Copy
Crossroads 

January 9, 2022

Baptism of Jesus
If you have a Mac or the links are not working,
please try clicking on 'View it in your browser'.
Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser. 
Friend us on Facebook Friend us on Facebook
Check out our Website Check out our Website
Email us Email us
Instagram Instagram
In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:

Provincial and Regional restrictions 
In-Person Worship and Sunday School, Sunday 10 AM
Hospitality on Pause
Invitation to Serve
Pr. Lyle’s Sabbatical
Celebrating Ordination of Bishop Kathy Martin
Thanksgiving for Bishop Greg Mohr

Sunday School on Pause
Can Running Bring You Closer to God?
Snow Clearing
Thrifty's Stamp Collection
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.
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.  
 

January 9, Baptism of Jesus
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.
 
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.
Hospitality on Pause

The Church of the Cross COVID Leadership Team met to discuss the current state of the  pandemic as it pertains to our life together as a congregation.  While in person worship will continue following the guidelines that have been in place since last year, we are pausing the hospitality time following worship.  We will continue to monitor developments regarding the spread of Omicron.  We encourage continued prayers for the well being of each other, our neighbours and the world.
 
The COVID-19 Leadership Team (Pastor Lyndon, Laura Cochrane, Janet Molnar, Rory Molnar, Nicky Ni and Craig Knight)
Invitation to Serve On-line Survey
 
You are invited to serve in the mission and ministry of Church of the Cross by choosing areas where you want to make a difference.  By
clicking on the link here, you will be directed to a simple online survey where you can choose among the many opportunities that exist to participate in the life of the congregation.  Please complete and submit this form by January 23.  If you have any questions, contact Craig Knight at craigrknight@gmail.com 
 
Resource Stewardship Committee
Pastor Lyle McKenzie’s Sabbatical 2022

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
Celebrating the Ordination of Bishop Kathy Martin
BC Synod - ELCIC




Right Photo: Bishop Kathy given her ordination cope.

Bottom Photo: Screenshot of Ordination Livestream, January 6, 4 PM PST at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Surrey, BC. Left to Right: Tarynn McKenzie (Secretary of BC Synod Council), Bishop Susan Johnson, Rev. Matthew Senf, Bishop Kathy Martin.

We give thanks for all the folks at Church of the Cross supporting Bishop Kathy’s ordination: Pr. Lyle as liturgist, Tarynn as assisting minister, Dana and Lynn making Bishop Kathy’s ordination cope, Angela coordinating communications on behalf of the BC Synod.

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.

Sunday School on Pause
 
We are pausing Sunday School, following the direction of Greater Victoria schools that have added an additional week of winter holidays. 
 
We will check with families to see when they feel comfortable participating in Sunday School in person.
Can Running Bring You Closer To God?



Check out this article from the Anglican Journal in which Pr. Lyndon was interviewed together with this running and mediation group with Multifaith UVic. Want to join a running group on campus? Check with Pr. Lyndon for details. Open to students and non-students.

On a related note Pr. Lyndon is looking to see who may be interested in running the upcoming Oak Bay 10K or Half Marathon on May 29, 2022. Its not just about running fast and more about building self-confidence and a social support structure. Committing to a goal with a small group can be an enriching form of self-care during a challenging time. E-mail Pr. Lyndon for more info: pastorlyndon@shaw.ca

Check out Oak Bay race details here. 

Your friends at St. Luke Cedar Hill invite you to Jazz Vespers in St. Luke's Church on Sunday, January 9th.
Jazz Up Your Sunday Evening with a Jazz Vespers service starting at 7 pm. This hour long service will feature lots of jazz along with contemporary prayers, poems, and readings. Come and see and hear what it’s all about!

3821 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria. Parking available onsite.
Thank you to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen for Snow Clearing

The Kitchen crew took the lead on clearing the walks the morning of Jan. 6. Some folks from Church of the Cross helped them finish clearing the wet snow. Great we can share in caring for our shared public spaces including sidewalks and entrances. Gyms might be closed, but snow shovelling offers a pandemic friendly workout.



Photo above, left to right: Pr. Lyndon, Ray, Mark.
Other Kitchen folks also helped not pictured here.
Thrifty's Stamp Collection

Women in Faith is collecting the stamps from Thrifty's Vivo pots and pans promotion. The stamps collected will be used to buy pots and pans for Shelbourne Community Kitchen. If you shop at Thrifty's but don't need the stamps please consider collecting and donating them. A box for the stamps has been placed by the mailboxes. 

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.

Read ahead: Baptism of Jesus
-  January 9, 2022               Isaiah 43:1-7 
                                            Psalm 29 
                                            Acts 8:14-17 
                                            Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 
Worship Bulletin:
 CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
This Week at Church of the Cross

Visit the Church Calendar
We are always looking to update your viewing experience. 
Please let us know if you have suggestions for your e-mail newsletter.  Email us by clicking
here.
If you would prefer not to receive a hardcopy of this newsletter in your church mailbox,
please let us know.  Email us by clicking
here.
Please click on the button below to go to our Website for calendar information.
Lutheran Church of the Cross Calendar
Share
Forward
If you would NOT like to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe button at the end of this email.
Printed copies of Crossroads are also available at the church
and mailed to people who request them.
To be added to our mailing list
please email or phone the church office at 250-477-6222.
3787 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, BC V8P 3Z4
  
www.lutheranvictoria.ca
 Rev. Lyle McKenzie, Co-Pastor (O) 250-477-6222; pastorlyle@shaw.ca
Rev. Lyndon Sayers, Co-Pastor (O) 250-477-6222; pastorlyndon@shaw.ca 
 Church Office (O) 250-477-6222; lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca
Our emailing address is:
lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca
 
Copyright © *2014* *Lutheran Church of the Cross*, All rights reserved.
unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

 






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
Lutheran Church of the Cross · 3787 Cedar Hill Road · Victoria, BC V8P 3Z4 · Canada

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp