Copy
Crossroads 

November 1, 2020

All Saints Sunday 
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:

A Message from your Stewardship Committee
Angel Gifts 2020
Welcoming New Members
Survey on Racism
Violent situation in regard to Mi'kmaw fishing in Nova Scotia
Video Study Group 
You are invited to a year of reading the Bible! 

Covid-19 Update/In-person Worship continues
Holy Communion continues every Sunday
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.
A Message from your Stewardship Committee
 
As we approach the final months of 2020, the Stewardship Committee is pleased to report that we are close to reaching the overall giving goals that we set out in terms of our pledges for the year. This is a remarkable achievement given the major disruption to all of our lives and the life of your church caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Keep up the good work! Your generous support of the church and its work, both within our own community and in the wider world in which we live, is appreciated by so many.
 
While financial support is a key expression of stewardship, and the costs associated with operating in a time of pandemic have increased, the time we give in service to one another and the hands-on work we do, is also of profound value. Finding opportunities to contribute and connect with the life of the church has been made far more difficult with the constraints on meeting and physical distancing requirements imposed by the pandemic. However, as we seek to continue to open up the church safely and cautiously, we look for more ways to support and connect with one another.
 
If you have an idea about what you might want to contribute in terms of volunteering, or if you are unsure but want to help, just call Pastor Lyndon or Pastor Lyle and they will help you find that opportunity.
 
At this point in time, livestreaming worship has become the main way by which we gather as a community, and will undoubtedly be a critical and ongoing part of our Church ministry. The restarting of in-person worship, in accordance with public health rules for safe gatherings under Covid-19, has added another option for our community to gather. Operating under these challenging circumstances has required more resources and more work for the ministers and their assistants, musicians, the livestreaming team, ushers and those working in the background to provide a meaningful worship through these difficult times.
 
Opening up of the church signals that we are collectively committed to finding a way forward safely. Moreover, it indicates that and we are determined to maintain our place in the lives of our congregants and be a yet more positive influence in the lives our faith community and neighbours, once the cloud of the pandemic has lifted.
 
During this period of transition and change, we encourage you to participate and contribute to this remaking of the world and the remaking of our part in it.
Angel Gifts 2020
 
It has been our tradition for the past several years to take part in the Our Place “Angel Gifts” program.  After meeting and discussing how the COVID pandemic might affect this day of joy and celebration for the Our Place family, the society’s planning committee has come up with a plan to continue this important mission, following all safety and health guidelines.
 
As before, we will be joining other organizations and faith communities in providing gifts for these good folks.  We have received the names of 25 people who could certainly use a message of friendship from an “Angel” in the form of a Christmas gift and greeting card.
 
Some of the process has been changed to avoid unnecessary person-to-person contact situations.  Here are the details:
 
- A sign up sheet is in the church hallway.  As before, you may sign up in person OR contact
Nicky in the church office by email or telephone to request the name of a person.  You will also receive information regarding gender, size and age and their gift number.
 
- Purchase a gift (suggested ideas are new outer wear, a chocolate bar, a gift card for a downtown store or coffee shop) with the approximate value of $40.00
 
- Wrap the gift and write the gift number (not the name) using a black marker on the outside of the gift.  We will not be distributing Angel cards as in the past.  No bows, cloth bags or shiny paper please.  Gift bags should be taped closed and string handles tied together.  If you wish to include a personal message or Christmas card, please put it inside the gift.
 
- Gifts will be blessed in our worship service on December 6.  If you are not comfortable dropping the gift off at church, feel free to contact Sherry Coughlin by December 2 – she will be happy to arrange to pick up the gift from your home and deliver it to the church by the 6th.
 
Thank you to all who have taken part in the “Angel Gifts” program in the past.  More now than ever, there is important work for Angels to do during this time of COVID -19.
 
Thank you!
The Social Justice Committee
Welcoming New Members

We give thanks for the opportunity to receive new members last Sunday through Affirmation of Baptism. Those who were welcomed are: Helen Bickel, Maya Bridger, Scott Constantine, Janet and Ted Chell, Karl Maier. We give thanks for everyone who wishes to join the community of Church of the Cross. If anyone wishes to discuss Baptism or Affirmation of their Baptism and joining the congregation, please speak to Pastor Lyndon or Pastor Lyle. 
Survey on Racism

The following is a letter from the Intercultural Association of Victoria and Florentien Verhage inviting participation in a survey about racism in our community. Florentien added: “We really want to hear from everybody because this concerns all of us, even if you have very little exposure to racism or hardly ever witness it.” Please consider filling out the survey to help our community and our own learning together.

Download letter here
GVLIP Racism Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FHKZVSS
Lutheran, Anglican leaders express deep concern for the violent situation unfolding in regard to Mi'kmaw fishing in Nova Scotia
 

Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada have written to the Prime Minister to express, "urgent and deep concern for the violent situation unfolding in regard to Mi'kmaw fishing in Nova Scotia."
In their letter, the leaders call for immediate intervention, "to provide safety for all and to counteract the violence and terror being experienced by the Mi'kmaw people yet again as they live out their sovereign rights on their lands and waters."

Download a pdf of the letter here.
Video Study Group “Pro-Future Faith” Tuesdays - 7PM on Zoom
Those who are interested are welcome to drop in on the video study group, Tuesdays at 7 PM on Zoom for an 8-session course titled, “ProFuture Faith – the Prodigal Species Comes Home” with lecturer Rev. Michael Dowd. To register, contact the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Lyle or Pastor Lyndon.
You are invited to a year of reading the Bible! 

ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson invites you to form a Bible Book Club with members of your church, your friends, family or others from your community as a way to study scripture and discuss the Bible together.  


September 2020 marks the second year of the Living our Faith initiative, to which our emphasis has shifted from prayer to reading. Each month we will focus together on a different book of the Bible. Our first month, September, has us reading the book of Genesis. Form your Bible Book Club, use the introduction taken from the Lutheran Study Bible, read the appointed book, download the prepared questions and join in the discussion.
Covid-19 Update/In-person Worship continues – Sunday, November 1 at 10 AM

Worship continues to be limited to 35 people in the congregation plus those leading and assisting. We have been less than this number every Sunday so there is room for anyone who wishes to join in-person worship. Please email or call the church office, and pastorlyle@shaw.ca, pastorlylndon@shaw.ca to indicate your intention to be present. Worship will continue to be livestreamed as well.
 
Those who join in worship should expect the following:
  • Everyone is asked to wear a mask while in the church building, if you do not have one, one will be provided.
  • You may have to line up at the front doors as you arrive using the spacing marked in chalk on the walkway.
  • You will be asked to sanitize your hands, sign in, and then be ushered to a seat in the sanctuary
  • Seating will be distanced except among family/contact groups
  • A worship folder will be provided including the text of the songs. The congregation is asked not to sing, but welcome to hum the melodies. It is an opportunity to meditate/reflect on the words being sung.
  • At the time of Holy Communion, the presider(s) will go out to wash their hands. Ushers will invite you forward if you wish to commune, the bread will be placed in your hands by the presider, and you will be invited to pick-up a glass of wine/grape juice which are spaced in the trays. The empty glasses are then placed in the next tray before you return to your seat.
  • At the end of worship, you will be ushered outside where people may visit at a distance, if they wish.
The Covid-19 Leadership Team continues to monitor the local conditions and recommendations of the Health Authorities and to adjust our practices as needed. 
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.
Continuing Ways to join worship on-line:

Sunday Worship Livestream, 10 AM PDT:
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 PDT

On Facebook Live and you can view past videos here:
https://www.facebook.com/lutheranvictoria/

You do not need a Facebook account to view the church page.
Read ahead: All Saints Sunday
- Sunday, November 1, 2020      Revelation 7:9-17          
                                                    Psalm 34
                                                    1 John 3:1-3
                                                    Matthew 5:1-12

Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
This Week at Church of the Cross
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.
If you would like to receive the Crossroads only by email 
and NOT receive a printed copy in your mailbox at the Church,
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