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PASTOR’S PROJECTS

9:00 AM SUNDAY ADULT

CLASSES

9:30 AM ON TUESDAY

EARLY CHILDHOOD CHAPEL SERVICE

6:00 PM

8th GRADE CONFIRMATION

CLASSES

CIRCUIT PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 13th

AT HOLY CROSS

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES w/

COMMUNION FEBRUARY 14th 2:00 & 7:30 PM

MIDWEEK LENTEN

SERVICES BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 21st 7:30 PM

2018

THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY PASTOR’S ARTICLE

Pastor Francis L. Schroeder Holy Cross Lutheran—Nederland

“THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER”

Usain Bolt and Yahan Blake of Jamaica made history when they finished first and second respectively in 100 meter dash in the London Olympics. Despite their rivalry on the track, Bolt paid tribute to Blake as a training partner. “Over the years, Yohan has made me a better athlete. He really pushed me and kept me on my toes.” It is very clear that the two spurred each other to Olympic greatness! As believers in Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility of encouraging one another in our faith. The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” (Heb. 10:24). The church is not to be an institution or mere social club. It is where we, who have been brought near to God and washed from sin, can help one another grow in Christlike-ness. The true purpose and intent of meeting together as a body is to exhort and encourage one another. No believer can function alone. To live as our Lord Jesus wants us to, we need the community of believers. As you meet with other believers, think of who you can come alongside and encourage by your words and actions. In doing so, we can be more like the Christ we love and serve. Blessed February and Lent to you! Pastor Francis L. Schroeder

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SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY &

MARCH AT HOLY CROSS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4th THE 5th SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY 10:30 AM Divine Service One Service with Holy Communion SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11th TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY 10:30 AM MARDI GRAS WEEKEND Creative Worship Service with the Band WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14th ASH WEDNESDAY 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM Service with Holy Communion Imposition of Ashes SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18th THE 1st SUNDAY IN LENT 10:30 AM Divine Service One Service with Holy Communion WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21st MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE ONE 7:30 PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25th THE 2nd SUNDAY IN LENT 10:30 AM Creative Worship WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE TWO 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 4th THE 3rd SUNDAY IN LENT 10:30 AM Divine Service One Service with Holy Communion WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7th MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE THREE 7:30 PM

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

February 4th Genesis Lutheran Church – Buchanan Dam, Texas Pastor Jan "Trey" Rienstra (Son of Holy Cross) February 11th Hope Lutheran Church - Winnie, Texas Pastor Richard LeBlanc February 18th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Sheboygan, Wisconsin Pastor Alan Kretschmar (Son of Holy Cross) February 25th Grace Lutheran Church - Orange, Texas Pastor Joe Howlett March 4th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Groves, Texas Pastor Richard Turner March 11th St. Paul Lutheran Church - Jasper, Texas Faith Lutheran Church - Woodville, Texas Pastor Mark Follett March 18th Redeemer Lutheran Church - Beaumont, Texas Pastor Fred Kelm March 25th Trinity Lutheran Church - Port Arthur, Texas Pastor Tim Dinger & Pastor Mario Casillas April 1st St. John Lutheran Church - Beaumont, Texas Pastor Doug Rathgeber & Pastor Jim Menke (Interim)

DID YOU KNOW THIS FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH

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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 Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland on Fat Tuesday, February 13th. CIRCUIT 34 FORUM was held on Sunday, January 14th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Arthur. Pastor Robert LeBlanc was elected as the new Circuit Visitor. He will begin responsibilities in September. 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 Lutheran Ministries Media. BULLETINS RECEIVED FROM OTHER CONGREGATIONS The Harvest: A Worship Community of the Woodlands UMC Christ Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico THE FOLLOWING SERVICES OF CELEBRATIONS WERE HELD Gloria Melancon on Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 Randy Digiovanni on Thursday, January 4th, 2018 Loretta Williams on Thursday, January 11th, 2018 Tommy Woodruff on Thursday, January 18th, 2018

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1— Shelly Benoit Savannah Zizmont 2— Alyssa Parks Sophie Stahl Kelsi Strahan Peter Wolfe 3— Helen Simmons 4—McKenzi Armstrong Ethan Lightfoot Pauline Tran 5— Presley Abshire Ida Trojcak Jesse Wheeler Pam Withrow 6— Bruce Durham Michael Theriot, Jr. 7— Jon Longlet Cayden Orta 8— Dawsen Collins Maggi Collins Cheryl Doyle Will Rash 11—Trey Richard Renee’ Runnels Pastor Schroeder 12—Kyle Lavespere Kerry Viator 13—Jamie Lavespere 14 — Justin Schrader Sharon Teinert Dawn Tucker 16— Brant McCullough Kirk Stahl Charley Teltschik 18 — Amanda Neeb Elise Wilson 19—Yancy Herring Trace Holmes

20—Douglas Kihlken 21—Paul Beckcom Taylor Shuford 22 — Gena Carter 23— Adam Denn Ethan Denn Cary Erickson Trish Sevin Sue Tindel 25— Carl Adix Darrell Wukasch 26— Faye Nolan 28 — Amber Harms Landon Riley Carleen Digiovanni

february

3—Kelly & Justin Schrader

12— Ruby & James Stoker

13—Robin & Pat Barrington

14—Lydia & Casey Gillard

Connie & Dan Weber

15—Janet & David Collins

16— Denise & James Shipley

19 — Vera & Tom Canton

21— Gisela & R.C. Gunter

22—Dawn & Michael Hardy

23-Pam & Kerry Viator

24—Trish & Louis Sevin

25—Colette & Kent Stahl

26—Janice & Jody Chesson

To: Memorial Fund

In memory of Alice Clotiaux

given by: Peggy & Jim Lanclos Louis Ann & Lamont

Rippy & family

To: Quilters Fund In memory of Alice Clotiaux

given by: Rosie & Frank Herring

To: New Outdoor Sign

In memory of Alice Clotiaux

Loretta Williams given by:

Judy & Pat Sturgis Ruth Anne & Walter

Perryman

To: Funeral Account: Missions & Assimilations

In memory of Gloria Melancon

given by: George Melancon

Adult Choir: Sundays in the Choir Room, Ed. Bldg. right after church

Lauren Milner-Sanchez ,

director 679-6062 ******************

************* Handbells:

Wednesdays 7:15pm Anita Ashby,

director 201-5047

Our Holy Cross Email Prayer Chain Team is

being revised. Members of Holy Cross who

would like to be a part of the email Prayer Chain

Team are asked to sign

the clipboard with your

current email address.

If you have any ques-

tions, please contact

Laurenda Wolford at

#543-3555.

Camp Moosefeather Falls

Vacation Bible School June 17th-July 21st

Midnight Madness

Garage Sale Friday, July 27th @

11:59

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LWMLer’s are 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

Tuesday, Febru-ary 13th at 6pm

Hostesses: Sharon Teinert

& Judy Alvarez Devotion:

“Christmas to Valentine, Valentine to Christmas”

Activity: Put together “Thank You” gifts for the Zone Event.

All ladies are invited to join us!

Deadline

for

March Newsletter

isMonday,

February 19th!

PERSONAL CARE KITS for LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF:

When emergencies like natural disasters or conflict arise, many families must flee

their homes, leaving their belongings behind. When they arrive in a refugee camp or other place of safety, they are scared, vulnerable and dirty from the travel. The sim-ple items included in a Personal Care Kit allow them to wash away the dirt and sweat, with the fresh scent of soap and the softness of a towel as reminders of someone’s

care and concern for them in their plight. LWML of Holy Cross is now collecting items, now thru early March, to assemble the kits.

The following items are included in each kit: One light-weight bath-size towel (20”x40” to 52”x27”) dark color recommended Two or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8-9oz, any brand, in original wrapping. (No mini or hotel size bars) One sturdy comb (no picks or fine toothed combs). One metal nail clippers (attached file optional).

Collection boxes are in the narthex.

Quilters Corner

The Holy Cross Quilters continue quilting in the conference rooms on Thursday @ 9:30am.

We are learning and sewing new patterns for our use and gifts. In the new year we will get serious to get as many mission quilts done for our deadline of Palm Sunday.

Please join us! You don’t have to know how to sew to help out.

There are other things to do. We do have fun & fellowship while doing something good

for someone in need. We can always use, cash, denim jeans, and material (cotton). Thank you for your help with this project!

Any questions, please call Rosemarie Herring at 201-5710.

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

Contact DCE Kristy Witek at 722-1609 or email at dcekristy@sbcglobal.net

for more information! Bring a friend!

Pastor Francis Schroeder’s Adult Bible Class Conference Room A & B (New Office Building)

Youth (5th-12th)Bible Class Upstairs in High School youth room.

All Children (3 years old through 4th Grade) Education Building Big Room

Children will experience WHOLE story of the Bible through fun and engaging sto-ries with an interactive flannel graph, crafts, Bible readings and worship songs. By joining us on Sunday mornings children are not only beginning a journey through

the Bible, but the lifelong journey in a relationship with Jesus.

***************************************************************************** Please note: Midweek Classes resume Wednesday, January 10, 2018:

Kindergarten - 4th, Confirmation Classes, LifeLight 5:30-6pm— Free Meal in the Family Life Center

Holy Cross serves a light supper in the Family Life Center for anyone participating in the Wednesday evening classes,

6:00pm—Classes for Kindergarten through College Age

Midweek Program for K-4th Grade SPARK: Activate Faith

Classes Wednesdays @ 6pm Students will gather first for large group time which will in-clude the opportunity to sing & get the jiggles out, followed

by class time & Memory Work time. Our Wednesday lessons correspond to the lessons Pastor uses 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:

5:30 Meal in Family Life Center 6:00-6:15 – Opening in Sanctuary; 6:20-7:00 – Lesson in Classrooms; 7:00:-7:15 – Memory Work Time

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Wednesday, February 14 @ 6-7:15pm The Spark Students (Kindergarten through 4th Grade) and the 5th-8th Grade will be frosting and deco-

rating Homemade Valentine’s Cookies in the Education Building Big Room which will be given to the Hospitality Center in Port Arthur, Texas. The Coordinator at the Hospitality

Center says the guests who eat there, rarely ever get a special dessert like a homemade Valentine’s cookie and will be elated to feast on something other than a dried out donut.

Let’s help make their VALENTINE’S super special!

HELP NEEDED

We are looking for families and/or individuals who are willing to BAKE Sugar Cookies that the students can decorate. We need 45 dozen sugar cookies

(Please do NOT frost cookies). Drop off cookies by Tuesday, February 13!

Sign the clipboard sheet if you can bake some cookies for us and/or provide icing!

“Check Out” our new books available on the red cart in the Narthex.

We have some new adult & children books on Martin Luther & the

Reformation. Please feel free to take 1 or 2— just leave check out card in the bucket provided on the cart.

You can also visit our Church Library in the Education Bldg.

If you take a book, just sign your name on the card & leave it on the desk.

Help support our High School Youth by purchasing a Holy Cross

Lutheran Church T-Shirt . This is a National Youth Gathering

2019 Fundraiser. This is the winning design by Lily Hardy. Details and order

forms are available on the clipboards.

Orders are due by: Sunday, February 4th!

EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWS Attendance: M/W T/Th

2’s 19 19 3’s 16 16 4’s 16 23 Total 51 58

February dates to remember:

February 13th & 14th Class Valentine Parties February 19th No School—NISD Closed

We are happy to report that our teachers and staff had a very successful experience at our Texas Dis-trict ECE Conference and are excited to bring back many new ideas to implement in our classrooms.

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Diane Rose, “The Blind Quilter” Coming March 3, 2018!

Sponsored by:

Golden Triangle Zone

LWML SPRING EVENT hosted by

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 2711 Helena Avenue Nederland, TX 77627 # (409) 722-1609

Mark your calendar NOW!

Registration begins at 9:30am

Program starts at 10:00am

followed by Lunch

You won’t want to miss this inspiring, faith-filled woman of God! Bring your

friends, neighbors, relatives; they will all be blessed by her message!

Vision–impaired with glaucoma all her life, Ms. Rose became blind as a result of an accident in 1984, a mere four days before she was to undergo a cornea

transplant. Not only has that condition not slowed her down, Rose has used it to serve as a means to motivate others to achieve their true potential.

Diane’s testimony of faith, hope and encouragement is one that all people of all

nationalities and all walks of life can identify with. Whether wealthy or homeless, young or old, souls are heartened by the message of comfort, expectancy, re-

assurance and fortitude; all delivered with a sense of humor and conviction, from a woman who has endured struggles and heartache, fear and rejection; but who has

prevailed over all by the love of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Diane will bring samples of her quilts and other items that can be purchased for Christmas or other occasions. All proceeds go to building a house that will be

used to help other challenged people.

Registration Fee $5.00 (includes lunch) Make your lunch reservation by calling Rosemarie Herring at 201-5710,

or Susan Simmons @ 549-9023 by MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26.

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Dear Holy Cross Members and Friends:

Wow! What a year 2017 has been! Thank you so much for your grace, love, support and

encouragement throughout this year. I want to sincerely thank you for your overwhelmingly

gracious Christmas gift this year and the extra-special gifts along the way! I know with

certainty that not every DCE in our synod is as blessed as I am ,and for that I am truly

thankful! I am blessed beyond measure!!

Secondly, I want to thank everyone who has supported Ron and I through the announce-

ment of our relationship, to our engagement, to the “Meet Mr. McChristy” lunch, and your

enthusiasm for my upcoming wedding! If you don’t already know, I was engaged on Christ-

mas Day, in the airport in Wichita to Ron McChristy who I met online, and we are beyond

excited about our amazing future together. I would be remised if I didn’t re-

mind you that YOU ARE FAMILY !!! Yes, I am foreigner from the frozen

tundra of Wisconsin, but you welcomed me in from day one as your daughter, your grand-

daughter, your sister, your friend and I am so incredibly indebted to each of you and can’t

wait to celebrate my wedding with each of you! #squeal Nearly twenty years of relation-

ships and you have walked with me through all my ups and downs!

I LOVE YOU! You are my family forever and always! Thank you!

Lastly, 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, eve-

ry 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

without your unending support! Thank you to

everyone who has served in every capacity

throughout this year. You are significant and

prized! God’s blessings to you and yours as we

begin this new year together. I am so excited to

see what God has in store and I am looking for-

ward to partnering with you on this journey.

Love Always in Christ,

The future Mrs. Kristy McChristy

Ronald J. McChristy Jr.

Sally (our pet snake)

Chip and Charleigh Anne

(our schnauzers)

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5th-8th Grade

CONFIRMATION RETREAT Friday, March 23 through Saturday, March 24, 2018

Salem Lutheran Church—Tomball

The 5th thru 8th Grade Confirmation students will be attend-

ing EPICENTER together on Friday, March 23 through Satur-

day, March 24 for the Confirmation Retreat. Epicenter is a two

day, one night middle school youth gathering that features a house

band, high quality presenters, inflatables, a crazy dress dance, vid-

eo gaming, breakout sectionals and much, much more!

This is a REQUIRED event for all 5th-8th Grade Confirmation Students. The 5th-8th Grade Confirmation group will also be staying overnight at

Salem Lutheran Church—Tomball as part of this year’s retreat.

Questions? Contact DCE Kristy Witek @722-1609!

Cost: $60 (NON-REFUNDABLE Registration Fee) + cost of 1 meal on Saturday + souvenirs + snacks at snack bar

*Registration Fee covers cost of event, travel, housing + 1 Meal on Friday and 2 meals on Saturday

Adult Counselors are also needed for this event! Please register online as well if you are

18+ years old or older and would like to serve in this way!

DEADLINE DEADLINE DEADLINE Registration form must be turned in to DCE Kristy Witek by

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Fill out the REGISTRATION FORM by clicking the link below and

return $60 to DCE Kristy Witek.

Checks written to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Registration is ONLINE ONLY! Adult Sponsors, please register online as well!

Go to www.holycrosstexas.org to register and click the Epicenter Picture!

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