Week of March 25, 2018

Greetings to you on this Maundy Thursday.  Please mark your calendar for this week:  Maundy Thursday this evening at 7PM; Good Friday 7PM; Easter Day Services 8:30 and 10AM.  Sunday school will be celebrating Easter on Easter morning with games and a story time down in the lower level fellowship area.  Bring a basket for the goodies for the children.
 
I am looking for a volunteer to head up a camping trip for the congregation…we can stay on the church property or we can go to a camp ground…just let me know if you are interested in organizing this event.  It will take the place of Vacation Bible School!
 
Looking forward to walking through the rest of this week with you…it is humbling for us to remember whose we are and how that happened.  Come and join us tonight, tomorrow evening and on Easter Sunday!  Come as you are…with an open heart!  In Christ, Pastor Sherry
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF March 25

NOISY OFFERING for the month of April will be for our Paper Pantry.  The Paper Pantry is a ministry at Cross of Christ that helps families who are in need to supplement their home cleaners and paper products.  At this time we offer laundry detergent, deodorant, shampoos/conditioners, tooth paste, tooth brushes, toilet paper, paper towels and Kleenex and plastic garbage bags and other items that people cannot purchase with WIC or bridge cards.  We serve 40- 80 families two times per month.  Thank you for your donations and your financial support and volunteer hours! 
 
ALTAR FLOWERS This morning are placed by Lori and Jill Lind/Ryan in loving memory of Virginia Lind; and by Del and Phyllis Fordt.
 
BULLETINS this week are given by Del and Phyllis Fordt and Wayne and Priscilla Meyer.
 
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.
 
TODAY WE CELEBRATE the baptism of Jackson Ernesto Love.  Jackson’s parents are Scott and Theresa Ann Love.  Jackson requested that the congregation be his sponsors. You may know Jackson by his wonderful questions during our children’s sermon.  There will be a cake celebrating Jackson’s baptism after the 2nd service!
 
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, April 1, 2018, Easter Sunday Resurrection of Our Lord
8:30AM:  Greeter:  Karie & Tavi Jeisel; Usher:  Wayne & Priscilla Meyer; Lector: Lynn Engdahl; Acolyte: Tavi Steffel; Head Usher: Sue Finley; Cantor: Choir ;
Assistant to the Minister: Lois Ulrich; Coffee Hour: Wayne & Pricilla Meyer and Dean & Cheryl Morford
 
10AM:  Greeter: Cone Family; Usher:  Bill & Gail Drake; Lector: JoAnn Wilder; Acolyte: Sophie Cone;  Head Usher:  Matzinger/ Marshall; Cantor: Choir ; Assistant to the Minister: Jean Smith; Counters: Toni Cone & Bryan Young;  Coffee Hour:  Dave & Kasi Meckstroth; Recycling:  Bryan Young;  Bread Baker:  Trudy Day; Nursery: Olivia Shaw Nolff
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Sunday, April 8,
8:30AM:  Greeter:  Trudy Day; Usher:  Jim & Cyndi Knibbs; Lector: Priscilla Meyer; Acolyte: Head Usher; Head Usher: Wayne Meyer; Cantor:  Julie Pierpont; Assistant to the Minister: Sue Finley; Coffee Hour: Jim & Cyndi Knibbs
 
10AM:  Greeter: norm Cutshall; Usher:  Meckstroth family; Lector: Mary Michelsen; Acolyte: Teague Meckstroth;  Head Usher:  Bill Drake; Cantor:  Mary Michelsen ; Assistant to the Minister: Gail Drake;  Coffee Hour:  Mary Michelsen and  Mark & Grosvenor & Mary Kay O’Donnell  Recycling:  Bryan Young; Bread Baker:  Trudy Day; Nursery: Olivia Nolff; Counters: Mary Kay O’Donnell and Mike Smith

BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY BLESSINGS!
Birthdays:
April 1:  Jackson Love; April 5: Janece Clark; April 8: Kyle Grosvenor, Skylar Smith
Anniversaries:
April 2: DeWayne & Joan Cox; April 7: Ken & Mary Michelsen
 
ELDERBERRY MEETING will be Friday, April 13 at 12:30 PM at the Perry Hotel.  A trip to the railroad museum might be taken after a short meeting.  Please call Joan Cox at 231-526-6126 to let her know that you will be attending so she can make a reservation.
 
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. 
 
CHURCH TRIVIA! Giving your treasures to the church for the ministry of the kingdom of God!  On our envelopes there are three choices as to where your donations go:  Property, Benevolence, General.  These three categories help us to budget in our giving to our synod and to the ministries of the building and community.  BENEVOLENCE dollars go directly to the North/West Lower Michigan synod who uses them for administration, education and scholarships and church start ups and congregational emergencies and needs, just to name a few.  Then our synod tithes those dollars and gives that to the ELCA which goes towards seminary education, synod outreach, colleges, workshops, Lutheran World Hunger, disaster relief.  We send our benevolence dollars which we have pledged at $782.75 per month toward the building up of the church outside of our walls here at Cross of Christ…but also…we have used those benevolence dollars.  Our church began, funds came from this benevolence fund through the ELCA and through the North/West Lower Michigan Synod.  These dollars are pretty important.  This is the area where we have the greatest shortfall and we believe that these ministries are really important for the growth of the Gospel.  If you are looking for a place to donate extra money, then maybe add some to this fund! 
 
BIBLE STUDIES:  #metoo Bible study will continue at 8:15AM on APRIL 9; Monday evening Bible Study will meet at Pastor Sherry’s at 314 W. Lake St at 6PM to continue the study of REVELATION on APRIL 9.  Everyone is invited to come…make a plan!  Join the groups!
 
ADOPT A HIGHWAY  -  Look on the bulletin board to see the thank you we received by the Governor of Michigan for our part in the roadside beautification program.
 
ART EXHIBIT IN HARBOR SPRINGS:  THE LIFE OF OUR LORD  -  Pierre has been asking God in his prayers to use him for spreading the word.  God has answered his prayers.  His paintings are displayed in sequence from the Annunciation to the Ascension to Heaven at his gallery at 188 East Main Street, Harbor Springs.  If you get a chance go and see his paintings.
 
FINANCIALS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2018:
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TREASURES
                                    Income                           Need                    Difference 
General Fund                 9263.31                   10842.59                     (858.50)
Synod Benevolence      302.00                     782.75                               (480.75)
Property Fund                615.00                      1762.50                            (1147.50)                                         
                                        10180.31                    13387.84            (2486.75)
 
HERE IS WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS! (Don’t forget to sign up on the calendar when you are planning your events.)

Sun.,    April 1:  8:30 & 10AM Holy Communion ,Easter Sunday, Resurrection of Our Lord;  Sunday School begins for children at 9:45AM  
Mon.,  April 2:  9AM meeting with boy scouts for God and Me badge.
Tues.,  April 3: Pastor Sherry out of the office
Wed.,   April 4: Pastor Sherry out of the office
Thurs., April 5:  Pastor Sherry out of the office
Fri.,      April 6:  
Sat.,    April 7:
Sun.,   April 8:  8:30 & 10AM 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:  April 15, April 22, May 6, May 20.