You're invited to enjoy our Drive-by Advent Window event! We thought it would be a COVID-safe way to share the Christmas Story with Dawson Creek, as no personal contact is involved to enjoy the decorated windows.
CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24TH
THEME: LOVE
We want to share a few thoughts on the love of God at Christmas. The greatest joy that we can experience is to show God's love to others. And loving others is the gift that we should bring Jesus, after all, this is His birthday. The Bible says there was "no room in the inn" for the expectant Mary and Joseph. Today there is also "no room in the inn" for people alone or in need. But that is how God planned it, because He want us to be on the side of the poor and those in need, just as He is. The world has no room for Christ, but we have room for Him as we show God's love to those in need - the poor, humbled, and the suffering. When this baby, born in a stable, grew up, He told us to show love to those in need, because "what we do for the least" we do for Jesus.
If we are honestly wanting to experience God's love in this very unstable year, remember that His love caused Jesus to be born in your "stable", placing food and the Holy Spirit in your manger-heart. Take this eternal love to those who need it by going into their "stables", filling their empty mangers with food and filling their manger-hearts with God's love through the news that God became flesh in order to give up His life, three decades later, on the cross. If we do this, we can truly experience God's love.
Scripture Readings (Click on the scripture references for links to the verses.)
CHRISTMAS EVE DRIVE THROUGH EVENT
On Christmas Eve, we are having a drive through event at the Alliance Church (link to google maps address) complete with a nativity light-up on the church canopy, the south facing windows decorated, carols sung by family bubbles, hot drinks and poppycock/popcorn offered, and a short video loop projected on the north side of the church. All this will take place outside, enjoyed by all who drive through in the comfort of their vehicle. Please take a drive and enjoy this Christmas Eve offering. Christmas Eve, December 24th, from 6-8 PM. Drive through starting at the south driveway, make your way around the church, and exit at the north driveway. Christmas blessings to you all!
ALSO, we will have all our Advent Windows lit from 6 PM - 9 PM on Christmas Eve. Why not enjoy a Christmas Eve drive by window excursion on Thursday? All the addresses are listed below.
WEEK 4 - DECEMBER 18-20TH
Theme: Peace
Peace - who doesn't long for it, especially when living in a troubled world! Usually, peace is understood in terms of 'the absence of war'. But when we read of the angelic host proclaiming to the shepherds of old "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14), were they really announcing a time was to come without war? Judging by history, that did not come to pass, nor do we enjoy a war-free time today...
Others mused over that same discrepancy. In the 19th century, the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrestled with the very issue of finding peace in a time of great turmoil. In response to his own question, he penned the poem "Christmas Bells" (the basis of the Christmas Carol "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day) during the troubled time he found himself in amidst the American Civil War. Do you hear his despair and anguish in the words below?
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
If not war-free times, what then were the angels referring to when they made that announcement of peace on earth? We find clues in God's Word. Centuries before the birth of Christ, Isaiah prophetically lists "Prince of Peace" as one of the names of the Child that was to be born (Isaiah 9:6). Over two thousand years ago that prophecy was fulfilled in Bethlehem, when Peace literally came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews! "For He Himself is our peace" Ephesians 2:14a proclaims about Jesus Christ. It makes sense then, that Jesus, as Prince of Peace was fully qualified to leave His disciples, near the end of His life on earth with the promise "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). One day, Christ will rule as the Prince of Peace over everything.
The poet Longfellow came to terms with this truth as well. He ended his poem, which would later become a beloved carol, with the triumphant lines:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
To sum up our four advent themes, we do not have to be scared during tumultuous, uncertain times but can instead experience hope, faith, joy, and peace. How is that possible? If we understand our shortcomings before a Holy and Righteous God, we can place our hope in Him alone. Jesus took the punishment for our sins on the cross, making a way for us to be right with God again. Placing our trust in Jesus and having faith in Him, there is "fulness of joy" in His presence (Psalm 16:11). Furthermore, Romans 5:1 assures us that we can experience "Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". Thank you, God for your Indescribable gift to us!
Follow the story along in the Bible:
(Click on the scripture references for links to the verses.)
Isaiah 9:6 (Prophecy on the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ)
Ephesians 2:14 (Christ is our Peace)
Songs
(Click on the songs to go to the corresponding YouTube music.)
- Angels From The Realms of Glory/Emmanuel
- Angels We Have heard on High
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/King of Heaven
- Emmanuel, God With Us
- Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)
- I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (Click here for the remarkable story behind this poem)
Addresses
(Click on each address to get to the Google Maps link)
- 1000 90th Avenue
- 1812 92nd Avenue
- 10716 Briarwood Crescent
- 10737 Cyprus Court (The front of the house faces Aspen Drive)
- 1413 115th Avenue
SCROLL DOWN FOR WEEKS 1 -3 ADVENT WINDOWS.
THEY WILL BE LIT UP THIS WEEKEND AND CHRISTMAS EVE!
WEEK 3 - DECEMBER 11-13TH
Theme: JOY
Third Advent: Our focus remains on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ who gave up the joys of Heaven to come to earth for us. This week, we take a closer look at the response of the lowly shepherds to whom an angelic host announced "good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." And right there, amidst their daily hardship and the oppression of the brutal Roman regime, the shepherds did the only logical thing: they ran to Jesus "with haste" and worshipped Him joyously.
What about you? Do you find it hard to be joyful in the bizarre time we live in right now? Do you feel oppressed by the worldwide health crisis, an unstable economy, the hardship of job losses, not to mention your own personal struggles? With the new provincial health order in place to only celebrate Christmas with members of our own household, you may even find the prospect of celebrating Christmas depressing! What is there left to be joyful about and to look forward to, you may ask.
With so many joy-stealers around, how do we move from being downcast and depressed about our predicament to being truly joyful, despite adverse circumstances? How do we attain this elusive attitude of joy in the midst of our trials?
What does joy even mean? is it equal to happiness? A statement in a book reads: "Happiness depends on right happenings, but even when things go wrong, you can have joy" (Wiersbe, Warren W., Be Joyful). Someone once described joy as calm delight. It's calm, not fickle. True joy doesn't depend on circumstances. In the midst of brokenness and uncertainty, we - like the shepherds - can experience joy. How? By running to Jesus "with haste", recognizing Him as our Saviour from our brokenness and sin, and worshipping Him as our response for what He accomplished on the cross for us. The shepherds, too, left Bethlehem "glorifying God". Can you see the great joy on their faces? There was a spring in their step. Their circumstances were still the same, but they had had an encounter with God that changed them on the inside.
Like the shepherds of old, you can go to "Bethlehem" too, and find Jesus. Allow Him to change you. Look to Him and find true JOY, no matter the circumstances. Then celebrate Christmas with joy, no matter your predicament.
What are you waiting for?
Follow the story along in the Bible:
(Click on the scripture references for links to the verses.)
Luke 2:1-7 (Jesus is born in Bethlehem)
Luke 2:8-20 (Angelic announcement to Shepherds)
Songs
(Click on the songs to go to the corresponding YouTube music.)
- Midnight Clear (Love Song) - Chris Tomlin
- Go, Tell it On The Mountain - Anthem Lights
- The First Noel - Phil Whickham and Shane & Shane
- How Great Our Joy - Discover Worship
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Brentwood Benson
Addresses
(Click on each address to get to the Google Maps link)
- 909-91st Avenue
- #5 - 9500 3rd Street
- 961 Cornwall Crescent
- 1636 95th Avenue (Note: If you want to do a little detour, drive around the corner from 95th Avenue onto 17th Street before heading to the last house, as there are some lights on that side of the property, too.)
- 1560-110 Avenue
WEEK 2 - DECEMBER 4-6TH
Theme: FAITH
On the second Advent, we focus on the events around the birth of Jesus Christ. Concerning the carols listed below, the first carol is sung from Mary's perspective after the angelic announcements came to her on how she would conceive this Divine Child. This required faith on the part of Mary. (Ephesians 2:8-9, faith being a gift from God.)The other four carols draw the listener in to the events surrounding the historical events around the birth of Christ in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, as well as, demonstrate how we can worship Him today by faith.
What is faith? Some would suggest that it is blindly believing in something that might be true. Nothing could be further from the truth! When the Bible talks about faith, it means to believe in the God it speaks about. He proved Himself to be the True God by meticulously fulfilling hundreds of prophecies, many concerning the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Faith is putting your trust in something you know is true, much like the faith you exercise when you sit down on a chair that you trust to hold up your weight.
Follow the story along in the Bible:
(click on the scripture references for links to the verses)
Luke 1:26-38 (angelic announcement to Mary)
Matthew 1:18-25 (angelic announcement to Joseph)
Hebrews 11:6 ( summary on faith)
Songs:
(Click on the links to get to the corresponding YouTube music.)
- Breath of Heaven
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Once in Royal David's City (Great song to share with kids!)
- Away in a Manger (Forever Amen)
- The Little Drummer Boy
Addresses:
(Click on each address to get a link to Google Maps for directions.)
WEEK 1 - NOVEMBER 27-29TH
Theme: HOPE
On this first Advent, we focus on the prophecies that predicted the First Coming of Jesus as the Messiah, and their cry for redemption. At that time, the Jews were living under the oppression of Rome and were longing for God to redeem them. This cry of redemption and call for hope is conveyed in the carols chosen for this Advent. Also after the birth of Christ, wise men from the East followed a special star announcing the birth of Jesus. In Jerusalem, when asking for direction on where to find this newborn King, people quoted what the prophets of old had written down in regard to the birthplace of Jesus.
Follow the story along in the Bible:
(Click on the scripture references for links to the verses.)
Prophecies written down centuries before the actual birth of Christ:
On the visit of the wise men:
Songs:
(Click on the links to get to the corresponding YouTube music.)
Addresses:
(Click on each address to get a link to Google Maps for directions.)
- 332-100B Avenue (This home is near the Co-op Home and Agro and may be a great place to start your Advent Window tour around town.)
- #4, 9500-3rd Street
- 416-95th Avenue
- 8400-19A Street
- 10729 Cyprus Court