Outreach Ministries

North County Lgbtq resource center

When Holy Cross experienced a painful split in late 2006, we came close to closing our doors. Owing to God’s grace, the support of Bishop Mathes and diocesan leaders, and the determination of twelve lay leaders, we committed ourselves to a new beginning. From 2007 onward, God has knit us back together as a community of faith while blessing us to retain friendships across the painful 2006 split. We thank God for the gift of reconciliation.

Worship continues to ground our life together, and it also compels us to reach out to God’s people in the world. By reaching out, Holy Cross has grown to be more open and inclusive in an inhospitable world. In 2011, we adopted the brand Open Minds, Open Arms. Since that time, we have worked to reach out to those who are easily marginalized in today’s world: refugees, prisoners, military members and their families, those in financial distress, the elderly, children and members of the LGBTQ community. We have welcomed members of the LGBTQ community, and our community of faith has been changed infinitely for the better.

Knowing that some of the most hateful rhetoric against the LGBTQ community comes from religious communities, our leadership asked the North County LGBTQ Resource Center how we could join in helping their mission. In 2016, we held a drive to collect copy paper for use at the center, and toilet paper to be given to homeless clients of the center, many of them young people. Our booth at the Pride by the Beach Event in Oceanside, giving out free hugs, was a wonderful experience. Max Disposti, Executive Director, came to provide training for our leaders. We also were given an opportunity to prepare and serve a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Resource Center. We joined in serving the meal with Congregation B’nai Tikvah, our Jewish space-sharing partners. It was a joy and a privilege to come together with Max and the staff and clients of the LGBTQ Resource Center on Thanksgiving Day.

As with all outreach ministries, Holy Cross looks forward to a continuing partnership with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center. We are dedicated to welcoming and serving so many of God’s precious people who are channels of God’s love.