HOLY CROSS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

WEEKLY EMAIL BLAST 11/20/08                                            

“Deuteronomy 8:18 – “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” 

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S BLAST: 

HOLY CROSS OFFICE SCHEDULE & CONTACTS FOR WEEK OF 11/24 

HOLY CROSS CHRISTMAS “GIVING TREE” 

THE RAINBOW ROOM’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PROJECT 

CHRISTMAS BOXES 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEEDS YOU! 

WOMEN’S MINISTRY NEWS-CHRISTMAS TREES, WREATHS & MICE 

MEN’S MINISTRY NEWS  

NOTES FROM NYAL  

KIDS CHURCH CORNER 

HOLY CROSS KIDS NEWS 

HELPING HAND FOR A SISTER 

REVEREND SCOTT’S MESSAGE 

 

HOLY CROSS OFFICE SCHEDULE & CONTACTS

The church office will be closed the week of 24 Nov., Thanksgiving Week.  In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact any one of the following persons:

 

+Sr. Warden----------------Tom Richards, 281-343-9614

+Jr. Warden-----------------Mark Imper, 281-302-5202

+Lay Pastoral Caregiver-Connie Fletcher-Powell, 281-731-9146 

 

It’s Time… for the Holy Cross Christmas “Giving Tree”!

Christmas is a time of wonderful traditions, and one of our favorites at Holy Cross is the Christmas “Giving Tree.” This year once again our giving will focus on abused or neglected children and teens of Fort Bend County who currently are under the care of Children’s Protective Service (CPS).   

Gifts from our “Giving Tree” will be taken to the Rainbow Room, an all-volunteer, charitable organization dedicated to helping Fort Bend infants, children and teens in crisis. In 2007 there were over 2,000 cases of reported child abuse and/or neglect in Fort Bend County – all of which are eligible for service by the Rainbow Room.

Since all referrals to the Rainbow Room are made by CPS caseworkers, donors are secure in the knowledge that their gifts are going to those truly in need. 

How can you help?

1)    Starting Sunday, November 23, the Gathering Space will house the “Giving Tree” decorated with angel and cross ornaments. The name of an item needed for the Rainbow Room’s Christmas Project will be written on each ornament.

2)    Select one or more items to give by taking the ornament(s) from the tree. 

 

Volunteers needed for the Rainbow Room’s Annual Christmas Project 

The Fort Bend Rainbow Room’s Annual Christmas Project is underway to help children in crisis within the care of Children’s Protective Service (CPS).  Volunteers are needed to match children’s “wish lists” to gifts from donors, ensuring that CPS caseworkers have appropriate gifts for each child in need.  Volunteers are needed December 1st- 13th as follows: 

+Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

+Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Tonya Lewis, Executive Director, Fort Bend Rainbow Room at

 832-595-3029. 

 

CHRISTMAS BOXES!

 

Thank you from Operation Christmas Child! 

Social Outreach and Operation Christmas Child gives a big “thank you” to all those who created a gift-filled shoe box.  65 shoe box gifts from Holy Cross will bring to children in desperate situations the joy of a gift and the hope found in Jesus Christ.  Thank you for touching children’s lives! 

 

WHY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEEDS YOU 

Want an opportunity to put your faith and love for Christ into action?  Holy Cross has several more Saturdays in its Habitat for Humanity build, so join in the mission to provide safe and affordable shelter to families in need.  

In the United States alone, 95 million people have housing problems, including payments that are too large a percentage of their income, overcrowding, poor quality shelter and homelessness.  Habitat for Humanity has shown that building homes does more than put a roof over someone’s head.  In clean, decent housing: 

 

  +Families can provide stability for their children

  +A family’s sense of dignity and pride grow

  +Health, physical safety, and security improve and

  +Educational and job prospects increase. 

 

Volunteer to make a difference! Our building team still has much to do including such projects as roofing, siding, insulation, exterior and interior painting, and landscaping.  

Contact Bill McKinnon at 281-343-0262 or email billmckinnon@att.net to join our Habitat team. 

 

WOMEN’S MINISTRY NEWS

Soul Sisters Women's Ministry Christmas Fund Raiser

Enjoy a Country Christmas this year. The refreshing fragrance of a premium Balsam Fir Christmas Tree or a Wreath from the north woods of Wisconsin will keep you and your guests in the holiday spirit the entire season. These trees and wreaths come from Green Valley Christmas Trees, a family-owned farm, located in the heart of Wisconsin. Actually from Mosinee -- where the Thompsons came from! They grow the trees and do all the work themselves. They are certified and inspected by the State of Wisconsin for shipping Christmas Trees and Wreaths to all states in the continental United States.


The handmade Wreaths are 25 inches in diameter, perfect for hanging on the front door to welcome holiday visitors. Made with boughs from their Balsam Fir Christmas Trees,  the Wreaths also have the fragrance of the Christmas Season. Each Wreath contains pinecones, and poinsettia flowers. Within the boughs of Balsam Fir is also a sprig of White Pine, all topped off with a red  bow.

<<...>>

We are taking orders for 6 to 6 1/2 foot tall trees, Balsam Fir trees for $80 each(shipping costs included) and/or  25" diameter handmade wreaths for $50 each (shipping costs included).(Can be sent anywhere in the continental United States).

Order for yourself or order for your loved ones (will ship directly to their house).

Why pay a high price for a month old Christmas tree or Wreath from the corner vendor? To ensure your order is as fresh as possible, trees are cut and wreaths are made as ordered, not sitting on a truck for weeks in advance.  To arrive on your doorstep in just days!!!

We will be taking orders through Sunday Dec 7th -- and shipped FedEx from Wisconsin on Monday  Dec 8th and will arrive to your home or loved one's home by end of the week! Checks must accompany order form and should be made out to Holy Cross (with "Christmas fund raiser" in the memo line of check). See church bulletin insert for the order form.  Completed order forms and checks to be given to Linda Thompson, Marty Imper or Sylvia Bloomer.

 

 “EEK! Have you seen the church mice at Holy Cross? No? Well, you will soon, as they will begin populating our church! Soul Sisters Women's Ministry will be responsible for creating the multitude. You too can be part of this excitement! Stay tuned for more information about The Mouse Factory." 

 

MEN’S MINISTRY NEWS… 

Join our Men’s Ministry that meets every Saturday morning from 8 - 9:30.  We do different studies on God’s teachings, have fellowship, coffee, donuts, and kolaches! Please come and join us!

 

Our current study is “Being God’s Man by Walking a New Path.”   We will begin Chapter 5 in our study.  We are really enjoying the spirited discussions.  See you Saturday!! 

If you have any questions about the Men’s Ministry, please contact Jimmie Wilson at jimmiedw@sbcglobal.net. 

 

“CROSS TALK” ADULT BIBLE” STUDY 

Come join us each Sunday between services in the 101 Suite for Cross Talk, an Adult Bible Study.  Examples of upcoming series are “Science and Religion” and “Prophecies Fulfilled and Yet To Be Fulfilled”.  Drop-ins are always welcome!  Come join the discussions, as we seek to explore His word, which never returns void!

 

NOTES FROM NYAL…

 

Coming up Friday, December 5th, our next Lock-In!!

 

The bands Framework and the Mayapples will be playing.

We will also have a special guest speaker from the NFL!  He is former linebacker Quinton Carver. Quinton has played for the Kansas City Chiefs, The Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys.

 

In addition we will play lots of fun and crazy games, and will have video games hooked up to all the big screens in the church!

 

The fun starts at 9:00 p.m. and ends at 7:30 a.m.

Cost is just $25.00.

 

Spiritual Weekends for Middle School and High School students at Camp Allen: 

Y.E.S. (Youth Encounter Spirit).  A Y.E.S. week-end brings together members of the 7th-9th grade youth and adults of the Diocese of Texas as a Christian community.  Y.E.S. helps foster a clearer appreciation of self, richer relationships with others and introduces a deeper experience with Jesus.  Y.E.S. is held four times a year during the months of January, April, August and November.  The next one will be Y.E.S. # 93 (January 23-25, 2009).  The Y.E.S. application is due two weeks before the Y.E.S. weekend you wish to attend. (Jan. 9th).  If you have attended a Y.E.S. weekend before and would like to serve on youth staff please note that the Y.E.S. Youth Staff application is due five weeks before the Y.E.S. weekend you wish to staff (Dec. 19th)

"Being at a Y.E.S. weekend is like being in heaven because you feel that close to God."

 

Happening. The Happening Movement is a powerful instrument of renewal in the church.  Its purpose is to concentrate closely on the person and teaching of Jesus Christ.  Our faith is seriously examined in a relaxed, fun, informal and loving atmosphere.  The Happening weekend is an experience that gives those who attend the desire to understand and serve God through his Church.  

Any baptized Christian in 10-12th grade may attend.  Adults involved in youth ministry are also encouraged to attend.  Like Y.E.S., Happening is held during January, April, August and November. 

APPLICATIONS CAN BE FOUND AT:  http://www.epicenter.org/edot/Forms.asp?SnID=1013108472

For more information contact Marty Imper via email:  martyimper@mac.com  or call 281-658-0757 

 

KID’S CHURCH CORNER 

The children at Holy Cross did an awesome job making shoeboxes. The children and teachers brought enough items to fill seven boxes. Way to go!

 

Remember there will be no Kid's Church next Sunday. Please have your child join in worship for a special service.

 

We will be presenting a special Christmas sing along. We are practicing every Sunday before Kidmo. Please practice at home with your child. A copy of the music will be sent home to help out.

 

In Kidmo, the children will continue their underwater adventure.  Don’t forget to have your child complete their map and return it every week! 

 

HOLY CROSS KIDS PRESCHOOL AND CHILDRENS’ DAY OUT HAS SPACES FOR MORE KIDS!

 

2 spots in Kinder Prep, Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

2 spots in the Wee Ones, (12 months thru 17 months) Wednesday & Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

1 spot in the Toddler class, (18 months thru 23 months) Wednesday & Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

For more information you may contact the Director at

 281-633-2000 x 106 or send an e-mail to hckids@holycrosschurch.com.

 

HELPING HAND FOR A SISTER--MS. OLIVIA HERRERA 

Ms Olivia has worked Sunday mornings for many years (at least 8 years) for Holy Cross helping to care for pre-k children and helping the teachers.  Due to a devastating fire, much of her home and her possessions has been destroyed. Unfortunately, the family has no home insurance. A collection was taken up for her, and some basic supplies (water, paper plates etc) were delivered, and she was very grateful to everyone. It will take a great deal of work to help her rebuild, and many of us have asked how we can help.

 

For the short term, if you would like to donate drinking water, storable food that does not require preparation, plastic storage containers with snap down lids, basic hygiene items, cleaning supplies, or money or gift cards, then please bring them to the Church.

 

Let us all pray Olivia and her family will be safe in this house and somehow we can all come together and help her through this very rough time. 

 

Contact Sylvia Bloomer @ bsbloomer4@yahoo.com or   281-242-4993. You can also contact Connie Fletcher-Powell connie.fletcher-powell@strasburger.com or 281-731-9146. 

 

HEAR REVEREND SCOTT’S SUNDAY MESSAGE ON POD CAST 

Date:  Sunday, November 16th, 2008

           Christian Stewardship--Various Texts 

Just go to www.holycrosschurch.com and look for Podcasts in the menu bar.  You will be able to hear Scott’s uplifting messages as many times as you like! 

 

THIS SUNDAY:

 

Hospitality:

 11:00   Don Schweigert

 

Ushers:                                      Greeters:      

 11:00   Joe Page                       11:00   Janet Anderson  

                                                                  Scott Anderson

                            

 Welcomers:

 11:00   Diane Kurtz

 

Lay Readers                               Alternate:

                      

11:00   Scott McKee                   Joe Page              

 

Eucharistic Assistant  

      

11:00   Diane Kurtz

 

Bread Server

 

Cindy McCroskey

 

Prayers of the People

 

11:00   Nick Gosda

 

Altar Guild                           

     

11:00   Barbara Scheibner

 

Bread

 

Susan McKinnon                       

           

Please continue to pray for:  Kyle Family, Meyer Family,  Ruth, Yvonne, Melissa, Commodore, Joe, Robin, David Bellamy, the Imper family, Yvette, Bea’s grandchildren, Donna & Dusty, Scott & Kathleen, Bill & Sylvia Service.

 

Happy Birthday to:  Lara Dixon, Alexis Evans, E. A. Buchholtz, Sal Doceti, George Garcia, Erik Stockwell.

 

Happy Anniversary to:  Andy & Susy Muddimer

 

Holy Cross Episcopal Church     

5653 West River Park Drive

Sugar Land, TX 77479

Phone:  281-633-2000

Fax:      281-633-2003

Sunday Services:  9:00 & 11:00  a.m.

Church Office Hours:

Monday thru Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

See you Sunday, and bring a friend!