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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 ”

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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”

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… /// ...

… /// … 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.

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… /// ...

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”

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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

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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.

… /// ...

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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

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… /// ...

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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:

allcornr@swbell.net

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

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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: hclc@holycross.us

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 : jlberggren@holycross.us

† Karen Davidson — Deacon Email : aimked@gmail.com

† Sussy Terry — Office Manager Email : hclc@holycross.us

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: holycrosselc@gmail.com