A Warm Welcome to All!
Greetings! The people and clergy of Holy Cross welcome you into our community. We would be delighted to have you seek God with us, to join us in worship and service. We hope that you will find spiritual nourishment and companionship with us.
Membership
Those who attend Holy Cross regularly fall into one of the following categories:
Confirmed Communicants Baptized persons who have been confirmed in, or received into the Episcopal Church either by confirmation, reception, or letter of transfer from another Episcopal Church.
Baptized Members All baptized persons, of any age (including children), whose names are enrolled either by baptism, letter of transfer, or personal request. Adults may be enrolled as Baptized Members, but still not be Confirmed Communicants.
Associates Persons who are active in the life of this congregation (through worship, giving or program participation), but their official membership remains elsewhere.
Joining the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross
There are two ways to become a member of Holy Cross—through baptism and/or a letter of transfer from your current church.
You do not have to be an Episcopalian to be a member of our parish. Any person who has received the sacrament of Holy Baptism, whether in this church or in another Christian church, can become a member of Holy Cross. Those who have been a member of another Episcopal Church or any other Christian Church may have their membership transferred to Holy Cross.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Lori Walter in the church office at (828-859-9741) or lwalter@holycrosstryon.org) to fill out a Membership form.
Baptism
"Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God." - The Book of Common Prayer pg. 858
Baptism initiates people, by water and the Holy Spirit, into the Body of Christ. The inward and spiritual grace in Baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God's family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. We baptize both adults and infants. Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.
We regard the sacrament of baptism as a Holy Mystery, which means we can understand the meaning of the act without ever fully understanding the depths of its significance. Holy Cross joyfully welcomes new members into the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ through the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Adolescents and adults who desire baptism or parents who wish to have infants or young children baptized should contact Father Robert at (828-859-9741).
Confirmation
Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. Confirmation is not seen as the completion of Christian initiation, nor is Confirmation a prerequisite for receiving communion.
Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's body the church. Accordingly, Confirmation has been increasingly understood in terms of a mature, public reaffirmation of the Christian faith and the baptismal promises.
If you have never been baptized or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, classes are offered periodically for adults and youth who wish to join. The Confirmation class is a good way to learn more about the church even if you do not want to be confirmed in the Episcopal church at this time. Preparation for Confirmation will help in discovering the meaning of Christian commitment, and an exploration of ways that Christian commitment can be lived. All are welcome to attend! If you wish to begin a process of spiritual discernment through Confirmation, please contact Father Robert at (828-859-9741).
All Are Welcome
All baptized Christians—no matter age or denomination—are welcome to receive communion. Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously.
Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive a blessing from the priest.