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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.

BERGY’S BABBLE:

PERPETUAL CHRISTMAS

Vol. 19 No. 1 January

2013

CHRISTmas comes but once a year! I can already hear the

cynical saying, “And thank God for that!” But as a friendly pastoral pre-

diction, I think that in the near future, December 25th will only come

once a year but it will last all year long. Wouldn’t daily CHRISTmas be

wonderful?

The songs and carols of the season are beautiful, and now I am

pleased to hear them in stores before Halloween. Wal-Mart got their first

CHRISTmas aisle set up this year at the beginning of September. I

pushed all the toy buttons on the aisle to get the CHRISTmas carols go-

ing. It was so hot that day, and it actually made me feel cooler.

One thing that bothers me is the amount of people who can’t wait

for the 26th so they can get their CHRISTmas tree out into the garbage.

Of course that’s probably wise, in case the tree is totally dried out, since

it was purchased the Monday before Thanksgiving when the first tree

shipments came into town. Clearly a post-modern CHRISTmas has

shifted the original 12 days of CHRISTmas around. The Twelve Days of

CHRISTmas traditionally took us up to January 6th, Epiphany.

The Lindsborg Swedes always liked to keep the party going a little

longer. So we celebrated Tjugondag jul (Twentieth Day Yule). January

13th is St. Knut’s Day (also spelled Canute).

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The candy decorations on the tree are eaten while the tree is dismantled

and taken down. Then everyone brings their bare CHRISTmas tree down

to a huge pile on the sandbank of the Smoky Hill River just under the

Old Mill dam. Occasionally I was called upon to bring my French Horn

and play some kind of fanfare for King Knut when he strode in with a

large torch to start the bonfire blazing with flames as high as the railroad

bridge. I always had to improvise something with open valves on my

horn because all the valves would freeze open on that wintry night.

But actually, I like to enjoy the CHRISTmas tree until at least

Valentine’s Day. By that time, Candy is asking me to please take the tree

out under the cover of darkness so the neighbors don’t think we’re nuts. I

say, “Why hide the truth?” CHRISTmas is now a distant memory to the

neighbors, and I’m still celebrating.

After all, we just did the whole department store, from-the-1st-of-

September-until-December-24th-thing, which according to my count is

almost 4 months. What’s the problem? Between me and the department

stores we’ve already got six months of the year covered with CHRIST-

mas. I call that better, not worse.

Toss in Lent and Easter and it brings us up to 8 solid CHRIST-

related months invoking CHRIST. Even popular culture, and secular

society have taken up the CHRIST banner inadvertently, simply through

the invocation of his name. Like they say, “Any advertising is good ad-

vertising.”

It would save a lot of confusion if we would just celebrate

CHRISTmas everyday. Perpetual CHRISTmas would keep us focused on

carrying the CHRISTchild through our bodies into the world on a daily

basis.

A heartful of happiness and love to you and yours in these Holy

Days of CHRISTmas!!!!

See you in worship, ………………….Bergy

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HCLC COUNCIL MINUTES

DECEMBER 09, 2012

The meeting was called to order at 11:40 a.m.. Present at the meeting

were Wayne Schaper, Wendy Lambeth, Pastor Jhon J. Arroyave, Pastor

Jim Berggren, Sharon Wagner, Alvin Garza, Sandra Williams, Nancy

Beamesderfer, AIM Karen Davidson, Mike Appling and Carol

Prokofieff. Guest was Pat Curran.

Pastor Jim’s focus for the Advent services this year will be on the

Saints of the Christmas season. “Christmas in the Park” will take

place on Sunday, December 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.

The rolls full of candy were completed and delivered; they will go to

40,000 children who might not otherwise receive anything for

Christmas.

A questionnaire will be made available to the congregation for the

members to fill-out for the council to go over.

There will be a Council Retreat in January to focus on the direction of

the future of HCLC.

The next council meeting will be on Sunday, January 13.

Meeting adjourned at 12:47.

Submitted by

Wendy Lambeth, secretary

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DECEMBER - 2012

02 Sandra Williams

09 Bill & Bernice Rogge

16 HCLC to the Glory of God

23 The Appling Family

30 HCLC to the Glory of God

Please note new rate for each

flower arrangement: $45.00

FRIENDSHIP CLUB

will meet January 19, 2013

Family Life Center (FLC)

Games at 4:00 p.m.

Pot-luck supper will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Hostesses:

Betty Baring 713-895-9961

Alma Laubenberg 713-996-7479

Gloria McGarvey 713-686-3252

Please come and enjoy an evening of

great fellowship, good food and lot of fun.

Nancy Beamesderfer

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ALPHA & OMEGA

The Alpha and Omega Neighborhood Circle will meet at 5:00 p..m. on

Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the home of Sheldon and Betty Urwitz,

10615 S. Evers Park Drive.713-465-3235. For more information contact

Lucy Candler 713-460-2023.

THE FOOD PANTRY

Once again, Holy Cross has risen to the occasion! We filled 100 Thanks-

giving bags which were distributed (along with those from other

churches) to 579 families on Nov 19 and 20! Thank you for your partici-

pation in this rewarding effort, and thank you to the HCLC volunteers

who helped in any way with the distribution. It was hard work, but a lot

of fun!

Carol Prokofieff, on behalf of the East Spring Branch Food Pantry

Once again thank you all so much for your prayers and support. We are

truly blessed to be in this God loving Holy Cross family. God loves you

and so do we.

Love,

Ed and Anita Cooper and family

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HEAVENLY QUILTERS NEWS

The Heavenly Quilters thank you for your generous support. A former

Holy Cross member, Callie Schaper Hoffman, was this year’s winner.

Congratulations Callie. We raised $ 1,098.00 this year thanks to you.

WELCA will be collecting items for Seafarers’ Boxes that will be

distributed to seafarers coming through the Port of Houston. We will be

donating boxes throughout the year.

The items needed are:

There will be a box for donations in the Family Life Center under the

WELCA bulletin board.

Jodi Byerly

* Shoe Boxes

* Band-Aids

* Combs

* Dental floss

* Deodorant

* Disposable razors

* Flashlight

* Kleenex & Q-tips

* Lotion & Lip Balm

* Nail Clippers

* Needle & thread

* Shaving cream

* Soap & shampoo

* Toothbrush

* Toothpaste

* Address Book

* Calendar

* Disposable camera

* Gum & hard candy

* Key chains

* Paper & envelopes

* Pencils & pens

* Playing cards

* Puzzles & games

* Postcards

* Socks

* Stamps

* Texas souvenirs

* T-shirts

* Baseball caps

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BRUNCH BUNCH usually meets the 3rd Sunday of each month at a

different restaurant at 11:45am. No slicing, no dicing, just eating, chat-

ting, and leaving the dishes!! However, because of the community activ-

ity on Dec. 16, we are cancelling the December Brunch Bunch. We will

resume on January 20, at Escalante's Restaurant on the NE corner of

Woodway & Voss (6582 Woodway). Please contact Jeanette Dukleth

(832.326.7214 cell) or jdukleth@gmail.com to confirm that you are com-

ing. We need to make a reservation at this restaurant!. On February 17,

we will celebrate a late Valentine's Brunch at Rio Ranch, 9999 Wes-

theimer (Westheimer on the West side of 610). The full year's list is in

Crossties! Judy Hungerford

ST. JUDE RANCH

I will be collecting front pages of holiday, birthday, etc. greeting cards.

They will be sent to St. Jude Ranch for children in Boulder City, NV.

The pretty artwork will be used in making new cards for sale in their re-

tail stores on line or over the phone. Thanks!

Norma Berg (713) 957-0972

EARLY LEARNING CENTER

The Holy Cross Early Learning Center will be out for Christmas vacation

from December 21, returning January 8, 2013. We pray that all those at

Holy Cross Lutheran will experience joy, good health, and God’s richest

blessings for 2013! Susan Ince - Preschool Director

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Here we are – at the start of another New Year! 2013!! Remem-

ber when “2001 a Space Odyssey” was imagining the incredible space

age future? For that matter, remember the book “1984”?? Hard to imag-

ine that date as something just to dream about. People now in their 20’s

weren’t even born yet!

The point of all this is the acknowledgement that time is certainly not

static. It moves relentlessly on. And we must move with it. I look in my

mirror and know for certain that time has been marching on in my life.

And I haven’t been able to slow it down. But you know what?? It’s

when I look BACK that certain realities become clear. Plans that I’d

made, hopes that I’d nurtured, haven’t come to fruition as I’d imagined

them. Instead, God improved on them. Sometimes I certainly didn’t

recognize His hand, but I know now that He walked with me every step

of the way.

We are here for you, to walk with you as Christ walks with you. Let us

be Christ’s hands and feet, supporting you in your need. Our wish for

you in this New Year is that you find peace. And if we can lead you to

that peace it will be a two-fold blessing, to you and to your Stephen

Minister.

Please contact Pastor Jim, AIM Davidson, or me. We’re standing by.

God’s blessing, and Happy New Year!

Marge Carroll

Stephen Ministry Coordinator

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Holy Cross members celebrating birthdays this month:

If your name is not listed or if this is incorrect information

please let me know so that the list can be corrected.

Bettye Raschke

GRIFFIN, Betty

20334 Memorial Pass Dr.

Katy, TX 77450

05 Elsie Schulze

06 Emma Keller

07 Helen Jacob

Debra Moore

08 Maureen Fredrickson

Chris Abrego

09 Hiroko Lamont

Francisco Araiza

13 Brenda Duarte

14 Jan Walker

15 Jeri O’Neill

16 Brent Baumann

Edwin Pineda

17 Kelley Keller

Hartman Caicedo

19 Melvin Morales

20 Julia Linn

23 Jean Baxter

Kris Drosche

William Allcorn

24 Charles Pustejovsky, Sr.

Clarice Gross

Megan Schomburg

26 Ernesto Moreno, Jr.

27 Blanca Duarte

28 Dorothy Byerly

29 Jadher Abad

30 Wayne Schaper, Sr.

Juan Araiza

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READINGS, PSALMS & GOSPEL

JANUARY 2013

DATE 1st READING PSALM 2nd READING GOSPEL

01/06/2013 Isaiah 60:1-6 72:1-7,

10-14

Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12

01/13/2013 Isaiah 43:1-7 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17,

21-22

01/20/2013 Isaiah 62:1-5 36:5-10 1 Corinthians

12:1-11

John 2:1-11

01/27/2013 Nehemiah 8:1-3,

5-6, 8-10

19 1 Corinthians

12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

CALENDARS

Thank you to all Holy Cross members and others who have so generously

donated calendars this year. I have been taking them to the Hospitality

Apartments at the medical center all year and they are truly appreci-

ated. There are 46 apartments in our building and most, but not all, of the

guests, are patients at M.D. Anderson. Others go to St. Luke, Methodist,

Memorial Hermann, TIRR, etc. These patients come from all walks of life

and are all colors and nationalities. They all have one thing in common:

they need housing while at Medical Center and cannot afford hotels or

other options. Our waiting list is very long and we try to make their stay as

comfortable as possible. We do have a limit on length of stay which is

three months. When these folks leave, their calendars go with them. That

explains why I collect calendars all year. There is always a need for them.

If you have extra calendars please don't discard them. We can use them.

I recently took a six-inch stack of calendars and by the time my shift was

over, they were all gone. There is a box on the floor of the closet opposite

the church office that is marked 'calendars'. If you don't see me personally,

please leave them there. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.

Joyce Pavelka (713) 861-6930

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S U N S H I N E S A I N T S

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

NOVEMBER 2012

Sunday English Services: 133

Sunday Spanish Services: 105

Prayer Chain Telephone and E-mail

Prayer chain requests and anyone who would

like to be added to the telephone

or e-mail Prayer Chain can notify:

Alma Laubenberg 713-996-7479 or email:

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.

Ella Brezina

Ora Dell Dittmar

Betty Dodson

Doris Anne Drosche

Sig Ellerman

Nancy Mendel

Doris Pannell

Doris Polker

Dorothy Storenski

Sue Vogt

Roselain Larson

albob1948@yahoo.com

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

Dolores Abrego

Ed Cooper

Betty Griffin

Carol Kirsch

Martha A. Nakamura

Doris Pharries

Glen Schwartz

Vanna Teschner

Elaine Tinker

Gordon Tinker

Janis Vasut

TREASURER’S REPORT

If you have any questions call

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

NOVEMBER 2012

Receipts $ 44,985.00

Expenses 43,413.83

Balance $ 1,571.17

Operational receipts

year to date received ……. $ 389,535.49

Expenditures year to date ……. 414,411.34

Balance …… < $ 24,875.85 >

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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 Basurto 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 Basurto — Office Manager email : hclc@holycross.us

WORSHIP MUSICIANS

Matthew Coffey Choir Director Cathy Elijah Organist Jo Ann Meeker Pianist Ann Crick Pianist

EARLY LEARNING CENTER

(713) 461-5535

OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION

Mike Appling President Carol Prokofieff Vice President Wendy Lambeth 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.