History
The impetus for founding Holy Cross was an unusual event: the
establishment of an entirely new community. Located in the
tri-state region where South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska meet,
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota was
launched in 1988 as a new master-planned community in suburban Sioux
City, Iowa, on a scenic peninsula between the Big Sioux and Missouri
Rivers.
Presented with the unique opportunity to be a part of this new
community, in 1993 the South Dakota
District of the Lutheran
Church–Missouri Synod called Rev. Glen Wurdeman as a Missionary at
Large. In 1994, space was rented for the mission in a house then located at 952
North Sioux Point Road in Dakota Dunes. This served as the first home
of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, with the basement remodeled into a
worship space. The house has since been moved to 119 Wallace in
North Sioux City, South Dakota.
Bible studies and Vacation Bible School were held in the summer
of 1994, and in September, 1994 the first worship service was held. In
the fall of 1995 a preschool was established and became a major focus of
mission outreach. In November, 1995 the congregation was formally
incorporated and chose as its name Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Southern Union County.
Rev. Wurdeman, who had been the South Dakota District mission
developer, now accepted the newly established congregation’s call and
was installed as the first Pastor of Holy Cross in February, 1996.
In May, 1997 land was purchased at corner of Dakota Dunes
Boulevard and Bison Trail for a permanent church facility.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony, construction began on the first
phase of our facility, which is now our Educational Wing. The
LCMS organization
Laborers for
Christ served as general contractor. The first service in this
facility was held (in what is now our Fellowship Hall) on Christmas Eve,
1997.
In 1999, Rev. Wurdeman accepted a call to a parish in Indiana,
and Holy Cross was vacant for several years. In February,
2003 Rev. Kevin Vogts, an experienced a mission developer who was
serving at Concordia University Wisconsin, was called and installed as
the second Pastor of Holy Cross.
A long-range study was conducted as part of the congregation’s
10th Anniversary celebration in 2005. This led to plans for a
building expansion, which resulted in the Sanctuary addition. A
very successful fundraising campaign resulted in pledges of $1.3 million
toward the $1.5 million project. Ground was broken in March, 2007,
the cornerstone laid in October, and the first service held in the
beautiful new Sanctuary on Maundy Thursday, 2008. The addition was
dedicated to the glory of God the following week.
By God’s grace and blessing, Holy Cross has come a long way
from a few families worshipping in the basement of a rented house.
It is God alone, through the power of His Gospel in the Word and
Sacraments, that has accomplished all that has happened at Holy Cross.
We will have many more challenges as we move into the future and,
Lord willing, our growth continues. But, as Samuel says in 1 Samuel
7:12, “Thus far the Lord has helped us,” and He will continue to be with
us and bless us both individually and as a congregation in the future as
He has in the years past.
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Facility
The community of Dakota Dunes,
South Dakota in which Holy Cross is located is noted for the unique
architecture of its buildings. Holy Cross is in a
prominent location, at the entrance to the Residential Community, and as
part of this community we endeavored to erect a facility with a signature
design.
The architect selected was Brad Mollet, AIA, of Mollet
Architecture. He previously won a design competition for the new South
Dakota Governor’s Mansion. He also has an extensive background working
with churches that have liturgical worship. Building on the original
design of the first phase, his stunning concept for our Sanctuary is a
pleasing blend of contemporary with traditional elements. The booklet
Symbolism of Our Sanctuary, explaining the significance of its unique
design and symbolism, is available in the Gathering Room.
In addition to a new Sanctuary, the addition dedicated in
2008 also includes an impressive new entrance, with a large atrium under a
monumental bell tower (the tallest structure in Dakota Dunes), new
offices, a large Gathering Room for fellowship before and after worship,
a coffee bar, offices, restrooms, choir loft, sacristy, vestry, cloak room, and
ample storage. The Sanctuary has also been enriched with many special
donations, including beautiful stained glass windows. A unique feature
is a patio and Prayer Garden off of the Gathering Room. The Hearth Room,
intended to be like a living room, was left unfinished for future
development.
The first phase of our facility now serves as our Educational
Wing. The large space formerly used for worship, with an adjacent large,
well-equipped kitchen, is now a very attractive Fellowship Hall. The
Educational Wing also includes classrooms, the Christian Education
Office, Church Library, and restrooms.
We rejoice in God’s blessings providing us with this beautiful
facility, dedicated to His worship, service, and glory!
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Symbolism
The Sanctuary of Holy Cross has a unique, signature design
with many symbolic elements. The booklet
Symbolism of Our Sanctuary,
explaining the significance of its unique design and symbolism, is
available in the Gathering Room.
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Stained Glass
Even before erecting our new Sanctuary, Holy Cross was blessed with
the donation of beautiful stained glass windows.
Eight windows were donated and installed in our former worship space,
now our Fellowship Hall, in 2004. They were designed
and crafted by Jim Berberisch, Sioux City, Iowa. It
was intended that these windows would be moved to the new Sanctuary when
constructed, and the unique octagonal Baptistery in the new Sanctuary was
specifically designed for them. They beautifully
depict the life of Christ, symbolizing that through Baptism we are
united with Christ in His life, death, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
In 2006, a striking set of windows depicting Christ the Good Shepherd
and guardian angels were installed above and on either side of the
entrance to the Educational Wing. These were also
designed and crafted by Jim Berberisch, Sioux City, Iowa.
It was intended that when the Sanctuary addition was erected
these windows would remain, to adorn the entrance to the Educational
Wing and serve as a lasting testimony to the importance of and reason
for all our congregation’s educational efforts.
In 2007, the congregation approved a comprehensive design plan for
stained glass windows in the Sanctuary addition. They
will all be designed and crafted by Bovard Studios, Fairfield, Iowa.
The massive cross above the Altar is artistically incorporated with
the Altar window, which is the signature artwork of our new Sanctuary
and the first of the planned Sanctuary windows to be donated and
installed. It is really four windows in one, with
panels featuring detailed scenes of the nativity, ministry, crucifixion,
and resurrection of our Lord.
The three largest windows on the south wall will represent the
Persons of the Trinity and will also depict the primary work of each
Person: Creation (Father), Redemption (Son), and Sanctification (Holy
Spirit). And these three windows will together tell
the entire story of Scripture, starting “in the beginning” at the top of
the east window, with Genesis and creation, and ending at the bottom of
the west window with Revelation, and the Second Coming of Christ and the
“new heaven and new earth” (2 Peter 3:13).
The beautiful “red ribbon” device, as seen in the Altar window, will
be repeated in each of these three windows and connect them to tell one
unbroken story. The ribbon can be thought to
represent a ribbon in the pages of a Bible, and it is red to symbolize
the blood sacrifice of Christ for our salvation, which is the unifying
theme running throughout Scripture.
The two smaller, square windows above and on either side of the Altar
will depict the two Sacraments, the east window being a Baptismal shell
to signify Holy Baptism, and the west window a Communion chalice to
signify Holy Communion.
The three windows of increasing height on the east wall will portray
additional scenes from the life of Christ and major festivals of the
Church. The shortest window will be the Epiphany
(Matthew 2:1-11), the center window the Baptism of Christ (Matthew
3:13-17), and we will use the height the tallest window to portray the
Ascension (Acts 1:1-12). Because the single window on
the west wall is adjacent to the Baptistery, it will depict the classic
scene of Jesus with the little children (Mark 10:13-16).
To complement the two windows representing the Sacraments, the large
window in the Coffee Bar area, which is now frosted glass, will
represent the Word of God. This will also provide a
stunning point of visual interest as worshippers enter through the
archway from the entryway atrium, immediately signifying that this is a
house of divine worship in which, as the ancient prayer says, we “read,
mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures.
The window on the landing to the balcony will depict musical
praises rendered to the Lord, perhaps with symbols such as a harp,
organ, and choir. Finally, the two small clerestory
windows in the Hearth Room will depict Luther’s Seal and the logo cross
of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Additional windows will be installed as donations are made.
They do not have to be donated or installed in a specific order or in
groupings. If you are interested in donating a window, please
speak with Pastor Vogts.
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