Spread some holiday cheer with us at James Bay United Church as we go caroling around the block on Sunday, December 8th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm! We’ll be meeting Greg and his family at the ramp door, ready to sing festive songs with some fun stops along the way. Afterward, we'll gather indoors to enjoy warm drinks and treats together.

This Sunday we mark the second Sunday of the season of Advent. In Latin, Advent comes from “ad” + “vent”, which translates to “to” + “come”. In other words we are looking forward to that which is to come. The second Sunday is traditionally associated with the theme of Peace. We might consider world peace, or we might consider inner peace. Or both. Although things are always changing, and much change is yet “to come”, we do well to approach such changes with equanimity – a sense of being ok with the changes that are beyond our control and influencing appropriately that which is within our control. Throughout it all, we are to be candles of peace in the world, shining both inner peace and advocating for world peace.

Welcome: Rev. Greg Powell
Music Lead: Jennifer Turner
Tech Team: Nathan McDormand, Jamie Waters, Steve Nichol
Advent Candle Lighting: Thursday Lunch Team
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6 and Song of Faith
Reader: Judy Krzesowski
Reflection: Rev. Greg Powell
Bulletin

'toi toi toi' ! from all of us at James Bay United to the SingYourJoy Children's Choruses, who will be joining the Young Adult Chorus on stage at the First Met Building on Quadra in Saturday's concert. This is a big event for our young singers as they grow their choral skills and gain confidence and self-esteem. We can be proud of the part we play in supporting the SingYourJoy Family of Choirs.

What does 'toi toi toi' mean?

As we approach the holiday season, please note the important dates for the James Bay United Church Thrift Shop:

• Last Date to Receive Donations: Thursday, December 7th
• Last Sale Days of 2024: Wednesday, December 13th, and Thursday, December 14th

Thank you for your generous contributions and continued support! We look forward to seeing you in the new year.

Looking for ways to reduce holiday stress and embrace a more spiritual, less consumer-driven Christmas? Join us for this insightful workshop, Unplug the Xmas Machine, on Saturday, December 7th, from 10 AM–11:30 AM at James Bay United Church. Together, we'll explore how to create a meaningful and joyful holiday season. Admission is by donation, supporting our Thursday Community Lunch program. Registration is required—email gatewaycounsel@gmail.com to save your spot!

Mark your calendars for December 7th, 2024, and get ready to immerse yourself in the festive spirit at the beloved Dickens Fair! Celebrating its 43rd year, this winter craft fair is one of Victoria’s oldest traditions, taking place at the James Bay Community School, located at 140 Oswego Street. The fair will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Admission is just $3, with children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. For those wishing to use a debit or credit card, the admission fee is $3.50. This is a fantastic opportunity to shop local and support our talented artisans.

Join Gita Badiyan for an inspiring talk on fostering shared understanding and a shared future amidst polarized narratives. Discover how reshaping attitudes, relationships, and structures can help create safe spaces for truth-seeking and civility. Drawing from over 25 years of experience in values-driven leadership and servant leadership development, Gita will share practical insights for transforming adversarial processes into pathways for peace.

Sunday, December 8th at 2:00 PM
University of Victoria Multifaith Centre

Let’s explore how patience, empathy, and truth-seeking can elevate our conversations and strengthen our communities.

We wait. We wonder. We watch. And we wake up. We come anew to the Mystery of Christmas as we listen to these reflections and join in conversation together.

In this four week Small Group Study, we set four sayings from an ancient Christian text, The Gospel of Thomas, beside our traditional scripture and consider ways they might wake something fresh in us. The Gospel of Thomas was one of the ancient texts found buried in the desert of Egypt in 1945,  opening up a new understanding of Christianity. It is 114 sayings attributed to Jesus that help us see what we’ve always known in a new way.

Please RSVP Bev Tracey at bevtracey@shaw.ca

As in previous years, the early Christmas Eve service (at 4pm) includes a Christmas Pageant. Unlike typical Christmas pageants, ours involves an all-adult cast. And we need cast members! Don’t worry though: we rehearse only on the 15th and the 22nd (after choir rehearsal), there’s almost no dialogue, and the narrator gets to use a script. How about that!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

What a blessing to meet Sumaya, her daughter and uncle this weekend.  Getting to know them, how they are committed to staying hopeful in the face of their tragic stories and being humbled by their gratitude was something we will not forget. Our circle of love has grown wider.

We are deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment to justice and hope. Your generosity through the Silent Auction Afghan Dinner, alongside donations from many compassionate hearts, has brought us to a remarkable total of $70,600. This incredible milestone means that we now have the resources to begin the process of bringing an Afghan family to safety.

However, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's recent policy pausing all private refugee sponsorships until December 2025, we find ourselves navigating new paths. We are exploring alternatives, including the family reunification program, and will be seeking professional guidance to ensure that this vital mission continues.

Your support inspires and strengthens our resolve to persevere. Together, we are offering not just financial aid but the hope of a brighter future for a family in urgent need. Although we have met our initial minimum target – which is fantastic – we will need to continue to raise funds and work together to help this family reach safety.

We will keep you updated as we move forward, and we thank you for walking alongside us on this journey of compassion and care.

With gratitude and hope,
James Bay United Church Refugee Sponsorship Committee

 James Bay United Church is hiring a part-time Video Technician to support the livestreaming of our Sunday Services from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to gain technical experience while contributing to our community. Responsibilities include operating video equipment, livestreaming to YouTube using Open Broadcast Software (OBS), collaborating with the Audio Technician, and training volunteers. Pay starts at $25/hour, with a start date of January 5, 2025. If you’re tech-savvy, enthusiastic, and available Sunday mornings, we’d love to hear from you! Apply here.

Join the choirs of Voices in Motion for a delightful afternoon of music, followed by tea and Ukrainian torte! This intergenerational group of people with memory loss, their care partners, friends and students creates a warm and welcoming community for everyone, joined together in song. Join us on Sunday, December 15th, at 3:30 PM at Oak Bay United Church, located at the corner of Mitchell and Granite Streets. Admission is by donation.

The 9th Annual Winter Solstice Concert, provides enjoyment for all ages. This yearly sell-out musical tradition weaves acoustic and vocal music that ranges from jazz to folk, including new arrangements, providing warmth and peace on the longest night of the year. In the spirit of cabaret and combining music from around the world. A family tradition, we are thrilled to offer this very special musical experience in Victoria, December 22nd /2024.

This year’s ensemble includes Anne Schaefer (Voice, Guitar, Piano), Quin Etheridge-Pedden  from The Unfaithful Servants (violin, vocals), Adrian Dolan from The Bills (piano, accordion, vocals and guitar), Scott White (bass, vocals), Kim June Johnson (Voice, Banjo, Piano, Guitar) and Cari Burdett (vocals). 

Our Christmas postcards have arrived! Be sure to grab a copy and stay up-to-date on all the wonderful Christmas activities happening at James Bay United Church this season.

You might notice some changes around the church office. We are so grateful to the Blennerhassett Foundation, which has granted us the ability to improve the overall functionality of the office and administration. Things you might notice: improved storage and filing, ergonomic aids, and a new monitor. We’re also in the process of resolving the “printer situation”. Don’t be surprised if our productivity skyrockets!