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2020

Holy Cross Lutheran Church Nederland, Texas

WHY DON’T SOME PEOPLE TAKE HOME THE WORSHIP BULLETIN?

Pastor Craig Schinnerer

Last summer I published, midway through my year of “intentional interim” with y’all, some important observa-tions about Holy Cross Lutheran Church. I hope you remember them – 1) that this is a church family which

truly cares one for another, 2) that many church members, perhaps even a good majority of you, were con-

nected to the congregation primarily because of your relationship with the pastor, and 3) that this is a church,

which maybe more than a lot of churches, has (“had”?) found herself in a noticeable “routine” for many minis-

tries and activities. Those were all serious things to consider, both in praise to God and in prayer for change.

I believe they still need to be watched.

Before the new pastor arrives (see inside this newsletter), I hope to share with everyone a couple more notes

about Holy Cross Lutheran Church as someone, who, for a year as your intentional interim pastor, has had a “foot in and a foot out of” this congregation – yes, truly connected in my heart with y’all but also someone

who might be more objective about things than someone permanently entwined in the church.

For now, one quick observation here in this newsletter . . . shared first (as I also did last summer) in a light-

hearted way . . . Why do so many people drop the Sunday worship bulletin at the exit?

For a year it’s been driving me crazy, although it’s happening less and less I’ve noticed. Oh yes, there are per-

sonal reasons for my frustration. Early on in my tenure I realized that, maybe a bit more than some churches,

Holy Cross might need some instruction about the essence and details of our corporate worship. Even that

phrase “corporate worship” has been explained in the bulletins – worship “of the Body” of Christ. It’s a phrase many people in other congregations use all the time and understand. But, like other worship definitions,

some people here have needed it explained. I won’t go into detail about the dozens (hundreds?) of other

notes we’ve had in worship publications (and this newsletter!) the past year. In fact, I think just the phrase

“corporate worship” can make my point . . .

Your life of worship of your Savior has two aspects, and both are crucial. What we do on Sunday mornings

at 10:30 is a microcosm and foundation of your entire life with Christ! With some formality (yes, even in

“casual” more “contemporary” worship settings) when we gather, God does for you what He’s doing every day

in your life . . . and you’re doing for Him what you should be doing all the time. First there is repentance and confession, then the sharing of Christ’s grace, the Savior’s assurance of

your forgiveness and His gift to you of righteousness in Him. That happens in every “corporate” wor-

ship service, and the same thing happens when you get up in every morning and remember your Baptism

– you acknowledge your sin buried at the cross, then rise as God’s forgiven, righteous, empowered heir.

Then you hear Christ’s Word. It’s not a “sporadic” thing like some sort of tent-revival giving you a shot of

spiritual adrenaline. No, our Lutheran worship is more like a “menu” of good, well-balanced meals, a reg-

ular regimen of “feeding” on the truths of Scripture. Oh, you may not consciously remember every Bible

truth in the hour of Sunday worship. Do you remember everything you ate for breakfast a week ago? But week-by-week in your corporate worship (and group Bible study) and day-by-day in your personal/

family devotions you get nourished in all of the Scriptures.

You then respond to God’s gifts to you (that’s why we call corporate worship the “Divine Service” – God

first serving you!) with your thankful and joyful sacrifice of praise. On Sundays we sing and pray and

share God’s material gifts. Every day you have the same daily mission – to shine Christ’s light in this dark

world with your words and actions.

Finally, you are blessed – the “Benediction” in our corporate worship . . . life in glory at the end of this

world’s days!

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So . . . What we do on Sunday mornings should “echo” all through your week!

This past month had some good examples: On December 15 we lit the pink candle on the Advent Wreath,

and I hope the pink worship bulletin was on your kitchen table reminding you of that crazy “Pink Candle

Sunday” joy all week long. Similarly, I write this just after “The Nativity of Our Lord”, and I hope the Christ-

mas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins are still floating around your house to continue your singing of Christ-

mas carols all through the Christmas Season.

Every Sunday’s bulletin can do that.

In the first days of the Church after Pentecost, the early followers of Christ were “attending the tem-

ple and breaking bread in their homes” (Acts 2:46) – they were both gathering together at the Jeru-

salem temple for formal growth together in Christ’s grace . . . and living in that grace privately in

their daily lives and personal relationships.

The two must go together. If you’re just showing up on Sundays with no change in your daily life, Christ’s

Word has been compartmentalized into just an “institutional” activity. If you’re not showing up on Sundays,

you’re missing the strength of Christ’s Word from other Christians that nourishes you to live with Him every

day. The start of Romans 12 emphasizes both . . .

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God – the Apostle Paul has shared formally in

the previous chapters how they are saved by grace alone because of Christ’s work and righteousness in

their place – to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God – now they (still

“together” as one “sacrifice” but with their individual bodily lives) respond with their total life – which is

your spiritual worship.

With each Sunday’s corporate worship as your strength (and maybe with the Sunday bulletin in

hand), worship your Savior individually (but still “together”) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!

VISIT WITH PASTOR KNIPPA JANUARY 6

On Sunday, December 15, the voters of Holy Cross Lutheran Church called as pastor Rev. Joshua

Knippa of Jefferson City, Missouri. Pastor Knippa is now prayerfully considering both our call to him

and his present call from Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City. He’s talking with both congrega-

tions and studying both churches and their ministries, guided by God’s Word and Spirit.

Pastor Knippa will be in Nederland on Monday, January 6. He’ll visit with church servant-leaders in the

afternoon. Then that evening at 7:00 everyone is invited to meet him in the Family Life Center. We’re

planning dessert for everyone as our pastor-elect asks us questions about Holy Cross and the community.

There should also be some casual time to visit with him personally. Let’s seize our one opportunity to make

a good first impression!

Usually, a pastor needs a month for prayer and research before either accepting or returning

(declining) a call. Of course we’ll let everyone know as soon as we hear of Pastor Knippa’s decision. Also it

usually requires a pastor a month to move and to begin work. So we’re looking at mid-February, at the ear-

liest, for our new pastor to start his ministry among us. Should Pastor Knippa decline our call, we can ex-

tend a call to one of the two remaining candidates on our official “Call List” . . . or start the entire research/

interview process (two months) again by requesting new names from our Texas District, then scheduling the

two special voters meetings to extend a call from a new list.

The covenant with our intentional interim pastor concludes at the end of January, but it has a provision for a

few months of extension (to be negotiated with prayer and discussion by the pastor, elders, and congrega-

tion). The interim pastor is required to depart two weeks before the permanent pastor’s arrival, and Pastor

Schinnerer will probably make those two Sundays his final two vacation weeks.

Above all, keep Pastor Knippa, Faith Lutheran, and Holy Cross in your daily prayers! God’s will be

done!

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ADVENT & CHRISTMAS THANKSGIVINGS TO GOD

The best gift of God is the Babe in the manger! But Christ has come to us this past month in His Word alive in so many wonderful, joyful sacrifices done in His name. Knowing both that we don’t see everyone’s service and also that those we note do not serve for human recognition, still here’s an incomplete list of thanks to God for . . .

the children who helped so much this month, especially with the assembling of the crèche (nativity sce-ne) . . . Oh yes, their presentation of the Christmas story in our Sunday worship on December 22 was in-spiring, but so warming to our hearts was also the small children bringing sheep and shepherds and Jo-seph and Mary and the magi up to the front before every Sunday and Wednesday worship. (Little Rachel so reverently brought forward the Baby on Christmas Eve and the angel on Christmas Day!)

Anna for her development (quickly!) and direction of the December 22 Children’s Christmas Presen-tation . . . and Lauren for leading the children’s music! Wonderful!

Organist Nancy Hart-Hoffmann and Music Director Lauren Millner-Sanchez! They are so gifted to as-sist us in worship all the time, but especially in these festival seasons. Some may not “catch” all the nu-ances of Nancy’s organ stylings, but her expertise does truly help you sing and get the most out of the lyrics. Lauren is such a blessing on the microphone leading us in the liturgy and hymns.

our Adult Choir and Handbell Choir . . . also our soloists! It’s impossible to say which anthem was the “best” this past month – everything blessed and edified the Body of Christ. The voices sang every single Sunday, with two special solos (Lauren, Becky) in the two Christmas Eve services. Anita and her ringers were nervous about “O Holy Night” on Christmas Eve, but it sounded perfect.

brass and flute on Christmas Eve!!! Jacob and Michael and Susan added so much to our worship at the cradle . . . and on very, very short notice!

our band . . . leading our casual/contemporary worship on December 15 and December 29 and fitting con-temporary music to each day’s theme perfectly . . . loved the “live” carols especially!

Henrietta for communing with us on Christmas Eve! She’s actually one of our homebound members who made, with the help of her daughter, an extraordinary physical effort to be with us in person . . . as she always is in spirit!

Leah and her altar workers . . . for banners and greens and wreath and tree and candles and crèche and so much more! Everything has been just beautiful and everything pointed us to Christ! Thank God for Benny and other men handling a lot of the “grunt work” . . . like lifting the gigantic tree! (Thank you also to the tree donors!!!)

Pat and his ushering crew for handling the candlelight details on Christmas Eve without a hitch – the best organization for “Silent Night” in any church our interim pastor has ever seen!

the congregation for the extraordinary Christmas gift to the pastor’s family! As big as that gift was, the show of your love in Christ was evidenced as even more precious than the money.

our quilters (especially the pastor’s wife from Hope Lutheran Church in Winnie) who made our pastor a gorgeous, gorgeous Christmas gift! What love in those hands and their handiwork!

We’ll probably include some more Christmas (forgotten) thanksgivings in next month’s newsletter. Always let us know when we can publicly acknowledge God’s gifts of others to one another!

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Deadline

for February

Newsletter Monday,

January 20!

Fit & Fun Fellowship

Tuesday, January 21st @ 1:30-3pm

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION NEWS

Happy New Year!!!

ECE resumes Tuesday January 7th. We hope you all had a great Christmas and holiday break.

Reminder we will be closed Thursday January 23rd. so that our staff can attend conference.

Veronica Ochoa and the ECE Staff

God’s Paint Brush

Trees!

Yes, trees—but , now I want you to take another look at the tree. Many trees at this time are bare of any foliage.

But what they reveal is so full of wonder. Like art work really.

You are familiar with the “Family Tree”. Well, what about the “Tree of Life”? If you look, a branch can go many ways—some have smooth angles, some sharp.

Yes, we all know those twist and turns.

Here are some passages in the King James Version of the Bible— I actually found 58. But, here are just a few:

• Leviticus 23:4 • Isaiah 4:2 & 60:21 • Psalm 1: 1-3 • Proverbs 11:28 • Matthew 24: 32-33

During 2020—may you all have a year that yours and my branches grow and spread in the days to come.

Happy New Year!

Sharon Teinert

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

Don’t forget our

“Fruits of the Spirit” Contest.

Entries for the month of January should reflect the meaning of the word “KINDNESS”.

Get yours ready & turned in on or

before, Sunday, January 19th.

Prizes awarded for the best adult entry and child entry!

There’s a critical need for dollars to support our Spanish Mission for the

Spanish speaking community in Mid & South County.

Donations can be sent to: Trinity Lutheran Church,

2400 5th St., Port Arthur, Texas 77640

& earmark for “Spanish Mission.”

Any questions, call Linda Turner, Trinity Lutheran Secretary

@ # (409) 983-1130.

UBM (United Board of Missions) is a local nonprofit

organization supported by our church and other churches in Mid and South Jefferson

county. We help those in need with food, clothing, Share-a Toy at Christmas,

a Back to School supplies & clothing program, various other needs of those

families without sufficient income. etc. At this time, the food

pantry at UBM is in need of peanut butter, jelly, 1 lb bags of rice

and beans, canned meat and fruit, and corn meal mix.

Please contact Pam Vincent or Carolyn Barras if you have any questions.

A box will be in the Narthex for these items. Thanks.

K.I.D.S.

(Kids Into Discipleship & Stewardship)

stamp program to teach children about saving money that helps Lutheran churches & schools

grow .25 cent & $1 stamps are available.

Please see Joel Pinnt to purchase.

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Plan to be with us each week for a

free supper at 5:30, then Midweek, Confirmation,

& Bible study Classes at 6-7pm. We have classes for all ages!

Circuit 34 Youth Tournaments begin: Friday, January 31st through Sunday, February 2nd

They will take place at St. Paul’s in Groves.

• Nancy Beckcom is coaching Volleyball. • Chris Harms is coaching Basketball. • Benny Elisar is coaching Ping-pong. • Colette Stahl is coaching Bible Quiz.

.

If you haven’t been attending our 9:00 Sunday morning

Adult Bible Study, this month could be a great time to start.

All you need do is show up in the

conference room by 9:00!

We provide all the materials. We’ll look for you!!!

News from

for your children— ages 3 years —8th grade

at 9am in the Education Building.

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january Birthdays

Anniversaries

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— Donna & Chris Wolfe

27—Amber & Chris Harms

31— Cathy & Leonard Glick

25— Jude Stewart 26— Dorothy Morgan 27— Max O’Connor 28 — Robert Barron Kathryn Carreon Jarod Doyle 29— Jessica Baca Jan Laurents Lisa Richard 30—Evan McEachern Walter Perryman

Adult Choir: Sundays in the

Choir Room, Ed. Bldg. right after church

Little Lambs Children’s Choir

Meets after Sunday School Lauren Millner-Sanchez,

director 679-6062

Handbell Choir Meets on Wednesdays in

Sanctuary in the Choir Loft @ 7pm Anita Ashby,

director 201-5047

To: Outdoor Sign Fund In memory of Mark Ludwig

Rodger Beckcom Gilbert Diaz

(Yolanda Schrader’s brother)

William Glen Young (Nancy Hart Hoffman’s

Father) Nina Barras

(Carolyn Barras’ Sister-in-Law) Beth Williams

Charlotte Vincent (Krautz’s 2 nieces)

Dennis Dunlap given by:

Judy & Pat Sturgis

In memory of: Evelyn Ludwig

given by: Carolyn Barras

To: Library Fund

in memory of Evelyn Ludwig

given by: Pam & Steve Vincent

In memory of Dorothy Mau

given by: Pam & Steve Vincent

Mr/Mrs William Vincent Mr/Mrs Matt Vincent

To: Quilters Fund

In honor of Irene Primeaux

given by: The Quilting Circle Rosemarie Herring

To: LWML Fund

in memory of Evelyn Ludwig

given by: Ida Trojcak

To: ECE Fund in memory of Evelyn Ludwig Dorothy Mau Ryan Wilson

given by: Lori & Wayne Halbert

1—Gary Trojcak 2— Jim Simmons 3— Jace Lemoine Alexis Smithy Sophie Swango 4—Barbara Newman Ann Scott 5—Lacey Blalock Eric Dutschmann 6— Amanda Lovelace 7— Curtis Beckcom Kevin Howard 8—Ruth Anne Perryman 9— Madison Lemoine 10— Tiffany Caywood Brian Durow 11— Derek Landry 14 — Tymbre Gack Brandy Kieschnick 15— Steve Hartman Lee Murray Charles Schrader 16- Kaitlyn Louvier 17—Susan Ludwig 18 — Angel Carreon 20 — Noah Hardy 22 — Doug Carter Colette Stahl Tyler Vickers 23— Patricia O’Neal Irene Primeaux Olivia Shipley 24— Abel Trevino Kaden Zampini

Prayer Card

Ministry Tuesday,

January 28th @ 10:30am.

in the Conference

To: Memorial Fund In memory of Evelyn Ludwig

given by: Pat Biar

Ted Ludwig Family Cara Holman Family

Sandra & Cary Erickson Eunice Fink

Joyce & Nick Ewing Genna & Chad Lechler

Meghan Windham Whitney Glenz

Diana or Larry Glenz Rev. & Mrs. Ronald Le Pere

Rev. Richard & Miriam Ludwig

In memory of Dorothy Mau

given by: Sandra & Cary Erickson

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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.

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

Quilting News:

Come join us on Thursdays 9:30am-2:30pm.

You do not have to know how to sew to join us.

We make quilts for Lutheran World Relief to be distributed to people in need.

We accomplish much—along with fun & fellowship.

We continue to collect cotton material, blue jeans, denim or cash for supplies.

Any questions, please call: Rosemarie @ 201-5710.

LWML will begin collecting items for the Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief! When natural disaster strikes or political conflict flares, families often have little chance to gather their belongings before fleeing

the danger. They arrive in a refugee camp or other place of safety scared, vulnerable and dirty from the travel.

The simple 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.

The following items are needed for each Personal Care Kit:

• 1 light-weight bath-size towel (20”x40” to 27”x52”) dark color • 2 bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping • 1 adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging* • 1 sturdy comb (no picks or fine-tooted combs), remove package

*Toothbrush multi-packs may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business envelope; no plastic bags or wrap.

Tuesday January 14th

at 6pm

Hostesses: Susan Simmons

Program:

to be announced

Activities: Annual Reports

Installation of Officers Appoint committees

We will have a collection box in the Education Building for donations of coats, sweaters, and sweats during the month of January. They will be given to Hospitality Center in Pt. Arthur.

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