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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Shrove Tuesday event
Ash Wednesday Worship Livestream
Annual Report, AGM date
With Sadness
An Invitation to a Care for Creation Lenten Journey
Lenten Night Prayer Livestream
“White Jesus And Me”
Black History local events
Installation of Rev. Aneeta Saroop
Victoria Multifaith Society AGM
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Flower Chart for 2021
Calling and Caring
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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Shrove Tuesday event
 Join in this Shrove Tuesday event over Zoom with the community of St. Luke’s Anglican, February 16 at 5:30 PM PST. The Zoom invitation will be sent separately by email. The event will include break out rooms for conversation and beginning at 6:15 PM burning of last years palms from Palm Passion Sunday in preparation for Ash Wednesday. Please contact the church office if you need information or assistance or did not receive the invitation.
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Joint Ash Wednesday Worship Livestream with St. Luke Cedar Hill
Wednesday, February 17, 7 PM PST
Church of the Cross is hosting the worship livestream and will be available on the regular platforms: lutheranvictoria.ca, Facebook Live, YouTube.
While we are not able to impose ashes in person this year, we are inviting people who wish to do so to burn a palm branch at home in preparation of Ash Wednesday worship. What is needed: palm branch, tinfoil plate, lighter or matches. Outside in a well ventilated space, burn the palm branches. In a small bowl mix some of the ashes with a drop of olive oil (less is more). Have a cloth available to clean hands afterwards. Now you are ready to impose ashes together with us during the Ash Wednesday worship livestream.
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Annual Report, AGM date, and prior question and answer gatherings
The Annual Report to the Congregation will be available by February 21. It will be emailed as a pdf to everyone connected to the congregation. If you do not receive the email copy, please contact the office. And if you wish to receive a printed copy, contact the church office and a copy can be picked up or mailed to you. For two Sundays, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28, Council members will be present at the “Virtual Coffee Time” following worship to respond to any questions or comments. The Congregation’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday, March 7 at 11:30 AM on Zoom. An invitation to the meeting will be sent by email prior to the Sunday.
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With Sadness
It is with sadness that we announce the death of Roland Stieda on Tuesday, February 9, one month prior to his 82nd Birthday, at Sannich Peninsula Hospital following a stroke on the previous Friday evening. Despite Covid-19 restrictions, Roland’s spouse, Lennor, was able to be with him during his time in the hospital. An online funeral for Roland will take place on Saturday, February 20 at 10:30 AM PST. The link for the livestream will be available on the church’s website, www.lutheranvictoria.ca. We grieve with and hold Lennor and their family and friends in our prayers.
Rest eternal grant him, O God, and let light perpetual shine upon him.
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L enten Night Prayer Livestream
Thursdays in Lent, 7 PM PST
Beginning February 25
Available on the regular platforms: lutheranvictoria.ca, Facebook Live, YouTube
We will be using the Night Prayer rite from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 320-327). We will provide on screen text and you can follow along in worship books at home if you have one available.
An opportunity for finding comfort and rest in prayer and music.
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An Invitation to a Care for Creation Lenten Journey
 The BC Synod Climate Justice Action group has created 'An Invitation to a Care for Creation Lenten Journey'. A Lenten Calendar has been prepared for your use. Use it in your congregations and small groups. Distribute to families and individuals. This Lent let us encourage one another to turn our hearts and minds towards God and God's delight for all of creation to do well, together.
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“White Jesus And Me”
by Catherine Pate Director of Communications for the Diocese of Islands and Inlets (British Columbia).
“It is hard to be “inclusive” when our language, our iconography, our music, our architecture, our programs and our leaders are all white, unless by “inclusive” we mean, you’re welcome to join us, but you’ll have to ignore all the whiteness or “assimilate” into it. So, what is a white church to do?
We don’t have to go far to find the places where the white church can take definitive action on our baptismal call to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every person.” Ask yourself: Who is not here with us in this community of faith, and what is it that might be preventing them from joining us? Who holds the power, and what perspectives are missing at the tables where decisions are made? What are we prepared to lose to make space for those perspectives to be heard and for them to reshape or even transform our community? Where is the voice of God’s justice missing in our neighbourhoods and communities? How can our church magnify that voice?”
https://www.anglicanjournal.com/white-jesus-and-me/
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Black History local events
The BC Black History Awareness Society is offering events “to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of historical and contemporary people of African descent”. To sign up for an event or to read more about Black History in Canada or find a more local context for British Columbia follow this link https://bcblackhistory.ca/events/
*Wednesday Feb 17 2:30-4:15 p.m. SYMPOSIUM ON BLACK MIGRATION AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. Livestream with Canadian and American scholars discussing their continuing research that reveals valuable insights on this period of Black history.
*Saturday, Feb 20 1-3:00 pm. “THE FIFTH ELEMENT” with special guest speaker Ernie Paniccioli, legendary Hip Hop photographer and member of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame.
*Sunday, February 21 2:00 -3:30 pm ROSS BAY CEMETERY TOUR ONLINE A guided tour of the graves of Black Pioneers at Ross Bay. The ZOOM link will be available in February.
*Friday, February 26 7-8:30 pm PABLO CÁRDENAS PLAYS OSCAR PETERSON The concert can be watched on February 26th beginning at 7:00 pm through Hermann’s Jazz Club Livestream
Join us as we celebrate the 6th year of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent at the second edition of the Regional Black Canadians Forum in the Capital Region!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-history-month-2021-the-symposium-tickets-100505340178
Social Justice Committee
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Installation of Rev. Aneeta Saroop
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Victoria Multifaith Society AGM: The Global 911 Call
7 pm, Wednesday 24 February, 2021
 In accordance with Covid-related guidelines from BC Societies, VMS will hold its 2020 AGM online at 7pm, Wednesday, 24 February 2021, beginning with an inspiring event on the Healing the Planet theme.
Dr Mary-Wynne Ashford will speak on the hopeful, game-changing efforts underway to reshape international institutions to reflect our common spiritual values.
Dr Ashford, MD, PhD. is Past President of International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War which won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. She has been a leader in the international peace and disarmament movement for over twenty years, and has a special interest in the need for global collaboration at this critical point in our history.
The presentation and Q&A session will be followed by a brief report by the Victoria Multifaith Society and introduction of the board.
This event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the UVic Multifaith Centre, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Canada) and the Community Partnership Network, a program of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria.
The zoom link and reminders are given with free Eventbrite registration.
Alternatively you can save the link below.
https://uvic.zoom.us/j/87625094842?pwd=anlZVEplSXgxc3JKR1NVYUZXbmlOZz09
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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
The orders of our BC Public Health Officer were updated on February 5, extending the current restrictions indefinitely but to be reviewed at the end of February. These require that the Church remain closed to all in-person worship and public gatherings. We will continue our current practise of livestreaming our worship and meeting remotely until the restrictions change. Thank you for everyone’s patience and understanding. The Covid-19 Leadership Team will continue to provide updates as needed. We give thanks that administering the vaccine continues. We look forward to it being widely available to everyone. Here is the link to the government of BC information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
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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 PST:
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 PST
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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Read ahead: Transfiguration Sunday - Remembering Stolen Sisters 
- Sunday, February 14, 2021 2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
1 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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This Week at Church of the Cross
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