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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. 19

No. 12

December

2013

Candy and I wish to express our deepest gratitude for your

support during the last couple of months of my heart surgery happenings:

pre-surgical dreaded anticipation, surgery and recovery, and now in the

midst of ongoing physical rehabilitation. We appreciate your cards and

letters with all their words of encouragement, wisdom, and hope. We

thank you for your numerous gifts of food, “cough” pillows, visits,

emails, texts, and calls. Your contact and words of good cheer were very

heartening and they have been a major factor in my healing process.

Every day had a “WOW” in it.

I thank God for the incredible medical resources of our commu-

nity and I am of course especially grateful for the kind and loving care of

my Lutheran cardiologist, Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, his faithful associ-

ate, Dr. Khaled Khalaf, and their international rock-star acclaim heart

surgeons, Drs. Safi and Estrera. These folks are amazing at what they do

and they have assembled their own teams of all the specialties that go

into surgery and recovery.

I also feel a sincere and heartfelt gratitude for everyone at Holy

Cross who kept everything running seamlessly in my absence. The daily

work of the office is a prodigious task and Wayne, Sussy, Karen, Jhon,

Gloria, and others were daily faithful. A huge thanks to Bettye for taking

charge and leading the Saturday evening worship, and to Karen for orga-

nizing and leading the Sunday morning worship.

…///...

BERGY’S BABBLE

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… /// … Thank You ...

I can’t even begin to thank Candy, Josh, and Shane for all their

help for me in my helplessness. They have been very vigilant, protective,

and always loving even when I was and am still less than lovable. That’s

grace in action!! What a great family you are and what a dear blessing to

me in my life!! Also I couldn’t make it without my daily walking

partners, perpetual cuddlers, and wound lickers, Luna and Charley. They

both seemed to understand when I couldn’t handle 100 pounds of dog on

my chest and they empathized with my plight.

Two things that I most desperately craved as I woke up from the

by-pass surgery were to drink water and to sing. Water is so wonderful,

each drop to be relished like the finest wine, and to breathe on your own

and sing, oh my goodness what ecstasy! God bless the faithful nurses

who put water drops on my tongue and listened to me croak out, “Create

in me a clean heart, O God.” And thank you to Elvis Presley whose

songbook along with my old guitar sustained and strengthened me in the

early recovery time at home.

Of course, without our dear God and all your dear prayers, even

the best is still not enough. I cherish the healing power that has emanated

into my life through your prayers. God has listened and blessed an old

heart with new plumbing and a tired life with new vigor.

Praise and thanks to God Almighty!!!!

Pastor Jim

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

AND

COUNCIL MEETING

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Topic: Approval of Budget for 2014

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CHRISTMAS POTLUCK

December 15, 2013

11:00 a.m. — Family Life Center

The church council will provide the main dish.

Please bring your favorite side dishes to share. Thanks!

Church Council

HCLC COUNCIL MINUTES

NOVEMBER 10, 2013

Present at the meeting were: Wayne Schaper, Wendy Lambeth, AIM

Karen Davidson, Pastor Jim Berggren, Pastor Jhon J. Arroyave, Alvin

Garza, Warren Schick, John Stokes, Nancy Beamesderfer & Fredda

Yurk.

Welcomed Pastor Jim back. He thanked AIM Karen Davidson and

Betty Raschke for their help during his absence.

No Thanksgiving services.

Christmas Services as follow:

6:00 p.m. English (no midnight service)

8:00 p.m. Spanish

Advent services: Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18 at 12 noon only.

Congregational meeting to approve 2014 budget on December 8th.

Next council meeting will be on December 8th.

Meeting adjourned at 1:22 p.m.

Suzan Cook

Secretary

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WELCA General Meeting will be on December 7, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

in the FLCA. Our speaker will be Marilyn Collins. She will speak on the

birth mother and step mother of Abraham Lincoln. Each in their own

way greatly influenced his life. The presentation tells the story of each

woman's life in their childhood family as well as the Lincoln family

including religion and community participation. The information has

been carefully researched from books and historical sites. The presenter

comes in character. She enjoys sharing the story of these two women

who live in difficult times but were successful in their roles. Questions

may be asked after the presentation. Cards and gifts for the shut-ins will

be signed and packaged up. The Esther & Priscilla Circles will serve

refreshments. All women of HCLC are welcome. Bettie Baring

WESTSIDE HOMELESS

Please have your West Side Homeless gifts at church on Sunday,

December 1st, or December 8th, as we need to deliver them on the 8th of

December.

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The Alpha & Omega Neighborhood Circle will hold their Annual Christ-

mas Party for members and their guests on Sunday December 8, 2013 at

5:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center Annex.

Don't forget gift for the game!!!!

For information call Lucy Candler 713-460-2023.

FRIENDSHIP CLUB

The Friendship Club will be having their Christmas Party December 14,

in the Family Life Center. Table games will begin at 3:00 p.m. and a pot

luck supper will begin at 5:00 p.m. Please indicate on the poster located

in the Narthex what you plan to bring. The meat will be provided by the

Friendship Club so side dishes, salads and desserts will be appreciated.

Hope to see you there.

Nancy Beamesderfer

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Attendance at the HCLC Men’s Breakfast group meeting/devotion has

grown from 7 in August to 9 in November. And – members of the

“Ladies Auxiliary” also met at Mytiburger, increasing their numbers

from 4 in August to 6.

Attendees from both groups cheerfully and thankfully welcomed Sheldon

Urwitz and Betty Mooney following a medical leave of absence.

Calvin

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ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU

to all Holy Crossers – and friends – who so generously supported our

“Heavenly Quilters’” project this year.

The net proceeds, of $1,100, will aid replacing the carpet with tile floor-

ing in the Guild Hall.

Winners in the drawing, following the 0900 service on 03 November,

were:

* A Christmas Wall hanging - Lucy Candler

* A Christmas Tree Runner - Donna Fisher

(accepted by her sons, Ethan &

Christopher)

* A Star Table Runner Gordon Tinker

(shared with Elaine, of course).

We’re sorry that you did not win this year – but be patient; next year

soon follows!

The Heavenly Quilters of 2013

NOVEMBER - 2013

03 HCLC to the Glory of God

10 HCLC to the Glory of God

17 Dorsey M. Alexander

Clarice & Erwin Gross

24 WELCA to the Glory of God

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Did You Know....the East Spring Branch Food Pantry has received their

4th Spring Branch ISD Good Neighbor award?? This award is given to

area businesses, churches and individuals who have made a positive

impact on the success of the schools, the lives of the students and the

strength of the SBISD. Mary White, Director of the Pantry, accepted this

award at the ceremonies on November 5th.

Do you like to decorate? If so, or even if you just want to enjoy a morn-

ing with friends, come to the annual decorating of the Sanctuary and

surrounding areas for the Christmas Season. We will meet on Saturday

morning, December 7, at 9:00 a.m. and go until finished. Usually it only

takes about 2 hours and it's a lot of fun. We'd love to see you there this

year!

Thank you for your overwhelming support of the Thanksgiving Meal in

a Bag effort! We provided 125 bags to the less fortunate in our area. I'll

report on the numbers next month, but just know that you made a

difference in someone's Thanksgiving. May your own Thanksgiving be

blessed! Carol Prokofieff

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POINSETTIA TIME!

It’s time once again order your poinsettias for our Christmas ser-

vices. Poinsettias will be sold on December 1st, 8th, and 15th in the

Atrium. The cost will be $8.00 You may pick up your poinsettia after

the 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service. A beautiful way to celebrate

our Savior’s birth. Thank you!

Sharon Wagner

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS

are available on the table in the Narthex.

A good way to prepare for our Savior's Birth.

GREETING CARDS

Please save front pages of greeting, birthday, etc. cards. They will be sent

to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children for their Recycles Card Program. I will

place a box for them in the Family Life Center by West door.

Norma Berg

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CHURCH DIRECTORY

COOK, SUZAN

8797 Hammerly Blvd.

Apt. # 3601

Houston, Texas 77080

01 Abraham Samano

02 Melanie Alvarado

06 Arturo Aleman

13 Doris Wahlberg

14 Laura Byerly

Joseph Yáñez

16 Ted Flick

17 Adriana Alvarado

18 Alexa Abad

19 Suzan Cook

22 Ingrid Alvarado

23 Noel Giesecke

26 Jodi Byerly

Horacio Gómez

Caylee Díaz

27 Suzanne Doler

28 Natasha Hungerford

29 Anna Gardner

30 Alfredo Martínez

31 Virginia Stuart

César Majano

Holy Cross members celebrating birthdays this month:

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READINGS, PSALMS & GOSPEL

DECEMBER 2013

DATE 1st READING PSALM 2nd READING GOSPEL

12/01/2013 Isaiah

2:1-5

122 Romans

13:11-14

Matthew

24:36-44

12/08/2013 Isaiah

11:1-10

72:1-7,

18-19

Romans

15:4-13

Matthew

3:1-12

12/15/2013 Isaiah

35:1-10

Luke

1:46b-55

James

5:7-10

Matthew

11:2-11

12/22/2013 Isaiah

7:10-16

80:1-7,

17-19

Romans

80:1-7

Matthew

1:18-25

12/29/2013 Isaiah

63:7-9

148 Hebrews

2:10-18

Matthew

2:13-23

I would like to thank everyone who made the Rummage Sale

successful this year. It is truly a group effort. We could not do it

without all of our wonderful volunteers and everyone who donated

items to sell and money to purchase briskets for the cafe.

Year after year we raise money for WELCA and their numerous

programs they support. This year we raised approximately

$10,000. Thank you again for your support. You make it possible!

Amy Schomburg

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R E M E M B E R I N P R A Y E R

OCTOBER 2013

English Services: 90

Spanish Services: 116

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:

hclc@holycross.us

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.

Ora Dell Dittmar

Betty Dodson

Doris Anne Drosche

Sig Ellerman

Nancy Mendel

Doris Pannell

Doris Polker

Elsie Schulze

Dorothy Storenski

Sue Vogt

Roselain Larson

TREASURER’S REPORT

If you have any questions call

Wayne Schaper, Sr. at (713) 465-5206.

OCTOBER 2013

Receipts $ 30,682.51

Expenses 35,791.47

Balance < $ 5,108.96 >

Operational receipts

year to date received ……. $ 322,318.36

Expenditures year to date ……. 365,425.27

Balance …… < $ 43,106.91 >

R E M E M B E R I N Y O U R P R A Y E R S

PRAYER CHAIN

If you are not receiving HCLC Prayer

Request emails and would like to,

please contact Renee Allcorn at

allcornr@swbell.net

or (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.

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

Bill Alexander

Ronald Burns

Marge Carroll

Ed Cooper

Chuck Fredrickson

Carol Kirsch

Alma Laubenberg

John Massie

Lois Massie

LaVerne Pivonka

Dorothy Storenski

Sheldon Urwitz

Chris Wignes Miriam Weathersby

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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 Terry 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: hclc@holycross.us

Web Site: www.holycross.us

YOUR CHURCH STAFF

† Rev. Jim Berggren — Senior Pastor email : jberggren@holycross.us

† Rev. Jhon Jairo Arroyave — Hispanic Pastor

† Karen Davidson — Associate In Ministry email : aimked@gmail.com

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

WORSHIP MUSICIANS

Cathy Elijah Organist

Jo Ann Meeker Pianist

Ann Crick Pianist

EARLY LEARNING CENTER

ELC (713) 461-5535

OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION

Wendy Lambeth President

Alvin Garza Vice President

Suzan Cook 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.