Holy Cross

Rector's Message

Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross!  I invite you to join us as we practice outrageous hospitality in welcoming all to our parish.

When we talk about practicing outrageous hospitality one of the aspects of that practice is the communication of this grace beyond all understanding throughout our daily life. We practice lives of loving hospitality toward those whose own lives may be fragile or broken. We encourage rather than discourage. We are kind rather than cruel. We are nonjudgmental rather than condemning, we are quick to forgive rather than seeking revenge, and we are aware that when we fail in any or all of these things God still loves us. Our offer of outrageous hospitality to a broken world is our communication through thought, word and deed – through action and quiet – through invitation, encouragement and inclusion – that in the midst of the people of God known as Holy Cross Church there is love and acceptance as one of God’s gifts of grace.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross is not a religious club, nor are we a denominational clique, nor are we an exclusive sect. We are God’s people seeking to do God’s work as beings in God’s grace. We are not always successful, but we are always forgiven when we fail. There are so many people in our extended communities who are looking for a safe place in which to ask the hard questions about life, to be included in a community of love and prayer, and to be forgiven whenever they fail in anything. But do they know who we are? Do they know they are welcome here? Can they sense or know that they would be welcome? Have they been invited and made to feel included?

We are a unique treasure in the foothills and upstate region, a best-kept secret that needs to be shared. Please, practice outrageous hospitality – today – tomorrow – every day.

Michael Doty+