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July 2008
Letter from the Rector
The Mission Business
After returning from Holy Cross’ mission trip to New Orleans, one of the missioners remarked, “We are now in the mission business.” The truth is, of course, that the Church in every age is in the “mission business,” including Holy Cross, but I know what she meant. She meant that we are beginning to think of everything we do and everything we have in terms of how it reaches out to others with the transforming power of God—to offer hospitality, to build up, to forgive, to encourage, to comfort, to heal, to strengthen, to bless.
We are indeed now in the mission business here at Holy Cross. Even as the summer months give us the opportunity to slow down a bit and take some needed rest for renewal, the church’s mission continues. The eighty wholesome, healthy meals we make every month for our homeless neighbors is mission; the warm welcome and cool, air-conditioned sanctuary and free-flowing coffee every Sunday is mission; childcare and children’s Bible story time on Sundays through the summer months, the outside playground and the church’s big back yard are all mission; visitors who go out to people in hospitals and homes is mission; every person on the church staff is mission; the flowers, the Eucharistic meal, the Scripture passages, the money in the offering plates: it is all mission.
Because Holy Cross started as a mission of the Episcopal Church less than thirty years ago, and to an area that would grow exponentially in that time, it feels especially right for us to think of all we do and have as mission for others. The needs are different from New Orleans, and even from this area just thirty years ago. There are more people and more buildings today, but so many less chances for meaningful relationships and a faithful community that makes a difference. Thanks be to God we are still in the mission business.
Faithfully,
Wes Smedley
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Rector: Rev. Walter Smedley, IV
Senior Warden: Dick Juergens
Parish Administrator & Office Manager: Elizabeth McCormick
Parish Coordinator: Ron Parnell
Minister of Music: Mara DeLuca
We, the congregation of Holy Cross, will grow as a Christ-centered, warm and welcoming community, accepting of all, expressing God’s love in the world through our worship and ministries, with particular emphasis on learning how to live by God’s Word.
As an Episcopal congregation, our particular core values are: inclusiveness and diversity; teaching and learning; and maintaining an open and safe environment supportive of each individual’s spiritual journey.
To achieve our vision, the will of the congregation is to: grow in size and diversity in a managed and balanced way; invest strongly in education for all ages; create facilities that enable our vision; and provide adequate resources to support our ministries to our own church family and to the wider community.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia bought 3.85 acres of farmland in Dunn Loring in 1966. St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church established Holy Cross as a mission 13 years later, and 15 people held the first service at Dunn Loring Elementary School on April 15, 1979. The Rev. Berry Parsons, who was the Vicar, presided. |
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The congregation moved in 1983 to the YWCA on Gallows Road. That spring, the Rev. Parsons left Holy Cross and, that September, the Rev. Jonathan Bryan arrived. The next nine months were dedicated to planning and financing the first phase of a building to house Holy Cross. The building was raised in the summer of 1984 and the first service held that September. |
| The congregation grew from 25 households to 100 from 1985 through 1987. Phase II of Holy Cross, the upper room, and a basement for a nursery, kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, was completed by winter 1987. |  |
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By 1989, Holy Cross’ membership, programs and finances had developed enough to be declared a self-sustaining member of the Diocese. By 1999, Holy Cross had grown to more than 200 households and had begun Phase III—a new sanctuary. |
| In 1999, the Rev. Bryan retired. The Rev. John Thomas served as interim Rector prior to the Rev. Joani Peacock-Clark being called to Holy Cross as Rector in July of 2001. In November of that year, the Rt. Rev. David C. Jones, Suffragan Bishop of Virginia, presided over the dedication of the new sanctuary. |  |
We have prepared a Parish Report for 2007 to help you learn more about the congregation, history and spirit of Holy Cross.
2007 Parish Report (PDF 396kb)
Senior Warden: Dick Juergens
Junior Warden: Susan Walker
Communications: Maude Hales
Education: Cassandra Rosado
Facilities: Mike Milburn
Finances: Carl Powe
Inreach: Carol Tsou
Welcoming: Liz Clancy
Outreach: Robin Yi
Parish Life: Ron Parnell
Stewardship: Mary Dotson
Liturgical Support: David Robinson