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Mark Your Calendars

• Catalogs will be available before the fair.
• Orders will be taken up to the day of the Fair and will be delivered in time for the holidays.
• Name change: SERRV’s handcraft marketing program is now called A Greater Gift.

All profits from this year’s sale will be donated to theYork County Homeless Shelter.

Let me introduce myself:

My name is Warren King and I am thrilled to be the new Music Director at Holy Cross. My liturgical music career began about 35 years ago at the First Congregational Church in Methuen, MA, so I guess I have come full circle since being in California for the past 23 years. This has been an incredible last two months in our lives, my wife Jane and I have come 3500 miles from the scorching heat of California to the cooler yet more humid climate of Maine. Despite having grown up in Massachusetts, I had totally forgotten what "sweating" was all about. Evidently I will have to purchase more t-shirts. I would like to thank all the wonderful people here at Holy Cross for making my wife and I feel most welcome and comfortable. We are looking forward to many years of fellowship and service in the Holy Cross community. I would also like to remind everyone that there are plenty of seats still available in the choir loft for anyone who loves to sing.  Rehearsals are Thursday evenings at 7:00 in the sanctuary. Please feel free to call or e-mail me. Call the church office (985-4803) for my phone number and/or e-mail address. In God's peace, Warren and Jane King

CRAFTS & SCRAPBOOKING

Set aside Sat. October 16^th 8 to 11 A.M. Come and do crafts. Do you knit, bring it along. Are you interested in learning how to do Scrap booking? We would love to help you learn. Bring six photos of the same subject. We will help you and give you some ideas. Supplies will be on hand for you. If you don’t do any of the above, come and start writing your Christmas cards. Don’t want to do crafts or handwork, and then just come for the fellowship. Hope to see you all then. Church Life Committee

Do you like to sing but don’t necessarily want to be in the choir? Do you like to sing but may not think you have much talent – or maybe you do? Do you not sing but like to reach out to others who are lonely and infirmed? Do you like to bring joy to the hearts of others? Do you have an hour a month from 2-3 on Sunday to participate in this ministry?

Roger Knight, from Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, inspired those who attended his presentation at Holy Cross this summer. He has developed a singing ministry to nursing homes in the Portland area and challenged Holy Cross to do the same in this area. Once a month, a group from the church will be going to a facility to lead the residents in singing their favorite old songs and hymns. The residents love it and you will leave feeling blessed. Roger has provided us with the songbooks and his initial leadership. Betty Kreie is now taking over the leadership of this ministry at Holy Cross.

Join us for the next "Sharing the Joy" event on Reformation Sunday, October 31st. Following the late service, we will have a simple pot luck meal at church and then leave at 1:45 to carpool to Bradford Commons to lead the residents in an hour of song. Any level of musical talent or lack thereof is welcome. If you don’t sing, just come and support the residents. See Betty or Karen for further details.

On October 21-22^nd, the Young at Heart group will be retreating to Calumet for an overnight on Lake Ossipee. We will be staying in the comfortable Conference Center and enjoying the wonderful meals created by the Calumet chef and kitchen crew. Calumet staff will provide a fun and inspirational program. The cost, including meals and lodging is $74 per person. Full and partial subsidies are available – see Karen or Pastor. Sign up on the board in the narthex.

At the September cookout, senior high youth planned lots of interesting activities for the coming year. We will once again be taking a Halloween Hayride near the end of October. Watch the bulletin and narthex board for further details. Fund raising for a trip to Boston in the Spring will be ongoing. As always, friends are welcome to all youth group activities.

A new support group for women will be held twice monthly, beginning Wednesday, October 13^th from 7:00-8:30 at Lord Street House. Beginning with prayer and a devotion, the group is open to all women who would like to talk about their joys, struggles or everyday lives,. (For women with children in Logos – please note that the group will end promptly at 8:30 so that mothers of junior high Logos children can be available to pick up their children. Also, it is being held on those nights when there is no 4-6^th grade Logos.) For further information, contact Karen.

If you have ever transported someone with a wheel chair, you know the challenge of getting the chair in and out of your car. It would be wonderful if Holy Cross had its own wheel chair that could be used for anyone coming to church or a church activity. If you have an unused wheel chair or know of someone who might be willing to donate one to the church, please contact Karen.

Beginning on Wednesday, October 6th, the 8:30 Bible study will begin a new series - Women of the Bible. We will start with New Testament women, beginning with Mary, mother of Jesus. All are welcome, including men!

This support group, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 3:00 -4:00 at Luther Hall, will be meeting October 12 and 26. The group is for anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind, whether through death, divorce, illness, job, children or any life experience causing grief. Through sharing, support and prayer, healing can and does happen. One does not need to be a member of Holy Cross to participate. Contact Karen or Donna Simmons for further details.

The board of Parish Education would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Ron Donovan for cleaning, sealing and polishing the floors in the C.O.O.L. School Hall. The floors look great and were a welcoming sight for the students as they arrived for the new school year. Thanks also to Mary Keating and Elaine Ballute for their help in the cleaning process. Check out the shine!

The fall programs have begun and there is much excitement and anticipation for a great year.

The curriculum for the Middle School class is Lectionary based and will be taught by Michael Scott. The students will be using study Bibles. These Bibles have been donated allowing each student to have a personal copy of God’s Word to study at church and at home. We are very pleased at this opportunity for the youth of our congregation.

The High School class will begin the year studying the Bible. They will discuss how the Bible is organized; it’s structure, composition and the different literary styles. They will learn that scripture reinforces itself through repetition of ideas and teachings.

Adult Forum –

Oct. 3^rd - Pastor Norm Bumby will complete his 3 week study of Contemplative Prayer.

Oct. 10^th – TBA – see Sunday bulletin.

Oct. 17^th – A visit by Pastor Landgon who will discuss the work of Lutheran Social Services.

Oct. 24^th & 31^st - Helen Collamati will present an introduction to Small Group Ministries.

Bible Reference: 1 Samuel 16-17 & 2 Samuel 2-7

Teaching Theme: We can praise and thank God.

Bible verse: "I call to the Lord who is worthy of praise." 2 Samuel 22:4

Bible Presentation

The Board of Parish Education has revised the policy of giving Bibles to youth in 3^rd –4^th grade. Since study Bibles are being presented to Middle School/Confirmation classes, it was decided to give a beginner reader version of Bible stories to 1^st graders. As children learn to read, and practice with parents at home, this special time is a good opportunity to become familiar with the wonderful stories contained in God’s Holy Word. This year Beginner Bibles were presented to 1^st & 2^nd graders, and a youth version of the Bible was presented to 3^rd & 4^th graders as well as new members in 5^th or 6^th grade. (If we have missed anyone in this age range, please contact the church office so that we might correct our oversight.)

The Healthy Living Support Group has begun a new session.  This is an opportunity for anyone who would like to make positive changes in their lifestyle to meet together for information and support.  Each 1/2-hour session begins with a devotion based on a Bible verse.  Information is then given on an aspect of making healthy choices; participants are given an opportunity to share successes or difficulties of the week, then we end with prayer.  Meetings are held Tuesdays from 6:20 - 6:50 p.m.

Have you ever seen a Proud father? Sunday the 12^th I witnessed such an event. Having been apart of Holy Cross from the beginning, Bob and I have had many treasured moments, the one on September 12^th brought to life how blessed Holy Cross has been. Pastor Ken and Liv Hauge (the founding pastor of Holy Cross and his wife) were here for a visit. When I greeted them at church Ken said, "It was 33 years ago that we came here. 1/3 century…. " Their faces were full of joy and pride while hearing what our church was doing and offering as it was eloquently delivered by Elaine Ballute during Sunday school, challenging us to "Listen" to Gods guidance and take advantage of the many opportunities for growth. How blessed we are as a congregation to have had such a father, (Pastor Ken) and then the son, Pastor John (Pastor John Corgan, Ken’s successor) and now the grandson, Pastor Rich. All lead by God to us in our particular needs at the time. God is so good Thank you Lord, from one of your sheep, Betty Kreie

Parents of children and youth in LOGOS all help with doing the meal. But we also need other adults to lend a hand. It’s a great way to be involved in supporting our children and youth. You will also meet some other neat people on the Kitchen Crew team, and have some fun! Information sheets are available on the Luther Hall bulletin board to give you a better idea of what is involved, along with a sign up Contact Lynne White or Kristyn Martin.

ELCA World Hunger - we raised $400+, and some late envelopes are still coming in.

We collected 44 backpacks for kids at Caring Unlimited, in partnership with 3 other churches; total of 144 backpacks were collected.

Pledges: Big increase in giving in August has allowed us to make progress on the deficit. 

HCLC was given a beautiful lightweight wooden canoe and we are looking into selling it.  Anyone interested in more details can contact the church.

10/23/04 Council is planning a daylong planning retreat to be held at First Lutheran in Portland.

10/17/04 Speaker at both services from Lutheran Social Services

10/29/04 Spaghetti Supper by Community of Love/HCLC Social Concerns Committee to raise money for Community of Love

11/6/04 SERRV Fair by Social Concerns Committee

11/20/04 Fall Cleanup day by Trustees.