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How does a church usually associated with foreign, mysterious and ancient Christian traditions make an inroad into the modern American religious culture? Does such a church have anything to say in the midst of a myriad of new, hip, techno and mega churches? Holy Cross Orthodox Christian Church, after nearly a decade of meeting in Saint Croix Falls, Wis., is embarking on a bold new move to Chisago Lakes High School, in Lindstrom, in an unprecedented outreach for this group of Christians who historically have not been known for their "evangelistic" efforts.

The congregation, which was started in 1997 by a group of converts to the Orthodox Church, is not unique. For many years, people from all over the country who describe themselves as "disaffected Protestants" have sought out the Orthodox Church in a quest to return to their roots in early Christianity.

The priest at Holy Cross, Fr. Robert McMeekin, a former Lutheran pastor, is no exception. "As a Lutheran minister I was an avid student of the Apostolic Fathers and the ancient Liturgies of the Church," he said, "at some point I asked myself if this church that I read about, the church that gave us the New Testament and the Nicene Creed, still existed? Before long I discovered that it in fact did still exist in the Orthodox Church."

The new outreach by this relatively small congregation is not without its challenges, and faces certain obstacles in making itself both known and understood as it seeks to grow.

"Inevitably, when I meet folks in the area I'm asked if we're Greek or Russian," Fr. Robert said, "when I explain that we're American, that most of our members are converts and all our services are in English, they get this kind of glazed-over look."

The priest, for his part, hopes to change all that, "God helping us, we'll offer people the opportunity to return to not only their Christian roots, but their rightful inheritance in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which Christ Himself established."

Fr. Robert continued, "For us the church represents a continuation of all that has come before us. It represents the legacy of all the faithful cloud of witnesses who have brought us to this present moment in Christ, and it has placed in our hands a stewardship to pass on to generations yet unborn. In short, it's not all about us, but about Christ and His church throughout all the ages."

Holy Cross Orthodox Christian Church begins services at Chisago Lakes High School on Sunday, November 5, at 9:30 a.m.

For more information about the church go either to their website, www.hcomn.org or call (715) 220-5111.

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