Holy Cross

Herald

From Pastor tim’s Desk ~ December 2017

“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son

of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matthew 21:9)

December begins the Season of Advent and leads us to the celebration of Jesus’ virgin birth. It

may seem strange to open this article with a reading from Scripture that shares with us the events

of Jesus riding into Jerusalem right before His crucifixion and resurrection. Yet, this is the event

which is at the heart of the Sundays in Advent.

Most people think of the Sundays in Advent as a time to prepare for the birth of Jesus,

celebrated on Christmas. Yet, Advent, as the first Sundays of the Church Year, is a time to focus

upon Jesus coming on the last day. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which

simply means “coming.” In other words, Advent is a time in which we should prepare our hearts

and minds for the return of Christ on the last day of this world’s existence. The season of Advent

Volume 39, Issue 12

December 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

1.) Article by Pastor Tim.

2.) Photos and Happenings

3.) Calendar of Events

4.) Information on up-

coming events.

5.) Church Council Minutes

6.) Puzzles and Games

can be traced back to the 5th

century as the church of that time used Advent as a solemn occasion

to repent and focus on the “Good News” that Jesus will return to gather His people. The above

text from the Gospel of St. Matthew is the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem as the people

shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!” This will be our joyful cry when Jesus returns at the end of time to take

us, body and soul, to heaven for eternity.

The centrality of God’s Word, His plan of salvation, for all people is found in the cross. Jesus

rides into Jerusalem; He is proclaimed “King.” He is betrayed, unjustly tried and sentenced to

death, dies on the cross, and rises from the dead as our King over sin, Satan, and death! All of

this, Jesus does for us! It seems that at times, we forget this centrality of God’s Word. We want

to focus not on eternity; but, our focus is on the here and now.

As Christians we do not “live for the day;” we should want to live for the eternal promise

fulfilled for us in the person of Jesus! We will never find a true and lasting comfort in this world.

We can gather around us all the stuff of this world: friend, family, and possessions; but, they

ultimately will let us down. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has never, nor will He ever, let us

down. Jesus has won the war against sin on the cross, He dies in our place and God the Father

accepted His sacrifice in our place. Now, with anticipation, we wait for that final day when He

returns. The first hymn in our hymnal is: “The Advent of Our King.” When it was written it was

intended to be a hymn for the beginning of the Church Year; the first hymn in the hymnal. The

hymn is based upon Luke 19:28-40. This hymn recounts for us that Jesus has come “To set His

servants free.” We rise to meet our lowly King and despise not the peace He comes to bring.

Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, enters into our hearts and adorns us with His love and

peace. This power of the Holy Spirit comes to us in Word and Sacrament. When the love of

Jesus’ death on the cross reaches our hearts the grace of God is revealed and we know that we

are the sheep of our great Shepherd, Jesus.

Let this season of Advent remind us all that Jesus has won the battle of sin, Satan, and death;

He will return to claim us as His people. He claims us forever: today and for eternity! This joy

does, indeed, make Christmas a time of celebration because the “Word became flesh!” (John 1:14)

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we know Him; or, better yet, He knows us! The

created things of this world are only temporary; Christ’s love for us is eternal. Because His love

for us is eternal, we, too, shall live eternally with Him.

The peace of Jesus returning to call us to heaven, alone, users in the joy of Christmas. Let your

hearts be comforted at the Advent of our King!

In the love of Jesus, Pastor Tim

Phoebe

Joe and Jiebing are having a girl!

We are having a shower for baby Phoebe on December 10th after service in

the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited! Baby registry is at Target.

What a good turn out!

Tabitha Guild’s

Annual Soup

Luncheon & Dessert

Auction.

Have you ever not seen Glenda

Eimers with a smile on her face?

Dessert auction time!

Fall Retreat at Quartz Mountain Lodge on November 4, 2017.

Great minds, working together and bringing ideas to the table.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 Cookie Sale

3 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Communion Service 5:00 pm Cub Scout’s Meeting

4

5

6 6:00 pm Advent Dinner Advent Service 7:00 pm

7 6:00 pm Learning Center Staff Meeting 7:00 pm Boy Scout’s Meeting

8

9 Men’s Group 9:00 am

10 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service 1:00 pm Bennett Baby Shower 5:00 pm Cub Scout’s Meeting

11 6:00 pm Neighborhood Watch meeting

12 5:30 pm Elder’s Meeting Tabitha Guild Christmas party 6pm

13 6:00 pm Advent Dinner Advent Service 7pm 7:30 pm Church Council Meeting

14 7:00 pm Boy Scout’s Meeting

15 16

17 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Communion Service 5:00 pm Cub Scout’s Meeting 6PM Caroling

18 7:00 pm Pat Tucker’s Night Owls

19 7:00 pm Tabitha Guild Meeting

20 6:00 pm Advent Dinner Advent Service 7:00 pm

21 7:00 pm Boy Scout’s Meeting

22 23

24 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service 7:00 pm Candlelight/Communion Service 11:00 pm Candlelight/communion Service

25 10:30 am Communion Service

26

27 5:00 pm Fellowship Dinner 6:00pm Wesley Moffett Bible Study

28

29 30

31 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Communion Service

The Prayer Blanket

Ministry did it again! They

gave more blankets to the

Cancer Center at CCMH.

That makes over 100

blankets going to

someone in need.

Great job, Ladies!

Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise

Cornelius & Lynn Stewart

Celebrate 36 years on December 19th

Billy & Nancy Nash

Celebrate 59 years on December 20th

James & Laura Price

Celebrate 14 years on December 22nd

Mark & Jennifer Ellis

December 23rd

Jennifer Green / December 1

st

Griffin Layeski / December 14th

Richard Moore / December 12th

Gavin Price / December 22nd

Dennis Meyer / December 24th

If you are interested in a group ski trip sign up on

the board in the narthex. This is not a

commitment. We just need an idea of all who

might go. Bring your friends. They don’t have to be

a member to go. It’s not too late to join in on the

fun.

Lutheran Hour Radio Program

Sunday/8:00 am

101.1 FM

Sunday, December 24, 2017

10:30 am / Worship Service

7:00 pm / Candlelight/Communion Service

11:00 pm / Candlelight/Communion Service

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Council Meeting Minutes

November 8, 2017

Meeting was called to order at 7:32 pm.

Invocation by Pastor Tim was given followed a

request from the Cub Scout Leader, Jim Zazueta.

Mr. Zazueta has informed council that girls will

be accepted into the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts

as of August 2018. He asks the church’s

approval in letting this particular troop continue

as being chartered by Holy Cross due to these

circumstances. Stephan Ellis recommended we

put off voting until further research can be

conducted as to the policy of LCMS. Council

members agreed and vote will be put off until

the next meeting. October 11 minutes were

accepted after adding that VBS would be

excluded from the request of Background

Checks from Sunday School teachers and

babysitters.

Reports:

Pastor: Personal: Pastor has only 6 weeks left of

Chemo and is doing well.

Congregational Activities: Pastor attended the

District Conference in Lawton at St. John’s

Church. Pastor also attended the Fall Retreat at

Quartz Mountain on Saturday, October 4th.

There is a circuit meeting in Chickasha this

week which he will probably not attend. Pastor

conducted 5 hospital visits and gave one

Communion (outside of church). There are three

confirmands in total. Two meet with Pastor on

Wednesday at 4pm. While one meets with

Pastor every other Saturday.

Education: No report.

Elders: Regular scheduled meeting is next

week, November 14th. Stephan visited with

Christa Thiessen in the hospital and took a

Prayer Blanket to her. She was very happy to

receive it and a visit from an Elder. All holiday

services are almost all covered.

Evangelism: Family Promise has Debby

concerned because of lack of interest from the

congregation to help with overnight stays and

meals and wonders how to draw more interest.

The next Family Promise week will be

December17th thru December 24th.

Learning Center: Board of Directors-Linda

Hillard (Executive Director), Sarah Head, Joe

Diaz, Shandel Martinez, Rachel McGlothlin,

Rosemary Templeton, Carolyn Pulley.

Enrollment: The center is currently licensed for

60 and has an enrollment of 50. Out of that 50, 5

are church members. There are no children on

the waiting list.

Items Purchased: Gym Phone-$25.00, Internet-

$20.00, Coffee, Tea, Lemonade, Paper goods

and cleaning supplies-$166.00, Guardian

Security-$90.00, Maintenance man-$1,237.29.

The total for October is: $1,538.29. The total for

the year to date: $9,754.99.

Business: Two children were added to

enrollment. The Learning Center will be closed

on Thanksgiving Day and the day after. The

annual Christmas program will be December 12

at 5:30 pm with a meal to follow in the gym.

The playground was vandalized sometime

Sunday November 5th, in the afternoon.

Stewardship: We have 84 families with an

envelope number that received a letter from the

Stewardship Drive. Only 29 have tithed. A

second notice was also sent out. This is the

lowest response in the 3 years Fred has been

running the Stewardship drive. Fred will make

an announcement after Service this Sunday.

Tabitha Guild: At the Tabitha Guild’s meeting

on October 17th, Pastor Tim led us in a Bible

study on the 75th anniversary of the LWML.

Debbie informed us that Family Promise will

once again be at the church the week of Oct.

22nd

and we agreed to provide the meal for

Tuesday evening, Oct. 24th. Preparations were

also finalized for both the raffle of the

“Christmas” wall-hanging donated by Lee Diaz

and for the Soup Luncheon/Dessert Auction on

Nov. 5th. Ongoing plans were also discussed

regarding the 2018 Oklahoma State LWML

Convention that will be held here in Lawton

next April. We agreed to donate $100 to the

Convention’s “Hospitality Committee” toward

the costs of items to be included in welcome

bags to be given to all attendees. Several of our

ladies volunteered to bake brownies for the

Reformation Service which is to be held at

Messiah Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City on

Oct. 29th, celebrating the 500

th Anniversary of

the Reformation. Our Christmas party will be

December 12th. Our next meeting is Nov. 14th at

7 p.m. when we will have a presentation from

Virginia Hatcher, Executive Director of the

Armed Services YMCA. We encourage &

invite all the ladies of the congregation to join us

at our next meeting.

Treasurer: General Fund Balance as of October

31 is $18,544.03. The Capital Improvement fund

is $37,411.02, and the Uncommitted Capital

Improvement fund is $17,014.82.

We are currently doing “OK”, but we are still

spending more than we are taking in. During the

holidays this should improve due to extra

services.

Financial Secretary: Things are good for now

and we are still ahead for now. Things in

December should improve.

Trustees: The trustees installed a new flush

valve in the women’s bathroom in the Parish

Hall. New flood lights were installed outside of

church. They continue to explore fixes to water

drainage problem in the basement. The annual

cleanup in will be November 18th from 9 am to

12pm.

Old Business: No old business was discussed.

New Business: Budget Committee meeting was

scheduled for December 6th at 8:00pm, after

Advent service. The date was also set for the

church vote on next year’s budget for January 7th

after service. Advent meals schedule was

decided with the Tabitha Guild serving on

November 29th. The Elders have agreed to take

the December 6th Advent meal. Council will

provide the meal for December 13, with the

Grundmanns bringing brisket. Shirleen will

bring potato salad, Fred will bring bread, Angela

will bring cucumber salad and Debby will bring

broccoli salad and Carolyn will bring a dessert.

The last Advent meal will be provided by the

Youth Group. The elders will discuss how to

protect all in attendance against a mass shooter

in light of recent events. Because the playground

was vandalized, the Trustees will look into

cameras for around the church and get a quote.

Shirleen made a motion to empower Angela, to

reimburse up to $127.00 for materials to the

Prayer Blanket Ministry. Jonith seconded the

motion and it was passed. Angela would like to

set a date for the baby shower for Joe & Jiebing

Bennett. We will discuss when is good for them

and decide. Fred Rowzee motioned to close the

meeting and motion was seconded by Stephan

Ellis. Meeting adjourned with the LORD’s Prayer

at 9:12 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Ellis

Join us for Caroling on December 17th at

6pm. We will meet at the church and

share our joy and many blessings of

Christmas by singing to shut ins, Nursing

homes, etc.

This year’s program is

December 17th during

service followed by

refreshments after

wards in the fellowship

hall.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

2105 NW 38th

St.

Lawton, Ok 73505

The giver Many Christian families struggle with what role — if any — Santa Claus should play in their Christmas celebrations. No matter what you decide, it’s fascinating to know the history of the real-life St. Nicholas. Born about 270 A.D., Nicholas was a bishop in Myra, or modern-day Turkey. In the year 325, he was part of the Council of Nicaea, which produced the Nicene Creed. Nicholas, known for his generosity, often gave away his money anonymously. According to tradition, he secretly provided dowries for the three daughters of a bankrupt merchant. Nicholas threw two bags of gold through open windows and placed the third in a stocking hanging by the fireplace to dry. Thus began the Christmas tradition of placing gifts in stockings. St. Nicholas is quoted as saying, “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”