It’s beginning to look a lot like…! Yup, here we are in the month of December, and welcome to our newsletter which brings you all the happenings that this month offers. There is a lot that we need to inform you about so please take a few minutes to read this update and prepare yourself for an exciting month ahead!
DECEMBER SCHEDULE
December 3 – We begin our new Advent Series entitled, The Heart of Christmas. Each week we will have Advent readings and the lighting of the Advent candle. The first week of the series will focus on hope.
This is also our monthly Communion service and beginning in December, we will be returning to passing out the elements. So, if you are attending in person, you no longer need to pick up the elements as you enter the auditorium. We are still using the pre-packaged elements, but they will be handed out as part of the Communion service.
For those of you online, it still means preparing your own elements if you want to participate, it will just appear different from the previous few years.
We feel this will help us create a more worship-filled environment during our Communion services, and we see this as a good step in that direction.
December 10 – This week’s Advent message and candle lighting will focus on peace. Kids Connection will also be putting on a special presentation.
December 17 – This week’s Advent message and candle lighting will focus on joy. There is also a special presentation by the youth.
December 24 – This year, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. Therefore, there will be NO service in the morning, but there will be a Christmas Eve service starting at 6:30 pm. This will be a candlelight service and is for many, a highlight of the ministry year. We will conclude our Advent series with a focus on love, and a lighting of the Christ candle.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve also falls on a Sunday this year, but at Village Green, we typically cancel the last Sunday of the year. Therefore, there will be no service on this day. This has traditionally been our Volunteer Appreciation Sunday where we allow everyone to be with their families on this final Sunday of the year.
CHRISTMAS POTLUCK DINNER
Mark your calendars for this year’s Christmas Potluck Dinner on December 15th, at 5:45 pm, with dinner starting at 6:00 pm. This promises to be a wonderful community-building event. Sign-up will be available again in the foyer on December 3rd and 10th.
Each family is asked to bring a main course and salad unless you are just 1 or 2 people, and then you can choose one or the other. If you are online, email the office at office@villagegreenchurch.com to sign up with the number coming. Speak to Janet Mackness or Mary Ann Rowe with any questions.
LOOKING FURTHER
As we close out one year and enter into a new one, things in January will come quickly. Starting the second Sunday of January (14th), we begin a new series on the Book of Revelation. This will also be the week that the next session of Life Groups begins so if you are interested in joining a group please let the church know by emailing office@villagegreenchurch.com. There will also be signup sheets available in mid-December.
With respect to Life Groups, the leadership assumes that the groups that begin in September will continue throughout the ministry year. If you want to change to a different group, change evenings, or drop out altogether, simply let the office know through the link given above. We intentionally space groups into 10-week blocks with breaks in between so no one feels like they have no options.
Also, coming on January 14th is the return of Soup Sunday. More details will be forthcoming so again, look for the update, announcements, and signup sheets to make soup. We are planning to have these on a regular monthly basis during the winter months.
HAVE YOU SEEN THEM?
Recently, we have begun posting short videos of the weekly messages. We are so thankful to Bruno Albuqurque who has been taking the time to edit and produce the videos each week.
They are on the Village Green Instagram page, so if you’re not connected, simply search for the church and when you see the familiar logo you found it. These videos are getting lots of traction so it is a good reminder to take the time to like and to share our content whenever you can.
Attached is an example of what is being posted on Instagram. Take time to follow us.
REFUGE MINISTRIES
Refuge Ministries have a program whereby they produce “release kits” for those who are being released into the public from custody and incarceration.
This is a simple way to help those being released from prison to have a fresh start. Refuge Ministries distributes these through 8 community partners. If you would like to contribute to their “Release Kits” program you can contact them at refugeministriescanada@gmail.com.
BUS TOUR
Village Green is partnering with Canadian Christian Tours and TravelOnly for a 4-day Motorcoach Tour to the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the production of Daniel. The trip is scheduled for October 7-10, 2024. For more information or to register, download the PDF document below.
DECEMBER OFFERING
As we come to the close of another year we want to simply remind you to consider the church in your financial decisions this Christmas. Your gifts help us to continue bringing quality ministries and programming across the many services the church offers.
We are seeing the difference Village Green is having in the lives of people, as witnessed by our continued growth, baptismal services, growing youth group, expanded Life Groups, and much, much more. Your partnership with us is so appreciated as we continue to make a difference in our community.
THEOLOGY JAM PODCAST
We have a couple of new podcasts we want to tell you about. As many of you know, Matthew Burkholder and I (Jon Korkidakis), host a podcast and recently released one on the latest educational protests (Episode 41), and an interview with Kent Weber, Mr. TDH, from the book and movie, Surprised by Oxford (Episode 42).
Coming soon is an interview with John Atkinson, the Regional Relationship Manager for Compassion Canada. You won’t want to miss this insightful report from one of Canada’s best Christian organizations. We have also recorded a podcast on AI (Artificial Intelligence). Did you know that there is now “the Church of AI?” It’s a podcast that is sure to intrigue you. Lastly, as Christmas approaches, Matthew and I talk about the theological implications of the Incarnation, an episode we hope will bless you this holiday season.
You can catch us on any of your favourite podcast channels, and if you want to leave a comment or suggest a topic, you can reach us at theologyjam@gmail.com.
BLESS SOMEONE THIS CHRISTMAS
As we close out this month’s newsletter I want to propose a Christmas challenge. Here it is. Is there one person in the church who has blessed you this year, who you are thankful for because they have been Jesus to you in one way or another? In other words, how did they “make Jesus real” for you?
If there is someone who comes to mind, why not let them know what a gift they have been to you? It can be a text, an email, a card, a small note, something, anything. A face-to-face statement of appreciation is another way to bless their service to you.
Let’s be encouragers of one another. As a community of faith, let us stand apart from the conflict and divisiveness that consumes so much of our world. Let us be as Jesus to one another, so that together, we can shine a light amidst the darkness around us.
You never know, your gracious act of encouragement can make a difference in someone else’s life this Christmas.
Merry Christmas,
Jon Korkidakis
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12 NLT)