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If you have a Mac or the links are not working,
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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Funeral for Marge Wilkie
January Men’s Breakfast
By Heart: Lutheran Faith Update
Reconciling in Christ Sunday
Reuse-able bag request
Funeral for Rev. Bruce Gelhorn
Take Part in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
A Message from Bishop Kathy
Compassionate Justice Updates
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In-Person Worship
Read Ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Funeral for Marge Wilkie
The funeral for Marge Wilkie will take place on Friday, January 13 at 11 AM PST at Christ Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario. The worship will be livestreamed and can be accessed here. We give thanks for Marge’s presence in this community and continue to hold Marge’s family and all who grieve in our prayers.
Rest eternal grant her, O God, and let light perpetual shine upon her.
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January Men’s Breakfast
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 21, 9:30 AM in the Upper Hall for the next Men’s Breakfast.
Watch for details in Crossroads!
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By Heart: Lutheran Faith Update
 We are ordering By Heart books. Thank you to everyone who asked us to order a copy. Please make payment to to the church office for your copy. Let us know if you have any questions about that.
Next steps: We will be checking in with people who have expressed interest in joining the small group conversation over Zoom. We will be trying to accommodate the schedules for newer folks for whom this is an intro to Lutheran theology and hoping the time works for most people. This will most likely be a weekday evening with a one hour Zoom conversation each week for about nine weeks. We will follow up directly via e-mail with people who have ordered books and with details about next steps for those wanting to join the conversation. If you have any questions feel free to check in with Pr. Lyndon or Pr. Lyle.
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Reconciling in Christ Sunday
This year we will be celebrating Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday worship on January 22, 10 AM PDT. This is something we do each year, reaffirming our commitment as a Reconciling in Christ or queer-affirming congregation. We will be using parts of a liturgy created specifically by Reconciling Works for this celebration which emphasizes queer inclusion in all parts of the church and Christian life. This year we are pleased to welcome Rebecca (Reba) Yeo (they/them/theirs) as guest preacher. Rebecca is currently serving as an intern at the Multifaith Centre with Inclusive Christians. Pr. Lyndon is serving as internship supervisor. Great that we can support Rebecca in their formation on the way to becoming ordained as a rostered minister in the Anglican diocese here on the island.
Learn more about Reconciling Works, a Lutheran para-ministry, that oversees the Reconciling in Christ program.
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Reuse-able bag request
 Shelbourne Community Kitchen is in desperate need of reuse-able grocery bags for their pantry program. The perfect bags are the classic Thrifty's or Fairway bags (giant wal-mart bags and liquor store style bags are both too big and too small for them to use).
Thank you.
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Funeral for Rev. Bruce Gelhorn
It is with sadness that we announce that Rev. Bruce Gelhorn died this past week in Winnipeg. A number of people of this community knew Bruce well. A funeral service will be held on Monday January 16, 7:00pm MST at Grace Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, MB. The service will be livestreamed. The link to the stream can be found here or click here.
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Take Part in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is an ecumenical celebration held each year from January 18-25. Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on Scripture together, to participate in ecumenical services and to share fellowship. The 2023 theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU), chosen by the Minnesota Council of Churches (USA), is "Do good; seek justice." Based on Isaiah 12:1-17, the international theme and materials call Christians to recognize that the divisions between our churches and confessions cannot be separated from the divisions within the wider human family. Various resources for worship, bible study, and more are now available when you click here.
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A Message from Bishop Kathy
Historica lly, during early January, the bishops of the ELCIC meet with our American ELCA colleagues for the Academy of Bishops--a week of fellowship, learning and inspiration. This year, our national bishop and the five synodical bishops of the ELCIC are instead making a pilgrimage of Canadian bishops to the Holy Land. We will visit some of the work of the Lutheran World Federation in the region and visit some ministries of our partners, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). We will also have the great joy of participating in the ordination of the first female pastor in the ELCJHL. This journey will include time in Jerusalem, Galilee, Bethlehem, and a few other places deeply familiar to us through the stories of our faith.
We fly out of Toronto for Tel Aviv. God willing, we will be back home late on the 25th of January. We covet your prayers for safe travels, and inspiring days.
While I am away Assistant to the Bishop Pastor Rebekah Swanson (rswansonbcsynod@gmail.com) and Pastor Matthew Senf (matthew@thecathedral.ca) are available to assist you. Pastor Senf will function as my commissary.
God’s peace and blessings,
Bishop Kathy
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Compassionate Justice Updates
Watch Forgotten Tragedies: Remembering the Past and Moving Towards Reconciliation - a recording
The World Council of Churches webinar Forgotten Tragedies: Remembering the Past and Moving Towards Reconciliation was recorded on December 13, 2022. It features speakers from around the world, including Canada, and offers meaningful reflections on the role that racism played in history and how it influences the present. You can view the recording when you click here.
Watch Voices from COP27 - a recording
Video recording of an online conversation with the KAIROS/For the Love of Creation delegates who have just returned from the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. It features two panels of delegates who explore how the conference has shaped their thinking about climate justice work going forward. Panels discussed the perspectives of prioritizing Indigenous voices, the impacts and roles of women, and concerns about resource extraction. The recording of the December 1 session was posted on the delegation page along with the recording of the November 3 session before they went to Egypt.
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In-Person Worship, Sunday, January 15, 10 AM PST
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 after Epiphany
January 15, 2023 Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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