In spite of the church calendar's four weeks of advent, for many West Islanders the Christmas season really is signaled in by Summerlea's annual Candlelight Service organized, as in past, by Ruth Heim: Thank you Ruth!

As has been the case in the past, this is also a time for the Summerlea Choir (directed by Connie Osborne these last eighteen years) to really show their stuff.

Programme

The lovely quilted Christmas wall hanging was a donation by Susan Hawke a few years ago.

The choir received extra support from Dik Harris, Brad Moffat, Andrejs Vitols, Jean Stuart and Anne Allmark.
Warm Thank-you's to these gentlemen and gentlewomen.

Sanctus is the Latin for "Holy"



and the choir's first song was the

Christmas Sanctus

The choir answered the Call to Worship by Ruth Heim with

On This Still and Silent Night

After the Prayer of Approach delivered by Carol Brownlee and the lighting of the Advent Wreath by various members of the congregation, the hymn a Candle is Burning and the Prayer of Confession. . .

. . .it was the choir's turn, this time with the Christmas classic

Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle

Following the Gospel reading and a Christmas story read by Susan Ippersiel it was time for the Guest Speaker for the evening, Father Jack Kennedy and his reflection:

Inner Thoughts at Christmas

Shortly after Father Jack's reflection it
was again the choir singing, this time with

The Child Born To Be A King

While Connie & John performed "Away in a Manger" on the piano & flute, the ushers collected just over $1000 (!!); a record offering for the Benevolent Fund which is dedicated to helping the disadvantaged families of Lachine.

After the dedication of the Offering we were treated to the wonderful duet Laudamus Te ("We Praise You") from Vivaldi's Gloria sung by Barbara Moffat and Elin Thordardottir with Connie on the piano.

"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"

- Isaiah 40:9 in the King James Bible.

It was those words of Isaiah that were the impetus of

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion

from G. F. Handel's glorious Messiah

The Candles are then lighted for the conregational singing of

Let There Be Peace on Earth.

There followed the

Benediction

by Scott and a

Choral Amen

And the choir closed the service with the terrifically rousing
There is a Light

But, of course, it's never really over until all gather in the hall for the home baking prepared and donated by various members of the congregation.

May some things never change!

Thanks to all who helped make this wonderfully meaningful event possible.

Thank You!