RECENT NEWS

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SPRING CLEANUP TWENTY -TEN
Thank you to all our volunteers!... Bert B, Karl B, Katie B, Fred F, Larry B, Curt E, Lonnie H, Gary H, Andre K, Bob M, Leon O, Alan S, Reuben S, Carol S, Erik S, Pastor, Pat V, Walt W, Becky W, and Steve W !!! The church and the grounds look wonderful!

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MOTHER'S DAY PIE AUCTION
Thank you to all our bakers and bidders! Our 4th annual pie auction brought in all sorts of wonderful pastries. The bidding was open all morning and lots of hungry folks finally earned their pie to take home and enjoy. This was a fundraiser for a new surface on the children's playground.

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EASTER CELEBRATION- We held three services, our usual 8:00 and 10:30, plus a special 6:00am sunrise service. Our wonderful choir sang during the services, our altar was adorned with beautiful white paraments and Easter lilies, and the youth groups put on a scrumptious Easter breakfast buffet. He is risen!

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YOUTH CONFIRMATION - After many hours of learning and studying Luther's Catechism, this group of kids were confirmed on Palm Sunday, Confirmation is a rite by which a baptized person renews his baptismal vows, publicly confesses his faith, and is received into communicant membership by the congregation.

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A THANK YOU - USA Weekend and HandsOn Network has sent a certificate of appreciation to Holy Cross Lutheran for our church's contribution to National Make a Difference Day 2009 and our efforts of tree plantings throughout the community. See it posted on the main bulletin board.

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LENTEN SUPPERS - During Lent, Holy Cross Lutheran holds special Wednesday weekday services. And just prior to these services we hold church-wide suppers for fellowship. The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) cooked and served a delicious meal for Ash Wednesday. The remaining suppers are potluck and celebrate international cultures: Italian, All-American, Everything Asian, Green of the Irish, and Mexican.

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DENVER RESCUE MISSION FOOD DRIVE - Non perishable foods collected in February and March to help refill the pantry at this Christian shelter.

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ANGEL TREE - This year we participated in the national Angel Tree project. Members filled Christmas wish lists for children of parents who are currently in prison and helped share the meaning of Christmas.

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LITTLE ONES ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS - Sunday school teacher, Matt B, would like to thank everyone for their generous donations for the cinnamon roll bake sale In October, The Pre-K-2nd Grade class bought not only a sheep for an African family, but also raised enough money to buy them a goat and a well.

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TRAINING NATIONALS IN CAMBODIA GRANT - This grant will support English classes, religious instruction, and leadership training to this country where 54% of the country is under 25 years old. A grant of $4000 has been given by the Rocky Mountain District LWML.

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COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING - In October, for National Make a Difference Day, the church acquired 100 seedling evergreen trees; half douglas fir and half Colorado blue spruce. With the help of individuals, families, members, and friends the trees were planted throughout our community to add beauty for generations to come.

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CHURCH-WIDE SUNDAY DINNER - Lots of adults and kids joined for a country style chicken dinner. The kids enjoyed the tree house playground, tire swing, peacock aviary, petting zoo, and pig chute slide, while adults were drawn to the water garden, country stores, and live music. Some feed the ducks and took a horse drawn carriage ride.

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LADIES SERVANT EVENT The LWML gathered on a Saturday this September to work on several volunteer projects. Women choose which of the following they wanted to be a part of; stuffing pillows for Mended Hearts, quilting, highlighting Bibles for prisoners, and assembling personal care item baskets for refugees. After all their hard work, the ladies were treated to lunch.

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RECOVERY ASSISTANCE MISSON GRANT - The Rocky Mountain Lutheran Women's' Missionary League (LWML) completed their grant of $5,000 to Recovery Assistance Inc. RAI's mission is to 'promote a time to build up". Some of their volunteers are seen to the left on 'Hope Street". This organization was established after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. To learn more click here.

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RALLY SUNDAY - The last Sunday in August we held our "Back to Class" event where children could be registered for Sunday school and meet their teachers. Adult and confirmation leaders were introduced too. It was a morning to learn about our new fall class line-up and socialize over refreshments.

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CREATION SEMINAR - This seminar discussed the myths behind the illusions of evolution. Using excerpts from scientific journals, the speaker discussed proven falsehoods that are still propagated as truth (Such as, human feet bones were never found with ape Lucy, yet she is shown with them.). Much of the current scientific data actually contradicts how old evolutionists say the earth is. (Carbon-14 is still found in notable quantities of diamonds and fossil fuels when, it should have decayed into nitrogen). Also, no credible fossils have ever been found for the 'missing-link' animals. He also discussed why some that oppose God work so diligently to keep this information censored. For more information, check out Creation Magazine and Answers in Genesis.

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MEN'S GOLF - In August, men and their teens joined to play golf at South Suburban Golf course.

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DENVER RESCUE MISSION - This summer a team went to serve at the Denver Rescue Mission. A food drive was also collected and delivered.

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ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC - This Independence day, the church celebrated with face painting, games, a kids jump castle, soccer and volley- ball matches, snow cones, a chipping contest, and great food. It was topped of by everyone watching the community fireworks display.

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4th of JULY PARADE

The Early Learning Center families assembled a parade float entry for the Highlands Ranch Community Parade. How cute those kids looked!

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BIBLES FOR SOLDIERS
This summer, the congregation again participated in a nationwide BIble project, sending Bibles to military men and women worldwide. Last year 300,000 were shipped out. This year, the goal is 500,000. Bibles have special covers for the Army, Navy, AIr Force, and Marines. Members handwrote special messages of thanks and hope inside the covers.

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BIBLE CLASS BBQ

This June, after completing the Life Light Romans series, the Bible class groups gathered at a private home for a fun evening together.

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THE THIRD GREAT FESTIVAL OF THE CHURCH YEAR
Sunday May 31st was Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after Easter and Christ's death. This is when Christ sent His Holy Spirit to the disciples who were waiting in Jerusalem. The color of the paraments are red. In celebration of this joyful occasion, many people wore red to church and brought in red geraniums to be planted in a special flower bed.

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A DAY IN THE GARDEN

Our Board of Trustees organized our first outdoor church workday for the year on Sat May 16th. An industrious crew showed up equipped with lots of tools and enthusiasm. Multiple teams were all working at once. One dead tree was dug up, three new trees were planted, hedges were trimmed, flowers sprouted, weeds were pulled up and new dirt and sand was laid down.

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LADIES SPRING TEA - Our annual ladies tea was held Sat May 2nd. Forty-two ladies and young ladies gathered for an elegant tea with tasty treats, a Bible lesson, and a chance to socialize.

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INDOOR WORK DAYS
Thank you to the 'Serving Saints' Tuesday morning team and the big crew that came Saturday April 6th to help with spring cleaning. We got so much done; window cleaning, wood polishing, carpet cleaning, lights changed, and so much more!

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