God gives His best to us – His Son, Jesus Christ. In response to that great love, we want to give our best to Him. If you join Holy Cross, we promise to serve your needs with all of the resources at our disposal. In turn, you promise to serve the Lord alongside us by sharing the time, talents, and treasures He entrusts to you. Joining a church and committing yourself to the life and ministry of a local congregation is an important decision, and the best thing you can do for your own personal growth in faith. It is also the best way you can live out your commitment to Christ and the growth of His kingdom. It’s also an intensely personal decision, so we invite you to pray about the possibility and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
Becoming a Member
There are four ways to become a member of Holy Cross, but for all, you must first be Baptized. Baptism is God’s means of receiving you into the family of faith, receiving His forgiveness and assurance of eternal life. Any Pastor can arrange for your baptism (and members can do it in times of emergency), though it’s helpful if you prepare a Baptism Application. “He who believes and is baptized, shall be saved.” – Mark 16:16
- Any adult can join Holy Cross by indicating interest in either the Pew Register (a folder at the end of each row in our worship services) or by speaking to a Pastor, and then filling out a Membership Application.
- If you are currently a member of another congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, you can join Holy Cross through transfer of membership. Simply notify your current congregation of your intent to transfer, and they will notify us of your release.
- If you have held Lutheran membership in the past, but have been away from the Church for a while, or are transferring from another Lutheran synod congregation, you can join Holy Cross through profession of faith.
- If you are in 7th and 8th grade in school, you can join Holy Cross through a program of confirmation instruction.
Except for confirmation students, we require prospective members to attend Christianity 101: The Basics of the Christian Faith, a Bible Study review of basic Christian doctrine, which helps in our witness to Christ and the defense of the faith. Once complete, you’ll be welcomed on New Member Sunday to be acknowledged publicly as a Communicant Member. If you’re not yet old enough for confirmation, or you’re an adult who’s still working through the membership process, you’ll be listed as a Baptized Member.
Christianity 101
We offer a Bible study series for new members entitled “The Basics of the Christian Faith: Christianity 101″ (or Christianity 101 for short). It’s both an introduction to Christianity for new believers, as well as a great review of Lutheran Christian doctrine for all believers.
Following the series, those who are new to the Lutheran faith are invited to join the church through the Rite of Confirmation. Those who have never been baptized in a Christian church will be invited for baptism. There is no obligation, however, to join the Church. The series is intended to be an introduction to what is basic to Christian faith in general, and to Lutherans in particular. Topics include:
- What’s the problem?
- How can I be saved?
- What is heaven?
- Why is there evil in the world?
- What’s the difference between religions?
- What about angels?
- What’s the deal with the 10 Commandments?
- Who was Jesus and why was He here?
The only things you need to bring are a pencil and a personal study Bible (and we’ll give you one for free if you don’t have one). All other materials are provided. There is no cost. It’s not like “school” — it’s a Bible study. There are no exams and no memory work. We want you to know the basics of the Christian faith whether you join Holy Cross or not. Let’s discover together what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ!
You can watch a previous Christianity 101 study on our YouTube channel:
[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://youtu.be/D74aI-TSd8c” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Session 1[/imic_button]
[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://youtu.be/e-esDUYYU6M” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Session 3[/imic_button]
[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://youtu.be/eGml5RZS0ys” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Session 4[/imic_button]
[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://youtu.be/HOOOuJxKdN4″ target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Session 5[/imic_button]
[imic_button colour=”btn-default” type=”enabled” link=”https://youtu.be/8qYfYSFNvgE” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Session 6[/imic_button]
Confirmation
Confirmation is an opportunity for our young people to be instructed in the faith and nurtured in their discipleship. It is a series that prepares them for responsible membership in the church and provides an opportunity for them to confess the faith they received in their baptism.
Two years in length, the Confirmation series includes Bible study, classroom instruction, and relationship building with the other kids. In addition to class instruction, the children gather in Small Groups for discussion of the material and reflection on its life application. Although the series usually begins in 7th grade, young people who are older can also participate, including high school students.
At the conclusion of the series, they are each given a chance to share a “Christian Witness,” which is an essay they have written on a topic of their choosing that best enables them to express their faith in Jesus. By doing so, they are fulfilling the command of Jesus, when He said:
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32
Their “Witness” enables them to think through what they believe and then to verbalize that confession of faith. That process is good preparation for the time when a friend or family member asks them what they believe. Peter wrote:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3
Their “Christian Witness” helps them “always be prepared.”
On Confirmation Sunday (the 1st Sunday in May), they profess as a class that the Holy Spirit was planted in their heart through baptism and a faith relationship with God was established. Now they are able to confess with their lips what they believe in their hearts, that Jesus died for their forgiveness to give them the assurance of heaven.