Parish News

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Welcome! 

Holy Cross is an Episcopal Church and Member 
of the Diocese of Western North Carolina
(828) 963-4609

ECW News

Please plan to join your Episcopal Church Women for our annual Easter Brunch on Sunday April 20th in Skiles Hall. Buffet starts at 9:30 am. We’ll provide ham, biscuits, and beverages. We hope you’ll bring your favorite brunch items to share. A sign up poster is posted in Skiles Hall.

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Requesting Candy and Eggs for Easter

Holy Cross will host two egg hunts this year. One will take place Saturday April 19 in the Valle Crucis Park and the other on Easter Morning between the services. We are requesting donations of candy and plastic eggs. Please leave these donations in the box marked "Easter Hunt" in Skiles Hall.

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Holy Week Schedule

Wednesday, April 16 - Holy Wednesday

5:00pm, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Daughters of the King will be presenting "Mary's Way of the Cross". If you have never experienced this, it is essentially a "Stations of the Cross" presentation from Mary's point of view. Being from the mother of our Lord, it is poignant, emotional, and beautifully stated.

7:00pm, Holy Cross Sanctuary - We will be reading the entire gospel of Mark. This service will be live-streamed via our YouTube Channel. 

Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday

7:00pm, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Agape Eucharist with foot-washing and stripping of the altar. This service will be live-streamed via our YouTube Channel. 

9:00pm - midnight, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Silent Vigil for the Blessed Sacrament

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday

12:00pm, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Walking the Stations of the Cross

7:00pm, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday. This service will be live-streamed via our YouTube Channel . 

Saturday, April 19 - Holy Saturday

10:00am, Valle Crucis Community Park - Easter Egg Hunt

11:30am, Valle Crucis Community Park - Joint Methodist-Episcopal Vigil 

Sunday, April 20 - The Feast of  the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Easter Sunday

8:30am, Holy Cross Sanctuary  - Festival Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Rite II

9:30am, Skiles Hall  - Annual Parish Easter Brunch

9:40am, Holy Cross Cemetery   - Easter Egg Hunt

11:00am, Holy Cross Sanctuary - Festival Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Rite II.  Nursery care will be provided at this service. This service will be live-streamed via our YouTube Channel . 

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Lay Reader/Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Training for Lay Readers and Lay Eucharist Ministers will be held on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00am - 12:00pm in the Holy Cross Sanctuary  If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Nina-Jo Moore at moorenj@appstate.edu or Karla Prudhomme at krprudhomme@skybest.com  to learn more about this exiting opportunity to serve Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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"A Simple Gesture" Green Bags

As you are aware, federal funding for charities is in jeopardy. It is our habit at Holy Cross to get a green "Simple Gesture" bag from the welcome room off Skiles main room and fill it with nourishing, shelf stable food for the Hunger and Health Coalition. This is a hedge against hunger for those out of work, homeless or just scraping by.  

If you are able, please pick up a bag and check out the BOGO options at your grocery store, sales, coupons etc. to fill a bag and place back in the welcome room of Skiles main room and  Judy Bondi or Kip Kingree will deliver your bounty to the Coalition.  Thank you in advance for your caring for our Watauga neighbors. In a world of not-so-great, this is an action that is great. God Sees.

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A Message from Mission & Outreach Commission

Due to the cancellation of the Valle Country Fair in 2024, we regret to announce our usual “nonprofit” grants for community projects and programs will not be offered for 2025.  Instead, we set aside $36,000 for disaster relief grants which have been awarded to local nonprofits dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Your generous donations and 2024 Fair proceeds allowed Outreach to continue its usual work for those needing help during these challenging times. Our usual non profit grant applications will reopen in the Spring of 2026 with funds from the 2025 Valle Country Fair.

Holy Cross Outreach is incredibly grateful for the love and strength of this community.  Thank you for standing together, lifting each other up, proving that even in the hardest of times, we come together for our Appalachian community.

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Holy Cross Centennial Celebration

This year marks 100 years since our community set the cornerstone of the sanctuary that would house our growing closer to God, each other, and our salvation. A small team has been working since last year to plan how we will commemorate this centennial year. We are hoping to provide historical tours, worship events, artistic engagements, storytelling, food, dancing, and celebrating with each other and with the greater community. We need your help. The fun work of planning and executing this event will require many hands. If you would like to help, please reach out to Rev Robert via phone at 423-400-0826 or email at hartmansrobert@gmail.com.

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Daughters of the King

Daughters of the King (DOK) meet weekly on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. in Skiles Hall. The group invites any women of the church interested in finding out more about DOK to join them. Click here to learn more about DOK!

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Choir & Handbell Practice

Handbell practice is held on Wednesdays at 5:45pm, followed by Choir Practice at 7:00pm,  in Skiles Hall Choir room.

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Bookies

A book group organized 20-plus years ago, would love to have new members. Call or email Judy Bondi for more information about Bookies.

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2025 Sunday Morning Worship Schedule (unless otherwise noted above):

9:00a.m. - Valle Crucis United Methodist Church holds their Sunday Service in Holy Cross Sanctuary

11:00 - Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with Music, Unction and Children's Homily in Holy Cross Sanctuary

12:30p.m. - Fellowship Time in Skiles Hall

The 11:00a.m. service from Holy Cross is Live-Streamed via our YouTube Channel .
Click here to view our Live Streamed and previously recorded services.
Click here to view & download this week's worship leaflet.
Click here to view & download this month's Holy Cross Newsletter.

Online Giving

Online giving is now available - click here or click "Give Online" in the Navigation Bar at the top of the website.

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Weeknight Evening Worship Services offered via Zoom

Compline at 8:00 p.m. every Monday & Thursday - click  here to join the Zoom meeting

The "Virtual Waiting Room" opens 15 minutes before each service begins.
(Meeting ID: 823 3185 8185)

Contact Angela Williams or Mary Pietan if you have any issues signing on for Compline

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The Sacrament of Reconciliation: 
This Sacrament is offered at any time by appointment.

Please contact the Rector directly at (828) 963-4609 ext. 22
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