Christmas 2020 Letter
Dear Friends:
As 2020 draws to a close, many if not all of us are feeling the effects of a long and difficult year. We need Hope. We want to be at Peace. We yearn to feel Joy. We seek inspiration to Love one another. Finally, we want to be able to celebrate something. We can have all these things, if we turn our minds and hearts from the daily challenges of the pandemic and embrace these themes of Advent and Christmas.
Thanks to our Zoom audio and video worship services, we are able to join in community every Sunday and experience these things together. As we light each Advent candle in the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve and the lighting of the Christ Candle, let us feel even more hopeful, peaceful, joyful, loving, and ready to celebrate the birth of Christ!
On December 6th, Advent II, we light the candle of Peace and will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together virtually.
On December 13th, Advent III, we light the candle of Joy and you will be invited to light your own candles in memory of loved ones. In lieu of our tradition of writing names on blue stars to be placed on the Christmas tree in the sanctuary, there will be a blue star in the bulletin that you can write your loved ones’ names on.
On December 20th, Advent IV, we light the candle of Love and will be “collecting” White Gift donations to Eva’s place. On December 24th we will have our Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. with the lighting of the Christ candle with carols, solos and more.
On December 27th we will have a Christmas Carol service.
Please note that if you would like to make a Christmas, White Gift or other donation, you may send it by e-transfer to office@bayviewunitedchurch.ca, mail a cheque to the church, donate from the Canada Helps link on the Church website, or make regular donations by signing up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR) by contacting kshikaze@gmail.com. Your support for the church is greatly appreciated as we continue to have operating expenses despite the absence of in-person worship services.
Michael Kitagawa, Chair, Board of Trustees
