Parish Ministries

Holy Cross offers several ways for our members to be involved in the life of the parish: The Altar Guild, Ushers, Choir, Acolytes, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers give their gifts to make beautiful and coherent our worship of God.

Our Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Building and Grounds Committee, Christian Education Committee, Worship Committee and Parish Growth and Development Committee ensure that the life of the parish addresses the changing needs of the parish.

Eucharistic Visitors and our Care Committee, in coordination with our Rector, visit and minister to members who are unable to come to church.

 

The Altar Guild

True Servant Ministers, the members of our Altar Guild work behind the scenes, caring for the linens and Eucharistic vessels. They prepare the credence table and altar for every service, and they are here to wash and put away everything after the service. The Altar Guild keeps the linens washed and ironed, the silver polished, and anything else that is needed at various times of the year.

 

The Care Committee and Eucharistic Visitors

Members of the Care Committee visit parishioners who are home bound or in the hospital and extend the care and love of our church community to them.

Eucharistic Visitors are licensed by the Diocese to share Bread and Wine, consecrated at the Holy Cross altar, with our members who cannot come to church.

 

The Holy Cross Choir

Our Sunday 11:00 worship service, and all our special services, would not be as meaninfgul without our Choir. Under the direction of Organist-Choirmaster Ron Dean, our faithful Choir leads our praises and sings an Offertory Anthem each Sunday. Practice and warm-up are at 10:00 in the Chancel on Sundays. New members are always invited and wanted!

 

The Episcopal Church Women

The ECW is one of the oldest ministries within Episcopal parishes. The women of the Church have traditionally taken on all sorts of tasks to minister in times of war and peace in whatever ways the church and the community needed.

On Wednesdays during Advent and Lent the ECW organizes Holy Cross Soup Days. Homemade beef vegetable soup, crackers, water and homemade dessert are served in the Undercroft — all for a cost of $3.00/person! Soup Days are days eagerly anticipated by people from all over town, as much for the fellowship and warm surroundings as for the meal.

Each year in the fall, the ECW hosts a Fall Festival, selling homemade baked goods, jellies and jams, “second time around” items and Christmas ornaments.

And the most sought after and famous items: Holy Cross cookbooks and Holy Cross pickles!

Earnings from Soup Days and the Fall Festival are offered back to the community in ministries supported by Holy Cross and the ECW.

 

Liturgical Ministers

Many of our parishioners serve as Ushers, Acolytes, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers in our services of worship. Our Altar Guild prepares the altar for worship in the changing seasons of the Church Year, cares for our Eucharistic vessels and maintains the Sacristy.

Ushers are the first people a Newcomer meets as they come through our door. Those who usher welcome and give information, invite and extend hospitality to all who come to worship with us. They also bring the gifts of the People, the offering of bread and wine, to the altar.

Lectors have the vital ministry of reading the Word of God and leading the congregation in the psalm during worship. It is their ministry to convey God’s Word as a Living Word to the people.

Eucharistic Ministers receive training both at Holy Cross and in a diocesan workshop in order to be licensed by the Bishop for their ministry. Serving in worship is very rewarding personally and of great value in the beauty, depth and meaning of our worship of God.

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It’s hard to imagine our 11:00 Sunday Eucharist without our Acolytes. At present, they are all young people, faithful in their service to make everything flow smoothly. They lead the Processions in and out of the Chancel, assist with the offering and the preparation of the table for Communion, ring the Sanctus bell, and stand ready to help in any way that’s needed. All young people are encouraged to be Acolytes

 

The Building and Grounds Committee

Tommie Sue Brooks and Tommy Simral head up our Building and Grounds Committee, and Ann Fellers tends the roses. The primary responsibility of this committee is our Rose Garden, where the ashes of former members and friends of Holy Cross are buried. Members of Building and Grounds weed, plant seasonal flowers, mulch and fertilize the garden flower beds to keep the garden a lovely place where people can sit and enjoy the quiet surroundings.