Advent

The four Sundays preceding Christmas are the season of Advent. We consider this to be a time of longing, waiting, and preparation.

Advent 1 · Dec 1, 2024 10:30 am
Advent 2 · Dec 8, 2024  10:30 am
Advent 3 . Dec 15, 2024 10:30 am
Advent 4 . Dec 22, 2024 10:30 am

Service of Lessons and Carols
2024, December 8 at 4:00 pm
Words and Music for Christmas. A lovely, gentle candlelight service to celebrate the season.
This service is a classic tradition, with a series of scripture readings that take us through the whole story of God’s promise, Israel’s longing and waiting, and the fulfilment of promise in the birth of Christ. The story is accompanied by music from the choir, as well as from other musicians. We will be lighting candles in the R-W sanctuary.

White Gift Sunday
Dec 8 2024. White Gift Sunday began in 1904 in Ohio where a Methodist ministers wife and two daughters came up with the idea of giving gifts to people in need. Gifts were wrapped in white so that they would be anonymous. The United Church has participated in this tradition since the inception of the church. Here in Edmonton we gather gifts for children, youth and adults along with non-perishable food items which are distributed to people in need through the Bissell Centre.

Christmas

In our liturgical tradition, Christmas Day begins with sunset on Dec. 24, so the term, “Christmas Eve”, has come to refer to the first two parts of Christmas Day: the evening and the night.

All Christmas services at R-W will be in-person and livestreamed online on YouTube.

Christmas Eve Services

4:00 pm Family Celebration: An interactive celebration
7:00 pm Christmas with a Twist: A creative candlelit experience
10:00 pm Choral Candlelight: The birth of Jesus with songs of joy for the Holy night

Alternative Christmas Services

Blue Christmas Service of Healing
December 15 at 7:00 pm
Christmas is a holy time that is not always happy.  It brings up so many memories that heighten our feelings of grief or sadness, pain or loneliness. This is a service of quiet reflection, remembrance and peace. We hope that this service will bring a sense of peace in this sacred season with quiet music, scripture, silence and candle light. Everyone is welcome.