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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
In-Person Worship & Sunday School
Dance Like Everybody’s Watching
Advent Helpers
Visiting Neighbours
Jazz Vespers
Shelbourne Community Kitchen
Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31
All Saints, Nov. 1
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ELCIC Praise Appeal
Treasurer’s Report
Newly Elected Bishop
BC Synod AGM
Stronger Together Nov. 18-20 2021
Karen Stinson Bursary
Sunday Coffee Time
St. Luke’s Prescription
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.
October 31, Reformation 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.
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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
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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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Visiting Our Neighbours at Mount Tolmie
Recently, some unhoused people were moved into temporary housing at the former Mt. Tolmie hospital. They have been the subject of some unpleasant coverage in the press. They are only a couple of blocks from Church of the Cross which makes them our neighbours.
In Mark 12: 31 Jesus commands us to "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Since August, some members of the Social Justice Committee (SJC) have been visiting them. Each month we have taken treats to them for a mid-day snack along with a friendly greeting card. They receive breakfast and evening meals but not lunch each day. Home-baked muffins, fresh fruit and other goodies were all gratefully received. If you would like to assist in our outreach to them in the coming months, please get in touch with Sherry Coughlin, SJC chair.
Bill Williamson
On behalf of the Social Justice Committee
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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!
https://www.stlukesvictoria.ca/events/jazz-vespers--343/2021-11-07
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Reformation Sunday, October 31, 10 AM PDT
Joint us in-person or online for Reformation Sunday as celebrate the life giving legacy of the Reformation. Wear red if you want to.
Sunday School on Reformation Sunday will include print making with lino cutting. Kids are encouraged to bring or wear a shirt that can get non-washable paint on it. Access to a printing press was instrumental with Reformation leaders getting their theology out, a kind of early version of social media through pamphlets and even memes that conveyed theology through images and art with minimal text for a time when literacy rates were relatively low and books available only to wealthier people and members of religious orders.
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All Saints Day, Monday, November 1, 7 PM PDT
Join us in-person or on-line for All Saints Day worship. Note this is a Monday evening event. We will gather to worship on All Saints Day, to remember the saints and the promise of resurrection life in Christ, including naming those who have died and lighting a candle for each one.
We invite you to send us names of loved ones who have died this past year or longer ago, who you wish to be lifted in prayer. Send names to Nicky at lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca
Or you may write the names when you arrive at church on Sunday or Monday evening before worship begins. We will also invite people to type names in the chat on the website livestream at LutheranVictoria.ca at the beginning of worship Monday at 7 PM, to be included in the All Saints worship.
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ELCIC Annual Praise Appeal 2021:
Do Everything in the Name of Jesus
The Resource Stewardship committee has designated Reformation Sunday, October 31 for designating financial support to this year’s Praise Appeal for the National Church.
In her letter to congregations asking for financial support of this year’s Praise Appeal, Bishop Susan Johnson writes:
“I want to highlight the importance of the work of the National Office in communications, helping us to share in words and pictures, what we are doing together as a church. Whether it is through the stories told in Canada Lutheran, helping us live out initiatives such as the four-year Living Our Faith focus by sharing this work out in our electronic newsletters and on social media, the production of videos, the coordinating of resources such as the Summer Sermon Series, or by working with the media to help us share our stories with the wider community — the work of communications is vital to all of the other ministries of our church.
The Resource Stewardship Committee encourages your support for the annual ELCIC Annual Praise Appeal in support of the work of the national church. The ELCIC actively engages in joint activities with the Anglican Church of Canada as well as other ecumenical activities, develops resources in support of congregations and provides ELCIC leadership for the work of the Lutheran World Federation.
When designating your gift to the work of the ELCIC, please indicate Praise Appeal on an offering envelope or when using electronic transfer of funds.
Resource Stewardship Committee
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Treasurer’s Fall Report to the Congregation
With the reopening of Church of the Cross in September for in-person worship and Sunday School, a clearer picture of the state of finances for 2021 has developed.
Just as in my mid-year report, results for the first nine months of 2021 indicate that we continue to run about a $29,000 deficit on operations, a number that is significantly greater than expected. While there are many factors at play in the current financial picture, the two main reasons for the deficit we are facing are (1) giving has not risen by as much as we hoped it would, based on last year’s pledges, and (2) there have been several significant unanticipated costs that the Church has had to cover to keep the building in good repair.
While the size and persistence of the deficit remains a concern, there is some good news to share. Your generous giving to support mortgage reduction will mean we can once again make a sizeable additional payment to bring our day of being mortgage-free that much closer. Also, your thoughtful contributions to our special purpose dedicated funds (like Social Justice, Campus Ministry and the Refugee Fund) mean that they are up from where they were at the beginning of the year.
Church Council, our Pastors and staff along with many volunteers have worked especially hard over the past 18 months to provide continuity in this time of great disruption for us all and offer opportunities to be connected to our church community. As well, many positive changes have taken place which will make a noticeable improvement in church experience – enhanced music in worship, renovations to the upper hall, rotunda and servery, as well as having the Shelbourne Community Kitchen as our tenant in the lower hall– to name but a few.
As always, your past and future support in all of this is greatly appreciated.
- Rory Molnar, Treasurer
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Newly Elected Bishop and Synod Council Members
 From the BC Synod:
The BC Synod in Convention has elected Rev. Kathy Martin as Bishop. Kathy will assume the Office of Bishop as of January 1, 2022.
We look forward to announcing the ordination date very soon. In the meantime, please keep Bishop-elect Kathy, Bishop Greg, and the incoming and outgoing Synod Council members in your prayers. Thanks be to God!
The BC Synod in Convention has elected the following Synod Council Members:
- Bishop-Elect: Pastor Kathy Martin
- Chairperson: Pastor Eric Krushel
- Secretary: Tarynn McKenzie
- Treasurer: Jerry Nieman
- Lower Mainland Rostered: Pastor Aneeta Saroop
- Vancouver Island Lay: Lisbeth Scott
- Southern Interior Rostered: Pastor Jane Gingrich
- North Lay: Robin Dielissen
- At Large Lay: Karen Lee
- At Large Lay: Cathy Preibisch
- At Large Rostered: Pastor Kristen Steele
- At Large Rostered: Pastor Brenda Nestegaard Paul
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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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Join with Anglican and Lutheran youth leaders from across the country for a couple days of connection and learning. We will be meeting Nov. 18 - 20 over Zoom.
There is no charge for this event and you can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodOqgrD8uHtfOwaNydGXFRf5dCEO2hiXu
The event will focus on advocacy, specifically on how we as youth leaders help our youth do advocacy well and how we as youth leaders can do a good job of advocating for youth and creating safe space for them.
If you are a youth leader in our churches, I hope you will consider joining for the event!
For more information, please contact Deacon Gretchen at gpeterson@elcic.ca
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Karren Stinson Bursary
 We celebrate this very special occasion of the Karren Stinson Bursary this year. It is hard to believe that so many years have passed since its inception. The first applicant to receive the bursary was our own national bishop, Susan Johnson. Since that time, awards have been made to deserving candidates in memory and honour of Karren Louise Stinson.
Karren was the parish worker at Church of the Cross for six years. She resigned that position to enter the University of Victoria’s School of Social Work. Unfortunately, her dream was quickly dashed at the age of 32 years when she was stricken with a burst aneurysm, just as she had begun her studies. To honour Karren’s dedicated spirit, a bursary was established in her memory.
The Bursary Committee invites the congregation to tell friends, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc. About the bursary. Encourage them to seek an application. Applications can be obtained from the church office or from the church website. All applications must be received by October 31st.
Blessings and with thanks,
Catherine Krock
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Sunday Coffee Time
Mindful of the cooler and wet weather as we progress into fall, hospitality following worship will be transitioning indoors in the coming weeks. This coming Sunday the COVID-19 Leadership team invites worshipers to enjoy coffee, tea or juice just outside the front entrance where masks can be removed. If you choose to stay indoors in the narthex area, please wear a mask. At all times please continue to practice social spacing.
Engaging To Help
As we continue enjoy more in person worship and events at Church of the Cross volunteers are needed for Sunday worship and to set up hospitality after worship. With enough volunteers for these important ways of serving, you will only be asked to help no more than once a month. It’s a great way to become better acquainted with each other! Contact Craig Knight at craigrknight@gmail.com or call him at 250-893-8201 to find out more.
Virtual Coffee
We are offering virtual coffee time over Zoom on Sunday, November 7 around 11:20 AM. You will receive the Zoom link in a separate e-mail.
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St. Luke’s Prescription
Check out the Fall edition of the newsletter from our neighbour’s at St. Luke’s Cedar Hill Anglican Church.
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