HOLY CROSS WORD Words of News, Information, Humor and Inspiration from Holy Cross
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The HOLY CROSS WORD Words of news, information, humor and inspiration from Holy Cross JUNE 2014 “Share the Hope” VOL. LVII, NO. 10 FROM P.E.W. TO PEW JUNE 25 Do you know what’s in that document you signed off on when you downloaded that last app for your iPhone? Did you read all the fine print on the mortgage you signed? On the sales agreement for that new car? Read the Declaration of Independence lately? The Constitution? Do you know what’s in those documents? Really? June 25 is a rather important date for Lutheran Christians, though I would venture to guess that 99 out of a hundred would have no idea as to why. It was on that date in the year 1530 that Christian Beyer, Chancellor of Saxony, read a document before Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, that was intended to make clear to the Emperor that the Evangelicals (as they were known) were not to be lumped together with other opponents of the Church of Rome. The document, known today as The Augsburg Confession, emphasized not the differences from Rome but the agreements with Rome. What The Augsburg Confession intended was to declare that the Evangelicals (the Lutherans) had not departed from what the Christian Church had always believed and taught. They, in fact, had no desire for schism – only reformation. It may surprise many that this chief doctrinal statement of Lutheranism was not written by Martin Luther, but by his colleague Philip Melanchthon. Asked by the Elector of Saxony, John the Steadfast, to prepare a comprehensive statement of faith, Melanchthon composed a confession that was supposed to serve as a clear statement of the historic Christian Faith that would also serve as a proposal for true unity in the Church. Most of you reading this, by virtue of your membership in Holy Cross, are Lutheran Christians. Do you have any idea what that means, what that entails? What do we believe? Does it make a difference? I, of course, think it does – for two reasons. First, The Augsburg Confession grounds us in the historic Christian Faith. By virtue of what we “believe, teach, and confess,” we are truly a part of the “one, holy, catholic (Christian), and apostolic Church.” The fifth- century saint, Vincent of Lerins, laid down a simple three-fold test of catholicity in a document entitled, Commonitorium: “what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.” The Augsburg Confession expresses teachings that are faithful to what was handed down from Christ and the Apostles, “what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.” Lutheran Christians are in accord with this tradition. We are no sect. In fact, we are not really a denomination. We are a part of the Church. Secondly, The Augsburg Confession makes it clear that what is paramount is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. To quote Article IV: “It is also taught among us that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God by our own merits, works, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ’s sake, through faith, when we believe that Christ suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness, as Paul says in Romans 3:21-26 and 4:5.” What is it you believe? What is it we believe? “What has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.” Not sure what that is? Why not set aside some time on June 25 and read what was presented on that date 484 years ago? I think you will be glad you did. You can find it at: www.lcms.org/lutheranconfessions Happy reading! And I’ll… See You in Worship, Pastor Emil Witschy 2 Like us on Facebook! Are you on Facebook? Tuesday, June 3 Did you know your church, 5:00 p.m. – Holy Cross serves Community Supper Holy Cross Lutheran, has a at St. John’s Episcopal-Bridgeport Facebook page? After you “Like” us, you’ll see postings Thursday, June 12 of upcoming events, pictures 7:00 p.m. – Board of Directors’ meeting from events and other notices. Saturday, June 14 – Flag Day Sunday, June 15 – Father’s Day Sunday, June 22 9:00 a.m. – Pastor Witschy leads his final Service at Holy Cross. Following the Service, there will be a “farewell” for Pastor and Amy MAKING A DIFFERENCE Monday-Friday, August 11-15 Words by Charles H. 9:00 a.m. – Vacation Bible School Spurgeon, 19th-century British preacher “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when the forget-me- nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble. ---Reprinted with permission from The Newsletter Newsletter © 2014 HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER NOTES 5995 Main Street, Trumbull, CT 06611 Our next deadline is… Office Phone: 203-268-4555; Pastor’s Study Phone: 203-268-7555 The next issue of The Holy Cross Pastor’s E-mail: [email protected] Word is a combined July/August Church Office E-mail: [email protected] FAX: 203-268-5499 edition. The deadline for all Website: www.holycrosstrumbull.org Christian Preschool Phone: 203-268-6471 E-mail: [email protected] articles is Parsonage: 6025 Main Street, Trumbull, CT 06611 Phone: 203-268-1722 Sunday, June 15. Worship Services – Sunday: 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.; Monday: 7:00 p.m. You can submit SPECIAL WORSHIP NOTE: articles for Sundays, between May 25 and Labor Day weekend: 9:00 a.m. inclusion in the newsletter mailbox, located outside the church office, PASTOR: Emil A. Witschy or send them via e-mail to: MUSIC DIRECTOR: Michael J. Gilbertson BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ PRESIDENT: Kerry Geffert [email protected]. BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ VICE-PRESIDENT: Michele Van Wart BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ SECRETARY: Jeannie Mones Unless you have a lengthy article, BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ TREASURER: Greg Dowling we encourage you to use the NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Pastor Emil A. Witschy “Information Form,” located in a NEWSLETTER MANAGING EDITOR: Cliff Schrock NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION: Mary Schrock box on the narthex table. You may use this form to submit details for MISSION STATEMENT upcoming events, the “We Are The mission of Holy Cross congregation is to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord Family” and “Thank You” columns, (Matthew 28:18-20). We will share the love and forgiveness of Our Lord Jesus Christ with one and other short items. After filling another, our community and the whole world so that we can take part in the joyous privilege of it out (please sign your name), put “making disciples of all nations” through the power of the preaching and teaching the Word of it in the newsletter mailbox. God, administering His Sacraments, and joining together in service fellowship according to the confessional standard of the Lutheran Church (Article III). 3 PRESIDENT’S JOURNAL Attend our church’s big day June 22; pray for our Call Committee’s efforts There are two things I want you to remember: 1. June 22. Have you marked your calendar to attend Pastor Witschy’s final Sunday leading our worship? And schedule time to stay for the celebration of Pastor and Amy’s service that follows immediately. 2. If you understand one thing about our call process for a new minister, I hope it is this: We believe that through prayer the call process is guided by the Holy Spirit. Thus, despite the anxiety we naturally feel, we can receive comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work guiding our work. I am very pleased to announce the names of members who have agreed to serve on the Call Committee: Diane Dietman, Jon Halls, Kendra Norman, Matt Rentz, Cliff Schrock and D.j. Senft. Michele Van Wart, as Vice President of the Board of Directors, chairs the committee. This group of individuals has already met and is considering methods for eliciting your thoughts in our first task – completion of the self-study. I ask that you keep them in your prayers, and answer their requests for thoughtful input. At this time I can also provide some information regarding our pastoral leadership beginning July 1. Rev. Robert Beinke, Third Vice President of the LCMS New England District and pastor of St. Peter’s in Norwalk, has been appointed our Vacancy Pastor. In this role, Rev. Beinke will schedule our guest preachers during our vacancy as well as provide pastoral care for our congregation – visiting shut-ins, coordinating confirmation classes, officiating special services, etc. Should you require pastoral care during the vacancy period, please make one of the following contacts and Rev. Beinke will be notified: --the Church Office—203-268-7555 (Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) --Kerry Geffert—203-925-8341 (after church-office hours) --Pat Deloge, Head Shepherd—203-261-9434 (after church-office hours) Updates will continue to be published in the newsletter and the Sunday bulletin. You can also contact me at [email protected] or 203-925-8341. Please remember that the vacancy period refers to our pastor, not your attendance. Don’t let our pews be vacant! Now, what were the two things I wanted you to remember? ---KERRY GEFFERT Holy Cross President Call Process Flow Chart •Where are we? Self Study Where do we want to go? WORSHIP REMINDERS •Our expectations Job Description Our Sunday Worship Service time for the •From congregation and District Nominations summer months is 9 a.m.