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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Covid-19 Update/In-person Worship continues
Holy Communion this Sunday
Seeking the 'owners' of white sheets
Eradicating a Culture of Fear with Understanding
Women In Faith Book Group
Blessing of Denise Pawliuk
Welcoming those who are new – Reformation Sunday
Season of Creation Event
Kairos Climate Action Month
Orange Shirt Sunday, September 27
Video Study Group beginning September 22
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You are invited to a year of reading the Bible!
CLWR's urgent appeal: COVID-19 hunger crisis
Continuing Ways to join worship on-line
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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Covid-19 Update/In-person Worship continues – Sunday, September 13 at 10 AM
 Worship continues to be limited to 35 people in the congregation plus those leading and assisting. Last Sunday there were 24 people so there is lots of room for those who wish to join in-person worship. Please email or call the church office, and pastorlyle@shaw.ca, pastorlylndon@shaw.ca to indicate your intention to be present. Worship will continue to be livestreamed as well.
Those who join in worship should expect the following:
- Everyone is asked to wear a mask while in the church building, if you do not have one, one will be provided.
- You may have to line up at the front doors as you arrive using the spacing marked on chalk on the walkway.
- You will be asked to sanitize your hands, sign in, and then be ushered to a seat in the sanctuary
- Seating will be distanced except among family/contact groups
- A worship folder will be provided including the text of the songs. The congregation is asked not to sing, but welcome to hum the melodies. It is an opportunity to meditate/reflect on the words being sung.
- At the time of Holy Communion, the presider(s) will go out to wash their hands. Ushers will invite you forward if you wish to commune, the bread will be placed in your hands by the presider, and you will be invited to pick-up a glass of wine/grape juice which are spaced in the trays. The empty glasses are then placed in the next tray before you return to your seat.
- At the end of worship, you will be ushered outside where people may visit at a distance, if they wish.
The Covid-19 Leadership Team continues to monitor the local conditions and recommendations of the Health Authorities and to adjust our practices as needed.
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Holy Communion this Sunday, September 20
As part of worship this Sunday we will celebrate Holy  Communion. Those who wish to join in celebrating Holy Communion at home are invited to prepare a small amount of bread and wine (or grape juice if required) on a plate and in a cup, prior to worship. You may also wish to light a candle(s) as part of worshipping at home. At the time of Holy Communion, you are invited to have the elements in front of you, join in the words of thanksgiving and to lift the bread and wine at the same time as the presiding minister. At the time of Communing, share the bread with yourself or with one another with the words: “The body of Christ given for you.” and “The blood of Christ shed for you.” After Communing, or following worship, please consume the remaining bread and wine. This invitation is for those who wish to and feel comfortable joining in Communion at home during worship. Those who do not feel comfortable are welcome to observe Holy Communion celebrated at the church as we trust in God’s Spirit and gifts of grace offered to all as and where we are. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please contact the Church office or Pastor Lyndon or Pastor Lyle.
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Social Justice Committee is seeking the owners of white tablecloths on loan to us
Th e Social Justice Committee has several white tablecloths that were on loan to us for use as table coverings for the Jewellery & Accessories sale. The remaining tablecloths do not have a name on them so I can't return the sheet(s) to the rightful owner. Please contact Susanne Standeven standeven3525@gmail.com or 250-721-9770 or the church office if the tablecloths belong to you and you would like them returned. Thank you!
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Eradicating a Culture of Fear with Understanding
Intercommunity Dialogue Zoominar September 26 @ 7:00 pm Pacific Time
St. Bakhita Anakdiar Peace foundation in coordination with African Heritage Association has extended an invitation to members of diverse communities, to participate, learn, share and discourse on the following topics.
• A glimpse at White Supremacy, Corporations, beneficiaries and refugees
• The Ethnocentrism and Ethno relativism
• Detrimental effect of white supremacy on mental health of Afro Canadians and the people of African Descent & lack of accountability
Keynote panelists: Dr. Oscar Perez de Tagle, Dr. Lisa Gunderson, Dr. Moussa Magassa
Link to register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcOGgrDMuG9yb5NEE50RFiAUKxU2K5xZc
Or use ID & password to login
Meeting ID: 817 7882 8418 & Passcode 732745
Questions: Contact William Goldiet for more information: wgoldiet22@gmail.com
Tel: 250- 818-6228 for more information
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Wo men In Faith Book Group
The Book Group will be meeting on Wednesday, September 30th at 1:30 pm by Zoom. We will be discussing Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Nelson.
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Blessing of Denise Pawliuk, entering the Diaconal Ministry program, this Sunday, September 20 – 10 AM
Denise Pawliuk has made the decision and received t he endorsement of our Synod to enter the Diaconal Ministry program, studying through Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon, to be ordained as a Deacon of the ELCIC. We give thanks for this calling for Denise and want to bless her as she begins her studies. We will offer prayers of blessing for Denise in-person and online as part of our worship on Sunday, September 20.
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Welcoming those who are new – Reformation Sunday, October 25 – 10 AM
 One of the many challenges of the pandemic has been a delay in recognizing and welcoming those who are new and wish to join the community of Church of the Cross. Two or three times a year, we have provided this opportunity though Affirmation of Baptism together. Having not been able to do so yet in 2020, we want to begin preparing for this in October. If you would like to be part of joining the congregation through Affirmation of Baptism, or if you have not been Baptized and wish to be, or if you have any questions, please contact Pastor Lyndon or Pastor Lyle. Everyone who shares a sense of connection and belonging in this community is welcome.
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Season of Creation Event
The BC Synod Climate Justice Action Group invites y ou to join us as we learn and grow in the care of creation. The time for care is now.
Who: The Rev. Laurel Dykstra
Theme: Care of Creation: an integral part of who we are and what we are to be about as church
Date: Thursday, September 24th
Time: 7:00PM
Where: ZOOM
Laurel Dykstra is the priest of Salal + Cedar, a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, dedicated to practicing contemplative ecology and spiritually rooted action. With a vocation of environmental justice, Laurel is well connected to secular and faith based environmental movements.
How to register: Please contact the BC Synod office at bcsynod@elcic.ca by 12:00pm on Tuesday, Sept. 24. You will be sent a ZOOM invitation upon registration.
All are welcome! Help us get the word out! To care for creation is part of our call as the church of Christ! Join us!
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Season of Creation Devotions by the Leaders of Four Churches
The leaders of the Episcopal Church (US), the Evang elical Lutheran Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have prepared Sunday devotions for the Season of Creation. You can find more information and a link to the devotions here: https://www.elcic.ca/news.cfm?article=575
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Kairos Climate Action Month
Resiliency and hope are the driving messages of KAIROS' second annual Climate Action Month, which began on September 1. Each day this month, KAIROS will focus on an aspect of the climate crisis, sharing resources, events, stories from our members and global partners, and actions for climate justice. The calendar will focus on five weekly themes: Season of Creation, Just Transition, Indigenous Rights, Global Climate Justice, and Water. Interested in receiving more information via weekly e-blasts during Climate Action Month? Please sign up on our online form and click Ecological Justice.
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Orange Shirt Sunday, September 27
 In Sunday worship, September 27, 10 AM PDT, Church of the Cross will be honouring Orange Shirt Sunday with special guest Carolyn Klaassen. Carolyn will be preaching, leading prayer and song together with a guest percussionist/singer.
“Carolyn Klaassen is deeply committed to working within the church on its journey towards Reconciliation. A member of First Lutheran Church in Vancouver. A graduate from Vancouver School of Theology with a certificate in Indigenous Theological studies and currently enrolled in the Indigenous Masters of Divinity Program at VST. Carolyn raises awareness of Indigenous ceremonial customs through participation in a congregation’s worship service.”
While Orange Shirt Day in BC is held on September 30, we want to lift up the Sunday prior, remembering the history of residential schools, their ongoing impact, and our commitments as Christians to reconciliation with Indigenous people.
The TRC Committee has applied for a synod grant to help host this special Sunday.
Looking for an Orange Shirt? You can buy one either on-line from the official supplier:
https://victoriaorangeshirtday.com/vosd-store/
You can also buy a shirt in person in at Cafe Fantastico on the corner of Quadra and Kings or Big Wheel Burger, all Victoria locations.
Further background on Orange Shirt Day from the BC Synod:
https://bcsynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Orange-Shirt-Day-2020.pdf
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Video Study Group beginning September 22- 7PM on Zoom
 The video study group will begin this Tuesday. A Zoom invitation will be sent to everyone who registers. The 8-session course is titled, “ProFuture Faith – the Prodigal Species Comes Home” with lecturer Rev. Michael Dowd. A sample lecture is available here https://vimeo.com/322942900. To register, contact the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Lyle or Pastor Lyndon. Past and new participants including people not previously connected to the congregation are all welcome.
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You are invited to a year of reading the Bible!
ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson invites you to form a Bible Book Club with members of your church, your friends, family or others from your community as a way to study scripture and discuss the Bible together.
September 2020 marks the second year of the Living our Faith initiative, to which our emphasis has shifted from prayer to reading. Each month we will focus together on a different book of the Bible. Our first month, September, has us reading the book of Genesis. Form your Bible Book Club, use the introduction taken from the Lutheran Study Bible, read the appointed book, download the prepared questions and join in the discussion.
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CLWR's urgent appeal: COVID-19 hunger crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing alarming levels o f hunger for many of the world's most vulnerable people. If we don't act soon, the coronavirus pandemic could turn into a catastrophic hunger crisis that will last for years. Through Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), you can make sure fewer families go hungry. For more information, please go to the following website at: https://www.clwr.org/news-events/covid-19-hunger-crisis
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Continuing Ways to join worship on-line:
Sunday Worship Livestream, 10 AM PDT:
Go to website: www.lutheranvictoria.ca and click on the livestream link.
Copies of the bulletin/worship order for each Sunday are available for download, and printing if you wish, on the website.
View past worship videos by visiting “About/Videos” tab of the website:
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/about
View Sunday School videos and activities here:
https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/kids-youth-students/childrens-ministry-sunday-school
Tuesday Morning Prayer continues each week at 8:30 AM PDT
On Facebook Live and you can view past videos here:
https://www.facebook.com/lutheranvictoria/
You do not need a Facebook account to view the church page.
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Read ahead: Season of Creation - 16th Sunday after Pentecost
- Sunday, September 20, 2020 Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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This Week at Church of the Cross
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