Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Ton of Food Drive Social Concerns will once again be sponsoring a drive to collect a ton of food for the Kennebunk Food Pantry. Our kick-off will be on Sunday, February 14th Each week we will weigh and track our donations on a poster and then take the food to the pantry. Our game plan is to collect a ton, 2000 pounds, of food by Easter. We welcome all of our fans to help us reach our goal.

Soup and Bread Lenten Services Beginning February 25th, on Thursdays during the season of Lent, we will be making time for a simple meal of soup and bread, followed by the night prayer service of Compline. Join us for this opportunity to gather together for a meal and meditation on our Lenten journey to the cross. Supper will be served at 6:00, with the service at 6:30. On March 18th, instead of soup, we will join the Harvest Café for supper at 5:30 with worship at 6:30.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Financial gifts are urgently needed. Your gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response, designated for Haiti Earthquake Relief, will be used entirely (100 percent) for immediate relief and ongoing recovery in Haiti. Please give today at www.elca.org/haitiearthquake OR send checks to: ELCA International Disaster Response P.O. Box 71764 Chicago, IL 60694-1764 Note “Haiti Earthquake Relief” on your check’s memo line.

Share the Bounty: On the first Saturday of every month, from 4:00 to 6:00, Holy Cross offers a free meal to the community at large of home made baked beans, hot dogs, cole slaw, bread and desert. There is usually live entertainment offered by our own musicians. Everyone is invited to come share in a wonderful meal. If anyone from Holy Cross would like to help with preparing the meal, serving or cleaning up, please see Julie Clapp.

Friendship Luncheon The Monday morning group will serve a free lunch offered to the community on the 2nd Monday of each month, at 12 o'clock noon. The next luncheon will be March 8th. Each month we will serve a luncheon with either soup, bread and dessert or a casserole and dessert etc. There will be no charge for this, but a donation basket will be available for any who would like to contribute. Donations of food will come from fellow members of the congregation. If you would like to help with these luncheons, or donate food, please contact Mary Keating or Vi Stephens.

Nursery Care We are now offering nursery care during the late service for children five and younger. The nursery is located downstairs in the Sunday School area. For those of you attending early service, there is a blue box with toys in Luther Hall if you need to take a fussy child from the church service. The service can also be heard through a speaker mounted on the wall. If anyone is interested in volunteering to assist with nursery care, please speak with Vicar Karen or contact the church office.

Monday Morning Group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. It is a good time to visit, have coffee and muffins and on some Mondays, lunch will be served. If you need a ride or have any questions, please contact Mary Keating or Vi Stephens.

Carpooling -- With the price of gas continually rising, we don’t want anyone to not come to worship or other events happening at church due to the expense of driving or for other transportation issues. Therefore we are trying to develop a list of people who might consider carpooling. Karen is developing the list and would appreciate your contacting her or the church office if you are interested in carpooling. Please indicate which service you usually attend, where you live, and whether you would need a ride, be willing to drive someone else, or be willing to take turns driving. She will then get back to all who respond and try to make it work. There is also a sign up sheet on the board in the Narthex.

Prayer Partners: Prayer Partners (a group of about 25 members of Holy Cross) are committed to lifting up your requests before God - prayers of concern as well as of celebration. Prayer requests can be made by phone to the church office or to the prayer e-mail address for e-mail. The prayer list are those who during the Sunday morning worship are lifted up by name for healing of mind, body, and spirit. To have a name included on the Prayer List, please contact the church office.

Church Revenues: Please see the bulletin board in Luther Hall for the Treasurer's Report.

Altar Flowers: The Worship Committee would like to remind everyone that there is a sign up sheet in the Narthex for altar flowers in the Sancturary on Sundays. Please fill out the envelope you will find there or in the pew racks and place it with a check in the offering plate, or drop it off at the church office. Flower offerings may be made in any amount comfortable for you, with or without a dedication, or you may bring your own.

Wednesday 8:30 A.M. Bible Study: All are welcome to join us for prayer and study!

Healthy Living Support Group: Meeting once a month on the first and third Tuesday at 6:00 pm. Please come join us to learn about and get support around a healthier lifestyle!!

Harvest Cafe: The "Harvest Cafe" serves a dinner every third Thursday of the month that is open to everyone in the surrounding community. On average, 60 or so people come each month to enjoy good fellowship and great food. Additional people who could help with food preparation from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon would be much appreciated. (This would involve cutting up lots of vegetables). The work takes place in the Holy Cross kitchen. If you can help, please contact the church office.