In This Issue: Pastor Doug

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1 In This Issue: Special Worship Services Page 2 Dan s Commentary Page 3 Dinner Auction Page 3 Sunday Adult Education Page 4 New Member Class Page 4 Midweek Programs Page 5 Midweek Bible Studies Page 5 Children s Ministries Page 6 Easter Encounter Page 6 Vacation Bible School Page 6 Prayer Opportunity Page 6 School News Page 7 Progressive Dinner Page 7 Honduras Mission Page 7 Service Ministries Page 8 Food Pantry Stats Page 8 Endowment Fund Page 8 LWML Page 9 Youth News Page 9 Ministry News Page 9-10 Young at Heart Page 10 Pastor Doug

2 Holy Week Schedule 2

3 AN S OMMENTARY ON DUCATION I'm sick of it. Far to often as we watch and read the news we discover another example of how far humanity has fallen. Last month for the seventh time in the school year another deadly school shooting took place this time in Parkland, Florida. I, like many others often find myself asking, Why, why does this continue to happen, and why does it seem be happening so often? According to a recent article published in the New York Times, there have been 239 shootings, 16 of which can be classified as mass shootings. since the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in ( interactive/2018/02/15/us/schoolshootings-sandy-hook-parkland.html) These are only the instances of shootings that have taken place in our schools, this doesn t even take into account the violence we have seen in churches, and concerts. To see some truly scary data, check out listing all accounts of mass gun violence in our country. What then is there for us to do? Should we just remove our kids, have armed security everywhere, or perhaps there is something else we should do. As a student of history I know that it might seem to us that these things are getting worse, but when we look at the history of the human race we can see how evil and murderous we really are. When we try to make ourselves believe that we live in a safe secure world, we are only making ourselves into fools. The world is a dangerous place. I believe we should live in both fear and love not the kind of fear that stops us from going outside or interacting with our neighbors, but the kind of fear that creates in us an understanding and acknowledgement of the world and then says "You will not hold me back! I know to whom I belong! Jesus Christ has called me to live a life for him, and the devil will not stop me." We live in love because we know that our citizenship does not belong on Earth, but in the eternal Kingdom of God. No gun violence or evil human plan can ever take that from us. Through Christ we will live forever, and while we are here we will serve our Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. Dinner Auction April 14 Join us for another amazing night. This year our theme is "IT'S YOUR MOVE!" Have you ever played a game with someone who was very distracted. I can think of many times that person was me. When I played a board game with my family it always seemed that I was the person that was reminded several times "It's your move!" Too often I was thinking, looking, or playing something else that didn't allow me to realize it was my turn. Our life in Christ can be similar to that. God has given us amazing gifts, but often we are distracted by the things around us. Sometimes we too need someone to remind us "It's your move...what are you going to do with the gifts God has given." Many members of our church are committed to "moving." They have taken up the call to serve God as the hands and feet of Christ in Peru, Honduras, and in the community. We need your help. The Dinner Auction is a fundraiser for funds to support these missionaries as they serve. By giving of your time and money on this night, April 14, you are moving too! God has blessed you with gifts too, please come and share them so that we can continue to impact and share the Glory of God with the World. We are now accepting donations of new items for both the LIVE and SILENT auctions. Please drop your marked items off at the Ministry Center. 3

4 Sunday Adult Classes New Member Class 4

5 Thursday Breakfast Bible Studies Thursday Studies LWML Monthly Bible Study Circles 5

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7 By Deb Schrank, Director 7

8 Caring Ministries Bread of Life Food Pantry Open Monday and Tuesday from 1 4 pm and Saturday from 9 12 for those in 80909, 80915, and If you are a member who needs food, please call the office or visit the food pantry during pantry hours. You do not need to live in those zip codes to use the Pantry. Counseling Holy Cross has two Christian counselors who minister to members in need. The fees are based on a sliding scale, and her phone number is on the back of the weekly bulletin. Visitation Ministry If you are going into the hospital or having outpatient surgery, our visitation team would like to visit and pray with you. Our Lay Ministers will also visit with you and bring you Holy Communion if you have not been able to attend church because you are homebound either temporarily or permanently. Please call Marcy or Pastor Doug. Four-week Callers If you have been absent from Holy Cross for four weeks, you may expect a phone call from one of our caring callers. They are simply checking in with you to make sure everything is okay and to see if there is anything we can do for you. Prayer Ministries Bulletin or Prayer Chain Call Marcy in the church office if you would like to be listed in the bulletin for Sunday prayers or if you would like your prayer on our Prayer Chain. Prayer chain prayers can also be anonymous. Pew Cards The staff is honored to lift up pew card prayers during our Tuesday devotions. Prayer Shawls/Squares/Bears If you would like to take a visible reminder to someone who needs prayer, you make pick up a prayer shawl or square. We even have prayer bears for children. Please record their name when you take one so our prayer team can pray for them. (Call the office if you would like to make prayer shawls.) Do you have a heart for prayer? If so, you are invited to join one of our prayer teams. Our Intercessory Prayer Team meets monthly to pray together. Our Prayer Chain prayers are by only. Call the office for Endowment Fund 8 Food Pantry Statistics February Total Adults (18-59) Total Seniors Total Children Total Recipients Average # of families/day Pounds of food distributed Avg lbs distributed/day Average lbs per person , Food Donations Holy Cross members 633 Non-members 31 Schlotzsky s 58 Panera 227 Care & Share 1,951 Thomas MacLaren School 28 Gold Wing Motorcycle Club 93 Volunteers of America 38 Jr. League 98 Less Spoilage/Donations elsewhere (52) Total Donations 3,118 Food Purchases Care & Share (2,530 lbs) Sam s Club (40) King Soopers (157) $2, Total food purchased Total lbs of food received $2,621 5,845 The Bread of Life Food Pantry was open 11 days during December.

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10 Interest Groups Lovely Ladies Coloring Party! Alternate Thursdays, 12:30 3 pm, Hiller Hall. Adults only. Bring your coloring book, supplies, non-messy snacks and drinks with lids and a friend! Talk to or Marsha Baxter at Scrapbooking Third Saturday of each month, 10 am 5 pm, Fireside Room. Come for the entire day or any time you d like. Call Marcy in the office for more info. Stitchin Servants Third Saturday of each month, 10 to 11:30 am, Fireside Room. Novices welcome! Talk to Debbie Koster for more info. Never Alone Spanish Class Inclement Weather Holy Cross Lutheran Church 4125 Constitution Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO ; FAX ; Sunday Service Times: 8:00 A.M. - Classic Celebration (Traditional) 9:30 A.M. - Majestic Praise (Blended) 11:00 A.M. - Praise Alive (Contemporary) Children and Youth Education: 9:30 A.M. Adult Education 9:30 & 11 A.M. Childcare for 3 & younger available during Sunday services Life Beneath the Cross is published 6 times per year. 10