Other Newsletters April 30, 2012 March 31, 2012 March 06, 2012 December 01, 2011 October 31, 2011 October 04, 2011 June 01, 2011 April 23, 2011 March 24, 2011 January 31, 2011 September 29, 2010 August 31, 2010 June 20, 2010 March 29, 2010 January 25, 2010 December 24, 2009 November 24, 2009 November 02, 2009 October 01, 2009 September 02, 2009 July 25, 2009 June 24, 2009 April 25, 2009 March 21, 2009 February 19, 2009 January 24, 2009 December 25, 2008 November 30, 2008 October 25, 2008 October 05, 2008 August 25, 2008 July 21, 2008 May 27, 2008 May 05, 2008 April 06, 2008 February 27, 2008 February 03, 2008 January 06, 2008 December 07, 2007 November 05, 2007 October 01, 2007 September 03, 2007 July 13, 2007 June 03, 2007 April 28, 2007 April 06, 2007 March 02, 2007 February 04, 2007 January 07, 2007 November 30, 2006 August 19, 2006 July 01, 2006 May 29, 2006 April 29, 2006 April 02, 2006 February 25, 2006 January 28, 2006 January 08, 2006 December 03, 2005 October 27, 2005 October 02, 2005 August 25, 2005 July 01, 2005 May 26, 2005 April 27, 2005 March 30, 2005 February 20, 2005 January 26, 2005 January 03, 2005 December 01, 2004 October 28, 2004 October 09, 2004 September 19, 2004 July 29, 2004 July 08, 2004 May 26, 2004 April 23, 2004 March 27, 2004 November 06, 2003 October 11, 2003

From the Pastor...

We are currently three weeks into the Sunday morning book study, and just about a month away from The Gathering. I am glad for all who have attended the study, and hope that you will consider joining in on the class if you haven't yet attended. Even if you haven't been able to read the book, you would still benefit from the discussion during the class. I realize the book isn't necessarily an "easy" read (as several of you have candidly mentioned to me!) but there is still an awful lot of good material contained within its pages. Having time to reflect upon the material in a group setting makes the book more accessible. In addition, people have been sharing some personal stories related to the topics being discussed, and such sharing really brings the material alive.

The Gathering on November 21st -- to which there is an invitation elsewhere in this edition of the Crier -- will be a special time of worship and celebration. The service itself will be a blending of our three worship styles: opening with some of the songs typically sung at the informal Saturday service; then moving into some of the liturgy and music customary at the modern 8:15 am Sunday service; and, finally, transitioning to some of the music and the communion liturgy from the more traditional 10:45 am Sunday service. The service will include the opportunity to reflect upon God's purpose for each of us individually, and God's purpose for all of us together as a congregation.

The service as a whole will be a time for giving thanks to God for His many blessings, and for lifting up a new vision of moving forward together in mission: being spiritually transformed our self, and inviting others who are spiritually hungry to experience the same transforming power of God in their life.

In one way the service on November 21st will represent a culmination of plans and discussions that have taken place throughout the fall. But in another way, The Gathering will be just the beginning. A new vision doesn't take hold and come to full fruition over night. Rather it is something that has an effect -- on individuals and on a congregation -- over time. What has been happening over the past few weeks, and what will continue to happen in the weeks between now and November 21st, is a foundation and preparation for what comes next: living out the vision.

At each step along the way in this process of lifting up and living out a new vision, we are utterly dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit. By our own human strength we can do nothing. But by yielding to the Spirit, and looking to the Spirit for guidance, and depending upon the Spirit for courage and conviction, we are empowered to live and serve and bear witness as devoted disciples of Jesus.

As I said last month, I will say yet again: please be praying on a regular basis for the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of our congregation, to bring about renewal.

In Christ,

Pastor Rich

MESSAGE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER

Many of us are familiar with the saying “God will provide”. It often comes to mind when the going gets tough. Some would say our congregation is facing tough times right now. However, as I look back at many years as a member of Holy Cross, I see the many ways “God does provide” for us. God provides us with dedicated and committed individuals who are given the strength and energy to provide for the spiritual, emotional and financial needs of our community in Christ and the greater community at large.

Whenever, the Blueberry Festival comes around I wonder if we will be able to pull together the massive number of volunteers needed to make it a success. Each year God provides us with the individuals and resources needed to provide for a worthy cause. This year, over $2000 was sent to the Biddeford Free Clinic as the results of many individuals working together on that one day in August. Every year as the budget process comes to a close, I thank God that he provides us the resources needed to continue his work. From prayer shawls to prayer chains, God’s handiwork can be seen at Holy Cross.

These are only a few examples that come to mind when I think about how God provides for us here at Holy Cross. . God works through each of us when we worship, serve at the bean suppers or friendship lunches, or become active in the life of the church through its many opportunities to serve (trustees, council, music ministry, church life, parish education just to name a few). God has blessed this congregation and will continue to be us as we undertake the “Great Commission” Thanks be to God. Linda Gaidimas

HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS

The Kennebunk Clergy Association will be collecting food items and money donations to provide Holiday Food Baskets to area people in need. A basket will be in the Narthex for donations of traditional non-perishables Thanksgiving food items, and checks may be made out to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, memo line “Holiday Food Baskets” and placed in the offering plate.

 Items most needed:

Potatoes Onions

Boxed Stuffing Pudding

Jell-O Canned Fruit

Canned Green Beans Canned Peas

Gravy Evaporated Milk

Pie Crust Mix Other Non-Perishables

Cash donations are used to purchase turkeys, chickens and additional food items.

 Thanksgiving Schedule:

- Sunday, Nov. 14 – all food will be delivered to Christ Church (on Dane St., Kennebunk) to be sorted and prepared for delivery.

- Monday, Nov. 22 – volunteer packers needed at Christ Church at 9:00 am. This does involve some lifting and carrying. This is roughly a 1.5 hour commitment. Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver the food and should be at Christ Church by 11:00 am. An effort is made not to make the boxes too heavy but please note that the boxes are not light. Drivers may want to bring an assistant. The time commitment for this task varies depending on the number and locations of deliveries.

 Christmas Schedule:

- Sunday, Dec. 12 – Food is delivered to Christ Church for sorting.

- Monday, Dec. 20 – Food is packed in boxes and then delivered to recipients.

 If you can help with packing and/or delivery of baskets on November 22^nd, please contact the church office. Thank you for your participation with this worthy project.

TON OF FOOD

Our 2010 "Ton of Food" Drive for the Kennebunk Community Food Pantry is coming to an end next Sunday, October 31^st. We have just 287.5 pounds to go to reach our goal of 2,000 pounds – can we do it? The Pantry is looking for once-a-month volunteer drivers to pack food orders at the Kennebunk Food Pantry and then deliver orders to town offices in Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport as needed that day. FMI please call the church office.

BREATHING

by Donna Simmons

I’ve been studying the Buddhist breathing meditation called “tonglen” in an attempt to understand other cultures. I was concentrating on breathing in and breathing out. The direction was to focus on breathing in the pain and adversity of life and breathing out feelings of peace and well-being. I understood that to mean breathe in bad and out good, the total opposite to what I realize on a biological level is to breathe in energizing oxygen to regenerate vitality to my cells and to breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2), a waste product that can destroy those same cells if my body can not expel it.

I thought of those with lung diseases who can not breathe out all the CO2 waste their bodies produce. I lost my grandson to one of those diseases. I’ve since learned not to take for granted the very breath of life. My meditation is focused on breathing in the good and out the bad, a gift from God we usually take for granted. As we pass through All Saints Day and into a month of Thanksgiving I am thankful for the gifts God has given us: the breath of the Holy Spirit, the vitality of our church family, and His forgiveness when our step falters.

I wish you Peace and Love this Thanksgiving.

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

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 November is Monday, November 8th. The meal is always served from noon until 1:00 pm. If you’d like to help out with the friendship lunch or donate something, please contact Mary Keating or Vi Stephens!

THRIVENT

Maine Chapter of Thrivent elections will be held before and after service on Nov. 6 & 7.

All Saints Sunday

 Once again this year, we will be displaying a power point presentation made up of pictures of family members who have gone to heaven. Please submit photos to Julie Clapp in JPEG format via e-mail or to the church office. If you don't have a computer or a way to scan the photos, please leave them in Julie's box in Lord Street House. They will be scanned and returned. For all photos, please put the name of the person (or persons) in the photo, what their relationship is to you and your name either in the e-mail or a note accompanying the picture. If you submitted photos last year and want to use them again, please let Julie know. If you have any questions, please see Julie or Pastor Rich. Thank you!

AT LAST CLEAN CARPETS

Thanks to the efforts of L&R Cleaning from Alfred, ME, who did an extraordinary job in rejuvenating and cleaning our carpets. We are not spruced up for the holidays, and we can certainly recommend them. The Trustees

SHARE THE BOUNTY

Our monthly bean supper for November is on the 6th. 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.

ANNUAL FALL CLEANUP

We are looking for any and all volunteers to help prepare the church and ground for the winter ahead. On Saturday, November 13^th from 9:00 am to approximately noon, we will be performing the usual raking of the leaves, washing windows and general cleanup as well as some not so traditional fall cleanup items. There are plenty of tasks to perform both inside and outside. Come if you can only spare an hour or if you can spend the entire morning. Let’s get the church and grounds buttoned up for winter.

COOKIE BAKERS

WANTED: Love to bake or want to learn? Cookie bakers needed to help Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9a-1p in Luther Hall. Recipes, ingredients, equipment, aprons and a light lunch provided. Social Concerns Committee is sponsoring a gift of homemade cookies to bring to U.S. Veterans living at the V.A. home in Scarborough in appreciation of their service and sacrifice for our nation as we honor them on Veterans' Day. Cookie packaging helpers and gift tag writers needed Sunday, Nov. 7 from 11:45a-1p. Contact Dick Eaton to join in delivering cookies and visiting with our Veterans immediately following package preparations at church. Sign-up sheet is posted on the Narthex bulletin board.

YOUTH EVENT

On Sunday, November 14th, youth are invited for a meal served at 12:00 noon in Luther Hall, followed by a trip to Vacationland Bowling in Saco for glow bowling -- that's right, glow bowling during the daytime! This is an event for young people in 4th-6th grades, 7th-8th grades, and 9th-12th grades. There is additional information on the sign up posted on the white board in the Narthex (entryway) of the church. Mark your calendar, as well, for a progressive dinner & Yankee gift swap at 5:30pm on Friday December 17th.

Crier Publication Information

The next issue of The Crier will be a December/January issue. The deadline will be Tuesday, November 16th. This will cover all events in December 2010 and January 2011.

Please e-mail articles to Julie Clapp or leave in her box at Lord Street House. If you leave an article in her box, please call her and let her know that it is there.

Thank you!

Also, if e-mailing items, please submit everything as an attached Word document in Arial 10-point font (please do not put your article in the body of an e-mail). Thank you!

JOKE OF THE MONTH

Submitted by Jack Bates

Ten Reasons We Need Sunday School Teacher. Kids were asked questions about the Old and New Testaments. The following ten statements about the Bible were written by children. They have not been retouched or corrected. Incorrect spelling has been left in.

1. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah’s wife was Joan of Ark. Noah built the Ark and the animals came on in pears.

2. Moses led the Jews to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread. Which is bread without any ingredients.

3. The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up to Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments.

4. Moses died before he ever reached Canada. Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the Battle of Geritol.

5. The greatest miricle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

6. David was a Hebrew King who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought the Finkelsteins. A race of people who lived in biblical times.

7. Jesus was born because Mary had an Immaculate Contraption.

8. The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

9. The Epistels were the wives of the Apostles.

10. St Paul cavorted to Christianity , he preached Holy Acrimony, which is another name for marraige.

"Evangelism is not a program of the Church;

rather it is the essential work of the Church.

It is not an option for Christians but an obligation,

a fundamental commission of their Christ."

(Reclaiming the Great Commission p.19)