what we do

What We Do

Our mission is to live according to Christ's two primary commands:
   To love God
   To love all other people

Our goal is to work together to "Build Up the Body of Christ."

Our prayer is to follow Christ's example of a loving commitment to:
   The elderly and the young,
   The ailing and the able,
   Familes of all forms and those alone,
   Those who serve and those in need of any sort of pastoral
   care

More about What We Do

Healing Ministry

Convalescent Ministry

Food Bank

Prayer Chain

Sunday School

Music

Vestry

Youth Ministry (pdf)

Youth MInsitry Participant Registration Form

Youth Ministry Summer 2008

Summer 2008 Update!

ECW--Episcopal Church Women

Labyrinth

Altar Guild

In His Hands

Project Warmth

Memorial Garden

Messenger

Healing Ministry

Ministers from the healing team offer healing prayer at the side of the church during both Sunday services. These lay ministers anoint, lay hands on, and pray for those who seek healing of body, mind, or spirit. The team meets for sharing and prayer on teh second Sunday of the month at 11:45 AM.

Back to What We Do

Messenger

Our parish monthly newsletter. You may view the current copy at our Parish News link.

Back to What We Do

Convalescent Ministry

The Episcopal Church Women of Holy Cross meet quarterly for study, worship, fellowship and business. Various fundraising events, plus some gifts and donations, fund our established outreach Programs: AEMCH, the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, and Project Saint Nicholas.

Holy Cross, along with other parishes, continues to participate in AEMCH (“An Episcopal Ministry to Convalescent Hospitals”), a chartered Organization of the Diocese which our deacon, the Reverend Arlinda Cosby has directed since 1981.

We offer a prayer service at Oak Creek Alzheimer's Center of the third Sunday of every month, beginning at 1:30 PM.

We host each year “Lessons and Carols” on the Second Sunday of Advent (before Christmas) and a Palm Sunday to Easter: Lessons and Carols, where care patients are brought to the church for the program and a simple meal.

Back to What We Do

ECW--Episcopal Church Women

The Episcopal Church Women of Holy Cross meet quarterly for study, worship, fellowship and business. Various fundraising events, plus some gifts and donations, fund our established outreach Programs: AEMCH, the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, and Project Saint Nicholas.

Back to What We Do

Labyrinth Team

The Labyrinth Team offers the monthly "First Sunday" Labyrinth Walk. We also maintaining the labyrinth, access pathways, and landscaping. The Holy Cross labyrinth is modeled on those at Grace Cathedral, which are modeled on the 800 year old Chartres Labyrinth. Many in the parish and the community are benefiting from the contemplative meditations of walking the labyrinth at Holy Cross.

Back to What We Do

Alameda Food Bank

We continually collect food at Sunday services which is donated to the Alameda County Food Bank. The Food Bank ensures that our food is given to the homeless and needy of Alameda County.

Back to What We Do

Altar Guild

Our guild members serve God by preparing and caring for the place where God's people worship. The Altar Guild works with the rector to plan for this vital ministry.

Back to What We Do

Vestry

Our vestry has 9 elected members, each elected to a 3-year term. Terms are staggered so we elect three new members each year. The Rector, Clerk and the parish Treasurer are standing members of the Vestry.

Back to What We Do

Prayer Chain

Reaching out to all people of all faiths, through formal and organized prayer, we give comfort and hope to both the receiver and the giver.

Back to What We Do

In His Hands

In His Hands is a spiritual study group formed in 1995. The purpose of this small group is to discuss the book we are reading together out loud and to share thoughts and lives to build community and to grow spiritually. The group meets weekly on Monday evening beginning at 7:15 (see Parish Calendar) and is open to anyone. We always have a spare book and no one is required to read aloud.

Click here to learn about what we are currently reading.

Back to What We Do

Project Warmth

We meet for fellowship and to knit and crochet lap robes to donate to AEMCH and Comfort for with AIDS at St James in Oakland. We also sell our handiwork at Holy Cross fundraisers and donate the proceeds to the ECW.

Back to What We Do

Music

An outstanding choir and excellent music program has long been a tradition at Holy Cross.

Back to What We Do

Sunday School

The Sunday School program serves three purposes. First, and foremost, it serves to teach the word of God to our children. To facilitate learning, the children are divided into three age groups, pre-K and Kindergarten, first and second grades, and third through fifth grades. Second, Sunday School provides a social context for the children and their families. This is done through Family Nights, a Christmas pageant, an Easter egg hunt, and various other activities.Third, we build a sense of world community and sharing in the children.

Back to What We Do

Memorial Garden

The Memorial Garden Committee established and maintains the Memorial Garden as a quiet, serene place to sit, pray, and reflect alongside the columbarium where ashes of departed parish members rest.

Back to What We Do