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Crossroads 

November 7, 2021

All Saints Sunday 
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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:

In-Person Worship & Sunday School
Engaging to Share, Engaging to Serve
Dance Like Everybody’s Watching
Advent Helpers
No Stone Left Alone
Jazz Vespers
A Synod Convention Update
LWF welcomes new General Secretary
Living our Faith: Worship
Learning Day Follow-up via Zoom
Notice of the BC Synod AGM 
Grace Admin Position
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.
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 7,  All Saints Sunday
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.
Engaging to Share, Engaging to Serve
 
As we adapt to 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
Dance Like Everybody is 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. We'll view a 30 minute film (available in-person or online) that follows the lives of three dancers, revealing the racism and stereotyping they experienced in Victoria's dance community. Following the film, Simone will facilitate a Q & A period leading us through a discussion about racism, diversity, inclusion, cultural appropriation and creating safer spaces.

Simone Blais, a dancer, writer, director and doula based in Victoria, BC, developed a passion for dance and social justice at a very young age. Born in Toronto, Ontario, with Afro-Trinidadian and Métis roots, Simone 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
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
No Stone Left Alone
 
Our neighbours at St. Luke’s are hosting a Remembrance Day gathering at their cemetery for middle school students, remembering veterans as part of the No Stone Left Alone program.
 
Read more about it
here.
Jazz Vespers

Your friends at St. Luke Cedar Hill invite you to Jazz Vespers in St. Luke's Church on Sunday, November 7th. Jazz Up Your Sunday Evening with a Jazz Vespers service starting at 7 pm. This hour long service will feature lots of jazz along with contemporary prayers, poems, and readings. Come and see and hear what it’s all about!
Click here for more information. 
A Synod Convention Update
 
We will look forward to a report on the recent BC Synod Convention from our delegates, Christopher and Jeanie. But we wanted to provide some information about two motions that were put forward and considered on Sunday morning of the Convention. Both of the motions (which are below) concerned the “Manual re: Discipline for Rostered Ministers” that identifies standards for pastors, deacons and bishops of our church and a process for discipline should those standards not be upheld. The concern of both motions is that the Manual discriminates against LGBTQ2SIA+ ministers in the way it has been interpreted and applied. The first motion calls on the National Church that approves the Manual to review and revise it in consultation with a Task Force on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (a group created at the last National Convention to review ways the ELCIC needs to examine its relationship to queer members and leaders toward being more inclusive) and LGBTQ2SIA+ rostered leaders. This motion passed with almost unanimous support.
The second motion asked the Synod Council that administers the discipline process, to suspend current and future actions (where the Council determines someone is not being harmed – such as in an abusive relationship for example) until the above review is complete or the Task Force completes its report. This motion was more controversial suggesting the Synod could not do this on its own. But, according to the Manual, the Synod Council has the authority to “accept, reject or send back” a recommendation of discipline. The Motion calls upon the Synod Council to “suspend” decisions until the review and/or the report are complete. This would impact a recent decision by the Synod Council to suspend a queer pastor of our Synod based on the Manual. This motion passed with 62% support. We are grateful to all who spoke to the motions and helped to bring them before the Convention.
We are hopeful that the motions will help our Synod and the ELCIC to be more inclusive and supportive of queer rostered ministers and their service as ministers of the gospel. The livestream of the Convention on Sunday Morning may be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NScyfT3utj4
 
The Motions
 
That the BC Synod in Convention urgently requests that the National Church Council initiate a review of the ELCIC “Manual Re: Discipline for Rostered Ministers” to identify and make changes where the manual is prejudiced and discriminates against rostered ministers who are LGBTQ2SIA+ and their families, and to do so in consultation with the ELCIC Task Force on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and LGBTQ2SIA+ rostered ministers in the ELCIC.
 
That the BC Synod in Convention call upon the BC Synod Council to suspend any current or future decisions against LGBTQ2SIA+ pastors or deacons on the roster of the BC Synod based on the current Manual Re: Discipline for Rostered Ministers where the BC Synod Council determines there is no harm caused, and until such time as a review of the Manual is completed, and/or the ELCIC’s Task Force on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia completes its work, and its report is received by the ELCIC.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Lyle or Pastor Lyndon
LWF welcomes new General Secretary Rev Anne Burghardt

Lutheran World Federation elects the Rev. Anne Burghart from Estonia as new General Secretary.
Read more
here.
Living our Faith: Worship
 
Share a tip, suggestion or inspiration on how you sustain a daily devotional practice

Would you be willing to share with us a tip, suggestion, or inspiration on how you make worship a daily practice, how you fit devotions into your life and/or how you actively seek to deepen your devotional practice?

We are looking for just a sentence or two (40-60 words) and we welcome resource suggestions as well.
To share your thoughts and ideas now, please fill out this quick and easy form. We can't wait to hear from you!
 
For the last two years, we have been sharing National Bishop Susan Johnson's vision for a four-year emphasis on Living our Faith - as together we pray, read, worship and love
(www.elcic.ca/LivingOurFaith).

Now into the third year, we continue our focus on worship. Our goal is to deepen our experience in worship when the community gathers (either together in person or online) and to deepen our individual practice of daily devotion.

Watch for weekly highlights from an ELCIC member with their suggestions and thoughts on becoming more engaged in a daily devotional practice and/or worship. This week we share a reflection from Hugh MacKay, who helps us visualize a physical walk through life alongside the Holy Spirit.
Learning Day Follow-up via Zoom - Nov 18
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!
Grace Admin Position
Read ahead:
All Saints Sunday
-  November 7, 2021        Isaiah 25:6-9
                                       Psalm 24
                                         Revelation 21:1-6a  
                                         John 11:32-44

Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
This Week at Church of the Cross

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3787 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, BC V8P 3Z4
  
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 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
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Lutheran Church of the Cross · 3787 Cedar Hill Road · Victoria, BC V8P 3Z4 · Canada

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