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PHOTO GALLERY UPDATE

Be sure to visit our updated photo gallery!

HEBREW LANGUAGE CLASS

On Sunday, January 8, 2012, Dr. Jim Simmons began teaching a class in Biblical Hebrew at Holy Cross Parish. The class meets every Sunday at 9:00 AM and will continue through Sunday, May 27th. The class, including materials, is free and open to the public. Don’t worry about starting late, the handouts will bring you up to speed quickly.

Michael Dowd will be partnering with Jim Simmons during the Spring term. Once per month, we will take a break from the Hebrew language to learn about an important person in Old Testament history. Michael is an experienced and popular teacher at Holy Cross, and he will help students to become more at home with the Old Testament.

By the end of May, students will have a greater appreciation for the Old Testament and our Hebrew roots, and will be capable of more fruitful Bible study utilizing the Hebrew language.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Holy Cross Anglican Church celebrated the Feast of Christmas with a mid-night Eucharist and a Christmas party. Christmas cheer, good food and warm fellowship was enjoyed by all. Everyone had such a good time, that Father Novak and his wife Cheri did not get home until after 4:00 AM!

LAY READER

INSTALLATION

On Sunday, December 18, 2011, Dr. Jim Simmons was installed as a Lay Reader and a Chalice bearer at Holy Cross Parish. Jim Simmons is a college professor and teaches English Literature, Biblical Hebrew, and Koine Greek.

HOLY CROSS

WELCOMES

FATHER CRAIG SMITH AND FAMILY

On October 1, 2011, Holy Cross Parish welcomed Father Craig Smith, his wife Barbara, and their daughter Michaela into membership. Father Smith is a Vietnam veteran and a retired priest of the Reformed Episcopal Church. In September 2012, Father Smith will be teaching an adult Christian Education class in comparative religions and apologetics. This class is not to be missed! The public is invited to attend.

BISHOP’S VISIT

Bishop Royal Grote of the Diocese of Mid-America confirmed five and preached during an episcopal visit to Holy Cross Anglican Church on Sunday, August 21st. There were some eighty people in attendance. Those attending included more than thirty Karen Anglicans who recently arrived in Nebraska from Burma. A potluck luncheon followed Services in honor of the Bishop and confirmands. Holy Cross Parish is a faithful and friendly church, and we have a place for you!

SUMMER CHURCH PICNIC

Holy Cross Parish held its annual Summer Church Picnic on Sunday, June 26th, by the lake at Hawaiian Village. Turn out was excellent with people coming from as far away as Northwest Iowa and South Dakota. There were mountains of food, and activities included swimming and outdoor games, as well as good conversation and warm fellowship.

If you missed the picnic, you do not have to wait for next summer for a fun outing. This fall Holy Cross Parish will hold its annual Hayrack Ride, Bonfire, and Potluck. You will not want to miss this event! Check back at the parish website for more information as it becomes available.

ACNA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

The Anglican Church in North America’s Provincial Council met in California in June, celebrating the second anniversary of the founding of the Province in June of 2009 by the Primates’ Council of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church in North America was established by the Primates’ Council to serve as the new North American Province of the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Robert Duncan reported that in its first 18 months (the latest statistics run through December 2010) the Anglican Church in North America grew from 702 congregations to 952 congregations, an increase of 34%. That’s 250 new churches or more than 3 per week! Of those 250 congregations, at least 130 were brand new church plants.

Even more significantly, the numbers of infant baptisms and convert baptisms are rising rapidly. In fact, convert baptisms almost equaled infant baptisms! The large number of infant baptisms demonstrate that the Anglican Church in North America is a Church of young families; and the convert baptisms show the effectiveness of the Church’s outreach to the previously unevagelized. In 2010, 1,647 infants and young children were baptized. In addition, there were 400 baptisms of youth and young adults ages 16 to 30, and nearly 1,000 baptisms of adults over the age of thirty!

ANGLICAN CHAPLAINS ORDAINED

Three experienced Chaplains were recently ordained to the Anglican priesthood and another to the transitional diaconate in Virginia. Major General John B. Ellington Jr., the most senior Chaplain in the Department of Defense was ordained to the priesthood. Colonel Charles Woods, a Chaplain serving in the National Guard Bureau in Washington, DC, was ordained to the priesthood. Lieutenant Brice Ulman, a Chaplain in the U.S. Army was ordained to the transitional diaconate and is completing his preparation for the priesthood at Trinity seminary in Pennsylvania. The Reverend Steve Lybrand, a Hospice Chaplain in Phoenixville, PA was ordained to the priesthood. These are just four of the many experienced Chaplains that are embracing Anglicanism. The Anglican Church in North America, of which the Reformed Episcopal Church is a founding jurisdiction, now has more than 100 serving Chaplains.

REC GENERAL COUNCIL

The General Council (Provincial Synod) of the Reformed Episcopal Church will be held at the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas, TX, from Tuesday, June 7th, to Friday, June 10, 2011. Attending will be clergy and laity from all across the United States and from Canada.

BISHOP’S VISIT

Bishop Royal U. Grote will make an episcopal visit to Holy Cross Parish on Sunday, August 21, 2011. There  will be confirmations and the Bishop will preach. A potluck luncheon will follow Services.

ANNUAL PARISH HAYRACK RIDE, BONFIRE AND POTLUCK

Holy Cross Parish’s annual Fall Hayrack Ride, Bonfire and Potluck was held at Santa’s Woods on Saturday, October 23rd at 6:00 PM. Santa’s Woods is located between Omaha and Blair on Blair High Road, and is a working farm. The old fashioned hayrack ride covered the entire farm, with participants enjoying the fall colors and the wildlife. They returned to a roaring bonfire at their private picnic site where they enjoyed a delicious potluck meal, and an opportunity to roast hot dogs and marshmallows in an open fire.

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE

The Women of the Church of Holy Cross parish held a rummage sale in the church parking lot on Saturday, September 18th, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

SUMMER PARISH PICNIC   

The Sisters of Holy Cross, the Women’s Group of Holy Cross Anglican Church, sponsored the first annual Summer Parish Picnic at Halleck Park in Papillion on Sunday, August 1st. Turn out was excellent, and everyone had a good time. The covered pavilion was cool with a light breeze blowing through, and the food was delicious. Hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled, and the variety of sides and drinks were too numerous to mention. The kids enjoyed the playground equipment while the teens - and some adults - cooled down with water balloon fights.

BISHOP GROTE VISITS HOLY CROSS PARISH

Bishop Royal Grote of the Reformed Episcopal Diocese of Mid-America visited Holy Cross Parish on Palm Sunday, March 28th. This was his first visit to the parish’s new chapel and parish hall. The chapel was full for his visit and five were confirmed - three adults and two teens. A reception and luncheon followed Services. In honor of the bishop’s visit and of those confirmed. In 2009, Bishop Grote celebrated the 25th anniversary of his episcopate.