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PASTOR’S JANUARY PROJECTS

SUNDAY

ADULT CLASSES 9:00 AM

WEDNESDAY

8th GRADE CONFIRMATION

CLASSES 6:00 PM

EARLY CHILDHOOD CHAPEL SERVICES

9:30 AM

SANCTUARY UPGRADE

PREPARATION & INSTALLATION

VACATION DAYS JANUARY 12-15

PREPARATION FOR

THE LENTEN SEASON

2017

THE MONTH OF JANUARY PASTOR’S ARTICLE

Pastor Francis L. Schroeder Holy Cross Lutheran—Nederland

START WITH THE LORD

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it be-fore God as an offering.” Romans 12:1a (The Message)

Happy New Year! During this first week of January, many of us will begin anew. New diets and exercise regiments. New Bible studies and reading plans. New organization and time management routines. We’ll commit to break bad habits, restore broken relationships, and be “better” people. We call these New Year’s resolutions. I confess. I’ve made more than my fair share of these in the last few years. But most, like me, soon forget our good-intended resolutions. We mean well. But life gets busy. We return to our old habits. To that which is comfortable and doesn’t require so much sacrifice. I want something better. Something new. What about you? Will you join me in doing a new thing this year? Let’s begin the very best place we can … God’s Word. Romans 12:1-2 says, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering … Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it … God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (The Message)

Start new! Start fresh! Start with the LORD!

Blessed New 2017!

Pastor Francis L. Schroeder

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SERVICES JANUARY 2017

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1st THE 1st SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Creative Worship with Holy Communion 10:30 AM in the Church Sanctuary SUNDAY, JANUARY 8th THE 1st SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY Creative Worship Service Sacrament of Holy Baptism with Children’s Message with Adult Choir 10:30 AM in the Church Sanctuary SUNDAY, JANUARY 15th THE 2nd SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY Creative Worship 10:30 AM in the Church Sanctuary SUNDAY, JANUARY 22nd THE 3rd SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY with Holy Communion with Children’s Message with Little Lambs Choir 10:30 AM in the Church Sanctuary SUNDAY, JANUARY 29th THE 4th SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY 10:30 AM in the Church Sanctuary

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IN OUR SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WE LIFT UP…...

January 1st Redeemer Lutheran Church - Beaumont, Texas Pastor Fred Kelm January 8th Trinity Lutheran Church - Port Arthur, Texas Pastor Tim Dinger & Pastor Mario Casillas January 15th St. John Lutheran Church - Beaumont, Texas Pastor Doug Rathgeber January 22nd Genesis Lutheran Church – Buchanan Dam, Texas Pastor Jan "Trey" Rienstra (Son of Holy Cross) January 29th Hope Lutheran Church - Winnie, Texas Pastor Richard LeBlanc February 5th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Pastor Alan Kretschmar (Son of Holy Cross) February 12th Grace Lutheran Church - Orange, Texas Pastor Tom Haas February 19th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Groves, Texas Pastor Richard Turner February 26th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Jasper, Texas Faith Lutheran Church - Woodville, Texas Pastor Mark Follett

DID YOU KNOW THIS FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY

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DID YOU KNOW THIS TOO ?

HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN NOW ON YOUR SMARTPHONE! All you need to do is type holycrosstexas and you will pull up the information for worship services, events for the week, registration forms, our newsletter, and a 30 minute video from Lutheran Media Ministries. For those on laptops you may go to www.holycrosstexas.org for our complete website OUR DAILY BREAD (December, January, & February) are available in the narthex. PORTALS OF PRAYERS (January, February, & March) are available in the narthex of the church. CIRCUIT PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE will gather at 8:30 AM for coffee and refreshments, 9:00 AM for Opening Devotion, 9:15 AM for Bible Study, 10:30 AM for Topical Study, 11:15 AM for Circuit Business and Casuistry. The next Circuit Professionals Meeting will be held at St. John Lutheran in Beaumont on Tuesday, January 10th. HOLY CROSS HOMEBOUND MEMBERS receive on a weekly basis an CD of Holy Cross’ Sunday morning services and on a monthly basis a DVD from Lu-theran Ministries Media. BULLETINS RECEIVED FROM OTHER CONGREGATIONS Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kingwood, Texas Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin, Texas A NEW SOUND SYSTEM & VIDEO PROJECTOR & TWIN SCREENS for the Church Sanctuary will be installed in late January and early February. This has been made possible by the Hans and Randy Schulz Memorial Fund. This will permit us to enhance our worship experience. THE 2017 CIRCUIT YOUTH TOURNAMENT will be held at Holy Cross on the weekend of February 10th, 11th, & 12th.

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OUR STEWARDSHIP AT HOLY CROSS DECEMBER 2016

ATTENDANCE ENVELOPES DESIGNATED SPECIAL

12/04 152 $18,206.36 $131.00 $1,450.00 12/07 57 Midweek Advent Service Two 12/11 161 $17,295.50 $150.00 $ 225.00 12/14 62 Midweek Advent Service Three 12/18 213 $8,263.00 $ 37.00 $ 620.00 12/23 22 Private Baptism 12/24 195 5:00 PM Christmas Eve 12/24 124 11:00 PM Christmas Eve 12/25 61 10:30 AM Christmas Day $22,007.00 $ 78.00 $ .00 12/26 10 Private Baptism

2016 WORSHIP ATTENDANCE STATISTICS TOTAL SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: 9,205 NUMBER OF WEEKS CELEBRATED IN 2016: 52 TOTAL MID-WEEK ATTENDANCE IN 2016: 1,169 AVERAGE MID-WEEK ATTENDANCE: 97 NUMBER OF MID-WEEK WORSHIP DAYS: 12 AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENDANCE FOR 52 WEEKS IN 2016: 177 AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE FOR 52 WEEKS IN 2016: 186

2016 FINANCIAL HEALTH OF HOLY CROSS WEEKLY BUDGETED EXPENSES: $ 10,789.32 HOLY CROSS YEAR TO DATE BUDGET $561,044.64 HOLY CROSS YEAR TO GATE GIVING $413,819.82

$-147,224.82

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Dear Friends, Sandy and I wish to express our deepest thanks and appreciation for the wonderful Christmas gift you shared with us. You have always been wonderful, caring, and generous. You are truly loved beyond measure. We look to 2017 with excitement and uncertainty. Excitement because we understand the Lord will truly bless and uncertainty because life always presents the twists and turns we never expect. We do however know that at every bend and straight road, the LORD walks with us and gives us His love, mercy, and grace! We all ask the Lord to bless you. Please make the most of each day to love, care, and share the news of the Savior!

Blessings! Pastor Francis L. Schroeder

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1— Jonas Ermel Gary Trojcak 2— Jim Simmons 3— Alexis Smithy Sophie Swango 4—Barbara Newman 5— Eric Dutschmann Rachel Hottendorf Lacey Pallas 6— Amanda Lovelace Pat Self 7— Curtis Beckcom Karson Heatherly Kevin Howard 8— Kristy Lindsay Ruth Anne Perryman 9— Madison Woodruff 10— Tiffany Caywood Brian Durow 11— Ashley Borel Derek Landry 14 — Presley Ermel Tymbre Gack Brandy Kieschnick 15— Amber Abshire Steven Hartman Laura Murray 16— Charles Schrader Kaitlyn Louvier 17—Susan Ludwig 18 — Angel Carreon Randy Diogiovanni 20 — Noah Hardy 21 -Christopher Vincent

22 — Doug Carter Ron Ermel Aaron Ronning Colette Stahl Tyler Vickers 23— Jordan Anderson Patricia O’Neal Irene Primeaux Olivia Shipley 24— Shawn Hottendorf Abel Trevino Kaden Zampini 25— Jude Stewart 26— Dorothy Morgan 27— Max O’Connor 28 — Robert Barron Kathryn Carreon Jarod Doyle 29— Jessica Brown Jan Laurents Lisa Richard 30—Evan McEachern Walter Perryman

january

8— Erin & Jon Sowarby Shandi & Aaron Teltschik 9 — DeeDee & Darrell Wukasch 11— Kalynne & Ryan Wolford 16— Kim & Darryl Carter 19 — Lora & Clint Laird 21— Judy & Harold Alvarez 26— Mary & Stephen Gunter Donna & Chris Wolfe 27 — Amber & Chris Harms 31— Cathy & Leonard Glick

To: Holy Cross Memorial Fund In memory of

Al Gajeske given by: Pat Biar

Luann & Tom Hansen

Bible Buddies SS Class of Wesley United Methodist

Church in Nederland

To: Holy Cross ECE Scholarship Fund

In memory of Paul Hempel

given by: Lola & Raymond Rice

To: Holy Cross

LWML Fund In memory of Bob Wolford

given by: Lola & Raymond Rice

In memory of Bob Wolford

Arnold Schroeder LeeRoy Graeter

given by: Ida Trojcak

To: Concordia Seminary

St. Louis In memory of

Arnold Schroeder given by:

Lola & Raymond Rice

COME VISIT OUR

in Education Building.

Just sign the checkout card & leave it

on the desk. Any questions, you can call

Lynne Hollomon, Pam Vincent, or

Kathy Pinnt.

Deadline for February

Newsletter isMonday,

February 20th!

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Lutheran Women who are: In the Word,

of the Word, walking with their Lord!

We have many opportunities for the

congregation to help us with our mission projects.

News from our: Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

QUILTING CIRCLE: EVERY THURSDAY at 9:30am in the Conference Rooms. Join the fun & fellowship—you’re invited to come sew with us. We’re still taking donations of material, blue jeans, or

cash for supplies. Thanks for supporting this mission project. Any questions,

call Rosie at #201-5710.

LWML Tuesday, January 10, at 6pm

Hostesses: TBA

Program: “A Time Such as This!”

Activities: Installation of Officers

and appoint Committees.

Project Promise Personal Care Kits Join our LWML in collecting items for

Personal Care Kits to be sent to Lutheran World Relief to be distributed to people who have lost everything from a natural disaster

or life-threatening violence.

Each Personal Care Kit will include the following: One light-weight bath-size towel (between 20” x

40” and 52” x 27’), dark color recommended Two or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9

oz., any brand, in original wrapping One adult-size toothbrush in it’s original packaging One sturdy comb, remove packaging One metal nail clippers

(attached file optional), remove packaging

Camp

Moose-

feather

Falls Vacation Bible School

Sunday, June 25 through

Thursday, June 29

(this is one week later

than it has been)

****************************

Midnight Madness

Garage Sale

Friday Night July 28 @11:59pm

****************************

LUTHER FEST October 28, 2017

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Sunday Morning Classes

are in session at 9am Sundays

Holy Cross Lutheran Church has a place for everyone in your family!

The material we will be using for Sunday morning children's classes is called

“What’s In the Bible With Buck Denver?”

Children will experience WHOLE story of the Bible through a fun and engaging video series. The Bible is not a book of rules, but a book of rescue – the beautiful story of the Father who longs to be in relationship with every one of us, and who went to extraordinary measures to bring us into His Kingdom! By joining us on Sunday mornings children are not only begin-ning a journey through the Bible, but the lifelong journey in a relationship with the Living

God. Questions? Contact DCE Kristy Witek at 722-1609 or email at dcekristy@sbcglobal.net for more information! Bring a friend!

Pastor Francis Schroeder’s Adult and Youth (5th-12th)Bible Class Conference Room A & B (New Office Building)

All Children (3 years old through 4th Grade)

Education Building Big Room 9am-10am Donuts and Coffee/Juice; Adult and Youth Classes 9am-9:15am Craft/Coloring Sheets and Fellowship Time (Pre-4th) 9:15am Song Time for Little Lambs Choir (Pre-4th) 9:30am-9:50am Video: What’s In the Bible with Buck Denver (Pre-4th) 9:50am Wrap Up/Application (Pre-4th)

Midweek Program for K-4th Grade

SPARK: Activate Faith

Students will gather first for large group time which will include the opportunity to sing and get the jiggles out, followed by class time and Memory Work time. Our Wednesday lessons correspond to the lessons Pastor will use each Sunday (from our Lectionary) helping kids get more out of both worship and mid-week classes! What we learn on Wednesday will be the highlight of our services on Sunday! We hope you will join us! Friends are always welcome!

Schedule for K-4th Grade: 5:30pm-Meal; 6pm-6:15pm – Opening in Sanctuary; 6:20pm-7pm – Lesson in Classrooms; 7pm-7:15pm – Memory Work Time

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Fit & Fun Fellowship

When: Tuesday, January 17th

1:30-3:30pm

Where: Family Life Center

Activities: fun walk in the gym, (or outdoors); dominoes, board games, or just

socializing. Snacks provided!

Everyone invited – Retirees, or anyone who can come during the day!!

What’s Shoparoo?

Well it’s a way you can help raise money for

Holy Cross ECE

“For Free” & “With Just a Receipt”!

There are 2 easy options:

1. Download the Shoparoo App on your smartphone and take a quick pic of

your receipts within 14 days of a purchase.

2. If you do not have a smartphone bring your receipts to school

within 14 days of your purchase and we will take

the pic for you.

Your receipts=CASH for the school.

Please help our school by using Shoparoo every time you make a purchase!

Thanks for your support with this project!

Dear Holy Cross Members and Friends:

Thank you so much for your grace, love, support and encouragement throughout this year. I also want to thank you

for your gracious Christmas gift and the extra-special gifts along the way! I know with certainty that not every DCE

in our synod is so overwhelmingly blessed as I am and for that I am truly thankful! I am blessed beyond measure.

You are incredible and you are my FAMILY! I love you! Thank you for your continuous support of the ministries

here at Holy Cross. In 1 Corinthians 12 we are reminded “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one

of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many

parts, but one body. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

We are the body of Christ. We are a team and ministry would simply not be able to happen with-

out your unending support! Thank you and God’s blessings as we begin this new year together.

I am so excited to see what God has in store and I am looking forward to partnering with you on

this journey.

Love Always in Christ, Kristy L. Witek

Chip and Charleigh Anne (my schnauzers)

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The LITTLE LAMBS CHOIR will sing on the 4th Sunday of each month (usually)!

The Little Lambs Choir is for any and all children 0 years through the 4th grade. Practices are 9:15am each Sunday morning.

Sunday Morning Schedule for 0 years to 4th Grade

9am-9:15am - Craft/Coloring Sheets and Fellowship Time 9:15am - Song Time for Little Lambs Choir 9:30am-10:00am - Sunday School Classes 10:00am - Dismiss Children

The Little Lambs Choir will be singing on the 4th Sunday of each month.

If you would like a CD of the songs so you can practice at home, please stop by DCE Kristy Witek's office or contact her at dcekristy@sbcglobal.net

Little Lamb’s Choir Schedule

Sunday, January 22 - Father Abraham Sunday, February 26 - I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy

Sunday, March 26 - The B-I-B-L-E Sunday, April 9 – Palm Sunday - Hosanna Rock

Sunday, April 16—Easter Sunday Service @10:30am Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord

Questions? Contact DCE Kristy Witek @722-1609 or dcekristy@sbcglobal.net.

Early Childhood Education News

Attendance: M/W-43 T/Th-57

Many thank yous to Peter Wolfe—stage set-up and also

to parents and friends who made Christmas parties

special classroom activities for all ages.

School resumes Tuesday, January 3.

ECE will be closed Thursday, January 26.

Staff will be attending Texas District ECE

Conference in San Antonio. We ask for

your prayers as we travel and learn and

recharge our minds and bodies. It is such

a joy to have your children in our school.

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Middle School Youth to

HOT HEARTS & LOCK-IN Friday, January 27 through Saturday, January 28

Ford Park—Beaumont, Texas and Holy Cross Family Life Center

All 5th-8th Grade Students are encouraged to join us as we attend the amazing Hot

Hearts event at Ford Park on the weekend of : Friday, January 27—Saturday, January 28.

We will also be having a LOCK-IN following the event on Friday night

inside of our Family Life Center! Adult Sponsors are needed as drivers as well as supervising the Hot Hearts

event and the Lock-In.

Hot Hearts began to provide a top-quality evangelistic experience for the youth of

the area. Bringing a conference close to where students live allowed more lost teenagers to attend and hear the Gospel. It’s going to be a time you won’t want to

miss.

Questions? Contact DCE Kristy Witek @722-1609! 2017 Hot Hearts Line-up: Lauren Daigle, Rend Collective,

Ed Newton, Kacy Benson & More.

Cost: $40 per person (for two-day ticket)+ cost of meals

DEADLINE— DEADLINE— DEADLINE

Registration form must be turned in to DCE Kristy Witek by Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

Registration Form Online www.holycrosstexas.org

Click the Hot Hearts Picture!

Adult Helpers Needed for Lock-In Shifts!

10pm-1am - 1am-4am

4am-8am

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