Pastor’s Corner

Big News!

Thank you to all who took ownership and prayerfully cast votes on the many items in our annual meeting.  As a congregation we have agreed to extend a Divine Call to Will LeBeau, a 2019 graduate of Concordia University Chicago, to serve as Youth Minister.  In addition, Will proposed to his girlfriend, Liz, and she said, “Yes!”  Will and Liz will be married at his internship congregation in Pennsylvania on July 27.  Will and Liz are very excited to be getting married and almost equally excited about beginning their ministry together here at Cross.

Over the next couple months we will be getting ready for the newlyweds to join us after their marriage ceremony.  Part of the preparation will be updating the parsonage.  After years of usage and some pet damage, we will be renovating the kitchen, installing drywall, replacing worn out flooring and painting the exterior as well as the interior.  If you are willing to help with labor or donate funds to help with this project, please contact the church office.

The land exchange also passed, and we are thrilled to begin the paperwork process of the exchange.  We have a lawyer volunteering which will help with costs.  We are so grateful for the body of Christ utilizing their gifts for God’s glory!  The process will not likely be completed for several months, but hopefully it is simply a formality from here on out.

The Building Committee will begin its work this week as we have a charter from the Governance Board.  We will be praying and considering people to serve on the committee and determining the path forward.  God is truly leading us on an exciting adventure!

We are extending an offer letter to Paul Goffron of Lombard to serve as Interim Principal at Cross.  Paul has most recently served as Principal at Walther Lutheran High School.  Paul is not currently certified as a church worker so there will be no offer of a Divine Call from the congregation.  Please pray diligently for this opportunity as it is not an easy decision for Paul and his family, but it seems to be a very exciting “fit” for his skills and our needs.

Finally, we prayerfully selected Michael Reid, Daniel Schmitz and Ben Thanepohn as our Governance Board representatives.  Please pray for them in their service!  Also please thank John Kiedaisch and Jodi Weber for their willingness to serve and Joel Lietz for his years of service on the board.  I am truly thankful for the willing servants here at Cross.  This is not a simple role and takes significant commitment during and between meetings.

With each day the urgency of sharing the Gospel increases.  Injustice and evil rage on seemingly without rest.  It is easy for a Christian to feel wearied and worn through seasons of change.  In Malachi 3, God reminds His people that even in the midst of a Godless world, our God is present and unchanging.  May the presence of God strengthen and sustain us just as He has in every generation.  “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”  Malachi 3:6

In Christ,

Pastor Erik Gauss

Farewell from Miss Lopez

Farewell from Miss Lopez

August, 1976 seems like yesterday, but it is now 2019.  Soon, I will complete my ministry as a teacher/principal.  So, using the ABC’s, I will share some thoughts, facts and memories.

A long time ago, I graduated on May 24, 1975 from Concordia College, St. Paul, MN.

Began my teaching career at Trinity Lutheran, Sauk Rapids, MN.  I taught 1^st grade.

Called to be the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd grade teacher at Cross Lutheran.

Dedicated – Cross congregation has always been dedicated to supporting our school.  What a blessing!

Enrollment – I have seen the enrollment grow from 55 in 1976-77 to 296 in 2018-19.

Family and Friends – Cross has been a family to me and I have made friends that will last a lifetime!

Gaga pit – don’t know what that is?  I didn’t either.  Ask a student.

Heartfelt thanks to my staff for making my years in ministry effortless.

Incredible – I have received incredible blessings from my Cross family.

Jesus – Ever present in these halls.

Kids at Cross are very special.  I love all the hugs and high fives I’ve received.

Laughter – It truly is the best medicine!

Mice – Oh, how I dislike mice!  And, how Pastors Gilbert, Truog, and Gauss have tormented me with them!!  And, how smelly the dead ones are.

Nobody had a better place to be principal than I did.

Over time, Cross has grown and changed, but being rooted in God’s word remains constant.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance – The motto I have lived by for the past 44 years.

Queen – I became the queen of Cross Lutheran School in 1987.

Refrigerator – Who will clean out the refrigerators once I’m gone?

Students – Truly, the best students attend Cross Lutheran School!

Talented Teachers – What a talented group of teachers I will always Treasure.

Unity – Embrace and support the new leadership of our school.

Vision – Pray for this church and school as they work toward the vision of the future.

Wilma and Charles Lopez – Because of their strong faith and parental guidance, I am who I am.

eXpansion – I’ve been involved in three building projects.

Years – I have served for 44 years in Lutheran school ministry.

Zealous – Be zealous in your prayers for Cross.  God has great plans for this place!

As my final day approaches, I am looking forward to travelling with my brother, relaxing in my home, volunteering at Cross, and doing whatever the Lord has planned for me.

God bless you,

Sue Lopez

Pastor’s Corner

Introduction to Cross of Will LeBeau

Will graduated last week; the process for recent graduates is a bit different.  Will has interviewed with and visited Cross and has agreed in principle to join us on staff!

We at Cross need to offer a Divine Call to serve here in order to make it all official.  Upon marriage, Will and Liz will be living in the parsonage.  His approximate start date here is the beginning of August after he completes his work in Pennsylvania.

Will seems mature and fun loving and loves the Lord above all things.  It is with much joy that the Youth Minister Call Committee recommends Will LeBeau for a Call to partner in ministry here at Cross.

In Christ,

Erik Gauss

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Greetings and blessings in Christ.  My name is Will LeBeau.  I have been incredibly blessed to be invited to serve at Cross Lutheran Church as your new Youth Minister, and I am so excited to be entering ministry with you all and for the opportunity to equip the youth of Cross to be leaders in Christ!  I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I went to Concordia University Chicago where I completed my Director of Christian Education degree.  For my internship year, I have been serving at a church in Easton, Pennsylvania with a focus on building a Youth Ministry.

I love college basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, comic books, board games and most typically “nerdy” things.  I also love the outdoors which is what brought me into ministry, and most of all I love teaching others about Jesus!

Joining me in ministry will be my girlfriend, Liz Thompson.  We are looking forward to God’s gift of marriage.  Liz is a Realtor and a free-lance artist.  Liz loves dogs, nature, the ocean and Jesus.  We are both extraordinarily excited to come meet you all and be part of the Cross family!  We thank God for this calling and for all the people of Cross Lutheran Church!

Thank you!

In Christ,

DCE Will LeBeau

Pastor’s Corner

Mother’s Day

“Sugar and spice and all things nice;” that is what moms are made of, especially on Mother’s Day.  This special day is an opportunity to reflect and take time to show appreciation for the woman who gave you life, advice and nurture.

Every mom is different, uniquely made and uniquely gifted.  Every mom is an agent of God, given to us by Him, not by our choice.  Every mom is worthy of respect and honor because of the role she plays in God’s creation.

“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’”  Mark 7:10.  Mom said, “I brought you into this world; I can take you out.”  I guess she was right!  I thank God for His mercy and my mom for her forgiveness or I really wouldn’t be here right now.

Moms tend to be right about a lot of things because they have a perspective of experience and love.  Sometimes we appreciate the perspective; sometimes we feel like it is meddling or nagging.  Sometimes we wish we had someone who would care enough to stick their nose in and help out.  Sometimes we wish our moms were less like our mom and more like someone else’s.  But that is human thinking, not Godly thinking.

Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:50.  If your family isn’t perfect, if you aren’t a mother, if you miss your mom, or you just wish things were different, remember God makes you a sister, brother and mother in the family of God.  Maybe this Mother’s Day, along with the celebration, is the opportunity for healing, forgiveness and trust in God’s plan.  After all, that is what mothers are all about, especially on Mother’s Day.

 

Pastor’s Corner

Pastor’s Corner – Love and Forgiveness

In these weeks after Easter, the faithful might ask “What does this all mean for me today?”  The first temptation is to try to add “being a better Christian” to our already busy schedules.   This makes a lot of sense, of course; we are inspired by Easter and the fresh reminder of all Christ has done for us.  We want to be faithful and make God proud so why wouldn’t we try to do more?  Because, doing more is not what God desires from people who love him.

When the Bible talks about the desire God has for His people, it says things like “For I (God) desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6. And, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4.  Of course we cannot forget that God commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 19:19.

Interestingly enough, not one of these desires or commands of God ask us to do more; they ask us to BE more; To BE more loving and forgiving; To BE more generous; to BE more focused on the things that truly matter.   Instinctively, we know that our person of BEING is connected to our person of DOING, so we genuinely try to DO better things hoping that will work.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work in the long run because when we are focused on our self we end up doing things for our self.

These next few weeks will be about how to be focused on who we are rather than what we do.  We will consider how to be people of genuine love for others, motivated by God’s love for us.  We will consider how to forgive others, even our enemies and especially ourselves.  We are able to forgive because we are first forgiven.  When we recognize that we are FIRST people of value because of God’s love and forgiveness; it allows us to DO LESS and BE MORE.  We do not have to spend time doing things for ourselves or trying to control the future.  We are free to entrust our future and the futures of our loved ones, to the Lord.

In this season of Easter as we remember the tomb the truth rings out “It is finished!”  There is nothing left to do except to BE children of God; loving and forgiving ourselves and others for His sake.  Please join us in weekend services and BE mindful of all God has done.  Let’s encourage one another to trust in what He has done so we can BE at peace with joy in our hearts.