Lift Lift High the Cross; the Love of Christ Proclaim! April 2021 April 2021

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. INSIDE this issue He has risen; he is not here. - Mark 16:6 2 ~ April Lessons To say it has been a difficult time for our world 2 ~ Altar Flower Sponsors lately would be a gross understatement. Apart 3 ~ Church News from the pandemic, the social chaos has been amazing, with 3 ~ Holy Week Schedule many of the things people have taken for granted since the dawn 4 ~ Family News of time now being called into question. What is right? What is 5 ~ You’re invited! 6 ~ Church Council wrong? How can I be a good person? What is really stable 7 ~ Contact Us enough to base my life on? It is, perhaps, for this reason that God in Christ took on our human nature and actually entered history. God had always spoken to His people, even when He needed to exile them from the bliss He originally intended for them because of their sin. But for Calendar of Events can God to show up, to live as one of us, to “tabernacle among be found on the church us” (John 1:14) as John’s Gospel puts it, that is radical, and not website under “Church Life - Calendar of to be ignored. Events” It is also the foundation of our faith; it is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in history that is the basis of Christian faith, not our feelings, our personal experiences, or “what we believe is true.” The resurrection of Christ is a fact, and as one current

April Altar Flower public figure puts it bluntly and truthfully, “Facts don’t care sponsorships are about your feelings.” still available. Thanks be to God! For the resurrection of Je- see page 2 sus, not our always-changing feelings, is some- thing stable enough to base our lives on.

MARCH COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS… • There will be no Sunrise Service this Easter. • Crosswords will return on a monthly basis. • We are seeing a weekly deficit in giving. • Dinner and a Movie is being planned for October 30, 2021. Details on page 6

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.HOLYCROSSNAZARETH.ORG

April Altar Flower Sponsors... APRIL LESSONS April 4 Steve & Debbie Treon in honor of grandson Caleb’s 4th Birthday. Tammy Trexler-Andrew April 4 Easter April 11 Isaiah 25:6-9 Randy & Deb Letterhouse in memory of Theresa & Al Matusick, Psalm 16 and Terry Letterhouse. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ONE SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE Gospel: Mark 16:1-8

April 18 Cindy Denker in memory of David Reed. ONE SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE April 11 2nd Sunday of Easter April 25 Acts 4:32-35 Marie Silfies in memory of Dennis Silfies. Psalm 148:1-14 ONE SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE. 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31 Please see the binder in the Narthex, or contact the Church Office to sponsor fresh Altar flowers. Two sponsors are sought for each Sunday of the year at a cost of $20 per April 18 sponsorship. Please consider sponsoring Altar flowers in 3rd Sunday of Easter memory of someone, or in honor of a special occasion. Acts 3:11-21 Payment can be submitted in a Designated Gift Envelope. Psalm 4:1-8 1 John 3:1-7 Sponsors can pick up their flowers by the Monday after their Luke 24:36-49 sponsorship date. Any flowers left after Monday will be used for

sick & shut-in visits.

April 25 4th Sunday of Easter Acts 4:1-12 The Upper Room daily devotional guide provides a practi- Psalm 23:1-6 cal way to listen to scripture, connect with believers around 1 John 3:16-24 the world, and spend time with God each day. You can John 10:11-18 spend time with God and receive encouragement for your faith journey through meditations that have been written by readers from all around the world. Each devotion includes a suggested Bible passage, a personal story relating the message of the scripture to daily life, a thought for the day, a prayer, and a prayer focus. Strengthen your faith and deepen your relationship with God through this devotional magazine. Copies of the MARCH/APRIL Upper Room are available in the Narthex.

The Lord’s Work Continues... Don’t forget that the mission of the Church to spread the good news about Jesus continues while we can- not gather. Support that work by sending in your tithe, clicking the link below, or scanning the code to the right with your smart phone. https://holycrossnazareth.org/support

Holy Week Schedule….

April 1~ Maundy Thursday 12:00pm & 7:00pm ~ Service of Holy Communion

April 2~ Good Friday 12:00pm Vigil for Christ’s Suffering 7:00pm Service of Darkness

April 3 ~ Holy Saturday 11:00am ~ Easter Basket Blessing

April 4~ The Resurrection of Our Lord 8:00am & 9:30am ~ Worship with Holy Communion All Services Are Live-Streamed

Thank you to everyone who ordered Easter Flowers for yourselves to adorn the There is still time to return your Altar, and for our sick and shut-in Lenten Giving Envelopes. members. If you ordered flowers for All monies collected will be yourself, they can be taken with you donated to the Bath Food Bank. from the Altar after any of the Easter Your giving to our neighbors in need Sunday services, or contact the church office to make arrangements to pick them up the week of is deeply appreciated! April 5th.

Time with your Church Family! Sunday Fellowship is an extremely important time in our life together; it is when we get to know each other and become family to one another. We are happy to announce that Fellowship time will resume weekly, after both services, beginning Sunday, April 11. At this time, only coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be served. Committees chairs will be contacted to organize set up and clean up.

We hope you can join us for Christian friendship with your Church family!

WOMEN OF ABUNDANCE Submitted by Michele Verdi Women of Abundance will open with a celebration meeting on May 22. I hope you can all attend. It will be a great way to reclaim our purpose!

This n’ That...

PRAYER LIST GUIDELINES While we want to accommodate all prayer requests, we ask that you request the per- Payton Keblish; Gerald Knauss. Sr.; Owen mission of people before adding their Roth; Kimberly Kryman; Carolyn Metzgar; names to the monthly Printed Prayer List. Kristi Yotter; Deborah Durnin; Caleb Prosoco; An updated copy of the Printed Prayer List Evan Werkheiser; Dahlia Grube; Ryan Hu- will be available in the Narthex on the first dock; Keith Greene; Janet Catina; James Sunday of every Month, or contact the Craig; Cindy Denker; Diana Diefenderfer; Lily church office to have one sent to you.. Kunsman; Pauline Winter; Timothy Bryan; Lori Ravitsky; Christopher Petersen; Bode Schoeneberger; Jane Altemose; Elton Herrick Friends and family members can also be VI; Colleen Greene; Dianne Halteman; John added to the Verbal Prayer List, which is Abbott; Alicia Minnich; Raymond Piatt. spoken during Sunday and Wednesday worship services.

Please fill out a yellow Prayer Request form for ALL prayer requests, or contact the Church Office at 610-759-7363. Raymond & Lisa Piatt; Dale & Sandra Trach; Monica & Franklin Stein; Ronald & Diane Short; Cheryl & Garry Shafer; Shawn & Jackie Fernsler. The Daycare is currently hiring Full-time and Part-time Assis- tant Teachers. You must be 18 years of age, or older. Must have all background checks, or be willing to obtain them. Experience in child care is preferred, but not mandatory. If you are interested, submit your resume to [email protected]. Thank you!

Would you like to place an article Shop smile.amazon.com, in the monthly newsletter? Highlight your ministry? Post a Thank You? and Amazon will do- Make an announcement? nate .5% of eligible pur- chases to Holy Cross. Deadline for the May Newsletter is April 15. EARLY SUBMISSIONS ARE APPRECIATED! Same products, same prices, and same services as the Amazon you You may email your submissions to know, and no fees or extra costs! Visit: [email protected] https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-1857380 or call the Church Office. and thanks for supporting Holy Cross!

You are invited! to Whispers of God’s Love I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. - Isaiah 43:1

Women of the Atlantic Mission Region All-Day Retreat

When? In-Person on Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 9:30AM—3:30 PM (Registration and refreshments begin at 9 AM. The retreat will commence at 9:30 AM. Beverages and snacks will be provided in the morning. Lunch is included!)

Where? Zoar Evangelical Lutheran Church 560 Freeport Road Lebanon, PA 17046

How much? $20 per person You may register online at https://atlanticmissionregionnalc.regfox.com/amr-womens-retreat Registration information is also available on the AMR website at www.atlantic-nalc.org.

What? Come and have fellowship, Bible study, and small group discussion with other women from around our Region as we hear God whispering to us, His beloved daughters.

Who? Members of the planning team will help lead small group discussions, including Amy Werner, the WNALC facilitator for our Region.

Registration Deadline is April 19, 2021

COVID protocols (masks, distancing, and sanitation) will be in place for this event.

Local hotel rooms will be available if you choose to travel on Friday. Please see the hotel information sheet that is included in the registration packet.

Contact Robin Harris at 717-222-7472 or [email protected] for more information.

Meeting HIGHLIGHTS for Property: Heater in church office is not adequate. March 10, 2021 Suggestion made to cover existing unit with an in- sulated box to eliminate cold air from infiltrating COMPLETE Church Council Minutes are posted on through the wall unit. A light pole was damaged the board in the Narthex. Attachments are filed in during snow removal. Sanitizer is causing a build- the church office with the originals. up on the pews. Council to continue to monitor with *The meeting minutes summarized here are pend- the understanding that refinishing the pews may be ing Council approval at next month’s meeting.* inevitable. Minor maintenance items are being Nine members were present. logged in a binder for willing congregation members Absent: Diane Dickison, Cooper Marotta, Steve to resolve. Snow removal bills have been paid; will Rissmiller. seek reimbursement for 50% from Daycare, as pre- GUEST: Pastor Jenkins. viously agreed.

The Treasurer’s report was accepted and ap- Spiritual Growth: Prayer Group with Confirmands proved. Pastor’s Health & Disability were reviewed and Council Members is receiving positive feed- and confirmed correct based on timing of the entry. back. Discussion regarding a shortfall in offerings. Need Worship Arts/Music Ministry: Holy Week planning to continue to take our safety protocols seriously is underway. and encourage in-person service, and online giving. Youth Group: Movie viewing and socializing went Discussed starting up fundraising, possibly a stew- well. ardship program. Council agreed to a quarterly let- Old Business: Articles of Incorporation are com- ter to the congregation. Pastor was excused to re- plete. Currently applying for new tax exemption. view his compensation package increase. Council approved, and Pastor was informed and praised for New Business: None. his efforts. Other Business: None.

Meeting adjourned at 9:08 pm. Office Secretary Notes: Fire Extinguisher inspec- tion scheduled for March 15, 2021. HVAC spring The next regular meeting is scheduled maintenance scheduled for March 30, 2021. WEDNESDAY, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. Any Church member is welcome attend. The Pastor’s report was accepted and approved. Discussed plan for Easter services. Council agreed Please do not hesitate to contact a council that 8:00 and 9:30 am services are adequate. We member with any questions or concerns. will not be conducting a sunrise service. NALC is piloting an online advertising campaign-discussion . was inconclusive. Home News Easter advertising approved. The church will donate outdated stream- ing camera and hardware to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Birdsboro, PA in exchange for a donation of their choosing. Pastor shared his thoughts on the use of his discretionary fund. 37 people partici- pated in the AMR Theological Conference on Feb- ruary 11. Plans for a bike blessing are being pur- sued. Choir mics have arrived so that our choirs’ The following items are posted singing can be heard online. Mics for congrega- On the Bulletin Board in the Narthex: tional singing have been installed. • March 2021 Church Council Minutes Committee Reports: • February 2021 Treasurer’s Report Mutual Ministry: Daycare Director job being post- • April 2021 Church Calendar ed. Nicole to interview for the permanent position in lieu of the interim title. Reviews of the entire staff are being planned. Council requested copies of minutes from Day Care to Mutual Ministry. 6 Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMC/NALC)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMC/NALC) is to respond to the Love of God shown most fully to us in the great gift of his Son Jesus Christ. We engage in five ministry areas – WORSHIP, WITNESS, LEARNING, SERVICE, and SUPPORT – to boldly confess Christ as our Lord and Savior.

2021 Church Council Our Staff

Pastor: Rev. Brett Jenkins, STS A.J. Arfanella 717-903-0521 [email protected] Lynne Auger 484-634-1347 Cindy Denker 610-597-1436 Office Hours ~ Tuesday 10-1; or by appointment Diane Dickison 570-977-3638 Deacon Michael Grube Paul Grube, Jr. 610-570-2474 Cooper Marotta 484-538-6716 Director of Worship Arts: Bethany Randall Stephen Rissmiller 610-428-4592 Ray Scuderi 914-582-6133 Traditional Music Worship Leader: Ben Watson Steve Treon 610-814-5826

Church Secretary: Kris Sterner Michele Verdi 570-807-6393 Jesse Way 484-330-1263 [email protected] Office Hours: M/T/F ~ 9 a.m.-1 p.m; Th ~ 1-6 p.m. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFFICE IS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS Congregational Sexton: Kerry Livermore Officers

Day Care Director: Nicole Miller President ~ Paul Grube, Jr. [email protected] Phone ~ 610-759-8761 Vice President ~ Jesse Way

Website ~ holycrossdaycare.com Secretary ~ A.J. Arfanella

Treasurers ~ Darren Landro and Cindy Denker

Financial Secretary ~ Jaime Roth Our Church

Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church 696 Johnson Road Nazareth, PA 18064-8828

Phone ~ 610-759-7363 WORSHIP SCHEDULE Fax ~ 610-759-3431 Website ~ holycrossnazareth.org Sunday: LCMC website ~ www.lcmc.com NALC website ~ the nalc.org 8:00 am ~ Traditional Liturgy 9:30 am ~ Informal Worship (Holy Communion 1st Sunday)

Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 pm with Holy Communion