It has been a fun time here at Holy Cross. Christmas is coming!
I particularly enjoied watching all the children in the Christmas Program. While I was sad to not see more people in attendance, the program and its message is not just for those with children, I throughly enjoyed the day. My favorite part was watching the little children sing "Happy Birthday Jesus". The Confirmation age children did a wonderful job and all of their hard work paid off. The children presented a powerful message of the wonder of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Thank you to all who worked to make it a wonderful day. The Cakes were great.
My Hope is that we can all express the Love of Christ to our families and our friends.
In the Peace of Christ.
Dan Johnson
Director of youth ministy.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
For many years the small church I grew up in tried to put on a Christmas Program. Often we were too smallto do an effective program. Years later I moved to St. Louis and left my small church and joined a much larger church family. I then saw how effective a children's message can be at Christmas. I learned quote a bit about the true meaning of Christmas from these programs. Sometimes the message of the adult version can be overwhelming, but the children's program tends to be basic, more direct and to the point. (This may be why I often like Children's sermons so much.)
I am preparing for my third children's program here at Holy Cross. The Previous two years of programs have been wonderful. We are gifted with a great group of kids here at Holy Cross and such supportive adults. I am thrilled to say i would put our program up against any church in the area. Last year i felt like I was in the Caribbean. Where will we be transported this year?
I have had the honor of helping this year's group prepare for Sunday. I know that the kids have been hard at work learning lines and some great songs. The proprs are ready and down from the ceiling. This Sunday you are in for a treat. Please plan to attend the 9:45am celebration.
In the Hope, Peace and Love of Christ,
Dan
I am preparing for my third children's program here at Holy Cross. The Previous two years of programs have been wonderful. We are gifted with a great group of kids here at Holy Cross and such supportive adults. I am thrilled to say i would put our program up against any church in the area. Last year i felt like I was in the Caribbean. Where will we be transported this year?
I have had the honor of helping this year's group prepare for Sunday. I know that the kids have been hard at work learning lines and some great songs. The proprs are ready and down from the ceiling. This Sunday you are in for a treat. Please plan to attend the 9:45am celebration.
In the Hope, Peace and Love of Christ,
Dan
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Advent
Yes I know that we are past Thanksgiving and heading full steam into Christmas. But we should not forget the wonderful season of Advent. Advent is special to me. (My childhood church was Advent Lutheran.) The expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus is a wonderfully exciting time for me. I look forward to Christmas but it is the tense expectation of Advent that gets us ready. To think of all that the coming Christ does for us and all the preparation that both we at the church and that Mary and Joseph did blows my mind.
Yesterday at the Staff meeting we discussed when the Tree and other decorations should go up. Who would decorated the tree. Should we have a church decoration party and invite everyone to join us in this festive occasion? We have a wedding in December and would they want decorations up for the wedding?
Advent seems to get lost in the shuffle. Advent has started. In fact if you have an advent calendar you would be opening the first window today. I looked at Targets selection of Advent calendars and while I am thrilled to see 13 of them ranging from a manger scene to a train, I have to wonder what a penguin has to do with Advent. That aside Advent is here. Are you anticipating the coming of the Lord?
Thank you to all who made the Advent celebration a wonderful success.
Happy Advent.
Yesterday at the Staff meeting we discussed when the Tree and other decorations should go up. Who would decorated the tree. Should we have a church decoration party and invite everyone to join us in this festive occasion? We have a wedding in December and would they want decorations up for the wedding?
Advent seems to get lost in the shuffle. Advent has started. In fact if you have an advent calendar you would be opening the first window today. I looked at Targets selection of Advent calendars and while I am thrilled to see 13 of them ranging from a manger scene to a train, I have to wonder what a penguin has to do with Advent. That aside Advent is here. Are you anticipating the coming of the Lord?
Thank you to all who made the Advent celebration a wonderful success.
Happy Advent.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Behind the curtain.
I was sitting in the worship center this past weekend and I got thinking about all the people that work to make the worship experience a powerful wonderful time with God.
I brought Emily to the church on Saturday so that she could partake in the Praise Band practice. She along with a lot of other people practice for an hour and a half. I know that several people stayed later in the day to make sure that the worship service would come off well. Additionally I watch people come by all week to make sure the worship center is ready for Sunday. From the people that clean the place to the the Banner committee making the wonderful banners we get to enjoy. Additionally we have the Alter Guild who make sure we are ready to partake in communion. Others come in and change out the paraments. Without the people who come in and fold the bulletins we would be lost in worship. It takes a lot of people to make our place go.
Once Sunday morning rolls around we have more people making sure we have a wonderful experience. Starting with the Deacon of the month opening the doors and turning on the heat. We then have ushers, greeters, lay assistants, musicians, welcome center greeters and coffee makers. Sunday morning is the public face of a lot of work put in by Pastor and Kevin during the week to have a good message.
Heck it even starts before Sunday Morning. The Property committee makes sure that the building is ready for us. The Outreach committee is helping to make people be aware of our worship. The Stewardship committee ensures that we have the funds to turn on the lights. The council makes sure that we are headed in the right direction.
So the next time you walk into Holy Cross I invite you to pause and say a prayer for the many hands that are doing God's work here at Holy Cross.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dan
I brought Emily to the church on Saturday so that she could partake in the Praise Band practice. She along with a lot of other people practice for an hour and a half. I know that several people stayed later in the day to make sure that the worship service would come off well. Additionally I watch people come by all week to make sure the worship center is ready for Sunday. From the people that clean the place to the the Banner committee making the wonderful banners we get to enjoy. Additionally we have the Alter Guild who make sure we are ready to partake in communion. Others come in and change out the paraments. Without the people who come in and fold the bulletins we would be lost in worship. It takes a lot of people to make our place go.
Once Sunday morning rolls around we have more people making sure we have a wonderful experience. Starting with the Deacon of the month opening the doors and turning on the heat. We then have ushers, greeters, lay assistants, musicians, welcome center greeters and coffee makers. Sunday morning is the public face of a lot of work put in by Pastor and Kevin during the week to have a good message.
Heck it even starts before Sunday Morning. The Property committee makes sure that the building is ready for us. The Outreach committee is helping to make people be aware of our worship. The Stewardship committee ensures that we have the funds to turn on the lights. The council makes sure that we are headed in the right direction.
So the next time you walk into Holy Cross I invite you to pause and say a prayer for the many hands that are doing God's work here at Holy Cross.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dan
Thursday, November 12, 2009
15 Years
As I write this we are preparing to honor Kevin for his 15 years of service to Holy Cross as Director of Music. I think about all the changes that Kevin has seen both in the world and here at Holy Cross. He has been here for the latest expansion of the building along with the modernization of our worship space. He has been here for baptism, weddings funerals and at least one ordination of a Pastor. Kevin has help to shape some of the decisions made regarding the future of the church along with helping to shape our future. It is wonderful that we are going to take some time to honor Kevin and his ministry. He truly deserves the honor.
I in turn think back to my time here. I have been on staff at Holy Cross for almost 2 and 1/2 years. I have seen a lot of growth in the youth I work with. I have seen growth in the people of Holy Cross. I can not help but to wonder what this place will look like if I am here for 15 years. Will we have a new addition? Will we have a satellite location? Will we have a food pantry or a clothing pantry? Will we be sending more then just youth on mission trips? Will people truly miss us if we were not here?
The world around us is changing. Some changes are good some are bad. But as time moves on we can be sure that yes the world is changing. The question is will Holy Cross change to meet the changing needs of God's creation? Or will we refuse to change? The least favorite expression I hear is "we have never done it that way." Is the layout of the furniture in narthex more important then being able to make today's generation feel comfortable in church? Is sitting in our particular pew more important then making a non believer feel that they are truly welcome to experience the Christ with us? Is it about us or is it about Jesus? Are we hear to spread Christ Love?
I hope so.
Congratulations Kevin I hope I am hear for the next 15 years.
Dan
I in turn think back to my time here. I have been on staff at Holy Cross for almost 2 and 1/2 years. I have seen a lot of growth in the youth I work with. I have seen growth in the people of Holy Cross. I can not help but to wonder what this place will look like if I am here for 15 years. Will we have a new addition? Will we have a satellite location? Will we have a food pantry or a clothing pantry? Will we be sending more then just youth on mission trips? Will people truly miss us if we were not here?
The world around us is changing. Some changes are good some are bad. But as time moves on we can be sure that yes the world is changing. The question is will Holy Cross change to meet the changing needs of God's creation? Or will we refuse to change? The least favorite expression I hear is "we have never done it that way." Is the layout of the furniture in narthex more important then being able to make today's generation feel comfortable in church? Is sitting in our particular pew more important then making a non believer feel that they are truly welcome to experience the Christ with us? Is it about us or is it about Jesus? Are we hear to spread Christ Love?
I hope so.
Congratulations Kevin I hope I am hear for the next 15 years.
Dan
Monday, October 19, 2009
Well it starts
We are always looking for ways to improve. We want to reach out to the world around us with the love of Christ. Holy Cross is a member of the ELCA. We try to be an open and welcoming congregation. Some days we are better at it then we are on other days. We are exploring ways to amke our selves into the church that Christ wants us to be. Talk to us let us know what you want out of a church. Jesus Christ is needed in this world more then ever. We want to reach as many people with the love of Christ. We are searching for our mission. Our unique place in the Kingdom. We realize that we cannot be all things to all people but we need to be the best church that we are designed and called to be now and in the future.
I truly believe that we have lots of people that care about others. We at times can be caught up in the mess that is our lives and we then tend to forget about what is important. We need to remember that we are blessed. We need to remember that we have our daily needs met. But that others around us are doing without.
Talk with us. What do you see for the future of Christ church here at Holy Cross?
I truly believe that we have lots of people that care about others. We at times can be caught up in the mess that is our lives and we then tend to forget about what is important. We need to remember that we are blessed. We need to remember that we have our daily needs met. But that others around us are doing without.
Talk with us. What do you see for the future of Christ church here at Holy Cross?
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