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In this week's Crossroads, you will find information on:
Provincial and Regional restrictions
In-Person Worship, Sunday 10 AM
Celebrating this Sunday
Recital of Art Song
CEE Refugee Support
Helping Hands Needed
Holy Communion
International Overdose Awareness Day
WCC 11th Assembly
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Ecumenical International Youth Day
New ELCIC Vice-Chair
DOTAC
Read Ahead
This Week at Church of the Cross
The deadline for all Crossroads submissions is Wednesday at 12 noon.
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Provincial and Regional restrictions have been updated as of April 8, 2022.
Here is the public health restrictions page.
At Church of the Cross masks are recommended but not required. Choir members have been asked to wear masks and those singing are encouraged to as well.
In-Person Worship, Sunday, August 28, 10 AM PDT
 Church Council continues to work to see that in-person worship is safer for everyone. We will adjust our plans as health orders change.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best protection for the health of yourself and others. We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to be fully vaccinated.
We will continue to livestream worship each Sunday.
August 28, 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Everyone planning to come to worship are asked to follow these requirements:
- If you are not feeling well and experiencing any Covid-19 related symptoms or if you are not vaccinated, please stay home and participate in worship online.
- You are encouraged but not required to wear a mask when entering the building and throughout worship.
- Observe social distancing.
- Sanitize or wash hands as needed.
- You are welcome to sing and you are encouraged to wear a mask.
- 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 spaced in the trays. You may commune with bread or wine alone if you wish.
- It is not required that people register for worship ahead of time or sign in as you arrive.
We will continue to make adjustments as needed and keep you informed of any changes. Your feedback on your experience with in-person worship is valued. Please let any member of Church Council, Pastors, or the church office know of any questions, concerns or ideas for making in-person worship and Sunday School safer and meaningful for everyone.
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Celebrating this Sunday
This Sunday, August 28th, we recognize the 20th anniversary of Pastor Lyle’s coming to Church of the Cross to begin his ministry among us and with us. We are thankful to God for this wonderful ministry. We also celebrate with Lyle and Lori their 43rd wedding anniversary, their life together and all their wonderful family.
Of course, we will celebrate after worship with cake! Come and join us!
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You are invited...
....to an afternoon recital of Art Song here at the church on Saturday, September 3, at 2:30pm. Admission is by donation. Our Kantor, Nathan, will be joined by mezzo-soprano Kiiri Michelsen and pianist Frank Zieginson in a program of music exploring the wonder of Seasons: a fitting way to welcome the beginning of a new school "season" and the beginning of our own Season of Creation in our Worship life together. Come join us!
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Helping Hands Needed
Thanks to your generosity and support, our Lutheran Church of the Cross comm unity has been able to bring several former refugees to a new and safe life in Victoria. We have received a request to sponsor a single individual by a family member with whom we have co-sponsored others before. We would be pleased to honour what appears to be a financially low risk sponsorship but have great need of a few individuals who would be willing to act as those working closest with the family and this individual. Once this ‘core group’ is established, we will seek official approval from the SJC and Council to set the wheels in motion. If you are interested and would like to know more about the commitment and help this might involve, please contact Sherry Coughlin (sherry_coughlin@yahoo.ca) or the church office.
Thank you,
The Social Justice Committee
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Holy Communion
 Would you like to assist with preparing for our Sunday Worship?
The Altar Guild is the traditional church name for the group of people who plan and prepare for Holy Communion each week. Historically at Church of the Cross, the members of the Altar Guild have been women, but we have made a welcomed move away from this practice.
More people are needed in the rotation to prepare Holy Communion and clean up at the end of Sunday Worship. Marge Adams serves as the coordinator, and she can answer any questions you have and arrange a learning session if you decide you would like to participate.
If you would like to know more about what is involved and the time commitment, please call Marge Adams at 250-590-5732 or contact the church office.
The Board of Worship
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International Overdose Awareness Day 2022
International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crisis, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
The campaign acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose.
International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.
The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:
- To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
- To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
- To give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
- To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
- To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
- To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
- To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
- To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.
Click here for more information.
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WCC 11th Assembly: Acting General Secretary Hopes to Mobilize Action for Climate Justice
In Photo: WCC's acting general secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca (Image credits: WCC website)
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is looking ahead to its 11th Assembly where more than 4,500 participants are expected on August 31 to September 8 in Karlsruhe, Germany. WCC's acting general secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca hopes to raise up the issue of climate justice and underline the need to care for the creation. To read the full article, please click here.
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WCC Presents the 11th Assembly Resource Book
In Photo: WCC 11th Assembly symbol on the cover of the Resource Book (Image credits: WCC website)
 The World Council of Churches (WCC) is offering a Resource Book full of information and inspiration. This Resource Book is for the 11th Assembly delegates and for other people around the world. It contains everything from essential/practical details about the assembly, to a reflection on the assembly theme, to documents and reports to a user-friendly timetable. This is a one-stop tool for those attending the assembly online in Karlsruhe and remotely online from their homes and churches. For more information and to download, please click here.
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Ecumenical International Youth Day Toolkit
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has newly published an "Ecumenical International Youth Day Toolkit: Indigenous Youth and Land Rights Activism." The book is designed to help people reflect, advocate and pray about the challenges and learn more about the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. From suggestions for activities and advocacy, to information about land rights, the toolkit provides resources for ongoing events that can be adapted to local contexts. For more details and to download this free toolkit, please click here.
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Meet the New ELCIC Vice-Chair Bruce Cook
 Bruce Cook was elected Vice-Chair of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) at the 2022 National Convention. He served on National Church Council since 2013 as a member of the finance committee. Cook is a registered nurse by training and has worked in the insurance industry for many years.
"I'm anticipating a huge learning curve to start with and I'll be leaning heavily on the other officers and other NCC members to guide me through. Sheila Hamilton has been a great role model for my entire tenure on NCC," he says. "My recent work on the vision statement task force has been very interesting. It encouraged me to look at our church with wider eyes and in different ways."
To read the full article, please click here.
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DOTAC to Hold Online Study Series in September
The Diakonia of the Americas and Caribbean (DOTAC) will hold an online study series event using the document, "Called to Transformation: Ecumenical Diakonia." The document to be used is a joint publication of the World Council of Churches and ACT Alliance and which provides a common platform for acting and reflecting together for the churches and ecumenical partners worldwide. This online study series event will be held Mondays, September 12, 19 and 26 at 1:00 p.m. (CDT). If you would like to look into this resource, please click here. If you have any questions and would like to register for this event, please send an email to Ted Dodd at teddodd@live.com .
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Read ahead:
 12th Sunday after Pentecost
August 28, 2022 Jeremiah 2:4-13
Psalm 81:1, 10-16
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Worship Bulletin: CLICK HERE for Worship Bulletin
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