Advent to Christmas 2022
Journey together through Advent to Christmas
Advent 2022 is a season where we’ll be practising a different sort of waiting: one grounded in the ways God’s Dream is constantly breaking into our world, in hoped-for, but surprising ways.
We invite you to peek into each of the boxes below (just click on the down arrow) to find ways for you to journey along with this community to Christmas.
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Rev. Elisabeth has compiled a collection of music of varying genres (rock to classical) that connect with our Advent theme “Living with Hope,” and with this season of anticipation. Access this compilation of diverse music for reflection during the four weeks of Advent here.
➤ Click here to access the playlist.
Sunday Soul Food
Subscribe to get this serving of spiritual nourishment in your inbox each Sunday evening. This mailing brings together our Sunday worship content (with YouTube links, the scripture/sermon text and images) in an accessible and shareable format for you to experience whenever it fits your life.
➤ Subscribe to Sunday Soul Food here.
Midweek Midrash for Advent
On Thursday mornings, participate in engaging, lively conversation about the upcoming Advent scripture texts with Cedar Parkers and friends from near and far.
Daily Reflections for the Season of Advent, by Kate BowlerCedar Park will be following this resource by an amazing author from the first day of Advent through to the 12 days of Christmas. We’ll be posting her words to our Facebook and Instagram pages daily, and periodically members of the CPU community will add their reflections on this resource. (If you want to be one of those contributors, contact Rev. Elisabeth or Martha FYMC.)
➤ If you’d like to have your own copy of Kate’s Advent resource, you can download it here.
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You can feed your soul throughout this season in a variety of worship settings, both online and onsite, at Cedar Park and together with our West Island sibling congregations.
➤ Download the entire list of dates and times here.
Sunday, Nov. 27 │Advent 1: Living with Hope for Humanity
9:55 AM Worship for all (onsite and online) + Children’s Worship (onsite)
Sunday, Dec. 4 │Advent 2: Living with Hope for Creation
9:55 AM Worship for all (onsite and online) + Children’s Worship (onsite)
Sunday, Dec. 4 │Doing December Differently
4 - 7 PM Family Advent activity and supper➤ Register here by Nov. 30 to participate
Sunday, Dec. 11 │Advent 3: Living with Hope, Surprised by Joy
9:55 AM Worship for all (onsite and online) + Children’s Worship (onsite)
Tuesday, Dec. 13 │West Island Blue Christmas on Zoom
7:30 PM A brave, meditative space to express grief, loss and hope.➤ Click here for the Zoom link
Wednesday, Dec. 14 │West Island Blue Christmas Labyrinth
7:30 PM At Cedar Park UnitedA brave and holy space to walk the labyrinth to express grief, loss and hope
Sunday, Dec. 11 │Advent 4: Living with Hope for Love
9:55 AM Worship for all (onsite and online) + Children’s Worship (onsite)
Saturday, Dec. 24 │Children's Christmas
4 PM (onsite, NOT livestreamed)An (unplugged) unpageant where everyone who wishes (from grandparents to newborns) will get to take part in the Christmas story.
Saturday, Dec. 24 │Candles, Carols and Communion
7:30 PM Worship for all (onsite and online)
Sunday, Dec. 25 │No worship service at CPU
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 │West Island Ecumenical Worship Service
11 AM Worship for all onsite at Lakeshore Trinity United Church, 98 Aurora Ave, Pointe-Claire
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We know it’s a super busy time of year for families, so we’re inviting you to Do December Differently this year…
Doing December Differently (Tidings of Comfort and Joy)
Sunday, Dec. 4, 4-7 PM at CPU
This family advent activity and supper is for families with kids and youth, and will be a time to be together in community for story-telling (and making), crafts and carols—and spaghetti and meatballs for supper.
$15 per family (if the price would keep you from coming, please let us know)
➤ Please register here by Nov. 30
➤ Download our our Top 10 Suggestion for Doing December Differently
Mini Connections Play Group on Wednesday mornings in the Community Hall
➤ Wednesday, Dec. 14, 9-11 AM
We’ll be hosting a mini-Christmas party—BYO Christmas treats to share…
➤ Wednesday, Jan. 4, 9-11 AM
We’ll be extending our Mini Connections welcome to include primary-age siblings with a parent or caregiver for a morning of free play in the Community Hall.Children’s Worship on Sundays
We gather at 10 AM and yes, you are absolutely welcome to participate with your children! Find out more about the Family Pray Space and Children’s Worship on our Worship page.
Children’s Christmas Eve
Saturday, Dec. 24 at 4 PM
Finally, for the first time since 2019, we’ll be offering our Children’s Christmas Eve Service!
This will be an unplugged un-pageant worship experience lasting about 30-minutes where everyone who wishes to (from grandparents to newborns) gets to be a part of the Christmas story. We’ll finish with hot chocolate. Note that this is only onsite and will not be livestreamed.
Questions about any of this? Contact Martha Randy, Family and Youth Ministries Coordinators: cpuc.fymc@gmail.com
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Social Justice: Advent in Action
Food drive for the West Island Mission food bank
Starting Sunday, Nov. 27, choose a festive tag (or several!) from the mobile whiteboard display in the church building with the item(s) you plan on donating. Then, any time you’re at the building, drop off your items in the bins in the sanctuary or outside the Community Hall. The items will be delivered to WIM in min-January when their cupboards are most bare.
➤ Consult the list of requested items here.
➤ Find out more about the West Island Mission food bank here.
Comfort food freezer
You’re encouraged to continue cooking for, or taking from, our community freezer as needed. You can access the freezer (located to the left of the front door nearest the Community Hall) on Wednesday mornings, Sunday mornings or whenever you are at the building for an activity.
Comfort care packs for unhoused people we may meet
Create a few of these kits using our step-by-step guide and keep one in your car (or your backpack) as you go about your day. You never know when you might be able to make a person’s day by giving one to them.
➤ Download our comfort care kit preparation guide here.
Do you live outside the Montreal area?
No matter where you are, you can participate with CPU by
➤ supporting your local food bank with a food or monetary donation
➤ making a meal for a neighbour
➤ making comfort kits to give out to unhoused people in your area
➤ making a monetary donation directly to the West Island Mission
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Participate in onsite and/or online gatherings with the Cedar Park community throughout Advent.
Gather for worship
➤ Download the list of worship services (online and onsite) including Christmas Eve
Gather with other parents and children
➤ Wednesday, Dec. 14, 9-11 AM
Mini Connections Play Group (for babies and pre-schoolers with their caregiver) will be hosting a mini-Christmas party during play group in the Community Hall.
➤ Wednesday, Jan, 9-11 AM
Mini Connections Play Group will be welcoming primary-age siblings for a morning of free play in the Community Hall.
Contact Martha FYMC for details: cpuc.fymc@gmail.com
Gather for a concert
Buy tickets and attend one of the concerts we’re delighted to be hosting in our sanctuary space.
➤ Stewart Hall Singers
Saturday, Nov. 26 at 8 PMFeaturing Fauré’s Requiem
➤ Ste. Anne’s Singers
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 PMMagnum Mysterium
➤ Sinfonia de l’ouest
Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 PMFeaturing a string orchestra version of a Leo Purich composition
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Sunday choir
Every week, through Advent and Christmas, the Sunday choir will be enhancing worship with hymns, carols and anthems for the season.
Concerts in our space
We’re also delighted to be hosting three seasonal concerts in our sanctuary. If you’d like to attend, you can buy tickets at the links below:
Saturday, Nov. 26 at 8 PM Featuring Fauré’s Requiem
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 PM Magnum Mysterium (see the concert poster here)
Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 PM
Featuring a string orchestra version of a Leo Purich compositionCPU Advent playlist
Rev. Elisabeth will be adding to this playlist throughout Advent. This collection of music of varying genres (rock to classical) connect with our Advent theme “Living with Hope,” and with this season of anticipation.
➤ Access this compilation of diverse music for reflection during the four weeks of Advent here.