CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH24155 Griswold Road, South Lyon, MI 48178

248-437-8810Fax: 248-437-7708

www.crossofchristlutheran.org Email: cross-christ@att.net Like us on FACEBOOK at: www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouthlyon

S U M M E R , 2 0 1 9

Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.

Holy Communion is celebrated on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.Sunday School/ Bible Study classes held during the school year.

Sunday School: 10 a.m. – 3 years old through fifth grade Adult Bible Study: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

Youth Bible Study: 10 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Dear Beloved Members and Friends,

Summer is a popular time for people to travel. You may be planning to travel this summer on vacation or to visit family and friends. May God and His angels protect you and your family as you travel.

Chris and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Israel, the Holy Land, February 23 – March 4, 2019. We saw and walked on the locations where our ascended Lord appeared to His disciples and ascended into heaven. I would like to continue to share with you some of my experiences and thoughts about this memorable trip.

On Monday, February 25, we visited the national park at Caesarea. We saw a Roman theater and the harbor of Caesarea. We viewed a replica stone with Pontius Pilate’s name on it. This stone demonstrates that Pontius Pilate was a real, historical man. This is the same Pontius Pilate who conducted two of Jesus’ trials on Good Friday. St. Paul was on trial before King Herod Agrippa at Caesarea. Professor Just read Paul’s defense from Acts 26, possibly from the same location there.

Ruins at Caesarea on Mediterranean SeaPASTOR’S LETTER continued:

(Color photos shown in Summer Newsletter on website.)

Theater at Caesarea

We visited Mount Carmel in Haifa. Mt. Carmel is where the prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. We toured a chapel at the Stella Maris Monastery. We saw a cave where God spoke to Elijah.

We viewed the Bahai Temple and the Persian Gardens on Mount Carmel. Haifa is the headquarters of the Bahai religion.

Bahai Temple Persian Gardens

We toured the national park at Megiddo. We walked through Solomon’s stables and saw a stone manger. Baby Jesus spent time in a similar stone manger as an infant. We walked down and up in the Megiddo water system. It was originally outside the city walls.

From Megiddo, we saw Mt. Tabor, Nazareth and the Jezreel Valley. Megiddo is the Biblical location of Armageddon, the spiritual or physical last battle before Jesus’ second coming.

Continued . . . . . .

PASTOR’S LETTER continued:

Stone Manger Sea of Galilee

We visited Nazareth where Jesus lived most of His life on earth before His public ministry. We toured the Church of the Annunciation on the location where the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. We toured the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth. It was built on the location of Joseph’s carpenter shop. The Roman Catholic Church in South Lyon is also named St. Joseph.

Our motel room in Tiberias faced the Sea of Galilee. Jesus provided two miraculous big catches of fish from the Sea of Galilee. Christ calmed the stormy seas of Galilee on a number of occasions. Jesus walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee.

May our ascended Lord bless you and your family this summer and always!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,Pastor Terry NelsonWOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Temple at Capernaum Caesarea The next Women’s Fellowship meeting will be held in the church conference room on Thursday, June 6th at 10 a.m. Pastor Nelson will lead a Bible Study for the women, referencing his trip to Israel. Photos will be available. Lunch will follow at a nearby restaurant. Any questions, contact Patty Wadkins at (248-446-9016) pnwadkins@gmail.com or Lynda Whitcher at (313-719-9601) lynda575@att.net. Thank you to all who contributed to the All Night Seniors Event!

Continue to fill your Mite boxes. Our offerings are sent to LCMS approved organizations, making a difference throughout the world. Boxes are available on the entryway table.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

SUNDAY SCHOOL classes are held during our worship service for children three years old through fifth grade during the school year. YFC BIBLE STUDY for grades 6-12 is held at 10 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month during the school year.

THANK YOU to all of our Sunday School teachers for their dedication to teaching the Word of God to our children: Rob & Diana Hindley, Becky Kreipke (Superintendent), Carrie McShane, Kindsey Nelson, Rae Nims, Lisa Sterling, and Lynda Whitcher. We thank Dom Eldridge for his faithful teaching of God’s Word to our Youth! Thank you also to Jeff Kreipke for his representation on the Church Council. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

ADULT BIBLE STUDY will continue the DVD study Sundays in the fall at 9 a.m. entitled Sent Forth by God’s Blessing. This study explores the history of the LCMS, beginning with Martin Luther and the Reformation. All are welcome to join in at any time.CONFIRMATION

Confirmation instruction for 7th and 8th graders will start up again in September. CROSS OF CHRISTCHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL

Our preschool provides a Christian, play-based program for three and four year olds with age-appropriate academics and kindergarten readiness. Three year olds have the option of a morning or afternoon class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Four year olds meet Monday, Wednesday, and (optional) Friday – morning and afternoon sessions. Registration for fall classes will continue through the summer. Call the church/preschool office at 248-437-0871 to get more information or to register. 2019 ALTAR FLOWERS - - Sign Up Needed

Sign up for those important dates in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, etc. or in memory of loved ones. Vases are available for $30 each and may be taken home after worship. Two vases are available each Sunday. (You do not need to sign up for both.) Checks are made out to “Cross of Christ” – designated “Altar Flowers” and placed in the offering plate. Special envelopes are also provided near the sign-up chart. Sign up is especially needed for the summer months.

DONATIONS WELCOMEDBATHROOM Remodeling:Donations are being invited to offset the cost of sprucing up the church bathrooms with a fresh coat of paint, new faucets, etc. Thank you!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Children going into Kindergarten, or 5 by December 1st, through going into Sixth grade are invited to register for Cross of Christ’s summer Vacation Bible School, which will be held July 29 – August 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. A Registration form is available on our website and at church. A $15 materials fee is due at the time of registration. We are looking for volunteers to help escort children from one station to another. Contact Chris if you can help. The $15 fee is waived for the children of those adults who help out VBS week. This year’s theme is “ROAR- Life is wild, God is good!” The children will learn:

When life is unfair, God is good. When life is scary, God is good. When life changes, God is good. When life is sad, God is good. When life is good, God is good.

Many helpers will be needed to provide this outreach. Contact Chris at cross-christ@att.net or fill out the “Help Form” at church.

A REGISTRATION FORM is available on our website and at church.

DONATIONS to the VBS Fund to cover expenses are greatly appreciated!HELP NEEDED

▪ More USHERS are needed. Our ushers serve every third or fourth week on a team of three or four. The more who participate, the less often they need to serve. If you can help out, email the office or speak with Pastor Nelson.

▪ More help is always needed for summer grass cutting. If you’d like to try it out this summer, speak with one of our Trustees or contact the church office.

FUNERAL LUNCHES

THANK YOU to all who provided food and helped at recent funerals. Thank you to Annie Nichols and Louise Rucker for organizing the lunches. We will miss Louise as she is relocating to Alma, Michigan. We thank God for all her works of service. Thank you also to all who help set up and clean up. If you would like to be added to our Funeral Luncheon Helper List, contact Annie Nichols at 248-437-9599 or annie5cents@yahoo.com, or the church office. Not all on our Helper List will be called for each funeral. The number of guests at a luncheon determines how many helpers and dishes are needed. Many hands make light work.

ACTIVE FAITH GOLF OUTINGThe 22nd annual event to benefit Active Faith Community Services is quickly approaching. They are looking for golfers to join them in this fun-filled event.  Gather up your friends and golf for a cause on Monday, July 22nd, at Rolling Meadows Golf Course.  There will be awesome raffle items, prizes and fun competitions.   Your continued support of Active Faith is a blessing and greatly appreciated.  We hope that many of you and your families and friends will join in this event.  Thank you on behalf of all the families that utilize Active Faith's services.  

We were inspired learning about Becky’s work as a missionary to Liberia at her presentation on May 5 here at Cross of Christ. Becky is currently involved with various translation projects for the Gola, Dan, and Maan people. CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH BECKY IN HER MISSION WORK. Contact Becky at becky.grossmann@lbt.org. Give at http://us.lbt.org/project/becky-grossman/ Giving ID: Grossmann ministry 463 Our Vacation Bible School offering will be directed to Becky at Lutheran Bible Translators this summer.

PRAY that more people will have God’s Word accessible to them in their heart language as Becky provides exegetical and technical support for Bible translation teams in Liberia.

We thank Bill & Ettie Ann Hirth for hosting Becky at their home during her visit to Cross of Christ!

THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS:Thank you for choosing Cross of Christ Lutheran Church or Preschool as your designation for choice dollars! If you have Thrivent products and would like to designate dollars, go to:

Thrivent.com/thriventchoiceLearn more about Thrivent products by calling our congregation’s representative,

Brian Bower, at: Brian.Bower@thrivent.com; or call 734-531-8423.

MEMORIALS

+ + In memory of Milton Heidt, a gift has been given to Debt Reduction by Blaine Smith.

+ + In memory of Kathleen Kaiser, gifts have been given to the Funeral Luncheon Fund by Judy Besler, Teresa Besler, and Dennis & Ann Arbenowske.

Stewardship Devotion

Scripture Reading:“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Read Matthew 6:25-34).

Seeking God FirstA common goal for many of us is to be happy and secure, and it

seems that most people believe material things will enable them to reach these goals. With a nice house and cars and a large retirement account, life is good. However, as many people have unhappily learned, things of this world don’t bring us long-term happiness or security. Jesus gives us His prescription for happiness, peace, joy, and security: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). God promises that, when we give Him first place in our lives, He will give us everything we need. Those who seek God first will also receive His peace, joy, and security.

Jesus tells us that we are to seek His righteousness. Through His righteousness, we receive the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Through faith, we come to understand that the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life are the most important things in life. Without Jesus, life is empty, hopeless, and without purpose. By allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we can receive God’s wonderful gifts and blessing which He gives us by grace through faith.

In essence, we have two choices. We can follow Jesus’ direction, “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness…” or we can seek the things of the world through our own efforts. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” We can’t live with two masters. Jesus said that it is impossible to serve Him and the things of this world. Either God is in control, or we live in the world of our flesh. If we put God second, we will never attain the fullness of living that God wants us to have. Our old enemies – Satan, the world, and our own flesh – seek daily to steal the gifts God gives us, especially our trust in God. However, through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to put God first. May God grant us all faith to strengthen our resolve to seek Him first.PAROCHIAL LCMSSCHOOL REGISTRATIONS

Our Savior Lutheran School in Hartland is registering for the 2019-20 school year. Call 248-887-4300 or go to: www.oursaviorhartland.org to get information about their tuition-free school. Students excel in top-tier achievement testing and are taught Biblical world views in a small class size setting.

St. Matthew Lutheran School, 2040 S. Commerce, Walled Lake, 48390; Phone: (248) 624-7677St. Matthew also offers member tuition rates to sister LCMS congregations.

St. Paul Lutheran School, Northville, is registering for the 2019-20 school year.Call (248) 349-3146, or visit the school website at: www.stpaulnorthville.org.St. Paul offers member tuition rates for all LCMS sister congregation members.

Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School provides an accredited, Christian education to students through eighth grade. SOTL is located at 2101 S. Hacker Rd., Brighton, MI 48114. Visit sotlschool.com for more information. 

JUNEBIRTHDAYS

1 Hailey Bray 4 Rebecca Kreipke Brad Miller 6 Robert Petz 7 Amanda Hackbardt 9 JoAnn Fransik

Annie Nichols10 Molly McShane13 Jennifer Besler17 Alyssa Petz

Devon Walrath18 Scott Walrath20 Brian Flook

David Nelson22 Carrie McShane23 Peyton Sterling26 Noah Petz

Jesse Precht28 Carol Erb

Hailey Lanam30 Leona Hart

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

4 William & Patricia Hicks 5 Dustin & Tammy Wyman 6 Scott & Martina Walrath 9 Bryan & Lynne Lach13 Ronald & Bonnie Reichert16 Ken & Lyne Nelson17 Robert & Beverly Beyer

Bruce & Joy MachKenneth & Susan Miller

25 William & Diana Baker

JULYBIRTHDAYS

2 Brandon MillerDawn MillerStephanie Petsch

5 Dana Faust 7 George Richardson 9 Nancy Marsh11 Joy Mach14 Dawn Marchesseault15 Scott McFadden

Leslie Pratt16 Mary Gilbert

Julie Mattison17 Christopher Stevenson Jr.20 William Hirth21 Bonnie Reichert22 Ruth Morofski24 Kevin Dawley

Faith Nelson25 Rich Miller26 Robert Hindley27 Chaz Hamlet28 Shelley Besler29 Robert Petz, Jr.

JULYANNIVERSARIES

15 Pat & Janet Gorman21 Michael & Deanna Sieting31 Pastor & Chris Nelson

Please inform the church office of any missing dates or errors.

AUGUSTBIRTHDAYS

4 William Hicks

Jack LecknerGrace Nelson

9 Eric Miller11 David Bye

Jared Tura12 Jacob Precht13 Sedona Leslie15 Julia Wood17 Emily Olsen18 Arianna Russell19 Brian Mayer 21 Sabra Evans22 Lynda Whitcher23 Keeley Leslie27 Callie McShane28 Mickey Heidt

Kathy Sulisz30 Pat Gorman

AUGUSTANNIVERSARIES

2 Andrew & Gloria Schrom 3 Matthew & Kindsey Nelson 4 Michael & Dana Faust

John & Carrie McShane 6 Aaron & Christina Nelson12 Tom & Jan Flook20 Gary & Edda Albin

Larry & Lindsay BrayMike & Michelle Conrad

22 Charles & Rose Hall27 Bruce & Julie Mattison29 John & Julie Candela30 John & Dawn Lanczki

J U N E 2 0 1 9 C R O S S O F C H R I S T L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Email: cross-christ@att.net Office: 248-437-8810/ Fax: 248-437-7708 Web:www.crossofchristlutheran.org _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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J U L Y 2 0 1 9 C R O S S O F C H R I S T L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Email: cross-christ@att.net Office: 248-437-8810/ Fax: 248-437-7708 Web:www.crossofchristlutheran.org ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Email: cross-christ@att.net Office: 248-437-8810/ Fax: 248-437-7708 Web:www.crossofchristlutheran.org _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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