January 27, 2018

Thermal Belt Outreach Shopping Day

It's very much a 'warm fuzzy' when you see a group of folks collecting money during a church service for the needy, count out the total amount, determine the most needed items to be purchased with their budget, clip coupons giving them more bang for their bucks, do the actual shopping and deliver their foodstuffs back to the pantry, (Thermal Belt Outreach), all in the same day.

Exhausting? You bet.

Naps taken? Well, for one of them it was mandatory.

Because these folks were the youngest members of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, NC, and aged three through ten. While their parents and a couple of adult volunteers did the actual driving (very hard to see over the steering wheel, even with a booster seat) these children spent pretty much their entire Saturday deep in thought, and along with a little horseplay (pushing each other around in the Lidl grocery carts), actively choosing groceries that would benefit families--including children their own age who might go without.

It's difficult for a child in a stable situation to understand and empathize what it's like for another child to go to bed hungry, to attempt to study on an empty stomach, to be too embarrassed to invite a friend over for a sleep over. But when they arrived at the food pantry, opened especially for them that afternoon to unload the nearly seven hundred pounds of food they had purchased, George, the manager, lowered himself to their level on one knee and explained why people find themselves in need in the first place.

"Sometimes a mom or dad loses their job," he said to an audience of five pairs of eyes that widened considerably as he went on. "Sometimes, a mom or dad leaves, or gets too sick to work, or even dies, and there's just not enough money to buy food."

The fidgeting, only too normal after a rather long day, suddenly stopped as the words were taken in. The unthinkable in regards to their own world became unpleasantly considered for a few moments as the magnitude of their offering grew before them.

Relieved to be dismissed, the remainder of their day was theirs--including a birthday party to attend, a favorite movie to watch, dinner to wonder about...

But this Saturday they're going to be at it again.

Yes, it takes a village to raise a child.

And sometimes it takes a child to raise our awareness.

Written by Pam Stone for her syndicated column I'm Just Saying
Pam is also a member of Holy Cross

January 19, 2018

Parent's Night Out

Two of our junior (like, really junior) artists-in-residence, led by both the creative and unflappable Kathy Alyea, had the opportunity during a recent 'Parent's Night Out,' to express their vision of God's love and peace through a mixed media session.

 And, of course, the results were proudly displayed for all to see! Excellent work, all!

January 14, 2018

Dedication of our new Reredos

On Sunday January 14, 2018 we dedicated a new Reredos in our chapel. It was built by some of our Parishioners and came out beautifully. The video is the dedication and then a short question and answer session afterward.

January 13, 2018

Ice Skating!

Sharol Ard organized a great day for some of our members to get together and have some ice skating fun. Particularly some of our younger members. Several folks attended with all levels of skating experience. The younger skaters got some skating lessons and a lot of fun was had by everyone! We always enjoy each other's fellowship at Holy Cross and this was a great way to do so.

December 16, 2017

Tryon Prayer Walk

On a bright and chilly Saturday morning seven prayer walkers from Holy Cross, St. Margaret's (Spartanburg) and Tryon Methodist Churches walked the sidewalk of N. Trade Street praying for the Downtown business area, its merchants, and local government. At one point the prayer walkers were joined by a local business owner. At another point by a Girl Scout. Please join us in praying for our town, surrounding area and country. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pictured L to R: Barrie & Donna Heinzenknecht, Happy McLeod, Fr. Robert Ard, Rosemary & Lewis Moore and Pat Roshaven.

December 16, 2017

Guys and Kids Wood Splitting Day

 Several Guys and Kids spent their Saturday morning collecting firewood for the folks who use Thermal Belt Outreach. Thermal Belt Outreach helps people in Polk County who might need some help with food, paying a bill or just a helping hand. Many of them use firewood to heat their homes and also heat atheirstove to cook on. During the winter various local churches and organizations volunteer on one Saturday per month to split and stack wood to be given away. The wood comes from trees that have come down and been donated.

Holy Cross will be volunteering for two of those Saturdays and we decided to make it a Guys and Kids event. We all love spending time with our Holy Cross Youth and this seemed like a great event for the Guys at Holy Cross to do so. Plus, it gave the Moms a morning off! They all stacked lots of wood during the morning and then afterward all were treated to a pizza lunch at the Brick Pizzeria in Columbus, NC courtesy of the Holy Cross Youth Fund.

December 16, 2017

Holy Cross Trekkers December

Holy Cross Trekkers, AKA 2X2

Our HC hiking group seeks to introduce and encourage regular engagement with the beautiful area where we live and to better appreciate the wonders of God’s creation.

On Saturday, 11/18, a small but vigorous group of hikers made the delightful and close by hike on the Blue Wall portions of the Palmetto Trail past the “twin lakes” up into the hobbit-like hardwood forest and new fallen leaves to Vaughn’s Gap. Angela Hider, Ben Davis, Robin and Paul Pullen, and Craig Williams enjoyed a brisk Fall morning together.

On Saturday, 12/16, a larger group, including Carol and Larry Newton, Johanna and John Lawler, Julia and Lou Toffaletti, Marianne and Chip McDonald, Joe Burgess, Ben Davis, and Craig Williams were surprised to find icy conditions and sketchy footing at the start of the hike we had planned at DuPont State Forest, so we took a slight detour and went up to the next parking area at the High Falls parking lot, where the conditions for hiking were a bit better. Still, it was interested to see all the snow and ice still around after over a week. We enjoyed about a 4.5 to 5 mile out and back hike to Bridal Veil Falls. Following the hike, requiring sustenance, we retired to the local, warm, and cozy confines of Oskar Blues Brewery and enjoyed a welcome food truck fare lunch, along with a sample of craft brews.

Depending on weather, the next HC-T hike is planned for Saturday, Jan 21. The itinerary is subject to change, but at this point we will plan to take advantage of winter views and start the hike at Orchard Lake Campground, on the other side of Melrose Mountain. We will hike on the Palmetto Trail up to Rocky Spur and back again to the campground or on down the mountain past the “twin lakes”, for a one-way hike. The first part of this hike will be on the edge of the Greenville County watershed, which runs for a bit on the NC-SC border. It is possible that some hikers will go up a bit and back, while other through way trekkers may hike all the way to Craig Williams’ house, by way of a seldom used trail that comes out at Rock Springs Baptist Church. Call Craig 859-3124 for questions or to indicate interest. Thanks Be to God.

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