This is an abridged version of our 2023 Christmas Eve Service.
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Acknowledging the territory
Jesus calls us into the world to love one another as we are loved by God. As we came to this land, First Nations peoples welcomed us, sustained us and taught us. We did not hear them when they shared their vision.
In our zeal to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ, we were closed to the value of their spirituality. We confused Western ways and culture with the depth, breadth, length and height of the gospel of Christ. We imposed our civilization as a condition of accepting the gospel. As a result, the image of the Creator in us is twisted, blurred, and we are not what we are meant by God to be. In our journey toward reconciliation, we acknowledge, this day, that we gather for worship on the traditional territories of:
- the Anishinaabe (the Ojibwe or Chippewa Nation)
- the Haudenosaunee (the Iroquois, and the Oneida Nation)
- the Lenape (the Delaware People)
- the Attawandaron (the Neutral Nation or Algonquin People
- and the Wendat (Huron People) as well as the other indigenous peoples who preceded them.
We acknowledge, with respect, their history, their spirituality, and their culture and seek to live into right relationship with all.
1st Reading; Isaiah 9, 2-7 read by Joanne Hamilton
First Reflection with Rev Wendy Noble
Second Reading: Luke 2, selected verses interspersed with ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ hymn 
( words: Latin, John Frances Wade, ca 1743. music: attrib. John Frances Wade, ca 1743. Public Domain) and Second Reflection
Prayers of the People with Rev Wendy Noble
Hymn – Silent Night
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818, Engl. Trans. John Freeman Young, 1863 et al. Music: Franz Xavier Gruber, 1818. Public Domain.
Blessing and Commissioning : On all of our pathways, Christ is with us. His blessing surrounds us, enfolds us And invites us. His love will never leave us Let us go in peace. Amen.
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Do you wish to share a prayer ? Please call the church phone line at 519 432 8075 to leave your prayers. If there is no one in the office at that time- please leave your prayers on our voice mail.
Please remember….
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh.
We still have a building and staff and are still running a community meal program on Tuesday evenings. We are thankful for your donation- see main page – click on Canada Helps link.