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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Video Study Course
Council, Board and Committee Opportunities
Women in Faith Book Group
Donation to the Rainbow Kitchen
Random Acts of Kindness
Moose Hide Campaign Day 2021
Black History Month 2021
Off to a Good Start
Christian Unity Worship
ELCIC Youth Climate Network
Donate VIVO Kitchen Knives to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen
The Meaning of Home
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Flower Chart for 2021
Calling and Caring
Covid-19 Update
Holy Communion
Continuing Ways to join worship on-line
Read ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at noon. Thank you.
Please visit our website for more information about us and our events.
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Video Study Course and discussion, Winter 2021 – Indigenous Canada, Tuesdays, 7- 8:15 PM continuing, January 26
 A video study and discussion group began on Zoom on January 19, taking the online course, Indigenous Canada through the University of Alberta. “Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.” The course has had positive reviews and endorsements from across Canada. Others are still welcome to join. Participants in the Tuesday sessions register for the free online course and view the week’s lesson prior to the Tuesday discussion. For those who are interested, or if you have any questions, please contact the church office to be included in the email list for more information.
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Council, Board and Committee Opportunities
Dear members of Church of the Cross, as you are considering  commitments for the coming year please consider sharing your talents with the congregation. There are various opportunities available. Please contact any member of the Nominating Committee (Bud Henning, Jeanie Stann or me) for more information and/or to discuss how your gifts may be of service.
Blessed New Year, Joanne Solomonson, Council Chair
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Wo men in Faith Book Group - Thursday, January 25th, 1:00 pm
Please note that the book group will now be meeting by Zoom on the last Thursday of each month. This month we are discussing Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker. Please contact the church office for more information.
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The Social Justice Committee made a donation in December on behalf of Church of the Cross to the Rainbow Kitchen in support of its holiday meals.
Gail Froyland, from our congregation, continues to cook  meals at the Rainbow Kitchen once a week for distribution in the community. Thank you, Gail, for your continuing good work, and to everyone at the Rainbow Kitchen for their service to those who are hungry in our city. The Kitchen provided an update and thank you to the congregation that follows:
The Rainbow Kitchen celebrated its 10th year in operation last April. We started in Vic West, and continue as a grassroots, community supported organization that, once we moved to our home in the Annex of the Esquimalt United Church in 2016, we were able to start serving Lunch 5 days a week and welcome up to 150 guests each day.
Since then we expanded to become experts at Food rescue and Food Security, in 2019 with the development of a Food Sharing Program (and counting our Hot Lunches) the Rainbow Kitchen provided over 100,000 meal equivalents to our community and beyond.
Since Covid-19 started, Rainbow Kitchen remained dedicated to staying open and operational, shifting service and adapting to an entire “To-Go” style service, (something we had no time to plan or fundraise for) so now every meal is boxed and then bagged for safety and transport. In addition to shifting the style of our service, we have seen a huge increase in the demand of our service, and we continue to see new faces arriving each day, now serving well over 200 Hot lunches each day, and adding Hot breakfast during these colder months.
We have been working with fellow community organizations to help in the community where we are able. Gail arrives each week to prepare enough food for staff to portion into 200 meals, that are then delivered (by a fellow community organization, James Bay New Horizons Society) to isolated seniors requiring Food Security assistance. Providing 800 meals each month in addition to our regular programs, in support of Covid-19 efforts as much as we can.
Your donation helped us make our Holiday Meal a special one this year, providing a tasty and beautiful meal to celebrate our guests and volunteers on December 24th, starting with a lovely hot breakfast to-go and then moving into a full turkey and all the fixing meal to-go for lunch on the 24th. And working with local community minded companies we were also able to provide "gifts" for our guests this year.
All of this is possible thanks to generous donations like yours and our incredible dedicated volunteers.
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Random Acts of Kindness
 WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are all missing those in our congregation that we haven’t seen for months in person or on Zoom, due to the pandemic. Several congregation members are very isolated and miss being a part of our church community.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You could volunteer to take one or two names of church members who could be cheered up and remembered by receiving a random gift of kindness from you once per month for February, March and April. The gifts would be small and inexpensive. Examples might include such things as homemade preserves, baking, a plant, a recycled book or scarf, or a goodie bag. Let your imagination and resources be your guide.
HOW DO I VOLUNTEER
Contact Carol Tastad ctastad2000@yahoo.com or 1-306-222-1861 or the church office.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee
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Moose Hide Campaign Day 2021
We invite you to our next Moose Hide Campaign Day across  the country! Join us on February 11th as we come together online for a day of inspiration, ceremony and fasting. It's almost the 10th year of our campaign. We’ve come together with you each year to re-commit in our pledge to see an end to violence towards women and children. To remember those we have lost. To share our stories and struggles. To grow closer through the experience of fasting and ceremony. To motivate one another with all we have managed to achieve. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve taken the decision that for the first year this will be a fully virtual event, combining our national and provincial gatherings into one bigger event. We hope we can recreate a similar memorable shared experience, one where even more of you from across the country will be able to take part.
On the day, expect…
• Ceremony
• Words from our co-founders
• Keynote speakers
• Hearing from Elders
• Workshops
• The opportunity to take part in the one-day fast
To learn more about the Moose Hide story and Moose Hide Campaign Day (Feb. 11), please discover more on the Moose Hide website. (moosehidecampaign.ca)
Dave Lefsrud, on behalf of our LCC Truth and Reconciliation Committee
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Black History Month 2021 -THE SYMPOSIUM, February 5-7, 2021
by Productions Pulchérie Mboussi: AACC Society
 Join us as we celebrate the 6th year of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent at the second edition of the Regional Black Canadians Forum in the Capital Regional!
The Forum will be focused on the International Decade for People of African Descent by tackling the following topics:
Black Ownership,
Generating Wealth,
Media & Arts Representation,
Black Identity,
Mental & Physical Health,
Accessing Justice,
Community Safety,
Migration and Inclusion,
Education,
Democratic Engagement,
Access to Affordable,
Housing and Shelter.
The Decade is significant as it promotes respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights of people of African Descent. We believe that this event is in line with the objectives of celebrating Black History Month.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-history-month-2021-the-symposium-tickets-100505340178
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Off to a Good Start...
Dear members and friends of Victoria Multifaith Society, 
A heartfelt thanks for your positive response to our short video, Healing the Planet!
As part of our continuing effort to contribute to social discourse from the perspective of spiritual values, we have two upcoming events to announce, open to all:
• Youth panel on Anti-Racism on 4 February, 7 pm
• Presentation by Dr Mary-Wynne Ashford on the need for global institutions to respond to global threats, on 24 February, 7 pm
Information and links for free registration are below. Registration is also still open for Homelessness from a Spiritual Perspective, 18 Jan.
We're also happy to announce that VMS will be receiving a grant in partnership with the Montreal-based Centre for Civic Religious Literacy (CCRL) for the project “Discussing Racism: Leading Change from Multifaith Spaces”. A small group of religious and secular community leaders will develop an anti-racism tool appropriate for groups. VMS is grateful to the Vancouver Foundation for its support.
S. Flood, on behalf of the board of the Victoria Multifaith Society
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Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Worship with Dean Ansley Tucker, Bishop Greg Mohr and Bishop Gary Gordon and others, including Pastor Lyle representing Lutherans in Victoria, is available online at the following link: https://vimeo.com/501039459
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ELCIC Youth Climate Network
 The ELCIC is seeking to establish a Youth Climate Network. If you are under 30 years of age and would like to be part of this network, please contact Rev. Paul Gehrs, Justice and Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, pgehrs@elcic.ca.
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The Meaning of Home
January 4 to February 19, 2021
The Meaning of Home contest is back! Habitat for Huma nity Victoria is excited to announce that the Meaning of Home contest is now officially open for submissions. Beginning January 4th and running until February 19th, students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to help support a local Habitat build by submitting an essay or poem on what home means to them. We hope that you will consider engaging your students in this national movement. Remember, every entry makes a difference. For each submission founding sponsor Sagen will donate $10 to Habitat Canada.
Three grand prize winners, one from each grade, will receive a  $30,000 grant to be directed to the local Habitat build of their choice, an iPad and a pizza party for their class. Nine runners up, three from each grade, will also receive a $10,000 grant towards a local Habitat build, a tablet and a pizza party for their class.
https://www.habitatvictoria.com/current--upcoming-events.html
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Flower Chart for 2021
If you would like to bring flowers for worship for a special occasion or remembrance, please email or call the church office to sign up on the Flower Chart, posted on the bulletin board. A reminder will be emailed to you as your date approaches. If you have any questions, please call the church office.
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Donate VIVO Kitchen Knives to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen
When you shop at Thrifty Foods collect the Vivo Kitchen Knife stamps at the Checkout.
Start collecting your stamps today and drop them off in the Vivo Knife Box at the church, or contact me to arrange for a pick-up. We will process them and redeem the stamps for Vivo Kitchen knives to donate to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen. This promotion will run until mid-Feb. 2021
Susan Beiderwieden, Social Justice Committee
susandb@telus.net or 250 533 9075
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Calling and Caring
 During COVID-19, we continue to find ways to connect as a congregation. We have a group of people dedicated to calling and touching base with others in the community. Thanks to those who have volunteered. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Scott Constantine at 222scott@gmail.com or the church office. Scott will fill you in on the details!
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Covid-19 Update
The current orders of our Public Health Officer are in place until February 5, requiring that the Church remain closed to all in-person worship and public gatherings. We will continue our current practise of livestreaming our worship and meeting remotely until at least February 7. Thank you for everyone’s patience and understanding. The Covid-19 Leadership Team will continue to provide updates as needed. We give thanks that a vaccine has been approved and administering the vaccine is beginning. We look forward to it being widely available to everyone.
Here is the link to the government of BC information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
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Holy Communion continues every Sunday
As worship includes Holy Communion every Sunday,  those who wish to join in celebrating Holy Communion at home are invited to prepare a small amount of bread and wine (or grape juice if required) on a plate and in a cup, prior to worship. You may also wish to light a candle(s) as part of worshipping at home. At the time of Holy Communion, you are invited to have the elements in front of you, join in the words of thanksgiving and to lift the bread and wine at the same time as the presiding minister. At the time of Communing, share the bread with yourself or with one another with the words: “The body of Christ given for you.” and “The blood of Christ shed for you.” After Communing, or following worship, please consume the remaining bread and wine. This invitation is for those who wish to and feel comfortable joining in Communion at home during worship. Those who do not feel comfortable are welcome to observe Holy Communion celebrated at the church as we trust in God’s Spirit and gifts of grace offered to all as and where we are. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Lyndon or Pastor Lyle.
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Continuing Ways to join worship on-line:
Sunday Worship Livestream, 10 AM PST:
Go to website: www.lutheranvictoria.ca and click on the livestream link.
Copies of the bulletin/worship order for each Sunday are available for download, and printing if you wish, on the website.
View past worship videos by visiting “About/Videos” tab of the website:
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/about
View Sunday School videos and activities here:
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/kids-youth-students/childrens-ministry-sunday-school
Tuesday Morning Prayer continues each week at 8:30 AM PST
On Facebook Livestream and www.lutheranvictoria.ca
you can view past videos here:
https://www.facebook.com/lutheranvictoria/
You do not need a Facebook account to view the church page.
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Read ahead: Third Sunday after Epiphany
- Sunday, January 24, 2021 Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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This Week at Church of the Cross
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