This is your ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS list
Here is everything you need to know this season - all in one spot.
4 Advent Sunday Services:
We begin a season of waiting and anticipation on Sunday, December 3rd, and will weekly light a candle during our special Advent Readings. Join us onsite or online for these special morning services.
Advent 1 - December 3rd, 10:30am
Advent 2 - December 10th, 10:30am
Advent 3: December 17th, 10:30am
Advent 4: December 24th, 10:30am*
*That's right, we have a morning service on Christmas Eve that is technically still part of Advent!
Christmas Eve Services:
December 24th is going to be full of wonder this year. Following our morning Advent Sunday morning service at 10:30am, we are offering a number of options to connect to our evening services as we light the Christ candle, and celebrate the coming of Jesus!
December 24, 4pm Family Service (onsite only):
Join us and bring a friend along to hear the simple retelling of the first Christmas. In this 45 minute service each household will be included on the journey in an interactive manner. We will sing carols, light the Christ candle, and engage with the story of God's entry into humanity.
December 24, 6pm Candlelight Service (onsite & online):
Come enter this beautiful service where we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World in Jesus Christ. We will sing carols, light candles, hear the scriptures read, and reflect upon the joy and wonder of Jesus' coming. If you are joining us online, you will want to prepare a candle you can light to join us in our "spreading of the light."
Opportunities to Connect:
Advent Lunch & Linger - Sunday December 3rd, Noon
Join us after service on December 3rd for a casual time of eating lunch, and lingering in conversation. Bring a bag lunch, or come and enjoy the GIFT of a lunch box from the Yangmoori Church (a Korean language congregation that rents our facility). The Yangmooi congregation will be providing about 50 lunches for our time together as well!
Church Family Skate Night - December 27th, 6:30-8pm Oak Bay Rec Center
Coming up This Christmas Holiday is Victoria Alliance Church's Annual Family Skate! 6:30pm-8pm December 27th! This FREE event is a wonderful opportunity to come and connect, share Christmas stories, and enjoy some time together in community. Bring friends and family - all are welcome. Rentals are provided to those who need them. Don't skate? Don't worry - there is always a number of folk just floating around chatting and munching on Christmas cookies. Fun for everyone.
Opportunities to Give:
Join us in making Jesus KNOWN around us this Christmas Season as we support families in need with our ShareTree Ministry! This year, we are choosing to support two families from Quadra Elementary and two from Landsdowne Middle School, as chosen by school counsellors at the respective schools.
How it Works:
1. Sign up at the Link below for the gift or baking that you want to provide. Families have provided interests, favourite colours and sizes to help you with purchases.
2. Shop for the gift (or provide baking if that is what you have signed up for)
3. Wrap and LABEL the gifts with the family's colour group and who it is for (ie Green family, 10 yr old Girl)
4. Bring wrapped gifts/baking to Victoria Alliance Church Office by December 17th
Year End Giving
Often folks plan their generous giving to include a year end gift to our faith community. We are always so encouraged and honoured when our ministry is supported this way. Thank you. When preparing a year end gift, please consider contributing earlier in the month for the ease on our limited bookkeeping staff. If you need givings recorded in the 2023 year, please note that all contributions need to be made by no later than December 31st, at noon. Gifts received after this time will be noted in the 2024 fiscal year.