Sunday, December 1, 2024
This Sunday we mark the beginning of Advent, a time of waiting and anticipating. In the northern hemisphere, where the days continue to shorten, we use light to push back the darkness. For some, this creates a deeper sense of hope, where it becomes easier to envision a better way. And so hope is the theme of the first Sunday of Advent. But does hope encourage passivity? Does it lead to wishful thinking instead of actively ushering in the kin-dom of God? This Sunday we are blessed by the presence of a new friend to James Bay United Church–a woman who has escaped hardship to establish a new life here in British Columbia. As a congregation we are supporting the efforts to bring the rest of her family from a refugee camp to Canada. Come, hear her story of hope.
Interview and Reflection: Rev. Greg Powell
Music Lead: Jennifer Turner
Tech Team: Nathan McDormand, Jamie Waters, Steve Nichol
Advent Candle Lighting: James Bay Refugee Initiative
Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36 and Song of Faith
Reader: Cheryl Macpherson
Bulletin
Advent is a season of waiting, watching, and wonder. Not like “waiting in line,” but rather like waiting for a concert to begin, a love letter to arrive, or the stars to come out on a cold, clear night. A time of anticipation, expectation, and excitement. A time of renewing our hope, peace, joy, and love, getting ready for the marvel on the way. Welcome to this year's Advent Devotional by the SALTproject!
Update on Masking for Sunday Morning Worship
As we continue to discern what is the best masking practice at any given moment, for this next stretch of time we are lifting our requirement for masking during Sunday morning worship. However, if you are feeling more comfortable to continue wearing a mask, you are most welcome to do so. And as always, if you are feeling unwell, please enjoy worshipping from home via our very fine streamed services.
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Sunday service is also live-streamed from the sanctuary at 10:15am Sunday morning. Please participate, live on YouTube. The platform has the option for you to add your comments, prayers and concerns in the live chat window. You may also choose to write your prayers down, speak them aloud during the service, or send your prayer requests to us via email. Arrive at 10:15am to greet each other, then the service will begin right at 10:30am.
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Our worship each Sunday is intended to be a collective experience, a communal practice.
We might step into whatever is our sanctuary, each one of us as individuals, and yet as we assemble, from wherever we are, we become a people, drawn together through song and prayer, through word and ritual, and through the Spirit who breathes through it all, through us all.
One and the same Spirit uniting us breathing us into life!
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