Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Service Time: Sunday 10:00 A.M.

Divine Service
Sunday 10:00 A.M.

Special Services (such as during Lent and Advent)
Wednesday 6:00 P.M.
Advent
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Lent
Maundy Thursday Divine Service 6:00 P.M.
Good Friday Tenebrae Vespers Service 7:30 P.M.
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Divine Service 6:00 P.M.
Easter Sunday Breakfast 8:45 A.M., Divine Service 10:00 A.M.

Matins
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 A.M.
Tuesday 8:00 A.M.
Saturday 8:30 A.M.

Adult Bible Class
Sunday 8:45 A.M.
We meet in the Fellowship Hall in the basement of the church.

Sunday School
Sunday 8:45 A.M.
Children 3 years of age through high school join the Adult Bible Class in the Fellowship Hall for an opening before going to class. There is a nursery for children up to the age of 3.

Vacation Bible School
During the summer (time varies from year to year)

Unable to attend in person? Look for the bulletin and the sermon on the website under Church.

What to Expect in Worship

The Word of the Lord Jesus Christ is our Life. Here, where it is proclaimed and His body and blood are given He is specially and graciously present to forgive, restore, and join us to Himself, heaven to earth.

Here you will note that we come to receive this with greatest reverence, love, and joy. We want you to believe this as we do and join us in the response of confession, prayer, and praise as He teaches.

If this sounds strange or intimidating, do not fret! The Lord welcomes all. Like anything, we learn by hearing and observing. We’re simply glad you came, and invite you to do likewise if you are unfamiliar with the pattern of worship in the Lutheran tradition. We
believe and open ear (Psalm 51), receiving from the Lord, is most important before anything we begin to offer or speak back to Him. Hence, we refer to the service of Word and Sacrament as Divine Service, the emphasis on His service to us. Many members will be willing to help you follow the order and answer any questions you may have. Special flyers to guide are also readily available.

Holy Cross follows the service liturgies according to the Lutheran Service Book (CPH, 2006), usually following Divine Service Setting III (the “Common Service”) according to the One-Year Lectionary.

Holy Communion

If you publicly confess the Christian faith and are in agreement with the teachings of Holy Scripture, Luther’s Small Catechism, and the Lutheran Confessions, we share your desire to receive Christ’s body and blood. If you are a Communicant member in good standing in a sister congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, live repentantly for all sin, and desire Christ’s forgiveness, please see Pastor Meissner.

Catechism Instruction (Catechesis)

Classes for Christian initiation and doctrine (catechesis) are offered year round. Please contact the church office if you are interested in this and/or becoming a communicant member.

You can also learn more by reading some FAQs posted by the LC-MS: https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs/faqs/doctrine

Staff

History

Our History

In the late 1940s after World War II had ended, the population of Kansas City began to spread north of the Missouri River which to that point was largely rural. A group of Lutherans began meeting in hopes of establishing a church in this area, and after several years succeeded in obtaining permission for a mission church. Within four years it had become a self-supporting congregation, the first Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in the Kansas City area north of the river. In time, three daughter parishes and two granddaughter parishes were founded in Clay and Platte counties.

From the beginning the congregation had intended to build a Lutheran school, which became a reality in 1955. From a kindergarten, the school grew to include grades one through eight, and a preschool and then a day care were added to the congregation’s care for children. The Early Childhood Center continues today.

The Lord has allowed us to touch the lives of many in the community with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and we desire to continue in this.

Historical Timeline

1951

• May 15 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church was chartered with the Mission Board of the Western District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
• May 20 – 96 people attended the first service held at North Kansas City High School. Holy Cross was under the direction of Rev. Walter T. Rossnagel and assisted by various pastors affiliated with the Missouri Synod.
• December 12 – Negotiations were completed for the purchase of a four-acre tract of land to build a church, parsonage, and school.

1952

• September 14 – Rev. Edward C. Pardieck of Farmington, Missouri was installed as the first pastor of Holy Cross.

1953

• March 8 – Groundbreaking for the school building and parsonage was held. The buildings were designed by Herbert Anset with an estimated cost of $100,000 (about $1.1 million in January, 2024). Membership totaled 200.

1954

• February 28 – The school building and parsonage were dedicated. The cost of the two buildings was approximately $120,000 (about $1.3 million in January, 2024). At this time there were 310 members, of whom 186 were communicant members. Church services were held in the basement while Sunday School classes were held in the first floor classrooms.)

1955

• September 8 – Kindergarten classes were started.

1957

• September 15 – Groundbreaking for the church building was held. The parish now numbered about 800 members.
• October 10 – Christ Lutheran Church, Platte Woods, was chartered.

1958

• October 26 – The Holy Cross church building was dedicated. The cost of the building was approximately $300,000 (about $3.2 million in January, 2024), however, several designed features were not completed at this time because of cost. The stained glass behind the altar was one such feature. The parish now numbered 540 communicants and 850 members.

1960

• February 28 – St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Liberty, was chartered.

1961

• May 7 – The 10th Anniversary service was held with Rev. W. T. Rossnagel as the speaker. The parish numbered 638 communicants and 1,150 members.

1963

• October – Sunday School attendance reached a peak of 576, including teachers, children, and adults.
• November 1 – Pastor Pardieck retired.
• November 10 – Rev. Francis E. Roschke of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was installed as the second pastor of Holy Cross.

1964

• June 28 – Robert Eggold of Hales Corner, Wisconsin, was installed as the first principal of Holy Cross Lutheran School.
• August 31 – The Day School, offering kindergarten and first grade, opened with 33 students in attendance. Every year thereafter another grade was added up to sixth grade.

1967

• King of Kings Lutheran Church, Kansas City, was chartered.

1969

• Robert Eggold accepted a call and left the school.
• Franklin J. Fischer of St. Charles, Missouri, was installed as the second principal of Holy Cross Lutheran School.

1971

• A preschool for children aged 4 was opened.

1973

• July 15 – Rev. Richard A. Wagner of Lansing, Michigan was installed as Assistant Pastor.

1976

• May 16 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church celebrated its 25th anniversary. The parish numbered a little more than 1,500 baptized members and 1,000 communicant members.

1978

• Rev. Richard A. Wagner accepted a call for a mission church in Warsaw, Missouri.

1979

• June 10 – The remodeled chancel, including installation of the stained glass windows, and the organ were dedicated with Dr. Paul Manz as organist.
• September 23 – The expanded school building was dedicated.
• November 18 – Rev. Richard Bruenger from Snyder-Scribner, Nebraska, was installed as Associate Pastor.

1980

• Seventh grade was added to the school.

1981

• Eighth Grade was added to the school.
• The Endowment Fund was established.

1984

• June – The Rev. Dr. Francis Roschke was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree.

1985

• Frank Fischer accepted a call and left the school.
• March 31 – James M. Reidl, who had been a teacher since 1969, was installed as the third principal of Holy Cross Lutheran School.
• The preschool was expanded to include 3 year old children, creating the Early Childhood Center.

1987

• The Day School received accreditation from the National Lutheran School accreditation agency, the Missouri Chapter of the Federation of Non-public schools, and the Western District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Individually, teachers certified by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• October 11 – The Rev. Dr. Francis Roschke accepted a call to become the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, La Junta, Colorado.

1988

• August 7 – Rev. Richard Bruenger was installed as the Senior Pastor.

1989

• May 7 – Holy Cross Lutheran School celebrated its 25th anniversary.
• July 2 – Rev. James Hahn of Wray, Colorado, was installed as Associate Pastor.

1991

• May 19 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church celebrated its 40th anniversary, with 1,301 members, including 967 communicant members. School enrollment was approximately 200 students.

1994

• Mr. Riedl accepted a call to a school in Oregon and left the school.
• August – Ron Bork was installed as principal of Holy Cross Lutheran School.

1995

• June – Rev. James Hahn accepted a call to Our Savior First Lutheran Church in Granada Hills, California.
• August – Rising school enrollment necessitated the addition of a portable classroom building.
• November – Rev. Richard Bruenger accepted a call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clay Center, Kansas.

1996

• August – The Middle School (grades 6-8) moved across the street to the Englewood Baptist Church location.

1997

• January 5 – Rev. Mark S. Nuckols of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, was installed as Pastor.

1998

• July 19 – Rev. Mark S. Nuckols was installed as Senior Pastor.
• July 19 – Duane R. Osterloth of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, was ordained and installed as Assistant Pastor.

1999

• May 13 – Ronald Bork received his Doctor of Education.

2000

• The Northland Lutheran School Association was chartered.

2001

• Dr. Bork returned to his alma mater, Concordia University-Nebraska.
• May 20 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Church membership numbered 1,159, with 870 communicant members. School enrollment was approximately 220 students, with about 99 children cared for in the early childhood program.
• July – Rev. Duane Osterloth accepted a call to a church in Texas.

2002

• Rev. Mark B. Stirdivant was installed as Assistant Pastor.

2003

• Rev. Mark B. Stirdivant was installed as Associate Pastor.
• December – Rev. Mark S. Nuckols accepted a call to St Paul Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas.

2005

• Rev. Richard A. Bolland was installed as Senior Pastor.

2007

• The school was closed.

2011

• August – Rev. Richard Boland retired to Colorado.
• Church membership stood at 625.

2014

• May – Rev. Frank Frye was installed as Senior Pastor.

2017

• March – Rev. Mark B. Stirdivant accepted a call to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California.

2021

• February — Rev. Frank Frye retired and moved to Florida.

2022

• May 1 – The Rev. Dr. Craig A. Meissner was installed as Pastor.

2023

• October – A Swaddling Clothes Center was established.