Newsletter September 20th, 2020

Sep 18, 2020 | Weekly

 

Current Sermon Series: Seasons: Doing Life Together

1 Kings 17:8-16, Galatians 5:25 – 6:10, Matthew 6:24-34

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

 

Current Sermon Series – Seasons: Doing Life Together

Church Service – September 20th

Current sermon series, Seasons: Doing Life Together! As we move into a new church season, we also move into a new season in our lives and in how we are dealing with the current pandemic. We welcome you home to do life together with your family here at Holy Cross.  The readings will be about the life of Christ and the ongoing life of the church as we relate them to our ongoing lives during this challenging season.  Please join us here or online, at 8:00am or 10:00am, for Doing Life Together!

How to Stay Connected During This Time

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:
– Devotions on YouTube and Facebook- intended for our student ministry, but helpful for everyone.
– Prepare for Sunday Services – contemporary worship songs, scripture readings, and questions for deeper thinking posted throughout the week on Facebook and Instagram
– Monday Night Bible Study on YouTube and Facebook- A walk through the book of Psalms with Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris 
– Unscripted Live – Thursdays at 1:30 on YouTube and Facebook – Unscripted chat with the Pastors and special guests
– Drive Through Communion – the fourth Sunday of each month from 11:30 am -12:00 pm
– 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 8:00 am for traditional service or 10:00 am for contemporary

Education Hour Is Here!

It’s official! Starting this Sunday, we will be having Sunday School in the Children’s Center, Middle/High School Student Service in the Youth Center, and the Sunday Morning Bible Study in the Community Center during our new Education Hour between services from 9:00-10:00 AM. Hope to see you there!

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

Most of you have noticed the seating spacing at church. We have created groups of seating to allow members of households to sit together while remaining socially distant from other households. We feel that this is the best way for us to adhere to government guidance and care for others as we gather. Please find a seating group that most closely resembles your group size. If there are 2 in your party, pick a set with 2 seats, if all 2s are occupied pick a three and so on. You should not sit in a seating group with another household unless you have frequent interaction with that group outside of church(ie:they are in your inner circle). Thanks for keeping others safe.

What’s Going On

Last Chance to Help – Bakers Needed!

We are looking for those who would like to make a sweet treat that we can offer for the upcoming online bakesale. If you are interested in taking part in this event, please email the following to Lara Jackson at ljackson@hclm.org or visit the Facebook event for a link to register, but don’t bake yet! The end of September, we will notify you how many of your items have been ordered for you to make. If you have trouble affording the ingredients for your recipe, but want to help, let us know and we will see what we can do.

Sunday School is Starting Again!

Sunday School starts again on Sept 20th. We will be changing the check-in process this year and regsitration is required. Be sure to register your child at hclm.org/youth/children-prek-5th/

We are also looking for high school students and adults who would be willing to volunteer to guide our youngest members during Sunday School. Talk to Pastor Chris or email Lara at ljackson@hclm.org if you are interested in learning more.

Confirmation Starts Sept 23rd

We invite all 7th & 8th grade students to join us for our 2020-2021 confirmation class! Our confirmation program is a small group based, interactive experience that gives students the opportunity to explore and confirm their faith in Jesus Christ. Confirmation is a two-year experience in which students will learn about their faith, become familiar with the Bible, with prayer and will develop a personal testimony. We meet weekly on Wednesday nights 6:30-8:00 through the school year (with holiday breaks). This year begins on Wednesday, Sept 23. Currently masks are required. There is an annual supply/retreat fee of $100. If you have further questions about our confirmation program or for a complete schedule of the year, please contact Pastor Matt at mwallis@hclm.org. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED please go to hclm.org/confirmation/

Middle School Student Ministry Kickoff Sept. 27th

Middle School Youth Group will kickoff on Sunday, September 27 from 5-7 PM here at Holy Cross. All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are welcome to join us for a fun night including activities, devotion, and dinner. Please be sure to register your middle schooler at HCLM.org/Youth prior to attending so that we have up to date emergency contact information and can keep you in the loop about middle school happenings as the year progresses.

Cookies, Cakes, Candies…. and SHRIMP!?!?!

This year has been strange. With COVID cancelling most activities including our youth fundraisers and with all of the new requirements with masks and sanitization that has been implemented. In order to alleviate some of these issues, we are creating an online bake sale and shrimp boil to support our Youth Missions Program and the Academy with the unexpected COVID related expenses. In September we are planning on having an ordering system where people can order baked goods and for one day, on 10/10/2020, a take home Shrimp Boil Meal.  If you previously purchased Crawfish Boil tickets and have not already been in contact with us about them, please email Lara at ljackson@hclm.org

Family Trivia Night 2.0 – Oct 2nd @ 7 PM

Back by  popular demand! We had such a great time bringing Family Trivia Night to you a few weeks ago so we decided to do it again. The Zoom link will be posted in the Facebook event the day of the event or you can email the office at ljackson@hclm.org to have it emailed to you.

Save the Date – Drive Through Trunk R Treat Oct. 24th

With everything going on, we had to re-imagine what Trunk R Treat would look like this year. We have come up with a socially distanced drive through experience to get you and the kids out of the house while keeping you safe. We are in need of candy donation to fill bags for the event. You can drop candy donations in the church office or have them delivered directly by ordering off of our TrunkR’Treat Amazon wishlist at https://a.co/1PO2Jdo

Announcements & Updates

Mites Box Sunday – September 27th

The fourth Sunday of each month, the ladies of LWML collect mites. Based on the Biblical account of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1–4), the Mite Box is intended for regular contributions of “mites” — offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations and the LCMS. Mite Box contributions amount to millions of dollars that fund district and national mission grants and implement the LWML program. So be sure to bring your change and support the mission.

September Supply Drive – Trunk R Treat Donations

We are starting to collect candy and donation for Trunk R Treat! We are expecting a large crowd because we are one of the only places doing something this year. We love to be able to serve the community in a responsible way, but we need your help to be able to pull this off. Please bring bags of candy to church with you on Sunday or drop it in the office anytime during the week. You can also support through Amazon by purchasing directly to our wishlist and have it shipped directly to the church at https://a.co/1PO2Jdo

St. Luke’s Concert Series

St. Luke’s is doing their concert series virtually this year. Go to sllcs.org/concert-series for more information. Here are their upcoming shows:

  • Oct 18 – Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Nov 21 – UCF Symphony Orchestra
  • Dec 4 – Brass Band of Central Florida

Giving In the Corona Virus Era

The CARES Act allows for an additional, “above-the-line” deduction for charitable gifts made in cash of up to $300. If you are not itemizing on your 2020 taxes, you can claim this new deduction. If you itemize, charitable contributions are 100% deductible up to your Adjusted Gross Income(AGI).

Additionally, people as young as 59 1/2 may contribute proceeds from an IRA up to 100% of their Adjusted Gross Income(AGI) without tax or penalty under the CARES act. As always, please consult your financial advisor.

Prayers of the Church   

Prayers of Thanksgiving

For the church being able to start to come together again and meet on campus

Prayers of Comfort

For those who are grieving, that God will help them find comfort in those He surrounds us with and in His word

Prayers of Healing 

Karen (Neighbor of Barb Anderson) prayers for God to use their suffering for his good

Alan Curtis prayers for successful medicalprocedure and full recovery

Justin McCarty (nephew of Lori Hill) prayers for healing from Corona Virus

Anna McCarty (niece of Lori Hill) prayers for healing from Corona Virus

Barney Moore prayers of healing from Corona Virus in a nursing home in Polk County

Ryan Lorenz prayers of healing from his kidney stones

Michelle Grass prayers for healing from breast cancer

Marilyn Childs  Prayers for healing from a back surgery 

Dennis Bridger Prayers for a speedy and full recovery from a brain aneurysm and peace and comfort for his family

Danielle Bottass prayers for physical and emotional healing after a horrible car accident

Joan Bove (Kim Sanders’ Mom) prayers for healing from complications of being hospitalized after a broken hip

Paul Baker (friend of Tracy Alfonso) prayers of wisdom for Dr’s as they help Paul with congestive heart failure

For all those suffering from coronavirus.

General Prayer

Prayers for those who are dealing with the fires out west

We pray today for our church – that the body of Christ would look to Him for comfort and restoration among the fear and chaos of our world.

Prayers for Healing from Cancer

Barbara Bechtold

Laken Binkley

Robert Bowes

Dennis Breglia

Texann Buck

Becky Burrell

Andrea Clark

Jenny Colen

Kyle Corbett

Leo Cybulski

Deb Fadool

Tosha Feldmann

Shirley Firestone

Carla Ford

Michael Francis

Ron Frederickson

Pat Goodwine

Jerry Gross

Dana Grimes

Bob Hamilton

Todd Haynes

David Haynes

Steve Homan

Joy Hostler

Marlin Houser

Karen Kalich

Alan Kimball

Elizabeth Koob

Al Laruffa

Rick Lembrick

Sally Lowd

Lori Luedtke

Charaline Luna

Jean Mactye

Kathy Marwood

Alan McGinn

Leslie Pilz

Paul Queck

Dave Riker

Martin Rodriguez

Karen Schlue

Debbie Shaffer

Gina Shaffer

Tina Smith

Martin Summ

Hector Vazquez

Steve Wash

Linda Weiler

Scott Williams

Etta Woodruff

Charles Zahn

 

“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)

Executive Pastor CFLCN: Pastor Paul Hoyer (phoyer@hclm.org)

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