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TRANSCRIPT
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Holy Cross Lutheran Church
“Sharing the
Ointment for Jesus’
Feet, Giving God
our Very Best” Cf. John 12:3
Our mission statement:
Celebrating God’s love
by worshipping God,
caring for each other,
and serving in community.
Vol. 25
No. 7
July 2019
Tommy Neumann is right. If you want to have a lot of fun and go
on cool trips in high school, join the band or the choir, learn your part well,
and watch the director. Mr. Krehbiel, my high school Band Director,
pushed me into auditioning and I made it into the Kansas State Lion’s Club
Band which was on deck for marching in the International Lion’s Club
Parade in New York City, the summer of ’66. Kids from all over Kansas,
gathered in Dodge City to rehearse. It started out like boot camp. We
marched from sun-up to sundown for a few hot summer days, before we
loaded up in buses bound for the Big Apple. At that point in our lives, the
biggest city that the most of us had ever seen was K-Mart.
What an adventure! The first chance at free time that I had, I took
the subway down to the West Greenwich Village, the center of the beatnik
scene which was getting co-opted by the new-fangled hippy stuff. I sur-
rounded a ham sandwich at O’Henry’s Steakhouse on 4th, as I pondered his
great short story, “The Gift of the Magi.” I was hoping to run into Bob Dyl-
an who lived behind O’Henry’s, on 4th and Cornelia, where he wrote,
“Positively 4th Street.” — I watched a strange and colorful humanity, not
available for anthropological study in central Kansas. And I bought a hand-
made belt with an ornate buckle at a headshop across the street. Imagine
that. I still have an article of apparel that is older than many grandparents
are now.
BERGY’S BABBLE: “WATCH THE DIRECTOR ”
2
My mother, Nadine, was my first choir director. Church choirs and
school choirs, of course. She developed her directorial style from
Toscanini’s. Her baton was a #2 Ticonderoga Pencil. If you missed a cue
because you were gathering wool or cutting up, it was likely that you would
get that pencil thrown at you to get your attention. It was safer to watch the
director.
In 6th grade I got into the Lindsborg Grade School Band, with a spe-
cial dispensation from Mom, so that I could miss the first morning class at
New Gottland Elementary, a one-room country school, to rehearse in town.
Those music directors were apparently thick as thieves. I liked Mr. Tolle,
the band director in Lindsborg. I think he liked me because I was given to
understand that you might get speared with a pencil if you didn’t watch the
director.
I have a deep respect for elementary and secondary school music
teachers. They are some of the most amazing strategists in the world. How
can anyone take a roomful of hormonal children with spring fever and the
attention span of a dog in a room full of squirrels, and train them into a
cohesive group playing a recognizable tune? It’s impossible, and they do it
every day. Drop off your average high school band director at Sea World,
and by the next day the dolphins would be surfing while typing MacBeth,
and singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
One frantic day, near Christmas, Candy and my Mom and I were
shopping in a Houston department store in a declining area. There was a
pack of irritating little ruffians shrieking and running amok through the
store. I couldn’t take it and went to another department.
Then it got quiet and I heard a song on the other side of the store.
I went over to investigate and found Candy.
“What’s happening, Baby?”
“Oh, your Mom trapped’em in a corner and she’s teaching them
Christmas Carols!” She was directing a certifiably dangerous group.
… /// ...
… /// … Bergy’s Babble: “Watch the Director”
3
In high school, Mr. Krehbiel enjoyed the spring, because we could go
outside and march, practicing cadences, and formations and of course the
standard marching band tunes. We would always prepare for the May Day
Parade in McPherson, the four-times-larger rival town just south of Lindsborg.
There were programs in the bandshell, a May Pole wrapping ceremony in the
park, a carnival by City Hall, and the big parade on Saturday morning.
My freshman year as we marched down Main Street in McPherson
with black and orange school colors we were pelted unmercifully with the
peas from peashooters that every kid from McPherson had. I was proud of our
band. No one stepped out of formation. No one broke concentration or rank
under the onslaught. No one missed notes even through the pinging of peas
on the brass bells or the popping of projectiles on the drum heads. We
watched the director as he marched alongside us with an insouciant saunter, as
he suffered through the legume artillery attack without flinching. I made my
mind up then it wouldn’t happen again. I would not forget.
Sophomore year, May Day approached. I bought twenty-four pea
shooters and stockpiled peas in bulk from the feed store. The guys in band
passed it all out before the parade: Mostly to the trumpets, baritones and
French horns. The trombones were on the front row and would get caught.
So marching into battle on Pea Day, they were going to be sacrificed.
You can fit a lot of peas into an Oxford Shirt Pocket. The only in-
struction was, “When the first incoming starts, we will count with the cadence
to three, turn in unison (right side turn right and left side turn left) and unload
the first mouthful of peas. Mr. Krehbiel will probably cue up the next tune.
After the song is over, reload out of your shirt pocket. If we get attacked after
that we will do the same thing over again. Drop the pea shooters a block be-
fore the end of the route.” It was magnificent! I figured big trouble was
looming. Maybe suspension for the last week of school or grounding for life
and a day. But we didn’t hear a word. No feedback. That’s even scarier.
… /// ...
… /// … Bergy’s Babble: “Watch the Director”
4
… /// ...
… /// … Bergy’s Babble: “Watch the Director”
Junior year, many of us were sixteen and driving, so we spent April
marching in Lindsborg, and reconnoitering in McPherson. Much to our
chagrin, we could not find a single pea shooter or pea for sale. We checked
the Five and Dimes. Woolworth didn’t have them. Feed store was fresh
out. We were going to have to march down Main Street McPherson com-
pletely unarmed and without ammunition in the face of certain hooliganism.
It was a clear Second Amendment violation.
But no. The creative mind can find a solution. Wait. Yes…..one
can get a pack of fat straws for malted milks at the drugstore.
And…….ahhhhh, perfect! Tapioca pearls. We were set.
We won the Battle of Tapioca Day, in the spring of ’66. There was
one slight problem, though. Tapioca melts if it is in your mouth too long.
Some band members looked like they were foaming at the mouth, which I
am sure was a little dis-concerting for those who weren’t aware of what was
happening.
Senior year, January ’67, Mr. Krehbiel approached me with a propo-
sition. “Berggren, how would you like to learn percussion. Play tympani in
the orchestra, learn snare drum, develop new skills.” Hey great!! Good
idea!!! He gave me the N.A.R.D book from the National Association of
Rudimental Drummers. I practiced Rolls, Flam Paradiddles, the Ruff, and
the Triple Ratamacue. In the month of March he taught the first chair trum-
pet and me a complicated jazzy 16 bar snare drum marching cadence that we
loved. We weren’t just marching. We were dancing! We were the kings of
the band. And it became clear that we were far too busy to even think about
pea shooters. That May Saturday morning, lining up in ranks for the parade,
we watched the director, and figured out that he had seriously outsmarted us.
My admiration was profound. You just didn’t see him coming!
It was the second time that schoolyear that Mr. Krehbiel had
changed my life with a couple of little innocuous tweaks that I didn’t even
notice until after the fact. I always had to prepare a French horn solo for
music festival season. There were three contests; district, regional and state.
If you placed high you moved up to the next tier.
5
… /// ...
Mr. Krehbiel and I discussed which piece to enter. He said he
thought I was ready for the first movement of Hindemuth’s Concerto, a
modern piece composed in 1949. I said, “Why Hindemuth? I like Strauss.
It’s flashier.”
He said, “Yeah, but Hindemuth’s the hardest horn solo out there.
Even the judges with a score in front of them, won’t be able to keep up.”
“If it’s that hard I can’t learn it in two months. Impossible. You have
the music?”
“Don’t worry. You’ll have it down perfect in one month without the
music.”
“Mr. Krehbiel? No disrespect. Do you feel ok?”
“Sure. Here’s the vinyl recording by Dennis Brain, greatest horn
player ever. Listen to it in the morning when you get up and at night before
you go to bed. As soon as you are able, whistle or sing along with it. See if
you can whistle it when you are driving around or out in the field. When
you can whistle it perfectly you’ll get the music.” “Watch the director.”
It took maybe three weeks. I even banged out the melody on the
piano by ear for the fun of it. But looking at the piano keys, I could never
figure out what key it was in. I was straining at the bit, to try playing it on
the French horn.
When I passed his whistling test, Mr. Krehbiel grinned and gave me
the music. I almost fainted. It was all black notes, a lot of them. Only four
half-notes in the whole piece. The piece had 70 measures. That’s all. In
that 70 measures there were 39 time signature changes. It was a perfect
storm of visual chaos and mathematical anarchy, melody attached some-
where!?
“Get your horn out, Berggren, and play it.” And it came out right!
The notes were all in my ears, and when my eyes saw them I recognized
them.
Because the accompaniment was so difficult, I finally had to use
Mom as my accompanist.
… /// … Bergy’s Babble: “Watch the Director”
6
COUNCIL MEETING
Next Council Meeting:
Wednesday, July 17, at 4:00 p.m. in the Annex.
Church Council
… /// … Bergy’s Babble: “Watch the Director”
In her notes on her score she kept a tally of the number of times she
practiced certain problem sections. The notes on her music had 45 hash
marks, the amount of times we rehearsed the last 8 measures of the
piece. We had time because Easter was March 26th that year. If you get
the ending perfect, most judges won’t remember a little blooper in the
middle. Her other note said, “State Music Festival, Salina, 4/22/67, 1.”
If you Watch the Director, you will learn discipline. You will see
the cost of sacrifice. You will be led through danger. You will be under-
stood. You will be taught. You will get comfortable with risk. You will
witness cosmic ingenuity, and you will complete impossible tasks with
gifts you didn’t know you had. And you might learn to whistle real
good, too. He has a plan. Listen to the Music and Watch the Director.
See you in worship ………….…….. BERGY
7
MINUTES FOR COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 2019
The May 2019 Church Council meeting was called to order by Presi-
dent Wendy Lambeth on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 4:02 p.m.
Pastor Berggren opened the meeting with a prayer.
In attendance were: Pastor Jim Berggren, Pastor Jhon Jairo Arroya-
ve, Wendy Lambeth, Bettie Baring, Pat Curran, Deacon Karen
Davidson, Francisco Gonzalez, Julie Kilkenny, Bettye Raschke,
Wayne Schaper, Kay Vaccaro, and Sharon Wagner.
The minutes from the April Council Meeting were submitted by Julie
Kilkenny and unanimously approved by Council. They will be sub-
mitted for publication in Crossties and on the website.
The Treasurer’s report was presented by Wayne Schaper. Offerings
for the month of March were $37,995, an increase of $8,302 over the
previous month. (Mr. Schaper noted that Easter was in April this
year). Expenses for the month were $35,535, a decrease of $3,351
over April expenses. Year to date expenses, however, exceeded
offerings by $35,894. The checking account balance at 4/30/19 was
$222,570, not including restricted funds. The Endowment Commit-
tee has $586 interest available for disbursement. The Treasurer’s
report was unanimously approved as presented.
Pastoral Staff Reports:
Pastor Berggren updated Council on his activit ies over the past
month. He was happy with the Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
He noted that the Maundy Thursday service and feast was a success-
ful collaboration of English and Spanish congregants. Pastor
Berggren conducted memorial services for Al Pivonka on April 25 th
and for Jenny Copeland on May 13 th. He continues his visits with
homebound HCLC members, prospective members and visitors to the
church.
… /// ...
8
Pastor Arroyave r epor ted on the successful Easter celebr a tion
for the Spanish congregation. He continues efforts to ease the tran-
sition for the Spanish congregants after June 30 th. He anticipated
there will be 22 students celebrating their First Communion on May
26th.
Deacon Davidson updated Council on her activit ies for the
month. Her busy month included co-conducting the Tenebrae
Service on Good Friday and the Pivonka memorial service; she also
conducted the Sunday worship service when Pastor Berggren was
out of town. She continues visits, phone calls and prayers for HCLC
members and friends. She also prepares the PowerPoint presenta-
tion for the early worship service.
Old Business and Committee Reports:
Mr. Schaper gave a quick update on Buildings and Grounds. He
noted that there were no leaks during the recent rains, but that the
courtyard area was not draining well. HCLC is in the process of
getting an additional bid on resurfacing the parking lot from a com-
pany that did work for Memorial Hall School.
Bettie Baring updated Council on the WELCA meeting of May 4 th.
Election of WELCA officers was as follows: Convener: Nancy
Beamesderfer; Secretary: Marsha Thompson; Treasurer: Linda Cuz-
zort; Council Liaison: Bettie Baring; Historian: Kay Vaccaro; Cir-
cle Liaisons: Bettie Baring (Deborah Circle), Sharon Wagner (Ruth
Circle); Nominating Committee: Cathy Elijah, Bernice Rogge,
Hanne-Lore Sunder. Plans are underway for the tour and Scavenger
Hunt on June 9 th, to showcase improvement projects on the Holy
Cross campus.
Ms. Lambeth distributed an email from Mark Kilkenny regarding the
Telge property. To summar ize his email, Hilshir e Village
requested that Holy Cross seek a reclassification of the Telge
Property’s zoning status. … /// ...
…///… Council Minutes / May 15, 2019
9
… /// ...
Currently the entire campus is classified under a Specific Use Permit
(the property is zoned residential but used as a church). Hilshire
Village is asking HCLC “to file for rezoning of the portion of land
we are selling to the Type ‘A’ residential so that we can complete the
sale when we have a buyer.” He also noted that although there has
been interest in the property, “there are not many builders that can
afford to purchase the entire tract in a single transaction unless they
have one or two contract homes to start.” If this were the case, the
Committee could consider replotting the property into individual
lots, assuming Council would allow it. He noted the Committee
“would bring any such recommendation to church council prior to
modifying our plan of action.” President Lambeth asked Council to
give the Telge Committee the power to proceed on the rezoning issue
as it sees fit. The motion was duly motioned, seconded, and passed
by Council.
Ms. Lambeth reported on the progress of the Transition Team.
Francisco Gonzalez noted that some of the Spanish congregants were
still confused about what will happen after June 30 th when Pastor
Arroyave’s Call expires. After spirited discussion on this topic,
President Lambeth determined that it would be best to clear this up
by giving a temple talk on May 19 th, after the Spanish service. This
would be to discuss the transition and to answer questions from the
Spanish congregation. Mr. Gonzalez agreed to translate her com-
ments into Spanish, and several Council members planned to be there
to help answer questions.
New Business:
The Food Pantry asked for permission to remove four concrete car
stops in the back parking lot to make for better traffic flow during
the Thanksgiving food drive. Also, Mary White expressed concern
about parents driving too fast in the parking lot as Pantry clients try
to get heavy bags of food to their cars.
…///… Council Minutes / May 15, 2019
10
Sharon Wagner suggested putting orange cones out to alert drivers to
watch for pedestrians, and Wayne Schaper said he would talk to School
of the Woods administrators to remind drivers to do the same.
Requests for Building Use:
Stephanie Walton requested the use of the Craft Room and Youth
Room for an Art Camp (week of June 10 th). Approved by Council.
Clown School (June 11—August 10). Kay Vaccaro will get more
information.
Health screening company asked to use room(s) for screening and
scans. Declined.
Other New Business:
First aid class by J ohn Lambeth (on May 26 th): Identifying signs
of a stroke, basic CPR, how to use a defibrillator, basic first aid.
The missionary HCLC supported in Argentina is moving back to the
U.S.; however, ELCA Global Mission has asked for support of a
missionary in Peru.
Holy Cross received thank you notes from Texas Lutheran Universi-
ty for support of the Lutheran Advantage Scholarship.
Mr. Schaper presented an invitation for HCLC to participate in the
27th Annual Memorial Villages Independence Festival on J uly 4,
2019. Festivities include a parade, games, music, food and a Fun
Run.
President Lambeth challenged Council to bring Outreach ideas to the
next meeting.
The next Council meeting is scheduled for June 19, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
Upon motion to adjourn, the meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Kilkenny
Council Secretary
…///… Council Minutes / May 15, 2019
11
GUEST ORGANIST/PIANIST
On August 11, there will be a hymn sing with guest organist/pianist Carlo
Cotrone.
We’d like to include everyone’s favorite hymns. Please submit your 3 most
favorite hymns to the Hymn Selection Committee (Gloria McGarvey, Bettie
Baring, Sharon Wagner, Pastor Jim Berggren or Cathy Elijah) by July 20.
Cathy Elijah
WIGNES, Mim
(moved to live with Mike & Suzanne Doler)
Suzanne’s cell: 713-204-3790
1028 Redfield Dr.
Clyde, NC 28271-8277
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR
CHURCH DIRECTORY
PLEASE NOTE!
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS AT HOLY CROSS
Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Church Council
12
JUNE 2019
Altar flowers were donated by:
02 Betty Mooney
09 Ann Larson
16 Fredda Yurk
23 Betty Mooney
30 The Wegner & Campbell Families
DATE
1st READING
PSALM
2nd READING
GOSPEL
07/07/2019
Isaiah
66:10-14
66:1-9
Galatians
6:7-16
Luke
10:1-11
07/14/2019
Deuteronomy
30:9-14
25:1-10
Colossians
1:1-14
Luke
10:25-37
07/21/2019
Genesis
18:1-10a
15
Colossians
1:15-28
Luke
10:38-42
07/28/2019
Genesis
18:20-32
138
Colossians
2:6-15
Luke
11:1-13
READINGS, PSALMS & GOSPEL
JULY 2019
13
FRIENDSHIP CLUB
We will have our July 4th, celebration on Saturday, July 20th.
We will have hot dogs with all the trimmings. Alice Braun will be our
hostess and will provide dessert. Please RSVP to Alice (281-636-5342) by
July 16th, so we will know how many hot dogs, buns, etc. will be needed.
Nancy Beamesderfer
PATRIOTIC SERVICE AND HOT DOG
We’re having the Patriotic worship and a hot dog lunch on July 7th.
There will be chili and potato salad side dishes. For dessert we will have a
Bake-off. Bring your favorite dessert, no categories, no rules, no store
bought items! May the best treat win! There will also be a door prize.
The hot dog lunch is in its sixth year! This year the funds will go to the
Lutheran World Relief quilting group who rely entirely on donated fabric to
make quilts shipped throughout the world. A suggested donation for the
lunch is $5.
Please talk to Gloria McGarvey if you’d like to help.
See you there!
Cathy Elijah
14
If your name is not listed or if this is incorrect information
please contact the Church Office so that the list can be corrected.
Holy Cross members celebrating birthdays this month:
03 Nancy Beamesderfer
04 Gordon Tinker
07 Yedith Gomez
08 Meredith Schomburg
Christopher Lambeth
09 Laura Ruthstrom
11 Jessica Latigo
12 Calvin Remmert
Lissett Hernandez
16 Gloria McGarvey
18 María Villegas
Giselle Díaz
20 Betty Firth
24 Ilda Torres
26 Jessica Villegas
27 Antonio Díaz
28 Julie Kilkenny
29 Irene Meyer
31 Loy Dell Kaltwasser
Vernon Thielemann
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!
15
R E M E M B E R I N P R A Y E R
The homebound, disabled, long-term
ill and prolonged recovering.
If you are not receiving HCLC
Prayer Request emails and would
like to, please contact
Renee Allcorn:
or call (713) 254-8638
Note that Prayer Request emails
are sent out daily, so if you are on
the email list and did not receive
any email, please contact Renee.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
SUMMER ONLY
Monday—Thursday
9:00 am—4:00 pm
Friday 8:30 am—2:30 pm
You may sign up for
Altar Flowers
in the Narthex.
Suggested donation is $50.00
and $12.00 for a rose.
Ed Cooper
Betty Firth
Betty Morris
Elaine Snell
Rosie Stork
Doris Wahlberg
TREASURER’S REPORT
If you have any questions call
Wayne Schaper, Sr. at (713) 465-5206.
MAY 2019
Receipts $ 25,485.75
Expenses 38,484.11
Balance < $ 12,998.36 > =================
Operational receipts
year to date received …….. $ 143,481.75
Expenditures year to date ..… 189,961.46
Balance < $ 46,479.71 > =================
Building Rental $ 640.00
English
Saturday: 16
Sunday: 72
Spanish
Sunday: 90
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
MAY SERVICES IN 2019
Dolores Abrego
Julie Davidson
Karen Estes
Vivian K.
Nanette Luker
Ida Pearl
McDonald
Calvin Remmert
Steven Simmons
16
TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS
100 Church Office
101 Sussy Terry
103 Rev. Jim Berggren Senior Pastor
104
105 Karen Davidson Deacon
107 Financial Office
108 Stephen Ministry Office
109 Family Life Center
111 Volunteer Office
Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spring Branch
A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
7901 Westview Dr. Houston, Texas 77055
Tel. (713) 686-8253 Fax (713) 686-9095
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.holycross.us
“Holy Cross Lutheran Church is a community of Christians
gathered by God’s grace and reaching out through God’s love.”
YOUR CHURCH STAFF
† Rev. Jim Berggren — Senior Pastor Email : [email protected]
† Karen Davidson — Deacon Email : [email protected]
† Sussy Terry — Office Manager Email : [email protected]
WORSHIP MUSICIAN
Cathy Elijah Music Director / Organist
OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION
Wendy Lambeth President
Bettye Raschke Vice-President
Julie Kilkenny Secretary
Wayne Schaper, Sr. Treasurer
SATURDAY INFORMAL SERVICE
6:00 p.m. — Atrium
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
English Service : 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School : 10:45 a.m.
Office Manager and Events Coordinator
EARLY LEARNING CENTER
ELC (713) 461-5535
Email: [email protected]