Honest Advent: November 28th - December 26th

Hi Everyone!

This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent; the four week anticipation to the birth of Christ. Advent means "coming" in Latin. It's a season of anticipation for what is coming! Redemption, peace, love, joy! The Kingdom of God here for us and for you.

But, if I'm honest, as the years go by, I find the anticipation has turned into a different feeling. I think about the money that has to be spent, the returning to the same scriptures I've preached on for 13 years and struggle to find something new to say. I think about how December adds to an already full life. I feel sad admitting it, but in the past few years it's been something to endure, not something to anticipate.

Where did that childlike wonder go? Where did the cozying up watching the Christmas lights and remembering that God came to be one of us? Surely, it's still there within my heart somewhere, buried beneath the amazon boxes and speed walking through chinook.

I came across Scott Erickson's fantastic little devotional on Advent called "Honest Advent" and he helped me find the wonder again, but with honesty and not denial. I've found Christmas again, but it feels more real and less plastic and forced. It feels more like flesh and blood, another reminder that Christ always meets us right here in our humanity. Wow, I can't wait for Christmas now.

It all starts this Sunday on November 28th and will continue until December 26th!

Here's some more important dates happening at Canyon Creek this Advent:

December 4th - Kid's Club: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Alyssa will be having a time to prepare a special Christmas performance where our kids will show us the Christmas story on a Sunday during advent.

December 10th - Reach Youth - Murder Mystery Party

This has become a Reach Youth tradition! A character driven murder mystery party, here at CCCF from 7:00-10:00pm.

December 11th - CCCF's Family Christmas Party: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

All are welcome to come to the gym to celebrate together! We will be wearing masks and observing COVID precautions which will include individually wrapped snacks, masks and using our large gym to accommodate enough space to spread out. We'll have games for kids, music, decorations, and more! It's time and space to connect with each other and celebrate Christmas as a church!

December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 5:00pm - 6:00pm

A special candlelight service with a live band, the Christmas story, treats for kids, and a special congregational singing of silent night. Registration for in person attendance will happen soon or you can join on Zoom (watch this space for registration and zoom link, coming soon)

December 26th - Boxing Day Watching of The Fourth King

This is becoming a Canyon Creek tradition for the Sunday after Christmas. Being Boxing Day we will not be having an in person service, rather, we will be watching together a beautiful cartoon called "The Fourth King" a 45min telling of a 4th wiseman and his journey in finding Jesus in the lost and in loving others. It's truly one of my favourite Christmas movies. We'll be watching on Zoom together, so cozy up in your living room in your pyjamas with a warm drink! Zoom link will be here on our website a week before.

Looking forward to awaiting the best gift ever given with you all.

See you soon!

Justin