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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
In-Person Worship and Sunday School planned to resume September 12
Choral Scholar Position
Acts of Creation and Greening News
Treasurer’s mid-year report to the Congregation
LCS AGM Notice
A New Food Bank in Victoria
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CECF Experiment Applications
Lead Musician at Grace Lutheran Church
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 planned to resume Sept.12
 We have been waiting a long time for this! 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.
September 12, Holy Cross Sunday – 10 AM
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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Choral Scholar Position (tenor/bass) for Singers and Instrumentalists
Position description
The Board of Worship of Lutheran Church of the Cross is seeking a Choral Scholar for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Choral Scholars play a valuable role in the musical life of the church. Choral Scholars will assist the Kantor by providing vocal leadership for the congregation and church choir through solo and ensemble singing. Instrumentalists will be encouraged to use their primary instrument (e.g., strings/winds/keyboard) as an additional means to enhance worship music. There are many opportunities for a choral scholar to develop musical and leadership skills such as sight-reading, improvisation, and conducting. Both singers and instrumentalists, with vocal experience, are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
Applicants should be an experienced singer or instrumentalist studying at a post-secondary institution. Strong sight-reading skills and experience in liturgical music is an asset.
The position includes participating in weekly worship and choir rehearsals, providing support for the choir and serving as a soloist as required.
Choral Scholars will be expected to attend worship on Sundays, from 9am-11:30am, and other festival and occasional services.
The stipend is $250 per month and start ASAP, concluding April 30, 2022, with the possibility of extending through the summer and renewal for a following year.
Contact
For more information or to apply for the position with a brief letter of interest and resume please email lutheranchurchofthecross@shaw.ca, by September 14, 2021.
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Acts of Creation and Greening News
 From September 1st to October 4th, Christians around the world celebrate the good gift of creation. This global event began in 1989 when church leaders first recognized the Day of Prayer for Creation. Prayer is a powerful tool to raise awareness and foster transformational relationships and ministry. (From the introduction to the Season of Creation 2021 Guide). During the 5-week celebration, our LCC family will come together in worship, prayer, and with opportunities to learn more about this year’s theme, A Home for All? Renewing the oikos of God.
The Greening Committee continues to explore through video recordings how members of our faith community live out their lives that acknowledges, honors, and celebrates creation. For the first week of the Season of Creation, Sept 2, 2021, tune in to hear Karl Maier talking activism as a way of life. The link is provided here.
We also invite you to join us in conversation with speaker Beth Eden on Sept.11th at LCC, 3787 Cedar Hill Road. Beth will talk about her work at the UN and the challenging issues of climate change facing our world today. The schedule for the morning is as follows:
9:30-10:00 Arrival with refreshments on the lawn
10:00-10:10 Welcome and Introductions
10:15- 10:45 Beth Eden
10:45-11:10 Q & A
11:10-11:15 Wrap-up with thanks
You are welcome to attend this in-person event, or watch the live-stream on the LCC YouTube site. Masks are required. Please RSVP if you plan to attend in person to: lutheranchruchofthecross@shaw.ca
In this Season of Creation, we pray that the breath of God’s creative word would move our hearts, give us faith, and enlighten us with grace to respond to God’s covenant to care for our common world, and that the Holy Spirit renew the face of the Earth, and safeguard a home for all.
In Christ,
Susan Beiderwieden
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Treasurer’s mid-year report to the Congregation
Now that that we are moving into the second half of 2021 and are looking forward to reopening the Church for in-person worship, an update of the Church’s financial situation is in order.
At our Annual General Meeting in March the congregation approved a budget for 2021 that aimed for a possible surplus for the year. Since then, we have had ups and downs with the pandemic, but with healthy vaccination rates on Vancouver Island we are once again looking at opening the Church to in-person worship and for church and community use. At the same time, Church Council remains committed to continue livestreaming and connecting face-to-face via Zoom.
Over the first seven months of 2021 we ran about a $29,000 deficit on operations, a number that is significantly greater than expected. While there are many factors that contribute to the financial picture as it currently stands, the two main reasons for this 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 unexpected repair costs that the Church has had to cover over the past several months.
We are currently looking for some bounce-back over the remainder of 2021 in terms of our bottom line. In this regard, your Church Council will continue to closely monitor developments as we move along the path back to a safe resumption of in-person worship. As always, your past and future support in all of this is greatly appreciated.
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A New Food Bank in Victoria- but different!
 Since the pandemic, Food Security, a problem for decades, has been worsened for 1 out of 8 households. People have been affected, whether employed, on welfare, disability, homeless or homed but cannot afford both accommodation and food. It does not help that we live in an expensive area for cost of living. Many cannot make their dollars go far enough. While food banks exist, they are no longer filling the increasing need. Food Security has demanded many different types of ways to alleviate this need for a variety of people. We have food banks, several community services, a few philanthropic businesses and grocery stores, Rainbow Kitchen, Our Place, Cool Aid, Justice Van Society, Shelbourne Community Kitchen and now Community Fridge.
In May 2021, the first Community Fridge opened at 2725 Rock Bay Avenue, to serve a nearly barrier free opportunity to get food whenever it is needed by ANYONE based on the honour system. It is assisted by individual donors and the Community Food Support Initiative on Lekwungen and WSANEC territories. It is based on mutual aid not charity. It is hoped that a network of community fridges will be established throughout the territories.
https://www.instagram.com/communityfridgevictoria/?hl=en
Anyone can donate food directly or money through crowd funding. As well, each Tuesday in the month, donations are received by several grocery stores of canned food, goods, drinks and nearly expired fresh food at the Quadra Village Community Gym for the Community Food Support Initiative. The food is then divided into 85 large boxes of food and goods and delivered to 85 families in Victoria. The excess is donated to the Community Fridge on Rock Bay Avenue. Anyone can take and/or leave food at the Community Fridge on Rock Bay Avenue at anytime, no matter the reason for your need. You serve yourself! Volunteers clean the fridge.
Donations can include:
- Drinks – bottled water and juice is greatly needed
- Fresh produce
- Non perishable food
- Personal hygiene products
- Baby food, diapers
- Pet food
- Your time and energy to clean the fridge
Please consider this valuable service for those in need, when shopping or for a place for your extra home grown produce.
Barb Smart
For the Social Justice Committee
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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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Job Posting: Lead Musician at Grace Lutheran Church
Church Lead Musician
Contract Position
A lead musician is required for the musical accompaniment and musical leadership of worship services offered by Grace Lutheran Church, 1273 Fort St. Victoria, B.C.
Duties:
- Regular weekly preparation and performance time for Sunday morning worship service under the direction of a worship leader
- Preparation and performance at occasional special services (eg. Christmas Eve, Good Friday)
- From time to time may be required to accompany and/or lead other guest musicians during a worship service
Previous experience accompanying congregational singing is preferred, but not required.
Compensation is based on musical leadership and accompaniment provided per worship service. As a contract position there are no additional employment benefits provided.
Please send resume and cover letter to:
worship@gracelutheranvictoria.ca by the end of September 15th.
For more information about Grace Lutheran Church visit: www.gracelutheranvictoria.ca
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Read ahead:
Season of Creation - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
- September 5, 2021 Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm 125
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 7:24-37
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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This Week at Church of the Cross
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