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.  
 

• 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.
• It is not required that people register for worship ahead of time or sign in as you arrive.

BC Synod Doctrine of Discovery Lenten Series

As part of your Lenten Spiritual Practice join us on Zoom for 6 weeks starting March 3rd as we take an in depth look at the Doctrine of Discovery, a document that has shaped western attitudes towards Indigenous people for the past five centuries. 

6 Thursdays: March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7
7:00 to 7:20 PM PST Evening Prayer
7:30 to 8:30 PM PST Video Discussion
All sessions over Zoom

Organized by the Journey Towards Reconciliation Group (on which Pr. Lyndon serves) each evening will start with a 20 minute Lenten Evening Prayer led by different congregations in the BC Synod (Church of the Cross will be leading one of the Evening Prayer sessions). Then we take a short break before we dive into a one hour discussion with video on the Doctrine of Discovery, a documentary produced by the Anglican Church of Canada. 

Come to one or all of them. This is a great chance to start or continue your journey of reconciliation with your Indigenous siblings both as individuals and as a congregation. We invite people to sign up on Eventbrite so we can get an idea of how many people are coming. Below you will find the Eventbrite Link and links to two videos that you can use to promote this event in your congregation.

Save the Date:

Prayer Around the Cross: Lenten Evening Prayer at Church of the Cross
Thursdays in Lent, 7:00 PM PST, In person & livestream (25 min.)
5 Thursdays: March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7

Simple liturgy of word and music including invitation to light candles and place them around the prayer wall.

More details to come.

Stolen Sisters Honoured this Sunday, Feb. 13, 10 AM PST

We begin Sunday worship reading the names of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. We also observe the day by hanging a red dress from the processional cross. In the past there has been a Stolen Sisters march in downtown Victoria on February 14. Read the backgrounder in the article below about this day, reprinted from a past issue of Canada Lutheran (July 2019), written by Craig Knight and Barb Smart.

Stolen Sisters Remembered

Murdered. Missing. These words evoke fear, anger and grief. We hear of murders and disappearances on a regular basis. Yet, unless it happens to someone in our family or among our friends, it is easy to see it as tragedy at a distance.

Violence and murder are a significant reality for many Indigenous women and children in B.C. and across Canada.

We have been called into reconciliation as individuals and churches in Canada to honour, respect and walk as Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together. We aim to emulate Jesus’ model of love and welcome to all God’s peoples. We have seen the struggles and work to honour the dead, the ancestors and to heal and forgive all that Indigenous Peoples have and continue to endure. What can we do as Lutherans?

We can empathize with the years of loss of beloved daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts and children through murder that has not been brought to justice or missing loved ones not found. Church of the Cross and Grace in Victoria, have been attending the Stolen Sisters March and have done a memorial at each church in February for the last three years. Each memorial looks different, as circumstances and resources dictate. Each memorial has increased our congregations’ response, interest and commitment.

On Sunday, Feb. 17, the two congregations honoured the memory of 21 B.C. First Nations women who were murdered or missing.

As worship began at Church of the Cross, a red dress hung from the processional cross. Twenty-one women silently made their way from the congregation to stand in front of the communion table. Each carried a sheet of paper with the name of one of those 21 women, one was an infant. Their names were read one by one. Their age was given. The date of their murder or disappearance was spoken. Most of the disappearances or murders were noted as unresolved.

At Grace there was a memorial procession at the end of worship with a woman’s red dress covered in a traditional wrap carried on the processional cross. A red carnation was given to each woman of the congregation. In both congregations, prayers were offered for loved ones and asking for help to walk together. We both are on a reconciliation journey that goes further.

The following prayer was offered at Grace:

Dear God, help us as a church and as individuals to honour Indigenous sisters who have been murdered or reported missing through the years in Canada. We pray for your healing touch over the families and friends of these women and children across Canada, who are still deeply grieving. Send your Spirit to inspire all the supporting women and men who honour their memory and have participated in the March or in national civil or church ceremonies, so that we all examine the reasons for violence and find and champion ways to stop the violence done to Indigenous women, and all women across Canada.

Creator, we also pray that you would help us to learn the real history of the Indigenous Peoples, to shed prejudices and to treat one another with the honour, respect and welcome that was modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to stand together for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and to support one another in crises and in work toward healing and forgiveness, for we are brothers and sisters through your perfect love for all through Christ. Amen

While we grieve the loss of these daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers and aunts, we are empowered by the gospel of Jesus to stand in solidarity with the survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women. We are empowered to seek justice for them and to seek reconciliation with grieving Indigenous communities.
Remembering and honouring the victims of the ultimate violence is an important action in the journey of healing as Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together.

Consider how your congregation can add its voice in remembering murdered and missing Indigenous women in your community.—Craig Knight and Barb Smart

Black History Awareness Events



To recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of historical and contemporary people of African descent the Black History Awareness Society is offering a variety of online and in-person events throughout the month of February. Some events are free and some require tickets. All require pre-registration for online links and further information.
 
For event details and registration click here https://bcblackhistory.ca/events/
  
Black History and Heritage Day Feb 12th 1:00-4:00 PM at Royal BC Museum, Clifford Carl Hall. Free! IN-PERSON
 
A conversation with Dr. Cornel West, Professor, Philosopher, Author, Activist. “Being a Hope Amid Crises”
Feb 16th 5:00–6:00 pm PT LIVESTREAM
 
At the Belfry Theatre with soulful, iconic singers Dawn Pemberton and Louise Rose. In-Person and Livestream
Feb 21st 7:00-8:30 pm
 
Artist Doaa Magdy has created AR “Dynamic Diasporas” that will highlight stories of Black pioneers. Feb 25th to 27th
 
Join us for the Ross Bay Cemetery Guided Tour of some of the pioneer gravesites
Feb 27th 2:00-3:00 pm IN-PERSON

Eastern Synod Black History Month



The Eastern Synod of the ELCIC has put forward this challenge to all its members for the 2022 Black History Month.  Perhaps we, the members of the BC Synod, could join them on this journey.  Here is the call they have issued. 

Dear friends,

We challenge all members of the Eastern Synod to engage with Black History Month. Every week, during the month of February, you will receive resources included with your weekly Synod Newsletter, that will help you. However, you might choose to read a book by a Black author, watch a documentary or video, listen to a podcast, etc.... then, discuss it with someone - tell your pastor what you learned! Ask your pastor what they are doing this month to engage with Black History Month! 

Send an email to our Racial Justice Advisory Committee about your thoughts or whatever comments you may have. Whatever you do, just do something!

We would love to hear from you!

Visit the Eastern Synod’s Black History Month webpage.

Here is a video message from Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse:

1. explore what God is doing in your neighbourhood
2. seek to develop relationships with others in your community
3. encourage participation in God’s mission in the local community
4. encourage action and reflection learning