Holy Cross Summer Worship with Community Church in Short Hills
Dear Holy Cross Family and Friends,
We have some exciting news to share with you. Holy Cross will be collaborating with The Community Congregational Church of Short Hills at 200 Hartshorn Road this Summer for worship and fellowship activities. Starting this Sunday June 23rd, 2024 at 10:30AM.
We have scheduled services through Labor Day. We plan to see how our two congregations will worship and work together this summer, and then evaluate whether or not we might fit together for a long-term partnership. I will work with Pastors Johann Bosman and Margie Price to provide worship, pastoral care and support the ministries of both congregations during the partnership.
The Community Church worships in a blended style that incorporates more contemporary music than most of our fellow Lutheran Churches normally do. We are hopeful that our members will find a warm welcome at Short Hills and that together we will encounter God in powerful ways worshiping together.
Our music minister Sabrina Dias will partner with Brain Dailey the music minister at Short Hills to provide worship music. Our current worship team members will also join with the worship team at Short Hills as well.
Our congregation and office will continue to be located in Cranford and pay Calvary rent for the time being. If we were to engage in a long-term partnership with the Short Hills church and relocate, we would need to approve the move in a congregational meeting and request the Synod Council’s approval. If things go well in Short Hills, we will start that process sometime in the Fall.
The reason for this change is to be in a situation where Holy Cross can better evangelize and connect with people seeking faith. I have been discussing with Pastor Bosman the potential for me to focus on discipleship and evangelism. In our current situation, we have been at a loss on how to proceed to grow our congregation. When we sold our facility, we wanted to make another congregation stronger by bringing resources and talents to help increase God’s kingdom. For the past year or so we have only been paying rent with few opportunities geared toward growth. It is our hope that our new partnership can be fruitful for the work of Christ in our world.
The Congregational Community Church of Short Hills is a member church of the United Church of Christ, which is in full communion with our denomination the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This means that we are authorized to preside at each other’s services, share communion and clergy, and engage in joint ministries. I have been in communication with the New Jersey Synod of the ELCA during our entire mission discernment process and Bishop Bartholomew and the Synod staff are supportive of our attempt.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have. There will be a time of adjustment as we move together in mission, but we are hopeful that by our two congregations working together will contribute to the beauty of God’s kingdom.
Be blessed
Pastor Knecht
