December Greetings,
in the Year of our Lord 2024

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders; 
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6-7

Dear Beloved St. James Family,

As we step into Advent, we find ourselves surrounded by the familiar traditions of the season: the twinkling lights, the Christmas carols, the warmth of gathering with family and friends. These traditions bring us comfort and joy, grounding us in the faith we share and reminding us of what really matters.

But we also know this season can bring its own challenges. We live in a world full of noise—the rising costs of living, homelessness, political divides, illness, and the sadness of those we love who struggle. Some of us may feel a silence inside, unsure of how to carry on or questioning why things feel incomplete. In the midst of it all, Advent isn’t just about remembering Christ’s birth long ago; it’s about making space for God to speak into all moments of our lives, right here, right now.

Whether you’ve been part of our church family for years or haven’t been in a while, Advent is a time for us all to reflect on Christ’s presence in our lives. We welcome you, just as you are, to come and experience this season with us.

This year, I’ve chosen to share an image with you that may surprise some. In this image, Christ is not lying in a stable, but in a maternity ward. Unto us, this child was born. This baby, swaddled and resting in a crib, reminds us that Advent is about recognizing Christ’s ongoing presence in our lives today and the promises of God’s Kingdom still to come.

When a baby is born, we are filled with wonder and excitement. We embrace the mystery of new life. We look forward to all that this child will become, and we know we must be a part of their life to witness and nurture their potential. The same is true of Christ. Even now, Christ gives us new identity and purpose. Until he returns, he calls us to follow him with our attention, our lives, and our faith, because he is doing something new in us and in the world.

This year, my worship theme for Advent was inspired by our Minister Emeritus Rev. Doug Blaikie’s desire to begin Advent with Psalm 46. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” In a world that often feels overwhelming, it’s important to pause and take a moment to recognize God’s presence. Advent is the time to reclaim the quiet and hear God’s voice in the midst of it all.

Let’s reflect not just on the baby in the manger, but on the deeper reality of Christ’s coming into the world. This Advent let’s remember that Christ came not just as a baby in the manger, but to offer us new life in a world full of noise, fear, and suffering. This new life isn’t just something we celebrate once a year; it’s something we’re called to experience every day, even in the midst of our struggles.

That’s why during Advent, we do not rush to the manger. We stop and listen again to the words of the prophets, who inspired people in troubled times to be a people of living hope. The prophets encouraged us to move forward in faith, believing that God was with us and for us. Advent is a time for us to hear again those words, reminding us that hope and faith in God, revealed in his son Jesus, are still the way forward.

I invite you to experience this transformation with us: join us for Sunday worship at 11 a.m., where we’ll hear God’s voice through the prophets, the psalmists, and the Gospel writers. Journey with us to Bethlehem at our 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Join your fellow church members in the many activities, ministries, and missions that help bring Christ’s presence into our community.

Advent calls us to pause and listen. Christ is not only the reason we celebrate; Christ is the reason we love, forgive, and have faith that sin, suffering, and death are not the final word. Christ is the reason we hope—hope for change, hope for renewal, hope for peace. The nativity story isn’t just a memory—it’s an invitation for Christ’s love to change our hearts and our lives, and to bear witness to this good news through word and action.

So, I invite you to come to the manger this year—not just as a place of tradition, but as a place of encounter. I invite you to come to the manger as a place to meet Christ. We’ve also provided Christmas envelopes at the church if you feel moved to support St. James’ ministries and missions, helping others in our community. We also accept e-transfers at [email protected]. Let the birth of Christ be more than a memory—let it be a living, breathing moment that changes us, here and now. As we wait for Christ’s return, may His birth bring light into our darkness, hope into our despair, and peace into our noisy, fragmented world.

God is with us, here and now. Can you see God? Can you hear God?
Can you feel God? Can you receive God?
Yes, yes, you can.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

In Christ’s love,

Rev. Wendy

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming church supper on Saturday, November 23! Bring your family and friends along for a delicious meal and a wonderful evening of fellowship.

We’ll have gluten-free options for those with dietary needs.  I would also like to draw your attention to a change we have made to our event posters, at the suggestion of our accessibility ministry team.  As you can see, our event poster highlights our commitment to accessibility. If you or anyone joining you would benefit from physical accommodations, such as seating space for a wheelchair or walker, please let us know when reserving tickets so we can make everyone as comfortable as possible.

St. Jamers:

Would you like to volunteer? This Sunday, you’ll find a sign-up sheet where you can sign up to help with setup, greeting, food prep, serving, and clean-up. Some of the tasks are more labour intensive, but other tasks – like greeting, handling ticket sales at the door, and some of the set-up tasks – are less physically demanding.  As always, we’ll hold an “after-dinner dinner” for the volunteer crew, just as we’ve done in previous years!

Would you like to contribute food? If you’d like to donate rolls, homemade beans, or pies, there’s also a sign-up sheet for that on Sunday.

To everyone:

We’re grateful for each of you – for reserving tickets, inviting friends, and sharing your time and skills to help make this event special. May God bless our time together in hospitality and community.

Warmly,
Rev. Wendy