December 2025 Digital Newsletter
CLICK HERE to download full printable PDF
Contents:
- From the Pastor
- Saint of the Month
- New Around the Altar
- Giving Service to the Lord
- Church Council Minutes
From the Pastor
Those Who Walk In Darkness Have Seen a Great Light
This famous passage from the prophet Isaiah is quoted in the Gospel of Matthew and is a regular part of the cycle of readings for Advent.
And for good reason too; because of our sin and the sin of others, the world in which we live is often dark. People have surely felt this way in every age, but there are unique pressures facing us right now: What will Artificial Intelligence do the job market, warfare, and the economy more generally? Why are young men and women so far apart in so many ways? When did “the war of the sexes” go nuclear? What will happen with China and Russia? Why do so many young people seem so confused about their identities? What happened to civil discourse? How do we maintain the political loyalties fundamental to self-government when both sides feel that the other is an existential threat to our republic?
I could go on, but you get the point. These are tough questions, and ones without easy answers. The pastors I meet with on Wednesday mornings for prayer have all noticed an uptick in visitors over the last few months, as people struggling in the face of overwhelming begin to wonder if maybe the problem is not just “out there,” but “in here”–as they begin to wonder if maybe Alexandr Solzhenitsyn’s grandfather was right when he said, “the trouble with the world is that we have forgotten God.”
Here we have not forgotten God, and we will continue to hold his light aloft both for the world and for ourselves. To that end, I will be preaching a sermon series throughout Lent entitled “_ in the Darkness.” Each week I will focus on the virtues of Advent, hope, peace, joy, and love.
I look forward to a renewal of all four with you.
Saint of the Month: Saint Nicholas
This month we are remembering Saint Nicholas on Saturday the 6th. He was from Lycia, Asia Minor, he was the Bishop of Myra, attended the Council of Nicaea (where the Nicene creed came from) and he was well-known. He condemned Arianism and paganism, and was imprisoned for his faith during the reign of emperor Diocletian. Saint Nicholas died around 350 A.D. There are many legends surrounding Saint Nicholas, including a well-known one with three poverty-stricken girls. Since they were poor, their father could not afford a dowry for their marriages. On three different occasions, Saint Nicholas went to their house and threw a bag of gold for each girl as a dowry. This generosity forms the basis of our modern Santa Claus stories. As we read, we should remember 1 Corinthians 13:13, which states, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
New Around the Altar
While I was traveling during the month of November, did you notice anything different? Some people did. Some were worried. Someone even asked if Michael was now pastor and our Council president had become a deacon!
No, that is not what happened. Since President Lewis has served in this role at other congregations, he simply agreed to be the first of our trained lay assisting ministers… but we hope not the last! Having members of a congregation trained and comfortable as leaders at worship strengthens a congregation’s life in ways that are hard to explain and is part of our Reformation heritage; Luther fought for more non-clergy involvement in worship, from using the common language rather than Latin to singing songs that everyone could sing because they were based on folk songs. Assisting the congregation and pastor in a non-Sacramental leadership role is just an extension of the franchise.
There is nothing more honorable and humbling than assisting others to worship the Lord. I served as an assisting minister during my years before seminary, and it deepened my walk with Christ in a profound way. Would you join us in serving the Lord by helping to lead the people? Please pray about it and contact me, Deacon Michael, or a council member if you feel called to this ministry.
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 November 12, 2025
Seven members present.
Absent: AJ Arfanella, Rob Ingenito & Tim Kryman
GUESTS: N/A
Review of Reports:
Secretary’s Report – The Annual Turkey Drive brought in $1,255.00 in donations for the Bath Area Food Bank. Long’s Ecowater Systems Service Maintenance appointment is scheduled for Monday, November 17th, 2025 between the window of 9:00-11:00am. The December and January newsletter will be combined, so information to be included in the newsletter for both December and January will need to be provided to me by November 16. (i.e. Annual Meeting details, Council nominees, etc.).
Treasurer’s Report – Category Overview provided, income Statement Provided, General Operating Report provided, Detail Report provided.
Pastor’s Report – On December 14th, Rabbi Mark Shulman of Beth El Gabor Messianic Jewish Synagogue will be joining us during the Sunday School hour for a special session on how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. I would like to suggest that all three adult Bible studies and confirmation be suspended for that week and regular participants encouraged to attend Rabbi Shulman’s presentation. The new PC purchased for the sanctuary is having trouble interacting with our sound board. ESG has been called, and we are queued for a service call that will address this issue. The new design for the bulletins is not yet complete. The target for introducing these is Advent 1, so a notice can be included in the newsletter. Our old website URL holycrossnazareth.org is now fully ported to our new local provider.
Committee Reports:
Christian Education: See hard copy of minutes.
Fellowship Committee: See hard copy of report.
Finance Committee: Rich S. presented the Proposed Spending Plan. Looks good. Salary increases of 3% starting 1/1/26 for all church employees was discussed.
Prayer Team: Three requests for October.
Property: Jerry and Andy performed clean-up of branches and debris on church property. Both groundhog and mice deterrents were installed.
Social Ministry: See hard copy of report.
Women of Abundance – See hard copy of minutes.
Old Business:
Council nominees: two people have shown interest. Still looking for elder nominees.
New Business:
Discussed church security concerns and solutions.
Ending Business/Correspondence:
New Member forms are available in the Narthex. The Interfaith Concert will be December 7 at 6pm at Holy Cross. Rabbi Shulman presents “How Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament” on December 14 at 9:15am. Nominations are needed for three Council members and 2 Elders. Congregational Meeting will be held on January 25, 2026.
Meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m.