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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Provincial and Regional restrictions
In-Person Worship and Sunday School, Sunday 10 AM
Christmas Worship
Christmas Worship and Covid-19 Protocols
Christmas Eve Helpers Needed!
Christmas Tree Decorating
Sunday School
Thank you
Pr. Lyle’s Sabbatical
Snow Shovelers Volunteers Needed
Thank You Trustees
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Joint Christmas Message
Christmas greetings from Becca and Zander
Behind the Scenes: Bishop-elect Ordination
Zoom Link for Bishop-elect Ordination
St. Luke's Prescription
Thanksgiving for Bishop Greg Mohr
Upcoming Dates for Sunday School
Learning Day Follow-up
Four Gospels Many Resurrections
Read ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon. Thank you.
Please visit our website for more information about us and our events.
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Provincial and Regional restrictions have been updated as of Dec. 21, 2021:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions
Worship Services fall under “Restrictions that have not changed” as of today’s update.
Same protocols as earlier this month:
“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.
Christmas Worship
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. If refreshments are served in the Upper Hall, you may remove your mask when seated at a table for eating and drinking.
It is not required that people register for worship ahead of time or sign in as you arrive (with the exception of Christmas Eve worship we are asking people contact the church office to RSVP for the 5 or 7 PM service).
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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Christmas Worship
Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24
5 PM PST – Christmas worship with carols and candlelight
7 PM PST – Holy Communion Christmas Worship with carols and candlelight
Please register for Christmas Eve worship by email: lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca or phone 250-477-6222.
Christmas Day – Saturday, December 25
11 AM PST – Holy Communion Worship with Carols
Christmas 1 – Sunday, December 26
10 AM PST – Holy Communion Worship with Carols
Christmas 2 – Sunday, January 2, 2022
10 AM PST – Holy Communion Worship with Carols
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Christmas Tree Decorating
Thank you to everyone who helped with setting up and decorating the Christmas tree this season, especially Rose and Rob Calland. Photos below of setting up lights, tree decorating, and learning about livestreaming before Advent Vespers. Thanks to our musicians for making Advent Vespers a time of reflection. Thank you to those who helped decorate the church space with fabrics for the Christmas season.
    
 
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Sunday School
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday School made “crankies,” which are an early form of using moving pictures with storytelling. In the children’s time Florentien told the story of Mary using a cranky she created.
  
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Thank you
 We are forwarding a big thank you from the Angel Gifts coordinators at Our Place to all who participated and donated. The Lutheran Church of the Cross along with 15 other churches and organizations was able to provide an Angel Gift to nearly 800 individuals in shelters and supportive housing all around Victoria this year giving each of them a present to open for Christmas.
Sherry Coughlin and Bill Williamson
On behalf of the Social Justice Committee
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In November of 2021, Council approved a Sabbatical for Pastor Lyle in 2022 at a time that was appropriate for the congregation and pastors. The congregation provides sabbaticals to our pastors after every six years. Pastor Lyle’s last Sabbatical was in 2015.
After discussions and consideration of commitments and options in 2022, Pastor Lyle will take a three-month Sabbatical beginning January 7 and returning April 7, 2022.
Sabbaticals are intended for study, renewal, and rest. Pastor Lyle has proposed further study in areas of worship, including early church and present-day experiences of Communion in the home, and the overall concern of decolonizing liturgies of the church. He also hopes there will be a chance to meet with and honour past mentors in ministry.
If you have any questions, please contact the Council Executive through the church office, or Pastor Lyle or Pastor Lyndon.
Church Council
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Trustees are looking for Volunteer Snow Shovelers
 The strange weather we are experiencing has not yet shown its full colours and I anticipate snow storms in December and January. Snow removal from the sidewalks on Ceder Hill Road, Cedar Hill Cross Road and around the church building is our responsibility and vital for the safety of all who attend the Church and our neighbours. Volunteer snow shovelers are required to keep snow off the municipal and church sidewalks. If it snows, please come with your shovels and help as much as you can. Your help in this labour is greatly appreciated.
Grant Froyland
Board of Trustees
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Thank you to the Trustees
Many thanks to all the Trustees for doing so much work around the church, including Lee pictured below changing lightbulbs.
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A Joint Christmas Message From The Primate And National Bishop
Click here to read the Christmas message.
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Christmas greetings from Becca and Zander
 
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Behind the Scenes: Bishop-elect Ordination
Bishop-elect Kathy Martin getting fitted for an ordination cope by Dana and Lynn.
As well, Pr. Lyle has served as the liturgist on creating the ordination liturgy. Good to see Church of the Cross sharing gifts for this significant occasion in the life of the BC Synod taking place on the Feast of Epiphany, January 6. See article below on how to watch the livestream of the ordination.
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Zoom Link for Ordination of Bishop-elect Kathy Martin, Jan. 6, 4 PM PST
Zoom link information
Time: Jan 6, 2022 04:00 PM Vancouver
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86570768744
Meeting ID: 865 7076 8744
The Ordination service will take place on January 6th, 2022 at 4:00 pm (PST) at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2350 – 148 Street, Surrey. It will also be live-streamed so that those who are not able to attend in person may also join us in worship.
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Link to the Christmas 2021 Issue of St. Luke's Prescription
Christmas Blessings to you!
The Christmas 2021 Issue of St. Luke's Prescription is now posted on St. Luke’s website.
Please feel free to pass this link along to anyone who might be interested.
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Thanksgiving for Ministry – upon the Retirement of Bishop Greg Mohr
Zoom Link for Thanksgiving on Jan. 7, 8 PM PST.
Zoom link information
Time: Jan 7, 2022 08:00 PM Vancouver
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81417647395
Meeting ID: 814 1764 7395
On Friday, January 7th, 2022 at 8:00 pm (PST) we will gather online to give thanks to God for Bishop Greg’s ministry to our synod and offer our blessings as he begins his retirement. There will be music, reminiscences and a few short speeches.
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Upcoming Dates for Sunday School
 Baptism of Jesus, January 9
We invite families with young kids to join us for Sunday school on the above upcoming Sundays.
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Learning Day Follow-up via Zoom
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 9am
Click here to connect to Zoom Meeting
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Four Gospels Many Resurrections: Invitations to Easter
Zoom presentations lead by Dr. Hairy Maier
Dr. Harry Maier, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Vancouver, will be leading Zoom presentations on "Four Gospels Many Resurrections: Invitations to Easter" thanks to St. Dunstan's Anglican Church. The presentations will be Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30PM on January 18, January 25, February 1, and February 8 (and a 5th one after Easter on the so-called Gnostic Gospels). Dr. Maier is New Testament and Early Christian Studies Professor at Vancouver School of Theology.
From Harry: "What is Easter? What do we mean when we confess that God raised Jesus from the dead? How do we experience this in our lives? The New Testament tells several stories about Easter. They are not the same stories and each one conveys the resurrection differently and invites us to consider what Easter means for us in various ways. This series invites us to a lively engagement with the many resurrection stories of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as well as extracanonical Gospels (The Gospel of Mary; The Gospel of Philip; The Gospel of Truth; etc.) to consider the many ways that early Jesus followers conceived of the resurrection and how they wanted to acclaim that confession to others. Each week we will take up the resurrection stories as they are found in one or more of the Gospels to see the ways they convey the good news of Christian faith."
Please click here for more information and to register for these sessions.
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Read ahead:
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2021 Isaiah 9:6 -7
Luke 2:1-20
Christmas Day
December 25, 2021 Isaiah 52:7-10 / Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-12 / John 1:1-14
First Sunday of Christmas
December 26, 2021 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 / Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17 / Luke 2:41-52
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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