Reflecting and Transforming: The Journey of Holy Cross

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is this time of year that the church engages in reflection – reflection on numbers, that is. This is accomplished by completing the Parochial Report. This is a 20-something page report that asks in detail questions about membership, outreach/programming, and finances. Not only are the data points to report, but also a narrative piece that is completed. All this information paints a picture of Holy Cross and helps clergy, dioceses, and the National Church Offices a “status of the Episcopal Church” document. All parishes are mandated to submit this document to the diocesan office by March 1st. It is one way to look at what we are doing right. Our Average Sunday Attendance is 68 percent, which remained the same as 2022 even though there was an ever so slight decline in numbers (-21) at services in this past year. The Easter Service attendance was up (117 persons) from last year’s (80 persons) while the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day services declined to 54 from 80 persons in attendance. I remember how brutally cold and treacherous the weather was then so that may have factored into the numbers.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, otherwise known as Transfiguration Sunday. The reason for this title is because Jesus’ “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” (Matthew 17:2). Jesus changed and so did his disciples. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology identifies Transformation as “Jesus appearing in an unusual radiance which permeates him.” Much like a caterpillar changing into a beautiful butterfly, another way to describe this metamorphosis or change is with this statement—an appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.

Considering the above data gathered from the 2022 and 2023 Parochial Reports, what will you do to bring change to HCEW to create a more beautiful and spiritual home for the faithful?

Blessings,

Rev. Anne

Citation: Richardson, Alan, and John Stephen Bowden. 1983. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press. p. 578.