A Lutheran Congregation on Rimer Road
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church has been part of Concord, North Carolina, since 1949, gathering on Rimer Road in the southwestern part of Cabarrus County. Photographs from the congregation's early years are paired with more recent pictures from 2013, marking a stretch of ministry that spans more than seven decades. The congregation belongs to the North American Lutheran Church (NALC), a Lutheran body of more than 130,000 members in over 340 congregations across North America. Cross of Christ describes itself as a church that confesses the apostolic faith in Jesus Christ according to the Holy Scriptures and accepts the ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions as true witnesses to the Word of God.
Faith Centered on Christ, Driven by Mission
The congregation's stated mission is to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God's mission as baptized members of the Church of Christ. Four core values shape that work at Cross of Christ. The first, Christ-Centered, affirms the authority of Scripture as the source and norm by which all doctrines are judged, holding to the Formula of Concord and the Lutheran Confessions as faithful summaries of biblical teaching. The second, Mission-Driven, commits the congregation to making disciples in the church, in the community, and around the world as a priority in the present age. The third, Traditionally-Grounded, endorses the form and practices of the universal Church that are consistent with Scripture, particularly the office of the ministry and the tradition of worship under Word and Sacrament, and seeks dialogue and fellowship with other Lutherans and with Christians of other confessions. The fourth, Congregationally-Focused, reflects how the NALC is organized to serve local congregations through resources, connections, and information in a posture of servanthood.
Traditional Worship at Ten
Sunday morning at Cross of Christ follows a steady rhythm that has shaped the congregation for years. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 9:45, leaving time for fellowship before the worship service begins at 10:00 a.m. in the main church. The service follows Setting Two from the Green Book, the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, a traditional Lutheran order that gathers the congregation around Word and Sacrament. The congregation celebrates the Eucharist once a month, and the music draws on a range of hymns and songs used to honor the God it serves. Worship videos are posted regularly on Vimeo, so members who are traveling, homebound, or otherwise unable to attend can still follow the service, and weekly bulletins are posted online as a written record of each Sunday's liturgy.
Sunday School for Every Age
Education runs alongside worship as a central part of life at Cross of Christ. Sunday School classes meet from pre-school through adulthood at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The classes include:
- Pre-School (ages 2-4), taught by Debbie Bost and Karen Lyerly
- Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, taught by Meredith Harrison and Gail Leonard
- Grades 3-6, taught by Kristi Christenbury
- Confirmation (Grades 7-8), taught by Doug Lyerly
- High School, taught by Hannah Pless
- Young Adults, taught by LeaAnn Buckwell
- Parish Partners, taught by Jodi Strube, Richard Strube, and Roger Horton
Each class gathers around Scripture together before the worship service begins.
Youth Life Beyond Sunday Morning
Cross of Christ keeps an active youth program for its older students through two groups known as CSI and PBnJ, whose activities are organized and shared through the congregation's youth Facebook page. The church's Facebook presence, both the main church page and a separate youth group page, is where families hear about upcoming events, fellowship opportunities, and any additional services beyond the regular Sunday morning schedule.
Walking Through the Church Year Together
The congregation marks the seasons of the Christian year with special services that the worship archive records and shares online. Lent is observed with a series of midweek services that walk through the book of James. Christmas brings traditions like the Singing Christmas Tree, a Christmas play titled "Wrapped in a Father's Love," a candlelight Communion service on Christmas Eve, and the children's "Little Drummer Dude" performance. Ash Wednesday opens the Lenten season, Good Friday is observed with a service in Calvary's shadow, and the summer includes a Vacation Bible School closing service. These special services are recorded and posted alongside regular Sunday sermons so members who cannot be present in person can still take part.
Visiting Cross of Christ
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is located at 4500 Rimer Road, Concord, NC 28025. The Church Office can be reached at 704-782-8483, and the Parish Hall at 704-795-0445. Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m. and worship follows at 10:00 a.m. Worship videos are shared on Vimeo, and announcements for any additional services appear on the congregation's Facebook page.