The Firstfruits Fund

Make a Pledge
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Preparing the Ground for the Future Home of Holy Cross

Church of the Holy Cross stands at an important and exciting moment in our life together. Securing permanent space will give us long-term stability, a sacred space for worship, and a base for formation and mission.  The next faithful step toward permanent space is to prepare in advance for land – so that when the right opportunity arises, we are ready to act wisely, decisively, and faithfully.

What’s the Plan?

The Firstfruits Fund is Phase One of a longer journey toward a permanent home. It is not the completion of the work, but the beginning – a firstfruits offering as we trust the Lord to provide what comes next.

THE GOAL

$500,000 over two years for land, adding to $400,000 in reserves and up to $900,000 in loan capacity.

PHASE 1

July 2026 – June 2028: seek to secure land, ideally debt-free, and prepare for site planning and future building.

PHASE II

After land is secured: continue raising funds, develop a master site and building plan, and move toward construction as prudently as possible.

Four Pillars for a Faithful Future

The Firstfruits Fund is not simply a financial project. It is a spiritual and pastoral invitation to grow as a people of faith, hope, patience, and generosity.

1. An Abrahamic Journey

We step forward in faith, trusting that the Lord will show us the place he has prepared. Like Abraham, we do not yet know all the specifics, but we know the God who calls and keeps his promises. “Go… to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1).

2. A Covenantal Vision

We act with a view toward generations. God has blessed our congregation with many children. We build not only for ourselves, but for those who will come after us. “One generation shall commend your works to another” (Ps. 145:4).

3. Sacred Space

We seek an enduring, beautiful, and hospitable place for worship, formation, and mission in Crozet. This calls for a “cathedral mindset”: patient, intentional, joyful, and ordered to the glory of God over time.

4. Joyful Giving

We respond with open hands, trusting God and participating in his work. The tithe sustains the ongoing ministry of the Church; freewill offerings allow us to respond generously to particular works God has set before us.

Parish Priorities in this Season

As we prepare the ground for a future home, we are also preparing the life of the parish to grow into it. With God’s blessings, we seek to grow from an average Sunday attendance of 135 to 200 over the next five years. Permanent space will strengthen our common life, but these priorities matter now. Healthy growth will enable us to support the ministry we desire to see.

Pastoral and Staffing Capacity

Adding a full-time pastor supports current needs and facilitates growth. Staffing for growth is a prudent investment in the life and mission of the parish.

Small Groups and Catechesis

Developing a consistent small group structure and robust catechesis will deepen our life together and provide meaningful places for newcomers to connect.

Newcomer Integration

Creating clear pathways into parish life through welcome, membership, confirmation, connection, and pastoral follow-up.

Local Outreach and Parish Visibility

Deepening engagement in Crozet through faithful presence, common-good partnerships, third-space events, and gospel connections.

Liturgical Excellence and Sunday Operations

Strengthening the beauty and clarity of worship through reverent liturgy, music, hospitality, volunteer teams, aesthetics in rented space, and smoother Sunday systems.

The Invitation

Pray

for the mission of Holy Cross, our future home, and God’s provision.

Listen

to the Vision Sermon Series.

Feast

at one of the Firstfruits Feasts this summer.

Pledge

a prayerful, freewill financial commitment.

Like Abraham, we step forward in faith, trusting the Lord will lead to the place he has already prepared for us. 

FirstFruits FAQ

A two-year, freewill giving initiative to help Holy Cross secure a permanent home.

The goal is $500,000 over two years. This would be added to approximately ~$400,000 in current reserves and would strengthen our ability to act when the right opportunity arises.

Before a church can be built, there must first be a place where it will stand. Land is the next decisive step.

Within a 5 miles radius of our current meeting location.

No. This is Phase One. The purpose is to secure land and begin preparing for a future building. A later phase will address construction once land, site plans, and building costs are clearer.

We don’t know. But if we can secure land in two years, we think being in our space in five years is achievable with God’s blessing and the parish’s generous support. It could be sooner. It could be later. 

In Scripture, firstfruits are the first and best portion offered to the Lord in gratitude and trust. Firstfruits offerings anticipate God’s provision for a future harvest. This fund is a first step – a down payment of faith as we trust the Lord for our future.

Regular tithes support the ongoing ministry of the parish. Gifts to the Firstfruits Fund are freewill offerings above and beyond the regular tithe.

The goal is to acquire land debt free by the conclusion of the campaign, though the Vestry is open to prudent use of debt.

Yes. We remain open to purchasing and repurposing an existing structure if an opportunity arises. The Firstfruits Fund would support that effort as well.

A pledge is a good‑faith, serious financial commitment that helps the parish plan wisely and make prudent financial decisions. It is a statement of present intent, not a legal contract. 

Pledges give the Vestry a clearer sense of what resources may be available over the two‑year period, and banks also take pledges seriously when considering loan capacity. We regard a pledge as a matter of Christian integrity: a genuine commitment made prayerfully before the Lord and offered for the good of the Church.

Yes. We understand that financial circumstances can change. Because pledges are expressions of intent, you are free to revise your pledge if your situation changes, including increasing or decreasing it as needed. At the same time, we ask everyone to make every reasonable effort to honor their pledge.

The pledge period opens on Pentecost Sunday, and commitments will be received through August 30. We will announce our pledge total on the Feast of the Holy Cross (September 13).

Turn in a physical pledge card or fill out a digital pledge card at holycrosscrozet.org/firstfruits.

The Vestry and Steering Team will provide regular updates on fund progress, the land search, and key next steps.

Fill out the online pledge form.