The following is from her website (www.amycourts.com)

With the July 2008 release of the independent follow-up to her 2005 EP,These Cold and Rusted Lungs, Amy Courts shows with effortless fluency that she is indeed here to stay. With her trademark impassioned vocals, captivating melodies, and audacious honesty, she ably takes on love, heartache, spirituality, and personal demons. Though her voice and songs invoke inevitable comparisons to great singer-songwriters like Jennifer Knapp, Patty Griffin, Derek Webb, and Sheryl Crow, her sound and experience are uniquely her own, and are delivered with a rare distinction.

Since making the move to Nashville in September 2003, Amy released a debut EP, took on marriage and step-motherhood, quit her day job, embarked on a full-time career in music, and became an artist sponsor with the African Aid organization, Mocha Club. In promotion of her music and Mocha Club sponsorship, she has performed hundreds of acoustic and full-band concerts across the nation, including four National Anthem performances and an acoustic pre-game fan concert in the Summer of 2008 for the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Kansas City Royals.

“The past five years have been a bit of a whirlwind,“ Amy notes. “As my life has expanded into marriage, step-motherhood, and lending my voice and passion to the incredible needs in Uganda, I’m constantly aware of the need to deliberately give myself to something bigger than me. Whether by giving my family an hour of time I might rather spend writing or resting, forgiving someone who hasn’t asked for it, being deliberate about spiritual quietness, or acting on my human responsibility to care for the fatherless and the widow simply because I am able, I’m continually challenged and inspired to reach beyond my own issues into a wider sphere and higher calling.”

And reach she does. As her life and passions have evolved, they have delivered Amy into a place of greater personal maturity and global understanding, which she explores in depth. Without becoming egocentric or self-indulgent, she dives into common human experiences with profound effect. In the rock ballads, “Hold You Up” and “Company,” Amy expresses that despite hurt, frustration, and time spent apart in marriage, committed, unconditional love is the end-all. Paradoxically, “Inevitable” and “I Told You So” relate to the harsher sides of romance, when efforts are exhausted and love isn’t quite enough.

The more personal memoirs of “The Liars” and “Barely Breathing” show Amy fighting the inner demons of fear and disillusionment that invariably accompany spiritual drought. And still, she draws the focus back to ultimate hope with “Nothing Better” and “In You.”

Though undeniably heavy and occasionally dark, Amy’s message is ultimately a declaration of abandoned hope and a call to greater personal action. Where other artists skim the surface or sit comfortably in the realms of musical interest alone, Amy digs deep and gives generously from those depths. Whether through her on-stage performance, or in her daily passion for global and local social justice, Amy makes an indelible mark on everyone she meets.

Crossroads Church of Bemidji invites you to come and hear Kent Dudley and Bended Knee share in song and testimony.  Kent is a singer/songwriter who is signed with a national recording label and is in the process of releasing his second CD which will be released in the Spring of 2012.  Kent and his wife Shantel will share their story of God’s redeeming power, healing, grace, and enduring love.  Kent and Shantel have worked to blend two families and have added to their already large family through adoption.   Please visit www.kentdudley.com to hear samples of Kent’s music and to learn more about his ministry.  The event begins at 6:30 on Sunday, March 4^th.  All are invited to attend and a free-will offering will be taken to support Kent’s ministry.

Love & Respect Marriage Class:  The DVD series by Emmerson Eggerich includes conflict resolution, stopping the crazy cycle and learning how to motivate each other to enhance your relationship.  Join Jerry & Mary Hubert starting Tuesday, Feb 7th from 6:30 – 8:00 PM for this 8 week course at Crossroads Church.  Childcare will be provided for a free will donation.  To register: sign up on your Response Card, call or e-mail the church (church@bemidjicrossroads.org, (218) 444-8205) or the Huberts’ (jmhubert@paulbunyan.net (218) 751-3924.)

We are excited about our new church campus that is being planted in East Grand Forks.  Pastor Matt Dehnert and his wife Susie are our campus pastors.  We are looking at a Fall 2012 start date.  Stay tuned for more details.

Join us this Christmas season to celebrate the good news of Christ’s birth.

Christmas Events Schedule:

Children’s Christmas Program and Adult Choir: Sunday, December 18th at 10:30 AM.

Christmas Eve Service:  Saturday, December 24^th at 5:00 PM you won’t want to miss our joint Candlelight Christmas Eve Service with First Assembly of God.  We will gather at Crossroads church to sing carols, have communion, and Pastor Vern Lathe from First Assembly will deliver a Christmas message.

Christmas Day Service: Sunday, December 25th at 10:30 AM.

To make disciples of Jesus Christ, empowered and transformed by His Spirit, and equip them for their ministry to the church and their mission to the world, in order to magnify God’s name