By: DCE Payton DeVencenty

Hey Holy Cross!

I am sure you are astounded, as I am, that the holiday season is here once again. Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays I am not sure I am ready for this year, but like it or not, they are coming in fast.

For many years now, Service Ministries have been most clearly represented at this time of year because of our heavy emphasis on providing food, gifts, and community to those in need as winter rolls in.

“Just think about how last year, in our 2018 Thanksgiving Baskets drive, we were able to provide 200 meals to families in need!”

There are quite a few wonderful ways to get involved around the church right now, from serving in our Thanksgiving Baskets ministry on November 23rd to providing gifts for kiddos who aren’t fortunate to have gifts this Christmas. Lyn Hente, a member at Holy Cross, has been so moved to head up the Thanksgiving Baskets Ministry for over five years, and has seen many families be cared for through the simple act of assembling baskets and handing them out on one November Saturday a year. But what about opportunities which aren’t a one-off event? What about service which is more than returning a (thankfully received) gift?

I am beyond blessed to have been called to the position of Director of Service Ministries here at Holy Cross, and it is my hope that more of us begin or continue to serve together as these holiday months approach.

“Yet, it is easy to allow a time of the year to dictate our service, considering there is a nearly 50% jump in volunteerism nationally around the holidays.”

So this year I ask you to consider jumping in with us in aiding people during the holiday season, and seek to find a place where you can join myself and others in serving year-round. Please begin to pray and work with me towards developing ministries which are more than a time of the year.

“Ministries which Jesus’ Spirit moves and works through every day as He directs us.”

By: Marcy Serby

Church is a family, not a weekly event. And because we are a family and God first proved his love for us through the sacrifice of his Son, we are called to love and care for each other. Love for God and love for our neighbor is the foundation of Christian living. 1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” Love is a verb. Love is action.

We are excited to offer you the opportunity to show love to each other through our new “Helping Hands” ministry. When a member has a short-term need – usually due to hospitalization, serious illness or death in the family – we want to provide food, transportation, or other help to carry them through their trial. And we guarantee double blessings! You will greatly bless the person you are helping, but you will also find yourself wondering who was blessed more – you or the person you helped.

You will be asked to complete a 5-minute survey telling us what, if anything, you will be able to do for your friends here at Holy Cross if there is a need. When you receive the survey through email or your church mailbox, please take a few minutes to complete it. This ministry is 100% dependent upon YOU and your family needs you!

The allegory of the long spoons talks about the difference between heaven and hell, but I see it as a story of joy received through serving out of love.

A man wanted to see what heaven and hell were like. God showed the man two doors. Behind the first one was a large round table with a large pot of stew. It smelled delicious and made the man’s mouth water, but the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each could reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

Behind the second door there was the large round table with the large pot of wonderful stew that made the man’s mouth water. The people had the same long-handled spoons that could reach the stew but not their mouths, but they were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The difference, God said, is simple. These people have learned to serve each other.

… that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. I Corinthians 12:2b-26