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Wilderness ExperienceThere are many wilderness experiences in the Bible. The people of Israel wandering in the wilderness 40 years before entering the Promised Land. The prophet Elijah fleeing to the wilderness to escape the wrath of Queen Jezebel. Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. All of these wilderness experiences are different, but they also have things in common. Wilderness experiences are always times of depravation and discomfort. They are difficult times when comfortable routines and the pleasant things of life are unable to be enjoyed, or are absent altogether. This idea of wilderness experiences struck me as I thought about our upcoming fall schedule here at Holy Cross. As we move into the month of August, fall planning jumps into high gear. Plans for Sunday School, Confirmation, Choirs, Adult Forum, and Youth Group are being made. Work is begun on the many events that take place in the fall: Sunday School Kick-off, the Backpack Blessing, Pie-on-the-Fly, Labor Day Potluck, and the Block Party. It is a busy and exciting time as we gear up for all the fun events that bring us back together after our summer trips and weekend camp outs. But this year is going to be different. |
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Fall Music 2020The past several months, my job has taken me (and my co-workers) to places and coerced me to attempt things that I would never have even imagined! Really, it is like a maze. You run into a wall? You just retrace your steps and find another path. The result: Creating on the fly (because what I had planned no longer worked) and thinking quick on my feet (because things changed so fast and dramatically and new strategy was required!). What an adventure! The culprit: the pandemic. |
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August Children's Ministry UpdateIt's August, and that means one thing - Back to School! I know and understand that those three words may be difficult for a lot of parents, teachers, and students this year. There is so much uncertainty and anxiety around this school year for so many people. Our teachers are being asked to do things they've never done before and are being pulled in a thousand different directions, and our students will experience a school setting different than anything they've ever known. It's hard. And weird. But I want to remind you of one thing - you aren't alone. |
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Backpack BlessingStudents and Teachers of all ages are encouraged to bring their backpacks, devices, bags or briefcases for a Back to School Blessing on Sunday August 9th. We will do the blessing during our Parking Lot Worship at 9:30 AM that morning. Join us as we remember who and whose we are as we head back to school, whatever it may look like! |
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August Youth NewsClick the "Read More" button below for a back to school breath prayer, important upcoming dates, and an update on the 2021 ELCA Youth Gathering. |
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Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall ApartThe Unraveled Summer Worship series is going to be extended two weeks. The original 12 week series was scheduled to end on August 23. However, the Narrative Lectionary doesn't begin until September 13. Therefore, we decided to add two more weeks. I want to say a special word of thanks to Carol Rich and Kevin Leahy for agreeing to do the bulletin art for these two additional weeks. During the month of August, we will be hearing the stories of Doubting Thomas, Moses' Mother, Job, the Man Possessed by Demons, and Mary mother of Jesus. The final story on September 6 will be Balaam and his Talking Donkey. |
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Parking Lot Worship ArtistsHave you ever wanted to paint, draw, carve, create, and/or doodle during a sermon and NOT get in trouble?!?!?! Help is here! |
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Food PantryThe Holy Cross Food Pantry continues to serve the community the First Saturday and Third Thursday of every month. We continue with our COVID Prevention Model of a drive-thru pantry service. During the pantry itself, we depend on six volunteers that run the drive-thru pantry service. One person greets the vehicles and determines family size. One person is in charge of frozen food based on family size. One person carries a “supplemental” bag including personal hygiene and toilet paper products to the vehicle. This is one bag per family. Two people carry the food bags depending on family size to the vehicle. And one person is in charge of watching to make sure all carts are full of bags for the volunteers taking the bags to the individuals vehicles. In the month of June, we served a total of 80 families with 306 individuals. In the month of July (There was only one pantry due to the 4th of July holiday), we served a total of 30 families with 103 individuals. We are beginning to see more and more new faces in need of assistance. We appreciate all of your support as we to continue to serve the community. August Pantry Dates: • Friday, July 31, 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Pantry Prep • Saturday, August 1, 7:45 - 10:15 am: Drive Up Pantry • Wednesday, August 19, 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Pantry Prep • Thursday, August 20, 4:45 - 7:15 pm: Drive Up Pantry If you would like to volunteer to help with the August pantries, please click on the button below to sign-up. Please do not show up to help if you have not signed up. Questions? Contact Dave Magnuson or Kelley Kennedy. Thank you! |
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Habitat for HumanityHabitat Fundraiser: The piggy bank fundraiser has begun! By following a 31-day calendar, members are encouraged to reflect on the blessings of their own home while donating funds for another family's home. To make it even more fun, please decorate your piggy bank, post a picture on the HCLC Facebook page, and encourage others to do the same. If you would like a copy of the 31-day calendar, please email Jim Schneider. Once the 31 days are completed, piggy banks should be returned to HCLC on August 9th or 16th. A volunteer will be at the parking lot entrance to receive them. Thanks in advance for your participation and donations! Kickoff: Construction will begin at 3016 Pratt St on August 1st. This location is right across the street from last year's build. |
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Adult EducationWe are in the middle of an online Zoom discussion of the book "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" by Bryan Stevenson. A #1 New York Times Bestseller, “Just Mercy” is the true story of Bryan Stevenson, a young lawyer who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need. It has been named one of the most influential books of the decade by CNN. Even though it is non-fiction, in my opinion, it often reads more like a page-turning novel. If you would like to join in the discussion for the last half of the book, please contact Pastor Jim HERE. We will be discussing chapters 9 and 10 on August 5. We meet Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. Pastor Jim |
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God's Greatest GiftsDeb and I will soon be flying out to Seattle to meet our first grandchild. We will be gone a little more than three weeks. This is a much longer vacation that I usually take, but as you know these are strange times we are living in. To ensure everyone's safety, we will quarantine for fourteen days before spending time with Joel, Steph and the new baby. Deb and I are very thankful for this opportunity. There are some life events that should not be missed, even in the midst of a global pandemic. For us, the birth of our first grandchild is one of those life events. Besides thinking about spending two weeks in a one room Airbnb, what I am struggling with most right now is integrating my personal self image with the fact that I will soon be a grandfather. Grandparents for me have a connotation of being old, while I still think of myself as being young. I assume I will once again be reminded of a truth about life which I have experienced many times before. Becoming something new (a husband, a father, a pastor, or even a grandparent) doesn't change who we are. It just adds a new dimension to our lives. Becoming a husband, a father, and a pastor have been three of my greatest gifts from God. I am very much looking forward to this newest gift from God, the gift of a grandchild. Peace, Pastor Jim |
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Little Free Pantry & Little Free LibraryIt all started with young ears listening to one of Pastor Jim's sermons. Jonathan Wellsandt listened as Pastor Jim talked about using our individual gifts towards Kingdom work. Jonathan went home that day, thinking about his own gifts, and all he could think about was reading. Jonathan LOVES to read. How could his passion and love for reading be used to do God's work in the world? Later down the line, Jonathan was connected to Deb Killough, who also shares a love and deep passion for reading. That relationship took off and dreams about a book ministry at Holy Cross began. Jonathan and Deb spent time redoing the library inside of the church, making it more approachable and friendly to all readers. Then soonafter, dreams of Holy Cross being a Little Free Library site began. |
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WELCA in ActionWELCA is collecting School Kits and Personal Item Kits that will be given to those in need. To veiw the lists, visit the WELCA page. For more infomation of how you can be involved, contact Paula McDonald. |
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Centering Prayer GroupCentering Prayer is a method to move beyond conversation with Christ, to communion with Christ, and to hear His voice speak to us. This is a practice that through listening to the Word of God, we can open our minds and our hearts to the Voice of God. The Centering Prayer Group is currently meeting online via Zoom, Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:00 pm. For more information, click here to email Paula McDonald. |
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Stewardship and Finance“While most people probably subscribe to the general theory that charity is ‘good for the soul,’ almost all would be hard-pressed to say why. Many would also be surprised to learn that philanthropic acts are also good for the mind and body. Research is beginning to confirm these claims. These emerging findings can transform the way people live and feel about themselves . . . philanthropic involvement is measurably wholesome for mind, body, and soul.” [Give to Live, Douglas M. Lawson] Of course, that research is not new information. The Bible has been telling us for two thousand years that giving is more blessed than receiving.
Financial Update through June 2020 2019 |
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Council Update• Pastor Jim will be on vacation August 10 - September 4 so that he and Deb can meet their new grandchild. • We are switching our church credit cards from UBS to American National Bank and adding two cardholders on the account for the Food Pantry. • Graduating Sr. Recognition rescheduled for August 2, Confirmation rescheduled for September 20. • Council decided to continue worship outside. A special meeting to reevaluate is set for August 3 at 6:30 pm. Outside groups, excluding recovery groups, will not be back in the building until we are worshiping inside. |
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Dates and CalendarAugust Meetings Zoom Finance Committee Meeting - August 13 at 6:30 pm Zoom Council Meeting - August 18 at 6:30 pm |
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August Birthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays Kelcy Sorensen………………………………….8/1 Anniversaries Jim & Valerie Birch……………………………………..8/2 |
