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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Envisioning Our Future
Sunday School Date
Confirmation Date
Advent joint service
Angel Gifts
Weekly Devotions from Diaconal
Gingerbread House Decorating
Reading Centre
2023 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
Kitchen Party
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Advent 2022
Compassionate Justice
Free Expo and Festival
Global Movement in Solidarity
Welcome Angels
Host Families needed
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Envisioning Our Future
You are invited and needed to participate in Vision 2023-2025  on Saturday, November 26 from 9:00 to 12:00 noon at the church.
Set that date. Pray for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Reflect on the report about the first vision planning session. Invite a friend or a new person to join the conversation on November 26.
More details to come!
Church Council
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Upcoming Sunday School Date:
Sunday, November 27
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Upcoming Confirmation Date:
Sunday, December 4, 4 PM at Church of the Cross
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Joint Advent Worship
Worship together with St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican
at Church of the Cross
Sunday, December 4, 2022
4:30 - 5:30 pm
 Join us for the upcoming Joint Advent Worship together with St. Luke’s, hosted at Church of the Cross. It has been some time since have been able to worship together with neighbours at St. Luke’s. Note the new start time on Dec. 4 at 4:30 PM. Come join us for worship with readings and Advent carols. Great to have our musicians and choirs joining their voices together.
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Angel Gifts!
 Once again, we are delighted to be joining other organizations and faith communities in providing Christmas gifts for the good folk in the Our Place family. This year we have been given 25 names of those who will be happy to receive some holiday cheer. As the winter weather and the pandemic stretches on, this is a good time to send a message of friendship from an “Angel” in the form of a Christmas gift and greeting card.
- 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, 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 $50.00
- Wrap the gift and write the gift number (not the name) on an Angel Tag found with the sign-up sheet. If you haven’t received an Angel Tag, please clearly write the gift number on the outside of the gift. We will make sure an Angel Tag is filled out and taped in place. 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 11. If you would like a shopper to do the shopping for you, or if you would like your gift picked up from your home and taken to church, feel free to contact Sherry Coughlin by December 4– the Social Justice Committee will be happy to shop and/or arrange to pick up the gift from your home and deliver it to the church by the 11th.
Thank you!
The Social Justice Committee
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Weekly Devotions from Diaconal Intern Denise
 Please find my latest devotion. Just click on the link here and you will be taken to the podcast. Please also feel free to share with others.
Denise Maier Pawliuk (she/her)
Diaconal Intern & Sacred Storyteller
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Gingerbread House Decorating – Saturday, December 17th, 4:00 pm, Upper Hall, Church of the Cross
 After two years of decorating at home we are finally meeting in person to decorate individual gingerbread houses. We will begin at 4:00 pm in the Upper Hall. A pizza dinner will be provided at 5:30.
The kits include the prefabricated gingerbread house, gingerbread men, gingerbread trees, icing, and some decorations. We will provide a sturdy base to put your house on. However, if you would like to add additional items to your gingerbread house you are welcome to bring extra decorations. If possible, we would like you to leave your house at the church overnight so that it will dry and so that others can see them on Sunday morning.
If you are planning to attend, please contact Janice (jbnel13@gmail.com) or the church office. Please advise of any dietary issues.
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Some good books in the Reading Centre, check it out.
Located on a table in the Upper Hall.
- Truth & Reconciliation Committee
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Some of the humble crowns Sunday School kids made for Reign of Christ Sunday, also known as Christ the King. They made crowns contrasting to the crowns of gold and jewels evoked by traditional kings and sovereigns.
   
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2023 PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
The 2023 Pledge Campaign is well under way with a number of pledges coming in already. Your pledge card was either placed in your church mailbox or mailed directly to your home. If you have misplaced your card or we forgot you, the link here provides you with a electronic version of the card to use/print out. It is requested that cards be returned by 11 December 2022 to enable church leadership to plan for the 2023 budget forecast.
Pledge cards can be mailed to the church, dropped off at worship, dropped off at the church office, or sent electronically to lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca or bhwalker@shaw.ca
If you have any questions about your pledge or giving in general please contact the Financial Secretary, Barry Walker 250-381-1698, 250-818-7931 bhwalker@shaw.ca
Thank you for your containing support of church and its work in the community.
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Kitchen Party with The Midnights!
Benefit Concert for the Shelbourne Community Kitchen
Sunday, November 27, 2022
4:30 - 6:30 pm
At Lutheran Church of the Cross, 3787 Cedar Hill Rd.
Join us for a high-stepping, energized evening with The Midnights, one of Victoria's hottest and most exceptional show bands. Featuring a twelve piece choreographed band with a dynamic rhythm section, a sizzling horn section, and fronted by five distinctive vocal voices, these outstanding musicians will deliver music in the style of all the great Pop, Motown, and Rhythm & Blues artists.
All proceeds raised from ticket sales and throughout the event will be included in the Kitchen's Donate and Double Your Impact Campaign, and will provide vital funding for The Kitchen's programs and services. What a great opportunity to enjoy an evening with The Midnight's while at the same time doubling the impact that your donation will have on our community. Bring your dancing shoes!
Concert Ticket Information:
- Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased online through Canada Helps, in person at the Shelbourne Community Kitchen, with limited tickets available at the door.
- We also have a "Community Ticket" option where you can buy admission for a member of The Kitchen to attend the concert. Tax receipts available for Community Tickets only.
This show is going to sell out quickly, so buy your tickets today!
Buy Tickets Online Here
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Advent 2022
 Advent Meditations and Conversation Series
What Are We Waiting For? Advent meditation series is an ecumenical Advent initiative among the church leaders of The Anglican Church of Canada, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and The United Church of Canada.
Every Monday during Advent, church leaders will release an ecumenical Advent meditation and conversation reflecting on that week's Advent theme. On each of the following Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. EST, you are invited to join in a live discussion on that week's Advent theme and ask questions with one of the leaders via Zoom. To read the full news release and download the bulletin inserts that can be shared with your congregation or ministry group, please click here. If you would like to receive the meeting link for each of the weekly events during Advent, please sign-up when you click here.
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Compassionate Justice
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
This year's annual global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day. The theme and activities of the 16 Days of Activism in 2022 are under the global banner "UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women & Girls." The goals are to mobilize society, women's rights organizations, governments, and human rights defenders in the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women's rights activists, to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women's rights, and to call for a world free from violence against women. For more details on how you can take and inspire action, please click here.
Thursdays in Black
The ELCIC joins with other organizations nationally and internationally in supporting Thursdays in Black -a campaign of solidarity and advocacy against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence which originally begun by the World Council of Churches. Each Thursday, we recognize the tragic reality that is gender-based violence by wearing black clothing or a Thursdays in Black pin/button. Share your Thursdays in Black photos on social media using the hashtag #ThursdaysinBlack. To watch a video invitation from National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, please click here. For more information and resources, please click here.
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Dear friend, Your are Invited - Free Expo and Festival.
There’s a FREE expo and festival happening in downtown Victoria this Saturday, November 26th, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Check out the vibrant Indigenous, Black, People of Colour and new immigrant businesses at Colourful Business 2022!
Continuous live performances from
Anishinaabe Mitchell Sisters (Songsters)
Mariachi Tabasko (Authentic Mariachi band)
Paint the Town Red (Hip Hop)
Pablo Cárdenas Trio (Afro-Cuban music)
Damba Dancers (West African dance)
Pedro M. Siqueira (Brazilian music)
Where: Victoria Conference Centre
720 Douglas St, Victoria, BC
Admission: FREE!
EVERYONE INVITED
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THIS SUNDAY: 1 pm at the Legislature. Join the Global Movement in Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls
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Sunday, November 27, 2022
Canadian rallies for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence |
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As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, we are gathering in cities across Canada on Sunday November 27th to ensure global action for the rights of Afghan women and girls.
An unprecedented humanitarian crisis has erupted in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control over a year ago, erasing progress in human rights, development, and democratization made over the past two decades, especially for women and girls. As Afghan women are silenced and excluded from most aspects of everyday and public life - banned from schools, workplaces, public institutions and the media - we must remain vigilant. The fight against gender based violence in Afghanistan is urgent, and carries global implications.
"For 15 months, Afghan women have fought alone against the one of the world’s biggest terrorist and fundamentalist groups, for their basic human rights. The November 27th rally is an opportunity to show support and solidarity with the millions of women held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan. We hope to bring global attention to the oppression and injustice being experienced by women in Afghanistan."
- Murwarid Ziayee, CW4WAfghan Senior Director |
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You're invited to a special presentation sponsored by the BC Synod Office!
Welcome Angels is a new Welcoming Church Initiative that seeks to welcome newcomers to Canada in practical ways by connecting people with resources and friends as they settle into their new lives.
In their own words: This initiative is named "Welcome Angels," with the aim to show radical love and hospitality in Christ, to care for the practical, social, and spiritual needs of the newcomers. We see this as God's call for us to journey with them to find hope, joy and peace in this new land, where they can settle and call home.
Join the conversation and discover how you can become a Welcome Angel via Zoom on Thursday, December 1! Contact the BC Synod Office for the Zoom invitation if you're not already on the contact list for Morning Brew or the lay leader gatherings.
9 am Rostered and Retired Leaders (Morning Brew)
7 pm Lay Leaders (Regularly Scheduled Monthly Meeting)
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Host Families needed for our Winter Break Dec. 16th through Jan. 7th
Hello wonderful host families and volunteers!
At this time each year, we look to increase the number of host families, required to accommodate our students, for occasional weekends, overnights pre-travel, and/or for any part of our 3-week winter break, that will take place from December 16th through January 7th. Can you please let me know ASAP, if you are willing and able to host one or more students during Winter Break, or for any part of the holidays? You can respond directly to this email or give me a call at 250-216-6974 if you have any further questions.
PS. If you can think of neighbours, coworkers, friends or relatives, who might be a perfect fit with our extended Pearson UWC family, please forward this email or direct them to our Website to learn more and complete a Host Family Application.
PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers, Faculty and Staff, and Host Families, working with our students on or off campus – and over the age of 18 years, must complete a Criminal Records Clearance (CRC), where your identification is verified with your BC Services Card via the Online Application. CRC expires 5-years from approval date. If you require a new CRC or want to send a copy of your existing CRC, please Complete the Online Form and enter our Organization ACCESS COD: Y3CG6BZXAW. If you are unaware of your CRC expiry date, please check with me to see if you require a renewal.
Thanks again for your participation and ongoing support! I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warmest regards,
Dawn Boshcoff (she/her)
Host Family, Volunteer & Student Transportation Coordinator
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In-Person Worship, Sunday, November 27, 10 AM PDT
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)!
Church Council
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Read ahead:
 First Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2022 Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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