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 October 27, 2010 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 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

Mid week Lenten services
Mid week Lenten services will be held from 7-7:30pm on March 3th, March 10th, and March 17th. The theme this year is "Watchers on the Hill." Each service includes a skit that takes us back 2000 years to "listen in" on a conversation-taking place on Golgotha, the hill where Jesus gave up his life to save all humankind and us. Each service also includes hymns, prayers and readings. You are invited/encouraged to devote a little time to worship in the middle of each week as part of your Lenten journey. A simple meal of bread and soup is also available prior to the service, at 6:00 pm (except on March 17 when we are welcome to join in the meal offered by Harvest Café at 5:30 pm).

HEALING SERVICE
A service for Christian healing will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 13th.  This is a brief but moving service dedicated to healing of all kinds, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or political.  In an informal setting, communion is served, along with prayers and hymns for healing.  Participants may receive lying on of hands and anointment with oil.  All are welcome, regardless of health status or religious affiliation, so plan to be there, and bring a friend.  It could be the best half hour of your week!  The time is currently scheduled for 5:00 p.m., but that may be changed to be a bit earlier.  If there is a change, it will be announced in the bulletin.

There are a large number of Christian websites, I've found the following sites listed below to be interesting and thought
provoking. Hope you enjoy them also. -Ed Morin

(Note: copy and paste the website address in the address bar to go to the page.)

Stand To Reason - clear, logical articles in defense of the faith. Concise, too.

www.str.org/index.htm

Christian Classics - books in the public domain.

www.ccel.org/

Cyber Hymnal - good tunes. Midi, lyrics and the often-fascinating history behind the hymns.

www.cyberhymnal.org/

A Lutheran Hymnal - more good (of course) tunes

www.lutheran-hymnal.com

APOD Stunning photographs of God's handiwork

antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Spring Fling
Isn’t it nice to read that word "spring"? Yes it may still be a little ways off, but nor real far! Certainly not too early to be planning for a weekend retreat at camp Calumet. The confirmation age youth will be going, as has happened in the past. But this year we want to extend a special invitation for Senior High youth to attend as well. The event is designed for youth in both middle and high school from throughout New England, and the Calumet staff does their usual great job in directing the program. We have already sent Calumet a deposit check to hold some spaces for those in Senior High, but we need to have a firmer count as soon as possible. Check the board in the Narthex (entryway) for more information, as well as registration forms. If you want one of the spaces we have reserved, fill out the registration form and return it to Holy Cross with your $25.00 deposit.

ROOTED FOR LIFE WORKSHOP EVENT
The New England Synod will be holding their 3rd annual workshop event on October 15th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, MA. This event has been attended by hundreds of people from all over New England and has been enthusiastically received. Fifty workshops will be offered, led by ELCA and synod staff, seminary professors, local clergy and lay people.

At this time the Rooted for Life Workshop Committee is seeking proposals from those who might want to present a workshop. The deadline for submission of a proposal is April 1st. Details and an application can be found on the board in the narthex or on the synod website (see the Links page). Contact Karen for further information.

CRAFTS & SCRAPBOOKING
Sat. March 12, 9-noon & April 9, 9- noon are all dates for scrap booking! 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

AIM REFLECTIONS
I recently attended a four-day continuing education event for all new Pastors, Associates in Ministry (AIM) and Deaconesses in Region 7 of the ELCA. There were over 100 of us, gathered from as far away as Buffalo and Philadelphia. We are serving in rural churches, small town congregations, urban centers, and suburban neighborhoods. The congregations represented ranged in size from less than fifty to those numbering in the hundreds. There was wonderful diversity evidenced by different skin color, culture, language, age, and traditions, worship styles. The number of women about equaled the number of men. Leadership was provided by people from the ELCA headquarters in Chicago, faculty of seminaries, regional synod Bishops, local pastors and lay leaders. It was an enriching experience as I was able to share with others the joys and challenges of ministry. I also left with a sense of awe and gratitude for the diversity in our church, for all that the national church and synods do to help local congregations as well as those around the world, for the various ways that congregations do ministry in their respective communities, for the gifts and dedication of the newly roistered and for the church¹s commitment to support us and to help us to be effective leaders. And I returned to Holy Cross, grateful for the opportunity to serve in a congregation that is committed to being the church, the Body of Christ, in southern Maine. As we are entering the season of Lent, a time of penitence and prayer, a time of fasting and sacrifice, a time of selfless giving to others, let us keep before us the image of the person who sacrificed his life for our sake, Jesus the Christ. He has called all of us to do ministry wherever we are. Let us share the Good News that Mary Magdalene brought to the disciples on Easter morning: "I have seen the Lord." Serving you in love, peace and joy, Karen

Smile!! You’re On The H. C. Picture Board
It's time to update the gallery of pictures that grace our member bulletin board in Luther Hall.  We ask all members and friends to have your picture taken anew or updated during three Sundays in Lent.  Give up shyness for Lent this year. After each Sunday worship service on Feb. 27, March 6 and 13, new digital photos will be taken in Luther Hall.  A common light blue background will be used, so please do not wear light blue clothing.  The pictures will be seen year around, so be prepared to shed you winter coats for a better picture. Most persons who already have pictures on the board will want to update them since we all age and change.  If you really want your existing picture to be used again, tell us and we will print a new one of you to replace the faded one hanging now. Lastly, you will be asked to fill out a 3 x 5 card with spellings the way you want them and family member in a right to left order the way you were photographed.  Keep names as short as possible.  There is little room for that typewritten information.

SMALL GROUPS
As I mentioned last month, I will be writing a monthly article highlighting one of the small groups at Holy Cross. As we expand small group ministry at Holy Cross, we are using four disciplines that will be encouraged of every ongoing small group: Prayer; Devotion or Study; Care and concern for one another; Service to someone or some group. Depending on the nature of the small group, one of these areas may be the primary reason for the group to meet, but the others are included.

The Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Bible Study has met for years. But it has become not just a study, but what I consider a "small group," demonstrating the four above-mentioned criteria. Each week we take time to briefly share individual concerns about ourselves or about a friend or loved one who is sick, dying, grieving, traveling, etc. We then pray for those individuals and their needs, as well as offering prayers of thanksgiving. We move on to our primary purpose for meeting – a Bible Study. We are currently studying Women of the New Testament. Our service project is contact with Holy Cross young people who are away at college. Through periodic cards and notes and a box of cookies at Christmas, we let them know that we are thinking of them and praying for them and that they are still important to the church, even though they are usually away from this area. And as happens in small groups, the sharing that occurs leads to caring, as members informally reach out to each other with phone calls, rides, visits, etc., especially if someone is ill or missing. The group is open to all and we welcome anyone to join us at any time. Karen

Bread & Soup:
Please join your friends and family of Holy Cross at our simple meal of bread & soup. The meal will start at 6 PM. Please note on March 17 we will be joining Harvest Café at 5:30 pm. Please sign up, so Harvest Café has a count of the extra people. Please see the sign up sheets in the narthex. May we all draw closer together in this very peaceful time of companionship. Thank you. Church Life Committee

SHARING THE JOY
We will be singing once again on the third Sunday of the month, March 20 from 3-4 at Bradford Common. Come and join us as we sing along with the residents, sharing their favorite hymns as well as oldies. Do you remember the hymn "In the Garden" or that old favorite song "On Top of Old Smokey"? If you don’t, we have music books with words and music to help you along. Accompanied by Catherine Morrissette on piano and Art Morrissette on guitar, the singing is spirited and fun. You don’t need to read music or sing in harmony. A friendly smile and enthusiasm are the most important qualities to bring. We also welcome those who do not want to sing, but are willing to chat or hold the hand of a home bound person. So join us by yourself or bring a friend or your family, and spread sunshine and the love of Jesus.

DEACONS
The newly reorganized Deacons will be meeting on Tuesday, March 22 from 7-8:30 in Luther Hall. If you would like to join us in prayer and devotion and in learning more about visitation and outreach to those in the congregation, join us. We are beginning a process of mutual support and skill building as we prepare ourselves for this kind of ministry. Contact Karen for further information.

WOMEN’S GROUP
This group was formed by the mothers who typically have gone to Mom’s Weekend at Calumet and wanted a chance to continue the fellowship. They have decided to meet every other month on the first Sunday. All are welcome - the group is certainly not limited to moms or to women who have gone to Calumet. The next meeting will be on Sunday, March 6 at 2:00 at Jane King’s home. Bring a snack to share.

CHOIR NOTES
Well, here we are in March, Easter is just a few weeks away. The exciting news is the organ is going to be delivered on March 7, so if all goes as planned I will be playing it on the 13th of March. It will be a thrill to fill the sanctuary with this wonderful new instrument and I am sure everyone will enjoy it. We have also decided to move the Worship Team up into the balcony for the 8:00 service. The acoustics are great and the sound will carry. It will also clear up all the instruments in front of the altar. We are also going to a different musical setting at the 8:00 service for the Sundays following Easter Sunday. It is a mix of several contemporary liturgies and is easy to sing. Also, if anyone would like to participate with the Worship Team please see me on Sunday. Choir rehearsal has been moved up to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday during Lent, all are invited to come a make a joyful noise. A Blessed Easter to All.  Warren

FLOWERS 
There are now two people on the flower committee, and we'd love to have a few more volunteer to help us with coordinating and arranging flowers and natural decorations to beautify our sanctuary.  If you would like to help in any way, please contact the church office. Please check your service bulletins in coming weeks for information on contributing for Easter flowers. The signup sheet on the whiteboard in the Narthex is the place to reserve a date for which you want to reserve the honor of dedicating the altar flowers in celebration or memoriam.  After Lent, we will have new flower fund envelopes for your flower offering, on which you can write the date you have selected and your dedication, or simply contribute what you can for the purpose of providing flowers to glorify the Creator.    Jane King 

March Theme - Easter

             "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

 Key Ideas: God sent Jesus to be our savior.

 Coming Soon!

The SMCEC Conference is being held this year on Saturday April 30th and is titled

"Preparing for the Feast: Practical Recipes for Feeding the Body and Salting the Earth"..

The Southern Maine Christian Education Conference was attended by members of Holy Cross the last two years and was a very positive experience. There are a wide variety of educational offerings that are appropriate for any and all church members and these can be viewed on their website: www.home.psouth.net/smcec.

ADDRESS REQUEST
If you have a family member serving in the military in Iraq, could you call the church office with their name and address? The Wednesday morning devotions group would like to send some notes of encouragement and support. Thank you

GRIEF AND LOSS
This support group for anyone who is experiencing a significant loss in their lives meets on the 2 and 4 Tuesday from 3:00-4:00 in Luther Hall. Grief can be experienced through death, divorce, loss of health or job, empty nest, or in many other ways. The group is open to all and you do not need to be a member of the church to come. It will meet on March 8 and 22. It is facilitated by Donna Simmons and Karen.