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From the Pastor...

How would you answer the following question: What is the purpose of corporate worship?

Take a few moments to think about how you might respond -- what words you might use to describe what is the point of attending a church service.

It is an important question to consider. Many people in our culture have little or no awareness of what the answer might be. To them a church service doesn't have any purpose, there is no real significance. Consequently, their attendance is either rare, or completely nonexistent. (According to a recent survey, the region of the country in which we live, New England, has a lower rate of church attendance than anywhere else in the U.S., having just surpassed the Northwest in that category.)

Even amongst those who are church members, though, it may not be all that easy to answer the question, "What is the purpose of corporate worship?" It may not be a topic that one considers all that often. There may be the sense that such worship is a given -- its just a traditional part of the Christian faith. Church attendance may become something that is done out of habit, out of a sense of duty and obligation, without much thought being given as to what purpose it serves, what are the underlying reasons for such an activity.

Well, here are three reasons why corporate worship is important -- two of which you've probably heard before, and one that may be new.

 1) Attending church is important because of what it does for you. In the Small Catechism Martin Luther asks "What does this mean?" in reference to the third commandment: "You shall keep the Sabbath holy." Luther then answers: "We are to fear and love God so that we do not neglect God's word and the preaching of it, but consider it holy, and gladly hear and learn it." Worship is of benefit to you personally, in that it provides the opportunity for you to be addressed by God's word -- as God's word comes through in the sermon, in the music, in the prayers, in the liturgy. God's word of comfort and of challenge, God's word of guidance and of support, God's word of forgiveness and of joy. Worship is an important part of your spiritual formation -- being drawn into closer relationship with God.

 2) Attending church is important because of what it does for fellow members. The Christian life isn't lived in isolation -- it is inherently communal. God calls us into relationship with himself, and into relationship with other believers. When you attend a church service, your presence serves as an encouragement to other members of the faith community -- your participation adds to the positive experience of all who have gathered. The body of Christ is built up and strengthened, by your being there to join in worship.

 3) Attending church is important because of what it does for the unchurched. In a way, this is similar to point two above. But it is also different, because of the outward focus, toward those who are not currently part of the Christian community. It may, therefore, be an idea you haven't previously considered. When someone with little in the way of church background attends a worship service, or if someone comes to church who hasn't been in a long while, your being there can make a difference in the experience of that newcomer. When you are there, participating mightily and faithfully in the joy of worship, it can be helpful in conveying to an unchurched person what the Christian faith is all about -- how a relationship with God through Christ serves to transform a person's life.

It is absolutely true that there are many things vying for your time, attention, and energy other than attending a worship service. Other things that are often valuable activities, in and of themselves. It is my hope and prayer, though, that you won't buy into the secular idea that corporate worship doesn't matter. I hope and pray that you will instead appreciate how important going to church really is -- for you, for fellow church members, and for the unchurched. So that when Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning rolls around, you will choose to gather with fellow believers at Holy Cross. And together we will gladly and heartily participate in worshiping the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, giving thanks for and celebrating God's transforming power in our own life, and in the lives of others.

In Christ, Pastor Rich

MESSAGE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER

Endings and Beginnings

September is a time of many new beginnings…a new school year, a new season, a new start for many of our communal church activities. New beginnings sometimes means something has ended. There are endings for which we are happy, such as the school year in June! And there are endings for which we mourn, we grieve the loss of what once was. As a church community, there have been both. And with God’s help, we adjust and go forward.

As with some of you and your families, our family recently experienced the loss of a very important member, Roger’s father, Edmund F Anderson. Edmund would be the first to say, I believe, that God richly blessed him in his 98 years - good health, a wife he considered his “angel sent by God”, four children, and a strong lifelong faith. That strong faith enabled him to go forward when his youngest son Donald died unexpectedly at age 53. While he struggled with his understanding of such an ending of the life of his child, he always trusted in God’s presence. He trusted that Don also had a new beginning in God’s presence. After Edmund’s passing, surrounded by his wife Eloise and his three living children, we indeed celebrated his life with wonderful words and wonderful music, including an old hymn Edmund requested be sung. He had first heard it sung by the composer, an Evangelist who came to New Sweden when Edmund was a boy. The title of the hymn was “He the Pearly Gates Will Open”, a beautiful but somewhat uncommon old hymn. A man in church sang a verse in Swedish before singing the rest in English. It honored Edmund and also reminded those of us there of Edmund’s new beginning in God’s presence. A few days after this wonderful service, the extended family members were on a long planned vacation on Panther Pond, a place Edmund had come with us for many years. One evening Roger was trying to get an old radio to work. As he turned the dial, a station came on playing hymns. First played “Amazing Grace”, then… “He the Pearly Gates Will Open”. Those of us there just looked at each other. One more reminder of endings and beginnings, and His continuous presence through it all. Marilyn Anderson

FRIENDSHIP LUNCH

The friendship lunch is our free monthly lunch offered to the community on the second Monday of each month. If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of these meals, or if you’d like to help out, please think about it! It’s a great time meeting people from our community and working with people from our congregation and getting to know them in this wonderful ministry. Everyone is welcome and we invite you to come on over and give it a try! The date for Friendship Lunch in September is Monday, September 13th. The meal is always served from noon until 1 pm. If you’d like to help out with the friendship lunch or donate something, please contact Mary Keating or Vi Stephens!

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~Paul Boese

A Day of joyful thanksgiving

by Donna Simmons

August 1, 2010, a sunny summer day, was full of God’s Blessing as those gathered in the packed sanctuary at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, Maine celebrated the Ordination and Installation of a new pastor. Our very own Karen Indorf became Pastor Karen and the new leader for this Danish Lutheran Church that has provided a place of safe harbor and worship for more than 120 years. Many clergy who’ve contributed to Karen’s growth in faith, her family, the members of Karen’s new congregation, and friends from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk, who packed a full third of the sanctuary, attended the ceremony. The choir, an ecumenical gathering of singers from local churches, and the musicians including an organist, an oboe player, and a bell ringer played to the Glory of God.

Although many clergy took part in the ceremony, the moment that stays etched in my memory happened towards the end of the Ordination process. Pastor Richard Horner, who sponsored Karen through her training, surrounded her shoulders with a vibrant red stole. Then, at the conclusion of the Ordination ceremony Bishop Margaret Payne and the new Pastor Karen Indorf, wearing a grin wide enough to spread joy to the rafters of this beautiful oak paneled sanctuary, turned to face the congregation and a resounding round of applause.

As the applause died down the Installation process began. Bishop Payne remarked that this was the shortest interval between ordination and installation of a new pastor that she’d ever participated in. Members of Pastor Karen’s new congregation presented her with the symbols of her new office. She was escorted to the baptismal font as she is called to baptize, to teach, and to forgive sins; to the pulpit as she is called to proclaim the good news; and to the altar as she is called to be among us to lead worship and preside at the Holy Communion.

After the service continued to its end, a reception followed in the community room of the church. Many of us caught up with people we had not seen for several years. It surely was a day of Joyful Thanksgiving.

 As quoted from the program, “God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.”

LAY MINISTRY TRAINING DAY

Holy Cross Worship Committee will be offering lay ministry training on Saturday, September 18, from 9:00 to noon. Whether you’ve been volunteering for years or you’d like to try something different or if you’ve never served in one of these ministries before, you are welcome and encouraged to come and brush up on your skills or learn new ones. Refreshments will be offered, and there will be the opportunity to attend more than one session if you choose. The morning will open with a brief general meeting where we will learn of the many lay ministries that support our worship services, and then break up into specific ministry groups: music ministries, ushers, altar guild, worship assistants, acolytes, and lectors (readers). Musicians and potential choir members are especially welcome, as there are openings at all three services. Following a short break, participants can attend a second specific session of their choosing in areas where there is demand. Please see Pastor Rich if you have any questions.

TON OF FOOD DRIVE

We reached our halfway point goal in the "Ton of Food" Drive.  Our food & beverage donations received to date now total 1,221 lbs – only 779 lbs to go!   Times are tough.  Our belts are tightened.  Our Lord God is great and knows what we can bear.  If you are so led and able to give, please leave items such as juice, cereal, baked beans, canned hams, beef stew, pancake mix, salad dressings, in the Narthex blue bins.  Any item is much appreciated.  Thank you for your generous support of the Kennebunk Community Food Pantry!

SHARE THE BOUNTY

Our monthly bean supper for September is on the 4th. This is Labor Day weekend so come and help out at a traditional New England bean supper. Set up begins at 3:00 (sometimes 2:45) since people start arriving for the supper by 3:45. Serving begins at 4:00 and we serve up until 6:00. Clean up usually is done by 6:30 or so since we have become quite efficient about it. If you have never volunteered before, come join in the fun! It’s a great opportunity to spend time with fellow church members and to serve the community. Please see Julie Clapp if you have any questions. Sign up is on the board in the Narthex.

TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

A Tuesday Night Bible Study (meeting the First Tuesday of the month) will begin on Sept. 7 in Luther Hall.  Please join in as we explore a new Bible study of Ephesians using "The Wiersbe Bible Study Series" by Pastor Warren Wiersbe.  The focus is on God's eternal plan of unity; beginning with uniting each of us to Him through the gift of grace through faith, then through the unity of the church, the body of Christ, on earth and finally in the "heavenly realms".  We will share dessert and fellowship from 6:30 - 7 pm, with Bible study from 7 - 8:30 pm.  Contact Elaine Ballute or Betty Kreie for more information.

Rally Day/Sunday School Registration/Pancake Breakfast

Please join us on Rally Day for the kick off of the new Sunday School year with a Pancake breakfast -- for everyone! -- on September 12. Parents, be sure to stop by the Sunday School registration table to make sure all the info for your child(ren) is correct and up to date. The breakfast will run from 9:30 to 10:00am, then teachers and students will go to their classrooms from 10am to 10:30am. See you there!

THANK YOU FROM THE OUTDOOR CHURCH

We received the following letter from Rev. Jedediah Mannis from the Outdoor Church in Cambridge, MA. He wrote to thank the children of Vacation Bible Camp for the gifts they prepared and gave to his ministry.

August 3, 2010

Mrs. Mary Keating

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Lord & Storer Streets

Kennebunk, ME 04043

Dear Mrs. Keating:

Please thank all of the children of the Vacation Bible School for the bags of toiletries we received this past Sunday. The homeless men and women we serve area always pleased to get these packages. They are practical – it would be otherwise impossible for them to find, much less pay for, all of those toiletries in individual portions. But they also convey a very personal touch – they show that we are all thinking of them and about the reality of their lives on the street.

The toiletries are deeply appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

 Jedediah Mannis

SERVICE TIME CHANGE

Please note the following changes that will take effect the weekend after Labor Day, September 11/12: the current 5:00 service time on Saturdays will move to 4:00 pm (one half hour earlier than was previously the case) beginning September 11th; also the current 9:45 am time on Sunday morning will move back to its non-summer time of 10:45 am, beginning September 12th. The 8:15 am Sunday service time remains unchanged.

THANK YOU!

Pastor Rich and Barbara would like to express their sincere appreciate for the recent potluck meal held in recognition of Pastor Rich's 25th anniversary of ordination. The outpouring of love and affection left us feeling deeply grateful. We are so glad to be part of the Holy Cross community! And the tree that was planted on the Lord Street side of the sanctuary in Pastor Rich's honor is just lovely. Thanks so much! Pastor Rich and Barbara

ADULT FORUM

Beginning on Sunday, September 19 (the weekend following Rally Day), Pastor Horner will be leading the adult forum glass, which runs from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Sunday mornings. The adult forum meets in Luther Hall and all are encouraged to take part in this opportunity to study Scripture and discuss its application to modern life.

LOGOS

 Children, youth and parents: another great year of LOGOS ministry is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 6, 2020! The program is open to kids in grades 4 through 12. Asking friends to participate is also highly recommended and encouraged! LOGOS is always a great time of spending time together building relationships – with God and one another. LOGOS meets twice each month (pretty much every other Wednesday) from 4:15 pm to 7:00 pm for grades 4-6, and from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm for grades 7-12. the four parts of the LOGOS program are Worship Skills (preparing a song or a reading to present during a Sunday morning worship service), Family Time (having a delicious meal), Bible Time (learning more about how God is involved in our life), and Recreation Time (playing fun games). The orientation and registration meeting for LOGOS will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 22. At this meeting parents can ask questions and learn more about the LOGOS ministry, and can also sign up their child(ren) to take part!

SOMETHING IN NEED OF REPAIR?

The Trustees have posted forms in each of our buildings (on goldenrod colored paper) where you can enter items you see that need repair, such as dead light bulbs, broken pews, etc.  Please use the forms rather than taking responsibility for repairs so that the Trustees can track our repair needs.

There is an urgent need for a few committed individuals to help with planning our upcoming Capital Campaign, preferably with fund-raising, organizational or financial experience.  If you can help, please see Rich Keating, Jane King, or Diane Bailey.  The roof leaks are multiplying!

JOKE OF THE MONTH

By Jack Bates

Grampa goes Shopping

A woman in a supermarket is following a Grampa and his badly behaved 3 year old grandson.

It’s obvious to her that he has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the candy aisle and cookies in the cookie aisle; and for fruit, cereal and pop in the other aisles.

Meanwhile, Grampa is working his way around, saying in a controlled voice, “Easy, Dick, we won’t be long. Easy,boy.” Another outburst, and she hears Grampa calmly say, “It’s okay, Dick, just a couple more minutes and we’ll be out of here. Hang in there, boy.” At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items out of the cart, and Grampa says again in a controlled voice, “Dick, relax buddy, don’t get upset. We’ll be home in five minutes; stay cool, Dick.”

Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the Grampa is loading the groceries and the boy into the car. She said to the elderly gentleman, “It’s none of my business, but you really were amazing in there, I don’t know how you did it. That whole time, you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. Dick is very lucky to have you as his Grampa.”

“Thanks, lady,” said the Grampa, “but I’m Dick. The little terror’s name is Alex.”

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-40 (NIV)