MenuRally Day & ALL Church Picnic Sunday September 11th, 2016
DEC Intern Update
“Connect To Discipleship” Training:
What does it mean to be a Christian? While there are many ways to be a Christian, there is only one answer, that is to follow Jesus’ example in all that we do. While this is a “tall order”; and one that we will never perfectly achieve in this lifetime, we are all called to be His disciples. So what does that mean? Well it just so happens that our the LCMS national organization has prepared a program to help us all understand and implement that in our Christian Walk. The program is called “Connect to Discipleship” and Holy Cross has the fantastic opportunity to host onsite training provided by the Synod. Please see the link below to watch a less than two minute video on the program. The seminar will be on Friday, October 14th from 6:30 to 9:30 PM and Saturday, October 15th, from 8:30 to noon. Space is limited to the first 18 respondents, so please see Sam Harrison (716-515-5679) or Pastor Nickel if you would like to attend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTcDVyHgiPc&feature=youtu.be
Update From Council:
Risk Management Policy:
After a few false starts, Holy Cross has now re-booted our Risk Management Policy. If you were at church on August 21 st you have already heard this, but in case you missed it, or in case you have questions, here is a brief summary of the new policy adopted by Council and being implemented at this time.
Council has adopted a Risk Management policy that is designed to help protect our youth, protect our volunteers and associates, and protect the church from physical, spiritual and financial injury. As part of that policy we have subscribed to a service provided by Protect My Ministry Inc.. This organization will, at our request and with the permission of the associate, run a confidential criminal background check; but more importantly this organization provides online training for our associates to help prevent injury and protect ourselves. One of our members, Melinda Wood, has agreed to be the Risk Management Coordinator for this activity. Where, with the help of other leaders, our associates that have been identified to have supervision responsibility of our youth, will be enrolled in the Protect My Ministry System. More detail is available in our written policy, but for brevity sake, suffice it to say that some readers may be contacted to enroll in this system, and they are encouraged to bring any questions that they may have to our Pastor or any council member. Please be assured that all background checks will remain confidential and limited to our Pastor for his review. Some other changes that you may see, are permission slips for off premises activities, and or requests for more helpers to provide a redundant (two deep) level of supervision. A copy of the policy is available upon request.
While this may seem a little “over the top” for a small country church, the world is changing, and it is our responsibility to provide the safest environment for all our members and guests. We appreciate everyone’s help and understanding in this, and we welcome any suggestions to further improve the safety of all.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Choir Update
Choir will sing at late service on Sept 18 and early service on Sept 25.
Heritage Home Update
The end of summer visit with our friends at the Heritage Home (just west on Sheridan Drive) will feature Part 2 of the Creation Story from Genesis 1, “God Creates Living Creatures.” This will be on Sunday, September 25, at 10 a.m. between the two worship services. We watch the filmstrip and discuss it, pray and sing a little, and make a simple sticker craft to end the 30-40 minutes we spend there. We would love to have you join us to meet these good people and staff as we mutually praise our Lord Jesus around their dining room table.
Why We Do What We Do: The CREED
“And [Jesus] asked them ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered Him, “You are the Christ.” – Mark 8:29 (ESV)
In the course of his earthly ministry, Jesus put this hard question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” He wasn’t asking for the opinions of the crowds. He wanted a confession of faith. In one sense this confession of faith is like the confession of sins. In both, we acknowledge that what God has said is true. When we confess our sins, we acknowledge the truth that God speaks about us–that we are sinners. When we confess the faith of the church in the creed, our confession speaks about God–who He is and what he has done.
In every age, the same question is put to the Church: “Who do you say that I am?” When we we open our mouths and say, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty . . . ,” we confess a profound truth that has passed over the lips of Christians in every generation since the Apostles. This confession of the triune God is the property of no single individual, but of the whole church, including the whole company of heaven.
There are more than a few saints and martyrs who put their lives on the line as they defended the truths that we confess in the creeds. We think of Athanasius, that faithful fourth-century pastor and confessor, who was exiled numerous times for his defense of the truth against the false teachers of his day. Or Luther, who stood firm against the combined might of the Roman Church and the Holy Roman Empire. In our own day, there are faithful Christians who risk their lives–and sometimes die–to confess these truths.
In the Book of Revelation, we find confession going on in heaven. Just listen to the snippets of the grand confession that swirls around God’s throne:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come! (Revelation 4:8b)
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created (Revelation 4:11).
Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:9-10).
In the same way, as we stand on holy ground where Jesus comes in his Word and Sacraments, we join that noble company of saints and martyrs, confessing these holy truths concerning the triune God. Adapted from “Parts of the Liturgy,” www.lcms.org, by Rev. Jeff Nickel, August 29, 2016.