Isaiah 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 11:2-11

Third Sunday of Advent

Church Service – December 12, 2021

Saving Christmas

In today’s day and age a lot of people are concerned about Christmas. Port closures have put gift buying in jeopardy. Store employees are saying, “happy holidays.” People find themselves asking, how can we save Christmas? Well I am here to tell you, Christmas does not need saving. In fact it is Christmas and the coming of the Messiah that does the saving!  Join us for our Advent and Christmas series, Saving Christmas, where we look at all the ways that the Jesus of Christmas saves us.

We know it’s hard to feel connected sometimes with everything that is going on. We are working hard here at Holy Cross to keep our church family thriving as much as possible while still being responsible with our decisions about the health of our congregation and the community. Here are some ways to stay plugged in to HCLM:

Prepare for Sunday Services – worship song set lists, scripture readings, and questions for deeper thinking will be posted throughout the week on Facebook and Instagram
Praying for You – We have always believed in the power of prayer. If there is something weighing on your mind or want to submit a prayer, let us know through our prayer request form or e-mail prayer@hclm.org.
Online or In Person Services – Sunday at 8:00am for traditional service or 10:00am for contemporary
Holy Cross Lake Mary Podcast – Check out and subscribe to our new podcast on iTunes or Spotify. You can also simply ask Alexa to “play the Holy Cross Lake Mary Podcast”

Tithes & Offerings

We give because we recognize that God has blessed us immensely and so we honor Him by giving back to Him out of our tithes and offerings. You can give online at hclm.org/give or mail to church address at 780 N Sun Drive, Lake Mary, FL 32746.

Sunday Morning Seating Arrangements

We ask that members of households to sit together while remaining socially distant from other households with 2-3 seats between families. Thanks for keeping others safe.

Upcoming Events and Activities

Thursday 12/9, 6:30PM- Christmas Cookie Exchange

Calling all bakers (or people who just like to eat cookies)! Start your baking and SAVE THE DATE for our Christmas Cookie Exchange from 6:30-8:00PM in the Coffee Room (former pre-school building). Bring the following items:    

• 3 dozen cookies (2 dozen to exchange and 1 to share)
• Cookie recipe (copies to share)
• Container for cookies

Saturday 12/11, 12PM-3PM- HCLA Christmas Carnival 

Games, Food Trucks, Local Vendors, Pony Rides, and Bounce Houses! Adults & Children 1 and under are free. Children ages 2-17 are $10 for unlimited access to bounce houses, petting zoo, and pony rides. This event is at upper campus; 100 Aero Ln, Sanford 32771.

December 14, 11:30AM- Holiday Happening

Second Tuesday Lunch Bunch. Let’s celebrate at Carolyn Litwin’s home! She will provide a spiral ham and you bring a side or dessert to share. Reservations required; seating is limited so call 407-923-8440 to save your spot. 

Poinsettias:

Dedicate a Christmas Poinsettia in honor of or memory of a loved one. Click here. You can take a poinsettia with you starting Christmas morning if you wish. 

Angel Trees-

The Trees and the wishlist tags are up! Here is some info on our Angel Trees for 2021:

Redeeming Life Maternity Home, located on S. Oak Ave. in Sanford, is a loving, welcoming, accepting family environment for single, expectant women in crisis by providing a safe and comfortable home to them, along with gaining life skills necessary for success and an independent life. Each resident takes part in education and/or employment planning, classes in financial literacy, cooking, household management, as well as opportunities for individual and spiritual growth. 

Faith, family, and education are the backbone of this ministry, praying that lives will be changed and women will find hope and comfort in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

Since 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has helped inspire hope and opportunity in those who need it most – local at-risk children. 

The West Sanford Branch, in the Westside Community Center/919 S Persimmon Ave., is a safe place for children ages 6-18, to learn and grow through youth development programs offered to meet the diverse needs and interests of the members. At least 75% of the youths exercise 30 minutes a day and 95 % report no bullying at the Club! GIFTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ARE DUE BY 12/12. 

Mission: to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

Club Code: “I believe in God and the right to worship according to my own faith and religion. I believe in America and the American way of life…in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I believe in fair play, honesty and sportsmanship. I believe in my Boys & Girls Club, which stands for these things.”

Pet Rescue By Judy, 401 E. Laurel Ave., Sanford [across from the Paw Park], is a non-profit 501(c)(3) “NO KILL” organization dedicated for 30+ years to the Rescuing ~ Rehabilitation ~ Resocializing ~ Rehoming of Companion Animals.

Educational programs are given on: care of pets, including proper diet, fresh clean water, daily exercise, and lots of love; spaying/neutering to prevent euthanasia and over-population; availability of low-cost spay/neuter clinics and wellness centers.

Each rescued animal undergoes: a medical exam, has its ears cleaned, nails trimmed; is given a bath, flea/tick preventative, dewormed, tested for heartworm, updated shots; are micro-chipped; and cats are tested for feline leukemia/AIDS.

The Pregnancy Center of Sanford, 1002 S. French Ave., offers women alternatives to abortion by modeling the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate lay-counseling and the resources to empower them to make a life-affirming decision. PLEASE BRING ALL GIFT CARDS TO THE OFFICE OR HAND DIRECTLY TO GRACE CHEWNING. 

Youth & Children’s Ministry

December 12- Kids Church!!!

10:00 AM in the Children’s Center. Kids in K-5th grade join Children’s Director Emily for a fun time of fellowship and learning. Adults, sign your kids in and go enjoy the service!

Preschool and infants will be in the nursery with Ms. Carolyn!

December 12- Youth Ministry

Middle and High School students join Youth Director Blake in the Youth Center during the education hour. 

December 15 – Youth Group Christmas Party! 

Middle and High School students, join Youth Director Blake in the Youth Center from 6PM-8PM. Wear those Ugly Sweaters! There will be cookies, hot chocolate, and pizza!

LCMS National Youth Gathering! – Next summer the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) is holding their National Youth Gathering in Houston Texas! This is a youth conference that our synod puts on in a different city every three years. For the first time in a long time, we will be sending a group to attend! This conference is for those currently in 8th grade to those in 12th grade. If this is something that you or your student(s) are interested in, please let me know! For more info click here

***Upcoming High School Winter Retreat– We had such a great time this summer at Lake Yale that this January we are going back! January 14-17 we will be holding a High School Winter Retreat (9th-12th grade) and we would love to have your high schooler(s) join us! The cost is $165 per student. If interested in joining us contact Blake soon. Spaces are filling up!

L-Team News and Calendar

If you are interested in starting an L-Team or your existing L-Team has resumed, please reach out to the office or one of the pastors.

Ongoing L-Teams:

Sunday 

Adult Bible Study  9am
Student Ministry 9am – upstairs in the Youth Center with Blake
Sunday School 9am – upstairs in the Children’s Center with Emily
A Fighting Chance 11:30 AM- The Studio with Will Zacharias
Jiu Jitsu Club 12:10 PM- The Studio with Will Zacharias                                                            

Monday 

Men’s Bible Study 7am (Pastor Chris)
Men’s Ministry 7:30pm (On Break until January 10, 2022)
Ladies Book Club (4th Monday only) 7pm

Wednesday 

Wednesday Morning Bible Study 10:30am (PastorMatt)
Worship Team Practice 6:45pm (Chris Kutcher)

Thursday 

Ladies Bible Study by LWML 6:30pm (Sharon Shyrock or Chris Jennison)

Christine Jennison(jennisons2000@aol.com)

or Sharon Shyrock (ssshyrock@yahoo.com). 

Announcements & Updates

Kids church (kids K-5) will be held during the 10AM service in the Children’s Center. Preschool 3-Pre-K are in the nursery. Feel free to drop off at 9:45 and then join us for worship.

Poinsettia dedications in honor of or in memory of a loved one are avaialble at hclm.org/christmas

Don’t forget to check out the Angel Trees located in the Narthex. There are trees set up with  gift requests for the Pregnancy Center of Sanford, The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Central Florida, Redeeming Life Maternity Home, and Pet Rescue by Judy.

Communion is available in our in person services (1st and 3rd Sunday at 8am and 2nd & 4th Sunday at 10am). For those who are not able to get to a service or are not yet comfortable attending in person services, please contact the office or one of the pastors and we will be happy to make other arrangements. 

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Prayers of Thanksgiving for all of the people who who gave up their Saturday to get the entire church campus ready for the Christmas season. 

Prayers of Comfort

Prayers of Comfort during this difficult time for Priscila and the rest of the Rogers family as they mourn the loss of Bob this week.

Prayers of the Church

Chris Kimball-  Prayers of healing and recovery after suffering a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago. Prayers that the leg and foot will heal and he will regain full use of them. 

John McCarraher-  Prayers of healing as he faces ongoing complications from Covid. Is being transferred to a different hospital and faces surgery. 

Audrey-  Prayers of healing from Bone cancer as she has taken a turn for the worse and is in the hospital again. 

Pastor Paul Hoyer-   Please pray for continued healing and  a quick recovery from Covid.

Pray for all those suffering from coronavirus 

General Prayers

We pray today for our nation and our world. We ask that God would be with all of our leaders and elected officials; we pray that He would bring peace to the world, an end to violence and especially watch over Christians that are facing persecution.

Prayers for Healing from Cancer

“Casting a light to help those who are lost find their way in Christ”

Sunday Services at 8:00am, and 10:00am in the Worship Center

and Online on Facebook and YouTube/hclm

Pastor Matt Wallis (mwallis@hclm.org)

Pastor Chris Johnson (chrisj@hclm.org)

www.hclm.org     Facebook: facebook.com/lakemarychurch