419 Turnpike Road. Mills River, NC 28759
- 419 Turnpike Road. Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: (828) 891-9375
Welcome from the Rector
It can be hard to walk into a new church, especially if you don’t know what to expect, and particularly if you don’t know if you will be accepted. All are welcome here, and we mean it. The motto on our front banner says, “A Place to Find Grace as You Are.” We try hard to be a church that models the way Jesus intended us to live and love one another. We acknowledge our differences but recognize our common humanity and trust that each one of us is loved by God as we are.
Because Holy Family is smaller community it is easier to get to know one another on deeper levels. We support and help each other. We laugh, cry, pray, celebrate, and work together. In this community, you can be known and get to know others in a way that enhances both life and faith.
This is what you can expect if you choose to visit: On a typical Sunday morning, 35-45 people will gather in our sanctuary, and an additional 5-8 people will join us on-line. Our worship style is casual, but our liturgy is rooted in the Episcopal tradition. Our worship service typically lasts about an hour. After the service, we hope that you will stay for a bit. Coffee Hour is a great way to meet and socialize with your fellow church members and visitors while enjoying some simple snacks and delicious coffee.
Expect to find a community that does not all believe the same things. We are a diverse group. On any given Sunday you may meet retirees, middle-aged folks, families with children and teenagers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, couples, and singles. Some of us are life-long Episcopalians, but most of us grew up in different faith traditions. Still others grew up without any church background at all. Some of us are sure of our faith. Some are seeking and learning, still skeptical of the Christian tradition. What we have in common is a desire to grow in our knowledge and love of God and to enter into an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. We value community and each other. We value diversity and believe that we are made better by our differences.
Come as you are, bring your whole self, bring your questions, your wonderings, and your desire to know Jesus. No matter who you are, where you came from, what color your skin is, how you got here, or who you love, God loves you, and there is a place here for you.
Peace and Blessings,
Worship on Sunday mornings at Church of the Holy Family follows Rite II from the Book of Common Prayer, and we take our readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Because of this our worship services will be very similar to what is happening in our more formal sister Episcopal churches. But Church of the Holy Family is not formal. Our worship space is small and intimate; in fact, it also serves as our parish hall. We sit in padded chairs, not wooden pews. Our informal interpretation of a five-centuries-old tradition is not for everyone; but for our members it feels just right.
You are welcome at Church of the Holy Family. Don’t worry about sitting in anyone’s spot. Don’t worry if your gender, orientation, or ethnicity will not be accepted. We are grateful for your presence among us. Baptized Christians no matter age or denomination are welcome to receive communion. Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously. Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive a blessing from the presider.
What should you wear? The irreverent answer is … clothes! But seriously we are a casual congregation. Some people dress up; many more wear jeans and t-shirts to church. Both approaches are just fine.
We like hearing the happy noises of children in church. It reminds us that Jesus came for them, too. If your child is being especially loud, or if you need to take a break and leave the service with your child, feel free to do so and hang out in the back hallway or Sunday School room. But don’t sweat the small disruptions. You love your children, and we love having them here. We know it can be hard to get to church. We are glad you did.
