Visit With Us

Join us on Sundays, where you'll find a welcoming community eager to share the peace and joy of our faith in Christ. Experience the rich traditions of Episcopal worship with beautiful organ music, thought-provoking sermons, and a friendly atmosphere that we hope will make you feel like you belong.

Which one best describes YOU?

I'm new to the Episcopal Church

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Episcopalians are Christians – We trace our roots to the Church of England and as Anglicans share core Christian beliefs about the Trinity (God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), the importance of the Bible, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Episcopalians follow a liturgy – Every Sunday, we follow specific rituals and elements of worship known as a liturgy. This normally includes the singing of hymns and psalms, listening to readings from the Bible and the sharing of bread and wine. The actual words recited during service are written out in the Book of Common Prayer. Many copies of these red hardcover books are provided in every pew.

Episcopalians celebrate the Eucharist – A central part of Christian worship is the Holy Eucharist (or Communion), where bread and wine representing Jesus’ body and blood are shared in a symbolic act of remembrance and thanksgiving. At the appointed time, anyone who has been baptized as a Christian will come forward to the altar rail, kneel, and extend their hands to participate.

I'm new to Holy Cross Church

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We welcome you – From the moment you walk through our church doors, we want you to know how much we value your presence. A friendly usher will greet you, hand you a bulletin, and answer any questions you might have. During the service, you’ll have a chance to share a sign of peace with your neighbors. After the service, we invite all attendees to join us for coffee, snacks, and a chance to chat.

We help you follow along with the service – Some of the traditions in our service might feel strange or unfamiliar at first and that’s perfectly okay. The bulletin is a helpful guide, outlining the order of the service and what to say and do. Feel free to simply observe and/or follow along as others stand, sit, or sing during the service. 

We support your faith journey – You may be exploring spirituality or seeking divine support during a difficult time. Perhaps you feel being called for a greater purpose or sense of connection and belonging. We believe you can find it at Holy Cross. Explore more by visiting us on Sunday mornings or show up for one of our Alpha sessions.

Which one best describes YOU?

Episcopalians are Christians – We trace our roots to the Church of England and as Anglicans share core Christian beliefs about the Trinity (God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), the importance of the Bible, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Episcopalians follow a liturgy – Every Sunday, we follow specific rituals and elements of worship known as a liturgy. This normally includes the singing of hymns and psalms, listening to readings from the Bible and the sharing of bread and wine. The actual words recited during service are written out in the Book of Common Prayer. Many copies of these red hardcover books are provided in every pew.

Episcopalians celebrate the Eucharist – A central part of Christian worship is the Holy Eucharist (or Communion), where bread and wine representing Jesus’ body and blood are shared in a symbolic act of remembrance and thanksgiving. At the appointed time, anyone who has been baptized as a Christian will come forward to the altar rail, kneel, and extend their hands to participate.

We welcome you – From the moment you walk through our church doors, we want you to know how much we value your presence. A friendly usher will greet you, hand you a bulletin, and answer any questions you might have. During the service, you’ll have a chance to share a sign of peace with your neighbors. After the service, we invite all attendees to join us for coffee, snacks, and a chance to chat.

We help you follow along with the service – Some of the traditions in our service might feel strange or unfamiliar at first and that’s perfectly okay. The bulletin is a helpful guide, outlining the order of the service and what to say and do. Feel free to simply observe and/or follow along as others stand, sit, or sing during the service. 

We support your faith journey – You may be exploring spirituality or seeking divine support during a difficult time. Perhaps you feel being called for a greater purpose or sense of connection and belonging. We believe you can find it at Holy Cross. Explore more by visiting us on Sunday mornings or show up for one of our Alpha sessions.

What To Expect On Your First Visit

We realize that walking into a new church can feel somewhat strange and disorienting. And yet, the best way to really get a feel for a place is to experience it in person.

Below is what you can expect on a Sunday morning at Holy Cross, written from the perspective of a first-time visitor. We hope it answers your questions and fills you with confidence to join us in worship.

Upon Entering the Church

The main entrance of Holy Cross is in the back of the church under the belltower. When you enter, you will be greeted by one or more of our ushers, who will hand you a Sunday bulletin. The bulletin is like a script or set of instructions for you to follow along with during the service and to participate, should you choose.

Finding Your Seat

You will see rows of wooden pews (long benches) as you enter from the back. There are no reserved seats, so feel free to choose an open spot that suits you.

Once You Sit Down

You should notice red and blue covered hard-bound books sitting in front of your pew. The red one is the Book of Common Prayer, referred to as BCP in the bulletin. It contains the liturgy that the minister and congregation follow throughout the service. The other is The Hymnal 1982, referred to as HYMN in your bulletin. It is a light blue hardcover book which contains the lyrics for the service. The bulletin identifies which book and page number to turn to at the appropriate time.

Start of the Service

The service begins with prelude music by our organist. This is your cue that the service is getting ready to begin. The congregation, with organ accompaniment, sings a processional hymn (as identified in the bulletin). Our minister, dressed in vestments, and his accompanying lay ministers will pass you as they enter from the back of the church toward the altar.

During the Service

Every Episcopal service involves a fair bit of standing, sitting, kneeling, singing, and spoken responses, all of which are outlined in the bulletin. The minister will provide verbal instructions as well.  The more passive aspects of the service are ones when you are seated listening to several readings from the Bible and  the minister’s  sermon that follows. We call this the Liturgy of the Word.

Interacting with Others

The second half of the service involves moments when the congregation interacts with each other and with the clergy. The first time is during "The Peace" in which attendees, usually those in close proximity, will offer their hand to shake saying "Peace be with you." Later, during the Offertory, ushers will pass around a gold collection plate for you to add a donation, but it is entirely voluntary. Most importantly, those baptized as Christians will come forward to the altar rail to receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion from the ministers.

End of the Service

The service ends with the minister walking from the altar to the back of the church during a closing hymnal procession. Once the singing ends, the minister dismisses the congregation with God’s blessing. With the service concluded, the congregation leaves whenever they want, although most will exit out the bell tower door and greet the minister on the way out. It’s a great chance for you to be introduced to us!

After the Service

Many in the congregation walk next door to the parish hall for coffee, juice, and assorted breakfast bites. Sometimes we have classes or talks, or sometimes full on parties, but we always take time to catch up with one another. Join us!

FAQs

Questions about Holy Cross

No. Holy Cross welcomes everyone, regardless of their religious background or affiliation. Visitors and newcomers are encouraged to attend services, participate in church activities, and explore our faith community.

It is customary to wear clothing that is respectful and modest, but nonetheless casual. You can of course wear formal attire if you prefer, and people often do for special services such as Christmas and Easter.  

Yes! Parents, we want your children to worship with us. That also means we expect them to be children. Their laughter, cries, coos, and whatever noise they make is a natural part of the worship service. However, if you need to take a break with your little ones, we have the service streaming on a TV in the Parish Hall library where your child can run free. Please ask one of the ushers in the back of the church for assistance.
We have a grass parking lot opposite the church whose entrance is on East 4th Street between South Park Ave and Magnolia Ave. You can also park on the street. Parking is free at all times. 

The main entrance of the church is at the corner of East 4th Street and South Park Ave. It is located directly under the church’s four-story bell tower.

Both the church and the adjoining Parish Hall are ADA compliant. There are ramps leading to the entrances of both buildings. In the Parish Hall, restroom were enlarged for wheelchair access, plus railings were added inside the toilet stalls.

A typical Sunday service is usually 75-90 minutes long. It’s always a good idea to plan for a little extra time beyond the service itself, especially if you’re interested in socializing or participating in any post-service activities, such as coffee in the Parish Hall.

The bathrooms are in the adjoining Parish Hall on the same side of E. 4th Street as the church.  During the service, please approach one of the ushers standing in the back behind the pews and ask for assistance. The Parish Hall may be locked, so they will either provide you with a key or open it themselves. once inside, the women’s room is the second doorway on the right and the men’s room is around, opposite the ladies’ room.

If you are a baptized Christian, you are welcome to receive both bread and wine. If you’re not baptized or just unsure, you can still approach the altar with your arms crossed across your chest (forming an X). The minister will offer you a blessing instead of the bread and wine. You are of course welcome to remain in your seat. Choose whichever option feels most comfortable for you.