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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During the month of November we will be discussing miscellaneous topics using articles and videos. Starting November 28, we will read and discuss Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas by best-selling author Adam Hamilton. The four-week study examines the names of Christ used by the gospel writers, exploring the historical and personal significance of his birth. Order your book on Amazon at amazon.com/dp/B0859LMTM8

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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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Session 5: An Emerging Way

Marcus Borg’s Beyond Belief, a DVD series, explores our ever-growing world from a Christian perspective, not just biblical, but as a modern Christian theologian.  We are invited to engage in our own thinking and reflections alongside Borg who spent his adult life contemplating who Jesus is, and what is faith all about. In our fifth session, we explore the emerging way in which we are invited to re-engage in faith in a new way… “Marcus wanted to make possible a re-engagement with faith for those for whom intellectual or emotional obstacles prevented them from going any further. As he would say, ‘There’s no right way to be a Christian. But there are many wrong ways.’” - Marianne Borg

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Questions? Email Pastor Sally at

Crossroads High School Youth Group:

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The Crossroads High School Youth Group gets together for nights of community and fun. Along with all the games, we also take some time out each evening to share God's grace in our lives, as well as to discuss a new idea relevant to high school teenagers.

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December Time is Christmas Time! We are in the process of planning some “out of the gift-box” fun for both youth and parents!

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Learn more about the Crossroads High School Youth Group here.

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The Crossroads High School Youth Group is directed by Sarah Grayer (sarahgrayer@holycrosschurch.org).

College Students Study Break: 

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​College students, please gather via Zoom to catch up with friends (and the pastors!). We hope this will be a time for students to breathe, support each other as they navigate online classes and campus closures, and think about what faith looks like right now. We hope you can join us to reconnect and take a study break!

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Please contact Hannah Oelschlager at (847) 502-5006 or Sam Randall (408) 614-4981 with any questions.

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.

We are taking December off, and will resume on Tuesday, January 26 to discuss The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict.

View the 2021 reading list here: 2021 Book Club Selections

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

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This fall we group with the Deep Blue kids program we have been utilizing these last few years, as they grow into their virtual curriculum Celebrate Wonder. Celebrate Wonder offers online Sunday School and will be available most Sunday mornings via Zoom. These meetings are open to all students age 3 through 5th grade, and are hosted by Mrs. Mack and other adult or youth helpers.

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Each session begins with conversation and peer engagement facilitated by Mrs. Mack, followed by music with Mrs. Mack. After this part of the session, a video is shared featuring the Bible story of the day, videos of the story, and a teacher teaching the lesson. The session conclude with Mrs. Mack bringing the children together for final comments and prayer. These virtual sessions last 30 to 40 minutes.

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November 29 - No Sunday School: Thanksgiving Break

December 6 - Joseph's Joy

December 13 - Jesus Brings us Joy

December 20 - Joyous News

December 27 & January 3 - No Sunday School: Winter Break

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If you miss a virtual session, the lesson video portion will be available to view for a week on the Holy Cross Sunday School Google Classroom. If you haven’t joined the classroom yet, you can do so at the following link:

bit.ly/sundayschoolGC     Classroom code: ksnvyua

The season of Advent is upon us. The word advent means to prepare. In this season of preparation, what are you really preparing for? To visit with friends and family? Sending out Christmas Cards? Baking? We are called to prepare more than that. In our December conversation, we will explore the advents of our lives and how they may inform our “preparations” moving into the Christmas season and new year.

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Contact Pastor Sally with any questions at PastorSally@holycrosschurch.org

Large and Small Group Zoom sessions will not occur in December. This is a great time to get caught up on your electives and update your matrix to see what things you need to get caught up with moving into the new year. Our next Large Group Session is Sunday January 10. Reminder, that each month an average of two electives are expected to be completed. These can be done independently or as a part of a larger learning class. Keep watching for updates of the next electives offered for the month. Please RSVP for these electives online through Church Community Builder.

December 10 from 7 - 8 pm - Jesus’ Birth with John Villani

December 15 from 7 - 8 pm - Jesus’ Birth with John Villani

December 6 from 7 - 8 pm - Art of Nativity with Terry Berger

December 10 from 7 - 8 pm - Art of Nativity with Terry Berger

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Questions? Contact Pastor Sally at PastorSally@holycrosschurch.org

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Confirmation Electives Course Catalog

Confirmation Electives Matrix

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Each year we spend time with biblical stories of gratitude as we come together for worship. And, then there is the pie after the worship service.Each year we have fellowship and share with our conversations what we are thankful for. Our gratitude usually encompasses themes around health, family, community, companionship, and intimacy.

As with so many other changes, Thanksgiving will be different this year from what we have been accustomed to. There will be no in person worship or pie social. Instead, we are offering a “thanksgiving meditation”. This will be an online resource available beginning on Thanksgiving morning, November 26 on the following page: holycrosschurch.org/givethanks. It will be approximately 10-15 minutes in length and may be shared with those gathering around a table in your home or someone who may not be able to be physically present. You may even wish to take a quiet moment and watch it after all of the activities as a gift to yourself.

Each Gospel has a signature story. For Luke, it’s the synagogue sermon in chapter 4. For Mark, it’s the double healing of the blind man in chapter 8, which precedes Peter’s confession. For John, it’s the prologue, “In the beginning was the Word.” For Matthew, the signature story is “the Sermon on the Mount” in chapters 5-7. The “Sermon on the Mount” is the presentation of Jesus as a new Moses who interprets the Torah, who offers wisdom sayings on how to live the way God wants, and, who provides practical instruction. This work is more than just the beatitudes. When we go deeper into understanding Jesus’ Jewish context and Jewish message, we are able to make more sense of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus’ teaching reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is already available to us and manifested when we live into God’s will on earth.

Please join us! DVD support material will be provided by Amy-Jill Levine, the University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences. A participant’s book will be needed, which can be purchased through Amazon or other booksellers for direct delivery to you.  Details are as follows: Title: Sermon on the Mount...A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, Author: Amy-Jill Levine, Publisher: Abingdon Press, ISBN-13: 978-1-5018-9989-8, amazon.com/dp/B0859M58ZL

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Session One: January 12 - Jesus’ statements about blessedness

Session Two: January 19 - Jesus’ views on the Torah & the Prophets

Session Three: January 26 - Jesus’ thoughts about appropriate, expressions & practices of faith

Session Four: February 2 - The Lord’s Prayer impacting reconciliation & societal concerns

Session Five: February 9 - Our attitudes and reimagining our life in terms of Jesus’ teachings

Session Six: February 16 - The narrow path of living into “the kingdom of heaven” now

Holy Cross is at work to bring more learning your way through shared classes with other congregations. This means we may have members from other congregations joining us for our courses and groups just as we might participate in their events. With Zoom and virtual connections, all sorts of new possibilities exist. Watch our print and digital communications for more information.

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This is NOT Sunday School is an intergenerational learning experience, perfect for families and individuals of all ages that will launch weekly starting September 16.

Each week’s session features video teaching by a professional from the Christian formation network, Forma, as well as downloadable lessons, readings, and engagement opportunities for all ages. The curriculum is from Exploring the Bible by Forward Movekent and instructors include Victoria Hoppes, Roger Hutchison, and Miriam McKenney, and others.

You can find out more and sign up on the ChurchNext website today. 

Holy Cross is at work to bring more learning your way through shared classes with other congregations. This means we may have members from other congregations joining us for our courses and groups just as we might participate in their events. With Zoom and virtual connections, all sorts of new possibilities exist. Watch our print and digital communications for more information.

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According to creator Emmanuel Acho, this will be a safe place to have the uncomfortable conversations about race that many people have never been able to have. He wanted to remove the barriers for why we’ve never had these conversations, and provide a free space for curious white people to answer the questions they’ve always had but have been too nervous to ask. Like, “How can I have white privilege if I’m not wealthy?” or “is racial profiling ok if black people tend to commit more crimes?” and, from a 19-year-old girl from rural Alabama named Amy who asked, “if black people can say the ‘N’ word, why can’t I?” And many, many more. Sessions that will include videos and discussion will be led by members of the Adult Education Team from Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Please register at the link above.

Holy Cross is at work to bring more learning your way through shared classes with other congregations. This means we may have members from other congregations joining us for our courses and groups just as we might participate in their events. With Zoom and virtual connections, all sorts of new possibilities exist. Watch our print and digital communications for more information.

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“The basic question facing us as we look at the historical record is quite simple. Why does our Bible have a New Testament, comprised of only 27 books?” How was it formed? This course led by Mike McCandless will help answer those and other questions. Pastor Greg Kaufmann will be the presenter for this five-week zoom session with videos and presentations. Please register at the link above.