Merry Christmas continued! I hope that you are all well in this holy and beautiful season of light.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. -Titus 2:11-14
Jesus is found in the temple, Carl Bloch
Here are some photos of our Christmas Pageant last Sunday. Thank you to all children and families, for coming to rehearsals, for practicing songs and lines and making the pageant so very beautiful. Thank you to Julie for organizing so many things, and for caring for our children. Thank you to many adults who stayed and helped out. Thank you to Wyndham, for teaching the children the Christmas hymns and songs on Sunday mornings and on Saturday’s dress rehearsal.
Our Christmas Eve services and Potluck supper were such wonderful occasions of worship and fellowship. Thank you to everybody who helped out in various ways, folding bulletins, setting up tables and decorating. Thank you to those who cleaned up after the Christmas Eve potluck. There was enough room for everybody–even though we had to use the Daniel’s Den in addition to the Prest Hall! It truly was a holy night, full of joy and peace.
Last Saturday, December 21st, a group of St. Stephen’s young adults and others volunteered at the Friendship Inn. It was a wonderful experience! We peeled lots of carrots, chopped peppers, made sandwiches, served in the dining room and helped in other ways. Thank you to all who volunteered and helped share the spirit of giving and service at Christmas.
St. Stephen’s Youth Group will meet soon for a giant game of Clue (followed by Evening Prayer)! Stay tuned for details.
We are holding a service on New Year’s Eve, at 3:30pm. Come and bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025, placing your hope and trust in God’s enduring presence and guidance. As you prepare for worship, consider what you might wish to let go of, give thanks for and pray for in the new year. The Malayalam congregation will meet at 10 pm for a service on New Year’s Eve.
I share these beautiful photos of the St. Stephen’s Malayalam congregation’s Christmas celebration! May all of us at St. Stephen’s continue to live our vision: to be Christ centred, Holy Spirit led, a caring community that is outward focussed. May we love and serve God, the world and each other.
Finally, as we come to the end of 2024, thank you for your generosity in giving and supporting the work and ministry of our church. Thanks to generous donors, we have sufficient funds to support our church sponsored refugee Machot when he arrives in Saskatoon (donations to this project are still welcome). We completed the roof and eaves project this past year, paid all of the required support to the Diocese and paid our ministry team. 2024 is not over yet! Envelopes are available for 2025 for those who requested them. If you wish to use envelopes for giving to the church, please send an email to the office and we will connect you to our envelope secretary.
I am attaching the December issue of our parish newsletter, the Scroll, in case you didn’t have a chance to read it! Please click link below. There are paper copies available upon request.
Parish Cycle of Prayer Monday: for Machot Tuesday: for all who are grieving and all who are suffering this Christmas season, for God’s light to shine on them. We pray to be faithful in prayer for the world and for one another. Wednesday: for our parish family, for the old and the young, the rich and the poor, newcomers and “seasoned members,” and all in between, for guests and visitors. That we may might glorify God in our life together, welcoming and encouraging one another. Thursday: for Robert and Lura Mae Friday: for the Rev Perry and Andrea, with Loralei
So let us light a candle for the Christ child, for the infant Jesus, the Word made flesh. Let our hearts glow with that light that was in him, so that we become candles through which his light shines still. For Christmas is a process as well as an event. Your heart and mine can become the little town, the stable, the manger–even now. Let a new day, a new creation, a new you, a new me, begin. Let there be light.
-Brian McLaren,
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