I know many churches across the city hold special services and concerts Christmas Eve, but only two came across my desk. For Christmas services in your community check with your local churches for times and events.
DEC. 24
West Point Grey Baptist Church is hosting a family service Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. And good news, kids, you're welcome to wear your pyjamas. The family service is followed by a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10 p.m. The church is located at 4509 West 11th Ave.
Christmas Eve starts early at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, located at the corner of Burrard and Nelson streets. From 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 24, vocalists Karin Plato, Kate HammettVaughan and Jennifer Scott will perform traditional Christmas carols and Canadian holiday songs. One of the highlights of the concert will be a performance of Christmas E'vry Day, a rousing gospel tune by Vancouver's own Ron Thompson. There's no admission, but a basket will be passed to benefit Homes to Heal, in partnership with Coast Mental Health.
DEC. 25
If you're having a Christmas Story kind of day and looking for a restaurant to eat at Dec. 25, consider the White Spot on Kingsway at Knight or in Richmond Centre. At both locations staff and management are volunteering their time and will donate all tips they receive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to Variety: The Children's Charity.
Christmas is barely here and I'm already getting emails from organizations anxious to turn festive holiday trees into sawdust.
But I (reluctantly) agree it has to be done some time, except in our home where we decorate an artificial palm tree that stays up year round.
DEC. 26 TO JAN. 8
Bayview elementary school is wasting no time in offering a tree chipping service to those early birds who apparently have nothing better to do Boxing Day than clean their home of any trace of Christmas. Whatever happened to shopping and eating leftover turkey?
Their Christmas Tree Recycling event takes place at the entrance to UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 Southwest Marine Dr., from 9: 30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. daily from Dec. 26 to Jan. 8. The students are asking for donations towards expanding their garden, which is a project supported by the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation. A $5 donation is suggested.
DEC. 28
Another event benefiting others is Blues for Christmas, for which local blues greats play and sing their hearts out for charity.
This year's benefit will assist the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts and the recently founded Friends of Paul Barker, dedicated to providing free accessible arts programs for the Downtown Eastside community. As well, don't forget to take a non-perishable item for the food bank. Just a few of the musicians and singers performing at the event are Dalannah Gail Bowen, Johnny Ferreira and The Swing Machine, Jerry Doucette and Sibel Thrasher. Blues for Christmas takes place Dec. 28 at Venue, 881 Granville St. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. For ticket information go to bluesforchristmas.com.
[email protected] Twitter: @sthomas10
