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If you have a Mac or the links are not working,
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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
In-Person Worship & Sunday School
E-mail Scam Alert
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Photos Orange Shirt Sunday
“Why am I here?”
WORK AREA - Under Construction
Jam Session
Merhawi's Arrival
Thanksgiving Food Collection
BC Synod Climate Justice Action Group
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Minus One
Mortgage Reduction Update
Creation Photographs This Week
CECF Experiment Applications
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 and Sunday School. 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.
October 3, 19th 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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E-mail Scam Alert
Several people have contacted the church this week to share they received e-mail allegedly sent by one of our pastors. These e-mails often ask people to purchase gift cards and then send the numbers on the back via e-mail to an e-mail address that looks convincing enough. Please do not send money or gift cards via e-mail or over the phone. THESE ARE FRAUDULENT EMAILS. DO NOT RESPOND TO THEM. Do not share any personal information over e-mail or the phone without first calling the church office to confirm it is a legitimate request. Unfortunately fraudsters gain access to address lists and send out e-mails posing as a trusted person in order to gain access to funds in these ways. Let us know at the church office if this happens to you and most importantly do not respond to these e-mails. Many thanks and apologies to those who have received these messages. Visit the BC Government page on Scams and Fraud to learn more about this and similar issues.
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
 September 30, 2021 is the first time Canada will participate in a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To better understand the importance of this day for Canada’s First Nations, listen to an interview in the link below of Justice Murray Sinclair, the Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one step on a long journey, says Murray Sinclair | Listen Here on CBC Radio.
How You Can Participate in Reconciliation at ReconciliationCanada.ca
TC’s list of Day Reconciliation Events in Greater Victoria
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Letter from Bishop Johnson, including Prayer for Carolyn Klaassen
Bishop Johnson, National Bishop ELCIC, writes to the church encouraging members to observe September 30 as Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Read the Bishop’s Letter and the Prayer Here
We will be using Carolyn’s prayer during worship this Sunday, October 3, 10 AM PDT.
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Photos from Orange Shirt Sunday, September 26
With special guests Carolyn Klaassen, Guest Worship Leader; Dr. Jeff Corntassel and Leila Corntassel, drummers & singers. Also pictured Boston and Courtney making Bannock and Sunday school gathering for activities. Thanks to Craig & TRC for hosting and Laura for helping with cleanup. Thanks to Nathan, musicians, and choir for collaborating with special music.
 
 
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This Tuesday: “Why am I here?”
Documentary & Conversation with a Holocaust survivor
Please join us for an in-person and on-line event at Church of the Cross on  Tuesday, October 5th from 7:00 - 8:30 pm PDT with guest speaker Julius Maslovat. Masks are required. Mr. Maslovat resides in Victoria and is one of the youngest children on record to have survived the Nazi concentration camps. A viewing of his 45 minute documentary will be followed by a Q&A period. You are invited to come in person to watch the documentary and join the Q&A -OR- you may watch the documentary on-line at home and then join the livestream for the Q&A.
Check out the Event Page on how to participate on-line.
Both of Mr. Maslovat's parents were killed in the Holocaust. The documentary follows his journey as he researches his past to learn more about the people who helped to keep him alive during his time in concentration camps. The film encourages viewers to learn about injustices in our current world and to ask themselves the question 'Why am I here'? Maslovat says; “I survived because of other people, people who were concerned enough, despite their own condition, to help someone else.”
Click here to view a trailer on his documentary.
Susanne Standeven
on behalf of the Social Justice Committee
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WORK AREA - Under Construction
 The Trustees are very pleased to report to the community that new flooring will be installed in the Upper Hall, Servery and Rotunda starting on Monday September 27th and will be ready for use on Saturday October 2nd. We will also attending to some necessary painting projects and other touch-ups. Lighting and electrical upgrades in the Upper Hall are planned for the near future. Your patients during this time is greatly appreciated. Our sincerest thanks is extended to EB Renovations, Hourigans Flooring, Sitka Electric, and our Trustee volunteers.
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Jam Session at Church Thursdays beginning October 7, 7:30 PM
Do you play an instrument? Ever wondered what that song would sound like with a "little more cowbell"?
Starting on Oct. 7, 7:30pm, you are invited to join Nathan McDonald and some other musicians from the congregation in a "Jam Session". We will explore music from our Global Lutheran traditions in a variety of ways.
Participants are invited to bring an instrument (if they play one), or just come and check it out. Each evening we meet we'll focus on 3-5 songs of differing styles and see what sorts of arrangements we can improvise with the instrumentation we have.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Nathan at mac.nathan@gmail.com so we have an idea of numbers.
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Merhawi's arrival 
Great News! While the pandemic has dragged on for us, you can imagine how slowly time has passed for refugees waiting to hear that their applications for immigration to Canada have been approved. After a long wait, Merhawi will soon be on his way to begin a new chapter in his life in Victoria!
These are unprecedented times and upon his October 21 arrival, Merhawi will go directly into a mandatory 2-week quarantine before being able to hug his family and greet his new LCC friends. During his stay in a government approved quarantine location, we will share responsibility with his family to make sure he has everything he needs. As well as gathering items for a basket presented to him in November, we may be asking for your help in providing food goods during his isolation stay. We will be meeting with ICA in early October to discuss exactly what we, as sponsors, should anticipate and plan for during this time. We will keep you updated as we learn more.
Thank you! Thank you for your support, and especially for your prayers for Merhawi, and all refugees. Feruz, Merhawi’s sister, sends her sincere love and her excited thanks for our help in brining her little brother to Canada. Together, we have given Merhawi hope for a safe and happy life in Canada!
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Thanksgiving food collection for Shelbourne Community Kitchen
 With Grateful Hearts…
The Board of Worship and the Social Justice Committee are thrilled to return to our tradition of showing our support for Shelbourne Community Kitchen this Thanksgiving!
With grateful hearts, for all that we have, we are gathering gifts of food and donations on Thanksgiving Sunday – October 10. Non-perishable food goods may be brought in advance and be dropped off at church during office hours and placed in the basket in the Narthex or brought to worship on October 10. All items will be placed around the table before worship and be blessed before being taken downstairs to the Kitchen’s new facility. Or, if you wish to offer a financial donation, please designate the amount and “Shelbourne Community Kitchen” on the subject line of your offering envelope, or in the drop down box for on-line giving.
Thank you for your care and support of the Shelbourne Community Kitchen!
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Invitation from BC Synod Climate Justice Action Group
Our Synod's Climate Justice Action Group invites folks to a showing of the widely acclaimed 2019 documentary "The Story of Plastic" (here is a link to the trailer on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37PDwW0c1so ). This doc tells the story of how the mass production of single-use plastic has put us is in the biggest environmental crisis in history. You want to see it!
The link and password to the movie itself will be available as of Sept 27th. Once you have it, you can watch the film at your leisure until October 3rd. Contact Tim Dutcher-Walls at timdw@shaw.ca to receive that link.
And you can join us for a Synod wide ZOOM discussion on what we have seen and heard in this film on Thursday, September 30th at 7 PM. (All who plan on attending, send an email to Brenda Nestegaard Paul at bnestegaardpaul@bc.anglican.ca).
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Minus One – A group for those whose spouse has died
Beginning October 5, 1:30 PM at Church of the Cross
The intention of this group is to provide a safe and supportive gathering for people to share the experiences and impacts of the death of a spouse. The plan is to begin with a first meeting in-person, masked and distanced as the protocols require, and explore if everyone is comfortable with continuing the group together. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact, Pastor Lyle, pastorlyle@shaw.ca, Pastor Lyndon, pastorlyndon@shaw.ca, Bob Kohlert bobkohlert@gmail.com or the church office. Feel free to pass this invitation on to others who may be interested.
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Mortgage Reduction Update
NEW MESSAGE THIS WEEK: To date we have received a total of $5,800 in generous contributions to our annual campaign to reduce the Church's mortgage. We will be making our annual lump sum payment to reduce the mortgage in January 2022. Contributions will be welcomed throughout the fall.
Many thanks for the ongoing generosity of the congregation.
To date we have been able to pay down more than two-thirds of the original mortgage amount – an achievement that, in no small part, is due to our special donations.
The principal now owing is about three hundred and eighty thousand dollars ($380,000). At the current rate of repayment, we estimate that the mortgage will be paid-off in about 10 years.
If we continue to make additional annual lump-sum payments from special donations, we can move up the date of a mortgage-burning party. Just think of what more we could do once the mortgage is fully paid.
As we prepare for worship in-person as well as via live stream, prayerfully consider a donation to reducing our mortgage. Any amount of gift matters and is appreciated! Thank you for your ongoing support of the congregation.
Resource Stewardship Committee
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Creation Photographs This Week
Photos from Ann Baty
“Central Saanich Sunflower Maze“ and “Johnson’s Canyon, Alberta“
 
Photos: Lynn Jones taken on Gabriola Island
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The Missions Committee is Accepting CECF Experiment Applications for the October Intake
The Missions Committee is now accepting CECF Experiment Applications for the October 2021 intake. Deadline to apply is October 15, 2021. We are inviting applications for grants to fund neighbourhood and community experiments and learning opportunities that:
- explore what God is doing in your neighbourhood
- seek to develop relationships with others in your community
- encourage participation in God’s mission in the local community
- encourage action and reflection learning
If you have any other questions or would like to discuss your experiment prior to making an application, please feel free to contact our synod's Mission Consultant, Rev. Eric Krushel, at erickrushel@gmail.com or 604-220-5450 or Assistant to the Bishop for Missional Renewal, Rev. Kathy Martin at kmartinbcsynod@gmail.com.
Please read the CECF Information Experiment document before filling out the application.
Click here to download the CECF Application form.
or go to the BC Synod website and find the CECF Information and CECF Application form under "Resources"
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Read ahead:
Season of Creation - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
- October 3, 2021 Job 1:1, 2:1-10
Psalm 26
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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