Click HERE to download full printable PDF

Contents

• From the Pastor
• Saint of the Month
• What and Why?
• Turkey Drive
• Golden Age Sunday
• All Saints Sunday
• Veterans Day Recognition
• Book Crafters Alert!
• Giving Service to the Lord
• Church Council Meeting Minutes

Vive la Revolution Reforme!
The slogan “Vive la Révolution!” became popular during the French Revolution as a way of saying, “carry the cause forward.”
As a book published by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Lutheran Slogans: Use and Abuse reminds us, we Lutherans have our own slogans. This month, we celebrate our heritage as Lutherans with Reformation Sunday. Indeed, without the Spirit-empowered insight and courage of a troubled Augustinian monk, many of the superstitious traditions and abuses that arose during the Middle Ages might never have been fixed within the Church of Jesus Christ.
But Luther wasn’t the only one laboring in God’s vineyard to reform the Church. Without Martin Chemnitz in the second generation of Lutherans, the Lutheran Reformation might have fizzled and ground to a halt… Indeed, it was said of him that “If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived.”
Luther died in 1546, Chemnitz in 1586. As the 1600’s began, theologians like Johann Gerhard cemented and carried forward the work of both Martins in the academy with what is called Scholasticism while people like Jakob Spener complimented this work with an emphasis on Christian experience and moral formation through prayer, called Pietism.
What is the point of all this name dropping? Well, while there has often been tension between these “wings” of the Reformation, the most fruitful chapters of Lutheran history have come when the two worked together, causing our witness to Christ to soar. This happened in the ministry of another Lutheran whose name those of us in the Lehigh Valley should know, Henry Muhlenberg (like the college), whose vibrant piety was matched with a zeal for correct doctrine that helped him plant churches all over our region.
Now it is our turn. The Reformation continues in us, its inheritors. How is God working your prayer life to re-form your heart? How is God working in your Christian study to re-form your mind? When the energy of a Christ-inspired heart is channeled through the lens of a Christ-formed mind, it becomes like a laser that can cut through the darkness of this world, glorifying Christ, saving souls, and changing lives for the better. So, let us take a page from the revolution, but instead cry out, “Vive la Réforme!”

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 Saint Francis of Assisi on Sunday, October 4th. He was born in 1181 to a wealthy silk merchant, Peter Bernadone. In his youth, he loved luxury, and in 1202 he went to war. While at war, St. Francis became a prisoner and became very sick. He ended up returning home to Assisi, and there he had a conversion. St. Francis gave everything away, relying on the Lord daily, and began using his wealth to rebuild local churches. This caused his father to disown him. Many people had followed St. Francis’ example and joined his new Franciscan Order. Eventually, St. Francis visited Egypt and attempted to convert the Sultan to Christianity. He returned home, and died on October 4th, 1226.

Saint Francis’ Peace Prayer:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

The Gospel of John is unique in that rather than giving us an example of John the Baptist’s sermons, it begins by highlighting John’s denial that he is the Christ (as some people must have thought) and John’s profession, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:26–27)
The next day, John does something that must have seemed strange to those around him. As Jesus walks toward him, he cries out, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”” (John 1:29–31)
We sing John’s words as we come forward to receive Communion because to the eyes of faith, Christ is revealed to us as truly present in the bread and wine, for Church is also God’s Israel, God’s people gathered by His call and in covenant with Him.

The Holy Cross annual Turkey Drive kicks off on Sunday, October 4th and will be open until Sunday, November 1st.
We invite you to sponsor a Thanksgiving turkey for the Bath Area Food Bank.

Complete a Turkey Drive Envelope, sign it,
and hang your turkey around the table.
It is $20.00 to sponsor a whole turkey, but any amount is greatly appreciated! Make checks payable to Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Its that simple… and best of all, you’ll have the joy of knowing you helped someone in need, right here in our community!
Let us who have been richly blessed, rise to the occasion and meet the need that is before us.
GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Sunday, October 18th, 2026

We’ll honor our church members aged 70+ and their guests on Sunday, October 18 with a delicious luncheon prepared by Nathan Grube in our Social Hall after the 10:30am service.

Please RSVP by signing up on the form in the Social Hall or contact the church office
by Sunday, October 11.

November 1st, 2026

Share the names of your loved ones who have passed from this life to be with the Lord.
You are invited to write their names on a special table cloth that will be available in the Sanctuary during the month of October. This cloth will then be used as the altar cover for the Communion table on All Saints Sunday.
A sheet of paper is also available in the Narthex to write the names of those who have passed away within the last year, whom you would like to be remembered. Their names will be read aloud during services on All Saints Sunday.
If you are unable to attend worship and would like a name written on the cloth or added to the list,
please contact the church office.

On Sunday, November 8th, 2026, we will honor living members of our Congregation who are veterans of any branch of the US military.
If you are a veteran, please provide your NAME, BRANCH OF SERVICE, RANK, and any special recognition/awards you would like to share, to the church office, or complete a form available in the Social Hall, by October 18th.
If you have supplied this information in the past, we do not need a new form filled out, unless you have an update or change to your previous information.
Names will be read aloud during services on Sunday, November 8th, and placed in the November newsletter.

Book Crafters Alert!

The weather is starting to change, a signal that the holidays will be approaching soon. And a reminder to finish our Christmas card books, so that our shut-ins will receive them in time for the holidays.
That being said, Kate Grube will be hosting three crafting sessions at her studio, which makes it a lot easier than hauling all the materials and supplies to church.

The dates and times are as follows:
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 @ 6:00PM
Sunday, October 11, 2026 @ 2:00PM
Saturday, November 7, 2026 @ 2:00PM
Please let Kate know if you will be coming, to one, two or all three sessions.
There will be snacks!

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 September 9, 2026

Nine members present.
Absent: Lois Iasiello & Tom Kneisly
GUESTS: Paul Grube
Review of Reports:
Secretary’s Report – 4H Backtrackers Club made a donation to the church of $125. Associated Fire Equipment performed their annual inspections of all fire extinguishers on 9/4/26. A new emergency light is needed and the CO2 extinguisher needs recharge. Kratzer Septic Service is scheduled for 10/2/26 for our bi-yearly septic cleaning. Social Hour Host list included in Council packets for review and update. Council has agreed to share fellowship between the congregation and the committees. A sign-up sheet will be created to fill slots one month in advance. An announcement will be made and sign-up implemented directly.
Treasurer’s Report – Category overview, month by month, and account register provided. General income was positive this month, barely. New copier lease will help avoid added costs. A motion was made to cease the use of the ESSA bank card. Council agreed to allow use of personal credit cards and offer reimbursements for approved charges.
Pastor’s Report – New Business Mirella Bulawa approached me about offering a low-impact exercise class for older members of our church to help people become more physically healthy as they grow more spiritually healthy. She is offering to teach on Saturdays at 11am or after. Council likes and appreciates the idea. More information requested. Pastor Pete Begley has arranged for me as a pastor of a conservative liturgical church to attend an event on Sept. 28-29 in Washington, DC. Council agreed that Pastor will represent our church as needed and confirm any costs to the church. Old Business After emailing parents, confirmation class will remain on Sunday mornings. 3 confirmation classes per month on Sunday at 9:15 and one per month in the evening in tandem with a youth event. Confirmation will begin on Sept. 20. This summer’s worship schedule worked better than last year, with overall attendance on most Sundays rivaling the combined attendance of the two services during the school year. Conversations with several members have convinced me that the length of our worship services tends to discourage people from attending on Sundays when their schedule will be tight, particularly if their usual worship time is 10:30am. Michael, Karl, and I will work on keeping liturgies (including sermon length) as tight as possible during this coming school year, especially on around-the-altar Communion Sundays, or Sundays including special events like Baptisms, Confirmation, etc. Council discussed communion. Members asked why we receive around the altar so often. Consider intinction more often or exclusively.
Committee Reports:
Christian Education: Hard copy of minutes provided.
ERT: CPR Training 10/24/26 9am-12pm. If interested, reach out to Bob Beckowski.
Hospitality/Funeral Servers: See hard copy of report.
Property: No formal report. Wasp nest removed from playground and pavilion. Broken glass needs review. Settlement in parking lot needs review. Window insulation in the classroom needs replacing from several years ago testing. CCCN’s Sandra Erb provided a price to replace the mulch in the playground, new material only $1,172.20 for 3-3.5 in. They will weed and place new material. Council had decided to hold on this repair until next budget year due to spending.
Social Ministry: Hard copy of report provided.
Women of Abundance: See hard copy of minutes.
Other Committee Reports: CCCN- See hard copy of report.
Old Business: Church Directory: Completed and available in the Social Hall. African Children’s Choir is confirmed 10-3-2026. Confirmation requirements and list of confirmands shared with Council. Council to review and comment as needed.
New Business: Convocation will take place October 8, 9, 10. Question was raised regarding new members. Council indicated there have been no forms, several known forms were dropped off at the front desk. Jerry to review.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.