Lighting Our Way to Bethlehem Lakeview Multicultural United Church Advent and Christmas 2018
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Lighting Our Way To Bethlehem Lakeview Multicultural United Church Advent and Christmas 2018 The theme for our journey through Advent this Star-Giving year is “Lighting Our Way To Bethlehem”. What I’d really like to give you for Christmas The star that shone that first Christmas, leads is a star ….. us on our journey once again to the birth of brilliance in a package, Jesus, and the heart of our faith. During the something you could keep in the pocket of your jeans four weeks of Advent, we will light candles of or in the pocket of your being. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love and reflect on the Something to take out in times of darkness, lives of those who followed the light of that something that would never snuff out or tarnish, star, and made that first journey to Christmas something you could hold in your hand, —Mary, Joseph, the Innkeeper, the shepherds something for wonderment, and the Magi. something for pondering, A tradition in the Philippines at Christmas is something that would remind you the ‘parol’ - a star-shaped lantern that evokes of what Christmas has always meant: the Star that shone over Bethlehem, leading to God’s Light into the darkness of this world. the manger. It also symbolizes the victory of But stars are only God’s for giving, God’s light shining over the darkness of our and I must be content to give you world, bringing the promise of God’s hope and words, and wishes and packages without stars. peace. But I can wish you life as radiant as the Star that announced the Christ Child’s coming, and as filled with awe as the shepherds who stood beneath its light. And I can pass on to you the love that has been given to me, ignited countless times by others who have knelt in Bethlehem’s light. Ann Weems ‘Kneeling In Bethlehem’ First Sunday in Advent Second Sunday in Advent December 2nd December 9th Nativity Set Display Decorating The Christmas Tree On Sunday, December 2nd, people are invited to During the worship service on bring a favourite nativity set from home for a Sunday, December 9th, we will display following church. This may be one that was be decorating the Christmas given to you, ones you have collected through the Tree in the sanctuary with the years, or one you have used as a family tradition. paper ‘parols’ that were made Please include a card with your name, and if you the week before. For each parol have a story behind your nativity set, please de- decoration put on the tree, scribe this briefly. people are invited to donate a loonie. Dedicate A Poinsettia We invite you to help us decorate the sanctuary for Christmas by donating a poinsettia in memory of a loved one, in appreciation of someone or just as a gift to the church. Please Secret Santa bring these to church on Dec. 9th, in time for the Christmas Cantata Also on Sunday, December 2nd, following church, on Dec.16th, If you wish to names for ‘Secret Santa’ will be drawn dedicate the plant, there will be a by the adults, who will get a gift for sign-up sheet available that day for the infor- those 16 years and younger, or for mation, and we will publish the names of the those 65+. dedications and appreciations on Sunday, These gifts will be given out on December 16th. December 16th, during the Christmas party. Third Sunday in Advent All Ages Activity — Making ‘Parols’ December 16th And, following worship, people of all ages are Christmas Musical: ‘God Is With Us’ invited to make paper ‘parols’. These are fun and easy to make, and will be On Sunday, December 16th, the worship service used to decorate the Christmas tree on will feature the Christmas musical ‘God Is With December 9th during the worship Us’ with choir anthems, solos, scripture and service. readings. The service will be followed by a Christmas party with lots of food, fellowship Or if crafts are not your ‘thing’, you can and fun, including Secret Santa. help put up the Christmas tree and decorate the sanctuary that day as we begin to prepare for Advent and Christmas. Christmas Eve at Lakeview A Special Christmas Gift to Lakeview December 24th—7:00 pm As we buy gifts for our loved ones in this season of gift-giving, let us remember the Everyone is invited to join us on Christmas Eve at most precious gift of all—the birth of Jesus 7:00 pm as we journey to the manger, and join with in our lives and in our hearts. At Lakeview, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and angels in we are so blessed with a family of faith that celebrating the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus. The supports, encourages and journeys with us service will feature the Christmas story read in in faith. At Christmas this year, why not give English and a variety of Filipino dialects, beloved a special Christmas gift to help the church to Christmas carols, and a special Christmas story for carry on its ministry and presence in the all ages. We will go out in candlelight to the singing New Year. Special Christmas donation of ‘Silent Night’ envelopes will be available at church What Do I Want For Christmas What do I want for Christmas? I want to kneel in Bethlehem, the air thick with alleluias, the angels singing New Year’s Eve Worship Service that God is born among us. December 31st—7:00 pm In the light of the Star, This year, there will be a New Year’s Eve service at I want to see them come, Lakeview, starting at 7:00 pm. This will be an the wise ones and the humble. opportunity to reflect on the year past, to pray for I want to see them come the coming year, and to give thanks for God’s bearing whatever they treasure abiding presence with us in all our days. Please join us for this brief time of worship as we begin to lay at the feet the New Year. of him who gives us life. What do I want for Christmas? To see in that stable the whole world kneeling in thanks for a promise kept: new life. For in his nativity we find ours. Ann Weems ‘Kneeling In Bethlehem’ Worship Schedule For Advent and Christmas Redevelopment News Lighting Our Way To Bethlehem Plans are proceeding on the redevelopment front. Lakeview had a meeting with the Development Dec. 2nd Advent 1 Communion Team and architect in October for an update. A Candle: HOPE Letter of Agreement was submitted to the city of Scripture: Luke 1: 26 – 38 Vancouver in March, and a response received in Sermon Reflection: Mary early October, with a number of suggestions and revisions to the initial plans. The new building will Dec. 9th Advent 2 host 79 units, including approx. 30% that are Candle: PEACE affordable, purpose-built rentals and a number that Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25 are family-friendly (2-3 bedrooms). Another Sermon Reflection: Joseph meeting with the Development team was held in Tree decorating during service mid– November to talk about the public engage- Poinsettias in memory or appreciation ment details that are required by the city. There will be an opportunity for the congregation to look Dec. 16th Advent 3 at the proposed designs for the new building Candle: JOY project on Sunday, January 13th after church. The Christmas Cantata: “God Is With Us” first Open House for the public to hear comments from those in the neighbourhood will be held on Dec. 23rd Advent 4 January 23 from 5-7:30 pm. A second Open Candle: LOVE House, hosted by the city, will take place later in the Scripture: Luke 2: 8-20 Spring. There are still numerous steps left to be Sermon Reflection: The Shepherds taken in the approval process before actual build- ing can take place—likely at least 16-18 months. Dec. 24th Christmas Eve - 7:00 pm We have been told that we will probably be in our Candlelight Service current building for at least 2 Christmases. So— Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20 things are moving slowly but surely! What an ex- Christmas Story citing time for this congregation at Lakeview! Dec. 30th Christmas 1 Scripture: Luke 2: 1-7 Visioning Day Sermon Reflection: The Innkeeper In October, we received word that our ProVision Dec. 31st New Year’s Eve - 7:00 pm grant application for funding to host a visioning day at Lakeview Multicultural was approved. We had originally hoped this could happen at the end Other News at Lakeview Multicultural of November, but the Board decided to give our- selves a little more time to plan this important day New Website together, and so postponed it to the new year. This will be an opportunity to explore and discern We are launching our new website just in time where we see the Spirit calling us to minister as a for the Advent and Christmas season. Check it congregation, and what kind of leadership we will out at www.lakeviewunited.ca for information need. As Lakeview looks forward to a new build- about worship services, upcoming events, ing and calling a new minister, it will be important congregational news, sermons, pictures from for everyone to be involved in helping to shape the past events and updates on our building rede- future of the congregation. Watch for more details velopment project. early in the new year! .