This group is for men of faith to come together throughout the year to share their faith and thoughts about topics that are challenging. We support one another through our personal journeys. All are welcome.

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In August, we will continue the new series on nature as our first way of knowing God.

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Please contact Steve Oelschlager at steve@holycrosschurch.org or Pastor Bob at pastorbob@holycrosschurch.org with any questions.

​Grounded in Grace is an opportunity for women of faith to connect together in fun, fellowship, and learning.

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Grounded in Grace will take a hiatus in August, but will return in September.

​​​Questions? Contact Terry Berger at terryberger.08@gmail.com

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The Holy Cross Book Club usually meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month from January through November. Some months may be different due to holidays. We read various genres, including fiction, biography/memoir, nonfiction, mystery, cultural, historical and we include a classic each year. Consider joining the group, if just for a book or two.

This month we will discuss The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman. The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

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Meet at the home of Nancy Joiner, 1318 Vineyard Lane, Libertyville 

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If you have any questions, please email Felicia Brandt at felicia.s.brandt@gmail.com

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View the 2021 reading list here: 2021 Book Club Selections

This group will not meet during the month of August, but will reconvene in September.

Contact Pastor Bob with any questions at PastorBob@holycrosschurch.org

MP3 2021 Theme: “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets” Andy Stanley has published a new book by the above title in 2020. It caught my eye and I have been previewing it. The premise of the book is that our decisions determine the direction and quality of our life. Our decisions create the story of our life. And while nobody plans to complicate their life with bad decisions, we often don’t plan ‘not’ to. The thought is that ‘good’ questions lead to ‘better’ decisions. The book is divided into five questions that provide us with the themes for an MP3 series in 2021

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​Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30 pm - The Maturity Question: What is the wise thing to do? Decision: I will take the past, present and future in consideration

Tuesday, October 26 at 6:30 pm - The Relationship Question: What does love require of me? Decision: I will decide with the interests of others in mind

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Take away: These questions provide the opportunity for clarity about what defines us and not what limits us. The conversations generated from these questions might elevate our lives from what is acceptable to what is wise. MP3 for 2021 will be about becoming wise with tools for the art of living… moral imagination, social courage, pursuing love and renewal of our life together.              

As follow-up to last fall’s book discussions of Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to Whitest Denomination in the US (by Pastor Lenny Duncan) and Dialogues on Race (Augsburg Fortress), all are invited to participate in this new relational group, led by Holy Cross member Carol Dikelsky. The Antiracism Roundtable & Work Group will meet monthly via Zoom to continue exploring antiracism themes and resources and to find ways to apply what we learn, unlearn, or relearn to our faith journeys. The group may also organize activities that put concepts into action.

Sessions will begin with an antiracism activity related to the discussion theme. Themes for the first four sessions are listed below. Additional themes will be developed based upon group focus and input.

All are invited to attend when you can and come as you are, with an open heart for listening to and praying with each other, as we confront a variety of topics that may take us out of our comfort zones and lead us to make new connections to our faith. 

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Long before there were synagogues, churches, or even the Bible, God made God’s self known through creation. The Scriptures are packed full of examples of people coming to understand God through the fig tree, the sparrow, violent storms, and of course, Living Waters.

Today, we live primarily separate and disconnected from the Earth and its ecological processes. Yet, this knowledge of God in and through God’s creation is still embedded deep within us. We experience it in a sunrise or a sunset, an awe-inspiring mountain range, or a gentle stream. And we grieve together for the role we have played in the precarious state of the creation today.

Join us for this seven-week discussion either through the Saturday morning men’s group starting on July 10 or Tuesday nights at 7 pm from July 13. Leo Karris will be facilitating the conversation and video-based adult study. Leo is currently working on a Master of Arts in Public Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, focusing on ecological regeneration. Questions? Contact Leo at leockarris@gmail.com

You Have Influence… And Your Leadership Health Matters

Holy Cross is committed to hosting The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) again in 2021 on August 5 - 6, 2021 and we would like you to join us. As a Holy Cross member, you can view the event online or watch informally with others from Holy Cross in the Gathering Space (details to come). Whether you’re a business leader, CEO, pastor, teacher, nurse, student, artist, soldier, parent, doctor, volunteer, entrepreneur, or simply finding your place, you have influence. Every day you impact those around you through your influence—for better or worse, in both big and small ways. During a season that may have depleted your energy, stunted your growth or left you in the dark, it’s time to rediscover a new hope for your future in order to amplify the positive difference you can make.

What is the turning point for positive change? Your capacity to thrive and help rejuvenate the best in those around you, both personally and professionally, is dependent on your leadership health. 

Your leadership matters. When you invest in developing your leadership skills, you also give back to everyone around you.

You strengthen your relationships, build trust on your team, innovate toward a better future and face challenges head-on with fresh perspective—not only do you thrive, but your family, your business, your church and your community thrives.

Questions? Contact Steve Oelschlager at steve@holycrosschurch.org Register online at: bit.ly/GLS2021atHC