Merry Christmas, Everyone!I’ve been given the Nickname “Father Christmas” around the church, as we needed one staff member accountable for all the specifics regarding Christmas. I’m thrilled to have you and many of your neighbours, friends, and family members to our Christmas Eve services next week.But before we get there, I have the privilege of wrapping up our series on James this weekend. James 5:12-20 is James’ last words to the early church. And he gives them three specific things to wrap up his message to them on. As a preacher, I’m thrilled that James already has my 3-point sermon ready to go! James will call us towards three things: A need to be honest – people of integrity, A need to pray, and a heart for the wanderers. I can’t wait to be with you.And then next week, we turn the corner in a big way to prepare for Christmas Eve. And I’d love to remind you of Greg’s invitation towards three ways of involvement. First, we’d love to have you attend! Our teams have a beautiful and meaningful service planned to help us gaze upon Jesus’ entry into our world. The second is to invite someone to join you. We have promo materials on our website, and we’d love for you to share this event with your friends and family; we see a lot of guests with us at Christmas and hear countless stories of people whose faith journey started with a service just like this. So who are you bringing with you? And the last way to be involved would be to serve. If you head to our Christmas Serve page on our website, you can see in real-time the remaining needs we still have to host the thousands of guests to our services. Would you consider stepping in and helping us do so?Alright, that’s everything from me this week; I hope you have a great weekend and that you spend some of it with us, and I can’t wait to see you Christmas Eve. Father Christmas (Brody)Christmas Eve At Sherwood Park Alliance Church The Christmas moments we cherish the most are the ones we share together! Sherwood Park Alliance is excited to welcome you, your family, and friends to experience the story of Christmas with one another. The awe and wonder of the shepherds as the angels shared the good news of hope and peace in Jesus' birth! Invite your friends and family to celebrate through beautiful worship, art and words. Our Christmas Eve services are for the whole family and are always a special time for kids to experience the Christmas story. Nursery will be open for children age 2 and under at all Christmas Eve services. All older children are invited to join their families in the auditorium. There will be a child-friendly environment, with limited space available, for families with preschool aged children in the north balcony. We look forward to celebrating with you this Christmas! Join us on December 23 at 6 PM, or December 24 at 2, 4, or 6 PM to celebrate Christmas together. There will be family photos, live music and more! This year the offering received at the Christmas Eve Services will be going to For Freedom International. This organization was started “with a dream to see the marginalized, vulnerable, and exploited set free from the injustice of oppression.” Working in Phuket, Thailand, FFI is focused on “growing a public awareness and education campaign in Thai public schools to help provide sexual education, anti-trafficking awareness, [and] after school support programs for children, and families at risk.” Funds collected will go towards a building project to provide boys who have been rescued from human trafficking a safe home. You can make your donations here on December 23 and December 24.Justice and Compassion Christmas Projects As the Christmas season approaches, there will be many way to engage in giving by participating in one or more projects that our Justice and Compassion team is leading. International Workers Christmas Cards - Each Christmas we as a church come together to express and encourage our International Workers. Ways to participate are: You can sign one the digital cards. Write your own separate note of encouragement on a card of your choosing, for the International workers, and drop it off at the church. Email your encouragements and Christmas greetings to Annemarie and we'll add them to the e-cards for you (please include who each of the messages is for). Cards can be picked up or dropped off or dropped of at the church during office hours or around a weekend service December 17/18. Cards are due back January 2, 2023.Holiday Hours The regular schedule around here will look a little different during the Christmas holidays. On Christmas Day, Sunday December 25, there will be no in person service but there will be an online service only at 10am. On December 26 and 27, the church office will be closed for Boxing Day and a day in lieu of Christmas Day. We will be open and hold regular office hours on December 28, 29 & 30. On New Year's Eve, Saturday December 31, there will be no service - online or in person. On Sunday January 1, we will have our normal Sunday service at 10 AM online and in person. Kids Ministries Family Advent Devotional Guide The holiday season goes by so quickly with the hustle and bustle of all the celebrations and preparations. We're inviting you to take pause each day as a family and reflect on the presence and peace of Jesus in this season. Sign up here to access our family advent devotional which includes a short reading (separate Elementary and Preschool readings both included) and a beautiful build your own nativity scene document. Guides are available online to print at home, or in-person at the Kids Kiosk in the atrium on weekends or at the front church office.Family News - Serve Opportunity There are a couple of families in our church family who would like help with meals to get them through a time of illness. We are looking for volunteers who could pick up gift cards from the church to purchase ingredients or store made meals and then deliver them. Both families have dietary concerns that need to be considered. If you are able to help, please contact Alison Blackley at [email protected]