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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Sunday School Update
With the Sincerest of Thanks
Weekly Devotions from Diaconal Intern Denise
National day for Truth and Reconciliation
Praying Friends
Course on the book of Revelation
A craft for one and all
Sustainable Clothing Show-and-Tell
Issues of Violence Against Women and Children
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Pakistan Flooding Appeal
Day of Prayer for Peace
Orange Shirt Sunday
Memory Cafe Victoria
Thursdays in Black
Read Ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Sunday School Update
 Upcoming Sunday School Dates
September 18, October 2
Please share with families with Sunday School ages children, ages 4 through 11.
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With the Sincerest of Thanks
We did it! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our LCC family, our f riends at Congregation Emanu-El, plus members of the wider community, we have raised the initial funds needed for our sponsorship of the Syrian family currently living in Middle East Asia – and well ahead of our October 31 deadline!
We will be forwarding all funds collected by LCC before September 19 directly to ICA in the following days. If you have pledged, but not yet made your donation, please do so by September 18. And if this timing doesn’t work out for you, we will be continuing some fund-raising activities in the near future to help cover the high cost of living in Victoria once the family arrives. Our next event: a pub night in October with fabulous silent auction items ready for bidding!
Thank you over and over – we couldn’t have made this happen without your support! We continue to pray for this family and all refugees.
Sherry Coughlin
Syrian Sponsorship team
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Weekly Devotions from Diaconal Intern Denise
 As I dive deeper and deeper into my internship with the Lutheran Theological Seminary, exciting things emerge. One of them is this project: Stories of Faith - The Devotional Edition. I am releasing a short podcast weekly, based on my reflection on one of the lectionary readings. I hope you enjoy these 10 minute devotionals. 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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National day for Truth and Reconciliation
The national day for Truth and Reconciliation will take place on Friday, September 30. As part of the observance of this important day, the community is invited to a Pow Wow to be held at Royal Athletic Park.
Schedule of Events:
Doors open | 10:00 am
Opening ceremony | 11:00 am
Grand entry | 12:00 pm
Intertribal dances
Category dancing
Grand Entry | 6:00 pm
Intertribal dances
Category dancing
Retirement of colours | 12:00 am
Cost: Free to attend
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Praying Friends
 Each year at Church of the Cross we invite families to participate in Praying Friends. It’s an opportunity for children to be paired with an adult praying friend, who pray for their designated child during the school year. Participants are also invited to join a couple social events organized together with families. Praying for others builds one another up in faith, increases social bonds within the body of Christ, and one way we live out Jesus’ call to love our neighbour.
New to Praying Friends program?
If you are new to the Praying Friends program and would like to participate either as a praying adult friend or as parents/grandparents of children, please email Susanne standeven3525@gmail.com or pick up a survey from the church office or from Susanne on Sundays.
Subject line: “Praying Friends”
If you'd like to become an adult praying friend
First and Last name, Pronouns
If you’d like someone to pray for your child/grandchild this year:
Your First and Last name, Pronouns
Relationship to child
Child's First and Last name, pronouns, and birthday
Please include full info for each child.
Information for current participants in the Praying Friends program:
Susanne will be sending out an email this week to praying adults and parents of children to ask if they wish to continue in this ministry.
Please return completed surveys and emails to by Thursday, September 22 to give time to complete the pairings before the program begins in October. Paper copies can be dropped off at the church office.
Contact Susanne at standeven3525@gmail.com to participate or for more information.
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Course on the book of Revelation
 Does the book of Revelation scare you? Are crises in the modern world forecast in Revelation? Have you actually read the entire book? You are invited to join the adult education group for The Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History, a course taught by Professor Craig Koester of Luther Seminary in St. Paul who will guide us as we explore this extraordinary work and its impact on our civilization. The lecture series is divided into three parts: the historical and intellectual background of the Apocalypse; a close reading of Revelation, focusing on the meaning of its captivating and haunting images; and the wide-ranging legacy of its content on both Christian and Western history. Along the way we’ll look at our own thoughts and fears about “the end of the world”. When we’re done, you’ll come to see Revelation as it was intended: a book of encouragement and hope. Course participants meet weekly in the Rotunda 7:00-8:30 Tuesday evenings beginning September 20th (or join via Zoom). There is no charge. Reading assignments will be from the Bible. Bud Henning will lead the sessions. To register and receive the course guidebook, contact Bud via email: henning@islandnet.com or the church office. There’s nothing to fear about Revelation! Come and see!
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A craft for one and all
As part of the Sustainable Clothing Show & Tell event, the Board of Education is hosting a craft afternoon on Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 1 – 3 PM. We will be making a woven cloth basket using material edges from a local clothier. The basket can be used for treasures or be given as a gift. Any questions please call Rose at 250-727-0633. A sign up sheet will be outside the church offices. All materials will be supplied.
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Sustainable Clothing Show-and-Tell
October 2, Upper Hall, 12 noon to 2 PM
Light lunch will be served
The modern clothing industry offers us an amazing array of choices but has negative ecological impacts. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to minimize the ecological impact of our need to be clothed.
Some ideas (which also save money!):
- Avoid buying on impulse or because it’s cheap
- Buy what you love and will wear for a long time
- Look for eco-friendly labels
- Choose used (or hand-me-down)
- Learn how to sew or knit
- Mend minor defects
- Make something new out of something old
- Declutter / sell / donate (and shop where you donate!)
If you do any of these things, come to our Show-and-Tell dressed in your finest threads that have a story around one of these ideas, whether it be:
hand-me-down,
thrift-store find,
hand-sewn or knit,
mended, or
just worn since forever.
Or come to share and listen to the stories of others.
We will also have a chance to learn more about the impact of the clothing industry on the planet that explains why making these choices is more important than ever. Speakers from Beacon Community Services, Vintage Fashion Showcase and UVic will join us to share the inside story about the global clothing industry and the value of recycling.
Let’s learn and share ideas that will help each other make our clothing choices shine!
Please RSVP  using the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway.
Sponsored by Care for the Earth, Education, and Women in Faith
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Issues of Violence Against Women and Children
Your friends at St. Luke Cedar Hill invite you to the Cornerstone Speaker Series. This series will feature two sessions regarding Issues of Violence Against Women and Children. The first session will be on Tuesday, September 20th, with presenters from the Victoria Women's Transition House Society. The second session will be on Tuesday, October 25th. The topic of this session will be Standing Up Against Violence: An Indigenous-Led Discussion. The presenter will be Kathryn Lacerte of the Moosehide Campaign. Both sessions will be in St. Luke's Church starting at 7 pm and will include time for audience discussion and questions. Everyone welcome.
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Pakistan Flooding Appeal
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada joins Canadian Luth eran World Relief in asking its members to consider donating to those suffering from catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.
Over 33 million people have recently been affected with food waters destroying homes, crops, health centres, roadways and bridges. Rain is expected to continue through September and there is an elevated risk of the spread of malaria, dengue fever and other diseases.
The Government of Canada has announced that it will match donations to the Humanitarian Coalition and its member charities up to $3 million. Your gift today will provide life-saving clean water, food, shelter and healthcare to those affected. Donations will be accepted securely by clicking here. or by designating CLWR Pakistan on your envelop, e-transfer, or online gift.
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Day of Prayer for Peace - September 21
The International Day of Prayer for Peace is commemorated by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in conjunction with the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Peace on September 21 each year. The 2022 theme is End racism: Build Peace.
To honour our commitment to peace in the BC Synod and as we continue to pray for Ukraine and the world, we invite you to join in a special time of prayer online at 7:30pm on Wednesday, September 21st, the International Day for Peace. A Zoom link will be provided the day before by the BC Synod. Please contact the church office if you would like to receive the invitation.
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Orange Shirt Sunday – September 25, 10 AM with guest Carolyn Klaassen
 Sunday, September 25 at 10 AM we will honour Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with guest, Cari Klaassen, Lutheran pastoral ministry student in the Indigenous Studies program at Vancouver School of Theology. Everyone is invited to wear orange on this Sunday and on September 30, in recognition of the graves of Indigenous children that continue to be found on the grounds of Canadian Residential schools and toward greater truth and reconciliation as Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together. We gather in faith and hope of God’s healing Spirit with us and our communities.
Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters
September 30, 2022
“Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”
What is Orange Shirt Day?
- A time to remember the lives of Indigenous children who attended residential schools in Canada
- A day to inspire Canadians to be pro-active in promoting anti-racism and anti-bullying in schools and in the workplace
- To learn more about Reconciliation and how we can become more involved in making a change
How did Orange Shirt Day originate?
Phyllis Webstad was gifted an orange shirt from her grandmother to wear on her first day of residential school in 1973. She was only six years old, and was very excited to be going to school. However, on her arrival at the school her clothes were removed and replaced with a uniform.
Phyllis started Orange Shirt Day because on that first day of school, she felt her life did not matter and everything that she had known before no longer existed. She wanted to bring awareness that every child matters and to remember all those children who were forced to go to residential schools.
How can we learn more about Reconciliation?
Orange Shirt Day allows us the opportunity to learn more about Reconciliation and how we can actively promote making a change for the better in our homes, churches and communities. The BC Synod has a resource page set up for Reconciliation on their website. Please click here for more information.
Please consider wearing orange on September 30th, or if you wish you can purchase a shirt from various online stores, or design your own..
https://www.orangeshirtday.org/shirts--gifts.html
https://dreamcatcherpromotions.com/promotional-product/every-child-matters-orange-shirt-day/
https://www.orangeshirtday.net/
In the spirit of reconciliation,
Journey towards Reconciliation Working Group
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Thursdays in Black: Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence in Canada
You are invited to attend the webinar Thursdays in Black: Working Together to End Gender- based Violence in Canada on Tuesday, September 20 at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EDT). Come and hear the speakers from Moose Hide Campaign and justice advocate Danielle Strickland talk about Canadian realities and share what is already being done to counter this heartbreaking reality faced by so many people. Leave knowing more about our Canadian landscape, what you can do to change it, and how you might invite others to join you in this work. Emotional support will be available. For more information and to register for this event, please click here.
To watch Bishop Susan's video invitation for this event, please click here.
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In-Person Worship, Sunday, September 18, 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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Church office will be closed on Monday, September 19th
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Read ahead:
 15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 18, 2022 Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
Psalm 79:1-9
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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