News, Events, and Updates

WTMJ4 News Story about the Bread of Healing Clinic

As rules for coverage change and costs rise, the Bread of Healing Clinic is seeing a rise in the number of those needing their services. You can see the story with this link, for as long as it is available.

https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/in-your-community/milwaukee-county/milwaukee-free-clinic-braces-for-surge-in-uninsured-patients-as-medicaid-rules-change-and-aca-costs-rise

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Announcing New Layout and Start Time for Sunday Services

April 28, 2026

Cross Family,

As part of our plan to keep you in the loop about upcoming changes at Cross, we have a few things to share…

We’re in the process of rearranging our worship space a bit, adjusting the back of the sanctuary to create conversation/discussion areas to use for:

• Social time after service for snacks and beverages. We are inviting everyone to sign up for a week to provide snacks and drinks (not counting coffee, which our Keurig can provide).  
• Bible Study and/or discussions on a variety of topics, including how Cross will be moving forward.

In addition to volunteering to bring treats, we’re also accepting sign-ups for bringing a small loaf of bread for communion, and for reading the second lesson. A combined sign-up sheet will be at the greeter’s table each week.
Lastly, starting May 31, we will be shifting our worship time to 10AM, since the response to our questions were almost unanimously in favor. We will remind people as the start date draws nearer.

For those who wish to know, here are some of the reasons:

• Most other congregations start in the 9:30-10:00 range on Sundays. 
• We want to make room for social and education time without holding people later into their day.
• In addition to the reasons stated above, the restructured seating in the back brings more people into the front of the church during service, so it will not feel as empty and, just as importantly, will not look empty to those viewing on the livestream or YouTube recordings.

Got questions, or want to pick a week to do something extra? Contact the church office.
Sincerely,
Your Cross Council

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Rev. John Horner-Ibler Begins as Interim Pastor

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Announcing Rev. John Horner-Ibler as Interim Pastor

March 30, 2026

Cross Family,
As you probably know, Cross is in the midst of a pastoral transition process that has many steps. To date, we’ve bid farewell to Pastor MIchelle, and scheduled guest pastors for the first 3 months. In February, we heard from Pr. Marilyn Miller, and we just finished six weeks with Pastors Stephen Marsh and David Schoob. Scheduled to cover our April services was Pastor John Horner-Ibler.

And this was done intentionally. Since we began planning for the transition, Pastor John has topped our list of preferred Interim Pastors. This is because he is:

• Very familiar with Cross and our ministries;
• Experienced in the role of leading congregations through pastoral transitions, ministry assessments, and the Mission Exploration Team process — key elements of our next transition steps;
• Open to considering the role of Interim with Cross; and
• Well thought of by the Greater Milwaukee Synod and respected allies, both within the church and beyond.

Per Cross’ bylaws and Synod guidelines, the role of selecting an Interim Pastor rests with the Church Council—a duty we take very seriously. Over the last month, the council and I have conferred and met with Pastor John to share our needs and hopes, as well as to learn his vision for serving as Interim with Cross. His desire is to remain part-time, which in his opinion is about 25-30 hours per week. In addition to guiding us through the transition, he would lead Sundays and special services, participate in the Adult Center, BOHEM Food Pantry, and make home and hospital visits as needed. Additional duties would be performed as time permits. All of this aligned perfectly with our expectations.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I’m able to announce that, in conjunction with the GMS, we have finalized our agreement. Pastor John will officially begin as our Interim Pastor on Wednesday, April 1; his first services will be Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The current agreement spans the next 12 months, unless we Call a permanent Pastor before that date.

If you have questions about the transition process, please feel free to contact me, other Council members, or the church office. We’ll be glad to give you the answers or find them.

Bradley Hausler, Council President

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Rev. David Schoob and Rev. Stephen Marsh, Guest Pastors

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Rev. Marilyn Miller, Guest Pastor

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Godspeed and Farewell Service
for Pastor Michelle Townsend de López