Staff Transition

With a mix of sadness for us and joy for him, we share that our Director of Music, Shane Watson, has accepted a new position at Arizona State University. His last Sunday with us will be July 19. Details will be forthcoming about how we'll celebrate his time with us and wish him well, but in the meantime, please wish Shane congratulations on an exciting next step in his career and thank him for sharing his gifts with us at Holy Cross. 

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Sunday School on Break

Children’s Sunday School is on hiatus at the 11:00 service for the summer to provide our wonderful teachers with a needed break. As always, children are most welcome and encouraged to participate in all services at Holy Cross and at St. John’s.

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Summer Food Ministry: Our Families Need Us

This summer, we are once again partnering with the Valle Crucis United Methodist Church to provide food assistance to families in our community. The need is greater than ever.

Last summer, we served 6 families. This year, we have 11 families in need — nearly double from last year. With rising grocery and gas prices, many families are struggling to provide enough food during the summer months when children no longer have access to school meals.

Every two weeks, an email will be sent with a link to an online sign-up sheet for requested food items. Because we are serving 11 families this summer, our list of requested items is significantly larger. We will provide 4 food deliveries throughout the summer and appreciate your support in helping us meet these growing needs.

If you sign up for an item, please honor that commitment. Our distributions are planned based on promised donations, and when items are not brought, families may go without food they desperately need. Food items will be collected on shelves set up in Skiles Hall.

Thank you for helping us be the hands and feet of Christ by caring for our neighbors during this critical time.

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026
Picnic in the Park

So much to Celebrate. Summer! New Rector! 250th July 4th! We are beginning a long awaited new era at Holy Cross with an evening of music and revelry at our beloved Valle Crucis Community Park. Holy Cross and the Valle Crucis Conference Center are again co-sponsoring Music in the Valle, with live music provided by Soul Benefactor!

Here are the details:
When: Friday, July 3, 5:00 pm (music starts at 6:00)
Where: Herrick Pavilion, Valle Crucis Community Park
What: All-day slow-cooked BBQ, chicken wings, sides of beans, special sauce, buns and whatever else is brought.
Who: Fr. Jonathan Chesney and his family, and all of Holy Cross Family and Friends are invited!
What we need: Your RSVP to Tav Gauss, and please bring a salad or sweet to share!

Come! Join the best, most up tempo, most eagerly anticipated event of 2026! Be sure to RSVP and prepare for a fab evening among friends!

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Sunday Fellowship in July

Our norm is moving to having a more robust coffee hour on First Sundays, but July brings a couple different occasions to celebrate. On Sunday, July 5 we may be enjoying some leftovers from our picnic at Music in the Valle on July 3, but if not we'll have watermelon and some other treats.

On Sunday, July 12 we will have a parish send off for Shane after church.  There will be the basic cookies (regular, GF and sugar free) with charcuterie on the table. Please bring an appetizer, or a plate of sandwiches, fruit or dessert to share. We’ll supply a cake, tea and lemonade. Don’t forget our GF and sugar free friends who need food, too! 

Bring your goodies to share for Fellowship after services at Holy Cross and at St. John’s. Moving forward, on the other Sundays beyond the first, we'll have cookies and crackers provided by the Vestry, but First Sundays will remain an opportunity to share a bountiful spread with each other and visitors.