HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH
307 Hawkins Avenue
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
631-588-9509
Rev. Claudia D. Raggie, Pastor



"Helping people to know and share the love of Christ"

WEEKLY WORSHIP SERVICES
Indoor Worship with Holy Communion
Sunday mornings at 10:00AM
Live Streaming directly on our website and Facebook
We come...together in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving!
We come...together to celebrate Holy Communion!
We come...as a community desiring to know the love of God!
We come...to share his love with those who do not know him!
We come...just as we are!
COME JOIN US!
When God is involved, we are never the same!


Loving Father,
so often we live with our shame and guilt being tossed around in our minds. it is difficult to release it even though we have sought your forgiveness...and You give it freely...and You say You remember our sins no more. It is by your blood we live in the light of your mercy and grace. It is in You we find the hope to continue as forgiven and renewed. We stand before thte cross and humbly and gratefully offer our thankfulness and praise.
Luke 7:36-50 NLT
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!" Then Jesus answered his thought. " Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." "Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied. then Jesus told him this story. "A man loaned money to two people -500 pieces of sliver tone and pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." "That's right," Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. "I tell you, her sins --and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." The men at the table said among themselves, "Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?" and Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

What Lutherans Believe
Sola Fide.....Latin for "faith alone", it was one of Luther's main beliefs and opposing Catholic teachings. He believed the Catholic church misled people when they said whoever purchased indulgences would be free of their sins or at least reduce the time of sinners spent in purgatory. Luther did not believe that acts of charity or good works earned God's salvation. Salvation cannot be earned. Salvation comes only from having faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Sola Scriptura.....Latin for "scripture alone", was also one of Luther's main beliefs that Bible Scripture was the only authority concerning the business of faith for Christian believers. He denied the pope's traditional authority to teach the word of God through his own interpretations that were contrary to Bible Scripture, including teaching believers to pray directly to Mary and the saints. He accused the pope and the church of distorting Biblical truths and corrupting Christian teaching. He come to believe the Bible, interpreted by individual believers, was the only true authority of faith for Christians. He believed that faithful Christians must consider the Bible Scriptures as the authentic Word of God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they can then interpret its meanings for themselves.
Sola Gratia.......Latin for "grace alone", is a belief that Luther shared with the Catholic church, with this exception: the Catholic church endorsed that although salvation is made possible by grace, faith and works of people are means to sustain grace. The church was endorsing a mixture of both reliance upon the grace of God, and confidence in the merits of a believer's own works performed with love. For the Lutheran tradition, the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone through Christ alone is the material principle upon which all other teachings rest.
Praying for one another is a huge part of our ministry here at Holy Cross. Feel free to leave a prayer request below. Your prayer will automatically be sent to the church office.

Come visit our very own CrossWords & Gifts Bookstore.
Wednesday through Saturday
12:00pm-5:00pm
Visit their page HERE for more details!



EASTER IS APRIL 9TH - DON'T FORGET TO ORDER YOU FLOWERS TO ADORN THE ALTAR! DEADLINE IS APRIL 3RD. Names will appear in Easter Bulletin as you indicate on order form. Please make checks payable to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Thoughts from Pastor Raggie
Heavenly Father,
we often wallow in our shame and guilt for things we have done and for things we have left undone. Help us. relieve us. Forgive us. Let us be confident that no sin is beyond your healing. Help us to know that in your amazing love is forgiveness. In Your Name We Pray. Amen.

What is Lent? It is about our need for God. Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of grace God has to offer. Lent is an intensely penitential time as we examine our sinful nature and return to the God who is waiting for us. He waits for us through our rebelliousness. Lent is an opportunity for us to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross - and it wasn't pretty, BUT it was grace. Ultimately, the purpose of Lent does not stop at sadness and despair - it points us to the hope of the Resurrection and the day when every tear will be dried. (Rev. 21:3)


FREE NIGHT OF FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS!
FAMILY GAME NIGHT ON MARCH 25TH
DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM
ADMISSION FREE; FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
RAFFLE PRIZES, DOOR PRIZES