Holy Cross Lutheran Church

As many of you know, I traveled recently to visit my daughter Jenna, who is an exchange student this year. My wife Barbara, my son Drew, and I flew from Boston to Cologne, Germany, where we spent two days. Then the three of us, along with Jenna, traveled to Paris for several days. Then it was back to Cologne, from which we also traveled about 45 minutes to Aachen, Germany where Jenna attends school, with another side trip just across the border from Aachen to Kerkrade, the Netherlands where Jenna lives with her host family.

The time spent with our daughter was very special, since she has been gone since September 2007. Meeting her host parents and two host sisters was also a delightful experience -- their hospitality was gracious, and the conversation around the dinner table was lively (sometimes in English, which I understood, sometimes in German, which I didn't). And seeing a little bit of Europe for the first time in my life was tremendous.

One of the most pronounced emotions I experienced throughout the trip, was a persistent feeling of gratitude. I felt so blessed to be able to share such a special time with my family. I was grateful that Jenna was placed with host parents and sisters who genuinely care for her. I was thankful for safety as we spent a good deal of time in planes and on trains. (One train we took was delayed because of an accident that had occurred with an earlier train on that same track!) I so appreciated the good health I enjoy, which enabled the many miles of walking we did.

An accompanying emotion, was that of awe. At times it was hard to believe I was really, truly in another country. Some of the sights we saw were absolutely breathtaking -- particularly the massive and ornate Cathedral in Cologne, the Eiffel Tower lighted up at night, and the incredibly beautiful works of art in the Louvre Museum. Imagining the centuries of history in that part of the world was also mind boggling (work on the Cologne Cathedral began over 750 years ago!)

I'm glad for the chance I had recently to travel. Maybe you've had a similar opportunity. A time when feelings of gratitude and awe were quite pronounced.

Fortunately, though, such feelings need not be limited to time spent in some far off or exotic locale. God's blessings are abundant every day of our lives -- wherever we may be, whatever we may be doing. God blessing us with loving family members, friends we can count on, work that is rewarding, good health, safety, plentiful food and clean water, a comfortable home, a caring community of fellow Christians and the freedom to gather in Jesus' name -- to mention just a few.

Maybe we lose sight, at times, as to the richness and variety of the blessings we enjoy from God's gracious hands -- the awesomeness of God in pouring out goodness upon His beloved children. My prayer for each of us, is the development of a deep seated and abiding gratitude for all God has done, is doing, and will do on our behalf.

The children and youth at Holy Cross are such a wonderful part of our congregation. You can see them everywhere! Babies and toddlers are always a joy. During the Children’s Message the children capture our hearts with their wisdom and humor. The Sunday School and Logos youth are always appreciated when they sing or participate in worship leadership in some other way. Please check out the stone altar built by the Logos youth on the grassy area between Lord Street House and the back of the Sanctuary. They will also be baking Communion bread for the congregation. Some of our high school youth have recently been trained to participate in worship leadership by reading lessons or serving as a Worship Assistant. Some of them also serve as ushers or greeters. At the end of June, the youth will take over the church for a week during Vacation Bible Camp. Their energy and vitality brings freshness and hope for all of us. Please join me in prayers of thanksgiving for all of our youth, and for their friends who often come along. May God guide and protect them and may we as a congregation continue to provide care and nurturing for them. Karen

Having moved to Maine from Iowa last April, I am one of the “new kids on the block” at Holy Cross. I grew up on a farm and went to country school for 8 years, neither, of which I would trade for the world! My parents instilled in my two sisters and me, at an early age, that “many hands make light work!”

One of my least favorite chores on the farm was gathering eggs, but my parents were wise in that we all had to take turns doing that chore, including them. We gathered eggs daily, and if anyone has had the thrill of doing that, you know that when you enter the chicken house, there are feathers everywhere and bird droppings, and a lot of times, when you reach under a hen to see if she is sitting on an egg, she would peck at your hand, plus there was the possibility that the silly rooster would start chasing you! Saturdays were different in that after gathering the eggs, our family would start an assembly line in the kitchen – 1 person would wash the eggs very carefully so they would not crack, - another would dry the eggs, - another would place the clean eggs in egg cartoons, and another would count the total number of eggs. The following Saturday, we would all tackle a different step so this chore would not get boring. After the eggs were all counted, we would all spruce up, hop in our 1949 green Chevy and head for the town of Manson to sell the eggs. To reward us for a job well done, sometimes our parents would surprise us and head to the big city of Fort Dodge to do some shopping! Because all of us helped with this least favorite chore, and took turns with all the steps, the job got done much faster and we had fun doing it.

The same principle applies to the church. It takes many hands to keep the church vibrant and functioning smoothly. If you have never volunteered on a committee, or the Bean Supper held on the first Saturday of each month, or helped at the various workshops for the Blueberry Festival, which is coming up in August, give it a try. It is a great way to become better acquainted with the members of Holy Cross, to embrace all their God-given talents, to enjoy fellowship and develop life-long friendships. Plus with the Bean Supper, it provides an opportunity to meet the greater community of Kennebunk and Wells, especially the two group home of adults that come every month and to embrace their enthusiasm of singing in the microphone to a song Art Morrissette is playing on his guitar! It is also heartwarming to see more youth involved with scripture reading, leading in prayers, acolyting, helping serve at the bean supper, playing their musical instruments, and singing solos at our worship services!

Take a risk – get involved and you will be richly rewarded. It is a wonderful way to “give back” to the church and to God for His ultimate sacrifice – dying on the cross to save our souls. Remember – Many Hands Make Light Work – Share your God-given talents and let’s keep Holy Cross a vibrant, active church with everyone chipping in! Shalom – Karen Lienhard

Thirty-five years ago I wasn’t much of a Christian. Like so many young men of that era, I paid lip service to my faith which I honored more in the breach than in reality. I was in short a Christmas and Easter kind of guy. A natal Catholic, I had abandoned that faith and wandering in the void outside the pale seemed to be my lot. As a way of reminding you to send in your reservation for our 35th anniversary dinner, I thought I would share why Holy Cross Lutheran will always be so important to me.

Not so with Ann, who as a born Lutheran had never lost her need for and reliance on regular worship. After a few false starts at churches in Bangor and Portland, we ended up at Holy Cross. We were warmly greeted, invited to lunch by members, even with our four small children. The pastor, Rev. Coragan, took an interest in our lives. We had come home. Ann was admitted into membership along with the children. About a year later, I too, officially joined, reaffirming my baptismal faith before the assembled congregation.

My guess is that each of you has a story about how God found you at Holy Cross. The evening of May 23rd, the The Colony House, Rt. 1 in Wells will be a chance for each of us to share our memories of Holy Cross and our friends with one another. But it shouldn’t be just a chance to look back with Pastors Haugie and Coragan. It can be a chance look ahead with Pastor Horner and AIM Indorf.

Just as I was found by the gentle caring of the community of Holy Cross, so too there are others in York county who need the love of Christ in their lives. My life was changed eternally by Holy Cross. What a great opportunity exists in today’s world for you and me to reach out, serving as God’s instruments, to bring His saving word to our friends and neighbors.

Forgive me for the ‘preachiness’. It is just that I can not think of this community without feelings of humble thanksgiving that it was through your efforts that I found Christ in my life.

NOTE: The reservation card for the dinner that arrived with the invitation letter had the wrong date on it. It said “May 21st” and not “May 23rd”. The dinner is on Friday, May 23rd.

God shows Himself to us in His creation. Keeping our grounds attractive is a tribute to Him, a gift of peace and beauty to our neighborhood, and simply responsible stewardship of our little piece of the planet. Not only that, the grounds at Holy Cross provide flowers and greens for the altar throughout the year.

Spring is back -- after the snowiest winter in a long time! Our poor gardens suffered from the weight of all the icy snow, resulting in broken shrubs everywhere. Now is the time to prune those broken branches, before the leaves hide them and make it difficult to see where to cut. For those who have taken responsibility for a portion of our church grounds, please take a good look at your area soon, to determine what you might need to prune and clean up. The plot plan showing responsibilities for separate areas is on the board in the Narthex. Areas with caretakers are colored green, but there are still white areas that could use someone to "adopt" them and take responsibility for either improving their looks, or just maintaining them neatly. Lawn mowing will be done for you. And, if you feel you've already given enough effort to grounds care, please don't feel shy about removing or crossing out your name on the plot plan, so someone else can take over that area.

I have a personal story of God's grace in the garden to share. I love gardening, both vegetables and flowers. Where others may play tennis or run a marathon or just go bike riding, there is no outdoor activity I would rather be involved in than getting dirty and sweaty in the garden, planting flowers and shrubs for beauty, raising food, and pruning woody plants into healthful and attractive forms, while simultaneously relieving plenty of stress! So, it was very difficult for me when I developed a painful neuropathy in my knee last year, severely impinging on my ability to walk, stand, or kneel. I could only helplessly watch as the snow melted from the big perennial bed I had begun developing the year before, and see what green things grew there. Astonishingly, in between the few daylilies and hostas I had planted before, grew a profusion of lovely "volunteers." Where the earth had been bare, violets filled in profusion, both white and blue. They surrounded red and pink achilleas, cool blue globe thistles and larkspur, and cheerful gold black-eyed susans that had somehow chosen there to grow. I was utterly unable to weed, so things just kept growing. Lupine seeds I had tossed in before Christmas produced delightful heads of rosy florets. Evening primrose, goldenrod, and Queen Anne's lace came later in the summer, followed by asters large and small, white, blue, and pink. I could never have planned, let alone planted, the glorious garden I enjoyed last summer, thanks to the grace of God. There were even so many new perennials that my husband has very kindly moved a number of them to new territory this year, expanding the garden that I know will be beautiful, whether or not I can personally work it. Thanks be to God! Jane King

Meet New Friends, Make Amazing Crafts, Eat Wacky Snacks, Mind Blowing Adventures, Hyperspeed Games, Incredible Music, and Explosive Experiments!

Do you have some time to share? Are you interested in learning about Jesus in our everyday lives? We are looking for folks to help in this years VBC, June 22 (after late service for set up), and then June 23 thru June 27 (for VBC itself). We need Group Leaders, Crafters, Snack Makers (and eaters too!), Decorators, and Cleaner-uppers! Can't make the whole week? That's OK too! Come by when you can and we'll put you to work!

Also, next month (June), we will be posting a list of hope and dreams for this years VBC!

For more information, Please contact Tammy Krampetz. Please leave a message and phone number where you can be reached. Thanks!

On Sunday, April 20th we welcomed the following new members to our congregation. Take time to greet them and get to know them.

DEB CHENEY loves to sing and has joined our music leadership team at both the Saturday Service and the 8:00 Sunday Service. She works as a professional aquarist at New England Aquarium Services. She loves boating, fishing, diving and snorkeling. She is also an animal and fish lover and has a dog, three cats and nine aquariums!

FRED DIEHL is the father of two children ages 6 and 18 months. He works in accounting at GWI. After moving to Maine from Middletown NY, he settled in York. He greatly enjoys having fun with his children and also likes music, teaching himself how to play the guitar.

BRIDGETTE HOPPE is Fred’s mother and she also moved here from Middletown NY where she retired from real estate. Originally from Germany, she lives in Wells. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her two grandchildren in York and visiting two other grandchildren in Michigan.

DON WILLIAMS moved to Kennebunk from Schenectady NY where he had retired as a cost accountant at GE. He volunteered as a fireman and for Habitat for Humanity, and his church’s finance committee. He came here to live close to his daughter. He regularly visits his wife who lives in the Pavilion, a residential facility in Sanford. Don has been helping us to collate our newsletter and he likes working outdoors.

Beginning Sunday, May 4th, a four week study in the Book of Acts will be undertaken in Luther Hall during the Adult Education hour.

Acts is part 2 of a two –fold work, Luke-Acts, written by the same person, probably a Doctor named Luke who accompanied Paul on some of his later journeys. Written to explain the rise and expansion of Christianity to a prominent Greek, Theophilus, it is the most complete and reliable record possible.

The name of the Book, “The Acts if the Apostles” was ascribed to the manuscript about a century after it coming into common use. “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” would have been a better name since the Apostles fade away early in the record and a whole new cast of characters comes onto the scene.

The issues that changed as the primary personalities changed will be the heart of the study. Roger Rotvig will lead the 4 sessions. A complete syllabus will be available at the end of the course.

I am in the process of gathering the names of all who are willing to assist with leading worship, either on Saturday and/or Sunday. This group would include current first and second Worship Assistants on Sundays. It would also include those who have been assisting on Saturday with the reading of scripture, leading prayers, and assisting with Communion. If you are interested in being a part of this group of worship leaders, please let me know by the end of May. Thank you. Karen

GRIEF AND LOSS GROUP

Holy Cross will be hosting a support group for anyone in the congregation or community who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Healing the pain of loss is different for everyone and can sometimes take a long time. But for anyone who needs support and caring, a small group can be helpful. We will be meeting on each Thursday in May from 5:00 to 6:00 in Luther Hall, except for May 15th when we will meet at 4:30 downstairs so that those who wish to join in a meal at Harvest Cafe can do so. Please register with the church office or speak with Karen or Donna Simmons who will be co-facilitating the group.

We will be having a picnic supper for all who attend the Saturday Service on June 14th at 6:15, after the service. This will be a chance to share a meal and celebrate God's many blessings that have come to us through this Saturday worship service.

Every year at the June Synod Assembly, Lutheran Social Services collects supplies to help those who are living in one of their residential programs or are being resettled as immigrants. If you would like to donate from the following list, one of the bins in the Narthex has been designated for this purpose. We will take your donations to Synod Assembly on June 5th. Requested this year: Ultra-concentrated laundry detergent (the kind in the smaller jugs); new twin bed sheet sets; bath towels; cleaning supplies; trash bags.

The New England Synod is sponsoring a series of Saturday assemblies throughout New England this spring. On May 17th, one will be held at Holy Trinity in Newington, NH from 10-3. Bishop Payne will be present and has this to say: "This is an excellent opportunity for members who cannot usually attend synod assembly to experience the wider church, for the ministry of the baptized to be honored and strengthened, and for specific requests for resources and workshops to be fulfilled. We are aware of a hunger for theological study and resources for personal and congregational ministry among the baptized in our congregations. We hope that these events will support congregational ministry and our entire church by providing another opportunity to support and equip all the saints for ministry." Pastor and Karen will be attending and we encourage you to join us.

BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

Social Concerns will be sponsoring its second annual Blueberry Festival on August 9th to benefit world and local hunger. A work day will be held on Saturday, May 31st from 9-1 in Luther Hall, lunch included. Join us as we make all sorts of arts and crafts that will be sold at the festival. Come with your ideas and supplies or just show up to learn a new skill or lend a helping hand. To learn more, contact Linda Gaidimus, Jenny Gallo, Cathy Norwood, Sharon Lantigua, Ruth Bentley, or Joe Hakanson or sign up in the Narthex.

After several years of service, Julie Clapp has resigned as Treasurer of Holy Cross. We are in need of a new Treasurer since Julie, having resigned, is still doing the job as Treasurer but would like to be able to concentrate on her other duties at church. The ideal candidate should have a knowledge of computers and, preferably, Quickbooks. Training will be provided. If you feel you are called to serve the church in this very important position, please see Pastor, Mike Scott, Barbara Weldon-Morin or Julie Clapp. Thank you!

Just a reminder that there are designated spots for handicapped parking in the Storer Street lot. Please be courteous and only use these spots if you are handicapped, especially on Sundays or during other major events. Some of our handicapped folks have been unable to find parking nearby on Sunday mornings. Thank You!

From the Pastor …