The mission or task which our Lord Jesus Christ has given every church is to make disciples of all nations by the power of the Holy Spirit: Jesus said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time. (Gods Word translation).) Trusting in His promise and lovingly responding to His assignment to us, we at Cross are carrying out that mission by His power.

Our experience at Cross has consistently been that we gain far more than we give by our involvement in the Lords mission outside ourselves.

• LBT Missionary Support – John Strasen
• LCMS World Mission – Fiala Update
• Rupprecht Newsletter - Nigeria
• Pioneers in Peru – Eisold Family
  **VIDEO: Mission Support – Eisold Family in Peru | **VIDEO #2: Peru Mission Work - Eisold | **VIDEO #3: Mission Work - Eisold
• Schnaidt Newsletter - Russia
• **VIDEO: Mission Support – Oslo, Norway - YouTube
  
• A minimum of one tenth of Cross income, both through our general fund and building fund offerings, goes to the Lord for missions or ministries outside Cross itself. Through The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, Cross supports the Lords mission in over 60 countries. Cross also supports local ministries and missions with major holiday offerings (Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas). These missions include international missionaries and projects, local church plants and local outreach.
• Our Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) supports mission projects in the United States and around the world.
• Cross regularly sends teams on short-term and mid-term mission trips to both local and international areas. Check this site for information on upcoming trips.

The purpose of the Prayer Ministry at Cross is to provide time, space, and assistance for those who would like to affect their lives through prayer. Prayer is the way we communicate with God and it unleashes His power in our lives. You are encouraged to . . .Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

• PRAYER REQUESTS: You may send us your prayer requests via e-mail to prayers@hiscross.org. You may also place your prayer requests, praises, and thanksgivings in the Prayer Requests box outside of the Chapel. Our Prayer Ministry team will send out these requests to our prayer warriors on the E-Prayer Team. If there is an emergency, please contact the Church Office at 553-7335. As with all of our prayer ministries, complete confidentiality is maintained. They will only be shared, after discussing it with you, and you make the request that the prayer be made public in the Church Bulleting or in the weekend service prayers.
• SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER SUPPORT: Before, during, and after our worship services on Sunday morning,the Prayer Chapel is open for private prayer and meditation. Prayer ministers are also available to pray with and for you , before and after service. The Prayer Chapel is located down the corridor to the right as you enter the main church building.
• SPECIAL PRAYER EVENTS: Special prayer events are occasionally offered through the Prayer Ministry Team. These events might include Prayer Walks, Fast and Pray Days, Prayer Vigils, Prayer Breakfasts, Prayer Services, and the like. We invite your ideas as well as your participation in all such events. Watch the Special Events section of this site for details on upcoming prayer events.

Prayer is a way in which we minister to one another, give thanks and glory to God, and maintain our own relationship with Him. The only thing you need to be a Prayer Minister at Cross is a heart for others and a desire to share Gods love. If you are interested in becoming part of the Prayer Ministry Team you are encouraged to contact Cindy Voiland at cdvoiland@sbcglobal.net.

• Choir Ministry - We are committed to serving God and enhancing worship through music. Choir members need to love to sing and be able to carry a tune. Meets weekly September thru May. Special music performances are presented at Christmas and in Spring. If you are interested contact Nathan Fisher, Director of Worship at 630/553-7335 ext 109.
• LWML - The Lutheran Womens Missionary League (LWML), with a membership of over 250,000, is the official womens organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The LWML focuses on affirming each woman in her relationship with Christ to enable her to be in ministry among the people of the world. For 60 years the organization has been encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to financially support global missions.

  The LWML focuses on:

  • Richer Spiritual Living
  • Global Awareness for Ministry
  • Avenues for God-blessed Service

• Thrivent for Lutherans (Merging of Aid Association for Lutheran & Lutheran Brotherhood) - Their mission is "to bring Lutheran people together to pursue quality living through financial security, volunteer action and help for others." Local branches organize fund raisers and service days for people with special needs within the community; our local branch has supplied "matching funds" for various Cross Church fund raisers. Current branch secretary is Beth Thanepohn. Contact the church for more information at 630/553-7335.

• Bible Study for Senior Women: Our ladies group is made up of mature ladies. Our sesssions are ususally in-depth studies of different books of the Bible or related topics. Our sharing, caring and love grows weekly as we all grow older and sometimes frail. We continue to be prayer partners for each other and Cross congregation thru the example of our leader for many years, Elsie Gilbert. Group meets Wednesday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 AM in the Church Parlor at Cross.
• Bible Study for Seniors: Meets Friday afternoons from 1:00 2:30 PM in the Church Parlor at Cross. We have been using the Faith Lessons on the Promised Land series, but a new study will be starting soon.

• Passages - is a one-on-one ministry for individuals dealing with rape and sexual abuse. If you need help, you can anonymously contact Margaret at 630-553-6043 for more information.
• Drug and Alcohol Problem Confidential Help available. Call Dave at 815-600-0188
• GriefShare - is a 13-week support group for people grieving the loss of someone close. Each GriefShare session includes a DVD that has top experts on grief and recovery along with real-life stories of people who have experienced similar losses. Small group discussions follow the videos. For more detailed information click here www.griefshare.org
• Spectrum - Support for pre-teens and teens that have experienced a loss through death, divorce, change of location or any type of situation that would create anxiety, fear or sadness. The group discussions focus on different topics each week from self-esteem issues to inner feelings and thoughts. A journal is utilized and hands-on tasks are done to help with interactions.
• Rainbows for all God’s Children - – is a support group for children kindergarten through eighth grade who have suffered a loss through death or divorce. In a small group setting, with children their own age, games, activities and sharing help children work through the changes in their lives and realize they are not alone.
• DivorceCare - is a 13-week support group for adults, divorced, separated or in the process of divorce. Each week a different topic is covered via videotape with top Christian experts in the fields of marriage and family counseling. Small group discussions follow the videos. For more detailed information click here www.divorcecare.org
• DivorceCare for Kids - – is a 13-week support group for children age 5 to 12 that will run concurrently with the adult DivorceCare series. It is a video and activity-based curriculum that helps children deal with the many different issues that children experience when their parents divorce. For more detailed information click here www.dc4k.org
  

  DivorceCare - Watch Promotional Video

  DivorceCare for Kids - Watch Promotional Video

• Stephen Ministry – Christ caring for people through people. Stephen Ministers are equipped to provide high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing a variety of crises or life challenges. This includes people who are grieving, divorced, terminally ill, unemployed, hospitalized, homebound, lonely or discouraged, or experiencing other life struggles. For more information, contact Shirley Vollentine at 630-553-7609 or Bonnie Krantz at 630-392-8745.

  The PBS "Religion and Ethics" news show recently aired an eight-minute feature on Stephen Ministry that vividly describes the life-changing ministry happening in thousands of congregations. Click here to watch the Stephen Ministry Promotional Video.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. In fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:12-27

As part of the Pastoral Staff, the Director of Care Ministries has the privilege to serve in these areas:

• Confidential Hospital, Nursing Home, and Home visits
• Advocate for wholistic health (body, mind, and Spirit) - including resources and/or referrals

Care Ministries available - to aid and opportunities to serve:
Access these ministries through khardecopf@hiscross.org or call the Church Office at (630) 553-7335.

• Bus Ministry-Transportation to Sunday Service for those in need in the Yorkville/Plano area
• Monthly blood pressure screening after services
• Friendly Hospital Visiting - stop in for a 3 minute hello from church family
• Friendly Visiting Ministry- monthly hour visit to a special someone
• Food Ministry - make and deliver a meal for people in crisis
• Food Pantry – help make non-perishable food items available on site (kitchen cabinets)
• Hometouch Weekly Mailings - activity & devotional for seniors
• Church service CD deliveries – help deliver the message to someone
• Handyman Ministry - people on call to help the widowed, single parents, elderly with minor home maintenance
• Transportation Team - be on call to drive people to appointments, treatments, therapy. Able to work around your schedule
• Project Connect/Lutheran Hour Brochures - donate money to purchase topical booklets which are available free to anyone (located by church doors)
• Stephen Ministry - one on one confidential ministry, trained Stephen Minister will meet with you weekly during crisis time in your life
• Comfort Blanket Ministry - soft blankets made and given to local hospitals to be used to share Gods Comfort; in baby intensive care units, obstetrics bereavement care for stillborn babies and miscarriages, for kids and adults nearing the end of life
• Meditation Time (at Heritage Woods Supportive Living & Hillside Nursing Home, Yorkville and Bickford home , Oswego)- sharing together Gods Word
• Monthly blood pressure screening - provided to the two Senior Housings in Yorkville
• Fellowship Worship – special services with older adults within our church family and community

• DivorceCare
• DivorceCare For Kids
• Grief Share
• Loving Arms Child Care Center
• Lutheran Bible Translators
• Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
• The Lutheran Hour
• Lutheran Womens Missionary League
• Northern Illinois Ministries Ablaze
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans