<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpfd7cd648yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Greetings everyone,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This Sunday, September 14, 2025, celebrates the <b><i>"Exaltation of the Holy Cross."</i></b> In the absence of Sylvia, this week, I will be leading the music, with the help of Mike and Helena. The program of songs and responses is attached.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The story behind this Feast is that Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and among other things, ordered the demolition of a pagan shrine that had been built on the spot reputed to have been the location of the Crucifixion of Jesus. After the razing of the structure, the remains of three crosses were found buried, on September 14th of 326. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The three crosses were confirmed by the local bishop to be the cross of Christ and those of the two thieves who were crucified with him. Since Helena did not know which cross was that of Christ, she had a woman who was sick touch all three crosses. Upon touching one of the crosses, the woman was immediately healed, and that cross was declared to be Christ's cross. Following this, Constantine ordered that a church be built to encompass the area including where the True Cross was found, Mount Calvary, and the Tomb of Jesus. This Church of the Holy Sepulchre was officially dedicated on September 13, 335, and reputedly the True Cross was for the first time displayed or "exalted" the following day, September 14, 335.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Best wishes to you all.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Brian</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div class="ydpfd7cd648signature"><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;"><b><i><font color="#4c76a2">Brian Halferty</font></i></b></div></div></div></body></html>