OnLine Only   Christmas Eve Worship Service link   (Note:  This service was first aired last year, Christmas Eve, 2020)
Christmas Eve (after-the-Eve-service) Coffee/Wine Party” (zoom only) link: click here

Friends,
As you are aware, there is great concern in our province regarding the surge of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.  Council Circle has made the decision to cancel in-person worship on Christmas Eve, on the recommendation of the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church and being mindful that we must all do our part in containing this variant.

This is a great disappointment to many of us who have been working hard for this service, which would have had over 35 participants, including readers, musicians, technicians, and members of our choirs. We know that it will be also be a disappointment for those for whom attending our Christmas Eve service at Kamloops United Church has been a tradition.

We will still be offering a Christmas Eve service, a repeat of last year’s service, on the Kamloops United Church YouTube page.  This will be available from the morning of December 24.   In addition, pre-recorded services for December 26 and January 2 will be available on YouTube on those days.

For all of us, this is a second Christmas tinged with disappointment. Let us remember, though, the true meaning of Christmas. One of my Christmas traditions is to watch the show, Charlie Brown’s Christmas.  I love the part where Charlie Brown asks the question, “Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?”  Linus steps out onto the stage and quotes Luke 2:8-13, saying,

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  

As we face yet another variant of Covid-19, we are assured that in the midst of our concerns, our disappointments, and our fears, that God is with us.  May we draw strength in the coming days from the angel’s counsel to “fear not”.

Blessings this Christmas time,

(Rev. Dr.) Michael Caveney, Lead Minister, Kamloops United Church