What's Happening at Holy Cross

July 12, 2019

Sometimes people join us for worship because they are “church shopping.” They are looking for a church home - a community where one feels nurtured, supported and encouraged in their faith. We hope that is what people find here at Holy Cross. But we also hope they find what God is seeking to provide for them. Those two things are not always the same.

We work hard on our welcome to the newcomer and visitor; we are intentional about making our worship accessible to those unfamiliar with our traditions, making sure folks feel invited to share in our ministries and that they have opportunities to connect with others in ministry, study, and service. But part of the church’s role is to be that prophetic voice to the world and to one another.

This Sunday we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan. We all know this parable: a priest and a Levite both pass a badly beaten, naked man left for dead along the road. But, when a Samaritan saw him he stopped to render aid, took the man to an inn and, not only paid the innkeeper to take care of him but promised to return and repay the innkeeper for any additional costs for the man. Jesus not only laid down a blueprint for our care and concern for friend and stranger alike; He also taught the absolute need for grace. The story was uniquely compelling in the way Jesus told it; He deliberately chose an enemy of the Jews as the hero - the one with compassion, the one who took a risk on that dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Jesus challenges us to be the one who shows mercy, who offers compassion and grace to our neighbor - friend, stranger, foe alike - no matter what the circumstance. It won't always be easy - we all will be on that dark road at some point in our lives. Will we take the risk? Will we reach out to that person who is our foe? Will we offer our hand or grab hold of that offered hand no matter the risk? For only then will we truly know, and love, our neighbor.

Rev Roger, Deacon Seth and your Bishop's Committee

This Sunday

July 14th

We Welcome the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook

This Sunday we welcome Bishop Susan Brown Snook to Holy Cross. Bishop Susan will preside and preach at our liturgy.

As a part of her Episcopal Visitation, during the liturgy, we will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation of Emily Craft, Stacy Craft, Becky LaMar, and Brian Lynch from St Peter's Episcopal Church in Del Mar; and the Reaffirmation of Faith of Sue Baas and Judy Cater.

Following the service we invite you to stay for a Fellowship Brunch welcoming Bishop Susan and honoring those who have confirmed or reaffirmed their Baptismal Covenant . The church will provide the meat dish and drinks. Please bring a salad, side dish/casserole, dessert or appetizers to share.

Following the brunch, Bishop Susan will lead a conversational forum in the church. Following the forum Bishop Susan will meet with the Bishop's Committee and the Profile and Search Committees.

The loose plate offering this Sunday will be designated for the Bishop’s Pastoral Needs Fund, along with any checks designated for that purpose. These funds allow Bishop Susan to make much-needed contributions to assist people throughout the diocese.

photo of Bishop Susan: Susan Forsburg

Godly Play Family Pool Party/BBQ

Sunday, August 25th

3 pm to ?? (till the kids are pooped!)

Calling all kids and their families. Please join us on Sunday, August 25th, for our 2nd annual pool party and BBQ. We'll swim, eat hot dogs and have fun together. At the home of Sue and Larry Sebastian. Additional information as we near the date.

Please note: Godly Play on hiatus for the summer, resumes Sunday, September 8th.

Weekly Services

Sunday

9 am Holy Eucharist* Rite II

Godly Play (on hiatus for summer) and Nursery

*Eucharist comes from the Greek and means thanksgiving. It is central to our worship. It is also called Communion, Mass, the Lord's Supper and the Divine Liturgy.

Thursday

7 pm Evening Prayer Rite II

A short (30 minutes) quiet service rooted in ancient monastic tradition. Thursdays at 7:00 pm. It's the perfect way to end your day. During the service we will pray for all whose prayers have been entrusted to us. ** (Note: July 25th service moved to Holiday Park as part of our Neighbors in Faith Ministry.)

** If you have someone you would like us to pray for, please place your written petitions in the prayer box found in the main entry way to the worship space. Petition forms are available each Sunday at the welcome table in front of the church. Following Evening Prayer the petition forms are burned - "Let my prayer rise up like incense before you"

We give thanks for you all and especially for...

... Our Altar Guild and all who are helping set-up for this Sundays Episcopal Visitation.

... Wren, our Liturgical dancer, for always reminding us of the carefree joy in worshiping God.

Photo permission: Katie Ho

July Outreach Project

Our July Outreach is to support refugee families through RefugeeNet of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.

For a number of years Holy Cross has provided rice and cooking oil to RefugeeNet for further distribution to refugee families in the greater San Diego area. These families come from refugee camps in Thailand and regions of Africa. They are primarily refugees from Myanmar (Burma), Sudan and South Sudan, although there are also refugee families from Syria, Iraq and The Congo who rely on RefugeeNet for assistance. The government policies of these countries, and by extension the military, have forced certain ethnic groups out of their homelands into refugee camps in neighboring countries.

These refugees have made their way to the U.S., and other countries through The United Nations’ relocation programs. They are in our country with the full approval and authority of the U.S. government. RefugeeNet not only provides food, but also tutoring (Mike Collier has tutored refugee children for the past 10 years), clothing and household items, all the while assisting families to assimilate and establish identities such as social security cards and driver’s licenses.

Rice and cooking oil are the basic food elements of all the nationalities currently served by RefugeeNet, and rice is served with each meal at the refugee homes.

To date Holy Cross has provided over 16,000 pounds of rice and 800 gallons of cooking oil to RefugeeNet. In kind donations of rice and cooking oil are always welcome, usually rice in 25-pound bags (found at Costco) and oil in ½ gallon bottles. But any size is welcomed and appreciated. Purchase of the rice and oil can be left to the outreach folks by donating cash, a check paid to Holy Cross with the annotation “RefugeeNet” or “rice & oil” will be happily accepted.

AND GOOD NEWS!! As in past years, an exceptionally generous, but anonymous donor will match up to $500 in donations. A thousand dollars will buy about a ton of rice and around 90 gallons of cooking oil.

For further information please contact Mike Collier,760-753-0556 or colliermh@gmail.com.

For more information about RefugeeNet click here .

Ministry Leader: Mike Collier

San Diego Pride

PRIDE Parade

Tomorrow Saturday, July 13,

9 a.m. Eucharist in staging area

10 a.m. Parade begins

Holy Cross will join St Paul's Cathedral and other churches in the diocese tomorrow, Saturday, July 13th in the San Diego Pride Parade.

We will meet at the Staging Area which will be around or near the DMV parking lot in the (see map below). All are welcome to participate. It will be warm tomorrow, bring sunscreen and water. Also, please know the parade route is approximately 1.5 miles of walking.

Here are the details:

Parade starts at 10 am, we are near the front and step off will be around 10:50 am
Eucharist starts at 9 am - Celebrant: Bishop Susan; Homily: The Rev. Susan Russell, All Saints Pasadena
Contingent name: St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
Contingent line-up #: 39A (see attached map)
Staging zone: E
Check-in point: Green

Parking

Pride is providing general parking at the Old Naval Hospital in Balboa Park on a first come, first serve basis
Shuttle service will be provided to the Pride staging area
Return shuttle service will be provided to the hospital from the Pride festival near Laurel and sixth

If you have questions or would like to car pool please contact Karen Sanchez at 808.494.0558

To download a PDF of the Parade Staging Area map click here.

Light up the Cathedral

An Interfaith Pride Celebration

Last night our very own Cantor Larry Kornit, Congregation B’nai Tikvah, offered the Hineni prayer (Here I Stand) at the Interfiath Pride Celebration at St Paul's Cathedral. To hear his prayer offering click here .

Neighbor's in Faith

Thursday, July 25th at 6 pm

Holiday Park

Our Neighbors In Faith ministry will gather again on the evening of Thursday, July 25th at 6 pm at Holiday Park in Carlsbad.

We invite you to join us for a short, interfaith service of prayer, music, contemplation, and reflection, followed by fellowship and light snacks. We will also have snacks and clothing/hygiene items to offer our neighbors in need in the park area and all are welcome to join. Please contact Brian Petersen with any questions.

Holiday Park

1055 Chestnut Ave

Carslbad

Please note: Evening Prayer on July 25th will not be held at the church as this gathering will be our Evening Prayer.

Ministry leader: Brian Petersen

Evangelism Committee Meeting

July 28th at 10:30 AM

Do you have a heart for inviting and welcoming the newcomer, for sharing God's love and helping empower people for ministry or inclusion? We invite all who are interested in helping us envision our evangelism efforts at Holy Cross; from greeters and welcoming committee and fellowship, to inclusion, to incorporating newcomers into our ministries and activities, as well as helping to spread the word about God and Holy Cross!

We will meet on Sunday, July 28th in the multi-purpose room, starting about 15 minutes following our worship service. Grab a cup of coffee and something to eat and join us. For more information please contact Marci Stafford or Karen Sanchez.

Hospitality - Coffee Hour

We are grateful to all who offer refreshments after Sunday worship. We are in need of sign ups on Sundays July 21 and 28 and August 4. We have approximately 45 people.

On July 21 we will celebrate July birthdays. Joyce will be away that Sunday, so will need help with set up and clean up, please see Joyce if you are able and willing to help.

* Holy Cross provides the coffee, we suggest light snacks such as fruit, muffins, bagels, cookies, cheese and crackers or similar.

Ministry leader: Joyce Nelhsen

Upcoming Ministries and Services

at a Glance

All Saints Cemetery

Weeding and basic gardening tasks

July dates: Tuesday July 16 & 30 (New dates)

200 Peyri Road in Oceanside, next to Heritage Park & Mission San Luis Rey.

Contact Katie Ho for more information

Bible Study

For residents at Sunrise Senior Living, La Costa

Every other Tuesday May 28th - August 20th

Evening Prayer & Intercessions

Thursdays (note: on July 25th will be moved to Holiday Park, please join Neighbors in Faith)

7 pm in the Church

Evangelism Committee Meeting

Sunday, July 28th following worship

in Multipurpose room

Godly Play Pool Party/BBQ

Sunday, August 25th - 3 pm

at the home of Sue and Larry Sebastian

Neighbors in Faith

Thursday July 25th at 6 pm

Holiday Park, 1055 Chestnut St, Carlsbad

San Diego Pride

July 13 - Pride Parade

see article above

Welcome our New Bishop

Sunday, July 14th

Confirmation/Reaffirmation of Baptismal Covenant

Fellowship Brunch and conversational forum with Bishop Susan

Wounded Warrior Battalion West - Camp Pendleton

2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month, July 10 & 24

contact Tom Mauro if you would like to participate

To see our full calendar please click here .

Eucharistic Visits

This ministry is an extension of our Celebration of the Eucharist each week - bread and wine that has been blessed on Sunday is reserved for our Lay Eucharist Visitors to take to those who are unable to join us.

To arrange for a Lay Eucharistic visit please contact the church office during office hours* at 760.930.1270. Marcia Pierce, our lay Pastoral Ministry leader, will be notified of your need and she, or a member of the team, will contact you to make arrangements for a visit. Please let the office know if you wish to have a visit on Sunday following worship or another day of the week.

* Office hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - 9 am to Noon and 1:30 pm to 4 pm.

Ministry Leader: Marcia Pierce

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers those who are unable to be with us in worship and reach out to them to let them know they are mis sed. Please keep all on our prayer list in your prayers.

Prayers for Comfort:

Fr. Atwood, Diane, Lee, Tom & Wayne, Marilyn and Art, Mary and Ray, Matt, Nancy, Christen and all who have no one to pray for them

Prayers for the Departed :

We commend to God all who have died, especially those who have given their lives for freedom’s cause, victims of all terrorism and natural disasters throughout the world and Marianne Reichel.

If you would like to be added to the Prayer List or would like to add someone else (please get their permission first), call the church office at 760.930.1270 or email holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org , please mention 'Prayer List' in the Subject line and include whether the prayer request is for "Comfort" or for the "Departed".

If you have lost a member of your family and would like to us to include your loss with "Notes of Care" please provide the name and relationship of your loved one, the date they entered into glory, and the address of where you would like notes of care sent.

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for 4 weeks. Please contact the office if you wish to have someone added for another 4 weeks.

Your profile committee has been working on the OTM (Office of Transition Ministry) Ministry Profile and vicar job description. We have pulled together history, accomplishments of the past, and where we are today. Data is being compiled from the CAT survey and last years Cottage meetings on discerning the call to become a parish. We have reached out to a number of ministry leaders to help provide information. We are in final review and "tweaking" of the OTM Profile and job description and are preparing to start on our Profile Document.

Profile committee: Karen Sanchez, Linda Collier, Ron Neuman, Jon Simpson

A prayer for our interim period and vicar search:

Almighty God, giver of every gift we receive:

look graciously on your Church,

and guide those who shall discern

whom God is calling to be vicar of Holy Cross.

Grace us with patience, trust, and hope

through the interim times of doubt and uncertainty.

We pray that we may receive a faithful pastor,

who will care for your people and equip us

to continue, improve, expand, and reach out

with our ministries to all whom we can touch;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bishop's Committee meetings are open to anyone who would like to attend. Any church member may ask any BC member to speak on their behalf or on behalf of a proposal they wish to forward. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 6 pm - 8:30 pm. The next BC meeting is Wednesday, July 17th.

For more information and submission details on the St James Gallery by-the-Sea Mid-Century Places of Worship Photography Contest and Exhibition please go to their website http://www.sjbts.org/photo-contest.html.

A Call for Uncommon Courage

St Margaret's Episcopal Church - Palm Desert

Saturday, December 7, 2019

11:30 PM – 3:00 PM PST

World renowned author Joan Chittister is coming to the Coachella Valley to share her passion for God, Justice & Life. Sister Joan has been a passionate voice for social justice and women’s rights for over 50 years. Her energizing message invites us to participate in a vision for a world greater than the one we find ourselves in today. This is spirituality in action, this is practical and powerful activism for our times. As Sister Joan is sought after all over the world, we are so fortunate to have her here to help launch a year of exploration of a world of justice, freedom, peace, and empowerment.

Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets click here .

For more information about Sister Joan go to http://www.joanchittister.org/ .