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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Advent Evening Prayer
Confirmation Date
Sunday School Dates
Joint Advent Worship
Lunch Helpers Needed
Men’s Advent Breakfast
Making the Most of Electronic Devises
Gingerbread House Decorating
recent church sign
Angel Gifts
2023 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
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Benefit Concerts
Advent Vespers
Walk to End Gender
Winter Artisan Market
Living our Faith
Join This Week's Conversation
LWF Communion
16 Days of Activism Against Gender
Dec 6 service at FirstMet
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 1, 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, prayer, 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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Upcoming Confirmation Date:
Sunday, December 4, 4:30 PM at Church of the Cross
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Sunday School Dates:
December 11 & 18
No Sunday School this Sunday, Dec. 4.
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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Joint Advent Worship
Worship together with St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican
at Church of the Cross
Sunday, December 4, 2022
4:30 - 5:30 pm
 Join us for the upcoming Joint Advent Worship together with St. Luke’s, hosted at Church of the Cross. It has been some time since have been able to worship together with neighbours at St. Luke’s. Note the new start time on Dec. 4 at 4:30 PM. Come join us for worship with readings and Advent carols. Great to have our musicians and choirs joining their voices together.
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Men’s Advent Breakfast
December 10, 9:30 am at Upper Hall, Church of the Cross
 Calling all 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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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.
The kits include the prefabricated gingerbread house, gingerbread men, 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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Making the Most of Electronic Devises
 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 sometime in January. 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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A recent church sign message on trans inclusion and positive conversation it generated was noticed by Anglican colleagues. As a result Pr. Lyndon was invited to write an article about trans inclusion for Faith Tides, a monthly newsletter of the Anglican Diocese of Island and Inlets. You can read the article here.
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Angel Gifts!
 Once again, we are delighted to be joining other organizations and faith communities in providing Christmas gifts for the good folk in the Our Place family. This year we have been given 25 names of those who will be happy to receive some holiday cheer. As the winter weather and the pandemic stretches on, this is a good time to send a message of friendship from an “Angel” in the form of a Christmas gift and greeting card.
- A sign-up sheet is in the church hallway. As before, you may sign up in person OR contact Nicky in the church office by email or telephone to request the name of a person. You will also receive information regarding gender, size, age and their gift number.
- Purchase a gift (suggested ideas are new outer wear, a chocolate bar, a gift card for a downtown store or coffee shop) with the approximate value of $50.00
- Wrap the gift and write the gift number (not the name) on an Angel Tag found with the sign-up sheet. If you haven’t received an Angel Tag, please clearly write the gift number on the outside of the gift. We will make sure an Angel Tag is filled out and taped in place. No bows, cloth bags or shiny paper please. Gift bags should be taped closed and string handles tied together. If you wish to include a personal message or Christmas card, please put it inside the gift.
- Gifts will be blessed in our worship service on December 11. If you would like a shopper to do the shopping for you, or if you would like your gift picked up from your home and taken to church, feel free to contact Sherry Coughlin by December 4– the Social Justice Committee will be happy to shop and/or arrange to pick up the gift from your home and deliver it to the church by the 11th.
Thank you!
The Social Justice Committee
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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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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 Join us for a second year in celebrating the holiday season with dynamic vocalist Edie DaPonte together with the smooth musical rhythms of Joey Smith, Ryan Tandy, Tony Genge and Bob Watts. Featuring music styles from jazz to gospel and spanning several musical genres, these talented musicians will be performing everything from jazz standards to holiday favourites. Expect some surprises too, as Edie has a reputation for bringing both passion and playfulness to her live shows!
7:30 pm: Stephanie Greaves with Darcy Philips, Ryan Tandy and Bob Watts Get into the festive spirit and join us for an evening of song with local powerhouse vocalists Stephanie Greaves and Darcy Phillips accompanied by the musical talents of Tony Genge and Bob Watts. Along with holiday favourites these outstanding musicians will bring to the stage a selection of contemporary hits and jazz standards.
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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Walk to End Gender-Based Violence at UVic – Dec. 6, 11:30 AM
In honour of Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, UVic has cancelled all classes from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on December 6, 2022, and commemorates the day with a Walk to End Gender-Based Violence. The Gathering begins at UVic’s Petch Fountain in front of McPherson Library and will conclude at the Engineering Lab Wing. Everyone is welcome.
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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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Living our Faith: Love
Monthly encouragements are posted on the Living our Faith: Love website, as well as on social media pages and through ELCIC News. This month's reflection is from Jan Storch. A preview of her submission can be found below:
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Join This Week's Conversation on Signs of the Times with ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson
On each of the following Thursdays in Advent, participants to our Advent mediation series can attend a live discussion. This coming Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. EST, join Rev. Dr. Robert Faris, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in conversation with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's National Bishop Susan C. Johnson about the church in the 21st century. If you haven't signed up yet in our What Are We Waiting For? Advent mediation and conversation series, please click here.
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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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Dec 6 service at FirstMet/ Livestream also
December 6 is here again. Remembering never ending Violence against women. We need action. If you are not able to join us in person, please check FirstMet website: http://www.firstmetvictoria.com
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In-Person Worship, Sunday, December 4, 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:
 Second Sunday of Advent
December 4, 2022 Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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