Friday, August 23, 2019

HOLY CROSS PARISH NEWS — August 23, 2019

There is a lot going on in the life of Holy Cross parish, so please invest a few minutes and read all about, then pass the news on to anyone who may be interested.

POTLUCK LUNCHEON — This Coming Sunday, August 25th

This coming Sunday is our monthly Potluck Luncheon. As always, members of our church family are asked to bring a Main Dish, or a Side Dish and a Desert. Visitors are our guests and do not have to bring a thing. We always have a wonderful time at our monthly potlucks, so be sure to invite family and friends. See you there!

NEW CHURCH RENOVATIONS 

Holy Cross parish will soon be undergoing more renovations as we continue to improve and beautify our church facilities. 

Bathrooms in the church and the parish hall will be renovated, the interior of the church with the exception of the (liturgically) east wall will be painted, and the carpeting in the church will be replaced with wood-look vinyl planking. The new, hard floor will greatly improve the acoustics in the church and the new paint will give the chapel a fresh look.

All renovation work will be done on weekdays and there will be no interruptions of Sunday Services or fellowship. We are excited about the continuing renovations, and I know you will love the new look!

SUMMER CHURCH PICNIC, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH

Holy Cross parish will hold its annual Summer Church Picnic on Sunday, September 8th, immediately following the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. 

Matins will be omitted on that day and the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will be moved up to 9:30 AM. There will be no fellowship after the Liturgy so everyone will be free to proceed to the picnic. Directions to the picnic will be available at the church.

We will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, and there will be other entrees, as well as sides, deserts and drinks.  Members of the Holy Cross church family are asked to bring any two items for the picnic:  Main Dish, Side Dish, Desert, or Drink. Visitors are our guests and do not have to bring a thing. There is no cost to take part in the picnic. Just come and have fun!

Everyone always has a wonderful time at our Summer Church Picnic. There is plenty of good food and warm fellowship, so be sure to invite family and friends. Everyone is welcome. The Christian Life is the Good Life at Holy Cross parish!

THE NOVAKS TO CELEBRATE THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN MINISTRY ON SEPTEMBER 29TH

On Sunday, September 29th, I will be celebrating thirty-five years in the ordained ministry, and Cheri and I will be celebrating thirty-five years in Christian ministry together. Thirty-five years of service to God and his people is indeed something to celebrate!

A celebratory Luncheon will be held in the parish hall immediately after the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. There is no cost for the luncheon and the public is warmly invited, so be sure to invite family and friends. Let’s us celebrate together thirty-five years of Christian service, and pray that the next thirty-five years of ministry will be both joyful and fruitful!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION RESUMES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH

Christian Education for the 2019—2020 term begins on Sunday, October 6th. Normally Christian Education resumes sometime in Mid-September, but with the busy month already planned for Holy Cross parish in September it was thought better to postpone the beginning of the term until the first Sunday in October.

I will be teaching the adult class. The theme of the class will be First Century Christianity (Jude 3), and the class will likely take up the entire term. The class will run from 8:30 AM to 9:10 AM, followed by Matins at 9:15 AM.

Since 1844, with the discovery of Codex Sinaiticus, there has been a tremendous and rapidly increasing number of archeological and textual discoveries that shed light on and clarify the Apostolic Faith. The discoveries are now coming so fast that it is hard to keep up. Today, scholarship knows far more about Second Temple Judaism and First Century Christianity than at anytime since the second century. 

This class will be looking at the archeological and textual discoveries, reading through important documents such as the Didache, and seeking to understand, apply and live the “faith once delivered unto the saints”(Jude 3) in the first century. This will be an exciting and challenging class as there is much for Christians to learn and some things to unlearn. The public is invited to attend, and there is no cost for the class.

TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS

As you all know, I am a simple country parson, and I love the simple pleasures of life. I am attaching for you a link to a song sung by country singer Brad Paisley. The song is called, Try a Little Kindness. In the song, we are called on to, “Try a little kindness, show a little kindness, shine your light for everyone to see…, then overlook the blindness of narrow minded people on their narrow minded screed.” This is good advice indeed. I think this song will touch your soul, warm your heart and lift your spirit. I know that is what it did for me.

Here is the link. Enjoy!


SUNDAY SERVICES

Sunday Matins is at 9:15 AM, followed by the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM, with our monthly Potluck Luncheon immediately at the Liturgy. Everyone is invited, and visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful and friendly congregation, and we have a place for you. I hope to see you on Sunday!


HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558