December 2017 Newsletter HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH INDIANAPOLIS Advent Midweek Services Advent Wednesday services will be held on December 6, 13 & 20 at 6:30 p.m. Join us each week as we follow the theme What Child is This? NEW Christmas Eve Worship Schedule Please know that Christmas Eve this year will be on a Sunday. Rather than expecting worshipers to join us both in the morning for worship AND in the evening for Christmas Eve, our plan is for ALL weekend services to be a Christmas Eve experience! SATURDAY Saturday, December 23, 5:30 p.m. Creative Praise Contemporary Christmas Presentation in the gym (candles). SUNDAY Sunday morning there will be ONE service at 10:00 a.m. with choirs and hymns (no candles). Sunday evening Christmas Eve services will be 4:00 p.m. Family Caroling Service (no candles lots of singing) 6:00 p.m. Festival Christmas Eve with candles in the Worship Center (candles) 7:30 p.m. Creative Praise Contemporary Christmas Presentation in the gym (candles) 9:00 p.m. Festival Christmas Eve with Holy Communion in the Worship Center (candles) The sermon will be the same in all of these Christmas Eve services. MONDAY Christmas Day Monday morning is Christmas Day with one service at 10:00 a.m. with Holy Communion. 6 Christmas Eve Services! We hope that this will allow a variety of times and styles for your family and friends to celebrate the Birth of our Savior. It s an excellent time to invite someone!
Candlelight and Carols Attention Ladies of the Congregation: You are invited to Candlelight and Carols a new event for the ladies of Holy Cross and their guests. On Tuesday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. we will gather in the Great Room and enjoy the true meaning of the Christmas season by sharing in fellowship, appetizers and singing Christmas carols. This is different than Advent by Candlelight and Ladies Advent Evening in that you do not need to hostess a table or be invited by a table hostess. THIS is your invitation! Candlelight and Carols December 5, 2017 6:30 p.m. After we enjoy appetizers and fellowship in the Great Room, we will end the evening by heading into the sanctuary to sing Christmas carols. If you would like to help make the Great Room as festive as possible for this special evening, please bring your favorite nativity set. We will set out a variety of nativity sets throughout the room. If you d like to bring in your favorite set, please indicate that on the sign-up sheet so that we make enough room on the display tables. Also, please arrive by 6:00 p.m. that evening so we can set them up. Gentlemen, don t feel left out! We could use your help with set up, serving and clean up! Contact Bob Snyder at cherybob@comcast.net if you would like to help serve. As a part of the evening, we are also taking a collection for Bethany Christian Services Foster Care clients (in conjunction with the Holy Cross December Be the Church project). You can either bring a cash donation, or donations in the form of Target, Meijer, Walmart or restaurant gift cards. They will be used by the foster families to purchase appropriate formula, diapers, clothing and toys. Restaurant cards will be used to allow the foster families to go out together for a meal. To sign up for this event, there is a sign-up sheet on the Welcome Center desk or email Susan Muhl at smuhl@hclc.info. Deadline to sign up is Thursday, November 30. Worship Paul Groth, Worship Director Hymn of the Month December s HOM is #352 in our hymnal, Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord. The tune is familiar and has been sung many times during this season of Advent and Christmas, but the lyrics haven t always been used for both the Advent season and the festival of Christmas. In various past hymnals, this song has been listed as a Christmas hymn, but in our present book, it is categorized as an Advent hymn. For our intentions this month, this hymn welcomes us into Advent and celebrates not only the reason for the Christmas season but beyond as well. The six stanzas found in our present hymnal take us from the foretelling of the coming of the Savior in Bethlehem to His second coming as He returns to claim His children and to live in heaven with Him eternally. Lessons and Carols Our annual service of Lessons and Carols will take place on Sunday, December 10, at both the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services. It will feature choir selections and familiar carols based on scripture lessons which encompass the foretelling of the Savior s coming to the realization of the His birth. The Holy Cross Orchestra and Bell Choir will participate as well. Please note the date, plan to attend and invite family and friends to join you as we use both scripture and song to prepare our hearts to receive the Savior again this Christmas.
Holy Cross Orchestra The Holy Cross Orchestra is preparing to enrich our worship on December 10 for our Lessons and Carols services. Our remaining two rehearsals will be held on Sunday, December 3, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 109, and on Saturday, December 9, at 1:30 p.m. in our Worship Center. If you are an experienced instrumentalist and wish to be involved, there is still time to do so. Please attend the aforementioned rehearsal dates or contact Paul Groth at pgroth@hclc.info for more details. Worship Opportunities in December The Advent season leading up to our Christmas and New Year s celebrations offers a multitude of worship experiences. Our annual mid-week Advent worship services will be held on Wednesday evenings, at 6:30 p.m. in our Worship Center (no FaTHoM classes those weeks) beginning on Wednesday, December 6, and continuing the next two Wednesdays--December 13 and 20. Our annual Lessons and Carols worship will be held on Sunday, December 10, at our 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services. On Wednesday, December 13, the Holy Cross School Kindergarten children will sing at our Advent worship service. The Holy Cross School children in Grades 1-4 will present their annual Christmas program on Thursday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m. in our school gymnasium, and the school children in Grades 5-8, as well as our school bands, will present their program on Friday, December 15, in our gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, December 17, our annual Sunday School Christmas program will be presented at 10:00 a.m. in the Worship Center. On Saturday evening, December 23, at 5:30 p.m., a Contemporary Christmas worship service will be held in the gym. Christmas Eve morning worship one service will take place at 10:00 a.m. The evening services begin with a Family Caroling service at 4:00 p.m., followed by Candlelight Worship at 6:00 p.m. (both in the Worship Center), a Contemporary Christmas service at 7:30 p.m. in the gym (a repeat of the Saturday evening worship), and our Candlelight service with Communion at 9:00 p.m. in the Worship Center. Our Christmas Day service with Communion will be held at 10:00 a.m., and New Year s Eve morning services will be held on December 31 at 8:30, 10:45 and 11:00 a.m. Our New Year s Eve evening service with Communion will be held at 6:30 p.m. Plan now to take advantage of as many of these worship opportunities as we move through the Advent and Christmas season. Marriage Retreat Plan now to attend a retreat for married couples that will enhance and strengthen your relationship with each other and with God. Holy Cross is hosting a Marriage Encounter weekend April 20-22, 2018 at the Comfort Suites Indianapolis. Couples will spend the weekend together in retreat to refresh, reenergize, & reconnect with each other. The cost for the weekend is $100 registration fee. All other costs are covered. For information go to www.godlovesmarriage.org or speak with Bob & Rosie Meister (rgmeister@comcast.net).
Holy Cross Lutheran School Karen Geiger, Principal The seasons of Advent and Christmas are special times at Holy Cross Lutheran School. We are grateful to be part of a Christian school setting but especially during the month of December. We are able to talk about the birth of Jesus and reflect on the true meaning of the season. Our special Christmas Chapel will be held on December 22 at 8:50 a.m. We would love for you to join us for that or any of the following Christmas Programs. December 13, 6:30 p.m. - Kindergarten Sings at the Advent Service December 14, 6:30 p.m. - 1 st -4 th Grade Christmas Program December 15, 6:30 p.m. - Grades 5-8 Band/Choir Christmas Concert December 22, 9:00 a.m. - All School Christmas Chapel We had a very successful open house in November! Thank you to all of you who invited friends and neighbors. We are still actively giving tours so if you would like to learn more about the school, call the office at 317-826-1234. Registration for Fall 2018 will begin in January. Dates to Remember January 8 - New students/siblings registration paperwork available in the office January 16 - Online registration for current students opens January 30 - Priority enrollment deadline for current families and church members February 2 - Priority enrollment date for new families. February 3 - Open enrollment Don t Just Go to Church: BE the Church at Christmas During the month of December, Holy Cross will once again be collecting items for Bethany Christian Services. Items needed are listed below and can also be found on the "Giving Tree" in The Crossing beginning November 26, 2017. - Diapers (any size) - Starbucks Gift Cards ($10) - Formula for babies - Fast Food Gift Cards ($10 or $20) - New Backpacks with School Supplies - Pampering Gifts for Mom - New Backpacks with Children's Clothing - Children s Clothing - Gas, Kroger, Meijer, Target and Walmart Gift Cards - Children s Underwear For more information about Bethany Christian Services, go to www.bethany.org. Christmas Decorating It s traditionally called Hanging of the Greens. Whatever you call it, we call it fun at Holy Cross. Join us on Saturday, December 2, at 9:00 a.m. to help decorate Holy Cross for the holidays. If enough people help, we ll make the whole campus look festive! No need to sign up. Just come when you can! Poinsettias Donations Help to beautify our worship experience by donating a poinsettia for the holiday season. To do so, please complete the order form found in your weekly service folder or at the Welcome Center and return it to the Church Office, offering plate or forms box at the Welcome Center with payment by Sunday, December 17. You may also complete the form online at www.hclc.info/poinsettia. The cost of each plant is $9.50. If you have any questions, please contact the church office, 823-5801 or email at info@hclc.info.
Faith Life Scott Jung, Faith Life Director Advent Resources for You and Your Family Advent is a great time to renew your devotional life, either individually or as a family. The following resources will help you keep your faith in Jesus in focus through the hectic weeks leading up to Christmas. "Love Came Down" is the daily Advent devotional from Lutheran Hour Ministries. https://www.lhm.org/advent/ "Counting to Christmas: Family Advent Devotions and Calendar", a new resource from Concordia Publishing House. https://www.cph.org/p-31030- counting-to-christmas-family-advent-devotions-and-calendar.aspx Creative Communications offers many Advent devotionals, calendars, and sticker books for children. There are also good devotionals for adults as well. https://www.creativecommunications.com/ FaTHoM Sunday Adult Class Schedule November 26 VRB Presentation December 3 "Whose Child Is This: Joseph" December 10 "Whose Child Is This: Mary" December 17 Sunday School Christmas Program December 24 Christmas Eve (no classes) December 31 New Year's Eve (no classes) January 7 New FaTHoM Semester begins COMING SOON TO A WORSHIP CENTER NEAR YOU! The Holy Cross Sunday School Players present The 2017 Sunday School Christmas Program Sunday, December 17, 9:45-10:30 a.m. in the Worship Center See your favorite Sunday School children as Joseph! Mary! Caesar Augustus! The Innkeeper! Shepherds! Angels! Stable Animals! (Guys, it's really gonna be cute.) Admission is FREE! See you there! Sunday School Calendar Dec 3: Christmas Program Rehearsal Dec 10: Christmas Program Rehearsal Dec 16: (Saturday) Christmas Dress Rehearsal, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Dec 17: Christmas Program Dec 24 & 31: No Sunday School Lessons Questions? Katie (317-625-6825) & Danielle (Clark4Prez@att.net) would love to chat with you.
Winter/Spring Semester, 2018 How deep is the love of Christ! Ephesians 3:18 Inspired by the book "Deepening Your Effectiveness" by Dan Glover, the Holy Cross staff re-worked our discipleship process around the word fathom, a measure of depth. As a church, we provide fellowship, teaching, and serving ministries to help you connect to God and each other, nurture your faith, and serve in Christian love. Our winter/spring FaTHoM classes are guaranteed to get you into God's Word and better understand the life Jesus has given you to use in His service. Browse the following pages to find a class that is perfect for you! May God bless you as you dive deeper with Jesus. FaTHoM Sunday For All Ages Sunday 9:45-10:30 A.M. Check out www.hclc.info/fathom to register for a class FaTHoM Wednesday For All Ages 6:00-7:30 P.M. An optional meal can be purchased (Chick-Fil-A or Pizza) Check out www.hclc.info/fathom to register for a class and www.hclc.info/meal to sign up for Wednesday meals
Children's Classes Sunday Classes 9:45-10:30 AM, Begins January 7 Cross Explorations. Sundays in 2018, children will learn how the Holy Spirit Leads the Apostles. Some of the New Testament Bible stories covered this semester include: God Sends the Holy Spirit God s Servant Stephen Philip and the Ethiopian The Conversion of Paul Peter and Cornelius Peter s Escape from Prison Lydia Paul and Silas in Prison Paul Sails for Rome Wednesday Classes 6:00-7:30 PM, Begins January 10 Get Your Cape On! The theme for next semester's Wednesday Kids FaTHoM discipleship program is "How to Be a Superhero: Making Life Super for Others." We need adult heroes to step up and be guides and rotation leaders (game, lesson, crafts). If you are willing and able to answer the call, use your super speed and hurry to let Scott Jung (sjung@hclc.info) know. Semester begins January 10. Want to Join our children's ministry team? Contact Scott Jung, sjung@hclc.info
Sunday Classes 9:45-10:30 AM Begins January 7 Hebrews: Inter-generational Study led by Brandon Grelle. An interactive study of this book for students and adults. Sunday Classes 9:45-10:30 AM Begins January 7 1 Peter: A Living Hope led by Scott Jung. Peter writes to Gentile Christians holding on to Jesus in the midst of a hostile culture. There is much we can learn from the letter! Teach Me How to Pray led by Pastor McClean. Walk through the Lord's Prayer and other biblical prayers, with help to strengthen your own prayer life. See Hebrews study above under Teen Classes. Teen Classes Wednesday Classes 6:00-7:30 PM Begins January 10 Anchorsaway led by Pastor McClean, Brandon Grelle, and guest speakers. Confirmation, Part 2: preparing students to defend and share their faith after high school. Jr. Confirmation for 7 th and 8 th Grade students led by the pastors Adult Classes Wednesday Classes 6:00-7:30 PM Begins January 10 Bible 101 led by Scott Jung. Learn about the books, storyline, and major themes in 12 weeks! A great introduction to God's Word. Bringing Up Boys led by Cara Hougesen. Explains why boys are the way they are, their emotional and physical development, and the best way to motivate them to be godly men. Living Beyond Yourself: Women's Study In-depth Bible study of the fruit of the Holy Spirit as presented in the book of Galatians. Christianity 201 led by Pastor Sattler. You have taken Christianity 101. Go deeper in your understanding of topics like: evil, heaven, vocation & sanctification. Interested in teaching an adult class? Contact Scott Jung, sjung@hclc.info
Youth Ministry Youth Director, Brandon Grelle Senior High Events December 4 Ignite Night 5:00-7:30 p.m. December 10 LCFS Christmas Store 12:00-5:00 p.m. December 15 Progressive Dinner/ 6:00-11:00 p.m. Christmas Party Junior High Events December 8 Jr. High Christmas Party 5:00-9:00 p.m. Service Opportunity at the LCFS Christmas Store The Sr. High Youth have a great opportunity to volunteer and help at Lutheran Child and Family Services Christmas Store on Sunday, December 10, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Christmas Store happens for one week each year. Referred clients come to the store and "shop" for their children at no cost. Progressive Dinner and Ignite Christmas Party The annual Sr. High Youth Progressive Dinner followed by a Christmas Party is on Friday, December 15. We will have appetizers, soup and salad, a main dish and dessert at various homes. Sizzle (Jr. High) Christmas Party The Sizzle Christmas Party is scheduled for Friday, December 8 th from 5-9pm. We will have dinner, watch a Christmas movie, and enjoy a fun and festive evening. Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser We will have our second annual Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser in January 2018. The money raised will help fund Awestruck next summer. Everyone is welcome to enter their favorite chili dish. More information will be coming soon! Awestruck 2018 We are now accepting registrations for Awestruck. Awestruck will take place July 9-15, 2018, here in Indianapolis. Registration is now open! You may find registration forms online at awestruckfestival.com (Click on the Project link). Stephen Ministry Training A new training session for our Stephen Ministry caregiving ministry is being planned to begin at the end of January. If you are a caring person and sense God leading to be part of this one-on-one caring ministry, contact Sherry Brown (sherrybrown@comcast.net) or Cheryl Snyder (cherybob@comcast.net). For information about Stephen Ministry go to www.hclc.info/stephen
AmazonSmile Do you love shopping on Amazon? Consider registering your Amazon account with the AmazonSmile program and.5% of your eligible Amazon purchases will be donated to Holy Cross! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Holy Cross every time you shop, at NO cost to you! Here s how to do it: Visit (or bookmark) smile.amazon.com when making Amazon purchases. It s the same website and same purchasing opportunities as Amazon.com, but Holy Cross will receive a.5% donation for every purchase. On your first visit to AmazonSmile you will need to select Holy Cross Lutheran Church before you begin shopping. Amazon will then remember your selection for next time. Remember, after you register, you need to make your purchases through smile.amazon.com and not just amazon.com for Holy Cross to receive a donation. Please contact Angela Dant adant@hclc.info for more information. Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry continues! In the past shawls have come to symbolize shelter, peace and spiritual sustenance. The ministry's message of caring is simple, universal and enduring. Prayers are given for the recipients of each shawl. If you would like to request a prayer shawl for someone, please contact Carol Fiess, 317-336-2289 or cardeaf@hotmail.com. Many thanks to all who have donated shawls. here is a tote in The Crossing for donated shawls to be collected. Please include your name with each shawl. Keep them coming! Holy Cross Lutheran Church 8115 Oaklandon Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46236 Church: 317.823.5801 School: 317.826.1234 Fax: 317.826.0640 www.hclc.info hclc@hclc.info Holy Cross Ministry Staff Email & Phone Extension: 317.823.5801 John Sattler, Pastor - jsattler@hclc.info David McClean, Pastor - dmcclean@hclc.info Scott Jung, Faith Life Director - sjung@hclc.info Brandon Grelle, Youth Director bgrelle@hclc.info Paul Groth, Director of Worship - pgroth@hclc.info Paulette Carson, Counselor pcarson@hclc.info Abbie Stancato, Creative Praise Dir. astancato@hclc.info Michelle Searcy, Administrator - msearcy@hclc.info Karen Geiger, Principal - kgeiger@hclc.info Angela Dant, Community Relations Dir. adant@hclc.info Susan Muhl, Staff Support smuhl@hclc.info Mike Short, Director of Properties mshort@hclc.info Lynn Conlin, Church Office Secretary lconlin@hclc.info Jenny Hohnbaum, Youth Coord. jhohnbaum@hclc.info x223 x224 x229 x250 x306 x228 x221 x231 x239 x222 x225 x316 x221 x250 Weekend Worship Schedule New Song Informal Worship: Saturday 5:30 p.m. Classic Praise Traditional Worship: Sunday 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Creative Praise Contemporary Worship: Sunday 11:00 a.m. in the Gym FaTHoM Discipleship Hour: 9:45 a.m. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod A Stephen Ministry caring congregation
December 2017 Calendar 12/2 8:00 am Men s/women s Bible Breakfast 9:00 am Hanging of the Greens 9:00 am School Basketball Games 4:30 pm New Song Rehearsal 5:30 pm New Song Worship 12/3 8:30 am Classic Praise Worship 9:30 am Fellowship Hour 9:45 am FaTHoM Sunday 10:00 am Orchestra Rehearsal 10:45 am Classic Praise Worship 11:00 am Creative Praise Contemp. Worship 7:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm Sr. High Youth Group 12/5 9:00 am Sunday School Planning Mtg. 3:45 pm McDonald Girl Scouts 5:00 pm Girls Basketball Games 6:30 pm Candlelight and Carols 7:00 pm VRB Meeting 8:00 pm Men s Basketball 12/6 9:15 am 6:30 pm Women s Bible Study Advent Service 7:30 pm Creative Praise Rehearsal 7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal 12/8 5:00 pm Jr. High Youth Christmas Party 12/9 12:00 pm Creative Praise Rehearsal 1:30 pm Orchestra Rehearsal 4:30 pm New Song Rehearsal 5:30 pm New Song Worship 12/10 8:30 am Classic Praise Worship 9:30 am Fellowship Hour 9:45 am FaTHoM Sunday 10:45 am Classic Praise Worship 11:00 am Creative Praise Contemp. Worship 12:00 pm Sr. High Youth to LCFS 12/11 3:45 pm Kelley Cub Scouts 7:00 pm Stephen Ministry Meeting 12/12 9:00 am Sunday School Planning Mtg. 3:45 pm McDonald Girl Scouts 8:00 pm Men s Basketball 12/13 9:15 am Women s Bible Study 6:30 pm Advent Service 7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal 12/14 6:30 pm School (1 st -4 th ) Christmas Program 12/15 6:00 pm Sr. High Youth Dinner/Party 6:30 pm School (5 th -8 th ) Christmas Program 12/16 8:00 am Men s/women s Bible Breakfast 10:00 am Sunday School Program Rehearsal 12:00 pm Creative Praise Vocals Rehearsal 4:30 pm New Song Rehearsal 5:30 pm New Song Worship 12/17 8:30 am Classic Praise Worship 9:30 am Fellowship Hour 9:45 am Sunday School Christmas Program 10:45 am Classic Praise Worship 11:00 am Creative Praise Contemp. Worship 6:00 pm Lundberg Small Group 12/18 5:00 pm Boys Basketball Games 6:00 pm Creative Praise Set Up 12/19 9:00 am Sunday School Planning Mtg. 11:00 am Dorcas Group 7:00 pm Creative Praise Dress Rehearsal 12/20 9:15 am Women s Bible Study 6:30 pm Advent Service 7:30 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal 12/21 5:00 pm Girls Basketball Games 12/23 5:30 pm Contemporary Christmas Presentation/Candlelight 12/24 Christmas Eve 10:00 am Choirs and Hymns Service 4:00 pm Family Caroling Service 6:00 pm Traditional Candlelight Service 7:30 pm Contemporary Christmas Presentation/Candlelight 9:00 pm Traditional Candlelight/Communion 12/25 Christmas Day 10:00 am Traditional Worship/Communion 12/26 No School 6:30 pm Rauscher Small Group 8:00 pm Men s Basketball 12/27-29 No School 12/30 4:30 pm New Song Rehearsal 5:30 pm New Song Worship 12/31 New Year s Eve 8:30 am Classic Praise Worship 9:30 am Fellowship Hour 10:45 am Classic Praise Worship 11:00 am Creative Praise Contemp. Worship 6:30 pm New Year s Eve Service The Mission of Holy Cross Lutheran Church is to make disciples by Connecting people to Jesus Christ and each other, Nurturing faith, and Serving in Christian love.