LOVE KNOWS

 A woman and her grandmother, a very forgiving and religious soul, were sitting on their porch discussing a member of the family. “He’s just no good,” the young woman said. “He’s completely untrustworthy, not to mention lazy.”

“Yes, he’s bad, but Jesus loves him,” the grandmother said as she rocked back and forth in her rocker. “I’m not so sure of that,” the younger woman persisted.

“Oh, yes,” assured the elderly lady. “Jesus loves him.” She rocked and thought for a few more minutes and then added, “Of course, Jesus doesn’t know him like we do.”

That grandmother was correct on one thing: regardless of the condition of that family member’s soul, Jesus still loved him. But she was a little confused on the second opinion. No one knows us better than Jesus and He loves us anyway. The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves you, unconditionally. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more and there is nothing you can do to make God love you less. God is love and He changes not. It’s your choice to receive that love or not.

Little Tommy, age 6, was asked by his Sunday School teacher, “Tommy, can you tell us what love is?” Tommy thought for a moment and then said, “Love is like a little old man and a little old woman who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

Tommy summed it up very well. God knows all about you and He loves you just the same. As members of God’s family we are called to love others even as we are loved.

Want to know how to become a better lover of souls? Open your heart and welcome in the fullness of God’s love. Let the perfect love of God within you express itself to people around you. A strong vertical love relationship with God produces a strong horizontal love relationship with others.

Or as we say here at Cross Church, “By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you love one another.”   

                                                                                                                                                                John 13:35

God Bless You – I love you, Pastor Jim                   

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

February 5 – Holy Communion

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Cindy Freudenberg

Greeters – Ron and Karen Heinemeyer

Guest Book – Darlene McKee

Flowers – David and Gina Burns

Childcare – Alice Heinemeyer

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Multimedia – Larry Anderson

Acolyte – Skylar Riebe

Head Usher – Jeff McKee

Ushers – Billy, Susan & Phillip Imhoff, Terry & Pat Williams

February 12

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Scott Bretzke

Greeters – Gilbert and Carol Henze

Guest Book – Cheryl Schriewer

Flowers – Alfred and Melba Riedel

Childcare – Sandra Jandt

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Multimedia – Larry Anderson

Acolyte – Andy Roy

Head Usher – Todd Schriewer

Ushers – John and Stacey Melton, Tony and Marie Taylor

February 19

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Karen Heinemeyer

Greeters – Robert and Joan Henze

Guest Book – Cathy Schuerg

Flowers – Darryl and Sandra Jandt

Childcare – Christina Quintanilla

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Multimedia – Larry Anderson

Acolyte – Cameron Schriewer

Head Usher – Alvin Schuerg

Ushers – Hal Brodbeck, Dix Brown, Darryl Jandt, Steve Koehler

February 22 – Ash Wednesday

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Barbara Koehler

Greeters – Walter & Betty Weidner

Guest Book – Mary Ann Schwerdtfeger

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Head Usher – Donald Gene Schwerdtfeger

Ushers – Kevin Krueger, Billie Lange, Al Machaud, William Maierhofer, Gary Weddle

February 26

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Carline Lehnhoff

Greeters – Albert and Betty Jandt

Guest Book – Diane Wallace

Flowers – Todd and Cheryl Schriewer

Childcare – Sherry Schneider

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Multimedia – Larry Anderson

Acolyte – Arlan Schulze

Head Usher – Larry Anderson

Ushers – Robin Monk, Alfred Riedel, Ron Salyer,

Gary  Wallace

February 29 – Lenten Worship

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Leigh Ann Lorenz

Greeter – Carline Lehnhoff

Guest Book – Mary Alves

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Head Usher – Leroy Alves

Ushers – Jeff Schriewer, Lynn Webb

March 4 – Holy Communion

Minister of Music – Rev. Jeremy Roy

Liturgist – Al Machaud

Greeter – Billie Lange

Guest Book – Heidi Haverlah

Flowers – Carline Lehnhoff

Childcare – Jan Wilke

Sound Tech – D. Krueger, L. Nickell, J. Melton

Multimedia – Larry Anderson

Acolyte – Kendall Soefje

Head Usher – Paul Freudenberg

Ushers – Harold & Yvonne Alves, Glenn & Sandy Bretzke, Matthew Jandt

Please keep these church members  

 in your prayers:

The family of Bob Williams

The Family of Evelyn Klein

The Family of Mary Lee Schmidt

Barbara Batey, John Bauchman, Joyce Bose,  Patsy Erxleben, June Heideke, Gilbert Henze, JoAnn Hoffmann, Steve Koehler, Nelda Kubala, Laura Lehnhoff, Mike Lorenz, Alexa Norman, Sylvia Pfullmann, Mike Price, Rebecca Rosson, Darvin Schneider, Glenn Schneider, Jeanine Schneider, Ann Self, Colby Soefje, Noreen Soefje, Alton Staats, Ruth Walling, and Bambi Ybarra.

The Cross Church Council met on Thursday, January 19^th, beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner for all outgoing, current, and new members and their spouses. The business meeting followed with President Billie Lange presiding. The following business was discussed and/or acted on:

·        Steve Koehler reviewed the renovation process for the Fellowship Hall.

·        The Koehler Company spent two days cleaning all the gutters on our church property.

·        Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 16-20 with the theme “SonRise National Park.” New members on the Christian Education Committee are Melissa Nitu, Daniel Schulze, Jan Wilke, and Lisa Hollub.

·        The Men’s Brotherhood is once again hosting the dinner for World Marriage Day on February 12^th.

·        The Worship Committee welcomed two new members – Brenda Hallmark and Diane Wallace.

·        Election of officers resulted in Scott Bretzke being named president, Leroy Alves vice-president, Doug Haverlah secretary, and Karen Heinemeyer treasurer.

·        Council members appointed to the various church committees are as follows:

Building & Grounds – Walter Weidner, David Schneider, Tim Shadrock, and Alfred Riedel.

            Christian Education – Kathy Kunkel

            Evangelism – Gloria Jones

            Family Life – Walter Weidner

            Memorials – Doug Heinemeyer

            Missions – Leroy Alves

            Worship – Susan Imhoff

            Youth – Carol Nored

·        Council meetings were set for the third Wednesday of the month for 2012.

 The Women

             of the Church

The Women of Cross Church met at 9:15 am Thursday, January 12^th in the Fellowship Hall. Pat Law hosted the meeting, serving a variety of delicious goodies.

Jennifer Ficke presented our program. She is president and founder of the Guadalupe County Children’s Lodge, a children’s shelter. The Lodge, which opened June 15^th, 2011, has a capacity for thirteen children and has been full or nearly full since their opening. We enjoyed hearing about The Lodge and are now planning a field trip to visit in the near future.

February is birthday party time at Eden Hill! We host this party each year, furnishing gifts, birthday cakes, and entertainment. Of course, it is the ladies of the church who will be baking those angel food birthday cakes for the party. We do thank you for your help!

Come out and meet with us: 9:15 am on the second Thursday of each month. We have some neat things planned for 2012!

Jean Stautzenberger, Secretary

Birthdays in February

Glenn Bretzke – 4^th

Scott Dietert – 4^th

Darlene McKee – 4^th

Paige Wilke – 5^th

George Carlisle – 6^th

Debbie Oates – 6^th

Cody Thibodeaux – 7^th

Bailey Hubbard – 9^th

Reagan Freudenberg – 10^th  

Cole Salyer – 10^th 

Jay Wilke – 10^th

Diane Wallace – 13^th 

Morgan Schuerg – 14^th

Ashley Soefje – 14^th

Doris Germann – 15^th

Cheryl Schriewer – 19^th

Kassidy Streiff – 19^th

Amanda Schwerdtfeger – 23^rd

Loriann Whitman – 23^rd

Andrea Alves – 24^th

Gladys Freudenberg – 24^th

Katie Adkinson – 26^th

Clay Hollub – 26^th

Todd Schriewer – 26^th

Enclosed with this issue of The Call is a Volunteer Ministries form. It has been quite a while since we have asked our members to commit to a ministry on paper. Also, this form serves to show our newer members the various areas of service in our congregation as well as reminding our older members that more types of ministries are now available. We would like for those interested to fill out the form and leave it at the guest book on Sunday or return it to the church office. We’re an awesome bunch when we work together!

  World Marriage Day will be celebrated at Cross Church on Sunday, February 12^th, with a special dinner hosted by the Men’s Brotherhood. We have one couple who will be observing their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year. Jerry and Sue McCune will reach this milestone on December 23^rd, so this will be an early honor for them. Please come and join in the festivities on the 12^th for this special couple.

Dear Cross Church Family

and Evangelism Committee,

Thank you for your prayers and the plant and book of Hope. Thank you, Kathy, for your visit. God bless each and every one of you. I was so touched. I still need prayers. I go on the 30^th to check what they did find. Thank you again!

Pastor Jim Price,

The family of Mary Lee Schmidt expresses their deep appreciation for Cross Church’s friendship, fellowship and your pastoring to our mother through the years.

The memorial service and love from Cross Church family to ours in recent days has been and is very helpful and supportive.

May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied on you and Cross Church for the love you showed to our family.  Numbers 6:22-27

We also received letters of appreciation from the South Texas Pregnancy Care Center and the Salvation Army for our continued support of their ministries.

===============================

Congratulations to Marcus Patlan Stautzenberger on being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. The big event took place on December 16^th in Quantico, Virginia. Showing their pride for this accomplishment are his parents Mark and Thalia Stautzenberger and his wife and daughter, Crystal and Makai. Cross Church is proud, too!

Memorial gifts have been given

to Cross Church

in loving memory

of Jerome “Bob” Magens by:

Mark & Thalia Stautzenberger

Rebecca Meckel

Darvin & Mary Schneider

Linette Habermann

in loving memory

of Evelyn Klein by:

John & Roxie Melton

Carline Lehnhoff

Walter & Betty Weidner

Patsy Erxleben

Vernell Crosnoe

Ronald & Karen Heinemeyer

Robert & Joan Henze

Brian & Connie Green

Bee Neumann

Glenn & Jeanine Schneider

Doug & Alice Heinemeyer

Betty Lorenz

Ruby Dietert

Betty Schlichting

Nelson & Jackie Schultze

Roland & Anna Dell Luensmann

Willfloyd & Lillian Strey

Ernie & Karen Loeffler

Ray & Beverly Davis

Glory Ann Luensmann

Vernon & Vernell Schultz

Tuesday Bunco Club

Lee Jay & Lorene Bielke

Hugo & Jan Luensmann

Walter & Dorothy Luensmann

Howard & Sharon Luensmann

Colleen D. Aniol

Peggy Talley

Helen Lampman

Leola Schultze

Darryl & Betty Surman

 Elisabeth Potts

in loving memory

of Mary Lee Schmidt by:

Doyle & Billie Lange

Vernell Crosnoe

Patsy Erxleben

Carline Lehnhoff

Women of the Church

Josephine Bartels

Nell Downs

Dr. Richard & Ernestine Nelson

 

A Note About Our Sunday Fellowship Meals

Beginning this month, we are altering our Sunday fellowship meals slightly. This will hopefully give some of the ladies a break from doing it so often. We plan to have a meal on the second Sunday of every month. We are asking the various organizations in the church to host one of these luncheons. So far, all the second Sundays are taken through June. We will still have our fifth Sunday potluck dinners too. However, we do encourage family groups to host any other Sunday. The sign-up chart is in the narthex.

Walking  with God

The essence of the Christian life is knowing God and walking with him. It’s about sticking with him when the sky is blue and also when it’s filled with clouds or choked with smoke. It’s about walking with the Lord through thick and thin, and pressing on through every heartache and trial that happens to come our way.

                                                         —Greg Laurie

Bible Quiz

During Jesus’ time in the wilderness after his baptism, Satan tempted him to do three things. Which of the following was not one of the temptations?

A. To change water into wine so wedding guests would know he was God’s Son

B. To throw himself down from the top of the temple, expecting angels to save him

C. To turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger

D. To worship Satan in order to gain all the world’s kingdoms

Answer:  (See Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.)

Refocus for Lent

Give up complaining — focus on gratitude.

Give up harsh judgments — think kind    thoughts.

Give up worry — trust God to provide.

Give up discouragement — be full of hope.

            Give up bitterness — turn to forgiveness.

            Give up hatred — return good for evil.

            Give up anger — be more patient.

            Give up pettiness — become mature.

            Give up jealousy — pray for trust.

            Give up gossiping — control your tongue.

            Give up sin — turn to virtue.

            Give up giving up — persevere.

                                                    —Author unknown

“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”

            O Love that will not let me go,

            I rest my weary soul in thee;

            I give thee back the life I owe,

            That in thine ocean depths its flow

            May richer, fuller be.

    George Matheson (1842-1906) wrote the words to this much-loved hymn while feeling intensely lonely and afraid.

   Years back, his fiancé had broken their engagement upon learning he was going blind. Despite that challenge, Matheson had followed God’s call to a fruitful pastoral ministry — with his sister’s assistance. Now his sister was getting married, and Matheson worried about who would take care of him and if anyone would ever want to marry him.

    Amid such despair, Matheson later shared, God gave him all four verses of this hymn in five minutes. It’s a poignant reminder that God’s love sustains us even when human love falls short.

+ Christian Symbols +

40

This number appears many times in Scripture, often indicating a time of trial or testing, or simply marking something significant. It rained 40 days and nights during the Great Flood. Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus fasted for 40 days and was with the disciples for 40 days between his resurrection and ascension. Taking this symbolic number to heart, the Christian church has long observed 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays).