Join us in person or, if you can’t for whatever reason, online – to hear, to consider, to receive and to rejoice!
Three is no reason to be alone this Christmas, or to take care of everything except your soul and your family’s souls this Christmas – come and rejoice with us over the REAL good news of Christmas: the coming of God’s Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour, in time to save and now to forgive, heal and make new. He and His Word are full of the REAL love of God for you and for the world, and REALLY renews our hearts and minds and love for one another. Jesus IS the GIFT of God for all people of every nation, language and group – for everyone… including you.
*** Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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See below the Schedule on this page for useful resources for receiving and giving GOD’S GIFTS this Advent, Christmas and Epiphany:
– Calendar of Services for the season
– Blessing a Nativity Scene
– Sing!
– Colouring and Crafts
– Read as a Family or On Your Own
– Activities and Sunday School at Home for all ages
– Sing!
– Colouring and Crafts
– Read as a Family or On Your Own
– Activities and Sunday School at Home for all ages
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CALENDAR
ADVENT – a time of letting God prepare us for Christmas with joy, hope and love.
- Sundays, Dec 1, 8, 15, and 22: 2pm – The Divine Service
| 1-Dec | First Sunday in Advent | Psalm 25:1-10 (6) |
Jeremiah 33:14-16 |
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 |
Luke 19:28-40 |
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| 8-Dec | Second Sunday in Advent | Psalm 66:1-12 (12b) |
Malachi 3:1-7b |
Philippians 1:2-11 |
Luke 3:1-14 (15-20) |
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| 15-Dec | Third Sunday in Advent | Psalm 85 (2) |
Zephaniah 3:14-20 |
Philippians 4:4-7 |
Luke 7:18-28 (29-35) |
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| 22-Dec | Fourth Sunday in Advent | Psalm 80:1-7 (7) |
Micah 5:2-5a |
Hebrews 10:5-10 |
Luke 1:39-45 (45-56) |
- Every day: “O Come, let us adore +Him” – personal or family readings and meditations
- Tuesdays in Advent – 8pm – French – les complies de l’Avent – online
- Wednesdays in Advent – 7pm – English – Advent Vespers – in person or online
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CHRISTMAS – Rejoice! Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, has come in our flesh to be our Saviour!
- Tuesday, Dec 24 – ** CHRISTMAS EVE – THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD **
6:30pm – Christmas Eve Festive Vespers Service – in person or online
| 24-Dec | Christmas Eve | Psalm 96 (2) |
Isaiah 9:2-7 |
Titus 2:11-14 |
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) |
- Wednesday, Dec 25 – ** CHRISTMAS DAY – THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD **
2pm – Christmas Day Divine Service of Carols – in person or online
| 25-Dec | Christmas Day | Psalm 2 (7) |
Isaiah 52:7-10 |
Hebrews 1:1-6 (7-12) |
John 1:1-14 (15-18) |
- Sunday, Dec 29 – 1st SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
2pm – Divine Service
+ Christmas Party (community lunch – potluck) - Sunday, Jan 5 – 2nd SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
2pm – Divine Service
| 29-Dec | First Sunday after Christmas | Psalm 111 (9ab) |
Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15 |
Colossians 3:12-17 |
Luke 2:22-40 |
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| 5-Jan | Second Sunday after Christmas | Psalm 119:97-104 (99) |
1 Kings 3:4-15 |
Ephesians 1:3-14 |
Luke 2:40-52 |
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EPIPHANY – THE SIGNS OF REVELATION OF WHO THIS JESUS IS
- Monday, Jan 6 – THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
6:30pm – Epiphany Festive Vespers Service
+ Kings’ Cake!
| 6-Jan | The Feast of the Epiphany | Psalm 72:1-11 (12-18) (18) |
Isaiah 60:1-6 |
Ephesians 3:1-12 |
Matthew 2:1-12 |
Sun Jan 12
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
2pm – Divine Service + 3:30 Bible Study
| 12-Jan | The Baptism of our Lord | Psalm 29 (3) |
Isaiah 43:1-7 |
Romans 6:1-11 |
Luke 3:15-22 |
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READ THE APPOINTED BIBLE READINGS BEFORE OR AFTER THE SERVICES
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ADVENT, CHRSITMAS and EPIPHANY RESOURCES for INDIVIDUALS and FAMILIES
Blessing of a Nativity Scene
For example, on Christmas Eve or when putting it up for the season
O COME, ALL YE FAITFHUL… and SING!
* The “Great O Antiphon” prayers and stanzas of O Come O Come Emmanuel (Dec 17-23)
- With explanation
- With hymn
- (see below for eBoard Book on O Come, O Come Emmanuel, with music and images)
* Christmas carolling booklets
* Spanish – hymns from new Spanish Lutheran Hymnal, with words on screen
COLOURING AND CRAFTS
* Print, colour, cut out and assemble your own Advent Wreath
(add candle flames week by week for 4 sundays in Advent)
(add candle flames week by week for 4 sundays in Advent)
* Print, colour, cut out and assemble your own Nativity Scene
* See Sunday school lessons below for great colouring pages
READ AS A FAMILY AND ON YOUR OWN
* See Sunday School lessons below for age-adapted versions of Bible Readings for the season – also useful for sharing with newcomers working on their English
* “Dee reads to us” (listen and watch, and read along)
- St Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend (listen and watch)
- The Legend of the Christmas Tree (listen and watch)
- Baby’s First Nativity – A Child is Born! (listen and watch)
- The True Meaning of The Twelve Days of Christmas (explanation, sing along)
* eBoard Books for Advent and Christmas (read on mute, and learn to sing with music)
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
- We All Believe in One True God
- (I have more at church)
Read and meditate on and pray through the 14 Gospel readings that make up the account of the Nativity of our Lord
* Daily Bible Reading and Meditations
- Read – LSB Daily Lectionary
- Listen and read – Higher Things: Dare to be Lutheran
- Listen – The Word of the Lord Endures Forever (Pastor Weedon)
ACTIVITIES and SUNDAY SCHOOL AT HOME for ALL AGES
* Lectionary Learning Pages, Teaching Supplements, and more for each Sunday and Feast Day
* Sunday School at Home resources for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (different levels for different ages)
- Fourth Sunday in Advent: The Angel visits Mary and Joseph
- Christmas Eve+Day – Dec 24-25: Jesus is born
- Sunday after Christmas: The Boy Jesus visits the Temple in Jerusalem
- Epiphany – Jan 6th: The Wise Men visit Jesus
- Sunday after Epiphany: Jesus is Baptized… for sinners!