Let us praise God together!

At Holy Cross Anglican Church our worship is a community event -- it occurs when we are all together. Each person plays a part: Priest, Lay Leaders and congregation. Each person is important as he/she uplifts others.

Holy Cross uses the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, and we accept and strive to follow the thirty nine Articles of Religion. Service on Sunday evening is either The Order for Daily Evening Prayer or The Holy Communion depending on the church calendar. Normally, Holy Communion is celebrated on the second and forth Sundays of each month and on Feast days, and Evening is held on other Sundays. Other services are provided as called for in the church calendar.

Those unfamiliar with services according to the Book of Common Prayer will note the participation of the congregation. The designers of the service wished to emphasize that the people are not there as spectators, they are there to worship, and to join their hearts and voices together in the united adoration of the Almighty God. The minister is there to lead the worship, not to monopolize it!

Thus, although the services are structured, they are not ritualized. The designers aimed to avoid the perils of rock-solid ritual, as well as the empty vapors of “philosophy” so common in today’s society. Christianity is not a philosophy, it is truth.

Who's Who in Worship

Priest: Coordinates and conducts our worship services.

Acolytes: Youth and adults who assist the priest at worship services.

Choir: Lead songs of praise and worship.

Ushers: Welcome all to worship services, distribute the bulletins, and assist with the collection of offerings.

Sunday School Teachers: Instruct our children in Christian Education.

Church Etiquette

" The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."

To honor the temple of God please observe the following:

Upon entering the Nave, please be thoughtful, be silent, and be reverent. Remember into Whose living presence you have come, for this is the House of God. Before the Service, kneel down humbly and pray to the Lord. During the Service, let the Lord speak to you; fasten thoughts firmly on the Service. After the Service, remember where you are and what you have done. Be reverent as you leave the nave. Speak to one another in the narthex and parish hall.

If you arrive late, please enter the Nave during hymns, not during prayers.

One should be aware of the Invitation, Confession and Absolution and not receive Communion if you have come into church after the General Confession.

If you wish to receive Communion, come forward using the center aisle, take your place in the double line, and fill the altar rail at the direction of the usher. Receive the bread into the palm of your hand or onto your tongue. You may then do one of three things: (1) consume the bread and sip from the chalice as it is offered to you. Women are requested to blot lipstick before consuming wine from the chalice; (2) leave the bread in your open palm and let the chalice bearer take it, and dip it in the wine and place it on your tongue; or (3) abstain from receiving the wine by crossing your arms in front of you. Return to your seat via the side aisles.