January News and Updates

Adult Inquirers Class Beginning January 6

Do you want to learn more about the Christian faith?

Pastor Nickel will be teaching a 5-week “Adult Inquirers” class on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 pm beginning January 6th. We will meet in the conference room of the Holy Cross Christian Center (next door). The class is intended for prospective new adult members of Holy Cross, adults who may have been baptized but not yet confirmed, Holy Cross members wishing a “refresher” of confirmation class, and anyone in the community inquiring about the Lutheran understanding of the basic Christian faith.  We will focus on the 6 chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism (the Ten Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and Confession & Absolution).  This class offers an informal setting to discuss and ask questions about what we believe, as we grow in faith together, as well as a chance to meet some new people at Holy Cross outside of Sunday morning.

Christmas Decoration Take-Down

On Sunday, January 10th after 11:00 worship, we will be taking down the Christmas decorations in the narthex, sanctuary, and K-hall. You can help make a difference. We will provide pizza and refreshments for our volunteers. Thank you for serving.

Council Update

Thanks to all who were able to attend our December’s Voters meeting.  For those who couldn’t attend, here is a brief summary of the highlights of this meeting.  (Actual numbers and detailed minutes will be distributed by the Church Secretary and are available upon request.  This is meant to be a brief summary.)

First, financially, Holy Cross has been blessed with a year where both giving exceeded our expectations and expenses were less than anticipated.  This has lead us to make a couple of recommendations that were approved at this meeting.  First, the congregation is able to fully cover the moving expenses the Nickel family incurred when they came here from St. Louis.  (The actual moving expenses exceeded the amount offered in the Call document by approximately $6K.)   Also, our capital improvements, as reflected in the building budget, were all completed on time and under budget.  This has inspired us to make some functional improvements to the Narthex in 2016.  Look for some more casual seating and some new technology to greet our members and visitors in 2016. All of this has lead us to propose returning our benevolence tithing to 13% in 2016.  We will also revisit what organizations we are giving to, why and how much we share.  Our 2016 benevolences will be equal to or greater than 2015, but look for a proposal for 2017 at our June 2016 Voters Meeting.  It should be noted that as part of our long range planning, our Building Budget is being kept with a 5 year view in an effort to help us be prepared to avoid any unexpected surprises.

In other news, we have noticed a decline in our youth, both in numbers and in participation.  We first noticed this during Pastor Rozelle’s tenure. We have been unable to reverse this trend with internal changes, and because of that, we have earmarked $8K in 2016 to help us retain the services of a part time youth coordinator.  We are not really sure what this person or position will look like, but we first needed your to allocate this money. With your votes we approved this new position. Look for more information on our progress in 2016.

Lastly, our 2016 budget was approved and the following members were elected to serve on the 2016 Council.  Please feel free to reach out to any of them for more information with any questions or concerns, (or compliments ).

Thanks for your continued support!

Updated list of mission managers/liaisons:

Visitation Care

If you are or will be hospitalized or homebound and desire Christian care from the Holy Cross staff, please phone the church office at 634-2332 and/or email holycrossclarence@gmail.com

to let us know. Please do not assume that we know your situation because for many reasons we often don’t.
We will do our best to visit you, and if homebound, see that you receive communion.

Women’s Bible Study Group

The Women’s Bible Study Group meets most Tuesdays in the conference room of HCCC. We like to begin our social time at 9:30am with a study begin time of 9:45- around 11am.  We are lay-lead, as members volunteer each week to facilitate a particular lesson.  Members also volunteer to bring “goodies” from their kitchen to go with our coffee.

In January, we begin a 10 week study on the Lifeguide Bible Study called:  SERVICE: Ministry with Heart and Hands by R. Paul Stevens. From the series description, he stresses: “Family. Creation. The city. Neighbors. Church.  These studies explore Biblical examples of service in many spheres of life that were motivated by imagination, passion, faith, hope and love. You will discover that whoever you are, you are a full-time minister of Jesus Christ called to serve wholeheartedly.”

On January 5th, our first lesson will be on “Caring for Creation” (Adam and Eve) with the text from Genesis 1:26-2:15.

On the19th we will explore about “Witnessing About Jesus” (The Samaritan Woman) with text from John 4:1-42.

“Building Up the People of God” (Priscilla and Aquila) from Acts 18: 18-28 is our study for the 26th of January.

We invite women of all ages to join us for an in depth study hour with lots of sharing and fellowship.  The coffee pot is on and we always have sweet treats to accompany it! So join us anytime you are able!

Heritage House

Sunday, January 24, at 10 a.m. will be our first 2016 visit with our friends at the Heritage Home.  We will welcome in the New Year with a revisit of the Bible story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2, moving onto the visit of the wise men from Matthew.  A simple craft, a heartfelt prayer, and songs praise to our Lord will be the order of the hour we are there.  The residents are welcoming as is the staff.  You are invited to go for a visit and still be in time for church worship.

~Ron, Margaret & Alfreida

Financial Giving Statements

Happy New Year!

2015 Year End Financial Giving Statements will be in your church mailbox beginning January 3rd.

Please pick them up to save the church a stamp. Everyone should have a mailbox so if you don’t see yours please let me know and I will make you one. Any questions please email me at ssnebrooks@gmail.com or call 636-4858. God bless you in this New Year!
Thank you,
Susan Brooks, Financial Secretary

Dash’s Receipts

Our mighty mini mission did it again! We continue to receive checks from Dash’s so please keep saving and sharing those receipts. Thanks to everyone who faithfully brings in their receipts and to Lorraine Woodman for doing the tallying. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Jill Carl

LWML News

The collection for  LWML mites totaled $154.53. Thanks to everyone who faithfully fills up the mite boxes with change. These boxes are in the Narthex. It doesn’t take long to fill up a box with spare change. I will collect them again in March or April.  If you fill them before then, just drop them in my mailbox. Announcements from LWML are posted in Krampitz Hall.
Thank you, Nancy Herdic