March 14th, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 18
NOISY OFFERING FOR THIS WEEK GOES TO SAMARITASSamaritas is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and works as social services for the elderly and young alike. Social ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Samaritas is not just for Lutherans. The church has been meeting people’s needs since the early 1900s when a Lutheran "city missionary" arrived in Detroit to provide services to the poor. From the very beginning, Samaritas has reached out to individuals regardless of their religion, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Today, motivated to serve others as an expression of the love of Christ, Samaritas helps those in need regardless of religion, race, ethnicty or national origin.
The organization was incorporated as the Lutheran Inner Mission League in 1934. Today, Samaritas spans the state’s Lower Peninsula with more than 70 program sites in 40 cities. Samaritas diverse staff share a dedication to serving their fellow humans by doing the right thing, for the right reasons, every day. There are programs in Traverse City. Take time to visit the website: www.samaritas.org
ALTAR FLOWERS This morning are placed in celebration of the birthday of Elaina Engel by Grandma and Grandpa Engel. God’s blessings to you on your special day.

BULLETINS this week are given by Bev and Gary Engel in honor of their granddaughter, Elaina Engel, on her birthday.

Dedications for both the bulletins and the flowers are found at SIGN UP CENTRAL in the green notebook. $10 for flowers and $10 for bulletin dedications. Each week our flowers are donated to Flowers for Friends to be distributed throughout the community.
VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES ARE IN YOUR BOXES AND THERE ARE EXTRAS SITTING OUTSIDE OF THE BOXES

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS Please check the volunteer schedule in the green binder at the sign up table. The volunteer list beginning January 2018 is available in the green notebook. Please cross your name off of the list if you are unable to volunteer. If you can find a substitute please fill in the name. If you can’t find one, let Pastor Sherry know.

Sunday, March 18 5th Sunday in Lent
8:30AM: Greeter: Lynn & Gordy Engdahl; Usher: Wayne & Priscilla Meyer; Lector: Priscilla Meyer; Acolyte: Head Usher; Head Usher: Gary Engel; Cantor: ; Assistant to the Minister: Sue Finley; Coffee Hour:Priscilla Meyer

10AM: Greeter: Grosvenor O’Donnell Family; Usher: Ernst & Kathy Rushe; Lector: Melissa Hansen; Acolyte: Sophie Cone; Head Usher: Ron Marshall; Cantor: ; Assistant to the Minister: Carolyn Matzinger;Counters: Gary Engel & Carolyn Matzinger; Coffee Hour: Bill & Vira Heise and Preston & Gail Kloss; Recycling: Cone Family; Bread Baker: Kris Olsen; Nursery: Olivia Nolff

Sunday, March 25th Palm/Passion Sunday (meet outside of the sanctuary)
8:30AM: Greeter: Melissa Hansen; Usher: Lynn & Gordy Engdahl; Lector: Melissa Hansen; Acolyte: Head Usher; Head Usher: Trudy Day;Cantor: ; Assistant to the Minister: Lois Ulrich; Coffee Hour: Lori Lind & Jill Ryan and Boyd Manges & JoAnnWilder

10AM: Greeter: Meckstroth family; Usher: Mike & Jean Smith; Lector: Jean Smith; Acolyte: Josie Poquette; Head Usher: Ernst Rusche;Cantor: ; Assistant to the Minister: Jean Smith; Coffee Hour: Ben & Wendy Laser and Mark & Deb Manker; Recycling: Cone Family; Bread Baker: Kris Olsen; Nursery: Olivia Nolff; Counters: Gail Drake and Dean Tahtinen

BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS!
Birthdays:
March 19: Joan Cox; March 20: Elaina Engel, Dean Tahtinen
Anniversaries:
March 18: Russ & Sharon Scott

A LITTLE CHURCH TRIVIA FROM CROSS OF CHRIST: MUSIC AND WORSHIP Did you know that our Worship and Music team plans all of our worship services and hymns, keeps the sanctuary in liturgical arts, and continues to seek ways to add to our visual experience of God. The team meets once a month for about two hours to keep ahead of the schedule and to plan special services. We would love to have more people. We meet on the third Monday (usually) at 9 OR 9:30. Marla Hoffman is our chairperson and does a great job. We thank our team right now: Marla Hofmann, Karen Lewis, Julie Pierpont, JoAnn Wilder, Mary Michelsen, Sharon Scott and Pastor Sherry McGuffin. Our council liasonis Trudy Day.
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DURING LENT…HERE IS A GOOD CHALLENGE Let’s try this together during this time of Lent and then end it the week of Easter! “DAY OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING” We invite you to give one week more than you have ever given in offering to the church during Lent. For some that might mean giving a tithe for the first time…for others it might mean increasing our giving for one week to the breaking point…to a point of faithful discomfort. Prayerfully we will be able to continue this as a time of the Lenten discipline journey!

A LETTER WILL BE SENT WITH OUR FINANCIAL UPDATE TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH AS WAS SET UP AT COUNCIL. We approved a budget at our annual meeting with ministries and mission. And while the budget was approved we continue to struggle to meet the monthly income. So we ask you to review the budget and tell us what we need to eliminate or change as we come into this first quarter. While we want to do all things for all people, we must try and also be good stewards of what we have…we look forward to hearing your feedback. Remember, you are always welcome to come to council where we talk, vision and plan and try to recreate a budget for us that is responsible stewardship.

MAIL BOXES HAVE BEEN UPDATED!!! Mail boxes have been rearranged a little and updated! Thank you to Karen Lewis who shared her time and talent and organizational methods with us! If you are missing box, please let us know so that we can update your spot!

CROSS OF CHRIST DIRECTORY Using all of the information that we had in the data base the directory was printed. You will receive updates on a separate page in your box so that you can simply staple it to your directory as we receive them.

CONFIRMATION IS CANCELLED ON MARCH 18TH DUE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GATHERING IN TRAVERSE CITY!

NEW MORNING COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY on Monday, March 5 at 8:15am-9am in the upper level fellowship area. The subject is #metoo#timesup. We will study for the 6 weeks of Lent, women in the Bible who overcame. Last week we studied John 4. This week we take a look at Mary and Elizabeth so please read Luke chapter 1. Please come with an open heart, love of coffee and people! Can’t wait to see you there! Join us live on line if you are away and can’t make it here…you can type in comments and questions as we go!

THANK YOU! A BIG Thank You to all our volunteer church musicians who share their talents so graciously. We are preparing for our upcoming Lenten season. ALL those interested in singing please attend. We practice on Wednesday evenings, chimes at 6:30 PM and choir 7PM. Other instruments would be appreciated too... guitar, flute, chime

MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY will meet at the church this week at 6PM-7PM. Light munchies provided. We will continue in the book of Revelation reading chapters 3-7.

SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND JULY: Thank you to all who brought the delicious food to the table! Please sign up in the green 3 ring binder at the sign up center outside of the church office.

FILL AN ENVELOPE FOR OUR YOUTH! Senior High and the Middle School Youth and Elementary School youth! Our children are beginning to sign up for Middle School Gathering and Summer camp which is open to all ages…there is even a camp for adults with special needs. Please go to elcalivingwater.com to learn more about the camps. We ask the families to pay a portion of the camp while we work to raise scholarship.

FINANCIALS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2018:
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TREASURES

Income Need Difference
General Fund 8591.53 10842.59 (1530.28)
Synod Benevolence 304.00​ 782.75 ​ (478.75)
Property Fund 646.00 1762.50​ (1222.50)​
9541.63 13387.84​ (3231.53)

HERE IS WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS!
Sun., March 18: 8:30 &10AM Holy Communion; Sunday School begins for children at 9:45AM NO CONFIRMATION
Mon., March 19: 8:15AM #Metoo Bible Study; 6PM Bible study the church
​7PM Council at the church
Tues., March 20: Voices Without Borders 6PM; Yoga 6:15
Wed., March 21 : Soup Supper 5:30, Lenten Service 6PM,
Thurs., March 22:
Fri., March 23:
Sat., March 24: Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Sun., March 25: 8:30 & 10AM PALM SUNDAY WITH Holy Communion Services. Sunday school for children from 9:45-10:30

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
✓ April: soup kitchen
✓ Elementary school pool party coming up!!!
✓ Confirmation Schedule: March 18 (Cancelled), April 15, April 22, May 6, May 20.
✓ March 16-18 Middle School Gathering in TC. Eli Popp, Seth Popp and Teague Meckstroth will be participating along with adult supervisors Kasi Meckstroth and Sheri Popp
✓ March 25th is Palm Sunday…remember to meet in the upper level fellowship hall
✓ March 28th Maundy Thursday at 7PM
✓ March 29th Good Friday 7PM
✓ April 1st Easter services at 8:30 and 10AM

PRAYERS REQUESTED
• For those in the armed services: Michael Drake, Ryan Finley, Jeremy Hamal, Douglas Dinger, Derik Dinger
• Loralei Koning, granddaughter of Karen & Bill Lewis
• Karen’s new great niece, Luna.
• Sue Duffiney, Jean Smith’s sister.
• Mark Jackson, Thrivent Rep…for healing prayers.
• Diana Tahtinen
• Carolyn Schotts (family of Wayne and Priscilla Meyer)
• Terry Mast through cancer (family of Wayne and Priscilla Meyer)
• Russ Mast and his family at his death (family of Wayne and Priscilla Meyer)
• Jan Mast for healing (family of Wayne and Priscilla Meyer)
• Deb Manker
• Pam Banwell and family (sister-in-law to Pam Campbell)
• Fred Lee (brother to Jean Smith)
• Richard John
• Steve Moreno (family of Dagny King, Gail Kloss, Dan Bays, Terri Bays, Denise Bays, Gwyn Moreno)
• Healing for the family of Kathy Rusche
• George, friend of Tom Olsen
• Carolyn Matzinger
• Lynn Engdahl as she recovers from pneumonia at home
• Thomas Parcher and the Martin family, family of JoAnn Wilder & Boyne Manges
• Sheri, friend of Kathy Rusche
• Juliana Lind, niece of Lori Lind Ryan
• Rebecca Johnson; friend of Irene Feeley14
• Marcia Froelich, family of Kathy Phelps-Rusche
• Hefrani Smith (daughter of Dan and 14Rodgers)
• Jay Richards, great uncle of Tricia Rodgers
• Mandy Meckstroth, sister-in-law to David Meckstroth
• Jerry Moots (brother of Bev Engel) as he heals
• Lois Moots
• Leah Scott (David Meckstroth’s sister)
• Craig Finley and family (brother of Sue Finley)
• Nancy (friend of Lynn and Gordy Engdahl)
• Sandy (friend of Carolyn Matzinger)
o Glenna Arends
o Elliott Drake at Seminary
o Nancy Wehrenberg
o Ruth Koski (mother of Gail Drake)
o Nan Olson (friend of Lynn and Gordy Engdahl)
o Ron Rodgers (brother of David Rodgers)
o Erica Riviera (cousin of Dean Morford)
o Val Long, Kenny Clark, CJ, BHC (friends of T. Rodgers)
o Elaine L Flesch, SEM, Magan Rodriguez, Mark France (friends of Rodgers)
o Luke, Jamie, Mark, Miriam & Aaron Ulrich (family of Lois Ulrich)
o Orphans in Haiti (Donna Smith)
o Citizens of Flint, Detroit and Howell, whose water is also failing.
o Those who are being subjected to hate and violence in this world because of racism, genderism, sexism.
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