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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Conversation with Wilton Littlechild
Earth Month: The Challenge
Special Congregational Meeting
A joint Easter message from the Primate and National Bishop
The Power of Words
UVic Centre For Studies in Religion and Society Lectures
Social Justice Committee opportunities for new members
Continuing Education courses online
Church Directory
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Flower Chart for 2021
Calling and Caring
COVID-19 Immunization Plan
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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Conversation with Wilton Littlechild
Former Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
7:00 - 8:15 pm PDT
Via Zoom
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/events/conversation-with-wilton-littlechild/2021-04-27
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Earth Month: The Challenge
 With 14 days until Earth Day, the Greening Committee wants to offer a variety of ways to participate. What was once a single day to focus attention on environmental issues has evolved into Earth Week and now, Earth Month. This year the Biden administration is hosting the global leader’s climate summit on April 22, and earthday.org is holding three parallel climate panels on April 20-21 that address climate literacy, environmental justice, and a variety of youth lead climate focused issues. Register to take part and get involved at the above website.
Shouldn’t every day be Earth Day? Why wait until April 22? In an effort to restore our earth, choose something new that reduces your carbon footprint, but continue to add activities to those already great things you do.
For April 2021, invite your entire family to take part in this challenge, virtually, or safely in small pods. Hey Kids, here’s a quick win for Earth Day: challenge friends and family by organizing a great litter cleanup. It can be around your block, neighbourhood, or the schoolyard. But it is IMPORTANT to follow protocols to BE SAFE: Wear gloves, carry bags to dispose of the trash, wear a mask, and stay socially distanced.
Issue a challenge to see who pickups the most trash whether its’ at a beach, your favorite hiking spot, the local park, or right around your block. After its March 11 launch, The Great Global Cleanup has taken off to highlight the need to prevent plastic trash out of our oceans. You join volunteers worldwide by registering with earthday.org or organize a litter patrol of your own. See the site for more information.
Most of us are familiar with the symbolic act of turning out our lights and unplugging all electrical devices between 8-9 pm on April 22. It is an act of solidarity with those wanting to reduce our carbon footprint but here is a short list of things to do now, with more information to follow about “Rethinking the 3 R’s of Recycling”.
Activities for kids of all ages:
Go meatless, vegetarian, or vegan one day each week
Watch, “The Nature of Things” episode called Wind with amazing section on Monarch butterflies
Start a compost heap to use organic food waste and replenish the soil
Print a scavenger hunt for an outdoor adventure to explore nature with all your senses
Plant a tree, make wildflower bombs, or create a propagator’s garden
Learn about plastics
Get up to see the sunrise, or go outside to see the sunset
Add the Recycle App to your phone for future reference
Go to the store you normally shop and look for alternative packaging or the least amount of packaging
Use beeswax wrap to replace single use plastic
And, we the Greening Committee want to hear about your Earth Day.
Email me at susandb@telus.net to share a story, or the list of things you did for the love of creation, and tell us what the experience was like for you. Share your Earth Day stories.
Can’t wait to hear from you,
Susan B
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Subject: Special Congregational Meeting - Review and Approval of Proposed Bylaw Changes
All  members are invited to a Special Congregational Meeting to be held via Zoom on April 18, 2021 starting at 11:15 AM PDT in place of the usual coffee time. The purpose of the meeting is to review and approve several changes to the church Bylaws, including:
• Renaming the "Board of Deacon's" to the "Board of Care for Communities"
• Clarify Board membership - Voting / Adjunct
• Minor housekeeping items for clarity
If you wish to review the proposed Bylaw changes prior to the meeting, please click here. If you should have any questions, please direct them to myself or to Jeanie Stann. Thank you!
Michael Coughlin
Chair
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A joint Easter message from the Primate and National Bishop
"When Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples could not quite believe it. They locked themselves into rooms; they isolated themselves from others." In this message for our second Easter of this pandemic, National Bishop Susan Johnson (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) and Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls (Anglican Church of Canada) speak to our collective experience of isolation and remind us of the continued signs of hope and resurrection around us.
Rostered and congregational leaders are encouraged to download and include the Easter Message in local worship. The message is available in various file sizes and formats. An audio-only version is also available for those with data and/or bandwidth limitations. To view the Easter Message video and access the various file formats, please click here.
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The Power of Words
The impact of worship language on the marginalized April 29 & 30, 2021 Outstanding lineup of speakers including Rev. Dr. Kieko Driedger Hesslein, Schmieder Fellow, LTS, Saskatoon
Program: Keynote addresses; breakout groups; reflection and worship.
For more details and to register:
https://event-wizard.com/Dubrick2021/0/register/
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UVic Centre For Studies in Religion and Society Lectures
The recent panel discussion with five presenters in the “Values for a New World” John Albert Hall Lecture series and other videos in this series and other lectures are all available at this link: https://vimeo.com/csrs.
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Social Justice Committee opportunities for new members
Are you interested in learning more about Social Justice issues or helping with events which work towards a more equitable and just relationship among God’s people? The Social Justice Committee welcomes and has opportunities for new members.
Projects undertaken by the Social Justice Committee can have educational and/or action-based aspects. The Committee focuses on global and local issues, such as: forced displacement and refugee sponsorship, anti-racism, climate change and the environment, food security, as well as, immediate issues brought to the Committee's attention.
For more information contact:
Sherry Coughlin sherry_coughlin@yahoo.ca
Susanne Standeven standeven3525@gmail.com
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Continuing Education courses online
The Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon (LTS)  is offering Continuing Education courses online. The courses being offered are the following:
"Queer Theologies" (SL349DL) - April 12-16 by the Rev. Dr. Kayko Driedger Hesslein
The last forty years had seen a rise in theologies from Christian LGBTQ+ communities. This course will study the works of lesbian, gay and trans theologians, and will explore their contributions to the proclamation of the gospel.
"Creation and sub-creation: Social and Religious Themes in J.R.R. Tolkien's Fiction" (SL331) - May 10-21 by the Rev. Dr. William Harrison.
Are you a Tolkien fan? Or interested in why everyone reads him and sees the movies? J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is among the most famous English-language literary works of the 20h century. Intriguingly, Tolkien was an active and committed Christian, but his longest and bestselling work shows almost no sign of religion. We will read a variety of Tolkien's fiction and his own reflection on the work of writing, in order to investigate the ways he related religion to fiction. This course will be of special interest to people who are interested in addressing faith issues in a secular world.
To register for these courses, please visit the "Occasional Non-Program" page of the LTS website. The link to the application form is at the bottom of the page.
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Church Directory
The new directory is ready, you may pick up a printed copy at the church or request a PDF copy by email.
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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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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
 For those who missed it, here is the COVID-19 Committee’s Update from last week: B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a new health order that applies to religious organizations, including Lutheran Church of the Cross. This “variance” as it is called, would permit the Church to hold outdoor in-person worship. Under this new order, congregational participation would be limited in number and all Covid-19 protocols currently in place would need to be followed – registration, physical distancing, hand washing, masks, no congregational singing and no visiting.
Indoor in-person worship is not permitted. The health order that would have allowed for indoor worship for up to four days, between now and May 13th, has been rescinded.
While we are encouraged to see some, albeit tentative, easing in restrictions, the consensus among the leadership of our Church favours a continuation of our worship just on livestream for the time being. There are three main reasons for this. The first is that Covid-19 case numbers are considerably higher than they were even when we were open in the fall. The second is that there is concern that the Covid-19 variants we have all heard about are more dangerous and the roll-out of vaccines will take time to reach all the members in the congregation, including those who lead worship – pastors, musicians, assistants and technical supporters. The third reason is that the announced changes come too late to permit us to simply alter all the arrangements that have been made to hold Holy Week and Easter worship in a livestream setting.
The Church leadership takes very seriously the advice of Dr. Henry and her staff and will continue to follow it as we progress towards an eventual exit from the pandemic. Our hope is to be in a position to restart in-person worship in the fall, sooner if at all possible. We also are looking to begin other important activities like Sunday School at the same time. Given the uncertainty that continues to surround our exit from the pandemic, our plans will adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities. One thing that won’t change is that the livestreaming of worship, which has become familiar to us, will continue even after we are able to meet in person.
Blessed Holy Week and Easter.
The Covid-19 Committee
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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 PDT:
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 PDT
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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This Week at Church of the Cross
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