The number of Christmas concerts is way down this year, but several intrepid troupes are bucking the trend.

Christmas Presence at Home

Ron Reed, founder and now artistic director emeritus, of Pacific Theatre will host an event which has a long history but will look quite different this year. Christmas Presence at Home:

Pacific Theatre’s favourite Christmas tradition, now in your living room!

With poems and prose ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, mixed in with songs both old and new, Christmas Presence is an intimate and warm way to usher in the holiday spirit.

Performers

Carolyn Arends
Becca Birkner
Nelson Boschman
Rick Colhoun
The Kwerks

The digital premiere will be December 19, 8 pm, but the show will be available online until December 31.

Check out the list of events at the end for concerts by Brian Doerksen, musica intima, Phoenix Chamber Choir and the Bach Choir,

Tom Jackson: The Huron Carol

Veteran First Nations singer will perform The Huron Carol this year, as he has done for decades – but this time it will be online. The Province posted an interview with him recently:

This year, more communities than ever will have access to Tom Jackson’s The Huron Carole show. The Canadian tradition, which usually tours coast to coast, has raised over $230 million for food banks and other charities since 1987.

Jackson is taking the show online this year, which will give arts organizations across the country the opportunity to stream the concert and raise money for those in need. Surrey Civic Theatres, which is hosting a local stream of the show, is encouraging supporters to donate to the Surrey Food Bank. . . .

Q: For a time you lived on the streets of Winnipeg. How did that lead to The Huron Carole?

A: When I was 38 I lived in a crawl space and I was addicted to drugs. By the grace of God, the Creator, he sent me a message: If I could help somebody else I could help myself. It changed my world. I went to an emergency response centre and said, “You need to help me. I need to help.” Huron Carole became a vehicle to help people who help others.

Go here for the full interview.

Aunt Leah’s tree lots

Every year Aunt Leah’s Place raises money for youth in care and moms in need by selling Christmas trees. Three church properties are doubling as Christmas tree lots this year:

* St. Steven’s United in Vancouver
* All Saints Anglican in Burnaby
* Eagle Ridge United in Coquitlam.

Aunt Leah’s says “This year we’ve supported over 350 youths, moms and children,” adding:

For 30 years, Aunt Leah’s Place has been helping kids in foster care and young mothers achieve a better future. We do this by providing guidance, supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills. We believe every individual deserves to feel safe, cared for and have a sense of belonging.

Unfortunately, this is not a reality for many teens in the foster care system. When they “age out” of government care at 19, they find themselves completely alone. Aunt Leah’s often provides the only thread of care and continuity for youth whose lives are marked by abuse, neglect, abandonment and multiple foster home placements.

Over the years, we have seen how support at this critical time can help these young people realize their potential while becoming resilient, independent adults.

The Anglican Diocese of New Westminster has long supported Aunt Leah’s Place.

Jingle Jangle Bells

The Honourable Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons, is bringing attention to the creativity of six bellringers from across the nation:

Carillonneurs and chimers from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia (Gerald Harder, Organist and director of music at St. James’, Vancouver) joined [Dominion Carillonneur] Dr. Andrea McCrady for a collaborative rendition of ‘Jingle Bells,’ which, due to the mix of pitches, was aptly named ‘Jingle Jangle Bells.’

The video will be available on the House of Commons website until January 7.

Holiday favourites will be played on the Peace Tower Carillon throughout December. To listen to the recitals, visit the Peace Tower Carillon’s Daily Program web page and click on Listen on ParlVU. As these performances are live, audio streaming is only available when a recital is scheduled.

From the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster News site.

December 10, 2020

WROL (Without Rule of Law) – December 10, 2020 - December 13, 2020 at All Day
Rowan Williams: A public lecture to mark the 850th anniversary of the murder of Saint Thomas of Canterbury – December 10, 2020 at 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Human Rights Day Webinar: Forgotten Fundamental Freedoms Panel – December 10, 2020 at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Planning for the Post-Pandemic City – December 10, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

December 14, 2020

Dr. Iain Provan: Seeking What is Right – the Old Testament and the Good Life – December 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
St. James Music Academyu 14th Annual Christmas Concert – December 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

December 15, 2020

LifeCanada presents 'The Culture Call' – December 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

December 17, 2020

Pro-Life Outreach Opportunity in Vancouver (Application Deadline) – December 17, 2020 at All Day

December 18, 2020

Christmas with Chor Leoni – December 18, 2020 - January 1, 2021 at All Day
Online Conversation with Malcolm Guite – December 18, 2020 at 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Lessons & Carols: From Coast to Coast to Coast – December 18, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

December 19, 2020

Christmas Presence at Home – December 19, 2020 at All Day
North Shore Community Christmas Dinner – December 19, 2020 at All Day
musica intima: ceremony of carols – December 19, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

December 20, 2020

Brian Doerksen: Christmas at Our House – December 20, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Hope is Born: A Christmas Special – December 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Phoenix Chamber Choir: Rejoice & Sing – December 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

December 22, 2020

Christmas with the Bach Choir 2020: Digital Edition – December 22, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

December 24, 2020

Hope Alight – December 24, 2020 at All Day

January 8, 2021

Vancouver 24/7 Week of Prayer – January 8, 2021 - January 15, 2021 at All Day

January 10, 2021

24/7 Week of Prayer - UBC – January 10, 2021 - January 17, 2021 at All Day
Awaken BC: Prayer for Revival – January 10, 2021 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

January 12, 2021

Rhythms Workshop: Refugees – Invited In – January 12, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

January 14, 2021

Live Webinar: Explore Alpha Online – January 14, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
SIM: Discerning Your Call in Life – January 14, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

January 16, 2021

Brave Love Canada National Zoom Event – January 16, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Open Doors Canada: Release of 2021 World Watch List – January 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

January 18, 2021

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18, 2021 - January 25, 2021 at All Day

January 19, 2021

Advance Summit: Do the Work of an Evangelist! – January 19, 2021 - January 20, 2021 at 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
National Alpha Kick-off – January 19, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Men's Ministry Leadership Training 101 – January 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

January 20, 2021

Ending Poverty Together Online Workshop – January 20, 2021 at 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Carmen Joy Imes: Reading the Bible Right Now – January 20, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
ELO Webinar: Jesus on Economics & Entrepreneurship – An Interview with Jerry Bowyer – January 20, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Men's Ministry Leadership Training 102 – January 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Webinar: Online Sexually Explicit Material and Pornhub – January 20, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

January 21, 2021

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Joint Prayer Service – Archdiocese of Vancouver / First Baptist Church – January 21, 2021 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
An Evening with Dr. Joel Thiessen: The Millennial Mosaic – January 21, 2021 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

January 23, 2021

Comagape Christian Conference 2021 – January 23, 2021 at 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

January 24, 2021

Just 58: Trapped in Transition (documentary focused on community, refugees & Lebanon) – – January 24, 2021 at 7:15 pm - 8:13 pm

January 25, 2021

Journey Discipleship Course – January 25, 2021 - May 17, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

January 26, 2021

Alpha Youth Leader Gathering – January 26, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Missional Commons Webinar: Thriving Through the Pandemic? – January 26, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
The Church after Covid: Allowing the Spirit to Re-orient us around the Mission of God – January 26, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

January 27, 2021

Alpha Webinar: Don’t Give Up – With Dr. Charles Price, Dr. Darrell Johnson, and Dr. Laurel Buckingham – January 27, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Book Launch: Better Than Brunch – Missional Churches in Cascadia – January 27, 2021 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Paul Allen on Critical Realism – January 27, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
A Table for All Workshop – January 27, 2021 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

January 28, 2021

Tish Harrison Warren: Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep – January 28, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
A Table for All Workshop – January 28, 2021 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

January 29, 2021

Human Flourishing in a Technological World: Robert Doede – The West's Journey from Living Selves to Software Selves – January 29, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Reading Fratelli Tutti: Pope Francis’ Vision of Fraternity and Social Friendship – January 29, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

January 30, 2021

Global Advance Day – January 30, 2021 at All Day
2021 Mission Central Conference: Serve – January 30, 2021 - January 31, 2021 at 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
CHAT Canada Webinar, with Sandi Smoker: The Art of Grandparenting (bi-weekly, Saturday mornings) – January 30, 2021 - February 27, 2021 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Free Webinar Series: The Art of Grandparenting (three Saturday mornings) – January 30, 2021 - February 27, 2021 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Summit 2021: 'Conversion Therapy,' Conversion and the Gospel of Grace – January 30, 2021 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
SIM: What is Poverty? What does that look like in Canada? – January 30, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm