From the Rector
Dear Friends,

This issue of Cross Roads focuses on an important dimension of the Christian life: caring for others. The following pages describe numerous ways the Chapel of the Cross provides for us to give and receive pastoral care. From the earliest days of the Church, that has been a hallmark: “See how these Christians love one another;” and it is still to be our hallmark today.

In this context, I want to make a connection that may not seem obvious, and that is how our times of worship express our care for others. Our services are not merely time for us to come together in a spiritual atmosphere. For our parish to provide inspirational spaces with regular times for liturgy in which people are engaged by word and sacrament in worshipping God and receiving God's love is a great gift to the community. Many times people will seek out a church service because of a crisis in their lives. The care which we as a parish take to provide these prayerful opportunities is a significant expression of our pastoral care. In fact as I was just writing this paragraph (!), a person from the western part of the state who comes to Chapel Hill for several days each week to care for an ailing parent, stopped by the office to say how much it meant to her to participate in our Maundy Thursday service. The beauty of the liturgy, the planning that went into the service, the reverence of those who participated, the skills of those with special roles, all served to minister to her needs as a caregiver away from her family.

She is but one example of those who come to us in faith or seeking faith. Their needs might stem from a recent death or a divorce or the loss of a job. They might be students in a new school, unsure of acceptance and how well things will go. They might be elders, feeling less valued and less able to make a contribution. They might be children feeling pressured to succeed or parents afraid they are failing them. They might be those embittered by resentment they cannot seem to release.  They might be those besieged by poor health or worn down by financial worry. Nor is it only visitors who come in need, seeking the love of God; all of us grapple with the chances and changes of this life.

In worship we minister to one another!  We pray for those in need. We witness to others by our commitment and reverence and participation. We provide solidarity and communion. We give of our financial means for the benefit of others. We smile and welcome fellow worshippers, and we offer them the peace of Christ. Our very presence makes it possible for people to return to their situations strengthened and renewed.

Most of us are unaware of the importance to others of our full presence and participation in church. But think of what it means to you to be surrounded by many others of all generations in a sacred space, praying and singing and worshipping God together. That is a great gift we give to each other and to all who come.  Every time we come to church, we exercise our pastoral care. We live out our love for God and for others.