The Church of the Holy Cross

Guilds
Ministries

Holy Cross has a large number of guilds and ministries available for any member to exercise their specific gifts in service to Jesus Christ. These guilds have played an insturmental part in the history and tradition of this parish.

Episcopal Church Women
The Altar Guild
Rector's Guild
Men of Holy Cross
Daughter's of the King
Dorcas Society
Sadie Hamilton Guild
Episcopal Young Churchmen
Holy Cross Book Club

The Altar Guild The Altar Guild is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Altar which is the centerpiece and the object of attention during an Episcopal Mass. These women maintain the various altar coverings, insure that the altar and other liturgical fittings are correctly dressed according to the liturgical calendar, and also care for the vestments worn by the priest and lay readers.
Go to Top
The Episcopal Church Women
The Episcopal Church Women serves as the national women's guild for the Episcopal Church in the United States. The Holy Cross Chapter is one of the busiest guilds in the parish. their mission is: To serve as a catalyst for the women of Holy Cross. To carry out Christ's work for reconciliation within the parish and through the Diocesan Board. This organization hosts a variety of functions such as The United Thank Offering, the preparing and serving of funeral dinners, and pot luck suppers for various church events.
Go to Top
The Rector's Guild
The main function of the Rector's Guild is to assist the Rector for the good of the parish. Some of the events hosted by the Rector's Guild are: The annual Family and Friends Day, and The Father's Day Breakfast. Go to Top

The Men of Holy Cross
The Men of Holy Cross provides the men of the parish the opportunity to serve Christ's church in a wide variety of activities. The Mission of the MoHC is as follows:
1. To provide the men of this parish the opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by ministering to his church.

2. To render personal as well as financial assistance as needed in support of thevarious activities occurring in the parish.

3. To provide an opportunity for fellowship, goodwill , and Christian brotherhood to the men of this parish.

The major events hosted by the MoHC are the annual Chicken Dinner and the Men's Day Prayer Breakfast and Service. Go to Top
Daughter's of The King
The Margaret J. Clark Chapter of the Daughter's of the King is the only Spiritual Order of Lay Women in the Episcopal Church. The Order has been in existence since 1885. The mission of the order is to allow women and girls the opportunity to serve Christ through prayer and comtemplative reading of the Scriptures. All prospective members must pass through a period of training where they are instructed in the teachings of the order, and the responsibilties of membership. Upon completing the required course of study, the new members are inducted into the order during Mass by the rector. The Daughters as a group are prohibited from raising funds, but may join with other groups in doing so. Major events hosted by the Daughters are: The Annual Quiet Day, preparing Thanksgiving dinner for the needy of the parish and community, and daily corporate prayer for the rector, the parish, and the concerns of the sick and shut-ins. Go to Top
The Dorca's Society
Named after a woman in the Bible who went about doing good deeds, the Dorcas Society is another guild that performs many important services to the Holy Cross family, Their most significant event is the annual International Festival and Cuisine where foods and fashion from cultures all over the world are available for viewing and consuming. Go to Top
The Sadie B. Hamilton Guild
The Sadie B. Hamilton Guild is one of the oldest guilds at Holy Cross. Named after the woman who was most influential in the church's formation, the guild carries on in the name of their namesake by also helping out in many church activities, and sponsoring their own events. Go to Top
Episcopal Young Churchmen
The Episcopal Young Churchmen are the youth group of Holy Cross. Many of EYC's members serve as acolytes during Mass, and they also head up a number of activities that function to keep the church's youth interested in maintaining a strong spiritual life in the church. Go to Top

Holy Cross Book Club
The newest of the ministries at Holy Cross, The Book Club meets to discuss and read books that are of a relevant nature to the times at hand. These books can be of religious or non religious themes and are usually of a social or cultral nature. Videos are also shown and discussed. Go to Top

The Ministries at Holy Cross

As with the guilds, there are a number of opportunities for ministry at Holy Cross that allow any and everyone the chance to put their God-given abilities to good use in the Lord's Church.
Lay Readers
Acolytes
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
Holy Cross Sacred Choir
Sunday School
Vacation Bible School
Prayer and Praise Team

Lay Readers
The ministry of the lay readers consists of reading Morning Prayer before Mass, leading the Prayers of the People, and also reciting the Old and New Testament readings during the service. Go to Top
Acolytes
Acolytes are young people chosen to perform various functions at the altar during the Mass. Acolytes may carry the processional cross, the thurifer and crucifer, torches, and also the incense to purify the altar and the priest. The presence of the acolytes helps to make the liturgical worship experience unique in the world of Christian worship, and also allows young people an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the ministry of this church. Go to Top

Lay Eucharistic Ministers
The Lay Eucharistic Ministers serve a special function as the priest's assistants during the Mass. They assist the priest in preparing and distributing the communion meal to the people and also take the consecrated Host and Blood to those who are sick and shut-in. Go to Top

The small choir with the Big sound!!
Although small in numbers (approximately one dozen singers), the Holy Cross Choir is big in spirit, enthusiasm and sound. Able and willing to sing a diverse repertoire of music from traditional chants, anthems and motets to the unique and powerful music of the African-American tradition—spirituals, sacred music from Africa, and gospel-style music—the choir provides musical leadership for all services at Holy Cross. Under Phil Cynar’s direction, the choir is learning a variety of new service music—much of it composed by outstanding African-American composers such as David Hurd or the Rev. Lena McLin. Each Sunday, except during August, the choir sings a choral Eucharist at 10:30 a.m., the parish’s solemn High Mass.

Guilds and Ministries