CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH24155 Griswold RoadSouth Lyon, MI 48178

248-437-8810Fax: 248-437-7708

www.crossofchristlutheran.org New Email: cross-christ@att.net

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.Holy Communion is celebrated on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.

Sunday School: 10 a.m. – 3 years old through fifth grade Adult Bible Study: Sundays 9:00 a.m. & Friday 7:00 p.m. (once a month)

Youth Bible Study: 11 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Dear Beloved Members and Friends,

Happy New Year!

Did you get some new clothes for Christmas? Are you planning to wear your new clothes in the new year? You may be planning to buy clothes in after Christmas sales. You could wear new clothes in the new year 2013.

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2013? Some of us resolve to lose weight in the new year. We resolve to start exercising or to exercise more. We may resolve to start reading the Bible or to read more of God’s Word. I invite you to prayerfully consider attending an adult Bible class in 2013. We might resolve to pray more. I invite you to prayerfully consider resolving to worship God in a Lutheran church every Sunday.

In the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives us clothes to put on and resolutions to make and do. Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Put on love. Bear with each other and forgive one another. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. These may be new clothes and new resolutions for you. Please prayerfully consider these new clothes and new resolutions for the new year.

You are God’s chosen person. You are holy in God’s sight. Jesus made you holy when He shed His blood for you on the cross. God chose you and made you holy when you were baptized. God chose you by the gospel when you were converted. God loves you. God chose you before the creation of the world to be blameless and holy in His sight. God gave you the forgiveness of sins that Jesus accomplished for you on the cross. God clothed you with Christ and His righteousness. God poured His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit He gave you in Baptism.

PASTOR’S LETTER Continued

Bear with each other and forgive one another. “Forgive, whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) Grievances are things people do and say that offend us but don’t break commandments. Forgive grievances and offenses. Forgive each other as the Lord forgave you. Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) You can say to believers who have grieved and offended you, “I forgive you.” Our Lord has forgiven you from His heart. You can forgive each other from your heart. Jesus forgiving you can motivate you to forgive people who have offended you.

The Holy Spirit guides us to “put on love.” Agape love binds all these virtues and fruit of the Spirit together in perfect unity. Love strives to know people. Love has blessed purposes for people. Love makes commitments to others. We love people with loving deeds and words. Love binds compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness together in perfect unity. When we put on love, it can bind our congregation together in unity. When you put on love, it can bind your marriage and family together in unity.

May God bless you and your family during this month of January and always!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,Pastor Terry Nelson

Pastor and Chris thank you for the beautiful card and generous gift.It is a blessing to serve such a loving and giving congregation.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and partnership in the Gospel.May God bless you and our congregation in 2013!

SUNDAY SCHOOL classes are held at 10 a.m. for children three years old (by Dec. 1 st) through fifth grade. Children are dismissed to their classes from the worship service after the opening hymn. YOUTH in grades 6-12 are meeting periodically for fun events. Watch your bulletin for updates. Bible Study is held at 11 a.m. the first and third Sundays of the month.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

THANK YOU to Janelle Rapson-Lach for directing this year’s Sunday School Christmas Program! We thank our talented participants for giving of their time and sharing their gifts. Special thanks to Onnalee Lach and Tom & Kelly Hackbardt for their assistance with program preparation. Thanks to Tom Hackbardt for setting up the outdoor manger scene again this year.

CONFIRMATION instruction, for young people in 7th and 8th grades, is held Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in having your child join the group, give Pastor Nelson a call. SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS

The Adult BIBLE CLASS meets Sundays at 9 a.m. We are beginning a study of the Book of Philippians on January 6. We encourage all to attend.

In this Epistle, Paul characterizes the Christian life in this way: joy no matter what the circumstances; an eagerness to suffer for Christ; humility that follows Christ in putting others first; trust in Christ alone for righteousness.

The study of Philippians seeks to enable God’s people today to: Live in a way worthy of the Gospel;

Put all their anxieties in the hands of their Lord, trusting Him to supply them with His peace;

Trust God to meet all of their physical and spiritual needs according to His glorious riches in Christ.

FRIDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

On Friday evenings once a month at 7 p.m. we are continuing the video series “The Truth Project” by Focus on the Family. The video and discussion are followed by refreshments and fellowship. The next study will be held January 11, at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

You don't have to be a Biblical 'expert' to participate. It is not necessary to have come to last year’s sessions to start now as each unit is self-contained.

Any questions, contact Michael & Claudia Abrash or Pastor & Chris Nelson. We look forward to having you join us!

Jesus promises “if you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

(John 8: 31, 32)“For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.”

(Matthew 18:20)CROSS OF CHRISTCHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL

We are enjoying a full enrollment this school year at preschool. If you are new to our congregation and would like information, we would love to have you visit our school. We offer a play-based program for three and four year olds, with age appropriate academics. We enroll each year in March for upcoming fall classes. Call 248-437-8810 for more information.

ADULT CHOIR

People of all voices are needed -(soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). If you enjoy singing praises to God, please prayerfully consider singing in the Choir. Speak with Pastor Nelson if interested. Our Choir sings once a month at the 10 a.m. worship service.

COFFEE HOUR will be hosted on Sunday, January 20, by the Board of Trustees.

2013 COFFEE HOUR SCHEDULE3rd Sunday of the Month

January Board of TrusteesFebruary Altar GuildMarch Women’s OutreachApril Church CouncilMay Stewardship & Evangelism

You are invited to sign up on the Information Board to contribute items for the Coffee Hour. This helps spread the responsibility among our members. The hosting Board sets up and cleans up after Coffee Hour.

2013 ALTAR FLOWERS

The 2013 FLOWER CHART is up in the Fellowship Hallway, near the kitchen. Flowers may be purchased for $16 per vase, in celebration of special events or in memory of loved ones, and taken home after the worship services. Checks are made out to “Cross of Christ” – designated “Altar Flowers.” Every Sunday someone signs up saves our church the cost of altar flowers. Thank you!

T H A N K Y O U

Thank you to James & Carole Bedard and Bedard Shade Tree Co. for all of their work in keeping our landscaping and trees beautiful and healthy.

We thank Bonnie Reichert for all of her time and effort in organizing the Fellowship Hall painting project. Thank you also to Scott Lanam and Brent Sterling for putting up chair rails on the walls of the Fellowship Hall.

Thank you to all of our Board members and Chairpersons (Elders – Michael Abrash, Evangelism/Stewardship – Gary Albin & Carole Bedard, Trustees – Bonnie Reichert, Sunday School Superintendents – Tom & Kelli Hackbardt, Preschool – Karen Hantz); and our Officers (President James Morrison, Vice-President Gary Albin, Treasurer Julie Mattison, Financial Secretary Chuck Deeds, and Congregation Secretary Louise Rucker) who serve the Lord the year through! . . Also, our Elders, Sunday School Teachers, Ushers, Greeters, Acolytes, Altar Guild, Organists, Choir, Praise Team & Musicians, Women’s Outreach, Money Counters, VBS workers, and Funeral Dinner helpers!

HELP NEEDED

All of our Boards need additional help in the New Year. The Trustees and Board of Evangelism/ Stewardship are looking for additional members. Women’s Outreach, our Choir, Sunday School, and VBS would love help. Packets of Information about our Boards and areas of service at Cross of Christ can be found in the Gathering Hall explaining duties and responsibilities of the various boards. Let’s serve the Lord together in the New Year!

OFFERING ENVELOPES

Members, your 2013 Offering Envelopes can be picked up in the church Gathering Hall.

2013 CALENDARS

We thank Phillips Funeral Home for providing 2013 Calendars for our congregation. Your calendar is available on the Gathering Hall table.

EMAIL ADDRESSES

Throughout the month, you can go online to check out our church’s web page:www.crossofchristlutheran.org

The Calendar and Newsletter are available each month on this web site. Also, if you would prefer this newsletter be emailed to you, email us: cross-christ@att.net.

If you would like to receive periodic announcements through email, contact us. Indicate whether you would still prefer a hard copy for the newsletter.

WOMEN’S OUTREACH

Happy New Year! It’s time to make our New Year resolutions. But as we all know, resolutions are made but don’t seem to last long. Therefore, Women’s Outreach will not be making any resolutions but will call it “new beginnings for a New Year.”

Our first meeting this year will be on Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m. We will review the events we did last year and what to do to make them better. Occasional bake sales, rummage sale, Berry Home collections, Operation Shoebox, and Active Faith will be discussed.

The rest of the agenda will be a discussion of plans for this New Year. Some ideas are a Soup, Salad, Sweets potluck in January, a St. Pat’s dinner, a continental breakfast for Women’s Outreach Coffee Hour. We have a few more ideas for discussion, and we always need new ideas. We need the extra minds for planning.

Outreach Reaches OutClaudia Abrash has been bringing greeting cards for members to sign and sends them to our shut-in members. So often it’s out of sight, out of mind, so by signing the card we are thinking of them and by sending the card they know we are thinking of them. What a warm feeling briefly connecting our members with our shut-in members. Claudia puts several cards at a time on a table in the Gathering Hall, so please take time to sign the cards before you leave and a big Thank You to Claudia.

Pastor has been taking little favors when visiting the shut ins made under the direction of Crafty Claudia. November was tiny pots dressed up like turkeys and filled with candy corns. December was Hershey candy bars dressed up like a snowman. Oh so cute! Again, thank you Claudia! Continued . . . . . . .

WOMEN’S OUTREACH

Continued. . .

Mark your calendar and plan to attend our first 2013 Outreach meeting. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19th at 10 A.M. Our regular Outreach ladies need new faces to give us the boost sometimes needed to be successful. Our social events give members a chance to get to know each other and our fundraisers help us to purchase extra non-budgeted items for our church. Hope to see you on the 19th!! - - - - -Ettie Ann

EVENING OF GOOD TASTE

Twenty-eight of us enjoyed numerous tempting appetizers, beverages, a delicious dinner, and scrumptious desserts at our second Progressive Dinner on December 8th. We thank three families for hosting the event: Michael & Claudia Abrash, Bill & Ettie Ann Hirth, and Clarke & Linda Schroeder! What a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season!

“MEET THE MEMBERS”

This will be a new addition to our monthly newsletter starting in February. The first article will be a little history of Cross of Christ for the newer members. Pastor and Chris came to Cross of Christ with their four little ones several years ago, and their story will follow the history of Cross of Christ. Then we will introduce our oldest members and our longest married couples. Several young couples have joined our church within the last year, and it would be nice to introduce them. There are so many special people in our church, and it would be a good way to get to know them. We are going to put together an information sheet for you to fill out. I have thought about doing this for quite some time and was encouraged to quit talking and do it.

While I have your attention I will share our story. Bill and I were married in May 1960, and we have three children and three grandchildren. Our son, Bill and Robin, Chelsea and Zach live in Eureka, MO (near St. Louis). Our daughter Brenda lives in Canton, and our daughter Andrea and Don and Alex Proctor live in Sylvania, Ohio. Our children attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Northville and that is where I spent much of my time. I cooked the lunches for the ten years my children were there. I was blessed to go on several youth group trips and finally realized that if you cook they will take you anywhere. Bill’s mother and I enjoyed catering many parties for years. Bill worked for Washtenaw County Road Commission for 40 years, retiring 16 years ago. He was a volunteer fireman for Salem Township for many years and Fire Chief for 20 years before retiring. He also worked evenings at my uncle’s Lawnmower business. And all that small engine repair training has made retirement more enjoyable. He keeps many lawnmowers and snow blowers, etc. in good running order, including the ones here at church. Needless to say, we were busy. And we still enjoy being busy at a much slower pace.

We came to Cross of Christ in January, 1998. We feel blessed to be part of this church family. God has blessed us with many friends, but our dearest and closest friends are our church friends. I always try to encourage people to attend church activities and visit with members, as a close friendship could be waiting to happen. This is my story, and now I’m looking forward to your stories and now my prayer is to do a good job. - - - - Ettie Ann Hirth

Resolve to rein in your finances in 2013A New Year. A fresh start.

Establish your 2013 goals, including retirement, household savings, and charitable giving.

Establish a budget based on what you spent last year. Take into account projected rising costs of utilities, food and fuel.

Reduce debt by paying off credit cards, foregoing unnecessary purchases or adding $50 to your mortgage payment.

Prioritize major purchases and pay for them using your current income. Meet with a legal professional to create or review your will or estate strategy.

Call Raeann Kusch at 734-432-7777 or contact raeann.kusch@thrivent.com, our Thrivent representative, to help you achieve your goals.

THRIVENT CHOICEThank you to Thrivent members for choosing “Cross of Christ Church or Preschool” as their designation for Choice Dollars. Thrivent policy holders, go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800-847-4836 to request our church and preschool receive Choice Dollars.

West Oakland County Chapter

Activity: THRIVENT MEMBER APPRECIATION DINNERDate: Sunday, January 20, 2013Time: 4:30pmPlace: White Lake Oaks Country Club

991 N. Williams Lake Road; White Lake 48386Contact: Holly Laidler by January 13th

at 313-600-2789 or Holly1667@gmail.com

Come join us for our annual dinner to thank you for your continued support. Registration begins at 4:30 with cash bar and dinner at 5:15. Adults only please.

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

Who Would Have Thought?

In an election year like the one just past, it’s pretty hard for a politician seeking an office to keep a secret. His adversaries may often go back far into his past to find some family indiscretion that can be built into an argument that that candidate is unfit for office. Sometimes those “facts” bring about the downfall of that person’s candidacy, and his career in politics is ended. His desire to be a leader in government is squashed. A leader must have an impeccable pedigree, right?

Well, let’s think about Jesus’ ancestry. Maybe you’ve been in a Bible study that focused on a hero of faith – one like Abraham or his son Isaac or his grandson Jacob. Maybe it’s been David, that “Man after God’s own heart” (1Samuel 13:14). You’ve been reading along in your Bible and find out that there are some chinks in their armor. Did it disappoint you to find out that Abraham lied because he was scared and that his son followed in his footsteps committing the same sin because of the same lack of faith? And Jacob! All that cheating and deceit that displayed a similar lack of trust that God had their lives under His control! And David! He was an adulterer and a murderer! How could God call him a “Man after His own heart”?

Wow! We think. These guys were terrible! We might even say they’re worse than we are. Who would have thought that God would choose these imperfect men and women to be Jesus’ ancestors? But, you see, it’s not about us; it’s about Jesus. He is the One Who is perfect. He is the One Who is fit to rule over us. He has called all of us, sinful though we are, to be His servants. After all, isn’t that what Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and all the other heroes of faith were? God’s servants?

We won’t find a perfect political candidate. We won’t find a perfect Anybody. What we will find is a faithful, perfect Savior Who lived the perfect life in our place, Who calls us to serve Him in many different venues, Who forgives our sins and restores us to service. Stewardship Thought

Being PassionateWhat are you passionate about? We may spend some of our time in worship, Bible study, and prayer, but is our daily walk with Jesus giving evidence that our personal discipleship is our deepest passion? Do we devote our best effort to our walk with Jesus? Does your relationship with Him animate our conversations and energize our steps? Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God seeks a relationship with us through Jesus. We can help steward that relationship as we spend time reading and studying God’s Word, attend worship and participate regularly in communion, pray, give and serve, find Christian fellowship, and have daily devotions. We are to be caretakers of our relationship with God, even though it is a gift of grace. Our response is to steward this relationship.

Blessings on your stewardship journey!

JANUARYBIRTHDAYS 1 Kristen Calder-Bowman

Thomas Hermann 2 John Lanczki 3 Jim Schiller

Tammy Smith 6 Jon Russell 7 Jordyn Linfield 8 Janet Kaiser Head

Beverly Pixley11 Annabelle Hackbardt

Jacob Lanczki12 Julie Candela13 Robin Wyman

Rory Wyman14 Rob Lockard

Donald Stolz15 Lucy Nelson16 Charles Eldridge

Heather GilbertMicah Nelson

17 Benjamin Bray20 Haley Elandt

Hannah Elandt Hunter Elandt

21 Onnalee Lach22 Susan Miller23 Elizabeth Myer25 Sylvia Hindley27 Jeremy Marsh

Jim Zimmerman29 James Baker, Jr.31 Chris Nelson

JANUARYANNIVERSARIES

16 Scott & Tammy Lanam

Please inform the church office of any missing dates or errors.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS & TREE will be taken down on Saturday, January 12, at 9 a.m. Help is needed! Thank you to all who helped decorate this Christmas season! We are delaying the take down for a week due to the Fellowship Hall painting.

GOD FIRST SEEKS THE GIVEROF THE GIFTS BEFORE HE SEEKS

THE GIFTS.

“On coming to the house, they saw the Child

with His mother Mary, and they boweddown and worshiped Him. Then they

opened their treasures and presented Himwith gifts of gold and of incense and

myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

Looking to donate to a special need?Consider the following funds:

Painting Fund, Cement Work FundParsonage Door Fund

Parking Lot Fund, New Roof FundDebt Fund, Garage Fund

MEMORIALS+ + In memory of her husband,

six children, parents, sister and brother, a gift has been given to the Paint Fund by Evelyn Oliver.

J A N U A R Y, 2 0 1 3 CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

New Email: cross-christ@att.net Office: 248-437-8810/ Fax: 248-437-7708 Web: www.crossofchristlutheran.org________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

+ Indicates Holy Communion

1New Year’s Day

2

4:00-5:30pm Confirmation

36:30-8:30pm Girl Scouts

4 5

6 Epiphany 9:00am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP10:00am Sunday School11:00am Youth Bible Study

75:30 & 6:30pmWeight Watchers

87:00pm Board of Evangelism

94:00-5:30pm Confirmation

106:30-8:30pm Girl Scouts

117:00pm “Truth Project” Bible Study

12

9:00am Take down Christmas Tree & Decorations

13 9:00 am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP + 10:00am Sunday School

145:30 & 6:30pmWeight Watchers

157:00pm Church Council

164:00-5:30pm Confirmation

17 18 1910:00am Women’s Outreach

20 9:00am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP10:00am Sunday School11:00am Youth Bible Study11:00am Coffee Hour

21

5:30 & 6:30pmWeight Watchers

22 23 4:00-5:30pm Confirmation

24

______________________

25 26

27 9:00am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP +10:00am Sunday School

______________________

28

5:30 & 6:30pmWeight Watchers

29 30

4:00-5:30pm Confirmation

31