Dear People of the Chapel of the Cross,

How does the name of a church shape the identity and mission of a church? What has been your experience of church music without an organ? How can we be a community that supports one another in our Christian life and witness at home, at work, and at play?

In March, those interested in being a part of the Orange County Mission began to meet in one another's homes for conversations about Christian education, community formation, liturgy, music, administration, and more. In the months ahead, these conversations will increase in frequency and specificity, as the Mission prepares to start regular Sunday worship in late September. Folks choose to participate in the conversations that particularly interest them. But we have also started occasionally to gather together as a whole, to worship, to sing, to meet each other, and to share a meal. It is exciting to see how the community is coming together and growing, coming together and growing, more and more with each passing month.

Often, when a new mission is forming, it is made up of people from one congregation, people who already know one another fairly well, or are already friends and neighbors. But because the Orange County Mission is born of three parishes and is already drawing people from beyond the three sponsoring parishes, we are mindful of welcoming the stranger and being intentional about community formation from the start. This is a real blessing. Also, at least initially, the congregation does not have a geographic center -- participants come from as far south as Fearrington, and as far north as Hurdle Mills -- so it is easier for us to recognize that our center is God in Christ. And we are regularly in prayer to discern God's call to us as a mission in Orange County, North Carolina, at this time in our region's history.

Communication, for now, is very dependent on internet and email. The "What's Happening" page of the Orange County Mission Website (www.rtpnet.org/ocm) is updated the first week of every month. And as Gathering Priest, I keep a growing list of email addresses of those who have expressed interest in being a part of the new congregation. Some of these are firmly committed, ready to be "charter members" of the new church, ready to work to make it happen. Others identify themselves as "very interested" and are eager to participate in conversations but are waiting to see how it all evolves. Week by week I send out announcements of conversations, meetings, and gatherings. Those who wish to be added to either list can do so by emailing me at: lgf@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