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REMEMBER TO SPRING AHEAD ON APRIL 3RD!!!

SERVICE FOR CHRISTIAN HEALING
A service for Christian healing will be held on Sunday April 10th at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary. This is a brief but moving service dedicated to healing of all kinds, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental. In an informal setting communion is served, along with prayers and hymns for healing. Participants may also receive private prayer with the pastor, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil if they so desire. Friends from the wider community are also most welcome, as we draw strength from God's healing touch.

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP GROUP
This group will be meeting again on Sunday May 1st. Watch the bulletin for further details.

AIM'S REFLECTIONS
It has been a year since I began my call to Holy Cross in March 2004 as your Associate in Ministry (AIM). I am deeply grateful for all of your support and prayers for my ministry in this place. Many wonderful things have happened in the past year and I so appreciate your encouragement and care. Of course not everything has gone exactly as planned, but those times have been learning opportunities for me. I look forward to serving you in the second year of my call and I pray for God's guidance for the congregation and myself. Having been commissioned to public ministry in the ELCA, I am humbled by the scope of all that encompasses. It is not just about the "projects" that I do or the activities in which I am involved, important as they are. It is also about relationships and concern for others. It is about giving encouragement when there is discouragement and solace when there is sorrow. It is about providing vision, leadership and direction for new ventures as well as for some of those that are tried and true. It is about supporting others in what they are doing, giving guidance and assistance when needed. It is about praying, studying, and worshipping together. It is about proclaiming the Good News of salvation and the blessing of grace that we have been given. It is about asking for help from God and others, seeking to do God's will and to receive his guidance. In this season of Easter, we recall those amazing words of Mary Magdalene when she ran from the empty tomb: "I have seen the Lord!" My prayer is that each of us may find the joy that comes from having seen the Lord and that we would share that Good News with others. 
Serving you in the joy of the resurrection, Karen

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.

SMCEC Conference
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 or on the board in the Narthex.  Please sign-up if you would like to attend. Mark you calendar and plan to attend the SMCEC Conference!

CALUMET CAMPING WEEKEND
I have been assured that warm weather will come and that Calumet will once again have the best summer ever. Holy Cross will be having a weekend of camping in the Family Campground on August 5-7. Families, individuals, and youth are welcome to come, either for Saturday during the day and/or for one or two overnights. The camp offers swimming, games, pontoon boat rides, a children's playground, canoes, evening entertainment and activities, and Sunday morning worship in the outdoor chapel. On Saturday evening, the folks from Holy Cross will have a potluck together. There is no charge for a day trip. The camp is about 75 minutes from Kennebunk. An overnight is $35 per campsite per night. If you do not have a tent or camper, there are some tents available for loan from church members or you can rent one from the camp. Please sign up on the board in the Narthex. Although the sites are reserved, each family will need to call the camp to make a deposit of $35 and to provide their names and other information. See Karen for further details.

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  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.

SHARING THE JOY
We will be going to the Atria again this month on Sunday, April 17th from 3-4. Come and join us as we sing-a-long with the residents in their favorite hymns and oldies. You don't need to read music or sing in four parts! The most important thing that you can bring is a kind heart that is willing to reach out to those who live in this facility, including some folks who attend worship at Holy Cross. See Karen for further information.

Committee Planning Meeting
April 6, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, is the time for all good committee chairs to come to the aid of their church.  We will be planning the fall and early winter calendar of activities for Holy Cross.  Please plan to attend so we can coordinate with one another and avoid potential conflicts.  If you are unable to attend please send a representative from your committee.  It is very important that every committee be represented.  Bring your calendars and ideas.  Ann Scott, Council President

SMALL GROUPS
The Holy Cross Men's Group began meeting in early 2004 meeting on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 PM.  Our vision is that every man is a disciple of Jesus Christ and our goals are to be God-loving, Christ-honoring, Holy Spirit-led men.  We seek to provide the opportunity for every man to be in a discipline relationship, encouraging men to be servant leaders in the church, in the community and at home strengthening our families by being role models and protectors in the home.  We also try to reach out to un-churched and non-Christian men with the love of Christ. The small group provides fellowship, studies of a broad range of biblically based topics, and prayer.  Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  We are here to be "sharpeners" for one another. We are passionate to see men fall deeply in love with Jesus and be encouraged in their walk with Him.  There always is an extra chair available and we encourage any man to join us. If you sense a desire to participate with the men's group, or if you would like more information, please contact Rob Olson or Pastor Rich Horner.

THE PASCHAL CANDLE
The Worship Committee has decided to observe the tradition of using a beeswax paschal candle in place of the mechanical one we've used for many years.  The candle is decorated with an Alpha and Omega, symbolizing that Christ is the beginning and the end.  The numerals for the current year are placed on the candle to symbolize that Christ is with us now as always.  The five wax nails pressed into the candle represent the five wounds of Christ at his crucifixion.  Throughout the fifty days of Easter, the paschal candle traditionally stands near the altar as a symbol of the resurrection. It is lighted for each liturgy during the great fifty days of Easter. (Easter is not over until Pentecost, the fiftieth day!)   After the Day of Pentecost, the paschal candle is placed on its stand near the baptismal font as a visual reminder that in our baptism, we are crucified and resurrected with Christ. The candle is lighted at each celebration of Baptism, at which time small baptismal candles are lighted from it for presentation to the baptized or sponsor. This act is a visual reminder of the integral connection between Baptism and Easter. For funerals, the paschal candle is lighted and placed in its stand at the head of the casket during the funeral rite. In a visual way, the paschal candle visually proclaims the message of Romans 6:3-5 (used at the beginning of the burial liturgy): "In our Baptism we have already died and been raised with Christ." The paschal candle is of substantial size, in keeping with its important symbolism, even the stand in which it rests is of great size.  The Easter proclamation sings the glories of the candle, for it is "fed by the melting wax which the bees, your servants, have made for the substance of this candle." Therefore, the candle should made be of wax, and the height of the candle should visibly diminish throughout the season and year.  This information was taken from the ELCA web site (see the LINKS page) where you can read much more about paschal candles and many other aspects of the liturgy and worship traditions.

SERVICE BANK
You may have recently seen those yellow bulletin inserts asking you to volunteer for the Service Bank. Thank you to all who signed up and to all who were already volunteering and willing to continue to do so. Please note that these volunteers are ready and willing to serve the people of Holy Cross and our communities. Our Service Bank volunteers are willing to provide meals, walk dogs, provide respite for a caretaker of someone ill or elderly, provide a few hours of child care, run errands for someone who is homebound, check in on someone who has no family nearby, help with simple yard or housework. We even have people who are able to help with finances, do carpentry, read newspapers or books, consult about health matters, do blood pressure screenings, and cut nails and hair. If you would like to help or if you need help, please contact the church office or Karen.

FLOWER GUILD
The newly formed Flower Guild now has three members, and we'd love for more to join us.  We will be meeting on a monthly basis, starting in April.  A Flower Fund is being established for donations to provide flowers for the altar every Sunday, even when there are no specific dedications.   Envelopes for flowers are in the pews and on the whiteboard in the Narthex.   If you'd like to help out with altar flowers, or donate vases to beautify our sanctuary, please call me.    Jane King

HOUSEKEEPING
At the last Church Council meeting, a number of "housekeeping" items came up for discussion and we would like to pass them on to the congregation.

Lights: It has been noticed on several occasions that the lights have been left on both at the church and at LSH. Sometimes it is brighter when people are leaving than when they arrive (such as on Sunday morning) so it is difficult to see that the lights are on. If you are the last one to leave either building, please double check to make sure that ALL the lights are off.

Doors: Along the same lines, on a number of occasions, the doors have been left unlocked or open in both the church and LSH. If you are the last one to leave, please be sure to check all the doors to make sure they are locked and firmly latched. The door leading to the front parking lot especially needs to be checked since it has a tendency not to shut all the way.

Copier: We have officially gone over our contract for the number of copies we are allowed per year (the contract runs from April to April). As of the end of February, we are now being charged $.03 a copy until the new contract takes effect. In order to better keep track of copy usage and to budget for it, there is a sign up sheet on the top of the copier. When making a copy, please note your name, which committee/group you are copying for and the number of copies. We will need this information so we can properly budget for next year.

Thank you for your help and cooperation in these matters!!   The Church Council

Note from the Treasurer: I have spoken to an electrician and confirmed it on the CMP website and it is more cost effective to leave fluorescent lights on then to turn them off and then back on. Please leave the lights on in Luther Hall and in the kitchen on Sunday morning. The last person leaving church can turn them all off. Thank you!! Julie Clapp

CHOIR NOTES
This past Easter season certainly brought in some significant changes in our worship experience. The installation of the new organ in March has greatly improved the liturgical music at Holy Cross. I am thrilled to be a part of it and the organ is magnificent. I would like to thank all of those who helped in the removal of the old and the installation of the new; we could not have accomplished this successful organ transplant without you. We saved approximately $1500.00 by removing the organ ourselves. Thanks to Roger Rotvig for all of his dismantling expertise, he is a wonder with a skill saw. Please come up to the choir loft after services and take a look at this instrument and the expert installation of the speaker system. I would also like to thank Holy Cross Choir for their dedication and for their wonderful singing voices. The Palm Sunday cantata was beautiful and performed brilliantly. Thanks to all soloists and musicians who made this Lent and Easter season a memorable first season for me. I look forward to many more. There will be a dedicatory concert for the organ sometime in May. A formal announcement will be made soon.  Christ is risen indeed! Warren

COOL School Update
April Theme - The Lord's Prayer Bible verse - Luke 11:1  Bible background: Matthew 6:5-15;  Luke 11:1-13

             "Lord, teach us to pray."

Key Ideas:    Jesus teaches us to pray. God promises to hear our prayers.

YOUTH SUNDAY
We will again be welcoming our youth as worship leaders on Sunday, May 1st. They will present special music, read the lessons, perform a skit, lead prayers and assist with Communion. Join us in supporting the young people in our congregation and in thanking them for their participation in our worship. Rehearsal: A rehearsal for 4th-12th grade youth who are participating in Youth Sunday will be held in the sanctuary Saturday, April 30th, from 10-11. Anyone participating in the skit will be asked to stay until 11:30. Younger children will rehearse during Sunday School and will not need to come on the 30th.

LOGOS 1st-3rd GRADE
The leaders of the Logos program are exploring the possibility of expanding Logos to children in 1st-3rd grade, beginning next fall. We will be having a simple luncheon and meeting after second service on May 1st for all families in this age group. The purpose of the meeting is to present some basic information about the LOGOS program and to get the input of parents. Childcare will be provided during the meeting. Contact Deidre DAddeo or Karen for further information.

THANKSGIVING: are God's healing power in the life of Susan Ayer

Comfort: For the families of those who have died recently: Don Anderson, Don Barnes, Zachary Scott, Helen Victor

Those serving overseas in the Military:
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.

GRIEF AND LOSS
This ongoing group for anyone experiencing grief or loss has been meeting twice monthly for over a year. It has been a blessing to approximately ten people who have attended at one time or another, in addition to Donna Simmons and Karen, co-facilitators. Attendance has diminished in the past couple of months and currently no one is coming on a regular basis. We have decided to suspend the group for now, with the commitment that we would hold the group again should the need present itself. We have notified those folks who have attended recently. For everyone who has supported and prayed for the group, we express our gratitude. Karen and Donna