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Contents

• From the Pastor
• Saint of the Month
• What and Why?
• Emergency Response Team Article
• Giving Service to the Lord
• Church Council Meeting Minutes

Ordinary Time
Last month I reflected on the way we are all gifted by God for different ministries around the Church. Now that our “month of mission” is over, the children of VBS have received the stories of God’s Word, those facing homelessness have been served, we have learned better how to answer Our Lord’s call to share the gospel with all people, and our teens have deepened their discipleship through both study and service, it is time for us to recreate.
We often speak of recreation, but rarely use the verb form of that noun, recreate. When we do, it is easier to see where the word came from; our leisure should do more than entertain us. Our leisure activities should be things God can use to re-create us, make us anew.
This is the ordinary work God does in our lives while we live as Christians. Sure we all love a good mountaintop experience, but life is lived in the valley, the ordinary workaday world where God continues our sanctification in the course of our ordinary lives.
The season of Pentecost (which we will be in until Christ the King Sunday at the end of November) is referred to as “ordinary time” because in Latin ordinalis means “numbered,” and there are so many Sundays in the season of Pentecost… sometimes as many as 28!
Still, as the announcement board in our narthex says, what time with Jesus is really ordinary? Living an average life with Jesus is far better than living an extraordinary life without Him, for after all, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36) I find that my time at the beach, with family and friends, or in a solitary walk through Jacobsburg Park is immeasurably enriched by knowing that through Jesus, God is with me, re-creating me so that my experience of life may be richer and His name glorified through my life.
I pray that this last leg of summer gives you time for some true re-creation with our amazing Lord!

Like St. Paul, Lutherans refer to all those in Christ as “saints,”
and we look to the great ones as role models in the faith.

This month we are remembering St. Lawrence on Monday, August 10th. He was probably born in Huesca, Spain, and he was one of seven deacons under Pope Sixtus II. At the time, Valerian was emperor of Rome, and had issued an edict for all Christian clergy to be arrested and killed, including St. Lawrence. Emperor Valerian offered a deal to Lawrence; if Lawrence showed him the treasures of the church, his life would be spared. Lawrence asked for three days to gather them. Three days later, he presented the poor, the widowed, and the sick–God’s treasures–which infuriated the emperor. Emperor Valerian ordered Lawrence to be publicly burned over an open fire. While facing his fiery fate, St. Lawrence had said, “ Flip me over, I’m done on this side.” Tradition says that this caused a conversion to Christianity in Rome.

As we read this, let us remember Matthew 16:24-25, which states, ‘Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”’

While traveling in May, the congregation got to see our Council president step up to the role of assisting minister in our Sunday worship. This month and in the weeks ahead, you will get to see more people stepping up to that role.
You may never have noticed it, but in our green Lutheran Book of Worship, worship leadership is divided into parts marked “P” and “A.” These stand for “presiding” and “assisting” minister. The role of the assistant minister is not really to help the pastor, who should be trained to lead an entire worship service on their own, but rather, to help the congregation know when and what to say so that our actions may be coordinated as the body of Christ, glorifying God through our unity.
Having many people trained as assisting ministers strengthens a congregation’s life. Not only can these people help the congregation in a time of emergency pastoral vacancy, they frequently become more comfortable leading prayer and even spontaneous worship outside of regular worship.
Already, we have no fewer than three people who have expressed an interest in becoming part of our germinal assisting minister ministry. Please encourage those who are serving and consider serving yourself!

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is now a well-established ministry here at Holy Cross. Many new people have joined our church, and may be unaware of this important ministry. This article is to serve as an introduction. The ERT exists to train our people to effectively respond to emergency situations not only at Holy Cross but also in our personal lives outside the church.
How you respond is certainly not the same as how you react in an emergency. On the surface the meaning of the words “respond” and “react” may appear similar but they can be significantly different. Several years ago while still tax-paying members of the workforce we found a great explanation for this difference. It came from Zig Ziglar, a well-known business consultant, who provided an analogy similar to the following:
Let’s say you have to visit the Emergency Room with your 9 year old daughter (or granddaughter) for a serious medical issue. The ER staff performs a group of tests and administers some medications to her. It certainly isn’t a good thing if the doctor tells you that your child is reacting to the meds is it? Wouldn’t it be much better if the doctor informed you that your child is responding to the medication!
For us, this example provides a clear understanding of the real difference between reacting and responding. Responding to a medical emergency (like the one we had last Easter Sunday and at other worship services throughout the years) is the most likely scenario most of us will ever experience. There may be other situations, for instance fire or severe weather, and these can happen anywhere- at home, on the highway, while on vacation, or here at Holy Cross. As a member of the ERT, you will learn the appropriate response in an emergency instead of simply reacting and causing more harm than good.
The ERT always needs additional members from our church family. Many who serve on the team are church officers and members who are already stretched beyond their limits with other church and personal responsibilities.
If you feel that God may be calling you to be part of our team, please contact us using the information below.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration!
In Christ,
Bob Beckowski
ERT Co-Coordinators
bbeckowski1@gmail.com
610.837.0384 (mobile)

The next ERT meeting is Saturday, August 8 from 10:00am-12:00pm in Room 1 (Youth Room)

Giving Service to the Lord

COMPLETE Church Council Minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex.
Attachments are filed in the church office with the originals.
The meeting minutes summarized here are pending Council approval at next month’s meeting.
Meeting Highlights for July 8, 2026

Ten members present.
Absent: Tom Kneisly
GUESTS: Pastor Brett Jenkins
Review of Reports:
Secretary’s Report – Facility Use Request submitted by Heather Stofanak of the “Backtrackers” 4H Club, for use of a room to hold their bi-monthly meetings every other Friday evening from 6:30-9pm between the months of October 2026 – June 2027. Approved. Rental of Church Property request from Jodi Kneisly for the use of 8 tables and 60 chairs for pick up on July 17, 2026 to be returned on July 19, 2026. Approved. Renewal Facility Use Application from Girl Scout Troop 8881 under leader Peggy Stoudt. Approved. Christian Co-op requested facility use. September thru June. Total attendance is expected to be approximately 85 students. Held by Council.
Treasurer’s Report – Category overview provided, month by month. General income was positive this month.
Pastor’s Report – New Business: Bringing her lens as a communications major, my daughter is seeking permission of Council to make some upgrades to our communications strategies and technology, which include: Dedicated tab for events, unified “branding” across our communication tools, addition of explicitly theological material to website, website changes/updates, formation of a communication & media team. Approved. Responses to the survey are back, and we are working on a time to hold a pastor class integrating theology, church history, spirituality, and Christian morality regarding modern issues-basically, church life that builds on the foundation of the Bible. My responsibilities as Dean have been heavy during the month; four of the nine congregations in our region are in pastoral transition, which places more responsibilities than usual with me. Pastor did not take his vacation days in July because of his son’s internship. He would like to take in August, TBD. Old Business: Confirmation Students have begun turning in their year end exams. They will be presented to the Council for accountability. 1. Currently seven students signed up for the high school service and retreat week. We will be volunteering at Pocono Area Transitional Housing and serving around the Church.

Committee Reports:
Christian Education: No meeting in June.
Fellowship: See hard copy of minutes.
Hospitality/Funeral Servers: On June 5, 2026 a funeral luncheon was held for church member Joseph Mazzie. Our wonderful volunteers assisted the 75 guests throughout the luncheon. Much appreciation to all of the committee volunteers.
Property: Hard copy of minutes provided. Council approved the new glass at the Library. Kevin and TIm offer assistance with the new Inspection Protocol.
Social Ministry: On June 18,2026 committee volunteers went for our monthly visitation to Gracedale with homemade blueberry muffins for each resident. We’ve come to learn that the residents really appreciate the food “treats” we bring! We are scheduled to visit on July 18,2026.
Spiritual Care Team: The team is trying to fulfill their duties as usual. We need more people to serve on this team.
Women of Abundance: See hard copy of minutes.
Other Committee Reports:VBS- See hard copy of minutes.

Old Business: Church Directory: Pastor met with Steve and is reviewing several proofs for review. The pastor will make a recommendation. 5-13-25 Pastor has a proof of the directory. Review of the draft identified some additional work is still required. 6-10-2026 Carry. 7-8-26 Carry. African Children’s Choir is confirmed 10-3-2026. Holy Cross T-Shirts: Design was approved WOA is going to buy a few T-Shirts for display prior to ordering. T-shirts have been ordered.Additional counters are needed. Lynne A. Has volunteered.

New Business: Prayer Stations have a new location. Discussion resulted in a proposal to remove the candles. Leave the prayer stations in place. Agreed to replace the candles with a symbolic item. Pastor to research and order needed materials. Convocation will take place October 8-10. Council to provide a meal for VBS on Wednesday July 22nd. Council that can help should be there before 5:00. All members volunteered for some items for a picnic dinner. Jerry reminded Council to wear their name badges. WOA yard sale total was $3,712.00. New copier lease is being investigated. We received pricing from one company and we’re waiting for a second price. Under review.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.