Our Invitation to Come and Worship with Us
It can be hard to go to a church for the first time. There are so many questions that aren't answered on church signs or in congregational flyers.  For example, "Will I know how to get into the building for the service, or will I pick the wrong door?" "Can I bring my children to worship?" "What should I wear?" "What will the service be like?" Unknown factors like these can make attending church intimidating.

Hopefully, this page will answer some of the questions you might have about our church before you visit. I'd like to make your visit with us relaxed and enriching.

Our sincerest wish is that when you visit Holy Cross, you will hear about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and come to know the grace and love of God more and more.

Sunday Schedule
Every church has its own style of worship.  At Holy Cross, we have one worship service on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Our worship is liturgical, which means it follows a structured order of music, Scripture readings, and prayers.  Each week, the service is printed in the worship folder, so you’ll find it easy to follow along.  If you read music, you can also follow along in the hymnals as we sing.  Our music includes beloved hymns, familiar spiritual songs, and songs with a more contemporary style — all of which focus on what Christ has done for us. 

Dress
Sometimes people wonder how they are expected to dress at a church they've never visited before.  Since the Bible presents no dress code, aside from simple decency and Christian humility, Holy Cross Lutheran Church doesn't make any rules either.

Like most people, our members try to make their worship time at church a special time. This is often reflected in the way they dress. But dress is a personal matter of worship before God. One may dress casually and rejoice that we have a God who accepts us as we are. Another may dress to reflect the awe and reverence we have for our Savior King. When a person dresses out of love for God (neither for self-comfort nor the expectations of others), the choice of dress (casual or more formal) is acceptable to Him . . . and us.


Offerings
"When will they take the offering?" "How will it be collected?" "How much am I expected to give?" "Do they want visitors to contribute too?" These are typical worries about church offerings.

The Bible teaches that our offerings to God should reflect our belief that all we have is his gift to us. It teaches us that with our offerings we worship and honor God. Since offerings are gifts of love for God, no one dictates what each person is to give.  Part of our worship is the collection of an offering. This is a way for our members to express their love for God by returning to Him a portion of the monetary gifts He has given them.

We do not compel visitors to put anything in the offering box as you enter or exit the sanctuary.  You may wish to learn more about our ministry before bringing your offerings to God through our church. But you are welcome to participate whenever … and with whatever … your heart leads you to give in response to His love.

The Worst That Can Happen
Attending church somewhere for the first time can be intimidating. Here are some common worries:

"I would just die if they made me stand up and say something." I assure you, we won't embarrass you in this or any other way. We want you to feel comfortable and at home with us. Church should be an enjoyable and uplifting experience.

"I know my child is going to be too noisy." We welcome your children to attend our services, but if you feel uncomfortable with their noise level we do offer a nursery area which is located in the rear of the sanctuary. This is a place where your child can play with some toys provided and at the same time you can see and hear the service.

"I know I will feel out of place." I hope that this visitor's guide will ease your mind, but if you have a question, please ask someone for help. Don't hesitate to say, "I am new. What is this about?"

"I am afraid I will say or do something wrong." All of us have felt this way when in a new situation. But I hope you see the people of Holy Cross to be ordinary people just like yourself. We want to accept you as you are and help you become what Christ wants you to be.

"I just want to watch at first and I know that they will try to involve me or sign me up." It is unpleasant to be pressured or to be part of a "membership drive" as though we were heads of cattle, isn't it? We believe that church membership should be a voluntary thing, and that the most important thing is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It takes time for this to be cultivated. People need time to evaluate and decide if they wish further involvement. We believe we should respect that need.

"I don't know that much about the Bible." Church and Bible Study are opportunities to grow in our knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won't have to answer any questions you don't want to answer. And remember, sometimes the wisest words we say are, "I don't know."

A Final Thought
We hope that this has helped answer some of your questions and alleviate your fears. Our goals as a congregation are quite simple. We want to grow in faith and share that faith with people like you. Everything we do is meant to accomplish these two goals. I pray that there is nothing that stands in your way from learning more about your Savior.

Please do not hesitate to call or email the pastor if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do for you.

God's blessings to you, and I look forward to seeing you in church.