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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
2020 Tax Receipts
Dessert and Dialogue postponed, AGM date
Video Study Course and discussion
Shrove Tuesday Event
Ash Wednesday Worship Livestream
Lenten Night Prayer Livestream
Denise Pawliuk’s new podcast series S.O.F.
2021 Garden Sale Fundraiser
Black History local events
Moose Hide Campaign Day 2021
Ongoing Collection of Warm Cozy Clothing
Victoria Multifaith Society AGM
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ELCIC Youth Climate Network
The Meaning of Home
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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2020 Tax Receipts
2020 Tax receipts will be available shortly. You can choose to receive your receipt by email, pick it up at the church, or it will be mailed to your home.
If you wish an email receipt or to pick it up at the church please contact the Financial Secretary Barry Walker at bhwalker@shaw.ca or call him at 250-381-1698.
Unless you indicate otherwise your receipt will be mailed out no later than Monday February 8th.
Once you receive your receipt if you have any questions please contact Barry Walker bhwalker@shaw.ca, 250-381-1698. Thank you for your continuing generosity in support of Lutheran Church of the Cross.
Barry Walker
Financial Secretary
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Dessert and Dialogue postponed, AGM date, and prior question and answer gatherings
A Dessert and Dialogue congregational update scheduled for Feb. 3 similar to the one held in December has been postponed. The Covid-19 update from our Provincial Health Officer will not take place until Feb. 5. And financial and other information will be provided in the Bulletin of Reports which will be available before February 21. And 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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Video Study Course and discussion, Winter 2021 – Indigenous Canada, Tuesdays, 7- 8:15 PM continuing, February 9
 A video study and discussion group began on Zoom on January 19, taking the online course, Indigenous Canada through the University of Alberta. https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html Others are still welcome to join. Participants in the Tuesday sessions register for the free online course and view the week’s lesson prior to the Tuesday discussion. For those who are interested, or if you have any questions, please contact the church office to be included in the email list for more information.
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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.
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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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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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Check out Denise Pawliuk’s new podcast series S.O.F. (Stories of Faith)
These first episodes are only a few minutes long sharing personal stories around faith. Much like radio, podcasts use audio for storytelling. One key difference is that podcasts are hosted online and can be listened on demand. You may have noticed some of your favourite radio shows, including on CBC, are now available as podcasts as the popularity of this format grows.
Click on the link below and check out these stories of faith, including a trailer for the series and two 5 min. stories from the Gospel of Mark.
https://open.spotify.com/show/0lN0reMv9FaDiKlQLZUTbx
Great to explore another medium for storytelling around Bible and faith.
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2021 Garden Sale Fundraiser for Shelbourne Community Kitchen
 Spring is just around the corner so let’s do it again this year! Let’s have an informal Plant Stand at the end of my driveway at 3597 Thistle St like we did in 2020 when our Annual St Aidan’s Garden Sale was cancelled due to Covid. Last spring we made over $3500 for the Shelbourne Community Kitchen in the two months between May 1st and July 1st and we did it together from this little plant stand.
What is needed to set up the Plant Stand is:
- perennials from your garden (labelled)
- seedlings that you have started (labelled)
- plastic pots, ceramic pots, useable tools and fun garden art
- indoor plants
So go wild like you did in 2020 and let’s donate even more $$$ to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen in 2021! The stand will open May 1st so please have some garden donations to me by then and just keep the goodies coming until the end of June and together we will support the good work of the Shelbourne Community Kitchen. Call the number below if you wish to arrange for pick-up of your donations. Covid protocols will be adhered to.
Thanks,
Vivian Skinner
3597 Thistle St.
250 595-0543
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Black History local events
The BC Black History Awareness Society is offering five 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/
*Sunday Feb 7 2-3 p.m. PUTTING BLACK BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORY TO WORK: CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS OF HISTORICAL BLACKNESS Online talk followed by 15 minute Q&A with Prof. Handel Kashope Wright, Director of the Centre for Culture, Identity and Education.
*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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Moose Hide Campaign Day 2021
We invite you to our next Moose Hide Campaign Day across  the country! Join us on February 11th as we come together online for a day of inspiration, ceremony and fasting. It's almost the 10th year of our campaign. We’ve come together with you each year to re-commit in our pledge to see an end to violence towards women and children. To remember those we have lost. To share our stories and struggles. To grow closer through the experience of fasting and ceremony. To motivate one another with all we have managed to achieve. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve taken the decision that for the first year this will be a fully virtual event, combining our national and provincial gatherings into one bigger event. We hope we can recreate a similar memorable shared experience, one where even more of you from across the country will be able to take part.
On the day, expect…
• Ceremony
• Words from our co-founders
• Keynote speakers
• Hearing from Elders
• Workshops
• The opportunity to take part in the one-day fast
To learn more about the Moose Hide story and Moose Hide Campaign Day (Feb. 11), please discover more on the Moose Hide website. (moosehidecampaign.ca)
Dave Lefsrud, on behalf of our LCC Truth and Reconciliation Committee
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Ongoing Collection of Warm Cozy Clothing, Outwear, Blankets and Sleeping Bags
 Thank you for your generous support of items donated throughout December and January. A variety of scarves, hats, gloves/mittens, warm clothing and blankets were taken to Our Place by Carol Tastad. Thank you Carol for taking these items to Our Place for them to distribute to those needing additional winter clothing!
The collection boxes have been updated and will continue to be available in the church entranceway to gather comfortable, warm, gently used or new clothing items for homeless and marginalized residents in our community throughout February and March. Items collected during February and March will go to places such as the Dandelion Society or Cool Aid which assist a slightly different population of people from Our Place. This gathering of items will conclude on Palm Passion Sunday March 28th with the annual collection of coats, blankets and sleeping bags which Church of the Cross has traditionally collected for the Palm Passion Sunday procession.
Social Justice Committee
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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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ELCIC Youth Climate Network
 The ELCIC is seeking to establish a Youth Climate Network. If you are under 30 years of age and would like to be part of this network, please contact Rev. Paul Gehrs, Justice and Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, pgehrs@elcic.ca.
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The Meaning of Home
January 4 to February 19, 2021
The Meaning of Home contest is back! Habitat for Huma nity Victoria is excited to announce that the Meaning of Home contest is now officially open for submissions. Beginning January 4th and running until February 19th, students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to help support a local Habitat build by submitting an essay or poem on what home means to them. We hope that you will consider engaging your students in this national movement. Remember, every entry makes a difference. For each submission founding sponsor Sagen will donate $10 to Habitat Canada.
Three grand prize winners, one from each grade, will receive a  $30,000 grant to be directed to the local Habitat build of their choice, an iPad and a pizza party for their class. Nine runners up, three from each grade, will also receive a $10,000 grant towards a local Habitat build, a tablet and a pizza party for their class.
https://www.habitatvictoria.com/current--upcoming-events.html
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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 current orders of our Public Health Officer are in place until February 5, requiring 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 at least February 7. Thank you for everyone’s patience and understanding. The Covid-19 Leadership Team will continue to provide updates as needed. We give thanks that a vaccine has been approved and administering the vaccine is beginning. 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: Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany 
- Sunday, February 7, 2021 Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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This Week at Church of the Cross
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