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MESSAGE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER
Members and friends of Holy Cross, we need your help. Have you noticed a familiar face missing on Sundays? Do you know of a shut-in or someone unable to attend services of the church? Please advise the pastor, church office or a member of the Board of Deacons. We as Deacons try to observe when someone is missing; however, with two services and many members we can miss someone.
The Deacons also develop and oversee programs of service. These would include the following:
Cradle Roll -involves keeping in touch with our young lambs up to four years old with cards and phone calls.
Soup Bowl - containers of soup in kitchen freezer, which can be taken and used by anyone in need of an emergency type meal. If you would like to donate, mark the container with type of soup, date, and place in freezer.
Prayer Shawls on hand for disbursement to those in need. Please let us know if you feel that someone would benefit from getting a Prayer Shawl. These have been knitted by members of Holy Cross. (Please contact Helen Rotvig if you have any questions regarding the Soup Bowls or Prayer Shawls.)
Nursery- The nursery during 2nd service is being staffed at present by two very capable young ladies, Emilie Brady and Alison Janiak. We do need someone to act as a support leader. If you could help to fill this position, please let us know.
Service Bank - At the present time, our Service Bank program is being updated. We try to find through the service bank someone who may be able to help with needs for a ride, to help with cleaning, and many other needs of members. So if youre alone and could use some help, or need company, or whatever, please call the church office with your need. We will try and match you up with a person in the Service Bank.
The Prayer Partner/Prayer Chain - For your prayer requests. These can be prayers of Thanksgiving, for someone in need of healing, or a need of which you may be aware. We give thanks for all of these faithful Prayer Partners who help us realize we are not alone in praying to God.
The Board of Deacons is blessed by overseeing these services that meet a need in the congregation. These needs may change from time to time, as might the service that will be provided in response to these needs changes. As our congregation grows, we can certainly use your knowledge and help. If you see or know of any need, let us know.
In closing, just a personal note. My job as chairperson has been a blessing to me. I just want to say thank you for committee members and for your effort in support of all these programs. You have all made my job easier. God's blessings, Bob Kreie, Chair, Board of Deacons
FROM THE BISHOP: AN ADVENT HUNGER
By Bishop Margaret G. Payne
(Excerpted from the November 2006 issue of "The Lutheran Link", the quarterly award-winning magazine of the New England Synod)
Advent is a time for waiting and reflection and preparation; it used to be called "the little Lent". So along with shopping and baking and the busyness of parish life, there should also be personal spiritual disciplines. One year, I decided to be serious about that expectation by fasting. It was a short, wimpy fast - just one day. But it taught me lessons that I still remember.
My first task was to decide how to do it. Who writes the rules for fasts? I've heard about taking only fruit juice and water, but I decided that any liquid would be acceptable. However - no smoothies, pureed food or alcohol. How hard could one day be?
Very hard. The day was long and under girded by a constant awareness that I wanted to eat. I felt foolish knowing that I was experiencing only the frustrated cravings of a normally well-fed person, yet the fast was on my mind and heart all day long. The desire to enjoy the taste of my favorite foods was stronger than the hunger itself and seemed almost demonic. In reaching inside myself to find the strength to keep the fast, it became a day of prayer. I had not expected that. The grumbles of my stomach became calls to prayer, as insistent as any bells would be, and I realized that the day was more about my spirit than about my body.
Advent should be a time of hungering, and a hungering body reminds us of the hungering spirit that longs to have the fullness of Christ. Are we usually so glutted with a steady diet of satisfactions and activities during Advent that we never experience any hunger that can be met only by God? Perhaps the comforts that we demand separate us from the possibility of new life that comes only after some effort and discomfort. Can our lives be renewed and transformed if we are always full of food and full of ourselves?
If we were always hungry, it would consume us in destructive ways. So we should work to remove for all people the constant physical hunger that is an enemy of the human body and spirit. But a little fast now and then might nibble away at the idols of consumption that have set up shop in our hearts and convinced us that they are simply bringers of the good life that we deserve. But if a little hunger were a visitor in our lives from time to time, might we be more likely to remember that some people hunger every day, all day, around the world? And might we also discover in our emptiness a dozing yearning for more spiritual nourishment? And might we be able to make more room for Christ?
CHOIR NOTES We have two upcoming events happening in December. On December 10 the annual Music appreciation Christmas Party will be held at the King's mansion (13 Summer St.) beginning at 4:00 p.m. Anyone who has been involved with the music at either the 8:00 or the 10:45 service is invited. Please bring a dish to share, your favorite beverage and a gift for the Yankee Swap (humorous and under $10).
On Sunday, December 17th, there is going to be a combined concert of the choirs from Holy Cross and Christ Church. The Cantata "Sing Noel" by Hal Hopson will be performed. The concert is at 6:00 p.m. A free will offering will be divided between the churches to benefit their music programs. This is a wonderful piece of music that incorporates choir and congregational participation in the familiar carols of the season. Coastal Brass will also be performing during the program. The concert will be held at Christ Church which is located at 6 Dane St. in Kennebunk. For more information you can see me after church any Sunday. Warren
MY EPIPHANY by Helen Collamati
Inevitably the last light went out when Dad went to bed. Since I knew I was the only one awake my ears were keen to listen for outside sounds and my eyes strained to see through the darkness. I would often imagine places I had heard about on the radio. I often pretended to stay the night in those places and when morning came I pretended to look for wondrous surprises in my new surroundings.
There was a night when neither sleep nor make-believe rescued me. I must have been feeling sorry for myself and lonely and abandoned by the rest of the family who had gone to sleep without me. The familiar daydreams were not entertaining and I was restless. Crying had brought relief in the past but not tonight. There was nothing, I was alone. After a while I realized I had been watching an unfamiliar glow move around my bed.
"Must be one of the girls." I thought.
I watched and waited to see how far she could carry the joke without giving it away. I didnt believe one of them would stay awake long enough to try something weird like this. However, the peaceful scene held my interest and it filled the room as more lights moved around-- first along the foot of the bed, then up one side then the other, eventually encircling the whole bed.
"Someone playing a trick on me." I told myself.
Things were getting creepy. I wondered if one of my sisters really would try to float through the air. This was real suspense. I wondered how she could move around in the dark without making a sound. Any one of my five sisters would have giggled and given away the joke or better still if I waited long enough she might crash to the floor. The floating lights seemed wispy now, like smoke curling from my grandfather's pipe. I was hooked, focused and intent on the mystery. I was taught by the nuns at school to pray in all situations so I prayed. "Dear God, This is getting scary. Can you see my goose bumps yet?"
God heard my prayer, because there came a moment of such clarity and insight when I just knew the curling lights were angels sent to be with me so I wouldn't be alone. Happiness tickled my belly. Too bad the rest of the girls slept through the show.
THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Christmas is a time of celebration, joy, and thankfulness for the birth of Gods Son, Jesus Christ. In our remembrance of the reason for the season weve cultivated many traditions as individuals, as families, and as members of a congregation. One of the traditions at this special time of year I particularly enjoy is the annual Christmas Pageant performed by the children during worship.
At that particular service not too many years ago, two very young angels dressed in white satin with wire wings and silver garland halos lead the childrens procession down the center aisle of the sanctuary. They threaded their way through the congregation holding two wooden sticks with a connecting cardboard message. As they walked in tandem which was no small feat for their tender years - they lead Mary and Joseph to the little town of Bethlehem. Behind them came the wise men in white sheet turbans carrying their special gifts and shepherds wearing tablecloth headpieces tied in place with braided curtain cords.
The story unfolds, as it often does, with the older children speaking their memorized parts while Mary and Joseph knock on the doors to the left and right of the altar only to be told there is no room in the inn. The young couple eventually finds shelter in a manger placed strategically on the steps of the altar. Our two precious angels stood watch from behind the new Christ child wrapped in swaddling bath towels. They held their wooden sticks and connecting gray cardboard banner high to the frantic gestures of their Sunday school teacher in the first pew.
Their little arms grew tired and the sign began to lower, but they stood proudly throughout the re-enactment of the Christmas Story repeatedly lifting their gray banner high at a signal from their teacher. However they never quite realized the message their teacher was trying to convey. We all smiled at the sight of our two precious angels holding up their sign backward, proclaiming to only God himself: Alleluia! Christ is Born! May your Christmas be filled with cherished memories, Donna Simmons In my Augustana Book Concern 1939 edition of Luthers Small Catechism, the third article of the Apostle'sCreed is written on page 12 in this manner:
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body;
And the Life Everlasting.
The use of semi-colons throughout and the one comma in the second line, tell me that I can read that section as The holy Christian Church, which is the Communion of Saints. That makes great sense to me since I would have a harder time explaining my belief in the Communion of Saint's as a statement all by itself.
It is interesting to see that the Lutheran "Service Book and Hymnal" of 1958 (the red hymnal) on page 5 records it basically the same way: I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian* Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen . (* Indicating an alternative use of The Holy catholic Church, as the original and generally accepted text).
The use of semi-colons and the one comma remain in use as in my 1938 Catechism.
Things changed when the Lutheran Book of Worship of 1978 (the green hymnal) was published. The third article of the creed was printed first on page 65 as follows:
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
The deviation away from semi-colons and the one comma connection between lines 2 and 3 to all commas tells me from my English grammar that the third line is no longer considered to be an apposition , explaining the prior line. (Websters definition of apposition: in grammar, the placing of a word or expression beside another so that the second explains and has the same grammatical construction as the first .)
Frankly, I feel much more sure of my confession if I can understand this part of the Apostle's the way we used it until 1978: I believe in the holy catholic Church, which is the communion of saints. I wonder which way the new hymnal of 2006 will go on this? I also wonder if any church leader ever explained why we made the change in 1978? Roger Rotvig
MESSAGE FROM THE WELCOME COMMITTEE
The Welcome Committee, a sub-committee of the Evangelism Committee, has installed holders in the pews so that we can put materials useful for members, and particularly newcomers and visitors who want to find out more about Holy Cross. They are currently stocked with a "Welcome" brochures, visitor cards, envelopes for flowers and ballpoint pens. We want these to be helpful and easy to use for newcomers, so we are keeping items to a minimum, also knowing that needs for other items to be placed there may arise. The committee will be responsible for keeping them orderly and stocked with appropriate information. If any other committee has a need to put materials in the holders, please contact Catherine Morrissette or Pastor Rich before doing so. THE PERPETUAL MISSION FUND
As indicated in an earlier Crier article the Memorial and Trust Fund Committee has been working to establish a Perpetual Mission Fund, which is an endowment fund established to enhance the work of the church through new ministries and stewardship opportunities additional to and apart from the general operation of the congregation. That task is complete.
This fund will receive only gifts so designated and will replace no other form of giving, but offer an additional manner of giving. It is assumed this fund will grow with time as only income from the principal will be used. Having this endowment fund in place will facilitate the receiving of gifts by informing donors in advance of the manner in which the gift will be held and its income used.
Guidelines for administering this fund follow:
The Memorial and Trust Fund Committee shall decide the manner of investment of principal, with any necessary consultation, and shall provide annual distributions of any income from principal. Income not distributed in any year may be held as income in the subsequent year.
The following are the maximum percentages* of support for various areas and examples of efforts in each area:
1. Up to 40% for special projects within the local area wherein the congregation resides; such as----support for Vacation Bible Camp, for Community Harvest, for local evangelism efforts, or for individuals or families in crisis.
2. Up to 40% for special ministries within the Synod; such as-----support for campus ministries, efforts to upgrade and furnish Calumet, for efforts to start new congregations across the United States, or for international scholarships to train future Lutheran church leaders of other countries.
3. Up to 40% for special ministries worldwide; such as----support for ELCA world hunger and disaster relief efforts.
4. Up to 20% for extraordinary programs/ministry initiatives within this congregation; such as----support for our missionary in China, for any individual for or commissioning in a career in the Lutheran Church ministry, or for a building /maintenance or kitchen fund (plumbing problems, stove, dishwasher problems, etc.)
(*Because the percentages reflect maximums, they do not total 100%.)
Submitted by---Larry Orme, Memorial and Trust Committee Treasurer
CHRISTMAS "GIVING TREE"
As has been our custom for the last several years, the Social Concerns Committee has partnered with the York County Shelters to provide needed items and Christmas gifts for homeless families. This year our "Giving Tree" will be "decorated" with ornaments representing seven York County families who are currently living in the York County Shelter facilities. At this season of giving please consider including some additional people on your shopping list.
Each ornament will have the age and gender of the recipient as well as one or two items needed or requested. The "ornaments" are to be taken off the tree and returned to Holy Cross attached to the items you have purchased. Please do not gift wrap your purchases. Please place all your gifts under the Giving Tree by Sunday, December 17th. The gifts will be delivered to the York County Shelters before Christmas.
Thank you in advance for caring for the poor and sharing all that God has given to you. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY YORK COUNTY NEEDS YOUR HELP
(Following is an edited excerpt from a letter written by David R. Ferguson, president, Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity York County)
There is a York County family waiting for their home. Lorie Guertin and her children, Derek and Kayla, have partnered with Habitat for a home in Shapleigh. They are eager to enjoy their first Christmas in a safe and secure home. Will you help?
There is not enough money to finish construction of this home. Time is really critical to get the family in their home before the holidays. Please consider what you might be able to send to help us finish this home. The total need is just over $35,000.
It costs $95,000-$100,000 to build a house in York County with a variety of donated materials, donated land and volunteer labor. Perhaps you could contribute $20 to purchase a gallon of paint or $56 for a sheet of drywall. Of course if you could contribute $160 for an interior door or $250 for closet shelving and bath fixtures, wed be so much closer to our goal of finishing the Guertin home. Whatever you could contribute would help.
The most important thing is that you act quickly. We need the funds for the house as soon as possible. We have only a few short weeks.
Thank you in advance for your generosity. Of course, if we are fortunate enough to receive more funds than we need for the Guertin house, we will use the funds for our next home in Parsonsfield in 2007. There are more than 1250 families in York County who need a decent place to live. With your donation, were going to reduce that by at least one.
Contributions can be sent to Habitat for Humanity York County, PO Box 267, Kennebunk, ME 04043-0267. ELCA NEWS: ABC-TV, Hallmark to Broadcast ELCA Television Specials in December
Introducing Jesus of Nazareth will air as a one-hour special on stations affiliated with the ABC television network. Managers of each station will determine the day and time of broadcast in a 60-day period beginning Dec. 3. The ELCA produced the program as part of the Mosaic Television quarterly video series by ELCA Communication Services. Recorded in Israel and the West Bank, "Introducing Jesus of Nazareth" returns to the sights and sounds of Jesus' life -- from Nazareth and Bethlehem to Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Mount of Transfiguration, and finally to Jerusalem. It features interviews with ELCA pastors across the United States. The Rev. Peter W. Marty, host of "Grace Matters," the radio ministry of the ELCA, and senior pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa, hosted "Introducing Jesus of Nazareth." In an online letter he wrote, "One of the joys of traveling to the Holy Land comes through the connection between the topography beneath one's feet and the biblical text inside one's head." Joy to the World, to be shown on the Hallmark Channel Dec. 24th at 9 am. It is a Christmas worship service produced by ELCA and includes a diverse cultural mix of worship and praise.
Davey and Goliath's Snowboard Christmas will also be shown on the Hallmark Channel. It will be broadcast at 7 am on Dec. 17th.
SHARING THE JOY
We do not sing in December as so many other activities are occurring for us and for the residents of the assisted living facilities. But we will be returning in January, singing at the Atria on January 21st at 2:00. All are welcome to join us in either singing or sharing in fellowship
YOUNG AT HEART
We will be attending the Magic of Christmas at Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, December 9th at the 11:00 performance. Please meet at church at 10:00 to carpool. It is optional to go out for lunch after the performance. See Karen for further information.
PROGRESSIVE DINNER/YANKEE SWAP
On Wednesday, December 13th, there will be a progressive dinner and Yankee Swap for the LOGOS kids (both groups) starting at 5:00 and running until 7:30. More details will be given at LOGOS.
COOKIE PROJECT
For about 5 years now, the Wednesday Morning Bible Study has been sending a box of cookies to our college students in early December, just in time for final exams. We started with a small list of students and have expanded the numbers yearly. This year we have over 20 students on our list, so we are inviting other members of the congregation to contribute cookies, brownies, and other goodies that ship well. We also welcome financial donations to cover postage. All donations can be left in the Luther Hall kitchen, clearly marked for college students, by December 6th when we will be packing and shipping. (If you have a college student in your family and have not provided an address to Karen, please do so ASAP.)
PHASE TWO OF LITURGICAL ART
When Liturgical Artist, Anita Miller, was here in October, she helped us to create the magnificent Fear Not Angel that has been hanging from the choir loft. Our thanks to all who participated. At the same time she inspired us with a vision and instructions for creating silk dyed panels for our sanctuary. On Saturday, December 30th from 10:00-12:00, we will be meeting in Luther Hall to create our specific vision for what we will be designing. All are welcome, even if you did not attend the workshop in October. This meeting will be for the purpose of visioning. The actual work will be done during January/early February with dates and times to be determined. The goal is to have this project completed for Lent. See Karen for further details.
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas
if you stop opening presents and listen.
~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby
WORSHIP RENEWAL GRANT
Last May we were awarded a $15,000 grant from the Calvin Institute of Worship Renewal with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. We are mid way through the grant year and are submitting our mid-term report. It has been exciting to have the use of non-budgeted funds to do so many projects that have contributed to worship renewal and enhancement. The July workshop on Experiential Worship with Bob Rognlien has led us to become more intentional and creative with our worship planning, including a broader spectrum of people and ideas involved in the planning process, as we seek to worship God with our hearts, souls, minds and bodies. In October we were again blessed with a second workshop led by liturgical artist, Anita Miller. The Fear Not Angel was created with Anitas guidance and some silk dying will be done this winter as phase two of liturgical art. In addition to the workshops, we have been able to purchase sound equipment and microphones, some new hymnals and other choir music, and licenses to download music.
Our final workshop on Liturgical Drama will be held on the weekend of March 23-25, led by John Steven Paul who for many years has been the head of the theater department of Valparaiso University, a pan-Lutheran college in northern Indiana. He created a student drama troupe, Soul Purpose, which has toured and performed around the country. He will be helping us to develop skills for creating liturgical drama, including a presentation on that Sunday morning. Put these dates on your calendar now.
WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
One of the commitments that you have had the opportunity to make on your Stewardship response form is to join a Bible study or growth group. One such group is the Wednesday morning Bible study held each week from 8:30-9:45. The group is currently using a study guide written by Kelly Fryer, No Experience Necessary. This study pulls together various themes of our lives as Christians, incorporates Bible lessons, and challenges us think about how to then apply those lessons and live out the life God wants for us. There is a lot of discussion and personal sharing in the group. In addition we set aside time each week to offer specific prayers for family, friends, and others who are in need of prayer. All are welcome - just come!
SHARE THE BOUNTY
Share the Bounty is a free community bean supper served on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers are needed for preparing and serving the food and to donate home made deserts (generally pies since they seem to be the most popular desert). Please, if you would like to help out, sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so we can plan on how many servers we will have and the number of deserts that will be donated. See Ann or Mike Scott or Julie Clapp if you have any questions. Thank you!!
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULEFriday, December 22nd 5:00 p.m. A Children's Christmas Sunday, December 24th
8:00 a.m. Last Sunday in Advent Service 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages (rehearsal for Christmas pageant for the children) 10:45 a.m. Christmas Pageant 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Services Sunday, December 31st8:00 a.m. Modern Lutheran Liturgy **No Sunday School** 10:45 a.m. Traditional Lutheran Liturgy
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
~ Luke 2: 10-11
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