Patrick's Christmas Letter 2024

Patrick’s Christmas Letter 2024

         My Christmas Letter to you has always focused on our Advent journey and our wonderful expectation of the birth of Christ, and rightly so. It is my Christmas letter after all. But I would feel remiss if I did not mention here the fantastic success of this past year celebrating St. John’s 125th anniversary. All the events were well planned, memorable, and meaningful. I would like to thank all those, and there are many, who helped out. It was a great deal of work, but its outcome was brilliant. I would in particular like to thank our Wardens Alison and Yasmine, as well as Galina, Christie, Donna (for Chairing the 125th Anniversary Committee) and Russell. Well done everyone! This year has filled us with images and memories that will pleasantly last a lifetime.

         Now to Christmas. I have often seen, as I am sure you have, this saying during Christmas: ‘Jesus is the reason for the season.’ This is of course true. But you are also the reason for the season. You matter to God. That is why He came. St. Augustine once said that if you are the only one that ever lived on earth, Jesus would still have come for you. It occurred to me as I thought about this Christmas letter that one of the most important things we need in our lives, this and every season, is to know that God is with us. This surely is the message of Christmas and our faith in this message brings us hope, peace and joy.

         “Behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a saviour has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). As the angel spoke to the shepherds on Christmas night, she said, “for all people,” including us. This good news brings us joy, peace, hope and love. God entered the world. He became Emmanuel, God-with-us. Out of love, God shared our human nature in order to relate His life to us, to show us the way of His love. He opened for us the opportunity to create His heavenly Kingdom here on earth. The Son of God assumed our human nature so that we might share and understand the divine Kingdom.

         The great gift of Christmas is Jesus. He is God’s gift to us: the gift of Himself. This is one of the most amazing truths of our faith. Who could have ever imagined that God would become human? It was beyond any dream or expectation that the almighty God would enter history as a vulnerable newborn baby. When we ponder the mystery of Christmas, in a way we become like the shepherds and Magi. All we can really do is approach the mystery with wonder and awe, with love and adoration. We sing: “O come, O come Emmanuel”, and we once again let the newborn Christ into our lives.

I wish you and your friends and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and many of God’s wonderful Blessings in the New Year.

Yours in Christ, The Rev. Patrick Blaney

* Lessons and Carols Service

A traditional Anglican Carol Service - Saturday, December 15 10:00am - 11:00am 

*Blue Christmas Service

A service of hope for those in grief - Friday, December 20 6:00PM at St. Andrew’s 

*Christmas Eve Family Service - We tell the story and sing carols

Tuesday, December 24   5:00pm - 6:00pm

*Christmas Eve Candlelight Mass - Traditional Christmas service with Eucharist

Tuesday, December 24   7:00pm - 8:30pm 

*Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25 - Traditional Christmas morning service

St. Clements’s Anglican Church 10:00AM

*New Years Eve, Tuesday, December 31 - Lots of fun and prizes!

Zoom Years Eve Party 6:00PM With Virtual Midnight at 7:00pm