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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Provincial and Regional restrictions
In-Person Worship, Sunday 10 AM
Joint Intergenerational Housing Project Clears Important Hurdle
Women in Faith Book Group
Church Office Schedule
Sorrento Centre 2022 Summer Programs
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Call for Nominations to National Church Council and Court of Appeal
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Reconciled Relationships
Living our Faith: Worship
Overcoming Disappointments
Working Together Survey
Sunday School on Pause
Time After Time
Read ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Provincial and Regional restrictions have been updated as of Dec. 21, 2021:
Here are the latest restrictions.
“If all participants are vaccinated as determined by the worship service leader, there are no capacity restrictions on worship services and choirs.
If participants are not all vaccinated, worship services and choirs are limited to 50% seated capacity.”
Masks are required but can be temporarily removed for ceremonial eating and drinking, and by officiants, readers or for singing a solo where physical distancing is observed.
In-Person Worship, Sunday, 10 AM PST
 Church Council and others continue to work to see that in-person worship is safer for everyone. Our current practises for in-person worship meet all present requirements. Changes in the pandemic continue to raise concerns for health and safety, and we will adjust our plans as health orders change.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best protection for the health of yourself and others. We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to receive both doses of the vaccine.
We will continue to livestream worship each Sunday.
January 23, Third Sunday After Epiphany
Everyone planning to come to worship are asked to follow these requirements:
- If you are not feeling well and experiencing any Covid-19 related symptoms or if you are not vaccinated, please stay home and participate in worship online.
- Wear a mask when entering the building and throughout worship and Sunday School. (This is required of everyone age 12 and older. Children under 12 are encouraged to wear a mask.)
- Observe social distancing.
- Sanitize or wash hands as needed.
- You are welcome to sing, but masks must be worn.
- We will greet one another and share the peace at a distance.
- Holy Communion will be served with bread and individual glasses of wine that are spaced in the trays. You may commune with bread or wine alone if you wish.
- You are invited to greet and talk with others after worship with masks on.
- It is not required that people register for worship ahead of time or sign in as you arrive.
We will continue to make adjustments as needed and keep you informed of any changes. Your feedback on your experience with in-person worship is valued. Please let any member of Church Council, the Covid Leadership Team, Pastors, or the church office know of any questions, concerns or ideas for making in-person worship and Sunday School safer and meaningful for everyone.
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Joint Intergenerational Housing Project Clears Important Hurdle
Some very good news! This Tuesday night, Saanich Council approved all of the rezoning requests that are related to the joint Intergenerational Housing development project between Church of the Cross (LCC) and Luther Court Society (LCS)!
Pastor Lyle and Karen Johnson-Lefsrud represented the applications before Saanich Council with very strong opening statements. Detailed presentations on the project were then made by M'akola Housing. These were followed by public statements from Michael Coughlin on behalf of LCC, the Chair of LCS and several others. Written letters of support were provided by former Luther House students as well as from community associations.
The Saanich Council discussed the contributions of both LCC and LCS to the community. They loved the project design themes of lower cost intergenerational housing, expanded medical services, expanded parking, common spaces, climate friendly design approaches, and the Shelbourne Community Kitchen. They see this campus will be an integral and important part of the Shelbourne Corridor Action Plan.
This approval is a very significant step which will strengthen our application for funding from BC Housing. As a bonus, the Council also approved that $190,000 funding from the Saanich Affordable Housing Fund be designated for the project! The project will now prepare to submit another application to BC Housing in the hope that this project will be selected for funding this year.
To those in our community who have worked so hard on this project for many years - congratulations and thank you!
Special thanks to Pastor Lyle and Karen for their endless efforts and determination. We hope that Pastor Lyle can now get back to enjoying his refreshing sabbatical now that we have passed this important milestone.
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 Women in Faith Book Group
- January 26th, 1:00 pm PST
The Book Group will meet on January 26th, at 1:00 pm by Zoom. We are reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. The library has a couple of books available. Everyone is welcome to participate.
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Church Office Schedule
Nicky is in the church office Monday through Thursday,
9 AM to 3 PM.
Pr. Lyndon is scheduling appointments Tuesdays through Fridays.
Mondays are his day off.
Contact Info:
Office Phone: +1 250-477-6222
Email: lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca
Email: pastorlyndon@shaw.ca
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Sorrento Centre 2022 Summer Programs
 Is your family looking to get away this summer to a place where the sun shines, children play freely and adults find soulful nourishment with others who are also looking for meaningful experiences? You'll find relaxation and peace here at Sorrento Centre - time to engage in lively conversations, time to read a book in the shade of beautiful trees or go for a dip in crystal clear lake water, and time to gather with family and friends around the campfire in the evening.
Find the perfect program for you and your family here at Sorrento Centre this summer. Click here to take a look at the variety of courses and the amazing leaders who bring rich and dynamic programming challenging the way we think and act in the world around us.
VISIT SORRENTOCENTRE.CA/SUMMER2022
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Join in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity happens this week from January 18 to 25. The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut, Lebanon, prepared this year's theme, "We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). The international theme and resources speak to our world's urgent need for solidarity and transformation in the face of political, economic, and social turmoil, including the challenges and injustices highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let us join together along with other Christians of the world to pray for the unity of all Christians and to participate in ecumenical gathering for worship. The following resources are available for you to use, everything from resources for Bible Studies, Ecumenical Worship Service, for school and children, to videos.
Prairie Centre for Ecumenism - Eight-Day Online Bible Study Series
The Canadian Council of Churches - Various 2022 WPCU Resources
Please join us for the World Day of Prayer "Festival Day" by Zoom
Join the Women's Inter-church Council of Canada (WICC) in a national gathering to launch World Day of Prayer 2022.
When: Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST
Where to register: Click here to go to the WICC website
Admission: It's FREE! All are welcome!
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Call for Nominations to National Church Council and Court of Appeal
 The Committee on Nominations has sent out a call for nominations on January 10 for vacant positions to be filled in the National Church Council and Court of Appeal. Elections will take place at the upcoming National Convention on July 12-15 in Calgary, Alberta. To read the full information and to complete an online form, please click here.
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Reconciled Relationships
ELCIC Taskforce on Ableism Survey
Do you have lived experience or disability/different ability? Are you a caregiver for someone living with a disability/different ability? Are you a specialist in supporting or accommodating disability/different abilities?
The ELCIC Taskforce Addressing Ableism invites you to participate in a survey for gathering stories and experiences in the church. This information will be gathered by the Taskforce in order to report to the 2022 National Convention. If you're willing, we would love to have you share from your experience here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AddressingAbleism.
Please note, you will be invited to share your name with the Taskforce but this is not a requirement of completing the survey. If you would like a large print version of this survey, or to have assistance in completing the form, please email srudd@gss.org. Please complete the survey by February 1, 2022.
Taskforce on Addressing Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Invites You to Share Your Story
The taskforce addressing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is inviting people in the LGBTQ2SIA community to share stories and experiences in order to help form the taskforce's report and recommendations. A set of questions has been developed to guide you through telling your story. You can share as much or as little as you would like. Space is held for both positive and negative experiences, for new stories and those from the past. For more information on how to share your story including an online survey, and to watch the invitation video, please click here. Please fill out the survey by February 1, 2022.
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Share Your 'Living our Faith: Worship' Reflection
 Share a tip, suggestion or inspiration on how you sustain a daily devotional practice
Would you be willing to share with us a tip, suggestion, or inspiration on how you make worship a daily practice, how you fit devotions into your life and/or how you actively seek to deepen your devotional practice?
We are looking for just a sentence or two (40-60 words) and we welcome resource suggestions as well. To share your thoughts and ideas now, please fill out this quick and easy form. We can't wait to hear from you!
For the last two years, we have been sharing National Bishop Susan Johnson's vision for a four-year emphasis on Living our Faith - as together we pray, read, worship and love (www.elcic.ca/LivingOurFaith).
During this third year, we continue our focus on worship with the goal of deepening our experience in worship when the community gathers (either together in person or online) and to deepen our individual practice of daily devotion.
Watch for weekly highlights from an ELCIC member with their suggestions and thoughts on becoming more engaged in a daily devotional practice and/or worship. This week we have a reflection from Rev. Kate Zaiser, who reminds us that it is okay to be imperfect, but also gives us another option when choosing the right devotional.
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Overcoming Little Disappointments
Missive from Mt. Tolmie with Pr. Lyndon
Click here to watch this 60 second video.
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Working Together
 What’s your super power, your everyday skill, your special talent? We all have something to share as we work together for the well being of Church of the Cross and the surrounding community.
We are all invited to share our energy and skill in supporting the mission and ministry of Church of the Cross. Log on to the Invitation to Serve link here, and share your interests and abilities for the year ahead.
If you have any questions, contact Craig Knight at craigrknight@gmail.com
Resource Stewardship Committee
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Sunday School on Pause
 We are pausing Sunday School, following the direction of Greater Victoria schools that have added an additional week of winter holidays.
We will check with families to see when they feel comfortable participating in Sunday School in person.
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Time After Time
“If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting,
Time after time.” - Cindy Lauper
What are the ways in which God is catching us when we fall? How do we witness to that catching, waiting for one another during pandemic times?
For a recent cover of this famous song by Scary Pockets featuring India Carney.
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Read ahead: Third Sunday after Epiphany
 - January 23, 2022 Isaiah 62:1-7, 10-12
Psalm 19
2 Corinthians 6:2-10
Luke 4:14-21
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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