Holy cross CONNECTIONS

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Holy cross CONNECTIONS Upcoming Events: Sunday, October 1st Youth Family Day @ Ramseyer Farms Thursday, October 19th Urban Ark Serving Date Tuesday, October 24th Young @ Heart Euchre Tournament

Fundraiser Inside this issue: HC Youth Goings On 2 Annual Altar Guild Mtg 2 Ladies Book Discussion 3 HC Crafters 3 Guys Night 3 Team Titus Outing 3 Young at Heart 3 Mom s Group 3 Girls of Grace, Jr.

1 Holy cross CONNECTIONS Upcoming Events: Sunday, October 1st Youth Family Ramseyer Farms Thursday, October 19th Urban Ark Serving Date Tuesday, October 24th Heart Euchre Tournament Saturday, Oct. 28th & Nov. 4th 6-8th grade Early Communion Class Sunday, Nov. 5th Yth. Fundraiser Inside this issue: HC Youth Goings On 2 Annual Altar Guild Mtg 2 Ladies Book Discussion 3 HC Crafters 3 Guys Night 3 Team Titus Outing 3 Young at Heart 3 Mom s Group 3 Girls of Grace, Jr. 3 Quilt Dedication 4 Hurricane Relief Fund 4 Technology Specialist 4 Tech Team 4 Night in Bethlehem 4 Stephen Ministry 4 School Mission & Ministry 5 Letter from Pastor Emil 6 Holy Cross Pics 7 Holy Cross Connections 500 Years and Counting This October marks the 500 th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. It s hard to believe that it all began when a Roman Catholic monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the front door of his church one Sunday. Luther s careful study of God s Word led him to believe that there were some serious theological problems in the Roman Catholic Church. So he wrote them down and posted them on the community bulletin board, which just so happened to be the front door of his church. First, and foremost, Luther discovered that the Bible clearly teaches that a person is made right with God and brought to salvation, purely by faith in God s act of grace in sending Jesus Christ to suffer and die on a cross in our place. Our good works do us no good before God. Furthermore, all of our human opinions and traditions are irrelevant when it comes to God s truth: The Bible is the only and faithful revelation of God s Person and His plan for our salvation. Over the years, Luther was also led to discover that the scriptures interpret themselves by means of Law and Gospel. All godly vocations are holy in God s eyes, not just professional church work. As part of the priesthood of all believers, laity and clergy alike carry out their daily duties to the glory of God and the health and wellbeing of His people. We Lutherans are not the only ones who believe, teach and confess these biblical truths. As the Reformation spread, many different denominations came to confess one or more of these same teachings. So these biblical beliefs are no longer unique to the Lutheran church, but they are all distinct in the Lutheran church. It is these core Biblical teachings and beliefs that make us Lutheran not our style of worship, governance or traditions. So this October/November, Pastor Emil and I are going to preach the following six sermons in a series on what makes us distinctly Lutheran Christians. (10/22) The Relationship among Grace, Faith and Works; (10/29) In Christ Alone; (11/5) God s Word Alone; (11/12) Law & Gospel; (11/19) To God Alone be the Glory (11/26) Vocation and Priesthood. Holy Cross University classes for our children will be covering these same basic themes each Wednesday night throughout October and November. Dave Voina will be teaching another Lutheran History class for our adults. And of course, we will all be having some fun trying to find Luther as he and his stuffed clones start popping up all over the building. I pray you will join us in reflection on just what it is that makes us Distinctly Lutheran. Your brother in Jesus, OCTOBER 2017 Pr. Kip

Holy Cross Connections Holy Cross YOUTH Goings On... Page 2 Happy Fall! The new school year is off to a great start and youth Bible study numbers are strong.

Later this month we will focus our lessons on the Reformation as our church celebrates the 500 th anniversary! Lots going on this month! Check out the dates below to mark your calendars!

2 Holy Cross Connections Holy Cross YOUTH Goings On... Page 2 Happy Fall! The new school year is off to a great start and youth Bible study numbers are strong. Keep encouraging and bringing your kids to Sunday and Wednesday nights and growing together as Christ s disciples! Later this month we will focus our lessons on the Reformation as our church celebrates the 500 th anniversary! Lots going on this month! Check out the dates below to mark your calendars! Sunday, October p.m. Youth Family Day at Ramseyer Farms in Wooster! Tickets are $12/person (no group rates). Families are welcome to attend and all attending will need to purchase your tickets in advance on their website For those not attending with families, a youth carpool will leave Holy Cross at 1 p.m. Please RSVP so we make sure we have transportation! Urban Ark serving date: Thursday, October 19 6:30-8 p.m. Sign up on youth bulletin board and let us know if you need a ride! 6-8 th grade Early Communion Class with Pastor Kip 2 consecutive Saturdays October 28 & November 4 from 9-11 a.m. Sign up on youth bulletin board. Heads up! A NEW youth fundraiser is in the works for Sunday, November 5! If you like to bowl-this is right up your alley! Stay tuned for your invitation flyer coming in your church mailbox! CRU at Stark State is going great! We meet every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. in room B101-all are welcome to join us for Bible study! We will be participating in Stark s Campus Student Activity Fair on Tuesday, October 3-stop by our table! October 6-8 is our college fall retreat weekend at Camp Burton! Please see for registration and info and spread the word! Annual Altar Guild Meeting Cookie/bakery donations are very needed and appreciated for the weekend! If you can help, please drop off your yummy creations in Lorin s office by noon on Friday, October 6! Thank you! Blessings on your month! Lorin & Your Youth Ministry Team The annual Altar Guild meeting will be Saturday, November 9:30 AM in room (A1). New faces and current members are always welcome to come to this meeting to find out what the duties of this ministry entail. All people serve with a partner. We will be discussing any and all changes that have evolved over the past year. There will be a sign-up sheet for the entire year of If you d like to be a part of this ministry, people are needed for all 3 services. If you can t attend and would like to join call Pam or Rosemarie

Holy Cross Connections Page 3 Ladies Book Discussion This month, October 10th @ 7:00 PM we will be discussing: Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall,

Holy Cross Crafters Attention Holy Cross Crafters! Please set aside the third Tuesday of the month (October( 17th) ) for making cards for the shut-ins.

Besides the card we are sending, you will also have 2 cards to take home for your own ministry. Bring $2.

M Come join us Friday, October 13th @ Dominic Fonte s house 965 Fair Oaks Avenue North Canton Event starts @ 8:00 PM with devotions starting at 9:00 PM

Dannah Gresh, the founder of Secret Keeper Girls and her husband are now creating events for young men ages 7-12.

Fathers and sons will connect in Biblical ways, enjoy a live concert, learn how to be a strategic Biblical father and have a blast together!

The Titus fathers and sons will arrange to sit together and please invite your friends! Let Craig O Briskie know if you plan to attend. 330-280-0568.

It doesn t matter if you are a novice or seasoned. The North Welcome Center/Cafe is where you want to be. This is always just good clean fun, fun, fun!

3 Holy Cross Connections Page 3 Ladies Book Discussion This month, October 7:00 PM we will be discussing: Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, ; By Winston Graham Leading the discussion will be Mary Stanley and Diane Diehl at the Youth House. Holy Cross Crafters Attention Holy Cross Crafters! Please set aside the third Tuesday of the month (October( 17th) ) for making cards for the shut-ins. Cindy Ickes will bring all the needed supplies and provide directions. Besides the card we are sending, you will also have 2 cards to take home for your own ministry. Bring $2.00 and a pair of scissors on October 7:00 PM in Room M-4. M Come join us Friday, October Dominic Fonte s house 965 Fair Oaks Avenue North Canton Event 8:00 PM with devotions starting at 9:00 PM Any questions??? Call Alex First Christian Church October 6:30 Every boy needs a man to look up to! Dannah Gresh, the founder of Secret Keeper Girls and her husband are now creating events for young men ages The Born to be Brave tour is coming to Canton! Fathers and sons will connect in Biblical ways, enjoy a live concert, learn how to be a strategic Biblical father and have a blast together! Each father and son will need to purchase their borntobebrave.brushfireapp.com. The Titus fathers and sons will arrange to sit together and please invite your friends! Let Craig O Briskie know if you plan to attend Sponsoring a EUCHRE TOURNAMENT Tuesday, October 24th We are challenging all who can play Euchre to participate in a tournament on Tuesday, October 24th. It doesn t matter if you are a novice or seasoned. The North Welcome Center/Cafe is where you want to be. This is always just good clean fun, fun, fun! Prizes??? Of course!! Salad, pizza and beverages will be served at 6:00 PM. The actual tournament will begin at 6:45 PM and last for 2 hours, after which point the sheets will be tallied and prized awarded accordingly. We need you to sign up on the sheet just outside room A-3 on the bulletin board so that we can plan for the pizza and table arrangement. Any questions, please call Mom s Group 7:00 PM October 12th at: Sarah O Briskie s House 920 Brushmore Ave. NW North Canton Come and stay as long as you need to!! Girls of Grace Jr. Who: 4th-6th Grade Girls Date: October 8th Time: 1-3:00 PM Place: Holy Cross Cafe RSVP: Taylor Ulik taylor.ulik@yahoo.com

Holy Cross Connections Page 4 Quilt Dedication October 8th Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms.

Only our Lord knows the lives they will touch. We want them to know that we care.

This relief fund will be undesignated so that it can be used in any of the areas hit hard by the recent hurricanes to assist with recovery for our LCMS churches and members.

This is the only fund that will have matching dollars. Technology Specialist Our Technology Specialist, Matt is going to be leaving us. We will again be in need of a person to replace him.

We need dedicated volunteers to man the sound board as well as to run the slides and PowerPoint presentations for the services. Some computer knowledge is required, but we will provide training.

4 Holy Cross Connections Page 4 Quilt Dedication October 8th Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 The Comfort Quilt Ministry is not about the quilts themselves. It is about the men, women and children who will receive them through Lutheran World Relief and Refuge of Hope. Only our Lord knows the lives they will touch. We want them to know that we care. HURRICANE RELIEF FUND Just a reminder that Holy Cross has set up a Hurricane Relief Fund that will collect your gift and be matched dollar for dollar up to $20,000. This relief fund will be undesignated so that it can be used in any of the areas hit hard by the recent hurricanes to assist with recovery for our LCMS churches and members. In Texas, some guidance may come from Pastor Menke s church as it is being used as a LCMS staging area. You may contribute using your offering envelope and designating Hurricane Relief Fund. This is the only fund that will have matching dollars. Technology Specialist Our Technology Specialist, Matt is going to be leaving us. We will again be in need of a person to replace him. If you know anyone who may be interested in this position, please contact Matt or Lee Zacharias at Tech Team We would like to start a Tech Team here at Holy Cross. We need dedicated volunteers to man the sound board as well as to run the slides and PowerPoint presentations for the services. Some computer knowledge is required, but we will provide training. Please contact Matt Lohrenz or Lee Night in Bethlehem is coming upon us quickly. This is our biggest community outreach event of the year. If you have an interest in acting, this is your chance! Want to be in the Rabbi Room debating the day s events? Want to tell the story as a shepherd or as the innkeeper who had to turn Mary and Joseph away? Want to be a shopkeeper in the Marketplace? How about the honor of being Mary or Joseph? Sign-up sheets are on the North Welcome Center table. Come on, everyone. This event is fun for all and it is a chance to show the joy of the Lord s coming to our guests. WE NEED YOU!! Can't Get No Satisfaction? The more you focus on the Lord and do God's work, the more satisfaction you will find. It's that simple! Are you looking for more satisfaction in your life? Consider serving our congregation as a Stephen Minister. By helping others, you will help God's kingdom grow and you will grow, too! A new training class for Stephen Ministers will be starting in March, Find out more by contacting any of our Stephen Leaders: Diane Diehl ( ), Judy Forsythe ( ), Rosemarie Millin ( ), Joe Wonsettler ( ); or Pastor Kip at Do it today!

5 Holy Cross Connections Page 5 School Mission and Ministry News School is off to a great start! New staff is settling in, returning staff is picking up where they left off, the children are bundles of energy and fun! God has certainly blessed us. We need your prayers. There are still a few openings remaining. If you know someone looking for a preschool, please have them give me a call. The two and three-year-old class is taught by Ms. Daniela Archer and her Aide, Mrs. Demetra Pirovolos. They are having a wonderful time with the children! They are all getting to know each other, learning about our classroom; trying to share; adapting to the class routine; and celebrating Jesus love for all. They are learning the class rules & safety practices. They are enjoying circle time, singing nursery rhymes, reading from their children s Bible, engaging in play, and exploring their creative side. They are growing in their confidence that mommy and daddy do come back to get them, and that time goes faster when they are having fun!! They are praying together and trusting that the Lord is always with them! Thank you for entrusting us with your children. They are precious! May the Lord bless all of you. (Ms. Daniela Archer & Mrs. Demetra Pirovolos) Mrs. Janet Eagon is the teacher in the three-year-old class. Her teacher s aide is Mrs. Patty Wallace. The year is off to a wonderful start as all of the children are making new friends and renewing old friendships from the two-year-old class. They are learning to follow directions and classroom rules by using their friendly hands, walking feet, inside voices, and listening ears! The children enjoyed making All about Me books documenting their height, favorite color, and self-portraits. They are also learning about how God created the world and made each of them special and unique! They have been introduced to the word obey and are learning to obey teachers, parents, and most importantly, God! The children are praying to give thanks for our world, animals, our families, and our school! As October begins, the children will be learning about fall and starting their color and shape books. (Mrs. Janet Eagon & Mrs. Patty Wallace) The four and five-year-old class is taught by Mrs. Teri Hockman. Her aide is Mrs. Sue Owens. They are very excited to have a student teacher with us! Her name is Lindsey Adamzyck. They have enjoyed these first weeks of teaching and fostering new friendships with the children. The children have had fun learning about each other as they share as Star of the Week. They will go through the alphabet week by week. They have already learned the letters A and B. At the same time the children have been learning about how God made the world and people. They are learning that we are God s most special creation of all and that He loves us very much! (Mrs. Teri Hockman & Mrs. Sue Owens) The Pre-Kindergarten class, taught by Mrs. Leslie Martin and her teacher s aide Mrs. Christina Jacobsen, has had a wonderful time getting to know each other. The children are adapting quickly to the schedule and the variety of centers offered each day. Each child has completed an All about Me page for a class book that will be sent home to each family. They are learning how to recognize their first and last names in print. While learning about their families, they studied the story of Ruth and God s faithfulness to provide for her family. Their study of animals and their habitats has coordinated with their study of how God made the world and everything in it. They learned about the Good Samaritan and how Jesus cares about both their little problems and their big problems. They learned that Jesus loves them all the time. Each child is such a special gift from God. Psalm 127:5 (Ms. Leslie Martin & Mrs. Christina Jacobsen) Mrs. Linsky, a member of Holy Cross Church, teaches the Kindergarten class. She has a great group of students and is excited to show them so many of God's blessings and teachings in the coming months. They are adjusting to a new classroom, schedule, teacher and friends. They have already learned God created the world in six days, and then took a day to rest. Sin made God destroy the world. However, God sent a rainbow to show His promise he would never flood the entire earth again. The children are learning that God will ALWAYS forgive them IF they ask with a sincere heart. They have learned four letters and are making and reading a few words. (Mrs. Angie Linsky) In His service, Marjorie James

6 Holy Cross Connections Page 6 Dear friends in Christ, Fall is finally upon us! I hope you are marveling at our Creator s handiwork as we see the seasons change. He sure does love this enormous, expansive universe, and everything that fills it!! He took great care to order things in such a way that they not only work together for the sustaining of the creation, but they convey a sense of awe at His creativity and the beauty with which it all comes together. Our God is truly an awesome God! Hopefully you ve had a chance to ponder the question I posed in last month s newsletter article: How can we, the Body of Christ here at Holy Cross, more faithfully GO to where the lost are located in our own community? It s a tough question, one that I ve wrestled with quite a bit. But as I ve prepared for some of the topics in our upcoming Distinctly Lutheran sermon series, I realized that the question, at least in part, is not quite as complicated as we might think. The Lutheran Doctrine of Vocation was something Martin Luther developed as he saw the church of his day emphasize the spiritual over the earthly, physical or temporal. Monks in monasteries were viewed as those most faithfully serving God. Everyone else hoped that the monks and priests prayed enough for the souls of those engaged in other more worldly pursuits. But Luther recognized that God was actually working through all of those vocations too! In fact, those works were some of the best of all as they truly served the immediate physical needs of their neighbor! When we pray give us this day our daily bread, God doesn t usually answer by making bread miraculously appear in our cupboard. He gives us a way to generate an income. We use that income at a grocery store. Someone made the car we drive to get there. Someone grows wheat and grain. The baker bakes the bread, slices it, wraps it and puts it on a truck. Someone drives that truck, unloads it, stocks the shelves and accepts our payment. God answers our prayer with parents, spouses, farmers, bakers, truck drivers, grocery store workers and folks that produce transportation. That makes these all holy callings! Or to use the theological word, vocations. What s the point? Well, actually, there are two. First, God has given us opportunities to GO every single day as we go about the business of life, caring for ourselves and our families. Whether it s the grocery store, doctor s office, gym, bank, work, the park or our neighborhood, God places people in our path every single day. The real question is whether we re paying attention. Second, just as God has given us farmers, bakers, factory and grocery store workers, spouses and parents to serve us, He has also given us special skills and abilities to help those around us. If you have parents, you learned to help around the house or yard. If you have children you can change diapers, feed people, administer medicine, comfort someone in pain and give away lots of money generously!! If you have served in some other vocation you may have special skills for serving people: number crunching, hospitality, leading, teaching, healing, listening, cooking, baking, making people laugh, planting a garden the list is endless! So, this month, let s ponder this together: What has God already equipped me to do and how can I be more aware of the opportunities around me everyday to GO? Please share your thoughts with me and your brothers and sisters in Christ. I m excited to hear how the Lord is reaching others through you! With Great Joy in Jesus, Pastor Emil

7 Holy Cross Pics Page 7 Moving a piano for an elderly gentleman...taking advantage of the opportunities around them to GO as Pr. Emil says in his article (see pg. 6!). Water balloon slingshot! Y O U T H Jaclynn...the fearless Middle School Sunday School teacher! G R O U P Our awesome teens!

Holy Cross Lutheran 7707 North Market Avenue North Canton, OH 44721 Non-Profit U.S. Postage P A I D Canton, OH Permit No.

DVDs of Sunday worship services are on the counter in the north and south hallways. Audio is on the website.

8 Holy Cross Lutheran 7707 North Market Avenue North Canton, OH Non-Profit U.S. Postage P A I D Canton, OH Permit No. 123 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED is a Christ-centered, friendly, mission-minded, Bible-based community of believers who strive to carry out ministry with integrity and excellence. DVDs of Sunday worship services are on the counter in the north and south hallways. Audio is on the website. Sunday Mornings At Holy Cross 8:00 AM Liturgy of Praise Traditional Worship 8:45 AM Majestic Praise Blended Worship 8:45 AM Adult Bible Class 10:00 AM Sunday School, Youth Bible Class, and Adult Bible Hour 11:00 AM Expressions of Praise Contemporary Worship November Newsletter Deadline Sunday, October 15 Office Phone Office FAX Preschool info@holycrossnorthcanton.com Richard Kip Smith, Senior Pastor Emil Gretarsson, Associate Pastor Ted Voss, Pastor Emeritus Dale Fjordbotten, Vicar Mr. R. Lee Zacharias Worship Ministries Coordinator Matthew Lohrenz, Technical Specialist Mrs. Lorin Zuppe Director of Youth Ministries & Children s Ministry Mrs. Vicki Zacharias, Office Manager Mrs. Katie Stiver, Soul Accounting Secretary Mrs. Rose Ann Crowder, Visitation Coordinator Mrs. Diane Diehl, Stephen Ministry Mr. Tom James, Property Manager Mrs. Marjorie James Holy Cross School Administrator

Holy Cross Connections

Holy Cross Connections Upcoming Events: Holy Cross Easter Egg Hunt April 8th @ 10:00 AM Maundy Thursday Service (NS) April 13th @ 7:00 PM Tenebrae Service (NS) April 14 @ 7:00 PM Easter Sunday April 16th 7:00 AM Traditional