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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Advent Evening Prayer
Christmas 2022
Sunday School Dates
Men’s Advent Breakfast
Lunch Helpers Needed
Christmas Tree Decorating
Gingerbread House Decorating
Harrison Place Gift Bags
Snow Shovelers Needed
Making the Most of Electronic Devices
Thank You Angel Gifts
2023 Pledge Campaign
Advent Lantern Walk
Nominations Leadership Award
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UCC Moderator Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne
Longest Night St. Luke's
Kitchen Concert
Advent Vespers
Winter Artisan Market
LWF Communion: Singing during Advent
16 Days
In-person Worship Protcols
Read ahead: Advent 3
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Advent Evening Prayer: Darkness Is Holy
Thursdays in Advent
December 8, 15, 22, 7 PM PDT
Church of the Cross
In-person & Livestream at LutheranVictoria.ca
Join us for a contemplative service during a busy time of year. Sit, pray, and sing into the anticipation of the Advent season. In this liturgy we lift up the theme “Darkness Is Holy,” remembering the ways that darkness and light interplay, both needing the other for revealing God’s holiness.
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Christmas 2022
Church of the Cross
In-person & Livestream at LutheranVictoria.ca
Christmas Eve, 5 PM, Carols & Candelight
Christmas Eve, 7 PM, Carols, Candelight, & Holy Communion
Christmas Day, 10 AM, Carols & Holy Communion
New Year's Day, 10 AM, Carols & Holy Communion
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Sunday School Dates:
December 11 & 18
Gingerbread House Building Saturday, December 17, 4 PM at Church of the Cross.
Note that Sunday School children are having some of their art featured on the covers of the order of worship. Last Sunday included a painting from Kyla and this Sunday artwork from Jackson.
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Men’s Advent Breakfast
December 10, 9:30 am at Upper Hall, Church of the Cross
 Inviting men to breakfast on Saturday, December 10 at 9:30 am in the Upper Hall at Church of the Cross. This is an opportunity for us to get better acquainted and to learn more about Lutheran worship from Pastor Lyle.
“Lutheran Christians are people of Word and Sacrament. Our liturgical worship expresses what we believe, including many direct quotes from the Bible. Looking at our worship and what we say and do, reminds us of who we are and how we are called to live in the Spirit of God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus.”
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Lunch Helpers Needed
 You are invited to be part of the LCC team that will be serving lunch at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre on Friday, December 9 at 11:30 am. This is one way of giving back to the Indigenous community on the South Island.
Join members of our Truth and Reconciliation Committee and learn more about the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. We need to know how many helpers we will have so contact Craig at craigrknight@gmail.com
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Christmas Tree Decorating and Pizza Supper
Thursday, December 15, 5 PM
Young families, choir members, and everyone is invited to join in decorating the Christmas tree at the church followed by a pizza supper on Thursday, December 15 beginning at 5 PM. Decorating will finish in time for choir rehearsal. And for those who can stay, Advent Evening Prayer will follow at 7 PM.
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Gingerbread House Decorating – Saturday, December 17th, 4:00 pm, Upper Hall, Church of the Cross
 After two years of decorating at home we are finally meeting in person to decorate individual gingerbread houses. We will begin at 4:00 PM in the Upper Hall. A pizza dinner will be provided at 5:30 PM.
The kits include the prefabricated gingerbread house, gingerbread people, gingerbread trees, icing, and some decorations. We will provide a sturdy base to put your house on. However, if you would like to add additional items to your gingerbread house you are welcome to bring extra decorations. If possible, we would like you to leave your house at the church overnight so that it will dry and so that others can see them on Sunday morning.
If you are planning to attend, please contact Janice (jbnel13@gmail.com) or the church office. Please advise of any dietary issues.
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Harrison Place Gift Bags
On Monday, December 5, 21 gift bags were assembled for the residents of Harrison Place. Harrison Place is a housing project for older women operated by Victoria Women's Transition House. Each bag contained a pair of pajamas, some food items, toiletries, gloves, candies, knitted dishcloths and scrubbies as well as a gift card for Fairways. Thanks to everyone who helped assemble the bags and a special thank you to all the generous businesses that donated items for them. They have been dropped off at the Victoria Women's Transition House and will be distributed to those at Harrison Place.
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Snow Shovelers Needed
If snow falls during Advent, Trustees are asking for volunteers to assist with shoveling municipal sidewalks and church walkways. We have two snow shovels at the church but if you have your own, please bring it. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Board of Trustees
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Making the Most of Electronic Devices
 The Tablet Group at Church of the Cross has been active for 17 years! It is a mix of members for the church and folks from the surrounding community. There is no cost involved to participate. The group is open to anyone with an interest in learning how to fully use their electronic devices and solve some of their mysteries. Gerry Saleski leads the group. They will gather again January 5, 2023. They meet bi-weekly on Thursdays at 10 AM in person at church and via Zoom. To learn more contact Gerry at gerry.saleski@gmail.com
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Thank You Angels!
Thank you to all who participated with providing Angel Gifts this season. A reminder that all gifts should be brought to church by Sunday, December 11, 10 AM when they will be blessed before being delivered to Our Place for their grand holiday party!
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2023 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
The 2023 Pledge Campaign is well under way with a number of pledges coming in already. Your pledge card was either placed in your church mailbox or mailed directly to your home. If you have misplaced your card or we forgot you, the link here provides you with a electronic version of the card to use/print out. It is requested that cards be returned by 11 December 2022 to enable church leadership to plan for the 2023 budget forecast.
Pledge cards can be mailed to the church, dropped off at worship, dropped off at the church office, or sent electronically to lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca or bhwalker@shaw.ca
If you have any questions about your pledge or giving in general please contact the Financial Secretary, Barry Walker 250-381-1698, 250-818-7931 bhwalker@shaw.ca
Thank you for your containing support of church and its work in the community.
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Advent Lantern Walk
Inclusive Christians at UVic gathered Wednesday evening for an Advent Lantern walk through Finnerty Gardens near the Multifaith Centre. Outdoor worship included Advent readings from scripture, poetry, and prayers. There were also 100+ lanterns with tea lights lighting the way. Thanks to Leslie and Rebecca, Vancouver School of Theology interns, for organizing and leading as of their campus ministry internship. Pr. Lyndon serves as a mentor for Rebecca as part of their internship process. Boston and Courtney also participated as readers. We enjoyed a meal of soup together following worship. Inclusive Christians takes a break between now and mid-January when programming on campus resumes.
Thanks to this semester's soup makers: Gail, Maureen, Don, and Janice. Let Pr. Lyndon, Pr. Lyle, or Nicky know if you would like to contribute soup for campus ministry in 2023.
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Nominations open for the 2023 Leadership Award
The ELCIC Leadership Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of rostered and lay members in service to the wider church. Presented at Assembly 2023 in Calgary, this award honours an individual committed to advancing the mission and ministry of the ELCIC. Full criteria and nomination information can be found here. Deadline for nominations is February 1, 2023.
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Join This Week's Conversation on Finding the Good Path
with UCC Moderator Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne
Join the conversation! Every Thursday in Advent participate in a discussion to continue the conversation on Advent mediations offered by our national leaders. This Thursday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. EST, join Rev. Dr. Robert Faris, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in conversation with The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator, The United Church of Canada about truth telling and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
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Longest Night Service
Your friends at St. Luke Cedar Hill invite you to the Longest Night Service on Sunday, December 18th at 7:00 pm. Whether you have experienced loss in your life or simply are finding it difficult to enter into Christmas this year for whatever reason… Come and enter gently into a quiet holy time… This Longest Night Service is a service of Light in the Midst of Darkness. You are welcome to invite a friend to come and share with you in this service of remembrance and hope.
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Making Spirits Bright
Two Shows - Benefit Concerts for the Shelbourne Community Kitchen
Sunday, December 11, 2022
4:00PM - 5:30PM
Sunday, December 11, 2022
7:30PM - 9:00PM
4:00 pm: Edie DaPonte with Joey Smith, Ryan Tandy,Tony Genge and Bob Watts
7:30 pm: Stephanie Greaves with Darcy Philips, Ryan Tandy and Bob Watts
Concert Ticket Information:
- Tickets are $20/person per show and can be purchased online through Canada Helps, in person at the Shelbourne Community Kitchen, with limited tickets available at the door.
- We also have a "Community Ticket" option where you can buy admission for a member of The Kitchen to attend the concert. Tax receipts available for Community Tickets only.
Read more about the Shelbourne Community Kitchen here.
Buy Tickets Online Here
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Advent Vespers
Sunday, December 11, 2022
4:30 - 5:30 pm
St. Luke's Church
 Your friends at St. Luke Cedar Hill invite you to Advent Vespers in St. Luke's Church on Sunday, December 11th at 4:30 pm. This vespers service will feature words and music to calm the spirit. Soak in the beautiful ambiance of St. Luke's at dusk. The church will be candlelit and there will be soft music, as well as readings and prayers..
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Winter Artisan Market
at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, 231 Regina Avenue, Victoria.
Friday Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. from 10 am. to 3 p.m.
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LWF Communion: A Singing Communion During Advent
For the fifth year, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) shares videos from LWF member churches and country programs for the 28 days of Advent starting November 27 to mark the start of the season. "Advent: A Singing Communion has been a creative expression of our shared Lutheran identity and the diverse contexts of the member churches," said LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt. The LWF will share videos daily from the first Sunday of Advent, November 27 until Christmas Eve, December 24. These will be published on the LWF website and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram, and among member churches worldwide.
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
This year's annual global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins o n November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day. The theme and activities of the 16 Days of Activism in 2022 are under the global banner "UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women & Girls." The goals are to mobilize society, women's rights organizations, governments, and human rights defenders in the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women's rights activists, to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women's rights, and to call for a world free from violence against women. For more details on how you can take and inspire action, please click here.
Thursdays in Black
The ELCIC joins with other organizations nationally and internationally in supporting Thursdays in Black - a campaign of solidarity and advocacy against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence which originally begun by the World Council of Churches. Each Thursday, we recognize the tragic reality that is gender-based violence by wearing black clothing or a Thursdays in Black pin/button. Share your Thursdays in Black photos on social media using the hashtag #ThursdaysinBlack. To watch a video invitation from National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, please click here. For more information and resources, please click here.
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In-Person Worship, Sunday, December 11, 10 AM PDT
Covid-19 and Worship
- We offer worship in both live (in-person) and livestream (online) formats.
- We rejoice in the gift of vaccination and encourage everyone to be / stay vaccinated & boosted if you are eligible.
- To protect vulnerable persons, we currently encourage the wearing of masks during worship, especially while singing.
- If you test positive, or have symptoms for Covid-19, please stay home (and worship via live-stream)!
- The Church Council reviews our COVID protocols and practices on a regular basis and will amend them when needed.
Church Council
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Read ahead:
 Third Sunday of Advent
December 11, 2022 Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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