May 29, 2020
Fellow Faithful,

As we prepare for Pentecost, I’m drawn to a number of holy symbols: fire, tongues of flame, water, breath, wings, doves, vibrant scarlet, mighty winds, hearts on fire with God’s love, and so many more… Boil it all down, and rather than a symbol, a question is revealed: are we ready?

As you will hear in this week’s sermon, Pentecost is not exclusively a Christian holy day. Shavuot (literally “weeks” in Hebrew), which our Jewish siblings have celebrated for much longer, was also called Pentecost by Greek speaking Jews, as it means “fiftieth.” It coincides the same number of days following Passover celebrations. It is a holiday that has two meanings in Judaism, one agricultural and the other spiritual. Agriculturally, it marks the first harvest of wheat, the first fruits of God’s creation and human toil. The spiritual significance is deeply profound: the reception of the Torah on Mt. Sinai from God by Moses and the Israelites, one of the only times in Hebrew Scripture that God self-reveals to more than one person.

Shavuot is one of the major pilgrimage holidays in Judaism, and that is why in our reading from Acts this week there were Jews from all over the known world at that time. Pentecost serves as a reminder of God’s gifts, of the earth (wheat), of the Law, and of the empowerment by Holy Spirit for the Church. The question that all boils down to, “are we ready?” stems from these very symbols. Are we ready for the harvest? Are we ready to live as God would have us live? Are we ready to have our hearts and tongues lit with the fire of God’s love, compassion, and hope?

Perhaps we think we are not, but that would be defiance. God chooses us whether or not we think we are ready. The first disciples were called by Jesus amid tending to their fishing nets on the shores of Galilee. What makes you or I any different? The disciples persistently misunderstood Jesus while he was with them, and yet he yearned for their closeness even when he was weary. How are you or I any different? The Holy Spirit dwelt with the disciples though they were hold up together in fear of everyone around them (sound kinda familiar?). Aren’t we all more alike to them then at first glance?

Whatever you do, I ask this for Sunday: wear red. Wear red to feel emblazoned. Wear red to feel powerful. Wear red to remember that you are no different than any of the others God has chosen throughout time. Wear red because you are the fruit of the Spirit, and because the Spirit is in you. This Sunday, Pentecost, wear red to remember that you are the gift of the Spirit to this lonesome and weary world. We are what was promised, and may we give life to all that is in us, and around us, now and always.

Yours in fiery boldness,

Richard+
Worship & Formation
Wear Red this Sunday!

This Sunday, Pentecost, wear red to remember that you are the gift of the Spirit to this lonesome and weary world and post a picture of yourself on the Holy Cross Facebook page here! 

Not on Facebook? No worries, email a picture to newsletter@holycrosscarlsbad.org and we'll post it for you.
When Will We Gather In Person Again?

As you are likely aware, our governor has issued new guidelines for churches to begin in-person worship. Churches are still subject to county guidelines, and more importantly for Holy Cross, we are still following the guidelines established by our bishop. Bishop Susan has sent clergy updated guidelines to begin the process for planning to restart in-person worship with the understanding that the earliest date a church might consider re-opening would be late June. Don't start a count down yet though, as we must be exceedingly careful so as not to harm the vulnerable among us. "Love on another as I have loved you," Jesus' commandment to us in the Gospel of John, is our rule of thumb for every step in this process. This means protecting each other from COVID-19.

Holy Cross has established a task force consisting of Mike Collier, chair, Dennis Baggett and Katie Ho, who are working on our re-opening plan along with policies and procedures related to re-opening. They are taking into consideration CDC, state, county, and the City of Carlsbad guidelines, as well as those outlined by our diocese. Before we are able to consider re-opening, please know our plan will require the approval of our bishop's office. We do not have a target date to re-open - our first priority is the health and safety of our congregation.

Please know that once we restart in-person worship we will continue to livestream/record our service for those who will not yet be comfortable returning to in-person worship as well as for those who are homebound and unable to attend. Please watch the newsletter for future updates.
VIRTUAL WORSHIP
Sundays 9 AM
livestream

Please join us on Sundays for our virtual worship service via the button below. Our thanks to the staff of Camp Stevens for offering this weeks music. A PDF of the service booklet is available here.
You may also join the service on our Facebook page here.
Wednesdays 7 PM
on Zoom

Join us Wednesday evenings as we tour the Anglican World (and sometimes go back in time to earlier versions of our prayer book). Come feed your soul and take a little time to socialize with your fellow Holy Cross family members!

Please watch for Tuesdays email with the link to join us via a Zoom video, or call in from your phone if you choose not to use video.
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Miss last Sundays service?
Watch it below:
All past service video's (since mid-March of this year) are archived on our Youtube channel here and on our Facebook page here .
Adult Formation Forum
Sunday at 10 AM
on Zoom

Following our discussions from the past three weeks on authority in the church and the clashes that can occur, Bob Meloon and Rev. Richard will introduce us to a true authority of the early church: Paul the Apostle. Join us to learn about the figure who many claim but few, if any, know. We will dive into how his authority, and those who wished to use it, has effected the life of the church then and now. For this Sundays syllabus click here.

To join the session click here on Sunday .  You will be placed in a "waiting room" prior to entry into the session.
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Godly Play Online

We continue with our online resources for our families with children and offer the next installments of Godly Play videos.
Younger Kids (ages 3-9): The Mystery of Pentecost Something strange happened on Pentecost that had to do with “tongues” of fire and speaking so that no matter what “tongues” others spoke, they could understand what was meant. This strange event reminds us of the earlier day when communication was fractured so that what before had been understandable was now babel, a confusion of tongues. That is why this lesson begins with the Tower of Babel, from Genesis 11:1-9. This presentation also draws on stories found in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:5-14 and Acts 2:1-12.
Older Kids (ages 9-12): Knowing Jesus in a new way: Known in the Holy Spirit We started to know Jesus through the stories that he told and the stories about him while he lived among us 2,000 years ago. In these past few weeks, we have tried to know Jesus in a new way during the time after Easter and before he ascended to heaven. But this week, we remember
how everything changed for the disciples when the Holy Spirit came to them – they could speak languages they never earned… it must have been a crazy scene in Jerusalem! What has happened is what the prophet Joel wrote about in the Old Testament. He said that God will pour out God’s spirit on us so that our
sons and daughters will prophesy, the young will see visions, and the
old will dream dreams. This has just happened in Jerusalem. In Godly Play, we sometimes describe the Holy Spirit as being like a fragrant scent or a candle whose flame is out but the essence lingers in the trailing smoke – you cannot see these things but still, somehow, you
know they are there.
Video offered by Christ Episcopal Roanoke
Thanks to Stacy Craft, Holy Cross Godly Play storyteller, for recording this video
Neighbors in Faith
Our Neighbors in Faith feeding ministry remains busy. This past Monday, we assisted in preparing, packing and handing out meals at Church of the Advent in downtown Carlsbad along with volunteers from the Carlsbad Showers of Blessings group from St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The need continues to grow and Monday a total of 216 meals were served to those in need.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The following items are needed on an ongoing basis. If you are willing and able to help with the purchase of any of these items in support of this ministry it would be most welcome. We are not asking anyone to make special trips to the store, rather when you are shopping for your groceries if you would include some of the items below it would be a huge help. For those who have received a stimulus check and are looking for a way of giving back to the community perhaps this might be one way.

Granola bars
Protein Bars
Small bags of nuts
Small bags of chips, cookies, etc
Fruit cups
Muffins (individually wrapped)
Juice boxes  
Jars of peanut butter
Jars of jelly
Zip lock sandwich bags
Bottled water (individual bottles to hand out)

We will have two drive-by drop off days at Holy Cross next month:

  • Saturday, June 6th, from 11 am to Noon
  • Sunday, June 21st, from 11 am to Noon

One or more members of the Neighbors in Faith ministry team will be in front of the church to receive your donation. Simply drive up, pop your trunk or open your window to pass your items and we will do the rest! In advance, thanks for your support.

For a printable list of the shopping items click here

For questions or more information, please contact Brian at petersenbw@gmail.com.

A reminder that Neighbors in Faith is now on Instagram, @neighborsinfaith_carlsbad, and Twitter, @NIF_Carlsbad.  
Stewardship & Supporting Holy Cross
Bishop's Committee
 
Bishop's Committee meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. The next regular BC meeting is Wednesday, June 17th, via Zoom. To read the approved minutes of the April meeting click here . To read the treasures report click here; income statement here; and balance sheet here.

Last month we reported that we were working with the diocese to evaluate various programs offered through the recently passed CARES Act legislation (related to the COVID-19 pandemic) to see if any might be of benefit to Holy Cross. We are pleased to announce that the Diocese of San Diego successfully applied for CARES Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funding and Holy Cross, along with five other missions in the diocese will be receiving assistance during this time while we are unable to gather in person. We will provide more information in the coming weeks.
Church offering plate with some currency in it
Offertory - Supporting Holy Cross

Holy Cross continues to be blessed in many ways. We thank all of you who continue to support our mission and ministry during this time when we cannot meet in person.

While we continue to deposit checks we ask that you consider consider one of the following ways to make your offering electronically:

Zelle - look for Zelle in your banking app (no credit cards) and send your offertory/donation to: holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org. Please note "general fund" on the note/what's this for line. There are no fees for using Zelle.

Faithstreet - Use your credit card or bank account. There is a fee with each transaction (just like Paypal, Venmo, and other payment processing services), Faithstreet offers the option for donors to pay the fee (the fee is considered a donation to Holy Cross and is tax deductible) - Credit Cards: 3.5% +30 ¢; Bank Account: 1.5% +30 ¢.

Text giving  - text the amount you want to donate to 646-832-4848. Click on the link you receive and enter the Holy Cross quickcode,  hcec . Follow the instructions to finalize the process. (This is part of our Faithstreet platform and the fees outlined above apply.)
Praying on Pentecost

The following prayer comes from Sister Joan Chittister, OSB. Sister Joan is an American Benedictine nun, theologian, author, and speaker. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

May the Gifts of the Holy Spirit bring fire to the earth so that the presence of God may be seen in a new light, in new places, in new ways.

May our own hearts burst into flame so that no obstacle, no matter how great, ever obstructs the message of the God within each of us.

May we come to trust the Word of God in our heart, to speak it with courage, to follow it faithfully and to fan it to flame in others.

May the Jesus who filled women with his Holy Spirit fill the world and the church with new respect for women’s power and presence.

Give me, Great God, a sense of the Breath of Spirit within me as I (State the intention in your own life at this time for which you are praying.)  Amen.
Please hold all on our prayer list in your prayers:
prayer candles in a church
Prayer for Discernment:
Brian Petersen as he continues to discern God's call for ordained ministry.

Prayers for Comfort:
Fr. Atwood, Tom & Wayne, Nancy, Arlene, Peter, Mary, Sandy, Tom & Ann, Barbara, Julie, MichaelMhead, Bob, and Wendy Morray and family - Greyson Morray, Tristan and Ian Morray, Courtney Seitz & Alexandria Garcia; Grant, George Anastasi, family and friends of Narsall Majel Checora, all who have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Prayers for the Departed
We commend to God all who have died, including Margaret Murphy, Brandon Jenkins, Sidney King Jr., Narsall Majel Checora , those who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 virus, and those who have given their lives for freedom’s cause.

Prayers for those celebrating Birthdays
none this week

Prayers for those celebrating Anniversaries
Rev. Laura & Jerry Campbell
If you would like to be added to the Prayers for Comfort, or would like to add someone else (please get their permission first) or add a family member to the Prayers for the Departed , please contact the church office at: email holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org or 760.930.1270. Please mention 'Prayer List' in the Subject line and include whether the prayer request is for "Comfort" or for the "Departed".

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for 4 weeks. Please contact the office if you wish to have someone added for another 4 weeks.

Note: If you have lost a member of your family and would like us to include your loss in "Notes of Care" please provide the name and relationship of your loved one, the date they entered into glory, and the address of where you would like notes of care sent.
If you would like to be added, or suggest someone to be added (please get their permission first) to Notes of Care please contact the church office at: holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org or 760.930.1270.
Humor Corner
Cartoon from Culyer Black, Inherit the Mirth.
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