Christian Formation
Learning and growing together in Christ
Christian formation is a lifelong process of growing into ‘the full stature of adulthood in Christ’. It involves the traditional activities of ‘Christian education’ as well as the other experiences that draw people deeper into fellowship with God and understanding of God’s claims on our lives.
At Holy Cross we take seriously the idea that ‘Christianity is better caught than taught’. We strive to make all our interactions into experiences of ‘formation’ by behaving to each other in accord with what we understand to be Gospel principles – fairness, truthfulness, charity, helpfulness and grace. We know that this works because it has resulted in a radical difference in the quality of those interactions and the spiritual effects of being part of this community.
We also provide intentional experiences of teaching and learning the content of our faith.
- For children, there is our Saturday morning classes, in which our kids learn the intellectual fundamentals of Christian faith in a nurturing environment and enjoy crafts, music and service projects.
- For adults, we offer the Friday evening Supper and Study at 6, this year an in-depth exploration of the Gospel of Matthew. Using the historical-critical method of scholarship, we seek to ‘let Matthew explain Matthew;’ and discern the profound and nourishing truths of ‘the Church’s Gospel’. This is a rigorous, but frequently hilarious, group which has temporarily taken the place of ‘Great Stories of the Bible’ (a survey of the whole Old Testament), which will resume when Matthew has been completed.
- Other educational opportunities include New Members’ classes and special studies (‘The Prayer Book: an Owner’s Manual’, or ‘The Parables of Jesus’) in Lent. They are attended by both Holy Cross members and people from other churches. Everyone is welcome.