Pastoral Letters
Lakeview United Church
Seeking Spiritual Renewal and Growth in a Caring, Affirming Community...
November / December 2026
SOME NEWS FROM YOUR PEWS (or, how I see it)
Greetings to everyone out in ‘Lakeview Land’ as your November/December edition of Lakeview News & Views appears either in your mailbox or on the Lakeview’s website. We’ve all made it through the Thanksgiving period, the Halloween time, Remembrance Day, and now, we turn our eyes to the Advent/Christmas season once again. This always seems to be such a busy time for so many people; the decorating, the shopping, attending Christmas concerts, visiting relatives or neighbours, yes, and even appearing at the various church services across not only the Lakeview area but beyond. For many, it’s always a time of excitement and wonder as the Christmas carols reverberate throughout homes, offices, shopping malls and wherever people gather in the name of ‘Christmas’. So what opportunities are available for all of you to enrich your Advent/Christmas experience and to go deeper into the meaning of the season? Hopefully, I can expand on it a little for all of you.
In the area of Lakeview, here in Calgary, we are home to at least five communities of faith and if one ventures across Glenmore Trail, one will find many more who would love to have you come and join in with them. The ones we have here are:
Lakeview United Church
St. Laurence Anglican Church
Centre Street Church – Lakeview Campus
ARK of Salvation
Edge Fellowship
All these communities of faith have their own websites so if any of them interest you, check them out and I’m sure that they will welcome you with open arms and open smiles.
So, being the minister here at Lakeview United Church, it gives me the opportunity of letting you know what may be in store for the Advent/Christmas season.
Sunday, November 29 – Advent #1 – Sunday of Hope – Communion -- The children will be coming up and placing stars on the altar and tree with the word ‘Hope’.
Sunday, December 6 – Advent #2 – Sunday of Peace – The children will be placing Peace signs or pictures of doves to remind all of us of Peace. They also have a musical presentation.
Sunday, December 13 – Advent #3 – Sunday of Joy – Rainbows or other pictures of Joy will be showing up.
Sunday, December 20 – Advent #4 – Sunday of Love – Yes, you guessed it! Love hearts will be everywhere!
Monday, December 21 – 6:30 pm – Longest Night or Blue Christmas Gathering
Christmas Eve – 5:00 pm – Children’s Christmas Service
Christmas Eve – 7:00 pm – Traditional Candlelight Service (Lessons & Carols)
Hopefully you can attend one or more of these special services or others during the Advent/Christmas season as the Spirit of the Baby of Bethlehem comes alive.
Blessings of love and peace to all of you….The Rev. Jope Langejans