Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Kathy Spenhoff - President

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 President’s Report       

June 2013

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.” Psalm 103: 13

Happy Father’s Day to all our dads and congratulations to all our grads! This is definitely a month to celebrate our families and the blessings the Lord has given us---praise and thank Him!

We want to make sure you note on your calendar our annual Holy Cross Family BBQ and Bon Fire on Friday June 21 from 5 to 7 PM  here at Holy Cross---invite your friends for good food, music, skits and S’Mores by the campfire.

The first week in June is our VBS for Pre-school- Kindergarten—“King Jesus”!  Invite your friends and neighbors’ children to this special time just for the little ones June 3 through 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.  Contact Karen Heinitz (4080286-1238 or klheinitz@aol.com for more info and if you are able to  help  with  teaching  or assisting with a class, or helping with crafts.. There are registration forms in the office and on the web site: www.holycrosslosgatos.com to register in advance in May. The VBS for  Elementary and Middle School will be take place July 29-August 2 and another session  on August 5- 9. (Pick one of the weeks to attend)

Be sure to express your thanks to  Kris and Sarah Duarte for faithfully leading our Good Tidings  group in the contemporary worship  for many years--  God bless you, Kris and Sarah! Good Tidings really became  energized under your direction! Good tidings will have their  end of the year  concert on Sunday June 9 at 7 PM and have the summer off.   We welcome and praise God for Nate Fehrenbach as the incoming Good Tidings director and  Thera Gonis as assistant director who will  take over  when the season  once again begins in September.  

We still  need some  people to help  lead  a class  for the children’s  Summer Sunday School.  You don’t need to do it every Sunday.  Just pick which Sunday you can help out with teaching or assisting.  The classes are video led and   you don’t have to do crafts!  It’s easy! Contact Thao Perry or Gwen Frederick or look for the  sign up sheet in the office.

We will be holding our semi-annual voters meeting on June 23 at noon.  Be sure to attend!! We’ll have important items to discuss the upcoming  hiring of a part-time  Children & Youth Ministry coordinator and a part-time Outreach coordinator   We will discuss and vote to pass the budget for fiscal year 2013-14. There are several election positions available for any of you who feel led to serve the Lord’s church.  We also will present a proposal favored by the council in addressing the many facilities maintenance projects popping up in the future.  Be a part of the decision-making process.  Lunch will be provided.

Kathy Spenhoff
Council President

       
President’s Report   

July / August 2013

  “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” Psalm 113: 3

We held our semi-annual voters meeting on June 23.   Important items discussed and voted upon were:  the budget for fiscal year 2013-14, election our leaders for the next fiscal year, and we presented a proposal addressing the many facilities maintenance projects popping up in the future.  It was  voted on and decided after  much  deliberation that  Holy Cross will enter into a low interest loan for  up to $150,000  through the LCMS Church Extension Fund and  we will  make payments on the loan through a special  Capital  Giving Fund which we will set up at Holy Cross.    It is   important that we all join together in being good stewards of our 55 year-old church—God’s church! There will be special meetings to discuss the facilities improvements and their prioritization.  Stay tuned for additional information coming through soon.

It is refreshing to see our Holy Cross family worshipping together at one service this summer! Our  greatest thanks to those who  faithfully serve us  in worship—the  musicians, choirs, brass, One Voice , lectors ,ushers, offering counters, bulletin preparers and Pastor Scott. If you don’t know the name of someone, introduce yourself! You may just make a new friend and get to know them better.

We will be enjoying the return of Betsy Eckert, DCE  in August as our  new interim  Director of  Ministry to Children and  Youth.  Please welcome Betsy warmly!  We also welcome Nate Fehrenbach as our new Good Tidings director. He will be assisted by Thera Gonis, Allyson Frederick and Kellen Hughes.  They will start practicing with Good Tidings in August to prepare for leading their first worship once again in September.  If any youth or college-aged people are interested in joining please contact Nate .

We will need LOTS of helpers for the two weeks of VBS : July 29- August 2 and August 5-9.  Please contact Karen Heinitz to help with leading or aiding a class or helping prepare the crafts.  Each summer we serve about 300 children and youth during the two weeks and it is a blessing not only to  our Holy Cross families , but also to  the families in our community who come to  hear about “King Jesus”.

Last  but not least, I want to  urge you all to  consider  your giving to the general fund.  We will be   going forth with a special Capital Giving Campaign to pay for the facilities improvement, but the general fund is what  pays the bills and keeps the  lights on.  Giving to the general fund was down a bit this year.   We want to  make the  changes needed to improve our facilities as well as  keeping the  everyday  costs  covered.  So, we will need to “up” our giving  to make this happen.  With God all things are possible!  Keep the faith…and give mightily to the Lord, from Whom all blessings flow.

Kathy Spenhoff
Council President