Our parish is present throughout the world offering an example of a community of Christian faith and love through its web site. Last month, people in 27 countries from Canada to Seychelles viewed 125 pages 11,500 times. Online sermons were read most frequently.

The parish web site is in its third year, offering timely information and references for parishioners and serving as an introduction to the parish for visitors and new parishioners, as well as providing a worldwide Christian presence on the Internet.

The comments below are meant to be an introduction for parishioners not familiar with the site. They do not fully describe all that is available. I encourage parishioners with Internet access to explore the site and bookmark those pages of particular interest to them.

Serving parishioners
Frequent postings include Crossings, the Sunday bulletin, Cross Roads, sermons, and the draft minutes of vestry meetings. Archived files allow for referral to past issues and events. The publications page (pubsdocs.htm) links to these and other files such as the annual report. In order to safeguard the privacy of parishioners, phone numbers and photographs are not used and “In Your Prayers” is omitted from "Crossings." Descriptions of the responsibilities of staff members, as well as their e-mail links, are online (structr.htm). All parish ministries are described (contents.htm). Anyone who finds an error in these descriptions or anywhere on the site would be making a significant contribution by sending a message to me at websexton@nc.rr.com. Thirteen percent of this year’s pledges were received via the web site during the recent canvass and next year’s budget is published. The annual report is put online as soon as it is printed.

Introducing the parish
Parishioner Amy Harwell moved to Chapel Hill from Tampa this summer. She describes the role the parish web site played in her decision:

“Before moving to Chapel Hill, I searched the web. I started seeking comfort about my move, before my move. I knew that, for my security and stability, I needed to believe that God had ‘prepared a place for me’ for the next step along my journey. By accessing the web site for the Chapel of the Cross, I concluded that I'd be OK, in fact, better than OK!

Each of us has our own set of criteria for choosing a church community. Delightedly, I discovered that mine were met in abundance: choices in worship format and architecture; depth and diversity in adult formation; multiple sources for pastoral care, from priests and parishioners; opportunities to serve in subjects very dear to my heart: love and care, and peace and justice; and that the blessings of the church's coffers were shared with others.

Using the sweet sentiment of ‘the icing on the cake,’ I felt welcomed by the photo of the smiling priests beckoning me to the door of the church. And, I felt trusted with the full disclosure of every line item of the income statement and balance sheet found in the provided complete annual report.

With the presence of the web site and the contents found within, I was no longer moving from, nor just moving on, I was moving to!

Thank you for your warm invitation to join The Chapel of the Cross to be a Living Witness of the Presence of God!”

Providing a Christian presence in the world
After American-based visitors using a variety of servers in the United States (universities ranking near the top and including government and military servers), Japan provides our most frequent guests followed by France, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada. People on all continents come to our web site. Statistics are available at http://www.rtpnet.org/awstats/awstats.pl?config=thechapelofthecross.org

What’s coming
Like all web sites, ours is constantly evolving as ideas pop into the heads of the small group who help maintain the site, skills improve, and users’ suggestions are incorporated. Don Shaffer has been faithfully putting sermons on the web for several years. These pages seem to be the most valued. Ted Pratt recently amended the descriptions of ministries and the contact person for each, including e-mail links where given. He continues to offer assistance keeping the site accurate and up-to-date. Sandy Gerow is fixing broken links throughout the site. Publications Assistant Anne Altaffer is at work on a youth page similar to the page she puts together for Cross Roads.

In addition to regular postings, I am upgrading older pages as time allows to provide a consistent look throughout the site. The other volunteers and I welcome the suggestions and help of interested parishioners. For more information, speak to me at church on Sundays or e-mail websexton@nc.rr.com.

Send items for inclusion in future "Cross Roads."
The deadline is the first Thursday of the preceeding month.

© 2003 The Chapel of the Cross