Let’s start with some definitions. Kairotic comes from the Greek word "kairos.” “Kairos” refers to a proper or opportune time for action. Therefore, a kairotic moment is a specific, opportune time for something important to happen. (Kairotic is pronounced: kī-rot-ĭk)

So are we at a kairotic moment in history? George Floyd was not the first black man to be killed by unwarranted police brutality, but his death aroused our nation in unprecedented ways. In a 2014 ABC News/Washington Post poll, only 35% of whites said then-recent police killings of unarmed black men were signs of a broader problem. In a recent Washington Post/Schar School poll, whites who said Floyd’s killing was part of a broader problem within law enforcement rose to 68%. Does this increase in acknowledgment and concern over racial injustice by whites signal change? Will this be that kairotic moment when real, meaningful, and lasting change will take place?

No one knows the answer to that question. What I do know is that most white people I know, including myself, are anxious to do something to ensure that positive change takes place. Unfortunately, most of us don’t knew where to start or what to do. As I’ve wrestled with these questions, a few things have become clear to me. First, it is important to remember that change takes time. What we do in the next few weeks or even months is only really going to matter if we also commit ourselves to working for change in the long term. Keep in mind that the tiny mustard seed Jesus spoke of, did not grow into the largest of shrubs overnight!

The second thing that has become clear to me is that one of the best ways to begin is education. I’ve read numerous books and watched movies and documentaries that have exposed me to racial injustice and inequality. However, the ones I have read and watched recently and intentionally have opened my eyes and heart in new ways. That is the power of kairotic moments. Old familiar things strike you in new and potentially life-changing ways.

So with all this in mind, what shall we, as the people of God, and the followers of Jesus, here at Holy Cross do in this kairotic moment? To help answer that question and keep us engaged into the future, the Council established a Racial Awareness Task Force at its June meeting. Current members of the task force are: Tracey Duke, David Magnuson, Peg Schneider, David Wellsandt, and myself. As this task force gets up and running, there are a couple of things we want to begin with.

First, I will be offering 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.

This eight week book discussion will begin the second week of July and run through August. We will read and discuss two chapters a week, roughly 30 to 40 pages. If there is enough interest, I will offer two discussion groups. The three possible times for these groups are Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, Thursdays at 7:00 pm, and/or Saturdays at 1:00 pm. Once I get a feel for how many people are interested and which times work best, I will set the final time slots. If you are interested in being a part of one of these book discussions, please click the button at the end of this article to sign-up and indicate your meeting preferences.(Since some people do not learn best through reading, we will also offer some movie discussions opportunities in the near future.)

Besides establishing this new task force, the Council also approved a proposal from Katy Jones, Becky’s daughter, to create a Diversity Mural here at Holy Cross. Katy is the art professor at Midland University in Fremont. Katy was our first Sunday morning artist when we began our Unraveled worship series. If fact, it was that experience that inspired Katy’s idea of a diversity mural. Here is part of Katy’s proposal:

With everything that has happened over the past few weeks I have found myself wanting to talk about my outrage...I want to say the right things, I want to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity with my words, but at the end of the day, I just couldn't seem to find those right words...I became less discouraged when this idea came to me because it's in the language I know, art....I truly believe that art saves lives...it can also heal trauma, give a voice to those unheard, and an expressive outlet to those who are under-represented.

With this mural our goal would be to create a collaboration and partnerships, that would hopefully be a great way to start the hard conversations with those who are open to listen, critically think about the issues, and evolve

Here are the specifics of Katy’s proposal. Katy would oversee the construction and creation of a 40 feet long by 4 feet tall Diversity Mural. It would be located in front of the bushes on the west side of the parking lot facing Terrace Drive, between the driveway and the Holy Cross letter board sign. The design of the mural will be non-political. The Congregation Council will approve the final design before work begins. The design and creation of the mural will be done through collaboration with Holy Cross, Midland University, the Maple Village neighborhood, the Union for Contemporary Art, members of the African American community, and other interested groups and individuals. There will be set and advertized times throughout the summer for people to gather and work on the mural together. Katy will line up people to be present during these times in order to guide and help people.

Katy has been hard at work connecting with interested groups and individuals and making the plans necessary for the work to begin. She will begin with a number of community forums beginning sometime in mid-July. Katy and I will host a special Zoom forum for the congregation on Tuesday, July 7, at 7:00 pm. At this forum, Katy will further explain her vision and her plans as well as answer any questions we may have. A Zoom invitation will be sent out to the congregation a few days prior to the forum.

What will become of this kairotic moment in which we find ourselves? I don’t know, but I do believe that God is involved in kairotic moments like this. I believe that God is able to coax something good out of the most horrible circumstances. And as always, God calls us to take part. I pray that we answer God’s call and rise to this kairotic moment. Not just for a few weeks or a few months, but until God is able to move us all more deeply into God’s way of peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Peace,

Pastor Jim

That is a great question! I wish there were a simple, straight forward answer. Unfortunately, there isn’t. As we have all learned, the Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to be flexible, try new things, and live with uncertainty. That has been the case with worship here at Holy Cross. Since the pandemic began we have worshiped on Zoom, on Facebook Live, and in our parking lot. It has certainly been an interesting few months.

As you recall, I sent out a survey a few weeks ago asking the congregation for their input on worship in the weeks, maybe months, ahead. The survey asked for input concerning Parking Lot Worship (PLW) and when we should back in the building for worship. Let me share the results of that survey.

It 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. 

    Lyricist and New Zealander, Shirley Erena Murray,  wrote in 1996 one of the most outstanding hymns  of the 20th century:  “For Everyone Born, a Place at the Table (A Human Rights Hymn).”  They are some of the most inspiring verses I have every sung.  You, too, have sung them lately if you were at the Parking Lot Worship on June 21 or listened to worship on FaceBook.  Thanks to Sharon Kelley,  she found an additional  6th verse which we use.     

Please click "Read More" for important Confirmation, Senior Recognition, and Summer Trip 2021 dates. 

SUMMER TIME is officially here! I hope you are able to get outside - to enjoy God's creation, and have some family fun in the sun! Need a few fun outdoor activity ideas for this summer? Here are a couple fun, FREE ideas... 

So far, we've heard Sarah laugh as her fear of never having children was unraveled. We've seen Peter's faith unravel as he tried to walk on water. We've experienced Mizpah's sorrow as her life unraveled as her sons were slaughtered. We have watched as Zacchaeus' greed unraveled when he encountered Jesus. In all of these stories God was there to help weave people's lives back together. 

During July, we will hear the unraveling stories of Pharaoh, the Apostle Paul, the Israelite exiles living in Babylon, and the Samaritan women at the well. As we witness eack of their lives unravel in some way, we will also hear how God was present to weave something new into their lives. As we engage these stories of lives unraveing and being woven back together by God, we will hopefully be better able to see how God is active in our lives and in our world weaving that which has come unraveled back together, making us and all things new.

Our Holy Cross Food Pantry continues to serve the community the first Saturday and third Thursday of every month. We are continuing with our COVID Prevention Model of a drive-thru pantry service. We depend on our volunteers assisting with prepping bags the night prior to the pantries and during the pantry itself.

Every household who comes to our pantry receives at least two bags of food and personal hygiene products along with whatever frozen food we have available. Depending on the household size, the number of bags goes up. Within the last month, we have also been able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables from the Food Bank to each household as well.

In the month of May, we served 45 households totalling 181 individuals. Our numbers are lower than we expected given the current circumstances. During phone calls with the Food Bank and other Network Partners, the general idea is that because of the stimulus, along with additional food stamp and unemployment benefits being offered due to the pandemic, there are less families in need. This is wonderful news! The concern, however, is the need will rise significantly in the coming months, and we are being told to be prepared. We appreciate your continued support.

July/August Pantry Dates:

(Since the first Saturday of July is July 4th, the July Saturday morning pantry was moved up to the last Saturday of June, June 27.)

• Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Pantry Prep

• Thursday, July 16, 4:45 - 7:15 pm: Drive Up Pantry

• Friday, July 31, 6:00 - 7:30 pm: Pantry Prep

• Saturday, August 1, 7:45 - 10:15 am: Drive Up Pantry

If you would like to volunteer to help with July or 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!

I will be offering 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.

This eight week book discussion will begin the second week of July and run through August. We will read and discuss two chapters a week, roughly 30 to 40 pages. If there is enough interest, I will offer two discussion groups. The three possible times for these groups are Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, Thursdays at 7:00 pm, and/or Saturdays at 1:00 pm. Once I get a feel for how many people are interested and which times work best, I will set the final time slots. If you are interested in being a part of one of these book discussions, please click the button below to sign-up and indicate your meeting preferences. (Since some people do not learn best through reading, we will also offer some movie discussions opportunities in the near future.)

Pastor Jim

Once again, WELCA 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.

Centering 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.

“After walking through a cemetery, a man said, ‘Have you noticed how much meaning a dash can have? Born 1921—Died 1981. What a way to summarize a life—with a dash!’ That will eventually describe the years of every person’s life—a dash. We cannot stop our movement toward the final destination, but we can choose what we do with our dash. We can spend it on significant matters or on meaningless trivia. Thus a congregation’s ministry of stewardship is a matter of ultimate importance—far more significant than fund-raising.

“Shrouds have no pockets. We do not see Brinks trucks in funeral processions. Hearses do not pull U-Haul trailers. But stewardship lets us take it with us. ‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal’ (Matt. 6:20). Through prudent stewardship, we can enter the abundant life of joy and meaning. Through stewardship, we can protect ourselves from being possessed by our possessions, thinking they are permanent and that they buy permanent security. Through stewardship, we can grow spiritually. Through stewardship, we create a meaningful dash.” [The Vital Congregation, Herb Miller]

  Financial Update through May

                                                2020             2019
Beginning Balance        3,234          1,291                                       
Monthly Expenses    (33,392)     (34,137)
Monthly Income          34,040        49,166
Income (Deficit)            3,882           16,320

• Our Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $59,465 was received May 18.

• A “Racial Awareness” Task Force is being formed.

• Katy Jones’ Mural Proposal was approved.

• A “Back in the Building” Task force is being formed.

Birthdays

Easton Larson…………………………….7/1
Jonathan Wellsandt……………………7/3
Jerry Joseph……………………………….7/4
Brooke Leaders………………………….7/4
Emma Leaders……………………………7/4
Janice Swanson………………………….7/5
Sharolyn Beck……………………………7/7
Chad Duke………………………………..7/7
Gwen Wellsandt……………………….7/10
Peyton Lawton………………………….7/12
Marilyn Hansen………………………...7/15
Harrison Glesne………………………..7/18
Norman Choat………………………….7/19
David Howard…………………………..7/20
Ella Krueger………………………………7/21
Whitney Slezak…………………………7/21
Aubrianna Schmidt……………………7/22
Kylie Dickens…………………………….7/23
Becky Jones………………………………7/25
Lindsey Kreber………………………….7/26
Troy Schnack……………………………7/27
Troy Taylor……………………………….7/29
Rebecca Evans………………………….7/31
Melissa Howey…………………………7/31

Anniversaries

Weston & Terri Grunke……………….7/2
Eric & Jen Gitt……………………………..7/7
Matt & Sarah Larson……………………7/7
Dave & Linda Kohrs…………………….7/25

July Meetings

Zoom Finance Committee Meeting - July 16 at 6:30 pm

Zoom Council Meeting - July 21 at 6:30 pm