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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.
BERGY’S BABBLE:
PERPETUAL CHRISTMAS
Vol. 19 No. 1 January
2013
CHRISTmas comes but once a year! I can already hear the
cynical saying, “And thank God for that!” But as a friendly pastoral pre-
diction, I think that in the near future, December 25th will only come
once a year but it will last all year long. Wouldn’t daily CHRISTmas be
wonderful?
The songs and carols of the season are beautiful, and now I am
pleased to hear them in stores before Halloween. Wal-Mart got their first
CHRISTmas aisle set up this year at the beginning of September. I
pushed all the toy buttons on the aisle to get the CHRISTmas carols go-
ing. It was so hot that day, and it actually made me feel cooler.
One thing that bothers me is the amount of people who can’t wait
for the 26th so they can get their CHRISTmas tree out into the garbage.
Of course that’s probably wise, in case the tree is totally dried out, since
it was purchased the Monday before Thanksgiving when the first tree
shipments came into town. Clearly a post-modern CHRISTmas has
shifted the original 12 days of CHRISTmas around. The Twelve Days of
CHRISTmas traditionally took us up to January 6th, Epiphany.
The Lindsborg Swedes always liked to keep the party going a little
longer. So we celebrated Tjugondag jul (Twentieth Day Yule). January
13th is St. Knut’s Day (also spelled Canute).
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The candy decorations on the tree are eaten while the tree is dismantled
and taken down. Then everyone brings their bare CHRISTmas tree down
to a huge pile on the sandbank of the Smoky Hill River just under the
Old Mill dam. Occasionally I was called upon to bring my French Horn
and play some kind of fanfare for King Knut when he strode in with a
large torch to start the bonfire blazing with flames as high as the railroad
bridge. I always had to improvise something with open valves on my
horn because all the valves would freeze open on that wintry night.
But actually, I like to enjoy the CHRISTmas tree until at least
Valentine’s Day. By that time, Candy is asking me to please take the tree
out under the cover of darkness so the neighbors don’t think we’re nuts. I
say, “Why hide the truth?” CHRISTmas is now a distant memory to the
neighbors, and I’m still celebrating.
After all, we just did the whole department store, from-the-1st-of-
September-until-December-24th-thing, which according to my count is
almost 4 months. What’s the problem? Between me and the department
stores we’ve already got six months of the year covered with CHRIST-
mas. I call that better, not worse.
Toss in Lent and Easter and it brings us up to 8 solid CHRIST-
related months invoking CHRIST. Even popular culture, and secular
society have taken up the CHRIST banner inadvertently, simply through
the invocation of his name. Like they say, “Any advertising is good ad-
vertising.”
It would save a lot of confusion if we would just celebrate
CHRISTmas everyday. Perpetual CHRISTmas would keep us focused on
carrying the CHRISTchild through our bodies into the world on a daily
basis.
A heartful of happiness and love to you and yours in these Holy
Days of CHRISTmas!!!!
See you in worship, ………………….Bergy
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HCLC COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 09, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 11:40 a.m.. Present at the meeting
were Wayne Schaper, Wendy Lambeth, Pastor Jhon J. Arroyave, Pastor
Jim Berggren, Sharon Wagner, Alvin Garza, Sandra Williams, Nancy
Beamesderfer, AIM Karen Davidson, Mike Appling and Carol
Prokofieff. Guest was Pat Curran.
Pastor Jim’s focus for the Advent services this year will be on the
Saints of the Christmas season. “Christmas in the Park” will take
place on Sunday, December 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.
The rolls full of candy were completed and delivered; they will go to
40,000 children who might not otherwise receive anything for
Christmas.
A questionnaire will be made available to the congregation for the
members to fill-out for the council to go over.
There will be a Council Retreat in January to focus on the direction of
the future of HCLC.
The next council meeting will be on Sunday, January 13.
Meeting adjourned at 12:47.
Submitted by
Wendy Lambeth, secretary
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DECEMBER - 2012
02 Sandra Williams
09 Bill & Bernice Rogge
16 HCLC to the Glory of God
23 The Appling Family
30 HCLC to the Glory of God
Please note new rate for each
flower arrangement: $45.00
FRIENDSHIP CLUB
will meet January 19, 2013
Family Life Center (FLC)
Games at 4:00 p.m.
Pot-luck supper will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Hostesses:
Betty Baring 713-895-9961
Alma Laubenberg 713-996-7479
Gloria McGarvey 713-686-3252
Please come and enjoy an evening of
great fellowship, good food and lot of fun.
Nancy Beamesderfer
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ALPHA & OMEGA
The Alpha and Omega Neighborhood Circle will meet at 5:00 p..m. on
Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the home of Sheldon and Betty Urwitz,
10615 S. Evers Park Drive.713-465-3235. For more information contact
Lucy Candler 713-460-2023.
THE FOOD PANTRY
Once again, Holy Cross has risen to the occasion! We filled 100 Thanks-
giving bags which were distributed (along with those from other
churches) to 579 families on Nov 19 and 20! Thank you for your partici-
pation in this rewarding effort, and thank you to the HCLC volunteers
who helped in any way with the distribution. It was hard work, but a lot
of fun!
Carol Prokofieff, on behalf of the East Spring Branch Food Pantry
Once again thank you all so much for your prayers and support. We are
truly blessed to be in this God loving Holy Cross family. God loves you
and so do we.
Love,
Ed and Anita Cooper and family
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HEAVENLY QUILTERS NEWS
The Heavenly Quilters thank you for your generous support. A former
Holy Cross member, Callie Schaper Hoffman, was this year’s winner.
Congratulations Callie. We raised $ 1,098.00 this year thanks to you.
WELCA will be collecting items for Seafarers’ Boxes that will be
distributed to seafarers coming through the Port of Houston. We will be
donating boxes throughout the year.
The items needed are:
There will be a box for donations in the Family Life Center under the
WELCA bulletin board.
Jodi Byerly
* Shoe Boxes
* Band-Aids
* Combs
* Dental floss
* Deodorant
* Disposable razors
* Flashlight
* Kleenex & Q-tips
* Lotion & Lip Balm
* Nail Clippers
* Needle & thread
* Shaving cream
* Soap & shampoo
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Address Book
* Calendar
* Disposable camera
* Gum & hard candy
* Key chains
* Paper & envelopes
* Pencils & pens
* Playing cards
* Puzzles & games
* Postcards
* Socks
* Stamps
* Texas souvenirs
* T-shirts
* Baseball caps
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BRUNCH BUNCH usually meets the 3rd Sunday of each month at a
different restaurant at 11:45am. No slicing, no dicing, just eating, chat-
ting, and leaving the dishes!! However, because of the community activ-
ity on Dec. 16, we are cancelling the December Brunch Bunch. We will
resume on January 20, at Escalante's Restaurant on the NE corner of
Woodway & Voss (6582 Woodway). Please contact Jeanette Dukleth
(832.326.7214 cell) or [email protected] to confirm that you are com-
ing. We need to make a reservation at this restaurant!. On February 17,
we will celebrate a late Valentine's Brunch at Rio Ranch, 9999 Wes-
theimer (Westheimer on the West side of 610). The full year's list is in
Crossties! Judy Hungerford
ST. JUDE RANCH
I will be collecting front pages of holiday, birthday, etc. greeting cards.
They will be sent to St. Jude Ranch for children in Boulder City, NV.
The pretty artwork will be used in making new cards for sale in their re-
tail stores on line or over the phone. Thanks!
Norma Berg (713) 957-0972
EARLY LEARNING CENTER
The Holy Cross Early Learning Center will be out for Christmas vacation
from December 21, returning January 8, 2013. We pray that all those at
Holy Cross Lutheran will experience joy, good health, and God’s richest
blessings for 2013! Susan Ince - Preschool Director
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Here we are – at the start of another New Year! 2013!! Remem-
ber when “2001 a Space Odyssey” was imagining the incredible space
age future? For that matter, remember the book “1984”?? Hard to imag-
ine that date as something just to dream about. People now in their 20’s
weren’t even born yet!
The point of all this is the acknowledgement that time is certainly not
static. It moves relentlessly on. And we must move with it. I look in my
mirror and know for certain that time has been marching on in my life.
And I haven’t been able to slow it down. But you know what?? It’s
when I look BACK that certain realities become clear. Plans that I’d
made, hopes that I’d nurtured, haven’t come to fruition as I’d imagined
them. Instead, God improved on them. Sometimes I certainly didn’t
recognize His hand, but I know now that He walked with me every step
of the way.
We are here for you, to walk with you as Christ walks with you. Let us
be Christ’s hands and feet, supporting you in your need. Our wish for
you in this New Year is that you find peace. And if we can lead you to
that peace it will be a two-fold blessing, to you and to your Stephen
Minister.
Please contact Pastor Jim, AIM Davidson, or me. We’re standing by.
God’s blessing, and Happy New Year!
Marge Carroll
Stephen Ministry Coordinator
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Holy Cross members celebrating birthdays this month:
If your name is not listed or if this is incorrect information
please let me know so that the list can be corrected.
Bettye Raschke
GRIFFIN, Betty
20334 Memorial Pass Dr.
Katy, TX 77450
05 Elsie Schulze
06 Emma Keller
07 Helen Jacob
Debra Moore
08 Maureen Fredrickson
Chris Abrego
09 Hiroko Lamont
Francisco Araiza
13 Brenda Duarte
14 Jan Walker
15 Jeri O’Neill
16 Brent Baumann
Edwin Pineda
17 Kelley Keller
Hartman Caicedo
19 Melvin Morales
20 Julia Linn
23 Jean Baxter
Kris Drosche
William Allcorn
24 Charles Pustejovsky, Sr.
Clarice Gross
Megan Schomburg
26 Ernesto Moreno, Jr.
27 Blanca Duarte
28 Dorothy Byerly
29 Jadher Abad
30 Wayne Schaper, Sr.
Juan Araiza
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READINGS, PSALMS & GOSPEL
JANUARY 2013
DATE 1st READING PSALM 2nd READING GOSPEL
01/06/2013 Isaiah 60:1-6 72:1-7,
10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
01/13/2013 Isaiah 43:1-7 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17,
21-22
01/20/2013 Isaiah 62:1-5 36:5-10 1 Corinthians
12:1-11
John 2:1-11
01/27/2013 Nehemiah 8:1-3,
5-6, 8-10
19 1 Corinthians
12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
CALENDARS
Thank you to all Holy Cross members and others who have so generously
donated calendars this year. I have been taking them to the Hospitality
Apartments at the medical center all year and they are truly appreci-
ated. There are 46 apartments in our building and most, but not all, of the
guests, are patients at M.D. Anderson. Others go to St. Luke, Methodist,
Memorial Hermann, TIRR, etc. These patients come from all walks of life
and are all colors and nationalities. They all have one thing in common:
they need housing while at Medical Center and cannot afford hotels or
other options. Our waiting list is very long and we try to make their stay as
comfortable as possible. We do have a limit on length of stay which is
three months. When these folks leave, their calendars go with them. That
explains why I collect calendars all year. There is always a need for them.
If you have extra calendars please don't discard them. We can use them.
I recently took a six-inch stack of calendars and by the time my shift was
over, they were all gone. There is a box on the floor of the closet opposite
the church office that is marked 'calendars'. If you don't see me personally,
please leave them there. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.
Joyce Pavelka (713) 861-6930
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S U N S H I N E S A I N T S
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
NOVEMBER 2012
Sunday English Services: 133
Sunday Spanish Services: 105
Prayer Chain Telephone and E-mail
Prayer chain requests and anyone who would
like to be added to the telephone
or e-mail Prayer Chain can notify:
Alma Laubenberg 713-996-7479 or email:
CHURCH
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Holy Cross
Lutheran Church’s
E-MAIL address is:
You may sign up for Altar Flowers in the
Narthex. Suggested donation
is $45.00 and $10.00 for a rose.
Remember in prayer the
homebound, disabled, long-term ill,
and prolonged recovering.
Ella Brezina
Ora Dell Dittmar
Betty Dodson
Doris Anne Drosche
Sig Ellerman
Nancy Mendel
Doris Pannell
Doris Polker
Dorothy Storenski
Sue Vogt
Roselain Larson
R E M E M B E R I N Y O U R P R A Y E R S
Dolores Abrego
Ed Cooper
Betty Griffin
Carol Kirsch
Martha A. Nakamura
Doris Pharries
Glen Schwartz
Vanna Teschner
Elaine Tinker
Gordon Tinker
Janis Vasut
TREASURER’S REPORT
If you have any questions call
Wayne Schaper, Sr. at (713) 465-5206.
NOVEMBER 2012
Receipts $ 44,985.00
Expenses 43,413.83
Balance $ 1,571.17
Operational receipts
year to date received ……. $ 389,535.49
Expenditures year to date ……. 414,411.34
Balance …… < $ 24,875.85 >
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“Holy Cross Lutheran Church is a community of Christians
gathered by God’s grace and reaching out through God’s love.”
TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS
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Church Office Sussy Basurto Office Manager & Events Coordinator
103 Rev. Jim Berggren Senior Pastor
104 Rev. Jhon J. Arroyave Hispanic Pastor
105 Karen Davidson Associate In Ministry
107 Financial Office
108 Stephen Ministry Office
109 Family Life Center
110 Nursery
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]
Web Site: www.holycross.us
YOUR CHURCH STAFF
† Rev. Jim Berggren — Senior Pastor email : [email protected]
† Rev. Jhon Jairo Arroyave — Hispanic Pastor
† Karen Davidson — Associate In Ministry email : [email protected]
† Sussy Basurto — Office Manager email : [email protected]
WORSHIP MUSICIANS
Matthew Coffey Choir Director Cathy Elijah Organist Jo Ann Meeker Pianist Ann Crick Pianist
EARLY LEARNING CENTER
(713) 461-5535
OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION
Mike Appling President Carol Prokofieff Vice President Wendy Lambeth Secretary Wayne Schaper, Sr. Treasurer
SATURDAY INFORMAL SERVICE
6:00 p.m. — Atrium
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
English Service : 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School : 10:30—11:15 a.m.
Spanish Service: 10:30 a.m.
Estudio Bíblico y Escuela Dominical
11:30 a.m.—12:15 p.m.