Holy Cross Episcopal Church

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Worship Services at Holy Cross Episcopal Church

Sunday Worship

Come you who feel weak and unworthy. Come you who come often and you who have stayed away. Come you who love Jesus, and you who wish you could. Come sinners and saints, women and men, gay and straight, young and old. Come you who are lonely and long for friendship. Come you who are homeless, and you have a place to rest your heads. Come you who are citizens of this land, and you who are not. Here you are citizens of the kingdom of God. Come join God's people at the feast prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
Adapted from the Iona Worship Book
8:30AM Communion, Rite II or Rite I
Quiet, Contemplative, Most Traditional spoken service

10:15AM Communion, Rite II
Choir, Hymns, Traditional Liturgy

10:15AM Sunday School
September-May: Godly Play for children.
Summer months: children are welcome to join in Veggie Tale Sundays.

Join us online. For more, check out our Online Worship page.

Our kids always join the service mid-way for Communion. Professional child care for under 3-year-olds is available at the 10:15 service.

We are a “come as you are” parish. There is no dress code and children are welcome everywhere!

Guidelines for those not eligible for a vaccination

All the current safety protocols we have been living with are still the best practice.

  • Wear a mask; double masks are best! Once socially distanced, masks may be removed to receive communion and at lunch.
  • Maintain at least six feet of social distance from each other.
  • No physical contact.
  • Use hand sanitizer or wash hands regularly.

Guidelines for those who are post two weeks from your final vaccination

  • Optionally wear a mask. Masks may be removed to receive communion.
  • Optionally refrain from physical contact. Please check out with each other if hugs/physical contact are OK.
  • Optionally use hand sanitizer or wash regularly.


Worship Notes

  • Adults and Children are invited to receive the sacrament through intinction—a priest will dip the bread in the wine and place it in your hands. If you would prefer NOT to receive the wine, please simply touch the chalice base the Eucharistic Minister will present and then place your hands in the normal position. This will indicate to the clergy that you wish to continue to receive in one kind—the bread only.
  • We are returning to passing the offering plates.
  • We will pass the peace by bowing to each other or with hugs and handshakes.
  • When we come to that place in the service where we are invited to greet each other, we have several recommendations.
    a. remember this is not the coffee hour! There will be ample time after worship to greet everyone!
    b. Please stay in your pew or chair and welcome those in close proximity around you.
    c. Please beware of others’ body language. Not everyone is comfortable with a hug or even a handshake. Please feel free to sit where you feel comfortable.
  • We invite congregational singing with Ray and the choir. 
  • If you are worshipping online and would like a Eucharistic visitor to bring you communion, please contact the office.

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Holy Cross Episcopal Church
19179 Center St
Castro Valley CA 94546
510-889-7233

Photography © by Tom Cooper. All Rights Reserved.