa</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/88ae83d0-0f0b-11ef-82c7-ab2c7ffe4caa</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The ascension marks the completion of Jesus&rsquo; earthly mission, but it does not signify the end ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The ascension marks the completion of Jesus&rsquo; earthly mission, but it does not signify the end of his work. Now that Christ has ascended, he is closer than ever. The living and ascended Savior has reassumed full use of all his divine power. He ascended to exercise his limitless authority for his Church. Therefore, the Festival of the Ascension is one of the oldest and most joyful celebrations in the Christian Church. It will be observed by Christians until Christ returns to take us to be with him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus' Business Is Love; Therefore, So Is Ours]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b4be3db0-0968-11ef-982b-0fbcabd7309e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b4be3db0-0968-11ef-982b-0fbcabd7309e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The entirety of God&rsquo;s Word can be summed up in one word: love. God&rsquo;s Law is all about lo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The entirety of God&rsquo;s Word can be summed up in one word: love. God&rsquo;s Law is all about love. &ldquo;Love the Lord your God with all your heart&hellip;&rdquo; and &ldquo;Love your neighbor as yourself&rdquo; (Matthew 22:37,39). The gospel is all about love: &ldquo;For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son&hellip;&rdquo; (John 3:16). From his compassion for the sick and broken, to his sacrificial death on the cross, to the peace he provided after his resurrection, Jesus was the perfect embodiment of love. Love is his business. Therefore, love is our business too.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Living Lord Produces Active Faith]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/749d8260-0402-11ef-94ac-e1ca0643643f</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Generally, our actions are shaped by our beliefs. This is true of Christians&rsquo; belief in the re...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Generally, our actions are shaped by our beliefs. This is true of Christians&rsquo; belief in the resurrection. We believe that Christ&rsquo;s resurrection means our resurrection to a glorious eternal life is guaranteed. That inevitably shapes how we will act now. However, it is not simply the facts of the resurrection that shape our behavior. It is the person of the resurrection. Jesus lives! Therefore, through his Word, he is able to work on our minds and hearts, molding them to his perfect will. Here is a resurrection reality. Jesus fills us with his Spirit, not only so that we have faith, but also so that we produce the fruits of faith he seeks.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Risen Savior Provides Good Shepherding]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/428d9650-fe78-11ee-a991-3f7cccb039f0</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Scripture frequently pictures spiritual care in terms of a shepherd watching over sheep. The word &l...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture frequently pictures spiritual care in terms of a shepherd watching over sheep. The word &ldquo;pastor&rdquo; comes from the Latin word for &ldquo;shepherd.&rdquo; Today, there are plenty of people&mdash;pastors, religious leaders, etc.&mdash;who claim they can provide healing for your soul. Yet, Scripture warns that &ldquo;many&rdquo; of these are &ldquo;false prophets&rdquo; (1 John 4:1) who &ldquo;distort the truth&rdquo; (Acts 20:30). Many! But the resurrection reality is that our Good Shepherd is faithful. He proved he is willing to lay down his life for his sheep. He will raise up true sub-shepherds who know Christ and proclaim the truth of his gospel.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Have a Meaningful Message to Share]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7d6cb7d0-f99e-11ee-97c9-f98992ab95b9</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7d6cb7d0-f99e-11ee-97c9-f98992ab95b9</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;What doesn&rsquo;t kill you makes you stronger.&rdquo; &ldquo;Life is a mystery.&rdquo; &ldqu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;What doesn&rsquo;t kill you makes you stronger.&rdquo; &ldquo;Life is a mystery.&rdquo; &ldquo;Good things come to those who wait.&rdquo; While platitudes may be well-intentioned, they provide no real help. They can actually make a situation worse. Try telling the one whose heart is shattering, &ldquo;Life is a mystery.&rdquo; The resurrection gives believers the ability to offer more than platitudes. We have a meaningful message to share&mdash;of repentance, of forgiveness, of peace, of power. And our risen Savior gives us the courage and power to share that meaningful message.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Living Lord Gives Proof and Peace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2009260-f40d-11ee-ae47-efff38f62d19</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2009260-f40d-11ee-ae47-efff38f62d19</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In the Great Resurrection Chapter (1 Corinthians 15), St. Paul writes an entire paragraph listing al...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the Great Resurrection Chapter (1 Corinthians 15), St. Paul writes an entire paragraph listing all the people to whom Jesus appeared after he rose, including a group of over five hundred at one time. It is like St. Paul is telling skeptics, &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t need to take my word for it. Hundreds of us saw Jesus back from the dead.&rdquo; The proof of Jesus&rsquo; resurrection brought peace and strength to those early believers. They knew there was more to their existence than just their time on earth. They knew the reality that eternal life was theirs, a gift from their living Lord. It gave them incredible joy and courage. May the resurrection reality give us the same.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f2009260-f40d-11ee-ae47-efff38f62d19/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Sunrise Service]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/01c1cd40-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/01c1cd40-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The resurrection changed everything. The disciples saw clearly that Jesus is who he said he was and ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The resurrection changed everything. The disciples saw clearly that Jesus is who he said he was and did what he said he&rsquo;d do. They realized their faith rested on a rock-solid foundation. Here is the resurrection reality. If Christ had not been raised, our faith in him would be futile. He could do nothing to help us. But Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/01c1cd40-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Festival Service: All Will Be Made Alive]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/54912480-eb85-11ee-bdba-c3a6ecb90e41/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1ac2e360-ed15-11ee-94a5-ef5c1c78da7e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1ac2e360-ed15-11ee-94a5-ef5c1c78da7e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Easter teaches us that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died. Just as Christ rose, &ldqu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Easter teaches us that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died. Just as Christ rose, &ldquo;so in Christ all will be made alive&rdquo; (1 Corinthians 15:22). That changes everything: the way we grieve the death of a Christian loved one, the way we feel when our health fails, the way we look at the purpose of life right now. Let us rejoice in this resurrection reality: All will be made alive!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1ac2e360-ed15-11ee-94a5-ef5c1c78da7e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday Service of Darkness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cfad7ff0-ead2-11ee-8670-c96187b06df1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cfad7ff0-ead2-11ee-8670-c96187b06df1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship s...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross. There is no question that Jesus is our Savior. Today he gives us the evidence.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday: God on Trial - Respite]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/39267f00-ead2-11ee-b948-19c79b76cbe8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/39267f00-ead2-11ee-b948-19c79b76cbe8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! Soon it will ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! Soon it will all come to a head: their plot&mdash;and God&rsquo;s plan. The next 24 hours will be a whirlwind&mdash;the mob arrest in Gethsemane; the trials before Annas and Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again; the crucifixion and death on Calvary; and the burial in the tomb. But not yet. Not here. For a few hours in this second-floor room, it&rsquo;s just Jesus and his disciples.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/39267f00-ead2-11ee-b948-19c79b76cbe8/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Palm Sunday: Sunday of the Passion]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a46273c0-e7b0-11ee-b721-5d5460b62a34</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a46273c0-e7b0-11ee-b721-5d5460b62a34</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to his crucifixion. The people&rsquo;s praise reveals that they hailed Jesus as the Messianic King. Yet only days later, they would cry out, &ldquo;Crucify!&rdquo; The extended reading of the Passion History sets before us all that Christ did on our behalf. Thus, the Church prepares for Holy Week&mdash;the most important week of the church year.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: God on Trial - Misconceptions]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/026a46e0-e622-11ee-bacc-17b07bbd463a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/026a46e0-e622-11ee-bacc-17b07bbd463a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[No one in this text really understood Jesus. Not the Jewish leaders. Not Pilate. Not Herod. What abo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[No one in this text really understood Jesus. Not the Jewish leaders. Not Pilate. Not Herod. What about us?]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rethinking Devoted Commitment]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e9dc5e0-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5cfc9c10-e303-11ee-b9bc-abec6ea81be8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5cfc9c10-e303-11ee-b9bc-abec6ea81be8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Religious sociologists sometimes divide Christians into two groups: committed Christians and cultura...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Religious sociologists sometimes divide Christians into two groups: committed Christians and cultural Christians. Those definitions are interesting when trying to understand shifts in American Christianity. However, they demonstrate a false assumption about the Christian religion. There is indeed a devoted commitment at the center of Christianity, but it is not man&rsquo;s commitment to God. Even believers will at times demonstrate lukewarm commitment at best. Instead, at the heart of Christianity we find God&rsquo;s devotion and commitment to us. It is a devoted commitment so strong that it put God on the cross.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: God on Trial - Sympathy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8e948db0-e0a5-11ee-ab91-81102d47cac0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8e948db0-e0a5-11ee-ab91-81102d47cac0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Should we look for sympathy? We won&rsquo;t get it from the world. Many people are happy to see that...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Should we look for sympathy? We won&rsquo;t get it from the world. Many people are happy to see that Christianity&rsquo;s cultural influence is fading, glad to see us Christians put back in our place. &ldquo;Poor Christians!&rdquo; Is that what we should say? Is that what Jesus would say?]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rethinking the Solution to Sin]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e9dc5e0-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/450bd080-dd6d-11ee-88c4-7fb8db171c08</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/450bd080-dd6d-11ee-88c4-7fb8db171c08</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Every religion offers a solution to mankind&rsquo;s flaws: a set of laws, a moral code, a path to mo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Every religion offers a solution to mankind&rsquo;s flaws: a set of laws, a moral code, a path to more enlightened behavior. In all of them, we are to solve sin through human effort. But those who correctly understand they will never overcome their sin are crushed by guilt. And those who ludicrously believe they have defeated their sin are killed by pride. True religion offers a better way&mdash;one that frees us from guilt and has no room for pride. Jesus teaches that the only solution to our sin is to trust in the work he has done for us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: God on Trial - Truth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/273ac890-db29-11ee-bc2f-0d613cdc6abb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/273ac890-db29-11ee-bc2f-0d613cdc6abb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What is truth? You can&rsquo;t have a close relationship if you don&rsquo;t tell the truth. Truth ma...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What is truth? You can&rsquo;t have a close relationship if you don&rsquo;t tell the truth. Truth matters in every aspect of life from our work to the rules of the games we play. It doesn&rsquo;t surprise us, then, that as the Son of God stands on trial before a Roman governor, the subject of truth comes up.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rethinking the Worth of Worship]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e9dc5e0-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9952f5c0-d7fe-11ee-8cad-111b34957d05</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9952f5c0-d7fe-11ee-8cad-111b34957d05</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Person A never attends worship. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. Sh...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Person A never attends worship. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. She views the activities of worship merely as tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? Rather than debating the point, let us just admit neither understand the true worth of worship. Many think worship is about what we do for God. It is the other way around. As we gather around Word and sacrament, the Spirit moves us to love and trust in God above all things. Moved by the cross of Christ, we bow down before our God. We commune with him.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: God on Trial - Testimony]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d2d1c0f0-d5b6-11ee-a9c3-e72f1ecf4d4b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d2d1c0f0-d5b6-11ee-a9c3-e72f1ecf4d4b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Peter and Jesus&mdash;the contrast is clear. As the gospel writer Matthew sets these scenes side by ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Peter and Jesus&mdash;the contrast is clear. As the gospel writer Matthew sets these scenes side by side for us tonight, these two men lead us to consider our testimony when the world puts us on trial.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d2d1c0f0-d5b6-11ee-a9c3-e72f1ecf4d4b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rethinking Suffering under the Cross]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e9dc5e0-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2e76d4b0-d353-11ee-a062-ab9b710deba2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2e76d4b0-d353-11ee-a062-ab9b710deba2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We know that the cross was an instrument of torture and execution. However, Scripture also uses the ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We know that the cross was an instrument of torture and execution. However, Scripture also uses the term &ldquo;cross&rdquo; to refer to any suffering that one endures because he or she is a believer: the painful denial of the desires of the flesh; ridicule and persecution from unbelievers; etc. This is one reason people reject religion. They see Christians struggling in life with these crosses, while non-Christians often seem perfectly happy. Today, Jesus asks us to rethink suffering under the cross. The suffering believers face under the cross is only good, a way Christ connects us tightly to himself with fire-tested faith.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/2e76d4b0-d353-11ee-a062-ab9b710deba2/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lenten Worship: God on Trial - Restraint]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d5a1dea0-d0d9-11ee-949e-5d836b923f59</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d5a1dea0-d0d9-11ee-949e-5d836b923f59</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Restraint is the ability to hold back. It&rsquo;s an aspect of self-control, and it&rsquo;s not easy...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Restraint is the ability to hold back. It&rsquo;s an aspect of self-control, and it&rsquo;s not easy&mdash;especially in circumstances when you feel wronged. How do you respond to unwarranted criticism? What&rsquo;s your first reaction when someone accuses you of doing something you didn&rsquo;t do? Or when people aren&rsquo;t listening or things aren&rsquo;t going your way? Restraint is not typically our first inclination, but it is our Savior's.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:54:03 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Rethinking Trials, Tests, &amp; Temptations]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e9dc5e0-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2cf17900-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2cf17900-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;If God loves us, why doesn&rsquo;t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;If God loves us, why doesn&rsquo;t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we face?&rdquo; That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. But in the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our faith. He uses tests as a way to compel us to be less self-reliant, and instead trust in his strength. He uses trials to teach us that this broken world is not our true home. God even takes Satan&rsquo;s temptations and uses them for our good. Proof is that God allowed his beloved Son Jesus to face trials and temptations, so that he might be our perfect savior and substitute.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/2cf17900-cdc8-11ee-967d-a977ec3e48ab/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday - God on Trial: Accusations]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8712e2f0-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/65f45720-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/65f45720-cab4-11ee-a719-61ae982797da</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Over the next several weeks, we&rsquo;ll see how people put God on trial for various reasons. We&rsq...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Over the next several weeks, we&rsquo;ll see how people put God on trial for various reasons. We&rsquo;ll hear how Caiaphas, Herod, Pilate, and the angry crowds all accused the Son of God in the flesh. But before we do, on this Ash Wednesday we must consider how we have done the same&mdash;how we too have put God on trial.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 14 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worhip: Jesus Appears as the Son of God in Glory]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2508e7a0-c855-11ee-aa1a-ed2e2e043c7f</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[We began this worship series in the Jordan River. From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to re...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We began this worship series in the Jordan River. From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to reveal more about himself. He demonstrated the extent of his authority and power and love. Jesus has to be the very Son of God! Yet, Jesus looked so normal, like an ordinary carpenter or your average rabbi or just another prophet. Until today, where on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gives us a glimpse of his true glory. As we see him in his dazzling brilliance, the Father speaks again, this time to us: &ldquo;This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!&rdquo; This final epiphany prepares us for the journey of Lent where we will witness the most glorious work that Jesus would do.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears as a Prophet with Authority]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c5b4dc50-c20a-11ee-9359-fb52bcca1bbd</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Authority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. Th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Authority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. This week we see that there is one man&mdash;only one!&mdash;who has absolute authority. There is no one, not even the demons, outside his authority. As the Son of God, there is no higher authority than Jesus. And his authority is everlasting. But here is the best part of this epiphany: Jesus graciously uses his absolute authority for our benefit and blessing.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears Committed to a Lofty Charge]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cf70ca60-bd46-11ee-ad36-41d4d48d7527</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Jesus calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some&mdash;prophets, ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus calls us not just to be followers, but to be follower-makers. Jesus asks some&mdash;prophets, apostles, pastors, missionaries, teachers&mdash;to do this full time. But ultimately Jesus asks all believers to serve as his ambassadors, sharing the gospel with whomever he brings into our sphere of influence. This lofty charge requires commitment&mdash;a willingness to abandon everything else should faithfulness require it. This is the life-changing revelation for this week. Jesus has committed us to a lofty charge: the privilege to play a role in his saving work.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2024 19:03:50 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears through the Ambassadors He Calls]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b447cd80-b7cc-11ee-a136-bbad4b0f7f20</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[We try to hide our faults and failures from others. There&rsquo;s no hiding anything from God. Chris...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We try to hide our faults and failures from others. There&rsquo;s no hiding anything from God. Christ Jesus has witnessed our very worst, even the sins that only occurred in our heads. Yet even though Jesus knows all our faults and failures, he badly wants something to do with us. So, he calls us to follow him. Here is this week&rsquo;s epiphany: Jesus shows kindness when he calls us to discipleship. More, he shows kindness by giving us the ability to answer that call, so that we might always be near him and his blessing.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears as Our Substitute]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/04c64970-b247-11ee-9746-e157ec494d70</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[At his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[At his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was publicly anointed with the Holy Spirit and designated by God the Father as his chosen Messiah. Thus, Jesus&rsquo; baptism was the beginning of his public ministry. Jesus&rsquo; baptism revealed that he was not just a nice guy who could make a sturdy table. He was God&rsquo;s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the one willing to stand in our place as our substitute and Savior.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Good News of Great Joy for All People]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5aa6a550-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38543430-acb3-11ee-a059-4b4464246e1c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38543430-acb3-11ee-a059-4b4464246e1c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;reveal....]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning &ldquo;reveal.&rdquo; When the Savior was born, he was first revealed to Israelites: the shepherds, Simeon, Anna. But today, the Lord miraculously guides foreigners across countless miles, so the Savior can be revealed to them as well. How did the magi respond? &ldquo;They were overjoyed&rdquo; (Matthew 2:10). Epiphany is sometimes known as &ldquo;The Gentiles&rsquo; Christmas.&rdquo; We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is not just the Savior of Jews. He is for all people&mdash;the Savior of the world.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Peace on Earth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5aa6a550-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ad04f7b0-a745-11ee-9796-ddb00a06a2df</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ad04f7b0-a745-11ee-9796-ddb00a06a2df</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, &ldquo;Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth pea...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[On Christmas Eve a choir of angels sang, &ldquo;Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.&rdquo; So, where is this peace on earth? They were singing about peace between a holy God who hates sin and human beings who sin every day. Because of what Christ did as our Savior, there is no hostility between us and God, only peace and love. As this peace with God fills our hearts, it moves us to live in peace with each other too.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day Festival Service: God became Man]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5aa6a550-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/83b2ea80-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/83b2ea80-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Christmas Day fills us with wonder&mdash;that the Creator God could become flesh and dwell among us ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christmas Day fills us with wonder&mdash;that the Creator God could become flesh and dwell among us and that, in his great love for us, he would do such a thing. Let us marvel at this good news of great joy!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Mon, 25 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Good News of Great Joy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5aa6a550-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1ec33990-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1ec33990-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Think of what the angel said that night: &ldquo;I bring you good news of great joy&hellip;. A Savior...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Think of what the angel said that night: &ldquo;I bring you good news of great joy&hellip;. A Savior has been born. The &ldquo;good news of great joy&rdquo; was the fact that &ldquo;a Savior has been born.&rdquo; One cannot truly celebrate Christmas unless one believes he needs salvation. So Let us use this night to acknowledge that we aren&rsquo;t good enough people in God&rsquo;s eyes. We need to be saved from the guilt of sin. So, Jesus came to do just that&mdash;save us. So great was his love for us, he left the throne of heaven, crawled into a manger, and would not stop until he reached the cross. Oh, come let us adore him!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The King Shall Come Just As God Promised]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/19260d50-93b2-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c94324c0-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c94324c0-9e7f-11ee-adcf-99e954a9c6d1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In Eden, mankind fell into sin, bringing death and despair to Paradise. God immediately promised to ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In Eden, mankind fell into sin, bringing death and despair to Paradise. God immediately promised to send a Savior who would undo that devastation. Century after century, through the prophets, God reiterated and expanded upon that promise of a Savior-King. In a manger in Bethlehem, on that first Christmas, God&rsquo;s promise was fulfilled. The perfect faithfulness God demonstrated in keeping all his promises about Christ&rsquo;s first coming at Christmas is what gives us the certainty and comfort that God will keep his promises about Christ&rsquo;s second coming on judgment day. The King shall come!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The King Is Bringing Perfect Joy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/19260d50-93b2-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ab594940-9b6d-11ee-9177-99196aa3b7a1</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Adve...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent &ldquo;Gaudete,&rdquo; which means &ldquo;Rejoice!&rdquo; As we reach the midway point of Advent, we remember that when the King shall come he will bring us perfect and everlasting joy. Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from your King entering into your heart and assuring you of his abiding love and your glorious future. Therefore, happiness is fleeting. Joyfulness is enduring.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prepare to Meet Him]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/19260d50-93b2-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3ef8bbd0-96a6-11ee-9e4a-3f5e2aca10e1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3ef8bbd0-96a6-11ee-9e4a-3f5e2aca10e1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scriptures teach that King Jesus is the Son of God in flesh and the only hope for salvation. You do ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scriptures teach that King Jesus is the Son of God in flesh and the only hope for salvation. You do not approach meeting someone like that casually or carelessly. You prepare meticulously. What does that mean? What does a life of readiness&mdash;ready to meet such a King&mdash;look like? In one word: repentance. If we insist on hanging onto our sins, how can we receive the One who came for the very purpose of taking those sins away?]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Advent Devotion: He Will Be Our Peace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/19260d50-93b2-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c0a53110-93b1-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c0a53110-93b1-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[A devotion on Micah 5:2-5.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[A devotion on Micah 5:2-5.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c0a53110-93b1-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Is Coming to Save]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/19260d50-93b2-11ee-8668-3321b68bd998/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b27e56b0-93b2-11ee-b1e5-59335cb10426</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b27e56b0-93b2-11ee-b1e5-59335cb10426</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Rulers plan and administrate and govern. They typically do not save. If America were attacked, the P...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Rulers plan and administrate and govern. They typically do not save. If America were attacked, the President would not pick up a weapon, go to the front lines, and fight to save you from the enemy. Jesus is different. He is both infinitely greater than all other rulers, yet also infinitely humbler. He does not consider it beneath his rank as King to risk his life for his subjects. He is willing to fight for us. He is willing to die for us. For King Jesus came into our world for one reason&mdash;to save us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Time to Yearn for the End]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3b1147f0-8baf-11ee-8d46-ffd7b9a8b0e3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3b1147f0-8baf-11ee-8d46-ffd7b9a8b0e3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We have come to the end of the Church Year. It is time to talk about the end of this world on Judgme...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We have come to the end of the Church Year. It is time to talk about the end of this world on Judgment Day. That day does not scare the believer. The first time Christ came he saved us from our sin and the accusations for the devil. The second time Christ comes, he will save us from everything else. Until then we live in the time in between. As we look at all Christ did at his first coming, we yearn for him to come again to end this broken world and to usher all the saints into everlasting glory.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving Eve: A Time for Thankfulness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1933c470-88e7-11ee-8e15-5589690f35b0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1933c470-88e7-11ee-8e15-5589690f35b0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and gr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and grains, all beneath the canopy of God&rsquo;s almighty care. For all these physical blessings and most of all for the loving forgiveness of all our spiritual debt, we respond to God with acts of love and rejoicing. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1933c470-88e7-11ee-8e15-5589690f35b0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Time for Faithful Service]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/30a859d0-8627-11ee-9baa-779d2c8e51aa</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/30a859d0-8627-11ee-9baa-779d2c8e51aa</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[As we wait for Christ to return, we are not to be sedentary. The reason Christ has not yet returned ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[As we wait for Christ to return, we are not to be sedentary. The reason Christ has not yet returned is that there is still work to be done. And Christ carries out his good work through us, his Church. So, until Christ comes again and says, &ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; believers will be busy with faithful service. Christ has given every believer gifts and talents. And when Christ entrusts us with those gifts and talents, he calls us to use them all for his glory. In the time between Christ&rsquo;s first and second coming, we use everything the master has given us to live according to his will and to carry out his mission.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/30a859d0-8627-11ee-9baa-779d2c8e51aa/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Time for Watchfulness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d187db60-80bd-11ee-91ca-f9cd98fa3971</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d187db60-80bd-11ee-91ca-f9cd98fa3971</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[As we wait for Christ to return, as day after day passes, it can be easy to get distracted, to lose ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[As we wait for Christ to return, as day after day passes, it can be easy to get distracted, to lose vigilance, and to become spiritually drowsy. God forbid that Christ should return and find us spiritually asleep. Today we are reminded that the time in between Christ&rsquo;s first and second coming is a time for watchfulness. The Church prays, &ldquo;Lord God, keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d187db60-80bd-11ee-91ca-f9cd98fa3971/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[The Christian Victory Service of Maruta Bassett]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/41918a10-7f37-11ee-a494-81f7c71bdacf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/41918a10-7f37-11ee-a494-81f7c71bdacf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The family of Maruta Bassett and our church family thank you for joining us today.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The family of Maruta Bassett and our church family thank you for joining us today.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/41918a10-7f37-11ee-a494-81f7c71bdacf/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Time to Focus on Future Glory]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c8e95ff0-7b28-11ee-94e5-411199860d3e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c8e95ff0-7b28-11ee-94e5-411199860d3e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Pain can be endured if we know it is temporary and that happier times come immediately after. Likewi...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Pain can be endured if we know it is temporary and that happier times come immediately after. Likewise, the time in between Christ&rsquo;s first and second coming is going to be full of hardship, especially for believers. How do we bear it? We remember that this is temporary. Happier times are coming! That truth is made crystal clear on this All Saints Day. On this day we remember all those who had faith in the Lamb of God who are now fallen asleep and we focus on the future glory that waits for us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c8e95ff0-7b28-11ee-94e5-411199860d3e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Reformation Sunday: A Time for Steadfast Faith]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8bc508a0-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/679c2300-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/679c2300-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The time in between Christ&rsquo;s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The time in between Christ&rsquo;s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A good example&mdash;Martin Luther. For trying to share the pure gospel with the world, both political and religious leaders attempted to end his life. The Festival of the Reformation emphasizes the true Church&rsquo;s unfailing reliance on the Word of God and unflinching testimony to that Word even in the face of harsh persecution. Today we pray that the Lord would keep us steadfast in the faith and give us the peace of knowing that our lives are safe in his hands.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/679c2300-75aa-11ee-9f9f-f32e1fc745ae/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Godly Government]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/eead5540-7022-11ee-943b-552222e9ce42/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b8c4ac80-7022-11ee-943b-552222e9ce42</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The existence of corrupt government and evil rulers does not negate what Scripture says to be true: ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The existence of corrupt government and evil rulers does not negate what Scripture says to be true: &ldquo;There is no authority except that which God has established.&rdquo; Therefore, when we talk about &ldquo;godly government&rdquo; we are not saying that the only legitimate governments are those which do what is perfectly godly. We are confessing our belief that the King of kings is in perfect control of all the governments of this world, and that he works in all things&mdash;including tyrants and dictators&mdash;for the eternal good of his dear children.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Story of Insane Rejection]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/982fb9c0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b53d2d50-6a99-11ee-aa15-dd2a0d8e42a5</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b53d2d50-6a99-11ee-aa15-dd2a0d8e42a5</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[If you were to reject an invitation to go on a free tropical vacation, an invitation to go backstage...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[If you were to reject an invitation to go on a free tropical vacation, an invitation to go backstage and meet your favorite musical group, or an invitation to the Super Bowl people might say you&rsquo;ve lost your mind. Where does God&rsquo;s invitation to participate in his heavenly banquet rank? Scripture often pictures eternal life as a joyful party, full of friends and family, laughter, and the finest foods. Through a story, Jesus teaches us how insane it would be to reject God&rsquo;s gracious invitation to that eternal celebration. More, Jesus tells us what we need to get into that best of all banquets.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Story of Reckless Patience]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/982fb9c0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/445477a0-647d-11ee-b91c-b7ac56591fba</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/445477a0-647d-11ee-b91c-b7ac56591fba</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Patience is a virtue. But can too much patience be a vice? If you are too patient, waiting to see if...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Patience is a virtue. But can too much patience be a vice? If you are too patient, waiting to see if that pain in your stomach goes away with time, you might make a problem worse. If you are too patient with an incompetent employee, you will lose productivity before the inevitable&mdash;his firing&mdash;occurs anyway. Too much patience would seem not to be a virtue, but reckless behavior. Yet that is exactly what God demonstrates to a rebellious human race&mdash;reckless patience. Through a story, Jesus teaches exactly what God&rsquo;s patience means for us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Story of Spiritual Insincerity]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/982fb9c0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d5a803a0-5edf-11ee-828e-298ae1d570b1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d5a803a0-5edf-11ee-828e-298ae1d570b1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[You likely have heard the accusation or perhaps even made it yourself: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s so fake!&rd...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[You likely have heard the accusation or perhaps even made it yourself: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s so fake!&rdquo; That charge claims someone&rsquo;s friendliness or kindness is a sham. Such insincerity bothers us. Through a story, Jesus teaches us that God feels the same. God doesn&rsquo;t want us to simply go through religious motions like some sort of show. He sees right through that. God&rsquo;s desire is that our repentance would demonstrate sincere sorrow over sin. God wants us to see the grace and forgiveness he has shown us in Christ, and in response, to love him back deeply and sincerely.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Story of Perplexing Generosity]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/982fb9c0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/782c61f0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/782c61f0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Human beings have an incredibly strong sense of fairness. That is why it can be so perplexing when w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Human beings have an incredibly strong sense of fairness. That is why it can be so perplexing when we see how God dispenses blessing and grace. We see people who convert on their deathbed, and Scripture tells us they obtain the same salvation as someone who has been Christian all his life. How is that fair? Through a simple story, Jesus teaches us a profound truth. We need to stop expecting God to be fair. God is not fair. He does not give us what we deserve, and that&rsquo;s called mercy. In fact, he gives us what we don&rsquo;t deserve, and that&rsquo;s called grace. No, God is not fair. He is breathtakingly generous.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/782c61f0-597e-11ee-b62c-b55b8a97ecf4/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Church That's Quick to Forgive]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/99198f70-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7047db30-533a-11ee-8eeb-f33634114d04</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7047db30-533a-11ee-8eeb-f33634114d04</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today God applies the concept of &ldquo;pay it forward&rdquo; to forgiveness. God forgave our countl...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today God applies the concept of &ldquo;pay it forward&rdquo; to forgiveness. God forgave our countless sins. He was willing to pay an incomprehensible price&mdash;the death of his Son. Obviously, we will never have an occasion to do the same for God. God never wrongs us. But others may do us wrong. Others may cause us pain. And when we are quick to forgive, it is one way we thank God for being so quick to forgive us. This is what God wants in his Church&mdash;people who, like him, are quick to forgive.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7047db30-533a-11ee-8eeb-f33634114d04/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Church Willing to Say Hard Things]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/99198f70-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dcbaa130-4e76-11ee-bff6-5b3047efc332</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dcbaa130-4e76-11ee-bff6-5b3047efc332</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God wants the people of his church to be willing to say hard things to people when that is what is n...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God wants the people of his church to be willing to say hard things to people when that is what is necessary to save them. Warning against sin is not easy. It upsets people, even offends them. But saying hard things is the loving thing to do when it is a matter of eternal life and death.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/dcbaa130-4e76-11ee-bff6-5b3047efc332/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Church that Takes Up Its Crosses]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/99198f70-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/afc27f00-4998-11ee-aeb8-9dd25b28ebb0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/afc27f00-4998-11ee-aeb8-9dd25b28ebb0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Some churches teach that if one follows God, God responds by granting prosperity and peace. Jesus te...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Some churches teach that if one follows God, God responds by granting prosperity and peace. Jesus teaches that is nonsense. The Son of God tells us that if we are his disciple, if we are part of his Church, we will have to bear crosses. Believers will suffer in this world, oftentimes for no other reason than they are believers. It is painful to struggle against the temptations and priorities of this world. It can be agonizing to face the same scorn and ridicule Jesus faced. The church takes up its crosses, because this is the Christian path, the one Jesus himself walked: first the cross, then the crown.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Hymn Festival: A Church that Really Knows Jesus]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/99198f70-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5dbb2ef0-4443-11ee-b7e4-ff0fa46b7c62</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5dbb2ef0-4443-11ee-b7e4-ff0fa46b7c62</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus asked, &ldquo;Who do you say that I am?&rdquo; Make no mistake. That is the most important que...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus asked, &ldquo;Who do you say that I am?&rdquo; Make no mistake. That is the most important question in the world. And it is a question every human must answer. Jesus is both Lord and Savior, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This truth is the core of saving faith. It is the central message God has called our church to proclaim. What does God want in a church? He wants a church that really knows Jesus.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Church for All People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/99198f70-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/782e48a0-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/782e48a0-3ea1-11ee-884c-27f433bce874</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;All are welcome!&rdquo; Is that true at our church? Is it conceivable that a stranger could w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;All are welcome!&rdquo; Is that true at our church? Is it conceivable that a stranger could walk into our church and for some reason you would ask yourself, &ldquo;What is someone like that doing here?&rdquo; Or, just perhaps, you are asking that question about yourself? &ldquo;There are some seemingly godly people here. I&rsquo;m not like them. Do I really belong?&rdquo; Today, Jesus shows us that God wants church to be for all people. All of us&mdash;regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or social status&mdash;have the same problem of sin. And we all have the same Savior. Therefore, anyone who comes to Christ&rsquo;s Church and cries out, &ldquo;Lord, have mercy!&rdquo; is more than welcome.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Answers Doubt with Jesus]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c76c1f80-3921-11ee-ba0e-8bde97ad6542</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[It is not uncommon that, in times of adversity, doubt rears its ugly head&mdash;doubts about God&rsq...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It is not uncommon that, in times of adversity, doubt rears its ugly head&mdash;doubts about God&rsquo;s care, God&rsquo;s promises, God&rsquo;s providence. In those times, the true answer to doubt is not found in some great miracle that removes adversity, but in the still small voice of our Savior God whispering to us in his Word. Through that Word, Christ reaches out to us with nail-scarred hands, proof of his great love. Jesus gently says, &ldquo;Why did you doubt?&rdquo; Our faith is restored. The Christian answers doubt with Jesus.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Trusts God to Provide]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/435d4430-339a-11ee-98c9-bb836486966b</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The hardest times to trust in God are the times we need him most. It&rsquo;s easy to trust God when ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The hardest times to trust in God are the times we need him most. It&rsquo;s easy to trust God when your job is great, your health is fine, your relationships are strong, your family is well. It&rsquo;s easy to trust God when the sun is shining, but what happens when your life is suddenly overshadowed by dark days? When we look at all the spiritual blessings God provides to us, we can only conclude that, at the right time, God will give us everything we truly need. The Christian trusts God to provide.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/435d4430-339a-11ee-98c9-bb836486966b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Seeks Spiritual Wealth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/883bfda0-2e48-11ee-b7eb-35f15cdff9fd</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/883bfda0-2e48-11ee-b7eb-35f15cdff9fd</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This week we are given an honest assessment of what really matters in life. The kingdom is worth eve...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This week we are given an honest assessment of what really matters in life. The kingdom is worth everything. Worldly wealth can buy the things of this world, the type of things that rust and decay, things that will not last. True wealth is spiritual wealth. It can be found only in God and his eternal blessings for us in Christ. The Christian seeks first spiritual wealth and will sacrifice anything to obtain it.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/883bfda0-2e48-11ee-b7eb-35f15cdff9fd/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Lives as Wheat among Weeds]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5fd929e0-27dc-11ee-95ee-0d9156454cd1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5fd929e0-27dc-11ee-95ee-0d9156454cd1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[If you try to pull the weeds out of a wheat field too early you will likely pull up a fair amount of...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[If you try to pull the weeds out of a wheat field too early you will likely pull up a fair amount of wheat accidentally. This week Jesus uses that image to illustrate life this side of heaven. Christians are pictured as wheat planted by the Lord. Evildoers are pictured as weeds. We might want God to take care of evil now&mdash;to pull up all the weeds. But he tells us to wait for the harvest. God is going to fix the problem of evil in this world, but it might not be today or even tomorrow. What does God want us to do while we wait? He wants us to live like wheat among weeds, serving the purpose for which he planted us. That means being faithful, fruitful, and mindful of the coming harvest.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5fd929e0-27dc-11ee-95ee-0d9156454cd1/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian is Planted by the Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16e78110-233a-11ee-aa50-6bb05bcd5112</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16e78110-233a-11ee-aa50-6bb05bcd5112</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When you plant multiple seeds often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. As these fe...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When you plant multiple seeds often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. As these few sprouts grow, birds and pests and weeds and weather attack. Once a seed leaves your hand, you are at the mercy of forces beyond your control. God uses that experience from nature to explain the supernatural process by which he calls humans to faith through the gospel. The Christian is planted by the Word. The Christian can plant the seed of the gospel into the soil of another&rsquo;s heart. What happens after that is completely beyond our control. Yet God promises us that his Word always accomplishes his good purposes. God&rsquo;s Word is powerful, all on its own, without our help.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/16e78110-233a-11ee-aa50-6bb05bcd5112/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Finds Rest in Jesus]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9d51d9c0-1ca6-11ee-9e47-631816acfd46</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9d51d9c0-1ca6-11ee-9e47-631816acfd46</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We need rest; without it, we suffer. Christians know they need more than sleep or breaks. We need mo...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We need rest; without it, we suffer. Christians know they need more than sleep or breaks. We need more than physical rest. We need spiritual rest. The Christian knows that the only place to find that type of rest is Jesus. Jesus provides more than a pause in work, more than enjoyable recreation. Jesus provides the removal of our sins, the cleansing of our guilty conscience, and a gentle new yoke of discipleship. In Jesus, the Christian finds rest from their burdens, rest from their battles, and rest forever in heaven.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/9d51d9c0-1ca6-11ee-9e47-631816acfd46/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Christian Loves God Above All]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d24d9030-1821-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d24d9030-1821-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Christian loves God above all things. For the Christian understands that everything in this pres...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Christian loves God above all things. For the Christian understands that everything in this present world is transitory. Relationships fail. Empires fall. Accomplishments are quickly forgotten. But nothing about God is transitory. God&rsquo;s love is eternal. He promises the Christian everlasting life. And so the Christian struggles not simply to avoid loving bad things. The Christian struggles to love God above all other good things too. Because the Christian understands that God is of ultimate value.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d24d9030-1821-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.pdf" 
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/011852b0-1822-11ee-8e02-8d862859b535/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Holy Ministry Preaches Christ Despite Persecution]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0d5dbf70-0534-11ee-b249-41b1ea305104/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/70d8cf40-12bd-11ee-be0e-bfc3ad2c4207</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/70d8cf40-12bd-11ee-be0e-bfc3ad2c4207</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[From its birth the New Testament Church has been persecuted. In Martin Luther&rsquo;s day, both pope...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[From its birth the New Testament Church has been persecuted. In Martin Luther&rsquo;s day, both pope and emperor sought to stop the gospel movement that was spreading from Germany. But God was a mighty fortress for the Church. Still today the Church is persecuted. The holy ministry preaches Christ despite persecution. Christ never promised his Church that ministry would operate unopposed. But he did promise to give courage to his witnesses. Today we also commemorate the &ldquo;birthday&rdquo; of the Lutheran Church, which took place on June 25, 1530 when the Augsburg Confession was presented by Lutheran princes before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/70d8cf40-12bd-11ee-be0e-bfc3ad2c4207/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Holy Ministry Demonstrates Compassion for God's People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0d5dbf70-0534-11ee-b249-41b1ea305104/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/611c6300-0d27-11ee-b51d-470f09430a55</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/611c6300-0d27-11ee-b51d-470f09430a55</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them&rdquo; (Matthew 9:36). The Greek word tr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them&rdquo; (Matthew 9:36). The Greek word translated &ldquo;compassion&rdquo; refers to a type of love that almost overwhelms one&rsquo;s emotions. Jesus looks at the people and is willing to do anything for them&mdash;to make any sacrifice, even the ultimate one at the cross. In that same compassion, the Lord of the Church raises up ministers. As those ministers share his grace and mercy, Christ saves eternal lives. More, he fills those ministers with his Spirit, so that they also feel compassion for God&rsquo;s people.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/611c6300-0d27-11ee-b51d-470f09430a55/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Holy Ministry is Filled with Sinners Called by God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0d5dbf70-0534-11ee-b249-41b1ea305104/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dd682e30-07c8-11ee-91cf-c32bf50036af</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/dd682e30-07c8-11ee-91cf-c32bf50036af</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The holy ministry is not filled with perfect people. The holy ministry is filled with sinners whom G...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The holy ministry is not filled with perfect people. The holy ministry is filled with sinners whom God has called out of his boundless mercy. The holy ministry is God&rsquo;s gift to the Church. But it is also God&rsquo;s gift to ministers, who certainly do not deserve the privilege of being God&rsquo;s public servants. God calls sinful and weak individuals into the ministry, so that as his kingdom advances, we give credit where credit is due&mdash;to the Holy Spirit.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/dd682e30-07c8-11ee-91cf-c32bf50036af/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/07eead00-0247-11ee-84e9-ff7005c3b4ac/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce67a7d0-0246-11ee-84e9-ff7005c3b4ac</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce67a7d0-0246-11ee-84e9-ff7005c3b4ac</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scripture teaches us that there is only one God but that he exists as three persons&mdash;Father, So...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture teaches us that there is only one God but that he exists as three persons&mdash;Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This teaching is not some logical exercise or philosophical excursion. The doctrine of the Trinity is central to our salvation. The triune God is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. So often, when life gets hard, we get frustrated. We don&rsquo;t understand how God is working always for our good. But the doctrine of the Trinity teaches us we cannot even comprehend God&rsquo;s existence. How then, could we ever comprehend all his workings? On this Holy Trinity Sunday, let it be enough to know that all three persons&mdash;Father, Son, and Spirit&mdash;love us with an everlasting love.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Pour Out His Spirit]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/69f98ec0-fcbb-11ed-83ee-fbc99d405722</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Fifty days after the Passover, God&rsquo;s Old Testament people celebrated Pentecost (Greek for &ldq...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Fifty days after the Passover, God&rsquo;s Old Testament people celebrated Pentecost (Greek for &ldquo;fifty&rdquo;). Pentecost commemorated the gathering of the harvest and was also used to remember the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, the start of the Church of Israel. Christ chose Pentecost to be the birthday of his New Testament Church too. By pouring out his Holy Spirit, Christ empowered the Church to gather in the great harvest of souls won by the Son.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Rule All Things for the Church]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/aa281fb0-f73f-11ed-aa49-b11e26014ef4</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The ascension marks the completion of Jesus&rsquo; earthly mission, but it does not signify the end ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The ascension marks the completion of Jesus&rsquo; earthly mission, but it does not signify the end of his work. While on earth, Jesus had set aside so much of his divine power. But Jesus now picks all that power back up again. He ascended to exercise his limitless authority for the Church as we carry out our mission to be Christ&rsquo;s ambassadors of grace to the world. He lives! And he is in absolute and perfect control, ruling over Creation for the eternal well-being of his friends. And that is what we are!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives and Calls me to Live for Him]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/29975520-f198-11ed-8253-cd1060e52fe9</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[True love involves obedience. Jesus did not simply say he loved his heavenly Father. He proved it by...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[True love involves obedience. Jesus did not simply say he loved his heavenly Father. He proved it by obeying his Father, even when that obedience meant dying on a cross for our sake. Love for God who lives in us leads us to a life of obedience. The God who lives in us calls us to live for him. It is as simple as that. Love for our risen Lord means obedience to his commands.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Be the Only Way to Heaven]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/49417480-eab5-11ed-9d46-11a96ccb36ea</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The gospel is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the death and resurrection of...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The gospel is the most inclusive message in the world. The benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are meant for every man, woman, and child who ever lived. The gospel is also the most exclusive message in the world, for it maintains that salvation can only be found in one place&mdash;the person of Jesus Christ. Just listen to how Jesus speaks: &ldquo;I am the way and the truth and the life&rdquo; (John 14:6). Jesus doesn&rsquo;t say, &ldquo;I will show you the true way to eternal life.&rdquo; The prophets and apostles could say that. But Jesus says, &ldquo;I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life you crave.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Be My Shepherd]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c4c113c0-e6cf-11ed-95fc-45e386171f0a</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The survival of the sheep was dependent on their shepherd. There he is. Weather-beaten. Sleepless. A...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The survival of the sheep was dependent on their shepherd. There he is. Weather-beaten. Sleepless. Armed. In the dusk, he scans the land, counting his sheep, making sure they are all accounted for, every one of them on his heart. You see why Jesus chose the shepherd to illustrate how he cares for us. He feeds us with his Word. He protects us from that roaring lion, Satan. Jesus is leading us into the green pasture of eternal life. For centuries, the Church has observed this Fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate that he lives to be our Good Shepherd.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Restore My Hope]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fe9ecb40-e17b-11ed-8504-43906e684b3c</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[There is little worse than a feeling of hopelessness. The disciples&rsquo; thought their hope for a ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[There is little worse than a feeling of hopelessness. The disciples&rsquo; thought their hope for a better life died along with Jesus. They had let their personal wants and expectations cloud their view of Scripture which said that the Messiah&rsquo;s death and resurrection were actually the source of all hope! So, the living Lord appeared to his disciples. He explained. He opened their minds to the truth of God&rsquo;s Word. And in doing so, he restored their hope. He died, but he is dead no longer. The one who can heal us and give us life to the full lives! He lives to restore our hope.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Apr 2023 02:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: He Lives to Take Me From Death to Life]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bbf9d380-dbbc-11ed-b865-ad589282c226</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Today is a day of great comfort for any follower of Jesus who wrestles with doubt concerning Christ&...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today is a day of great comfort for any follower of Jesus who wrestles with doubt concerning Christ&rsquo;s promises or doubts about God&rsquo;s Word. Jesus does not come to rebuke Thomas&rsquo; weak faith. Jesus comes to strengthen Thomas&rsquo; faith, giving him proof of the mind-bending reality of the resurrection&mdash;to let him feel it, touch it, explore it. Jesus didn&rsquo;t reject Thomas. Jesus engaged Thomas and gave him peace. Still today, the living Lord speaks to us in Word and sacrament. When we show weakness of faith, he does not reject us. Just as he did with Thomas, Jesus engages us, giving us proof and peace.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Dawn: His First Steps Led Outside the Tomb]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/71440860-d3ec-11ed-948a-4d61a95c7b0d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/71440860-d3ec-11ed-948a-4d61a95c7b0d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Through the season of Lent, we've been following our Savior's final steps to the cross. But on the m...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Through the season of Lent, we've been following our Savior's final steps to the cross. But on the morning of Easter as the sun rises we marvel as Jesus' first steps lead him outside his tomb. Join us as we celebrate Jesus' victory over death!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Day: He Lives to Take Me from Death to Life]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a5721ca0-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/71499a70-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/71499a70-d55c-11ed-add1-8d52f8151d34</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Christ is risen indeed! Mankind is redeemed! Jesus has removed the fear of eternal death. Jesus has ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christ is risen indeed! Mankind is redeemed! Jesus has removed the fear of eternal death. Jesus has transformed physical death. It is not punitive. For the believer, it is the pathway into Paradise. Jesus has made us spiritually alive by giving us faith in his resurrection. Jesus lives! So, in every possible way, Jesus takes us from death to life. Join us as we celebrate Jesus' victory over death!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday: His Final Steps Led to the Place of the Skull]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/20b612c0-d285-11ed-b7ee-1d509710e8f1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/20b612c0-d285-11ed-b7ee-1d509710e8f1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship s...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us as we recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross. We walk beside our Savior in spirit and see how his final steps led to the place of the skull.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday: His Final Steps Led to the Upper Room]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d13b5d30-cff1-11ed-b3ff-e78659ea857b</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[His final steps lead us to the upper room, a room where his disciples carefully prepared for the Pas...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[His final steps lead us to the upper room, a room where his disciples carefully prepared for the Passover.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Palm Sunday: A Greater Type of King]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/2eee98d0-cff1-11ed-b3ff-e78659ea857b</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to his crucifixion. Palm Sunday is named after the palms that were spread before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. The people&rsquo;s praise reveals that they hailed Jesus as the Messianic King. Yet only days later, they would cry out, &ldquo;Crucify!&rdquo; This contrast is reflected as the joy of Christ&rsquo;s triumphal entry gives way to the somber remembrance of his suffering and death. The extended reading of the Passion History sets before us all that Christ did on our behalf. Thus, the Church prepares for Holy Week&mdash;the most important week of the church year.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lenten Worship: His Final Steps Led to His Enemies]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/78457d50-ce57-11ed-8b90-e17f70dba831</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/78457d50-ce57-11ed-8b90-e17f70dba831</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Just days before he took his final steps to his cross, our Lord didn&rsquo;t shy away from confronta...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Just days before he took his final steps to his cross, our Lord didn&rsquo;t shy away from confrontation and difficult conversations. He didn&rsquo;t hold back. The gospels are filled with chapter after chapter of what our Savior said in his final days to the large crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover. And much of what our Savior said was targeted squarely at the &ldquo;chief priests and experts in the law.&rdquo;How amazing that he allowed his final steps to lead to his enemies. Those enemies included the Jewish leaders. Those enemies included you and me!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:30:59 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/78457d50-ce57-11ed-8b90-e17f70dba831/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Life for the Dead]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a4b08cf0-ca7d-11ed-b250-2bcb0195d55e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a4b08cf0-ca7d-11ed-b250-2bcb0195d55e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The author and poet George Eliot once wrote, &ldquo;Our dead are never dead to us, until we have for...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The author and poet George Eliot once wrote, &ldquo;Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.&rdquo; The Roman philosopher Cicero said much the same. He wrote, &ldquo;The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.&rdquo; What second rate comfort! But that is the best the unbelieving world can offer. Jesus provides a better solution to death. He promises life. One day Jesus will give your faithful dead back to you. How do we know Jesus can and will keep that promise? Because the Son of God descended into the darkness of death himself and emerged on Easter Sunday as the first fruit of the resurrection of all God&rsquo;s people.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lenten Worship: His Final Steps Led to Some Greeks]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/58ad8970-c820-11ed-95be-6348aaef3651</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/58ad8970-c820-11ed-95be-6348aaef3651</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t fire till you see the whites of their eyes.&rdquo; The command is a bit of an exa...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t fire till you see the whites of their eyes.&rdquo; The command is a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is save your ammo until the right moment. Entire battles can be turned just by waiting for the right moment to fire or retreat or charge. Jesus had been waiting for just the right moment for his entire ministry and today the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Jesus pulls the trigger after his final steps led to some Greeks. It was time to bring life to us all and to bring glory to his Father.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/58ad8970-c820-11ed-95be-6348aaef3651/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Sight for the Blind]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6b79b5b0-c5be-11ed-81c3-a986486e3d7e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6b79b5b0-c5be-11ed-81c3-a986486e3d7e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We know that unbelief will have consequences in the future&mdash;eternal separation from God. But un...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We know that unbelief will have consequences in the future&mdash;eternal separation from God. But unbelief also has consequences now. It makes you blind, in a sense. We need Jesus to give us spiritual vision. Jesus said, &ldquo;I am the light of the world.&rdquo; Christ comes to shine his light into our darkened eyes that we might see him and live. Jesus meets our greatest needs. He provides sight for the spiritually blind.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6b79b5b0-c5be-11ed-81c3-a986486e3d7e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Redemption Worship: Sight for the Blind]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3d1e9660-c5e9-11ed-8d21-3108c89a985d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/3d1e9660-c5e9-11ed-8d21-3108c89a985d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We know that unbelief will have consequences in the future&mdash;eternal separation from God. But un...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We know that unbelief will have consequences in the future&mdash;eternal separation from God. But unbelief also has consequences now. It makes you blind, in a sense. We need Jesus to give us spiritual vision. Jesus said, &ldquo;I am the light of the world.&rdquo; Christ comes to shine his light into our darkened eyes that we might see him and live. Jesus meets our greatest needs. He provides sight for the spiritually blind.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:01:46 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3d1e9660-c5e9-11ed-8d21-3108c89a985d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lenten Worship: His Final Steps Led to a Fig Tree]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/249dbd60-c354-11ed-94c8-15f159c3190f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/249dbd60-c354-11ed-94c8-15f159c3190f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Working for a new employer and not being sure how everything works yet, it&rsquo;s good to have conf...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Working for a new employer and not being sure how everything works yet, it&rsquo;s good to have confidence in whatever skills you bring to the table at this new job. Confidence is good. But lying, faking, scheming, and putting on a fa&ccedil;ade to trick people, the world rightly draws a line between the two. Tonight Jesus&rsquo; final steps lead us to a fig tree. From this fig tree we learn two valuable lessons: avoid empty, showy, fake confidence and embrace the genuine confidence you can place in God.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2023 17:09:27 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/249dbd60-c354-11ed-94c8-15f159c3190f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Water for the Thirsty]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/42d03f60-bf7b-11ed-ae7e-d3061861ef81</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/42d03f60-bf7b-11ed-ae7e-d3061861ef81</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Not all admit it; yet it remains true for all. Everyone has a deep spiritual thirst. In our heart of...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Not all admit it; yet it remains true for all. Everyone has a deep spiritual thirst. In our heart of hearts, we all long for everlasting life. Unbelievers try to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed for failure. Believers look to the One who has promised, &ldquo;Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.&rdquo; Jesus meets our greatest needs. He alone possesses the water that satisfies those who are spiritually parched. He alone grants eternal life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/42d03f60-bf7b-11ed-ae7e-d3061861ef81/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lenten Worship: His Final Steps Led to a His Father's House]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/48cfbf50-bcf4-11ed-b7db-6153964e65a8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/48cfbf50-bcf4-11ed-b7db-6153964e65a8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[After Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the first thing Jesus did on Monday morning was go to t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[After Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the first thing Jesus did on Monday morning was go to the temple. It shouldn&rsquo;t surprise us that in the last week of his life, Jesus' final steps led to his Father&rsquo;s house. He had business to take care of&mdash;his Father&rsquo;s business. That meant turning upside down the corrupt business of the merchants and the money changers in the temple court. His Father's house needed cleansing because it was a house intended for healing and meant for praise.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/48cfbf50-bcf4-11ed-b7db-6153964e65a8/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Gift for the World]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fa1cd970-bb17-11ed-bf6e-cd388307348d</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[When Jesus said, &ldquo;No one can enter the kingdom of God,&rdquo; he declared that the need for sa...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When Jesus said, &ldquo;No one can enter the kingdom of God,&rdquo; he declared that the need for salvation is universal. There is no one on the face of the earth who can make the case that they deserve God&rsquo;s blessing. Yet, ages ago, God declared that all nations would be blessed. God has declared his love for the world and promised he would save the world. God&rsquo;s gift of salvation is meant for all people. The gift of salvation is meant for the world; however, it is received by faith. The Gospel says, &ldquo;Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Mar 2023 05:38:36 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lenten Worship: His Final Steps Led to a Dinner Celebration]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a1925d20-ae1a-11ed-a2c4-a52e91c7d17f/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0f837b90-b846-11ed-b819-f76b1b6e3389</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[What do you value? Are you more pragmatic or romantic? Do you care more about grand gestures or prac...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What do you value? Are you more pragmatic or romantic? Do you care more about grand gestures or practicality? For example, if someone is getting you a present for Valentine's Day, would you prefer something sentimental, like flowers, or something useful, like a red Swiss Army Knife with 24 functions? We all fall somewhere on a sliding scale of form versus function. No matter which side of that scale we fall on, tonight I think we might be surprised to find ourselves agreeing with Judas, the betrayer. Judas was not happy with Mary&rsquo;s gift. But Jesus was. So what does Jesus value?]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:30:56 +0000</pubDate>
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Champion for the Defeated]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8029cdb0-b475-11ed-a877-c5ca25a55876</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/8029cdb0-b475-11ed-a877-c5ca25a55876</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In ancient times, when two armies gathered to fight, each army would pick a mighty solider, and thes...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In ancient times, when two armies gathered to fight, each army would pick a mighty solider, and these two men would fight each other. These elite warriors, these champions, would represent their people in battle. They met in the middle of the field. With everyone watching, they fought to the death. Today we see a battle of champions and are reminded of an ancient war that began in Eden. The demons send forth their strongest warrior&mdash;Satan. God sends forth his promised champion, the best of men, Jesus Christ. Jesus does what Adam and we could not. In crushing the devil, Jesus meets one of our greatest needs.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday: A Wholly Humble Heart]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c788020-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0f2c2040-b155-11ed-9036-7ba30fc78db5</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[You often hear about people "giving something up" for Lent. Usually, it's some insignificant vice li...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[You often hear about people "giving something up" for Lent. Usually, it's some insignificant vice like sweets that we don't really need anyway. However, during Lent, God calls us to give up something much more serious: our sin. On this first day of Lent, God intends to give us what we badly need&mdash;a wholly humbled heart that looks to Christ in contrition and true repentance, which consists of both acknowledging our sin and confidently turning to Christ as our Savior for forgiveness. Come and join us this Ash Wednesday, February 22, at 7 pm as we begin this Lenten Journey of repentance that ends at the cross of our Savior.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Glory of the Lord]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7e3e45f0-ae15-11ed-9fbb-65eb628eb161/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5ce967e0-ae15-11ed-9fbb-65eb628eb161</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5ce967e0-ae15-11ed-9fbb-65eb628eb161</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[On the Mount of Glory, St. Peter declared, &ldquo;It is good for us to be here.&rdquo; Indeed! For h...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[On the Mount of Glory, St. Peter declared, &ldquo;It is good for us to be here.&rdquo; Indeed! For here we see the God of Majestic Glory, who became a man to suffer and die for us, just as Moses and the Prophets had foretold. And so the Transfiguration of our Lord serves as a one-week bridge between the season of Epiphany, where Jesus is revealed as the true Son of God, and the season of Lent, where we witness what the Son of God came to do. Oh, how much this glorious God loves us!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: You Are... So Be]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e0f5cfc0-a315-11ed-9c56-61e266243b61/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be311df0-aa7c-11ed-bf00-5366ded12cbb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be311df0-aa7c-11ed-bf00-5366ded12cbb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Imagine a beautiful guitar, carefully crafted out of the finest mahogany and steel strings. Now imag...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Imagine a beautiful guitar, carefully crafted out of the finest mahogany and steel strings. Now imagine that fine instrument is never played. It is placed atop a bookshelf and never touched. It just collects dust. Tragic, right? What a thing is finds fulfillment when that thing does what it was made to do. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that the same is true of discipleship. When God called us to faith, he declared that we were something new: light, salt, his children. Jesus now encourages us to be what God says we are, so that God might bless the world through us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2023 02:27:05 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Trust in God's Strength]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e0f5cfc0-a315-11ed-9c56-61e266243b61/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be0f0710-a315-11ed-9c56-61e266243b61</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/be0f0710-a315-11ed-9c56-61e266243b61</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a series of blessings. &ldquo;Blessed are&hellip;&rdquo; E...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a series of blessings. &ldquo;Blessed are&hellip;&rdquo; Except what Jesus calls blessed, the world never would. The world praises the strong and the self-sufficient. Jesus calls blessed what others would see as weak or stupid. Like any good preacher, Jesus is trying to drive home one crucial point. The weaker you are, the more ready you are to rely on God&rsquo;s strength. The more difficult your present circumstances, the likelier you are to yearn for future reward. God&rsquo;s strength is enough to give the kingdom of heaven to the humble and poor in spirit.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears as the Light in the Darkness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bd73cd70-9f70-11ed-90f5-e1ba71e0b132</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bd73cd70-9f70-11ed-90f5-e1ba71e0b132</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as &ldquo;people walking in darkness.&rdquo; We are co...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as &ldquo;people walking in darkness.&rdquo; We are completely enveloped by sin and suffering and death. Worse, when we honestly assess the content of our minds and hearts, we find darkness there too. However, the prophet also foretold that within this deep darkness, a light would shine. The light would be so brilliant that it would be impossible to miss. As Jesus began his teaching and preaching ministry, that prophecy was fulfilled.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2023 01:03:28 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears as the Lamb of God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/db5c5d80-98cb-11ed-9529-1557dc1ffbc5</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/db5c5d80-98cb-11ed-9529-1557dc1ffbc5</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[For centuries the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God at the temple for sin. Over and over b...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[For centuries the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God at the temple for sin. Over and over blood flowed, testifying that the penalty of sin was death. This week we see the Lamb that God himself was bringing to the temple. This was the Lamb that God himself would sacrifice. In the great act that would remove our condemnation, the Messiah took our sins, stood in our place, and died as the substitute for sinful mankind. The heart that sees his Savior willingly becoming the Lamb cannot help but take this news of salvation to the ends of the earth.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:08:05 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Appears as the Anointed One]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8231e80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/383fdc80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/383fdc80-942a-11ed-8fec-d17c1fb2b40e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Christ&rdquo; is not Jesus&rsquo; last name, of course. It is a title. The Greek word &ldquo;...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Christ&rdquo; is not Jesus&rsquo; last name, of course. It is a title. The Greek word &ldquo;Christ&rdquo; and the Hebrew word &ldquo;Messiah&rdquo; both mean the same thing--&ldquo;The Anointed One.&rdquo; For centuries people of faith had patiently waited for the promised Messiah, the servant of God who would bring the salvation we so desperately need. The time had come for Jesus to be revealed as the fulfillment of that divine promise. So, Christ our Lord came to the Jordan River to be baptized, that he might be recognized by John and revealed to Israel. At his baptism Jesus was anointed&mdash;marked as God's special servant and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2023 16:40:57 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Savior Is Born for All the Nations]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/02b26990-8096-11ed-bd51-25c62667f50c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/39363690-8e9c-11ed-8444-6b88fe433266</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The twelve days of Christmas culminate with the celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord. We commemor...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The twelve days of Christmas culminate with the celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord. We commemorate the day when magi from afar worshiped the Christ child. Epiphany continues to play out to this very day. God worked through a special star to bring the magi into the presence of their Savior&mdash;for Christ&rsquo;s glory and the magi&rsquo;s blessing. Likewise, God has controlled time and space to bring you into the presence of your Savior&mdash;for Christ&rsquo;s glory and your blessing. Thus, the magi were only the first in a long line of Gentiles who would join Israel in worshiping Jesus as King. Indeed, a Savior is born for all the nations! Come, let us adore him!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Savior Born to Fulfill the Law]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/02b26990-8096-11ed-bd51-25c62667f50c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/098a14f0-89df-11ed-84b0-3130ac058563</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/098a14f0-89df-11ed-84b0-3130ac058563</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When the Lord Jesus came in the flesh to redeem his people, He subjected himself to the Law in order...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When the Lord Jesus came in the flesh to redeem his people, He subjected himself to the Law in order to fulfill the Law and release all men from its captivity. &ldquo;He was called Jesus&rdquo; (Luke 2:21), because he came to save his people from their sins. &ldquo;Baptized into Christ,&rdquo; you belong to him and are clothed and covered by his righteousness (Gal. 3:27). By Holy Baptism the Lord Jesus puts his name on you and blesses you (Num. 6:22,27).]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:17:34 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day Festival Service: A Savior Is Born to Dwell Among Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/02b26990-8096-11ed-bd51-25c62667f50c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/83b16600-81ad-11ed-95c3-4de62d1ce5be</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/83b16600-81ad-11ed-95c3-4de62d1ce5be</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Unlike the Christmas Eve shepherds, we cannot see Christ with our eyes. Yet still he dwells among us...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Unlike the Christmas Eve shepherds, we cannot see Christ with our eyes. Yet still he dwells among us. For he is the Word made flesh. As we listen to the Word today, we truly are hearing the voice of Christ. As we celebrate the Lord&rsquo;s Supper, we partake of his true body and blood. In Word and sacrament, still today, our Savior dwells among us, feeding our faith, and preparing us for our true home.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: A Savior Is Born]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/02b26990-8096-11ed-bd51-25c62667f50c/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/df520410-8095-11ed-bd51-25c62667f50c</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[People don't like their Christmas traditions to change. Christmas traditions are wonderful. But Chri...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[People don't like their Christmas traditions to change. Christmas traditions are wonderful. But Christmas is all about change. The Lord God came to change the world by becoming part of the world. Because we are part of the world, that means Christmas changes us too. This Christmas Eve, join us to see how.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Come, Lord Jesus! As Immanuel]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/552e8930-6d39-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ab218c70-7e41-11ed-ad13-77e9fd91b8bb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ab218c70-7e41-11ed-ad13-77e9fd91b8bb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Man can do nothing to shake off the burden of sin. Therefore, the Church prays that God would come i...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Man can do nothing to shake off the burden of sin. Therefore, the Church prays that God would come in power to remove that burden for us. Since the Garden, there has been only one plan to do that: God would take on flesh and blood. To do what mankind could not do&mdash;remove all the burdens of sin&mdash;God became man. When you look into the manger, what do you see? A baby? Yes. But, more. That is Immanuel, &ldquo;God-with-us.&rdquo; The Son of God became Mary&rsquo;s son, so that he could do for us what we could not do for ourselves.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Come, Lord Jesus! As Messiah]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/552e8930-6d39-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5c3051b0-780a-11ed-8ea6-cb351a650d14</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5c3051b0-780a-11ed-8ea6-cb351a650d14</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Humanity wants a made-to-order Messiah. Even faithful Christians face the temptation of a made-to-or...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Humanity wants a made-to-order Messiah. Even faithful Christians face the temptation of a made-to-order Messiah. We want a Messiah who isn&rsquo;t bothered by the sin that keeps cropping up in our life, who doesn&rsquo;t call for total dedication but is fine if we only want a relaxed association with him. We want a Messiah who dispenses blessings liberally, to ensure that our life is blessed, as we would like to define it. That is not the Messiah who came. Jesus defies the expectations of Israel, the world, and us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Advent Devotion: Songs of Advent]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/74c680f0-74cc-11ed-8d2b-c72c910bd479/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5c8c1c70-74cc-11ed-8d2b-c72c910bd479</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5c8c1c70-74cc-11ed-8d2b-c72c910bd479</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It happens in musicals. Something great happens. The characters can't hold it in. They sing about it...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It happens in musicals. Something great happens. The characters can't hold it in. They sing about it! Maybe we don't burst into song all that often in real life. But we do "Whistle while we work." And we sing, "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the birth of our loved ones. And we sing, "Auld Lang Syne" to usher in the new year. And who can stop themselves from singing along to their favorite Christmas carol? 
This Wednesday night, we sing along with some of the very first Christmas carols ever. We sing along with Mary, Zechariah, and the angels who could not stop themselves from singing when they heard the best news ever: "A Savior is born!"]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5c8c1c70-74cc-11ed-8d2b-c72c910bd479/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Come, Lord Jesus! As Judge]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/552e8930-6d39-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e7e96050-72b2-11ed-a946-ab327d617faf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e7e96050-72b2-11ed-a946-ab327d617faf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When Jesus comes back as judge, everyone will face a binary outcome. Either they will be judged righ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When Jesus comes back as judge, everyone will face a binary outcome. Either they will be judged righteous and experience the peace and joys of Paradise, or they will be judged wicked and suffer unquenchable fire (Matthew 3). John the Baptist&rsquo;s job was to point to the only way to prepare for a judgment, one where the stakes are that high. Repent! And then look to the Lord Jesus. For when Jesus came into our world the first time, it was not as judge, but as Savior. All those whose faith is in Christ have already been judged righteous.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Come, Lord Jesus, As King!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/552e8930-6d39-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fd682350-6d38-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fd682350-6d38-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus is a King unlike any other ruler who has ever lived. For he is infinitely greater than all oth...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus is a King unlike any other ruler who has ever lived. For he is infinitely greater than all other kings, while simultaneously being infinitely humbler. This King is willing to trade his golden crown for one made of thorns. This King comes not demanding our service but to serve us. You look at how good, how loving is this King, and you ask that question upon which eternity hinges. &ldquo;Who is this?&rdquo; As we march through this new Church Year, the answer becomes crystal clear. This King is the Savior of the nations.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fd682350-6d38-11ed-a5a6-af2ee2ed6c4d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving Eve: The Lord Delivers Forgiveness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e6797c80-6a76-11ed-a755-f54bef9065cb/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed31ea30-6a76-11ed-a755-f54bef9065cb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed31ea30-6a76-11ed-a755-f54bef9065cb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus came to deliver forgiveness from God. Just as Jesus&rsquo; words can obliterate what we can se...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus came to deliver forgiveness from God. Just as Jesus&rsquo; words can obliterate what we can see (like sickness), so also the power of Jesus&rsquo; words can eradicate what we cannot see (like the guilt of sin). Those who are proud and self-righteous will see little need to have Christ in their life. But sinners like us flock to Jesus that we might be forgiven and forever changed by his powerful words. In every situation, we give thanks to the Lord!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Eagerly Wait for Deliverance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1dd2ac30-67b9-11ed-8a5a-abf0a0957ac1/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f963e3f0-67b8-11ed-8a5a-abf0a0957ac1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f963e3f0-67b8-11ed-8a5a-abf0a0957ac1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus promised, &ldquo;I am coming soon&rdquo; (Second Reading). But what does soon mean to the one ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus promised, &ldquo;I am coming soon&rdquo; (Second Reading). But what does soon mean to the one who is the Alpha and Omega, the eternal God? We do not know. We want Christ to return quickly, because we know the Last Day will be a day of great deliverance for God&rsquo;s people. But how long will we have to wait? Will it be in a few months or a few millennia? We cannot know. As we await Christ&rsquo;s return, we want to avoid two extremes: impatience and indifference. Let us not despair if the deliverance of the Last Day does not come as quickly as we would like. But let us never doubt that that deliverance will indeed come.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Life Lived Shrewdly]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8344c7c0-3c70-11ed-9c8f-e9568e8679be/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/114151d0-62cb-11ed-bae6-5dfefaeed6e6</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Christ lived the perfect God-lived life. Living as a Christian, we have the privilege of demonstrati...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christ lived the perfect God-lived life. Living as a Christian, we have the privilege of demonstrating what God looks like in how we live our lives. This is the final of four months where God&rsquo;s Word will be challenging us, and we&rsquo;ll be challenging one another to live a God-lived life. While stewardship of our finances isn&rsquo;t the only part of stewardship, it is a part of it. Today God&rsquo;s Word encourages us to use all of the financial gifts God has given us with an eye on our purpose. May God grant us grace to use money for what really matters!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Feebly Struggle; They in Glory Shine]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/667ea7f0-5bdd-11ed-a261-8fc227c72643/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1a565940-5bdd-11ed-a261-8fc227c72643</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1a565940-5bdd-11ed-a261-8fc227c72643</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We believe in &ldquo;the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints&rdquo; (Apostles&rsquo; Cree...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We believe in &ldquo;the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints&rdquo; (Apostles&rsquo; Creed). All with saving faith in Jesus as their Savior are holy which means God grants the status of saint to all believers. Some members of the communion of saints no longer struggle with trial and sin. These are all the saints who, through their Christian death, have triumphed over all these things. They live in the glory of Christ&rsquo;s light. This week, we thank God for those members of the communion of saints who have gone before us and now enjoy everlasting life. We feebly struggle, just as they once did. But now, thanks to Christ, they in glory shine.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a565940-5bdd-11ed-a261-8fc227c72643/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Reformation Sunday: The Truth Will Set You Free]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/83a63be0-57ff-11ed-a283-51922b30a520/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b588bc0-57ff-11ed-a283-51922b30a520</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b588bc0-57ff-11ed-a283-51922b30a520</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We value freedom and strive to protect freedoms. But do we truly understand freedom? Freedom for man...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We value freedom and strive to protect freedoms. But do we truly understand freedom? Freedom for many means doing what you want without control or coercion. Jesus helps us to understand true freedom: &ldquo;If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free&rdquo; (Gospel). God&rsquo;s divinely inspired truth frees us from slavery to sinful delusions, the burden of guilt, and any earthly power. This week we see that when we willingly bind ourselves to truth, Jesus keeps his promise. The truth sets us free.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 03:02:57 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Life of Hospitality]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8344c7c0-3c70-11ed-9c8f-e9568e8679be/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b2e6ea30-5237-11ed-9deb-2158fdad5d06</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[The God-lived life is a life of showing God&rsquo;s love. In today&rsquo;s worship, we look at the G...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The God-lived life is a life of showing God&rsquo;s love. In today&rsquo;s worship, we look at the God-lived life as one that isn&rsquo;t only doing things for others but opening our lives to them. As we invite people into our lives and our homes, God gives us opportunities to show what we are all about and share who we are all about. Through hospitality, as messy and dangerous as it can be, relationships are built, and Jesus is shared. This month, we focus especially on relationships in our lives that show and share Jesus.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Faith Demonstrated through Persistent Prayer]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/21c0bf10-4727-11ed-929a-013bc6b91e02/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/12789120-4d05-11ed-b42c-67702c097980</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/12789120-4d05-11ed-b42c-67702c097980</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Disciples of Jesus need to learn how to pray. However, learning to pray is not like many of the othe...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Disciples of Jesus need to learn how to pray. However, learning to pray is not like many of the other things we learn to do in our lives. Once we know how to write our name, tie our shoes, or ride a bike, the learning is done. Not so with prayer. Learning to pray consists of a lifetime of persistence and struggle. But when we struggle with God in prayer, it is not an indication that something is wrong but that everything is right. Struggle is part of the very nature of prayer and at the heart of the blessings it brings in our lives of faith.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 2022 03:46:09 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/12789120-4d05-11ed-b42c-67702c097980/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Faith that Overflows with Gratitude]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/21c0bf10-4727-11ed-929a-013bc6b91e02/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c3d81100-4726-11ed-a60b-e1793fe8f5cc</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c3d81100-4726-11ed-a60b-e1793fe8f5cc</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Two key factors influence the intensity of someone&rsquo;s gratitude: First, how much you deserve wh...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Two key factors influence the intensity of someone&rsquo;s gratitude: First, how much you deserve what they did for you. Second, how generous they were. Apply this to God. What does God owe us? How deserving are we of his blessing? How much has he done for us? What blessings has he given us now? What blessings has he promised us in eternity? As Jesus increases our faith, so that we accurately answer all those questions, we become more than grateful. We overflow with gratitude.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c3d81100-4726-11ed-a60b-e1793fe8f5cc/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Faith That Delights in Duty]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/21c0bf10-4727-11ed-929a-013bc6b91e02/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38fb8350-4244-11ed-b196-073bfabb0650</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38fb8350-4244-11ed-b196-073bfabb0650</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In the world, as you rise through the ranks, you have the privilege of leaving many of your duties b...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the world, as you rise through the ranks, you have the privilege of leaving many of your duties behind. If you are high-up on the corporate ladder, you can delegate things you don&rsquo;t want to do to someone else. In Christ&rsquo;s kingdom it works just the opposite. An increase in faith does not lessen duties at all. It increases opportunities to serve God and others. Increased faith means increased obligations and work. But here&rsquo;s the good news: the same faith that increases our duties leads us to delight in them. For through faith, we know that we serve the one who first came to serve us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2022 11:20:30 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/38fb8350-4244-11ed-b196-073bfabb0650/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A God-Lived Life of Discipleship]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8344c7c0-3c70-11ed-9c8f-e9568e8679be/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/698c9ce0-3c70-11ed-9c8f-e9568e8679be</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/698c9ce0-3c70-11ed-9c8f-e9568e8679be</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God became man and lived life in our place. Christ lived the perfect God-lived life. Living as a Chr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God became man and lived life in our place. Christ lived the perfect God-lived life. Living as a Christian, a little Christ, we have the privilege of demonstrating what God looks like in how we live our lives, in living lives that show God. So for the next 3 months&mdash;God&rsquo;s Word will be challenging us and we&rsquo;ll be challenging one another to live a God-lived life. In today&rsquo;s worship, the particular emphasis of the God-lived life is that of being a disciple, a learner, one who grows in God&rsquo;s Word.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Serve God with Money; You Can't Serve God and Money]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/20ede840-1b41-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a5ce6b70-36c1-11ed-9fad-691112a9d172</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a5ce6b70-36c1-11ed-9fad-691112a9d172</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[There are more than 2300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Jesus knows that the human hear...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[There are more than 2300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Jesus knows that the human heart is not big enough for both. As a result, Jesus does all he can to expose the futility of serving money. He also helps us see that the only one truly worth serving is our gracious, loving God. When we serve God, money is put in its proper place. Instead of money being a lord to serve, it becomes a resource for serving the Lord. This is the hard truth. There is no way for us to serve both God and money. But we can serve God with our money.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Found Are Left; the Lost Are Found]]></title>
                                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/20ede840-1b41-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f09c4100-3120-11ed-86ff-499492f95671</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f09c4100-3120-11ed-86ff-499492f95671</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Mankind&rsquo;s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. Wander...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Mankind&rsquo;s natural state is one of complete spiritual helplessness, a profound lostness. Wandering around physically lost can lead to winding up in bad places. But the hard truth is that wandering around spiritually lost puts you in the worst place of all. Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us alone in our lostness. He relentlessly seeks us. He involves the rest of the Christian community in seeking the lost and rejoicing over the found.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"></dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Put Down What You Love; Pick up What you Loathe]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/20ede840-1b41-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9a3a9ee0-2bc8-11ed-9e15-b325e047a073</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9a3a9ee0-2bc8-11ed-9e15-b325e047a073</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our relationship with Jesus will put us in situations where we must decide where love for him ranks compared to love for other people and things. Following Jesus will force us to let go of things we love and embrace things we would naturally loath. He doesn&rsquo;t hide this hard truth! Instead, he tells us up front that we must count the cost of following him. When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we must make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/9a3a9ee0-2bc8-11ed-9e15-b325e047a073/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Hymn Festival]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/46bc0e30-261d-11ed-ace1-a13f1d5d01b0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/46bc0e30-261d-11ed-ace1-a13f1d5d01b0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scripture often uses the picture of light and darkness to describe God, his Word, and faith as oppos...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture often uses the picture of light and darkness to describe God, his Word, and faith as opposed to this world and our natural state. This morning, as well as singing a collection of some of our favorite hymns, our hymns and readings focus on Christ, the light of the world which no darkness can overcome]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46bc0e30-261d-11ed-ace1-a13f1d5d01b0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: We Want Peace; God's Word Divides]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/20ede840-1b41-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/98780f30-20c3-11ed-b551-e93ad7ff62d3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/98780f30-20c3-11ed-b551-e93ad7ff62d3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We often divide humanity into groupings that are not really significant: this ethnic group versus that one, men versus women, wealthy versus poor. God&rsquo;s Word produces the only people grouping that ultimately matters: believers and unbelievers. We want to overcome division and live in peace with other people. Here is a hard truth: total peace is impossible for the believer to achieve. Those who embrace the gospel in faith will inevitably face hostility and opposition. Following Jesus will come at a price. Yet he promises us our perseverance will be rewarded.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/98780f30-20c3-11ed-b551-e93ad7ff62d3/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The First Will Be Last; the Last Will Be First]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/20ede840-1b41-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce103920-1b40-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce103920-1b40-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When it comes to the difficult and uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, i...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When it comes to the difficult and uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to theoretical questions. &ldquo;What is heaven like?&rdquo; &ldquo;How old will we be there?&rdquo; Today, someone asks Jesus, &ldquo;Lord, are only a few going to be saved?&rdquo; Jesus brushes these questions aside. Instead, he answers the question we should be asking. Rather than talking about how many will be saved, Jesus explains how to be among the saved. What he teaches today through his Word is a hard truth. The doorway into heaven is narrow. Scripture consistently teaches that those individuals who are certain they will be first through that door are more likely to be last, if they make it through at all. Instead, the one who believes he is the last one God should let into his kingdom and that his only chance of getting in is through the grace of Christ will enter first.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ce103920-1b40-11ed-b23f-654fa4247443/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Focused Living Values Heaven]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3cb43f50-fec9-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9d70c660-164d-11ed-ac87-6bf64654a5e7</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9d70c660-164d-11ed-ac87-6bf64654a5e7</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Last week, Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week, Jesus warns against underv...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week, Jesus warned us against overvaluing earthly wealth. This week, Jesus warns against undervaluing heavenly treasure. Last week, Jesus exposed the folly of greed. This week, Jesus exposes the folly of worry, even when faced with the prospect of having a shortage of earthly wealth. This week might be the bigger challenge! But Jesus focuses us. Jesus assures that we can pursue heavenly treasure wholeheartedly, confident that our Father knows all we need.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 2022 12:36:52 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/9d70c660-164d-11ed-ac87-6bf64654a5e7/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Focused Living Values Wealth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3cb43f50-fec9-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/01208580-1075-11ed-8f1c-394936101001</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/01208580-1075-11ed-8f1c-394936101001</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[One of the things that can most easily get in the way of our focus is our earthly possessions. Jesus...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[One of the things that can most easily get in the way of our focus is our earthly possessions. Jesus&rsquo; followers don&rsquo;t reject earthly wealth or despise it. They can be grateful for every good gift that comes from the hand of God. However, Jesus&rsquo; followers value earthly wealth correctly. They don&rsquo;t give earthly wealth a role in their lives it will never be able to fill. This week we focus on the fact that the identity and security earthly wealth can never provide is found fully and freely in Christ.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2022 02:03:43 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/01208580-1075-11ed-8f1c-394936101001/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Focused Prayer]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3cb43f50-fec9-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bf6194e0-0a9d-11ed-83c6-33497c79f2b0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bf6194e0-0a9d-11ed-83c6-33497c79f2b0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. What does not co...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. Yes, we can speak from the heart and ask for anything we want. But our Father invites us to pray specifically for the things he wants to give us. Prayer is the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God&rsquo;s will, not the other way around. So, along with Jesus&rsquo; disciples, we say, &ldquo;Lord, teach us to pray.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/bf6194e0-0a9d-11ed-83c6-33497c79f2b0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Focused Worship]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3cb43f50-fec9-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/05aaba50-0579-11ed-b339-b9c4973149b4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/05aaba50-0579-11ed-b339-b9c4973149b4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We call worship a &ldquo;service,&rdquo; which raises the question: Who is serving whom? In answerin...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We call worship a &ldquo;service,&rdquo; which raises the question: Who is serving whom? In answering that question, it is easy to focus on what we do in worship. &ldquo;I set aside time in my week to come to church. I am singing praise to God. I brought him an offering. Clearly, I am serving him.&rdquo; However, as God speaks this week, he clarifies our focus, letting us see that worship is primarily about him serving us. Through Word and sacrament, he delivers every spiritual gift he wants us to receive. Receiving his service is actually the highest form of worship.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2022 02:34:46 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/05aaba50-0579-11ed-b339-b9c4973149b4/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[The Christian Victory Service of Dzidra Terpstra]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/9b6400e0-04fe-11ed-bb4b-7936bacdd3ed/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1871aa20-04fe-11ed-bb4b-7936bacdd3ed</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1871aa20-04fe-11ed-bb4b-7936bacdd3ed</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2022 11:54:50 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1871aa20-04fe-11ed-bb4b-7936bacdd3ed/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Focused Love]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3cb43f50-fec9-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ba088e80-fec8-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ba088e80-fec8-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We tend to think of distraction and focus as opposites. We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We tend to think of distraction and focus as opposites. We may dismiss the needs of our neighbor, thinking, &ldquo;If I spend time helping him, that will distract me from other things I should be focused on.&rdquo; Today, Jesus teaches us that he has set us free to live a life of such distractions. No matter the neighbor and no matter his need, we are free to act in ways that seem senseless. We are free to actively seek out a neighbor in need. We are free to bear any cost and go any distance to serve them as Christ would serve them.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2022 14:17:39 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ba088e80-fec8-11ec-b39b-670f968e8066/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ Provides Ministers to Proclaim His Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e493780-ea05-11ec-a860-0b01a8688b4e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b8f78100-f954-11ec-910d-852190c4ce95</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b8f78100-f954-11ec-910d-852190c4ce95</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Christ has not only given us his powerful Word. In his grace, he gives us ministers who proclaim tha...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christ has not only given us his powerful Word. In his grace, he gives us ministers who proclaim that Word to us in whatever ways we need at the time: words of comfort, words of instruction, or even words of rebuke. Ministers carry out their calling, not because of what they might gain from the flock, but because of what the flock might gain from Jesus through them. God&rsquo;s words possess God&rsquo;s power. Therefore, God provides us with ministers to proclaim God&rsquo;s Word, so that God&rsquo;s kingdom might come powerfully among us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Through the Word, Christ Creates Committed Followers]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e493780-ea05-11ec-a860-0b01a8688b4e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/65bae200-f4bf-11ec-a1d3-d7e67db76d20</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/65bae200-f4bf-11ec-a1d3-d7e67db76d20</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[There are different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[There are different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in half-hearted followers. Jesus wants followers who are all-in&mdash;who would be willing to leave everything else behind if that were what it would take to be with him. We simply do not have it in us to produce that level of commitment. But Jesus&rsquo; words have Jesus&rsquo; power. In his gospel Jesus explains how he went all in for our salvation. And through those words Christ creates within us the very commitment that he seeks.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Through the Word, the Lord Crushes Evil]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e493780-ea05-11ec-a860-0b01a8688b4e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fb976b60-ef8b-11ec-837f-8b8210334600</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fb976b60-ef8b-11ec-837f-8b8210334600</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God&rsquo;s words are so powerful! With only his words, Jesus cured illness and raised the dead. Wit...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God&rsquo;s words are so powerful! With only his words, Jesus cured illness and raised the dead. With his words, Jesus created the faith that receives his forgiveness. So we should not be surprised this week when we see that Jesus&rsquo; words also have the power to push back the spiritual forces of evil that are in the world. It is a surprise, however, to see that Jesus&rsquo; words have Jesus&rsquo; power even when they are not coming from Jesus&rsquo; mouth. When the gospel comes out of the mouths of sinners like us, Jesus &ldquo;sends the power of evil reeling" (Hymn of the Day).]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Jun 2022 04:55:04 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Through the Word, the Triune God Blesses Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4e493780-ea05-11ec-a860-0b01a8688b4e/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0ea58f70-ea05-11ec-8415-4d86ca452aee</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0ea58f70-ea05-11ec-8415-4d86ca452aee</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Scriptures never use the words &ldquo;Trinity&rdquo; or &ldquo;Triune.&rdquo; As we read God&rsq...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Scriptures never use the words &ldquo;Trinity&rdquo; or &ldquo;Triune.&rdquo; As we read God&rsquo;s Word from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, he gives us hints and glimpses of his Triune nature. Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity can seem very academic. But as God provides those hints and glimpses, his primary focus is on the way in which his Triune nature is a blessing to us. God shows us how we benefit from the fact he exists as Trinity. God dwells in a &ldquo;majesty and mystery&rdquo; (Prayer of the Day) but every time we gather in the name of the Lord, our Triune God, we receive indescribable blessings.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2022 04:06:38 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0ea58f70-ea05-11ec-8415-4d86ca452aee/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Spirit Marches Victorious Through the Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a030d1a0-e485-11ec-887a-bd8053863d1c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a030d1a0-e485-11ec-887a-bd8053863d1c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today is Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost! Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospe...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today is Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost! Jesus ascended into heaven. That does not mean the gospel has ceased to march victorious around the world! Jesus promised to send another advocate to represent God to the world: the Holy Spirit. When Jesus promised to send the Spirit, he indicated that his work would be connected to words, specifically God's Word. As a result, we need never wonder where we can find the Spirit. He marches victorious through the Word.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2022 04:11:52 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a030d1a0-e485-11ec-887a-bd8053863d1c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Power from Heaven Marches Victorious to the Ends of the Earth]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/432a4e70-deac-11ec-b043-d1f681b06ea4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/432a4e70-deac-11ec-b043-d1f681b06ea4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus' ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. Never again will a sacrifice for sin ne...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus' ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. Never again will a sacrifice for sin need to be made. However, Jesus' ascension also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church Jesus now proclaims forgiveness throughout the world. The Church consists of people like us who are often weak and timid witnesses for Christ. So Jesus promised to send us his Spirit to give us power from heaven, that we might take the gospel to the ends of the earth.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/432a4e70-deac-11ec-b043-d1f681b06ea4/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Joy Marches Victorious Over Circumstance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b40f8570-d906-11ec-825a-716b252e666f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b40f8570-d906-11ec-825a-716b252e666f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Conventional wisdom says that joy is a direct result of circumstance. But Jesus offers us a joy that...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Conventional wisdom says that joy is a direct result of circumstance. But Jesus offers us a joy that is superior. It is not a product of circumstance; it's a product of Easter. Easter proves that God can take what normally causes people to weep and turn it into what causes people to rejoice. Sin, death, and shame went into Jesus' tomb. Forgiveness, life, and glory came out. It is a joy that can never be taken from us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b40f8570-d906-11ec-825a-716b252e666f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Selfless Love Marches Victorious Over Self-Glorification]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0db17fc0-d43e-11ec-b4e8-ed2a1de339bf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0db17fc0-d43e-11ec-b4e8-ed2a1de339bf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We often try and prove our goodness by comparing ourselves to others. You see this sense of superior...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We often try and prove our goodness by comparing ourselves to others. You see this sense of superiority in the way we prioritize life, typically putting our wants ahead of others. Easter ends this focus on self. Easter helps us avoid the trap of self-glorification and opens our eyes to a more excellent way: selfless love. Christ did not glorify himself, but selflessly did everything for the benefit of others. This week, he promises to be our inexhaustible power supply that we might also put selfless love into practice.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2022 10:59:11 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0db17fc0-d43e-11ec-b4e8-ed2a1de339bf/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Fulfilled Works March Victorious Over Empty Words]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a4967fe0-ce43-11ec-b95c-fb62097c304f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a4967fe0-ce43-11ec-b95c-fb62097c304f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. But we are awa...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. But we are aware of what many of those people will do when it comes time to put those words into action. Jesus tells you in his Word that he cares for you dearly&hellip; that he would do anything for you. How do you know you can trust him? Jesus followed up his words with works. Every word our Good Shepherd speaks to us is trustworthy!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a4967fe0-ce43-11ec-b95c-fb62097c304f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Sight Marches Victorious Over Blindness]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b0f01490-c8c1-11ec-8631-4ba764e3c57c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b0f01490-c8c1-11ec-8631-4ba764e3c57c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Scripture often uses the concept of blindness as a metaphor for how hard it is to navigate life with...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Scripture often uses the concept of blindness as a metaphor for how hard it is to navigate life without a correct understanding of Christ. Spiritual blindness can take many different forms. No matter the specific form it takes, Easter has the power to replace it with sight. Easter allows us to see where we sinners stand with a holy God. Spiritual sight gives us the ability to see who holds our future in his hands and who is worth our eternal worship.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b0f01490-c8c1-11ec-8631-4ba764e3c57c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Witness Marches Victorious Over Restraint]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fea93020-c355-11ec-a796-b9a0e6b1eaf2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fea93020-c355-11ec-a796-b9a0e6b1eaf2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The good news of the risen Christ is bigger than a single day. The Easter gospel will continue to ma...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The good news of the risen Christ is bigger than a single day. The Easter gospel will continue to march across centuries and continents. However, there will always be forces that try to slow that march. Those forces could be self-inflicted fears and doubts or various types of persecutions. Whatever the case, the good news of Easter will not be restrained. The reality of Easter rests on the testimony of eyewitnesses. Therefore, the march of the Church's witness will never slow down.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Sunrise Service: God's Easter Declaration]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b8047380-bb50-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b8047380-bb50-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus is victorious over death! Come and hear what God's declaration of victory means for you!]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus is victorious over death! Come and hear what God's declaration of victory means for you!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b8047380-bb50-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Festival Service: Victorious]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ab674660-bb51-11ec-a9bf-e171799ce6a2/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/31dd1e90-bb52-11ec-adce-db9f84808a3a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/31dd1e90-bb52-11ec-adce-db9f84808a3a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Life marches victorious over death.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Life marches victorious over death.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/31dd1e90-bb52-11ec-adce-db9f84808a3a/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/422201a0-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/422201a0-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/422201a0-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/07513e60-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/07513e60-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Tonight we gather to celebrate the Lord&rsquo;s Supper, which we also refer to as Holy Communion. A ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Tonight we gather to celebrate the Lord&rsquo;s Supper, which we also refer to as Holy Communion. A communion is a joining together, a common union. Tonight we&rsquo;ll look at, and rejoice in, the three communions that take place in the Lord&rsquo;s Supper.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/07513e60-b9ca-11ec-aef8-bd87dffdea9d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Palm Sunday]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5e29a010-b830-11ec-99e4-65c7a97f48eb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5e29a010-b830-11ec-99e4-65c7a97f48eb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today&rsquo;s service reflects the contrasting attitudes toward Jesus during the days leading up to his crucifixion. Palm Sunday is named after the palms that were spread before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. The people&rsquo;s praise reveals that they hailed Jesus as the Messianic King. Yet only days later, they would cry out, &ldquo;Crucify!&rdquo; This contrast is reflected as the joy of Christ&rsquo;s triumphal entry gives way to the somber remembrance of his suffering and death. The extended reading of the Passion History sets before us all that Christ did on our behalf. Thus the Church prepares for Holy Week&mdash;the most important week of the church year.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5e29a010-b830-11ec-99e4-65c7a97f48eb/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek Worship: A Part for the Whole?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b97f4d90-b5c7-11ec-9fef-cfcb1319ab6c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b97f4d90-b5c7-11ec-9fef-cfcb1319ab6c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We have seen Jesus give himself&mdash;not in part but in whole&mdash;for us. May we strive to do the...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We have seen Jesus give himself&mdash;not in part but in whole&mdash;for us. May we strive to do the same for him!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b97f4d90-b5c7-11ec-9fef-cfcb1319ab6c/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Human Rejection is Crushed by Divine Exaltation]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8a3daf00-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/194a9990-b2ef-11ec-9bee-ed510a2b4daf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/194a9990-b2ef-11ec-9bee-ed510a2b4daf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[People often look to the judgment of experts. The opinion of experts can greatly influence the gener...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[People often look to the judgment of experts. The opinion of experts can greatly influence the general population. That poses a problem when it comes to Christ. The world's experts and culturally elite generally see little value in Christ and his Word. Thankfully, Christ tells us to expect this. He also reminds us that when it comes to judgments about him and his kingdom, only one opinion matters. God the Father would render the final verdict about Christ and his work when he raised his Son from the dead. This week, we learn to evaluate the world's experts properly. They might see heaven's greatest treasure as trash. Fine. That treasure remains ours for the taking!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2022 01:40:52 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/194a9990-b2ef-11ec-9bee-ed510a2b4daf/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek Worship: What to Remember When You are Seized with Remorse]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/44d6a280-afd3-11ec-9dd6-0dbff93730d8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/44d6a280-afd3-11ec-9dd6-0dbff93730d8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Every step of the way, Judas makes the wrong choice. It&rsquo;s like a step by step guide of what no...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Every step of the way, Judas makes the wrong choice. It&rsquo;s like a step by step guide of what not to do. Every step of the way we can see a shadowy reflection of ourselves. That step by step guide extends to the morning after Judas betrayed Jesus when he was seized with remorse.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/44d6a280-afd3-11ec-9dd6-0dbff93730d8/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Our Condemnation is Crushed by God's Grace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8a3daf00-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c4433ab0-acae-11ec-966d-eb7ba2d1ab44</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c4433ab0-acae-11ec-966d-eb7ba2d1ab44</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We assume people get what they deserve. We assume what goes around comes around. We assume God helps...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We assume people get what they deserve. We assume what goes around comes around. We assume God helps those who helps themselves. And all those assumptions must be crushed. Got does not operate on the principle of merit but of grace. Like gravity, grace is a constant force at work in how God deals with us and how he wants us to deal with others. No one is beyond the reach of God&rsquo;s grace. God never turns it off. When the weight of our sin makes us fearful of God&rsquo;s condemnation, he reveals his grace yet again.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c4433ab0-acae-11ec-966d-eb7ba2d1ab44/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek Service: &quot;They Bound Him&quot;]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0d9f8390-aaab-11ec-afd1-2fba062ec334</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0d9f8390-aaab-11ec-afd1-2fba062ec334</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The crowd in the Gethsemane bound Jesus. While it may have been standard operating procedure, this w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The crowd in the Gethsemane bound Jesus. While it may have been standard operating procedure, this was no standard operation. Binding Jesus was silly, ineffective, and also completely unnecessary.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2022 13:13:38 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0d9f8390-aaab-11ec-afd1-2fba062ec334/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: False Security is Crushed by Faithful Presence]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8a3daf00-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/79703ed0-a7f8-11ec-8cc7-7d56f1dcd741</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/79703ed0-a7f8-11ec-8cc7-7d56f1dcd741</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Where is God? This is one of human beings&rsquo; most frequently-asked and incorrectly-answered ques...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Where is God? This is one of human beings&rsquo; most frequently-asked and incorrectly-answered questions. We are tempted to believe that evidence of God's presence is found in outward circumstances. We equate good fortune with God's favor and bad fortune with his judgment. So, as long as nothing terrible is happening, God must not be too angry with us, right? We are free to go on sinning. Such foolish assumptions must be crushed. Therefore, God must constantly remind us where he intends to be found&mdash;in the gospel. He makes himself present in Word and sacraments. Because he is always present, we realize the urgent need to turn away from the sin he despises. Because his presence is graciously hidden, we are drawn to him for forgiveness rather than driven away from him in fear.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2022 02:50:17 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                    length="801258" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek Service: The Semblance of Legality]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cd5af3f0-a541-11ec-ac2c-dbf1cd9088f6</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[This evening we&rsquo;re going to examine the technicalities and outward rule keeping&mdash;the semb...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This evening we&rsquo;re going to examine the technicalities and outward rule keeping&mdash;the semblance of legality&mdash;that led Jesus to the cross.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:57:37 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Shortcuts are Crushed by Determination]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8a3daf00-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b898220-a229-11ec-95bd-094f95c2a5dd</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[Last week we talked about temptation. This week we see what is at the center of every temptation: a ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week we talked about temptation. This week we see what is at the center of every temptation: a promise of a shortcut to glory. Even in a world as sharply divided as ours, there is near universal agreement that the preferred path to glory is the shortest and easiest. To walk the path our Savior puts us on, one on which the cross comes before the crown, puts us out of step with the world. Thankfully, the determination required to walk this path starts with our Savior and not with us. Because of his determination, we are offered a glory far superior to anything the world can offer.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek Service: &quot;Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You&quot;]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4c2b65a0-9fcc-11ec-8ac7-9548999e6241</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4c2b65a0-9fcc-11ec-8ac7-9548999e6241</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Why does God allow Satan to shake and shift your soul? Why does he allow you to fail? God wants you ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Why does God allow Satan to shake and shift your soul? Why does he allow you to fail? God wants you to put your strength in your Savior who can never be shaken.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2022 17:13:53 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Our Temptation is Crushed by Christ's Obedience]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8a3daf00-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5868b9c0-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5868b9c0-9cfd-11ec-b463-a38a2f040b62</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It was a custom known as &ldquo;Battle by Champion.&rdquo; Two opposing armies would each send out t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It was a custom known as &ldquo;Battle by Champion.&rdquo; Two opposing armies would each send out their best warrior to fight each other. That is what we see this week. The demons send their champion: Satan. Humanity's best warrior, Jesus Christ, steps forward to meet him. In this fight, he does not use his divine power. He uses the same weapon we have, God&rsquo;s Word. Because Christ fought the battle against Satan as one of us, he won that battle for all of us. Jesus is our perfect substitute. Even as the devil still seethes in rage against us, we can face him and his temptations unafraid, confident that our champion has already won the victory.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Mar 2022 03:27:26 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday: &quot;I Will Keep the Passover&quot;]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/87cfeb50-9a34-11ec-bc68-3b7da7225d77/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b7b802b0-9a4a-11ec-a42c-2de54fa42b1d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b7b802b0-9a4a-11ec-a42c-2de54fa42b1d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) to Jesus&rsquo; cross and tomb in anticipation of Easter. It begins with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance. The ancient practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of Christians gives Ash Wednesday its name. The early church father Tertullian (c.160-215 AD) wrote of the practice as a public expression of repentance and of our human frailty that stands in need of Christ. Lord, tonight remind us that death will one day reduce us to ashes&mdash;and our hearts need to be reduced to ashes in repentance now.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2022 17:03:44 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Glory Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ff2374f0-977e-11ec-bb1f-9b8f179ff14d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ff2374f0-977e-11ec-bb1f-9b8f179ff14d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Throughout Epiphany, we have seen that God must uncover for us the truths that could not be discover...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Throughout Epiphany, we have seen that God must uncover for us the truths that could not be discovered by us. As this season ends, we are presented with a twist. For God's glory to be revealed, it actually must be covered. God's glory needed to be hidden in Christ. It is hidden in the gospel. This is how God enables sinful human beings to see his glory and, rather than turning away in fear, stare at it in wonder for as long as they want. The truth God uncovers for us today: when his glory is hidden, it is most on display.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2022 03:40:25 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Reactions Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c478be40-9202-11ec-9066-6516328bb143</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c478be40-9202-11ec-9066-6516328bb143</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Last week we saw that the governing principles of Christ's kingdom initially seem upside down. This ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week we saw that the governing principles of Christ's kingdom initially seem upside down. This week we see that truth in how Christ would have us react to those who wrong us or oppose us. Jesus asks us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, and to repay evil with good. Logic would say that is a recipe for being walked all over. Yet, have we not seen this tactic work? When we were Christ's enemies, he loved us to the point of death. He repays our daily evil with the daily goodness of his mercy. In doing so, he has won us for himself. Following the strategy Jesus lays out today is not a capitulation to evil. It is a means of conquering it.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2022 04:08:32 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c478be40-9202-11ec-9066-6516328bb143/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Definitions Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/390d8890-8c85-11ec-9390-47f86450350b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/390d8890-8c85-11ec-9390-47f86450350b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[When someone is new to something, there is a period of orientation. For example, when someone takes ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When someone is new to something, there is a period of orientation. For example, when someone takes up a new game or sport, they need to first learn the rules. Likewise, when someone is a new disciple of Jesus, a period of orientation follows. It's necessary, because by nature we assume that Jesus' kingdom works the same way the world works. The truth that is uncovered this week is that the principles on which Jesus' kingdom runs are the exact opposite of the principles of the world. That which the world considers to be a blessing can often be a curse. And that which the world calls bad, God always uses for the good of those he loves.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2022 04:27:17 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/390d8890-8c85-11ec-9390-47f86450350b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Uncovered Messengers]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/66863830-86a9-11ec-87ff-b5f5bf295c8d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/66863830-86a9-11ec-87ff-b5f5bf295c8d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It doesn&rsquo;t surprise us that Jesus demonstrated his commitment to proclaiming good news of the ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It doesn&rsquo;t surprise us that Jesus demonstrated his commitment to proclaiming good news of the kingdom of God, regardless of whether people rejected his message or embraced it. What is surprising is that Jesus also carried out his plan by sending others to speak on his behalf. In many cases, it was individuals who seemed to lack the proper qualifications. Yet, Christ equipped and prepared them. Do you feel unqualified to tell others the good news? Then be assured, Jesus plans to use you for that purpose.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Agenda Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/87e400d0-81d0-11ec-bb9a-ad077989892e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/87e400d0-81d0-11ec-bb9a-ad077989892e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Last week we saw that there can be a temptation to alter the message we proclaim to avoid apparent f...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week we saw that there can be a temptation to alter the message we proclaim to avoid apparent failure and rejection. This week we see that there is also a temptation to alter the message we proclaim because of apparent success. If a church makes its central focus things like personal improvement, healing for the sick, or social justice, that church may draw a crowd. It just fails to carry out the agenda Christ has given his Church. The gospel of forgiveness is to be the center of all our preaching and teaching. The agenda for Christ's Church is set. It's the same agenda that was followed by the Church's Christ.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Jan 2022 13:28:37 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Reception Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/02a86920-7bf8-11ec-9e29-1d1ad3cb176e</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[When one proclaims God's Word, typically the intentions are good. We want others to know the joy of ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[When one proclaims God's Word, typically the intentions are good. We want others to know the joy of salvation and the love of Chirst. Therefore, it can be surprising to us when God's Word is met with apathy or rejection by those who hear it. It's easy to conclude that when the Word of God offends human minds and hearts (including our own), something has gone wrong. The truth that is uncovered this week is that rejection of Jesus' words is not the exception but the rule. Jesus' words will always offend. However, we will see that God can use even the rejection of his Word for good.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jan 2022 02:56:07 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Delight Uncovered]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/72aaac70-764d-11ec-8f55-557656f2d614/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e34429d0-764c-11ec-8757-e9115100473a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e34429d0-764c-11ec-8757-e9115100473a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Many make that assumption&mdash;that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. They are dead ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Many make that assumption&mdash;that life with Jesus is a boring, sterile experience. They are dead wrong. Jesus came to undo everything that is wrong with our world as a result of sin's curse. He also came to multiply our joy and deliver delight beyond our wildest dreams. Note that when Jesus begins to reveal his glory, it isn't by going to a hospital to cure every ailment. Instead, he starts at a local wedding, one of the greatest sources of joy in this life. The truth uncovered for us this week is that life with Jesus is not a life with less delight, but infinitely more.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What Child Is This? A Light for All People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/820b0f20-70e4-11ec-a0dc-c73a233cae5b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/820b0f20-70e4-11ec-a0dc-c73a233cae5b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The twelve days of Christmas conclude with the Festival of the Epiphany, a celebration of the first ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The twelve days of Christmas conclude with the Festival of the Epiphany, a celebration of the first time non-Jewish believers worshiped the newborn Savior. They were guided by a special light in the sky to a child who would be a light for all people. We live in a world where sin can divide people along so many lines: ethnicity and race, rich and poor, red states and blue states. The only dividing line Jesus cares about is the one that separated sinful mankind from a holy God. By his death and resurrection, he removed that line and united all believers into one kingdom.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:38:48 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What Child Is This? He Turns Slaves into Sons]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c7891170-6b74-11ec-89e1-45a8df26a8ea</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c7891170-6b74-11ec-89e1-45a8df26a8ea</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The ability to appreciate Christmas is directly proportional to the understanding of whom Christmas ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The ability to appreciate Christmas is directly proportional to the understanding of whom Christmas is for. Christmas is only meant for those who are held captive by our enemies, sin and death. Christmas is for people who have no power of their own to free themselves from those enemies. Christmas is for people who patiently wait for God to set them free. God's Christmas gift is for slaves, but it does not leave them that way. Jesus takes those born in slavery and turns them into sons and daughters of God. He makes us heirs of a glorious, eternal inheritance. Lord, set us free for joyful service to our loving Father. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 Jan 2022 02:36:26 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[New Year's Eve: The Lord Has Compassion on His Servants]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/664d0cb0-6992-11ec-ad63-3d4d1568d8e9</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/664d0cb0-6992-11ec-ad63-3d4d1568d8e9</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Human beings are frail and temporary. As our years roll by and time takes its toll on us we only bec...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Human beings are frail and temporary. As our years roll by and time takes its toll on us we only become more aware of our mortality. What grace our God has shown that he bears with us and allows us even this time to work and to live. It&rsquo;s then grace upon grace that in his compassion the eternal God gives his servants rebirth through his eternal and enduring Word. Lord, teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What Child Is This? Our Substitute and Sacrifice]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/12bae640-6653-11ec-a7f0-41b3f7a8180e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/12bae640-6653-11ec-a7f0-41b3f7a8180e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Already as a child, Jesus' saving work had begun. His entire life, he served as our subsitute, perfe...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Already as a child, Jesus' saving work had begun. His entire life, he served as our subsitute, perfectly obeying God's Law. Just think of how we often neglect the study of God's Word. Then look at twelve-year-old Jesus, eager to be in the temple learning more about Scripture. However, he would need to do more than be our subsitute. Lord, strengthen our trust in Jesus who laid his perfect life down as the sacrifice for our sin.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Dec 2021 13:52:33 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/12bae640-6653-11ec-a7f0-41b3f7a8180e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day Festival Service: What Child Is This?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/57546320-62df-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/57546320-62df-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Lord had told Moses, "No one may see me and live." If sinners cannot even bear to look upon the ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Lord had told Moses, "No one may see me and live." If sinners cannot even bear to look upon the glory of God, then they certainly could not hope to live with God in the glory of heaven. So, on that first Christmas, God chose to hide his glory under flesh. What child is this? It is God and man in one person, exactly what the human race needed to deliver it from its enemies of sin, death, and Satan. Christmas Day serves up the deep stuff of Christmas: the miracle and mystery of the incarnation.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 25 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/57546320-62df-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: What Child Is This?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1a6b8030-62dd-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a95db2a0-62dc-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a95db2a0-62dc-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This Christmas Eve, an angel answers that question. "A savior has been born to you." It is a stunnin...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This Christmas Eve, an angel answers that question. "A savior has been born to you." It is a stunning statement, for two reasons. First, this child looks nothing like what we would expect in a hero-savior. This child is weak, helpless, and mired in poverty. Second, he has come to bring salvation "to you." It is a salvation we all need desperately. It was God's gift to us, given on that first Christmas Eve.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a95db2a0-62dc-11ec-8e99-6b64de117f09/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: When the Lord Comes Near, He Lifts Up the Humbled]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8fc01d60-4f90-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d89748f0-5f6d-11ec-bc55-f52de594f301</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d89748f0-5f6d-11ec-bc55-f52de594f301</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. They feel guilty about presents t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[By this time of the holiday season, people are often weighed down. They feel guilty about presents that are not perfect, or parties that did not go as planned, or year-end projects that did not get completed. If that is how we feel, perhaps the frenzy of December has actually done us a favor. We have been stretched to our limits. We have been made aware of our shortcomings. We have been humbled. Perfect! For being made aware of our weaknesses does not disqualify us from God's care. It does the opposite. It is what prepares us for the work he does best. Lord, lift up your humble servants. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d89748f0-5f6d-11ec-bc55-f52de594f301/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8fc01d60-4f90-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/57f179a0-5ae0-11ec-9d2f-23b92db74b1f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/57f179a0-5ae0-11ec-9d2f-23b92db74b1f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Last week we saw that the Lord sends messengers to call us to repentance. This week we learn that th...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week we saw that the Lord sends messengers to call us to repentance. This week we learn that those who refuse to heed that call to humble themselves will be humbled anyway. The Lord who once came near in flesh and now comes near in Word and sacrament will one day come near with consuming fire and judgment. The Lord will humble his enemies. This truth does two important things. First, it adds urgency to God's Advent call to repentance. Second, it gives us comfort when we, as God's people, experience opposition from the world. Those who oppress and harm God's people will face justice.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:13:35 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/57f179a0-5ae0-11ec-9d2f-23b92db74b1f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8fc01d60-4f90-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4a2f61e0-55ba-11ec-9b27-e5190dfc4ef1</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[People tend to feel a lot of pressure this time of year. We want our houses to look good for out-of-...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[People tend to feel a lot of pressure this time of year. We want our houses to look good for out-of-town guests. We want to impress people with the thoughtfulness of our gifts. What a welcome relief, therefore, to hear what is required to meet the Lord: only repentance. You see, Jesus is not someone we need to impress with our good works. Indeed, repentance is the opposite of work. Repentance is the humble admission of our sin combined with the joyful trust that everything needed to bring us close to God has already been done by him. Lord, grant me a humble heart. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Dec 2021 10:58:33 +0000</pubDate>
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Advent Night Devotion: Your King Comes, Go Out to Meet Him]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8fc01d60-4f90-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a0f45ff0-52de-11ec-894e-0bc23e3e9a4a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a0f45ff0-52de-11ec-894e-0bc23e3e9a4a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA["Advent" is a Latin word that means "coming." The season of Advent is the four week period before Ch...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA["Advent" is a Latin word that means "coming." The season of Advent is the four week period before Christmas that the Church uses to connect the two "comings" of Christ. The first time the Lord came into our world it was as a tiny, helpless baby, born in a manger in Bethlehem. In preparation to celebrate our King&rsquo;s arrival at Christmas and to prepare for his coming again we ought to ask ourselves, &ldquo;How shall I meet him?&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2021 19:41:08 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles Himself]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/8fc01d60-4f90-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b9abbb80-4f8f-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b9abbb80-4f8f-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What would it be like to meet God? We know he is almighty and holy. He loathes sin. No wonder that w...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What would it be like to meet God? We know he is almighty and holy. He loathes sin. No wonder that when God appears to his Old Testament people, their first response is typically terror. But when Jesus Christ came into our world, he hid his glory and power. He humbled himself so that sinners would be drawn to him rather than driven away in fear.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b9abbb80-4f8f-11ec-a9e1-7f2a9b65ee4b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving Eve: Thanksgiving Comes from a Heart of Faith]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f5497f70-4ce1-11ec-9648-5fe1c043bbd0/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c6ef8020-4ce1-11ec-9648-5fe1c043bbd0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c6ef8020-4ce1-11ec-9648-5fe1c043bbd0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and gr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and grains, all beneath the canopy of God&rsquo;s almighty care. Let us always remember it is the LORD who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deut. 8:18). Let us remember Jesus who healed the lepers with his Word. He is the sole source of life, health, and wholeness. Let all the peoples praise him!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c6ef8020-4ce1-11ec-9648-5fe1c043bbd0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The King of Kings]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/249c1fe0-4acf-11ec-b804-755b5a12e18d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/249c1fe0-4acf-11ec-b804-755b5a12e18d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Never could there be a king like Christ, our king. Beyond all comparison is the rule he exercises in...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Never could there be a king like Christ, our king. Beyond all comparison is the rule he exercises in time and in eternity. Incomparably great therefore is also our joy in worshiping him even now as we await his triumphant return to transform our worship in faith and under the cross to worship in sight and in glory. Lord, may your kingdom come. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Nov 2021 13:30:07 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/249c1fe0-4acf-11ec-b804-755b5a12e18d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Saints Live and Reign with Him]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c65cff90-454b-11ec-8c26-3df09614e045</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c65cff90-454b-11ec-8c26-3df09614e045</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[As we celebrate Saints Triumphant this morning, we see how God&rsquo;s grace&mdash;his undeserved, l...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[As we celebrate Saints Triumphant this morning, we see how God&rsquo;s grace&mdash;his undeserved, loving kindness that moved God to send his Son to save sinners like us&mdash;alone is the reason we are holy saints in God&rsquo;s sight. We rejoice in the grace our God has shown to faithful believers before us and that by God&rsquo;s grace, we too are saints.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Nov 2021 13:07:09 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c65cff90-454b-11ec-8c26-3df09614e045/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ Will Return to Judge]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/93faf590-3ef5-11ec-8bf7-dffeac3fcfa8/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38912370-3ea3-11ec-bcf1-e118010281bb</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/38912370-3ea3-11ec-bcf1-e118010281bb</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. We look forward to the day on which we pass...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. We look forward to the day on which we pass into the courtroom of God to hear the &ldquo;Not guilty!&rdquo; verdict which brought us to faith in the first place. There is no better preparation for death and judgment than a firm clinging to that gracious verdict. There is no better life than the one that has that verdict as its center and the motivation for everything in it. Lord keep us steadfast in your Word. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/38912370-3ea3-11ec-bcf1-e118010281bb/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Stand Firm on the Gospel]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/cf3a5920-3ef5-11ec-8bf7-dffeac3fcfa8/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed4bcad0-39f9-11ec-b9d5-d1fc0b829aa7</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ed4bcad0-39f9-11ec-b9d5-d1fc0b829aa7</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Reformers stood before governors and kings and gave testimony to the truth. Today, we stand in t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Reformers stood before governors and kings and gave testimony to the truth. Today, we stand in the footsteps of Martin Luther 500 years later. We stand, by the grace of God, steadfast and ready to suffer all rather than fall away. We do not stand on Luther, but we will gladly stand with him, firm on the testimony of the Holy Scriptures to confess the saving Gospel of Christ, our Good Shepherd, who died and rose, in whose name is forgiveness of sins for all people. Here we stand; we can do no other. God help us. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Oct 2021 03:23:33 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ed4bcad0-39f9-11ec-b9d5-d1fc0b829aa7/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Not to be served but to serve]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a96e7950-346a-11ec-89fd-97d9953f4966</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a96e7950-346a-11ec-89fd-97d9953f4966</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The disciples, like us, get it wrong. Jesus has just finished telling them of his coming Passion, an...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The disciples, like us, get it wrong. Jesus has just finished telling them of his coming Passion, and all they can think about is worldly ambition, which one of them should be first. Just like he does when discussing family and wealth, Jesus turns everything upside down from the way that we by nature are inclined to look at things. In Jesus&rsquo; way, the ambition is to serve, not to be served. Lord, help us to follow your example and seek only to serve. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a96e7950-346a-11ec-89fd-97d9953f4966/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word exposes our false priorities]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9286cfa0-2ef0-11ec-a27b-75eaf97ad28f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/9286cfa0-2ef0-11ec-a27b-75eaf97ad28f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Next to the attachment to hearth and home, a person&rsquo;s chief attachment is to his purse. So, it...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Next to the attachment to hearth and home, a person&rsquo;s chief attachment is to his purse. So, it is not out of order to consider what God has to say about his gifts of wealth and to let him put those gifts in a proper context for us. Lord, expose our false priorities with word of truth. Heal our hearts with your gospel. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/9286cfa0-2ef0-11ec-a27b-75eaf97ad28f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Don't fight the wrong enemy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1d219140-297e-11ec-982a-2948f5083d7b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/1d219140-297e-11ec-982a-2948f5083d7b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The gifts of God are so rich and varied that the devil uses that very generosity in God to stir up j...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The gifts of God are so rich and varied that the devil uses that very generosity in God to stir up jealousy and envy. Expect it in others; find it in yourself as well! That weakness makes it crystal clear that our need for a Savior is a constant one. Holy Spirit, direct and rule our hearts, for without your help we are unable to please you. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/1d219140-297e-11ec-982a-2948f5083d7b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: A Mirror of God's Love]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e2a83850-2394-11ec-a026-cb13dfb6e2a6</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e2a83850-2394-11ec-a026-cb13dfb6e2a6</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God wants the love we find in the family to be a mirror of the love he gave us. Ever since Adam and ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God wants the love we find in the family to be a mirror of the love he gave us. Ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, that mirror has been clouded. Lord, lead us to repent and strive to imitate your self-giving love. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Followers of Christ are Humble Servants]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/042d4310-1d7f-11ec-8814-d55507d43c33</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/042d4310-1d7f-11ec-8814-d55507d43c33</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The way of this world is to seek recognition and honor. The world sees leadership as a way to wield ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The way of this world is to seek recognition and honor. The world sees leadership as a way to wield power. That&rsquo;s not our Savior&rsquo;s way nor is it what he wants for his followers. Leadership is not conforming others to your will but being conformed to the will of Christ and serving those you lead. But that&rsquo;s easier said than done, isn&rsquo;t it? Jesus, let your humility be my sin&rsquo;s cure; let your example be my guide. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Spiritual Warfare]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0b05b340-194a-11ec-b442-e307e1497dfc</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0b05b340-194a-11ec-b442-e307e1497dfc</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.&rdquo; These words from Paul are chilling. As da...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.&rdquo; These words from Paul are chilling. As dangerous as the physical enemies we can see are, the real danger comes from spiritual enemies we can&rsquo;t. Our readings today show us God&rsquo;s power easily overcomes the forces of darkness and God gives us every tool we need to face these foes. Lord, always keep us alert and praying for all your people. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:03:54 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Does Everything Well]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f60b4060-131b-11ec-9217-6ded5dcb0109</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f60b4060-131b-11ec-9217-6ded5dcb0109</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It's often said, if God did all things well and is the source of all good because he is good, then h...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It's often said, if God did all things well and is the source of all good because he is good, then he shouldn&rsquo;t allow misery and need in the first place. But especially in need and suffering, God does all things well; that truth is the center of the Christian&rsquo;s quiet confidence. Lord, you show your power in showing mercy, defend and protect us always by your goodness. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f60b4060-131b-11ec-9217-6ded5dcb0109/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: It's a Matter of the Heart]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ff53cf10-100b-11ec-ae2f-e949a405a206/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/628a2550-0d9d-11ec-87d0-9bafe0c75d3c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/628a2550-0d9d-11ec-87d0-9bafe0c75d3c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[All God pleasing obedience must begin in the heart. Lord, help us avoid whatever is wicked and harmf...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[All God pleasing obedience must begin in the heart. Lord, help us avoid whatever is wicked and harmful, and guide us in the way that leads to our salvation. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Hymn Festival: Christ's Victory Is Our Victory]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b1ec740-068a-11ec-90aa-dd7827e8edaa</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b1ec740-068a-11ec-90aa-dd7827e8edaa</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Over the years, hymn festivals have been rather common in the Lutheran church. It is more than just ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Over the years, hymn festivals have been rather common in the Lutheran church. It is more than just a &ldquo;hymn-sing&rdquo; in that the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16) are centered around a particular theme or a particular season of the Christian church year. Sunday's hymns focus on "Christ&rsquo;s Victory Is Our Victory!" So sing loudly as we join together in praising Jesus with some of our favorite hymns!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5b1ec740-068a-11ec-90aa-dd7827e8edaa/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God provides spiritual wisdom]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e4048c10-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/97bab9a0-02d1-11ec-98c6-398549d6fb5e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/97bab9a0-02d1-11ec-98c6-398549d6fb5e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The beautiful truths of the gospel, especially those taught by Jesus in John 6, are not easy for us ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The beautiful truths of the gospel, especially those taught by Jesus in John 6, are not easy for us to grasp. For natural mankind and our fallen reason, it&rsquo;s impossible. This Sunday recognizes our need to submit to God&rsquo;s wisdom, a wisdom which the Holy Spirit provides us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/97bab9a0-02d1-11ec-98c6-398549d6fb5e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God provides spiritual food.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e4048c10-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a7418980-fd3b-11eb-bb5c-35adcb5b2f19</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a7418980-fd3b-11eb-bb5c-35adcb5b2f19</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;There is nothing visible or transitory that does not point us back to something more importan...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;There is nothing visible or transitory that does not point us back to something more important that is invisible and imperishable,&rdquo; St. Augustine. Lord, use your generosity in material things to always remind me of your greater generosity in spiritual things. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a7418980-fd3b-11eb-bb5c-35adcb5b2f19/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God provides his comforting presence]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e4048c10-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e971cbc0-f79c-11eb-b9dc-51f4802690e6</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e971cbc0-f79c-11eb-b9dc-51f4802690e6</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s easy to become afraid and give up when you&rsquo;re alone. But we are never alone. Lord, ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s easy to become afraid and give up when you&rsquo;re alone. But we are never alone. Lord, help me to see that you are always right beside me. Strengthen me to fight the good fight and run the straight race until that day when I will see you with my own eyes. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e971cbc0-f79c-11eb-b9dc-51f4802690e6/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God provides earthly bread]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e4048c10-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/721e5fe0-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/721e5fe0-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Whether God provides for us through miracles like mana from heaven or through seeds and harvest, God...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Whether God provides for us through miracles like mana from heaven or through seeds and harvest, God is generous! Lord, may we respond to your generosity by being generous to others. Help us to reach out to the poor and needy not only with our words and prayers but with our gifts and actions too!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/721e5fe0-f254-11eb-aba7-b998ea0c6dae/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God shepherds his people through his Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/04458ca0-ec14-11eb-8607-3f6c50a77d80</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/04458ca0-ec14-11eb-8607-3f6c50a77d80</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, who speaks to us through your word, we thank you for choosing leaders that have fai...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, who speaks to us through your word, we thank you for choosing leaders that have faithfully shared everything you have taught us. Grant that today we grow in our appreciation and love for all who you have called to shepherd your people through your word.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/04458ca0-ec14-11eb-8607-3f6c50a77d80/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word shapes our church leaders]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f1cd2a50-e6a1-11eb-b43a-81d809465c09</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f1cd2a50-e6a1-11eb-b43a-81d809465c09</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, we thank you for choosing us to be your sharers of the good news. Raise up from our chur...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, we thank you for choosing us to be your sharers of the good news. Raise up from our church godly leaders who model Christ&rsquo;s love and speak his truth in purity. Help me to support our leaders, and help me to encourage them to lead us in sharing the gospel here in Liverpool.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word helps us carry our crosses]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b357c00-e1c9-11eb-b180-53a312c0ae83</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5b357c00-e1c9-11eb-b180-53a312c0ae83</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus, sometimes it&rsquo;s not easy sharing the hope that I have with people in my life. Sometimes ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus, sometimes it&rsquo;s not easy sharing the hope that I have with people in my life. Sometimes I don&rsquo;t get treated well because I want to tell people about you. Yet, you promise to take care of me and strengthen me through your word, and you promise me that I have nothing to fear. Continue to give me opportunities and courage to share you. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 10 Jul 2021 21:54:08 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word is our refuge in death]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f4cb8cc0-d9e9-11eb-bd7f-3787305ea444</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f4cb8cc0-d9e9-11eb-bd7f-3787305ea444</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, when death confronts us in this life, help us to turn to your word for peace and se...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, when death confronts us in this life, help us to turn to your word for peace and security. When death confronts our friends, help us be brave in sharing your word so that peace and security might be theirs as well. And when death comes for us, help us remember through your word that you have conquered death&rsquo;s sting, and so life and immortality waits for us.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word is a refuge from our sufferings]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4bf74e70-d6b7-11eb-8a8c-5bfecba42a7f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4bf74e70-d6b7-11eb-8a8c-5bfecba42a7f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, this world can feel like a storm, and at times I feel like I&rsquo;ve lost my way, ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, this world can feel like a storm, and at times I feel like I&rsquo;ve lost my way, like I have no control. Through your Word, comfort me and give me the peace that only you can give. Assure me that you are with me through the stormiest times in my life. Let your Word be a refuge to me.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's Word goes out to build his kingdom]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16e48600-d156-11eb-aa87-91b9bbb2cff4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/16e48600-d156-11eb-aa87-91b9bbb2cff4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, we thank you not only for our friends, family, and good lives here in Liverpool, bu...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, we thank you not only for our friends, family, and good lives here in Liverpool, but we thank you also that you sent your word into this city to save souls, including mine. Help me value my faith, something only your word can create, and help me express my thanks to you by sharing this word. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: All of human history is built on God's Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/395ba9a0-cad7-11eb-aafc-179d009cd005</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/395ba9a0-cad7-11eb-aafc-179d009cd005</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. In it I find my own story: where I come from, where I am g...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. In it I find my own story: where I come from, where I am going, and who I am through your blood. Remind me today that your Word is the surest thing I could ever build my life and my identity on. Help me constantly remember that I am your child, and so I am in your care.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Law and Gospel We Find in God's Word.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/90e0eb60-c643-11eb-b834-b1723537d46c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/90e0eb60-c643-11eb-b834-b1723537d46c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We thank you, Jesus, for being God, giving us your law not to burden us but to benefit us. But we ca...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We thank you, Jesus, for being God, giving us your law not to burden us but to benefit us. But we cannot keep your law perfectly, and so we thank you for keeping it for us and giving us your perfect life. Help us meditate today on how we find in your Word alone that you are Lord over all things, and so Lord of my life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Our Father we find in God's Word.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/36525250-c0f4-11eb-9158-0555645a6982</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/36525250-c0f4-11eb-9158-0555645a6982</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Our heavenly Father has revealed so much about himself to us through his Word: that he is a triune G...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our heavenly Father has revealed so much about himself to us through his Word: that he is a triune God and that he is our Father who we can call out to for every need. He showed his love to us by giving us his Son Jesus. May I ever grow in my relationship with him as his child.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 May 2021 03:07:47 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Holy Spirit empowers God’s Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/3c3cae90-bb36-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fa223a20-bb35-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/fa223a20-bb35-11eb-acb9-61c9c6bb52e2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Just as Christ promised, the Holy Spirit still comes to his faithful people, but now through his Wor...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Just as Christ promised, the Holy Spirit still comes to his faithful people, but now through his Word. I pray I never separate from his Scriptures, so that the Holy Spirit remains in me throughout all my life.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 23 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Christ's Ascension triumph makes our resurrection hope certain]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7e2d1d50-b5c6-11eb-b6ce-13522f876b8b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7e2d1d50-b5c6-11eb-b6ce-13522f876b8b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Jesus&rsquo; ascension means he has triumphed and entered into his glory by keeping all of his Word....]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus&rsquo; ascension means he has triumphed and entered into his glory by keeping all of his Word. His triumph guarantees that he will always keep his Word. We will see him again and go to be where he is when the time is best. Until then, may we be busy with the work he has given us to do while we patiently wait!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 16 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7e2d1d50-b5c6-11eb-b6ce-13522f876b8b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Resurrection hope comes from Christ living in us.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7cc56eb0-b02e-11eb-acf2-9f765daad8e7</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7cc56eb0-b02e-11eb-acf2-9f765daad8e7</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What do we mean by love? What the world thinks of and what Christians mean when we speak of love are...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What do we mean by love? What the world thinks of and what Christians mean when we speak of love are two different things. If it weren&rsquo;t for the love that Christ showed us, real love would be a foreign concept to us. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. May we ever remain in Christ&rsquo;s love!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7cc56eb0-b02e-11eb-acf2-9f765daad8e7/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Resurrection Hope Has Rich Consequences for Life Every Day]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce47b8c0-aa29-11eb-ae1d-158b9b053549</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ce47b8c0-aa29-11eb-ae1d-158b9b053549</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[&ldquo;I am the vine; you are the branches.&rdquo; Could there be a closer relationship? As surely a...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;I am the vine; you are the branches.&rdquo; Could there be a closer relationship? As surely as grape branches produce grapes, branches who are connected to their risen Lord through faith will bear fruits of faith. The faith of the early Christians showed itself in the love they showed one another&mdash;taking care of anyone who had need. May our faith show itself today and every day in our acts of love for our neighbors!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 02 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Resurrection hope comes from Christ, our Good Shepherd]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/aaf9e0c0-a50e-11eb-9f12-c142aa07680c</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[All the work of Jesus from Christmas to Easter had this in mind: that he should be and remain our Go...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[All the work of Jesus from Christmas to Easter had this in mind: that he should be and remain our Good Shepherd and we should be and remain his sheep. Lord, may we ever listen to your voice! It gives us the life that you laid down. We have certain hope of this because you took your life up again! Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Resurrection hope is certain through the Word]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/34862150-9fd8-11eb-87cd-b1d6dec3598e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/34862150-9fd8-11eb-87cd-b1d6dec3598e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[From Easter Sunday until the Ascension Jesus emphasized in his discourses with the disciples the abs...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[From Easter Sunday until the Ascension Jesus emphasized in his discourses with the disciples the absolute necessity of the Word. Soon he would remove his visible presence. But the Word brings God to light. It shows and brings to light the Advocate who pleads our case so effectively. It brings the truth to light and makes us certain that we are brothers and sisters in Christ.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Sunday Worship: Resurrection Hope Gives us Peace]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6aa72bf0-99f5-11eb-b0ac-7543a0635d0c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6aa72bf0-99f5-11eb-b0ac-7543a0635d0c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The resurrected Lord shows himself to the disciples and gives them peace. They in turn tell us what ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The resurrected Lord shows himself to the disciples and gives them peace. They in turn tell us what they saw so that peace can be ours!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 11 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Sunday Sunrise Service]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c65c43d0-90c3-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c65c43d0-90c3-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We celebrate Jesus' victory over death! Jesus shows his Life-Giving Hands and gives us a life worth ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We celebrate Jesus' victory over death! Jesus shows his Life-Giving Hands and gives us a life worth really living!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c65c43d0-90c3-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Easter Sunday Festival Service]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a941b20-928c-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa/original/file.png"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/df613010-928b-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/df613010-928b-11eb-a367-4d96757d68fa</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[People have a variety of hopes&mdash;things they wish would happen. There is no guarantee, however, ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[People have a variety of hopes&mdash;things they wish would happen. There is no guarantee, however, that their wishes will come true. Easter gives you something better. Easter gives you certain hope. Join us online or in-person for a special Easter Sunday service.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Good Friday: Nail-Pierced Hands]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/30187850-90c1-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/30187850-90c1-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We recall how Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying on a cross. Our worship service will focus on Christ's seven statements from the cross. Turn to the Lord who holds out to you his nail-pierced hands!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/30187850-90c1-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Holy Thursday: Hands of Humility]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/50c5c130-90c0-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/50c5c130-90c0-11eb-bc41-4f65d092be9e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[We follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! We ponder what it means ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[We follow our Savior Jesus as he makes his way to the cross and empty tomb! We ponder what it means that the Son of God would stoop down to serve his disciples with Hands of Humility.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Palm Sunday: Hands of Praise]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cc4cdfb0-8f39-11eb-bdc5-c53b9cbe394e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/cc4cdfb0-8f39-11eb-bdc5-c53b9cbe394e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Palm Sunday is one of the greatest days of worship and praise of the whole year! Today we will learn...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Palm Sunday is one of the greatest days of worship and praise of the whole year! Today we will learn to find joy in raising to Jesus our hands of praise.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/cc4cdfb0-8f39-11eb-bdc5-c53b9cbe394e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek: Hands of Brutality]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2498d00-8c9e-11eb-a8ad-11d88a69bfe3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f2498d00-8c9e-11eb-a8ad-11d88a69bfe3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Throughout his ministry, Jesus was bullied verbally and socially. Beginning late Holy Thursday eveni...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Throughout his ministry, Jesus was bullied verbally and socially. Beginning late Holy Thursday evening the physical violence escalated. Tonight, we see Jesus suffer the soldiers&rsquo; Hands of Brutality.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2021 12:46:26 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f2498d00-8c9e-11eb-a8ad-11d88a69bfe3/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God's soul is troubled.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f93f0a50-8996-11eb-aba6-69c69d9d96f5</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f93f0a50-8996-11eb-aba6-69c69d9d96f5</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, today you give me a glimpse of your human nature and the anguish you felt as you conside...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, today you give me a glimpse of your human nature and the anguish you felt as you considered dying for me. But I will also glimpse your divine resolution to glorify your Father and deliver us from eternal death. Let me think of the price you paid for me, so that my love for you and your compassion might grow even greater. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f93f0a50-8996-11eb-aba6-69c69d9d96f5/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Lent Midweek: Hands of Self-Preservation]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d91986c0-8670-11eb-a77a-09fba458c68e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d91986c0-8670-11eb-a77a-09fba458c68e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Gospel of Matthew mentions something Pilate, the governor of Judea, did before he handed Jesus, ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Gospel of Matthew mentions something Pilate, the governor of Judea, did before he handed Jesus, the king of the Jews, over to be crucified. To protect his position, to proclaim his innocence, Pilate washed his hands, hands of self-preservation. Where did Pilate go wrong, and what can we learn from his tragic story so that we don&rsquo;t go down the same path?]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
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                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God gives his own Son to save us.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a82c6230-843b-11eb-b01f-49405a74817f</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a82c6230-843b-11eb-b01f-49405a74817f</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, today I meditate on the gift of faith you have given me. I know that, no matter what I f...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, today I meditate on the gift of faith you have given me. I know that, no matter what I face in this world or no matter what trials I will go through, you have lived, died, and risen to give me eternal life, and so a secure life now. Help me keep my eyes lifted up towards you and your cross. Keep my faith strong through your means of grace. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a82c6230-843b-11eb-b01f-49405a74817f/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lent: Hands of Hypocrisy]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a94e61e0-81a7-11eb-a089-e1f67c767b34</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a94e61e0-81a7-11eb-a089-e1f67c767b34</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Taking a closer look at Jesus' trial forces us to take a closer look at ourselves, to examine our ow...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Taking a closer look at Jesus' trial forces us to take a closer look at ourselves, to examine our own hearts, to see if we are also guilty of having Hands of Hypocrisy.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2021 13:51:05 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a94e61e0-81a7-11eb-a089-e1f67c767b34/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1372077" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God makes his power known through his own suffering.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/68fe7e40-7ec8-11eb-aad6-418f0ee71152</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/68fe7e40-7ec8-11eb-aad6-418f0ee71152</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear God, today teach me how you are passionate for holiness and righteousness. Help me to love your...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear God, today teach me how you are passionate for holiness and righteousness. Help me to love your law
as you do, but to even more love your cross. Because I cannot keep your law, you did the unimaginable:
you took the punishment for my law-breaking on yourself and have given me peace. Thank you. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/68fe7e40-7ec8-11eb-aad6-418f0ee71152/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lent: Hands of Misguided Zeal]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5daed240-7bb4-11eb-99e7-7fd95ec7b3e0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5daed240-7bb4-11eb-99e7-7fd95ec7b3e0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The Apostle Peter tended to have bold reactions. So when a band of soldiers came to arrest his Lord,...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Apostle Peter tended to have bold reactions. So when a band of soldiers came to arrest his Lord, of course he drew his sword and attacked! Peter&nbsp;wanted Jesus to know that he was serious when he said he would give up his life for him. Peter was full of what he believed to be a righteous zeal, but that zeal turned out to be misguided.&nbsp;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5daed240-7bb4-11eb-99e7-7fd95ec7b3e0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1403033" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God works through suffering for our eternal good.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ea0a3590-7934-11eb-a350-d55d375c9298</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ea0a3590-7934-11eb-a350-d55d375c9298</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, remind me today that you are a powerful enough God that you can work through my suf...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, remind me today that you are a powerful enough God that you can work through my sufferings in this life for my eternal good. Help me to see that, although you do not create evil, you work through it for your good purposes for me, and so I can even praise you in the midst of hardships. And because I know your Son suffered immeasurably for me, too, I thank you for not taking my suffering lightly, but loving me and caring for me. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ea0a3590-7934-11eb-a350-d55d375c9298/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="1333465" 
                                                />
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Midweek Lent: Hands of Betrayal]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d28712f0-769e-11eb-8c64-511825981f0e</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/d28712f0-769e-11eb-8c64-511825981f0e</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This evening's meditation will focus on Judas.]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This evening's meditation will focus on Judas.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:50:06 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/d28712f0-769e-11eb-8c64-511825981f0e/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1453474" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: God Overcomes All Obstacles for Us]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/142164b0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/142164b0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, some days I feel like a failure, especially when I fail you and give into temptatio...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, some days I feel like a failure, especially when I fail you and give into temptation. But today you tell me I am a conqueror and that you have given me complete and total victory. And so I can have a peace in my life found nowhere else. Thank you for the victory through your perfect life for me, resisting a life of temptations for me, and defeating Satan through your perfect love. Remind me today that I really am victorious. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/142164b0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="4416394" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/46e28eb0-739b-11eb-bac4-efd575175172/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday: Hands of Repentance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/09d204f0-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/09d204f0-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian&rsquo;s 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) to Jesus&rsquo; cross and tomb in anticipation of Easter. It begins with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance. In the coming weeks, we will focus more on the Savior&rsquo;s Passion, but tonight we focus on the theme of repentance before the Lord, confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/09d204f0-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="3460533" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a3033e50-7077-11eb-9145-bd0ec5b68171/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove it. Do you have the power?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a48cade0-6cdc-11eb-92fc-81924fdc74e1</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/a48cade0-6cdc-11eb-92fc-81924fdc74e1</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, you have done so much to show me that you are the Son of God, my Savior, and my Lord. To...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, you have done so much to show me that you are the Son of God, my Savior, and my Lord. Today, give me one more assurance that you have the glory and power to save me from the evil of this world, including the evil within me. Let me bask in your glory and your promises this morning. In your name I pray, Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/a48cade0-6cdc-11eb-92fc-81924fdc74e1/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="1658812" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove it. Have you come as my personal Savior?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0f432ea0-67fd-11eb-aa44-eb048d4b8fe4</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/0f432ea0-67fd-11eb-aa44-eb048d4b8fe4</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, I know you are the Savior of the sins of the whole world. Today, please assure me that I...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, I know you are the Savior of the sins of the whole world. Today, please assure me that I&rsquo;m included, that you know me personally, have had me personally in mind in your plan of salvation, and right now are working my personal troubles out for my eternal good. Thank you for being my Savior from my sins. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/0f432ea0-67fd-11eb-aa44-eb048d4b8fe4/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="1520487" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove it. Do you have the athority?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f5aea9d0-6345-11eb-ab47-83b4a5f54f97</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f5aea9d0-6345-11eb-ab47-83b4a5f54f97</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, today you reveal your son as having authority over all powers. Help me to take comf...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, today you reveal your son as having authority over all powers. Help me to take comfort
in this, knowing that when he says I am safe in his arms, I am. Help me to treat Jesus as my greatest
authority, obeying his words, especially his words of, &ldquo;believe.&rdquo; Thank you for working all things out for
my eternal good. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f5aea9d0-6345-11eb-ab47-83b4a5f54f97/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="5730379" 
                                                />
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove it. Do you have the right message?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/18ebb3a0-5dc6-11eb-9809-23746d8de379</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/18ebb3a0-5dc6-11eb-9809-23746d8de379</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, this epiphany our Father shows us how you are everything we need. Today, help us to real...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dear Jesus, this epiphany our Father shows us how you are everything we need. Today, help us to realize
that only you have the message that this world needs to hear, and so nothing is more important than being
called to follow you and share that message. Bless my worship, Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/18ebb3a0-5dc6-11eb-9809-23746d8de379/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove It. Are you the one we've been waiting for?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6a974650-576e-11eb-8cae-290c322a7af8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/6a974650-576e-11eb-8cae-290c322a7af8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Dearest Jesus, for thousands of years your people, Israel, had been waiting for you. Today we learn ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Dearest Jesus, for thousands of years your people, Israel, had been waiting for you. Today we learn that it was actually you who were waiting, waiting and calling your people to be your messengers of the gospel. Thank you for calling me into your family, and make me your messenger of the good news of forgiveness. In your Good-News name I pray, Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/6a974650-576e-11eb-8cae-290c322a7af8/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1750438" 
                                                />
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove it. Are you from God?]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f56cf430-52a2-11eb-9fe4-bf8104317ec0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/f56cf430-52a2-11eb-9fe4-bf8104317ec0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, this Epiphany season, you remind us that Jesus is everything we need. Today we lear...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Heavenly Father, this Epiphany season, you remind us that Jesus is everything we need. Today we learn that Jesus reveals himself to us as your Son, sent from you, to bring us salvation. Help us to reveal Jesus to our friends and family as well, so that the spirit of Epiphany might never end. In your Son&rsquo;s name we pray, Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/f56cf430-52a2-11eb-9fe4-bf8104317ec0/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="4575522" 
                                                />
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Prove It. Give me a sign.]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bef88ef0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/bef88ef0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Give me a sign. Dear Jesus, this Epiphany season I will be studying how you used signs and wonders t...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Give me a sign. Dear Jesus, this Epiphany season I will be studying how you used signs and wonders to draw people from all nations to you so that they might find their Savior from sin. Today, I celebrate how you used the sign of the star of Bethlehem to start that drawing of all people of all nations. I thank you that your gospel has reached my people and my nation. Help me to continue to bring the light of the gospel to more peoples and nations. Amen.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 03 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/bef88ef0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="3569225" 
                                                />
                                                                    <media:thumbnail
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/fede2200-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[New Year's Eve Service]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7b9594f0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/7b9594f0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[God daily awakens us by his preaching of repentance, raises us by his Word of forgiveness and keeps ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[God daily awakens us by his preaching of repentance, raises us by his Word of forgiveness and keeps our lamps burning by the grace of his Gospel. He comes to us by way of the cross, in order to bless us and serve us at his table in peace.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:13:22 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/7b9594f0-4b8b-11eb-bb6f-0f07d60066bf/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="5236173" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Jesus Is Obedient for His Brothers]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c880d3e0-47b9-11eb-86f1-b3e1b14bc6c0</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c880d3e0-47b9-11eb-86f1-b3e1b14bc6c0</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[In the family of believers, it is our brother Jesus who changed the future for his people. Though he...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the family of believers, it is our brother Jesus who changed the future for his people. Though he willingly obeyed Mary and Joseph, more striking is his willing obedience to the Father&rsquo;s will. To be about the Father&rsquo;s will meant sharing in our humanity and destroying the power of death.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 27 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c880d3e0-47b9-11eb-86f1-b3e1b14bc6c0/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="4125201" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Day: The Greatest Gift]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/cf4a9d60-449d-11eb-974c-b54f7f292cb2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b301f910-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b301f910-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[A celebratory worship service online and in-person with Christmas carols familiar and new. We focus ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[A celebratory worship service online and in-person with Christmas carols familiar and new. We focus on God's greatest gifts to us &mdash;the birth of Christ our Savior, true God and true man!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Fri, 25 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b301f910-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef/original/file.pdf" 
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/cf4a9d60-449d-11eb-974c-b54f7f292cb2/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Christmas Eve: The Greatest Gift]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                        <itunes:image href="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b6cc03f0-449d-11eb-974c-b54f7f292cb2/original/file.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                    <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/79d6f690-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/79d6f690-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Join us online or in-person at Cross of Christ for a very special candlelight Christmas Eve service ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Join us online or in-person at Cross of Christ for a very special candlelight Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/79d6f690-449c-11eb-9755-6979743d4aef/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                />
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                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b6cc03f0-449d-11eb-974c-b54f7f292cb2/original/file.jpg" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Promises Made, Promises Kept - An Unending Kingdom]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/684e5030-4203-11eb-9269-fd7f378780b3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/684e5030-4203-11eb-9269-fd7f378780b3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[At the end of the reign of King David, God made him a promise. He promised him a descendant who woul...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[At the end of the reign of King David, God made him a promise. He promised him a descendant who would reign on his throne forever. Almost 1000 years later, God was about to make good on his promise. The angel announced to Mary the Son of God and Son of David. Jesus is the good news hidden for long ages past but now revealed and made known to us!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/684e5030-4203-11eb-9269-fd7f378780b3/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="3436666" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Promises Made, Promises Kept - A Reason for Rejoicing]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4b265ad0-3be0-11eb-b566-710a53b6376c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4b265ad0-3be0-11eb-b566-710a53b6376c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[A lot of people want the twinkling of Christmas tree lights and the glitter of tinsel. Some may even...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[A lot of people want the twinkling of Christmas tree lights and the glitter of tinsel. Some may even want something at Christmas that looks a little religious. But so many are not satisfied with the salvation that God provides because they don&rsquo;t think they need it. As soon as we realize, along with John the Baptist, that all of us are in darkness, foolishness, sin, and poverty, the Light of the world dispels the darkness and gives us a reason for rejoicing.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4b265ad0-3be0-11eb-b566-710a53b6376c/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="2810131" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Promises Made, Promises Kept - Someone Greater]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/da8de6e0-3756-11eb-84dc-9b48b817ad9c</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/da8de6e0-3756-11eb-84dc-9b48b817ad9c</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Since Christ is coming, as we heard last Sunday, both to destroy and to save, in grace and kindness ...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Since Christ is coming, as we heard last Sunday, both to destroy and to save, in grace and kindness he sends forerunners to help us prepare. Listen to his footsteps in the voice of the apostles and prophets, in the Word proclaimed this day from the pulpit. His heralds proclaim someone greater is on the way. That&rsquo;s how the Savior King himself prepares you for his coming.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:06:15 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/da8de6e0-3756-11eb-84dc-9b48b817ad9c/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="1435419" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Advent Night Devotion: My Soul in Stillness Waits]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ee6a26d0-3434-11eb-9c9e-fb67b85c4565</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/ee6a26d0-3434-11eb-9c9e-fb67b85c4565</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[This evening&rsquo;s devotion service is modified from an Advent series built off the hymn, &ldquo;M...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[This evening&rsquo;s devotion service is modified from an Advent series built off the hymn, &ldquo;My Soul in Stillness Waits.&rdquo; This song puts into modern poetry the antiphons addressed to Jesus in the liturgy of the days right before Christmas (sometimes called the &ldquo;O Antiphons,&rdquo; familiar to most of us in the hymn &ldquo;O Come, O Come Emmanuel&rdquo;). The verses we sing this evening focus on Jesus as the Lord of light, Spring of joy, and Root of life. The text for our devotion not only mentions Jesus&rsquo; origin, an important Advent theme but also lets us focus on a crucial verse for all Christians: &ldquo;Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.&rdquo;]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:25:50 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/ee6a26d0-3434-11eb-9c9e-fb67b85c4565/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="2947354" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Promises Made, Promises Kept - Destruction and Deliverance]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4d5f6a10-319c-11eb-a171-d38f647b854a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/4d5f6a10-319c-11eb-a171-d38f647b854a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[As we enter the church season of Advent, we consider our God&rsquo;s many promises. A promise to com...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[As we enter the church season of Advent, we consider our God&rsquo;s many promises. A promise to come as a humble baby in a manger. A promise to come again with the clouds in great power and glory. A promise to come suddenly. A promise to keep you firm to the end. He promises to come both to destroy and to save. Get ready!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/4d5f6a10-319c-11eb-a171-d38f647b854a/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="6018598" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving Eve: Let the People Praise You, O God]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e9a37b40-2e87-11eb-8a1e-bd3ce9757ae3</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e9a37b40-2e87-11eb-8a1e-bd3ce9757ae3</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and gr...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth&rsquo;s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and grains, all beneath the canopy of God&rsquo;s almighty care. Let us always remember it is the LORD who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deut. 8:18). Let us remember Jesus who healed the lepers with his Word. He is the sole source of life, health, and wholeness. Let all the peoples praise him!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e9a37b40-2e87-11eb-8a1e-bd3ce9757ae3/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Lord, Keep us Joyful in our King!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/739b1540-2c19-11eb-8b6b-9912bf863b2d</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/739b1540-2c19-11eb-8b6b-9912bf863b2d</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[On this last Sunday of the Church year, we rejoice in the fulfillment of God&rsquo;s plan for our sa...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[On this last Sunday of the Church year, we rejoice in the fulfillment of God&rsquo;s plan for our salvation through Christ our King. And we rejoice because Christ our King reigns&mdash;the king who once came as a sacrifice; the king who still shepherds us day by day; the king who one day will conquer all our enemies. Rejoice in his reign and look forward to the day when every knee will bow with us before the King of kings and Lord of lords!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/739b1540-2c19-11eb-8b6b-9912bf863b2d/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Lord, keep us watchful for our Triumph!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5bbdf190-26ab-11eb-849a-4b3e1de95845</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5bbdf190-26ab-11eb-849a-4b3e1de95845</guid>
                <description><![CDATA["Wake, awake!" because the day of triumph is coming. That's what Jesus calls us to do in the parable...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA["Wake, awake!" because the day of triumph is coming. That's what Jesus calls us to do in the parable, wake and keep watch. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that all who died in Christ will go with him to heavenly triumph. So encourage one another with the sure hope of saints triumphant.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5bbdf190-26ab-11eb-849a-4b3e1de95845/original/file.pdf" 
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                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Lord, keep us mindful of the Judgment!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/84b5bae0-20f9-11eb-afc9-9f2f5838d095</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/84b5bae0-20f9-11eb-afc9-9f2f5838d095</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[He will come to judge the living and the dead. We confess it every Sunday, but often live like those...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[He will come to judge the living and the dead. We confess it every Sunday, but often live like those words are empty. Today the Church prays that God keep us every mindful of the Last Judgment that we might be found in faith and fruitful in both word and deed.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/84b5bae0-20f9-11eb-afc9-9f2f5838d095/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Lord, keep us faithful to the Word!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/716cdf20-1a48-11eb-a318-51fd32b913ff</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/716cdf20-1a48-11eb-a318-51fd32b913ff</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Today we celebrate Reformation Day. As we do, we focus on what the Lutheran Reformation means for us...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Today we celebrate Reformation Day. As we do, we focus on what the Lutheran Reformation means for us and our souls, and give thanks to God for how he has worked through certain people and events in history to make sure that his Word has been preached in all its truth and purity. The Church prays that the Lord give us the strength to be faithful to his Word and the peace of knowing our lives are safe in his hands.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/716cdf20-1a48-11eb-a318-51fd32b913ff/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="4631675" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What is God Like? Our God Invites the Unworthy to His Feast!]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b7c23980-15e7-11eb-92cf-6dade823bbe2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/b7c23980-15e7-11eb-92cf-6dade823bbe2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What is God like? He&rsquo;s not fair, he&rsquo;s gracious. He wants clean hearts. He wants fruits o...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What is God like? He&rsquo;s not fair, he&rsquo;s gracious. He wants clean hearts. He wants fruits of faith. The themes of the last three Sundays come together today in our God&rsquo;s gospel invitation to the unworthy to come to the feast!]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/b7c23980-15e7-11eb-92cf-6dade823bbe2/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What is God like? Our God Wants Fruits of Faith]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c948d9c0-108d-11eb-9d3b-0168a1e4cba8</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/c948d9c0-108d-11eb-9d3b-0168a1e4cba8</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Could God have done anything more for Israel? Could God have done anything more for us? But he conti...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Could God have done anything more for Israel? Could God have done anything more for us? But he continues to patiently show us grace.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 18 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/c948d9c0-108d-11eb-9d3b-0168a1e4cba8/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What Is God Like? Our God Wants Hearts]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/49dfded0-0b11-11eb-bd04-b76d54b60f1b</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/49dfded0-0b11-11eb-bd04-b76d54b60f1b</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Our God wants real repentance that leads to true obedience. Our second lesson reminds us that one da...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Our God wants real repentance that leads to true obedience. Our second lesson reminds us that one day, everyone will bow before Jesus and confess him as Lord. Some will do so in grief and others in joy. Those who confess their sins in repentance will confess with gladness that Jesus is Lord.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2020 15:57:24 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/49dfded0-0b11-11eb-bd04-b76d54b60f1b/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1184695" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: What is God like? Our God's Not Fair, but Gracious]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5bd61c00-0452-11eb-95b2-174791c41499</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/5bd61c00-0452-11eb-95b2-174791c41499</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[What is our God like? Over the next four Sundays we hear Jesus tell four parables which reveal chara...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[What is our God like? Over the next four Sundays we hear Jesus tell four parables which reveal characteristics of our God. Today&rsquo;s lessons cause the worshiper to ask: Is God fair? No, he&rsquo;s not. Our God is inconceivably gracious.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/5bd61c00-0452-11eb-95b2-174791c41499/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1428920" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Church Forgives as God Forgives]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/784fe990-000d-11eb-80bc-0bed43c2ca3a</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/784fe990-000d-11eb-80bc-0bed43c2ca3a</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[Anytime we try to imitate God, we quickly realize our inadequacy. Yet today God tells us to model ou...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Anytime we try to imitate God, we quickly realize our inadequacy. Yet today God tells us to model our forgiveness on his: a boundless, free, and loving forgiveness. How can we ever forgive like that? We can forgive because God forgave us in Christ.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2020 15:32:23 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/784fe990-000d-11eb-80bc-0bed43c2ca3a/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: Our Brother's Keeper]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e31f4af0-faa8-11ea-9ae8-65bf2f666b96</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/e31f4af0-faa8-11ea-9ae8-65bf2f666b96</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[The keys of the kingdom of heaven have been placed in our hands to reach out with Law and Gospel for...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The keys of the kingdom of heaven have been placed in our hands to reach out with Law and Gospel for the sake of fallen brothers and sisters.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2020 18:49:46 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/e31f4af0-faa8-11ea-9ae8-65bf2f666b96/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="1528955" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: First the Cross, Then the Crown]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/537be9b0-f442-11ea-95f2-db53759fc130</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/537be9b0-f442-11ea-95f2-db53759fc130</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[On Back to school Sunday, we celebrate the opportunity to study God&rsquo;s Word. But it does not ne...]]></description>
                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[On Back to school Sunday, we celebrate the opportunity to study God&rsquo;s Word. But it does not necessarily bring what God&rsquo;s people want. Jeremiah faced persecution. Peter wanted prosperity and glory for himself and for Jesus. Instead he got a cross. What a valuable lesson for us! We do not strive for and boast in earthly glory. We dig into God&rsquo;s Word and expect to bear a cross, then a crown.]]></content:encoded>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/537be9b0-f442-11ea-95f2-db53759fc130/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Church Is Built on the Confession of Christ]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/984c0850-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/984c0850-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/984c0850-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1712253" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Sunday Worship: The Church Is For All People]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/965bd110-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/965bd110-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/965bd110-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2/original/file.pdf" 
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                                                    length="1216483" 
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                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[The Christian Victory Service of John Briedis]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/94bfad40-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/94bfad40-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</guid>
                <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/94bfad40-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2/original/file.pdf" 
                                                    type="application/pdf" 
                                                    length="822558" 
                                                />
                                                                                                                                                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title><![CDATA[The Christian Victory Service of Clarence B. Randall]]></title>
                                                            <itunes:author>Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</itunes:author>
                                                                                                                <link>https://www.nycrossofchrist.org/file/934e6a00-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2</link>
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                <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
                                <dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Cross of Christ Lutheran Church</dc:creator>
                <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                                    <enclosure
                                            url="https://d2114hmso7dut1.cloudfront.net/customers/e26ef992-1eae-11ea-ab05-0614187498c1/sites/e27a946e-1eae-11ea-9313-0614187498c1/files/934e6a00-f37e-11ea-af61-85d37ebb88f2/original/file.pdf" 
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