Dear Parishioners,

It looks like we are in lockdown for a while longer and this means we cannot gather in our beautiful little church for Christmas. We are doing our best to create services to help bring you into the spirit of Christmas and remind you that we are still community and together we can pray and sing and give thanks from our own homes.

If you drive by the church, you’ll see the “JOY” display on our hall roof. This coming Sunday is Advent #3 and the focus for the day is JOY. I look forward to being with you all on Sunday morning to tap into the JOY that is ours, as a community and as individuals.  

Many of you have been sending in funny, touching and inspiring pieces to share. Here are a few for your enjoyment!

From Evelyne:  gracecathedral.org  - prayers in times of trouble.

From All Saints Ladner where I did a practicum; a reflection on the gospel of Mark by Archbishop Douglas Hambidge:   https://soundcloud.com/cliff-caprani/douglas2advent

From Mary S: A lovely performance of O Come All Ye Faithful. See video attachment below (P.S. Turn up the volume!)

From Claude L and AL H: One Day at a Time, sung by a 93-year-old.  Click here.

From Harry and Jean C: Dolly Parton sings Mary Did you Know? Click here.

A broadcast of the National Lessons & Carols service will take place on Friday, December 18, at 8 pm Eastern Time. The files are now available for download for anyone who would like to include the broadcast, or components of it, in upcoming services or events.  Files can be downloaded at: http://www.anglican.ca/lessonsandcarols  

During this second shutdown because of COVID, please note that Selinde and KAT are mostly working from home. They are both in the office on THURSDAYS but continue to answer emails and phone calls. Sorry for the inconvenience but we are trying to keep everyone safe. 

Calendar of events:

Sunday, December 13  
10:00am   Advent #3  

Thursday December 17
7:00pm     A mini version of our annual Carols by Candlelight. Our wonderful neighbour Patricia P has recorded a few of her students singing/playing Christmas songs for our pleasure. Tune in Thursday evening, light a candle or two, and enjoy! 

Sunday, December 20
10:00am   Advent #4
2:00pm    Collaborative Lessons and Carols with a ZOOM party after.  The four local Anglican churches have prepared a special service for you. Tune in to enjoy and then stay on for a ZOOM party afterwards, hosted by St. Paul’s in Nanaimo. More details next week.  

Thursday, December 24
7:00 pm    Christmas Eve service – light your candles and click on the link in an email KAT will send out earlier in the day  

Friday, December 25
10:30am  Diocesan Christmas morning service at Christ Church Cathedral. Enjoy the pageantry and music!
2:00pm   Watch for an email with a link to click that will take you to a special Christmas message from Selinde  

The office will be closed from December 26 until January 4. In case of emergency, call your People’s Warden, Val D.  

Sunday, December 27.  There will be no service this Sunday as set out by Dean Ansley Tucker in her notice to the Diocese.  KAT will send out the link to the Collaborative Lessons and Carols service so you can enjoy that again if you so choose.  

Sunday January 3
10:00am Epiphany  

Wednesday January 6th the office re-opens. However we will be checking phone and email messages starting January 4th.