Holy Cross Monthly Newsletter - March, 2009

Lent is Here!
T
he mid-week worship services of Lent runs through Wednesday, April 1. During Lent we hold special Wednesday services that focus on the depth of our sin and the depth of Jesus’ suffering for our sin. This year’s Lenten theme is: "Father, Forgive Them."

Here is the Wednesday Schedule:

Holy Week is Coming!
D
uring Holy Week we set aside special time to ponder our Lord’s death and resurrection. Mark your calendar for these dates and times:

Identity Theft?
T
hursday, March 19 at 10 am
S
enior citizens are particularly targeted by identity theft artists. We want to help keep you safe! The Senior Ministry Committee is sponsoring a speaker from AARP, who will present a program, "Identity Fraud." A brunch will follow the presentation. Watch the Senior Ministry bulletin board for a sign-up sheet. All are welcome! Bring a friend!

Meditation Booklets
W
e encourage all of our members to have daily devotions at home. If you would like, please pick up a copy of a devotion booklet called, "Meditations," available in the church lobby area. These daily devotions break Sunday’s Bible readings into little sections and spend 5 minutes a day studying them.

LYA Convention
W
ed., July 22 – Mon., July 27
T
he LYA (Lutheran Youth Association) Convention this year will be in Seattle, Washington. The convention is for youth who are currently in 8th grade or high school. A bus will leave Holy Cross on Wednesday morning and return on Monday evening. The cost will be available soon. This is an excellent opportunity for our youth to have a faith building experience and meet ELS youth from around the nation! Please encourage your child to attend!

Trivia Contest
S
aturday, March 28 at 6:30 pm
E
njoy a night of Trivia fun here at Holy Cross! We’ll get you on a team and you’ll have a great opportunity to have some good Christian fellowship and fun… or bring a team of your own! The cost is $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Checks should be made payable to "Holy Cross PTO." Questions? Call Diane or Dave at 241-8112 or ddkrszjz@yahoo.com.

Camp Indianhead
S
unday – Friday, July 12-17
Camp Indianhead has left many of our youth with memories that will last a lifetime. It’s a week in the summer, away from home, with other youth from ELS congregations in Wisconsin and Iowa. Camp is a week packed with fun, fellowship, Bible Study, swimming, boating, campfire songs and more. Registration for camp is $220 ($180 for Holy Cross members.) Please watch the Sunday bulletins for registration forms, or call the church office.

Ladies Aid
T
hursday, March 5 at 1 pm
A
ll women of Holy Cross are welcome to be a part of Ladies Aid! We have Bible Study, fellowship and a program. We also help to support various congregational and synodical efforts. This month’s program will be a presentation and food sampling provided by "My Menu," a store that sells pre-made meal items and desserts. Hostesses this month are Carol Dodson and Judy Hahn.

Upcoming Senior Ministry Events!

Special Acts-February

Baptisms
Delaney Louise Collyard 2/8
Brian Leroy Balzano 2/22
Guinevere Clara Dettmers 2/22

Funerals
Nancy "Neva" Prey 2/13

Special Gifts-February

Vehicle Donations
J
esus Cares Ministries (to the developmentally disabled) will accept drivable, running vehicles with no maximum mileage limit. Other forms of transportation or equipment (such as motorcycles, 4-wheelers, camper, etc.,) can also be donated. Contact the Jesus Cares Ministries Office toll-free at 877-503-3675.

New Seminary Program
A proposal from the seminary has been accepted by the Board of Regents for the establishment of a degree of Master of Arts in Lutheran Theological Studies (MA). This MA is designed for laity, enabling recognition of general competence in Lutheran biblical and doctrinal theology. For more information on this, please contact the seminary president, Gaylin Schmeling.

News from WELS
President John Moldstad, of the ELS, included the following in his most recent newsletter to pastors, indicating that it may be of special interest to the members of our synod:

In a recent e-newsletter, President Mark Schroeder from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod reported on items from a Conference of Presidents (COP) meeting on January 10-14. A number of items were discussed. The following may be of particular interest to members of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod, since we are in doctrinal fellowship with the WELS:

Doctrine and practice
One of the most important roles of the COP is to oversee doctrine (what we believe and teach) and practice (what we do in applying our beliefs). When it met, the COP had a lengthy discussion about the importance of retaining our unity in both areas.

Some congregations, in a desire to reach as many people as possible with the gospel, have been considering some new and different approaches and methods, especially in the areas of worship and outreach. Cautions and concerns have been voiced about some of these trends. Expressing the commitment to maintain our synod's faithfulness to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, the COP concluded that "the underpinnings of 'non-traditional' type of worship cannot be ignored" and that we need to be careful to "walk the 'narrow Lutheran road' between legalism—and ignoring and failing to admonish where practices are contrary to or dangerous to the principles of gospel proclamation and the efficacy of the means of grace."

As a result of this concern, the COP resolved that "an ad hoc committee be convened in consultation with the [COP] doctrine committee that can . . . address this issue and produce a study document that can be shared with circuits and also congregations for study and careful evaluation of practices in worship, sacraments, outreach, organization, music selection, etc."

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