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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
In-Person Worship
Advent is a time of Promise
Nancy Macdonell
CLWR BC Flood Relief
Pledge Cards and Giving Envelops
Thank you for attending
Women In Faith
Upcoming Dates for Sunday School
Thrifty's Stamp Collection
Advent Bags
It’s in the Bag!
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Angel Gifts
Climate, Economy and Hope
Carmel Tanaka
Countering Islamophobia
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, 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. See dates below for Sunday School in separate article.
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 28, First Sunday of Advent
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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Advent is a Time of Promise
This Sunday, Nov. 28, we begin with the first of the four Sundays of Advent. Advent is a time of promise of what is already on its way but not fully here. There is the quietness of waiting that’s God’s promise of grace will be fulfilled. Our Biblical texts these Sundays talk about preparation, making ready, staying alert, so that we are aware when God arrives fully in our midst. The quietness and time of promise is in contrast to the busyness of this time of year. For some people there are expectations around shopping, decorating, hosting which may bring joy in a time of separation during the pandemic, but can also feel like a lot of work. For others it may already be a quiet time with desire for more connection with other people. God’s desire is not for Advent waiting to be lonely but to be restful, joyful, and in the end a fulfilling of God’s love for the world.
With damaged highways and passes some travel plans over Advent and Christmas may be disrupted. We give thanks for the relative safety many of us enjoy and often take for granted. It is a time for looking at ways we can support neighbours suffering from flooding, in need of proper housing and food. We take stock of our lives during this time and recognize ways in which we can support one another and the congregation through God’s abundant giving in our lives.
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Nancy Macdonell
 It is with sadness that we announce the death of Nancy Macdonell, mother of Margaret Dykeman and George Hind, on Sunday, November 21 at Resthaven Lodge with her family beside her. The memorial for Nancy will take place on Saturday, November 27 at 1:30 PM at Lutheran Church of the Cross. People of the congregation are welcome to worship in-person or by livestream on the church web-site. Our prayers are with Margaret and George and their families, and all who grieve.
Rest eternal grant her, O God, and let light perpetual shine upon her.
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CLWR Emergency Appeal for BC
Massive floods and landslides have devastated parts of British Columbia, destroying roads and leaving several mountain towns isolated. At least three people are missing, some 18,000 people are displaced and authorities expect death tolls to rise.
CLWR invites you to pray for the people of British Columbia, and to consider making a gift to support recovery efforts. As we move to quickly identify partners well-positioned to respond effectively, your gift will provide emergency support and hope for recovery.
CLWR is accepting donations now on its website at clwr.org/BCfloods . Donations can also be made by phoning our office at 1.800.661.2597 (Monday to Thursday, 9:00 – 16:00 CDT) or by mailing a cheque to 600-177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0W5, Canada.
Thank you for responding in love to this emergency.
Blessings,
Karin Achtelstetter - Executive Director
Canadian Lutheran World Relief
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Distribution of Pledge Cards and Giving Envelopes for 2022
Pledge Cards have now been mailed out to those who didn't pick them up from their church mailbox. You can drop off completed cards at the church, mail them back, or email or call Barry Walker, Financial Secretary with your pledge for 2022. Giving envelopes will be going into mailboxes no later than Sunday 12, December 2021.
If you would like your 2022 giving envelopes delivered to your home, email or call Nicky at the church office or the Barry Walker Financial Secretary. Home 250-381-1698 or e-mail: bhwalker@shaw.ca
If anyone has any questions or wishes to make changes to how they support the church in 2022 please contact Barry Walker.
Thank you for your generous support of the church
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Thank you for attending!
 A heartfelt thank you to all who attended in-person or on-line the event this past Saturday evening with Simone Blais. Thank you also to Pastors Lyle and Lyndon for setting up the tech needed to view the film and Q&A livestream.
The film will be available to view for a while longer. Here is the YouTube link to her film. Click here to access the link to the Q&A livestream which was recorded.
Simone's documentary and her comments during the Q&A period provided more insight on how to make spaces more equitable for Black neighbours and how African diaspora culture continues to be impacted by colonialism. During the film, Simone talks with Dr. Devi Mucina, Director of Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria. Dr. Mucina notes that “Colonialism was about colonizing not just lands but also bodies” thereby stripping racialized people of their culture and language. The film demonstrates that dance is part of language and culture in the Black community. Language alone does not fully acknowledge the fact that racism is “a visceral experience for Black people.” By producing films like Dance Like Everybody’s Watching, Black people are given the opportunity to affirm who they are, especially in predominantly white spaces.
To create more hospitable, equitable environments for everyone we must continue to listen and talk about race and racism to bring forward and gain more understanding of the daily experiences lived by members of minority groups.
Susanne Standeven
on behalf of the Social Justice Committee
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Women In Faith
Women's nature walk at Island View Beach on Friday, November 26 at 10 AM.
We will meet rain or shine at the picnic shelter at Island View Beach.
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Upcoming Dates for Sunday School
 First Sunday in Advent, Nov. 28
Second Sunday in Advent & St. Nicolas, Dec. 5
Fourth Sunday in Advent, Dec. 19
Baptism of Jesus, January 9
We invite families with young kids to join us for Sunday school on the above upcoming Sundays.
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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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Advent Bags
What’s in the Bag?
Pick-up information
Advent is both a Season of waiting and expectation as well, a time of preparing for the Christ Child’s arrival. God’s great gift to us, the Word made flesh.
Our gift to you is a humble and fun way to prepare both your hearts and home for a greener Christmas this year. Each bag provides ecological ideas, tips and a weekly devotional activity.
The bags are available for pick-up starting Nov. 21 throughout the week of Nov. 28 and onward. The Advent bags are located on a table in the entranceway. Please take one bag per family unit or individual member. If you are uncomfortable coming into the church, contact me to arrange a drop-off.
These reusable cloth bags are filled with ideas for the four Sundays in Advent and include a homemade treat. Enjoy that treat now, before it gets stale.
If you are gluten intolerant or sensitive, there are bags set apart and labeled GF containing a gluten-free treat from the Laughing Daughter Bakery on Salt Spring Island.
In case this all seems somewhat mysterious the Greening Committee members will share some information about the contents in short articles in Crossroads during Advent. Watch for these blurbs called, It’s in the Bag.
Peace and Joy,
Susan Beiderwieden, 250 533 9075
Greening Committee
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 It’s in the Bag!
As we travel through this season of waiting and preparation, make sure to take a peek into your Advent bag and see what activity and meditation awaits you for this first week in Advent! We wait… we watch… we HOPE!
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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 folks in the Our Place family. This year we have been given 30 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. 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 Sunday worship on December 12. If you are not comfortable shopping for a gift, or dropping a gift off at church, feel free to contact Bill Williamson or Sherry Coughlin or the church office by December 5 – they will be happy to shop and/or arrange to pick up the gift from your home and deliver it to the church by the 12th.
Thank you!
Social Justice Committee
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December 5 Carmel Tanaka: A day in the life of a queer, neurodivergent, Jewpanese millennial
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Countering Islamophobia, Victoria Multifaith Association AGM 2021
Dear fr iends,
We would like to invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting for 2021 on the theme of “Countering Islamophobia”, scheduled to be held online on Thursday, 2 December, at 7:00 pm. VMS Chair, Dr John Borrows, will act as our MC for the evening. The EventBrite registration link is here.
The first part of the AGM will be devoted to our theme, with a guest presentation by May Shihadeh. May is a Masters student at Royal Roads University in Intercultural and International Communication, a member of more than ten organizations in Greater Victoria, a Community Advocate representing the Muslim Community, and a Refugee expert, Settlement Worker, Interpreter, researcher and entrepreneur.
The second part of the meeting will be devoted to a short review of VMS activities and plans, and confirmation of the appointment of several new Directors.
Register with EventBrite here in order to receive the zoom link, which will be sent closer to the date from victoriamultifaith@gmail.com. (Please add our address to your email contacts so that it goes to your inbox.)
Those who register will also be sent links to related additional materials to watch, listen to or read in advance, depending on your time and tastes, so please register early!
We look forward to seeing you there!
All the best,
Sheila Flood, E.D.
Victoria Multifaith Society
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Read ahead: First Sunday of Advent
 - November 28, 2021 Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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