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We have a membership of about 600 people, and an average weekly attendance of 220. We currently have a staff of eight, both paid and volunteer. They consist of a Secretary, Youth Director, Choir Director, Organists, Sextons and Parish Nurse. The parsonage is newly remodeled, with 4+ bedrooms. We have a large property, with a well-maintained building and the possibility for growth. There is a beautiful pipe organ in the sanctuary, and its use is important to many of the members. The church offices are equipped with computers, along with Internet access. We are a one-point parish, with members from neighboring towns. Saturday evening vespers as well as an outreach ministry consisting of radio broadcast and local access cable broadcast of Sunday morning sermons are an important part of Cross of Calvary's ministry. Historically we have been open-minded and accepting of change. Examples of this are our shared Vacation Bible School program with the local Methodist church, our new rotational Sunday School program and our support in the (Highway) 212 Hispanic ministry. We have a dependable group of Developmentally Disabled who assist with ushering. Our usher roster is inclusive of men and women. We alternate traditional and layperson's version communion services. We were able to get the entire congregation to agree on a change in the placement and type of altar placed in the sanctuary. Our young people have the option of taking instruction and receiving early (5th grade) communion, or waiting until Confirmation. Young adults are active and are being prepared for leadership roles. Cross of Calvary has responded to Christ's call to service in many ways, trying to give members an opportunity to "work while it is day." Members understand they are Ministers in Partnership. Participation in worship includes scripture reading, morning greeter, assisting with services at the local nursing home, adult choir and participation in the Saturday Vespers. Learning opportunities consist of several Bible Study groups, a Mentor program for Confirmation students, sponsorship for new members, a volunteer run library, children's sermons by the Youth Director and Sunday School for youth and adults. Fellowship is an important part of Cross of Calvary. We are open to community and self-sponsored fellowships. These include a spring ham dinner, Christmas craft sale, annual rummage sale luncheon and the men's spaghetti supper for camp tuitions. There are several Women's Night Out fellowship dinners, Lenten soup and sandwich suppers, and summer Sunday coffees. The youth have Sunday Night OutReach (SNOR) for 7-8th grade, Thursday morning Sr. High breakfast club and Junior Youth Fellowship (JYF) geared toward the 4-6th grades. Our service groups include both men and women. There is an active quilting group, food shelf service, and Meals-on-Wheels assistance, and someone who knits caps for newborns. Our prayer chain is active. We cultivate witness by regularly scheduling services led by the Gideons, Carpenter's Tools International and Youth Encounter. We sponsor missionaries in Bolivia and the Middle East, and they are regular speakers. We have traditionally held a deep commitment to Global Missions, and have members who are former missionaries and current missionaries who were raised in our congregation. Olivia, population 2500, is the county seat of Renville County. As such, we have a strong and varied infrastructure of business and services. These include a County Hospital, medical clinic, Social Service offices, County offices, and pharmacies. The school district is consolidated into the Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian District (BOLD), with both elementary and high school in Olivia. Olivia is also home to a light manufacturing plant, three elder care facilities, and a Christian Youth Center. As the Corn Capital of Minnesota, we also have 11 seed corn and soybean companies. We are proximate in distance to Willmar, population about 20,000. In a half hour drive, we have access to shopping, a regional medical center, and entertainment options. Many residents of our towns drive to Willmar to work on a daily basis. Redwood Falls is a town of 5,000 people, and is one half hour to the south. The metro area is about 1-1/2 hours to the east. 
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