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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
In-Person Worship & Sunday School
Dance Like Everybody’s Watching
Invitation from the LCC Greening Committee
Advent Bags
Women In Faith Book Group
Thrifty's Stamp Collection
Women In Faith
Engaging to Share, Engaging to Serve
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Advent Helpers Needed!
Learning Day
BC Synod AGM
Resisting Structural Evil
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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In-Person Worship and Sunday School has resumed, Sundays 10 AM
 Church Council and many others have worked together to prepare a safe return to in-person worship. We are following the guidelines and orders set by the Provincial Health Officer. We realize that the pandemic continues to raise concerns for health and safety, and we will adjust our plans if/as health orders change.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best protection for the health of yourself and others. We encourage everyone who is eligible to receive both doses of the vaccine. Find a walk-in clinic in BC to receive vaccination here.
November 14, Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Everyone planning to come to worship and Sunday School are asked to follow these requirements:
- Stay home if you are not feeling well and experiencing any Covid-19 related symptoms.
- 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 well 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 outside where water/refreshments will be available.
It is not required that people register for worship ahead of time or sign in as you arrive.
We will make adjustments as needed and keep you informed of any changes. Your feedback on your experience with in-person return to 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 return to in-person worship and Sunday School safer and meaningful for everyone.
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Dance Like Everybody’s Watching
Documentary Screening and Discussion with Simone Blais
 Saturday November 20 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Please join us for this In-person (masks required) AND Online event. For those joining the event online, the link to view her 30 minute film will be posted on the event page the day of the event. After viewing the film (in-person or via online), Simone will facilitate a Q & A period, leading us through a discussion about racism, diversity, inclusion, cultural appropriation and creating safer spaces. For those joining us in-person, please arrive slightly before 7 pm to find a seat and get settled before the documentary viewing begins.
Click this link to monitor updates on the event:
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/events/dance-like-everybody-is-watching/2021-11-20
After November 20th, only the link for the LiveStream Q&A will remain posted on the event page. The link to Simone's documentary will be removed.
Simone Blais, was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is a dancer, writer, director and doula based in Victoria, BC with Afro-Trinidadian and Métis roots. Simone developed a passion for dance and social justice at a very young age. She moved to Victoria in 2014 to attend the University of Victoria where she completed a degree in Gender Studies and Indigenous Studies. In 2020, she directed her first film, Dance Like Everybody’s Watching.
Check out Simone’s website: https://www.simone-blais.com/film
Susanne Standeven
on behalf of the Social Justice Committee
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Invitation from the LCC Greening Committee
The G reening Committee has been in existence for just one year. We now are looking for additional eco-warriors to join us in working toward eco-justice.
Eco-justice is a vast subject. This past year we decided to focus on education, both to understand the issues facing the planet (such as climate change) and also to identify ways in which individuals can begin to make changes in their own lives. To that end, we:
- created an electronic list of trusted websites on environmental topics.
- met with members of the Board of Trustees about congregational greening. (We were delighted that the Trustees were ahead of us and have a good handle on green actions which can be taken when financial resources are available.)
- shared a new way of thinking about plastic pollution for Earth Day. (To the traditional “Reduce, Re-use, Recycle,” we added “Rethink, Refuse, Repair.”)
- created and shared videos of our individual ways of “greening our world”. (We were thrilled that other congregational members joined us to create their own videos!)
- invited an informed young activist to speak during the Season of Creation to detail issues around climate change and COP26.
- have prepared a surprise Advent gift for all the households in the congregation!
As we move forward into 2022, we are reviewing our goals. Should we continue to focus on education? Should we move toward advocacy and seek to be heard in a wider arena?
Do you hear a call to help make eco-justice a reality? If so, come to our next meeting and hear (and help shape) our plans for next year.
Jo Henning for the Greening Committee
(Susan Beiderwieden, Sherry Coughlin, Karl Maier, Susanne Standeven)
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Advent Bags
 In the church year Advent is the season of waiting for the Christ child and preparing for the way of the Lord. This year, the Greening Committee would like to share a “surprise” green gift with you. Each family, or individual member is invited to pick-up 1 Advent Bag from the table in the narthex at church, during the week of November 20-28. These reusable, draw-string cloth bags are filled with ideas for a Greener Christmas and ways to ready your heart and home for coming of the Christ Child.
Peace and Joy,
Susan Beiderwieden
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 Women In Faith Book Group
The Book Group will be meeting on Wednesday, November 24th at 1:00 pm to discuss "Brother" by David Chariandy. This meeting will be by Zoom. The Greater Victoria Public Library has several copies of the book.
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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. While the promotion runs until March 2, 2022 the Kitchen is planning to give away some pots and pans at Christmas.
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Women In Faith
Women's nature walk at Island View Beach on Friday, November 26th at 10 am.
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Engaging to Share, Engaging to Serve
As we adapt t o pandemic life, God is calling us to engage anew with mission and ministry at Church of the Cross!
We continue to support each other to stay healthy and safe. We are doing more things in-person like worship, coffee time Sunday School, Bible study. The Upper Hall has been repainted and has new flooring as does the Rotunda. The choir and our musicians are now led by Kantor, Nathan McDonald. We continue to provide livestream worship. We are delighted that our refugee sponsorship of Merhawi has resulted in his arrival in Victoria, and the Shelbourne Community Kitchen now located in the lower level of the church is serving the growing food needs of the surrounding community.
Thank you for your financial support and personal engagement in 2021!
November is the month we focus on planning for the coming year and discerning what we as the people of God will give from our financial resources, our time and our abilities to engage in sharing, engage in serving as we move onward together in the love of Christ.
The Resource Stewardship committee encourages each of us to engage by providing financial resources and abilities to continue sharing and serving. We have navigated a difficult time together with the help of our gracious God. You will be receiving an invitation to give thanks by pledging to the work of Church of the Cross in 2022. Prayerfully consider and respond to this invitation.
Resource Stewardship
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Advent Helpers Needed!
 4-5 volunteer drivers are needed to deliver Advent Greening Bags to homebound members of Church of the Cross between November 20 and November 27. If you are able to help with this Advent delivery of good cheer, contact Craig Knight at craigrknight@gmail or call/text him at 250-893-8201.
Resource Stewardship Committee
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Learning Day Follow-up via Zoom - Nov 18
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Notice of the BC Synod AGM
 Official Notice of the BC Synod AGM went out on Oct. 21, 2021 to all congregations, synod council and all rostered ministers. The BC Synod AGM will be held on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021 at 10 am via Zoom.
Anyone who holds membership in a congregation of the BC Synod may vote.
Congregations - We kindly ask that you post the AGM notice on your bulletin board and include it with your communiqué to your members. Many thanks!
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“Resisting Structural Evil” with Cynthia Moe-Lobeda
of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Saturday, December 4, 2021
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
St Stephen, Saanichton
7921 St. Stephen’s Road, Saanichton
Anglican Neighbours are inviting us to join this session.
Check out details here.
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Read ahead:
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
- November 14, 2021 1 Samuel 1:4-20
Psalm: 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-25
Mark 13:1-8
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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