Advent & Christmas

December 2024

Happy New Year!

Typically at this time of year, a primary focus is placed on Christmas preparations. It’s easy to miss another important liturgical element: Sunday, November 24 is the last Sunday of the 'church' year (also known as Reign of Christ Sunday).

At Salt Spring Island United Church we pondered unique ways of celebrating the end of one church year and the beginning of another. Suddenly it came to us: For our November 24 morning service, we’re going to have a New Year’s Eve party!

Members of the choir and congregation have been invited to wear party garb and we’re beginning the service by singing "Come In, Come In, New Year". New Year’s Eve, in addition to being a festive time of anticipation, is also a time when we tend to reflect on the year(s) past. In that spirit, we’ll be inviting the congregation to fill our regular hymn/song slots with their favourites — all as spontaneously selected just before we sing them with none chosen in advance. Those who make a request will be offered the opportunity to tell us why their selection is a favourite.

Risky? Edgy? You bet! But as Salt Spring Islander Valdy has pointed out countless times over the years, "If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space."

Happy New Year, All! RK

Click on a title to view a melody line sample image,

available versions, comments about the song and more.

Instrumental Videos for ADVENT



We've created four Advent instrumental videos, on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. All four are piano and violin recordings accompanied by sensitive imagery. The violin parts are played by two fine musicians I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years, so special thanks to Rheana Slack and Marie-Andrée Gray.

These videos are free for anyone to use. At our own church services, we used them as Preludes for our Advent online services, but I’m sure there are other creative ways to use them as well. If users have licences with either One License or CCLI, please report your usage in the normal way. Even if they are not used in services, you may wish to consider adding them to your holiday listening/watching lists. RK

...additional instrumental videos for Advent & Christmas

DECEMBER 6

National Day of Remembrance and Action

on Violence Against Women (Canada)

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it; it is also a time to take action. Working together we can help prevent and address gender-based violence by remembering and learning from our past, listening to survivors, and speaking up against harmful behaviour.

MUSIC SUGGESTION: "Christ of the Sad Face"

Additional information available at:

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

DECEMBER 10

Human Rights Day (UN)



2024 Theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.

Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. 

It is available in 577 languages, from Abkhaz to Zulu, making the UDHR the

most translated document in the world.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

"A Body, Broken on a Cross"

"Christ of the Sad Face"

"For Everyone Born, a Place at the Table"

"I Am Standing Waiting"

"Jesus When a Child Is Hungry"

Additional resources available at: Human Rights Day

1. Audio Samples are located in the top of the centre column of each Song Title Page and are free for anyone to play.



2. Audio Accompaniment Tracks, where available, are located at the bottom of the centre column of the Song Title Page and may be downloaded by Subscribers and Purchasers.

3. Lyric, Image and/or Music Notation Videos, where available, are accessed, through links on the Song Title Page or Video Library page and may be downloaded by anyone.

IMPORTANT: When using any of our media files, please report usage to your ONE LICENSE and/or CCLI account.