Weekly News for December 30 to January 5, 2022
Pastor's Message - Chris Kibble
Robert Luccock comments ‘In New York's Hayden Planetarium a special Christmas holiday show was enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree was projected onto the planetarium dome, surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly colored toys which came to life and cavorted to the tune of "Jingle Bells." At the climax, a huge figure of Santa Claus faded out in a snowstorm, and the star of Bethlehem broke through into a sky that produced exactly the Palestine sky on the night of the nativity. The designer of this show may not realize that he dramatically staged the supreme Christmas message our world needs to understand: The recovery of the lost meaning of Christmas. This is not said in any criticism of Santa Claus; the effect must have delighted the hearts of all the children who saw it, without doing violence to their love of Bethlehem. But for adults, it is a tragic loss to substitute "Jingle Bells" for "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and a lollipop tree for the manger of Bethlehem. The instinct is right to fade out these things in the light of the Christmas star. It is about God's incarnation that the angels sing--God with us’.
Thank you: many thanks to the staff and volunteers who served in our services over Christmas – Blue Christmas, Christmas Eve, and Boxing Day. Christmas services at West Vancouver Baptist Church were more complicated due to the organizational implications of Covid, the new channels of communication, and the weather! However, we have a very willing group of servants – may you all be much blessed in your serving. The feedback we received was very positive.
Shut-ins: thank you too to Charles and Kathie Curtis. They delivered a number of Christmas hampers to people who are unable to leave home. Margery Anderson, one of the recipients, was particularly keen that the congregation be aware of how much Charles and Kathie’s visit meant to her.
Keats Camps is excited to be offering summer camp again in 2022, and we are planning to run at full capacity. Registration for camp opens on Saturday 15 January 2022! Check out our Summer 2022 page for more details on our camps and LEAD program. Warmly, Shelby Gregg
Events
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
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We continue to ask that you remain fully masked apart from the situations described under ‘Masks’ below. Those who are fully vaccinated (required for age 12 and up) should continue to gather in the Sanctuary and those who are not vaccinated, and others if they choose, in the Fireside Room. Our Farsi group is in the Stage Room. When seated, we would encourage a ‘respectful’ distance between family groups.
We aren’t having refreshments after the service, but by all means fellowship either in the foyer for the vaccinated, the Fireside Room for the unvaccinated, or the Stage Room for the Farsi group.
For those who would prefer to join us from home, you can do so by joining our brand-new Livestream. The stream is hosted on the WVBC website – you will see a large “JOIN NOW” button at the top of the home page when the service is live at 10:00am. For our Mandarin participants, you can still watch the Livestream on ZOOM to hear the translated message. You can join using this link.
Masks: masks are required for all in our in-person services. They may be temporarily removed when physical distancing if you are partaking in communion, and if you are ‘officiating’ – emcee, giving announcements, leading prayer, calls to worship, benediction, spotlights on ministry presentations, preaching, scripture reading, - and if you are lead singer of a song or hymn