MenuOktoberfest: Please join us at the Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 13th at the large (Miller) pavilion at Clarence Town Park on Main Street from 4 to 10PM. This is a benefit with all proceeds going to the youth of Holy Cross and Our Savior to attend the 2019 National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, MN. For tickets contact Lynda at the Church office at 634-2332, Nancy Cote at 818-1175, or any ticket seller attending the early or late service. Adults are $15, Children $5 (12 and under), age 4 and under free. Everyone will receive a wristband as proof of admission which will differentiate who is of legal drinking age (21 years of age or older). Food and beverage tickets are valued at $1 each and will allow you to buy various food and beverage items throughout the night, each with a varying number of tickets. Upon admission, adults will get 5 tickets and kids will get 3 tickets. BRING your friends, neighbors and family members for a fun night and great food!!!
Pioneer Camp Upcoming Events: Jr.Sr. High Fall Retreat at the Pioneer Camp and Retreat Center. October 19-21, 2018. A fun weekend of laughter and study. Deposits are due by October 10. November 9-10 Family Challenge Retreat. December 27-30 Youth & Youth Workers Gathering. For more information on any of these great opportunities contact Camp Pioneer at (716) 549-1420.
October 28th Reformation Day and Confirmation Sunday: We are planning a very special service for our confirmands on Reformation Sunday, October 28, as they make a public confession of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Operation Christmas Child: Holy Cross will again be participating in the Operation Christmas Child program. The national collection week this year is the week of November 12th. I will have plastic shoeboxes, labels, and information starting Sunday, October 21st. Thanks! Lori Ropach.
Radio Ministry: Upcoming Radio Ministry Broadcasts: September 2 9:00am “Lutheran 3-0” on WXRL 1300AM, September 2 1:00pm Reprise of Pastor Nickel’s sermon “The Blessed” on WJJL 1440AM, September 9 1:00pm Reprise of Pastor Nickel’s sermon “Rejoice in the Lord” on WJJL 1440AM, October 7 9:00am “Lutheran 3-0” on WXRL 1300 AM. There will also be broadcasts on October 14 and November 4. If you are interested in serving as a reader of God’s Word for a broadcast and/or sponsoring a future broadcast, please see Rev. Nickel.
Opportunity to Use Your Musical Gifts: Pastor Nickel will be preaching for services at the Greenfields Lutheran retirement home on Saturday October 27th. Services are at 10:45 at the Greenfield Health and Rehabilitation Center chapel and at 1:00pm at Greenfield Manor. Holy Cross member Bob Mank often attends the 1:00pm service. Vocalists and instrumentalists interested in offering a solo or group arrangement, or accompanying the organist on hymns, for any of the services are encouraged to speak to Pastor Nickel.
A Thank You from Pastor Blemaster: I am exceedingly and wholeheartedly grateful to you wonderful brothers and sisters of Holy Cross for your celebration of the 60th anniversary of my ordination. The beautiful cake and signing and Pastor’s prayer truly were unexpected and an indication of your love for us newest members of the Holy Cross family of faith. Cheryl and I deeply cherish this relationship with you and thank God for it. May God continue to bless our congregation and “hold all of us in the palm of His hand”. In Christian love, Pastor Blemaster.
Reconciliation Training: Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center 9324 Lake Shore Road Angola, NY 14006. October 15-18, 2018. Three separate Reconciliation Trainings will be available from Ambassadors of Reconciliation and hosted by Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center. For more information, visit aorhope.org/eventcalendar or call 844-447-2671.
6-Week Discussion of Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and its Fashionable EnemiesSt. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Ridge 4169 Church Road Lockport, NY 14094
Thursday October 4 through November 8, 2018. Book was written by David Bentley Hart, a world-renowned Orthodox theologian whose popular work is readable for wide audiences. Discussion led by Jerry Truesdell, President of St. Peter Lutheran. Everyone is welcome! Cost of the book is $10. Please RSVP to 716-433-9014 by October 1, 2018.
Exercise Class: Come join us on Tuesday nights at 5:30 in Krampitz Hall for an exercise class for all ages, genders and abilities. We use a combination of low impact movements and toning exercises to keep you healthy and strong. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring water or enjoy our drinking fountains! The cost is $3/class pay as you go or $2.50/class if you pay up front for a session. We began a new session on September 11th which will run for 6 weeks. You do not need to pre-register, just show up for the fun! For more information, please contact Ruth Marzano at themarzanos@gmail.com.
Holy Cross Sunday School Has Begun! Pre-school through high school ages meet in our Holy Cross Christian Center building from 9:30-10:30 during the school year. Our Adult Bible Study, conducted in the church hall, as well as our Pastor-led Confirmation class are held during the same hour, so parents can study God’s Word at the same time as their children. Our theme for 2018-2019 is “The Holy Spirit comes through the Word to everyone who hears and believes.” Each of our Sunday School students will be learning all about our Savior, Jesus Christ and growing in their faith as they learn to apply God’s Truth to their daily lives. We will delve into the heart of God’s Word each week through age appropriate discussions, crafts, games, music and small group worship time. Special events to look forward to during the coming year: Fall Festival/pumpkin carving, Christmas Caroling, Children’s Christmas Program, Easter Egg Hunt with more information to come. There is still time to sign-up. Registration forms will be available in The Narthex or the Christian Center. MaryAnn Schettler Holy Cross Sunday School Superintendent.
2018-2019 Sunday School Mission Project: School for Pastors in South Sudan
Since the Lutheran Church was established in South Sudan/Sudan 25 years ago, more than 200 congregations have been formed. But there are only 66 pastors to serve these churches. Some churches have to wait weeks or months for a pastor to come baptize their babies and new Christian believers. In Yambio, South Sudan is the Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry. During their 4 years of seminary studies the men leave their wives and children behind to work the family farms. The seminarians need help covering the costs of their travel to the seminary, their books, supplies, food and housing. With our Sunday School offerings we can help the seminarians complete their studies and become ordained pastors so they can serve the ever-growing number of Christian believers in South Sudan/Sudan.
Fall Adult Inquirers Class: Our fall Adult Inquirers Class begins this Wednesday, Oct 3 at 7:00pm. We will be using “Above All Else: What the Bible Teaches” by William Arndt. Led by Pastor Nickel in the Holy Cross Christian Center, this class is especially for new members and those wishing to review the catechism. Topics include: Oct 3: God & Human Beings, Oct 10: Jesus: Who He is/ What He had done, Oct 17: The Holy Spirit and the Bible, Oct 24: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Oct 31: The Church and Ministry, Nov 7: Resurrection, Eternal Living & Christian Living. If you are interested in this class please see Pastor Nickel.
LCMS Disaster Response: LCMS Disaster response is walking again alongside the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Southeastern District and local congregations to bring effective relief and human care to those suffering from Hurricane Florence and the extensive flooding. Our congregations in the affected areas again will be focal points of Gospel-centered relief work over the months ahead. You and many others were incredibly compassionate and generous following Harvey, Irma, Maria and other disasters over the past year. If you wish to donate to relief efforts you may do so online at https://lcms.org/give/hurricane, by check to LCMS Southeastern District, 6315 Grovedale Drive, Alexandria VA 22310 or by credit card by calling the Southeastern District at 800-637-5723 (Mon-Fri 8 am – 4:30 pm). If you would like to volunteer serve on a recovery and clean-up team, or would like to help assemble flood buckets and personal hygiene kits to be sent to the hurricane-affected areas, please see Pastor Nickel.