St. George鈥檚 United Church announces its Christmas services, and invites everyone in the community to participate.
On Christmas Eve, the annual candlelight family service starts at 6:30 p.m. to 鈥渃elebrate joy, hope, peace, and love--the gifts of the season that don鈥檛 fit into a box.鈥� All donations collected that evening will benefit WeCan Shelter Society, and St. George鈥檚 will match the collected donations-- using funds from its Community Outreach fund.
WeCan Shelter Society is a local non-profit that converts shipping containers into tiny homes for our community鈥檚 most vulnerable. The homes are located at Maple Pool Campground.
For those who are homebound or traveling, the Christmas Eve service will be broadcast live online with links available on the church鈥檚 website (StGeorgesUnited.com) and Facebook page.
鈥淭he Christmas story tells us that Jesus was born in a stable, rather than a home, because 鈥榯here was no room at the inn.鈥� Every year we give away our Christmas Eve offering, and we can鈥檛 think of a better way to celebrate Jesus鈥� birth than helping WeCan alleviate the housing crisis by providing quality, affordable housing, to people in need in the Comox Valley,鈥� says the Reverend Ryan Slifka, pastor at St. George鈥檚 United.
On Christmas Day, 10:30 a.m., there will be a regular service with the Reverend Slifka preaching. This service includes carols and Holy Communion.
Located in the heart of downtown Courtenay at 505 6th Street, St. George鈥檚 United Church is a spiritually vibrant, inclusive, justice-seeking community of faith that has been changing lives in the Comox Valley for over a century. Its vision is to be a Christian Church that is a beacon of God鈥檚 love and hope in the community, doing so through unconditional welcome, spiritual transformation, and reaching out in love for the common good.
The regular Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m., followed by a coffee social in the fellowship hall.
Families with young children are very welcome. St. George鈥檚 has a diverse group of more than 20 young children who participate in the Children鈥檚 Church while their parents and grandparents remain in the main service.
