As the crisp December air fills our surroundings with a sense of anticipation, we welcome you to a month filled with the warmth of love, the promise of hope, and the joy of togetherness. This season is particularly special as we embark on the journey of Advent, a time of reflection and preparation for the miraculous birth of our Savior.

Join us in the coming weeks as we delve into the beauty of Advent, lighting the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, each representing a step closer to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time of spiritual awakening, drawing us nearer to the heart of our faith.

Our Christmas Church School sessions are in full swing, providing a nurturing space for our children to explore Christmas Carols. Through engaging activities and heartfelt discussions, we aim to instill the values that make this season so special.

The highlight of our December calendar is undoubtedly the Church School Christmas Presentation. Our young talents will shine as they share the joyous message of Christmas through song, drama, and heartfelt expressions of faith. It's a celebration that brings our community together in the spirit of love and unity.

As we approach the holiday season, let's remember the true essence of this time – a season of giving, gratitude, and boundless love. We extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones, and we invite you to join us in the various events and services planned throughout December.

May your hearts be filled with the magic of the season, and may the light of Christ shine brightly in your lives.

20 Memorable Christmas Traditions

Dr. Jim Burns

Traditions are important for families because they provide opportunities to keep your family legacy going. From the simple to the silly to the sentimental, traditions can create meaningful memories. Don’t hesitate to try out some new traditions this Christmas season and see what works and what doesn’t for your own family. You just may create a new tradition that will keep going for generations! If you are looking for some ideas in the search for new Christmas traditions, consider the following:

1. Try an annual extended family get-together. Sometime around Christmas gather the extended family together at someone’s home or restaurant and hang out with one another.

2. Watch Christmas movies. Throughout the Christmas season, gather the kids together and enjoy your favorite Christmas movies. Two of my own personal favorites: It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol.

3. Attend a Christmas Eve service. If your church doesn’t have a Christmas Eve service, you can probably find one going on somewhere in your community. This is a great way to focus your family’s perspective on the true meaning of Christmas!

4. Start traditions with Christmas Eve/Christmas Day meals. For example, at the Burns’ home, it’s always Chinese food on Christmas Eve.

5. Letters to Jesus. Before opening your Christmas presents, write thank-you letters to Jesus. Collect them and make them available every Christmas. Keep adding new letters annually. Here’s one rule to make this tradition work well: family members can only read the thank-you letters they have written.

6. Live out an annual family version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. First identify a friend, relative, or neighbor to receive all the “gifts.” Then create a unique gift for each day of the song (i.e., five golden rings could be five glazed donuts) and place the gifts on the recipient’s front porch.

7. Bake and decorate homemade Christmas cookies. Allow everyone in the family to participate if they want. Everyone should be able to request their favorite kind of cookie.

8. Sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas Day. After all, it is Jesus’ birthday that we celebrate.

9. Read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Whether you open your gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, try having someone from your family read the Christmas story out loud before opening gifts.

10. Go to the movies on Christmas Day. Gather the troops and head off to the local movie theater. You’ll probably get good seats!

11. Drive around looking at Christmas lights. Sometime during the Christmas season, load the family up in the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. This is an activity you might want to combine with attending a Christmas Eve service.

12. Go Christmas caroling. Take a walk around your immediate neighborhood and stop at homes and sing Christmas carols.

13. Visit a nursing home. There are usually a lot of lonely people living in nursing homes – especially during the Christmas season. Prepare some Christmas cookies and take your family to visit a nursing home—and spread the love of Jesus to sick and elderly people.

14. Help at a food bank or soup kitchen. Try spending Christmas day helping the needy at a local food bank or soup kitchen. You never know, your kids may never want to spend Christmas day at home again!

15. Celebrate your family’s ethnic heritage(s). Sometime during the Christmas season, prepare a family meal(s) that celebrates your family’s ethnic heritage. This is a great way to connect with your family roots – especially if you don’t regularly focus on this throughout the year.

16. Secret Santa. As a family, select one person you know who is lonely, needy, or just needs some extra encouragement. Purchase or create a special gift for this person. Then on Christmas Eve/Christmas morning, get the family up out of bed, bundle up, grab some cookies and hot cocoa, pile into the family car, and drive the gift over to the person’s home. Sneak the gift onto the front porch and include an attached card that reads, “From your Secret Santa.”

17. Holiday memory journal or scrapbook. Purchase or make a holiday journal or scrapbook. Have everyone in the family contribute by recording memories of the holiday season. Keep adding to the journal/scrapbook annually. This provides a wonderful way to look back over Christmases gone by.

18. Ice skating on Christmas Eve – day. Many people get off from work early on Christmas Eve. Gather the family and head out to an ice rink or local (frozen!) pond for some time on the ice. It’s a great way to spend some family time and it keeps the kids active and helps them not to over-obsess on the presents under the tree back home.

19. Attend a local community Christmas event. This tradition can really take hold if the community holds the same event annually.

20. Try a New Year’s Eve event. Whether it is a neighborhood get-together, a party with friends and family, or a special church event, ringing in the New Year together as a family can create great memories.

Taken from Parent Cue

In late November the Youth and Family Council was overjoyed to share Advent resources for the 2023 season.  Every church family received a copy of Sing a New Song and for those with children under 12 years of age, we also sent a Family Advent Calendar in the mail.  We encourage families to use the booklets as their family devotional with the hope of fostering meaningful family connections, conversations, and shared moments of reflection.  

If you did not receive a booklet or would like to share the devotional with other family members, please click the resource titles above to download a copy or contact Lynne via email [email protected] to pick up a paper version.

The Christmas season is one full of seasonal traditions that delight all of our senses. We are excited to see friends and family and hurried by the preparations and momentum of the next 25 days. At St. Andrew's, we embrace the Advent season which encourages us to slow down and prepare for the arrival of Jesus. Time is finite and this year more than any other, you and your family may need to choose how you will celebrate the season. So as an alternative or enhancement to the Sing a New Song, here are special prayers and blessings for your family time to pray individually or together.

Before a Meal with Family

Thank you, God, for the company of family, the gift of nourishing food, and the time to enjoy family and food together.  Amen

When Family Comes to Town

Thank you, God, for the gift of family. May our family feel welcome in our home while they are here. Let us enjoy our time together and show our love to one another. Help us to cherish the moments of togetherness and live in the present moment. Amen

Advent Gratitude

During advent, we say, thank you.

Thank you, God, for a time together.

Thank you, God, for the special food.

Thank you, God, for special moments.

Thank you, God, for gifts.

Thank you, God, for each new day.

For Family and Friends Far Away

God, we send blessings and love to friends and family far away:

May they feel our love.

May they know we miss them.

May they be happy and at peace.

May their advent and Christmas be full of hope and peace and love and joy.

What a joyous occasion it was on November 22 when the hearts of our youngest members and vibrant youth community came together to bring the spirit of Christmas to life!  Red and silver decorations trimmed our tree along with 97 candy canes.  Somehow 3 were not fit for the tree? 

Thank you to all who attended the fun and festive evening! 

As we bid farewell to Santa's Corner 2023, our hearts are filled with gratitude for each of you who made this outreach event truly magical. Your dedication and warmth transformed our space into a haven of joy and wonder, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone involved. Your unwavering commitment, enthusiasm, and boundless creativity were the secret ingredients that made Santa's Corner an extraordinary success. Your generosity and selflessness helped to create memories that will be cherished by all who attended. The smiles on the faces of children and families are a testament to the impact of your kindness.

May the joy you shared during Santa's Corner return to you in abundance this holiday season. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of a grateful community.

Beginning Sunday, December 3rd our Bible Builders Church School goes Christmas Carol Crazy!  Each week we explore a different Christmas carol beginning with Joy to the World, followed by Away in a Manager and wrapping up with O Come All Ye Faithful.  I hope you will join us for this musically festive time. 

As we approach the joyous season of Advent, we are excited to facilitate a special initiative that combines the spirit of giving and the anticipation of Christmas. The Bible Builders Church School Council invites you to participate in Reverse Advent for the Markham Food Bank.

Each week, leading up to Christmas, we encourage you to set aside one nonperishable food item per day in alignment with the weekly Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Beginning December 3rd, bring your nonperishable food donation to the church and place it in the Narthex or by the Christmas tree at the front of the sanctuary.  By doing so, we can collectively make a significant impact in the lives of those in need within our community. Our goal, as a congregation, is to reach 2800 items by Christmas Eve, ensuring that many families have a brighter holiday season.

As we embark on the beautiful journey of Advent, let us share the gift of hope. While our focus for the food bank has traditionally been on non-perishable food items, let us also remember that hygiene items are equally crucial. This year, we kindly invite you to consider donating items like deodorant, soap, body wash, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. These essentials can bring dignity and comfort to those facing challenging times.

Additionally, let's extend our compassion to the youngest members of our community. Baby items such as diapers, pull-ups, wipes, baby food, and formula are in high demand. Your generous contributions can make a world of difference in the lives of struggling parents and their little ones.

This Advent season, let's come together, share the blessings we have, and bring this Advent season to life as we share our hope, joy, peace, and love for all. 

As the crisp winter air settles in, our hearts are warmed by the spirit of giving. This holiday season, we invite you to join us in supporting the Mitten Tree.

 
The tree, standing proudly in the narthex, eagerly awaits your generous contributions of mittens, gloves, scarves, and winter hats. Your kindness can make a significant impact on those in need. If time is short, a cash donation is equally appreciated, and you can proudly adorn the tree with a mitten ornament to acknowledge your thoughtful gift.

Waterproof items will find their way to Evangel Hall, while non-waterproof winter gear will be a blessing to the (Markham) Salvation Army. Our Mitten Tree will stand tall in the narthex until December 31st, patiently collecting warmth and love.

Let's come together as a community, extending our hands to those less fortunate. Your support is a beacon of hope in this season of giving.

As the Christmas season approaches, Bible Builders Church School Council is thrilled to share with you the exciting preparations for this year's Christmas presentation. Our dedicated team, led by Victoria, has already begun crafting a heartfelt script that revolves around our cherished favorite Christmas carols. The theme for 2023 is sure to fill our hearts with joy and nostalgia as we delve into the timeless melodies that have brought us closer to the spirit of the season.

We are reaching out to our families to invite you to participate in this wonderful event. We understand that not everyone may be available on the day of the presentation, which is scheduled for December 17th during our worship service. Therefore, we're planning to pre-record some parts to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be involved. Additionally, soon, we will actively be preparing our children and youth to present their portions in person, for those in attendance on December 17th.  This year's event will be a unique hybrid presentation that blends the best of both worlds.

We are eagerly looking forward to being an integral part of the worship service and sharing in the celebration of our congregation's favorite Christmas carols. For those unable to join us in person, we have arranged for the service to be broadcast on Zoom and YouTube Live, so you can share and enjoy the service with family from the comfort of your homes.

At Bible Builders Church School, the safety and privacy of our children are of utmost importance. We want to assure you that we do not share any images of our children without the express consent of their parents. If you have not signed a photo release document for 2023-2024, we kindly ask you to request one from Lynne via email [email protected] to ensure that your child's image is protected.

Thank you for your unwavering support, and we are excited to celebrate this Christmas season with you. May it be filled with love, warmth, and the joy of our favorite carols.

The Bible Builders Church School wraps up the fall session on December 17th.  Beginning Sunday, December 24th to Sunday, January 7th, children and youth are encouraged to remain with their families for the worship service.  Activity packs will be provided and are located on the table at the back of the sanctuary.  

Our nursery will be open and available for parents with young children. It provides a comfortable and secure space where parents can watch over their little ones during the service.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to church school on January 14th! 

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