Just 3 weeks from today The Gift of Christmas will begin, 2009!
You will be amazed at the lighting, the music, the choeography, the Home for Christmas family reunions and much, much more!
At this point, 6 reunion stories are confirmed. One story in particular is catching our attention - after 42 years apart, a mother and son will be united for the first time!
After hours of practicing, over 250 volunteers are excited to have you join us for 9 great performances.
We begin full rehearsals starting on November 21st with the entire cast and crew. Up until now, we've been practicing separately. This is a great time of fun.
Requests are coming in for reserved seating - the event is free so therefore there is no reserved seating with the exception of Senior's groups. Please call Bethel for more information. 613-226-1383.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
It's beginning to look like Bethlehem!
Tree Setup Week started Saturday morning bright and early as volunteers showed up to do some more building on the set and unload the tree. The Tree is held in storage during the year and brought to the church in pieces in a big truck. It's unloaded into the church gym then brought onto the stage on Monday morning to be assembled. It takes about a day to fully assemble the Tree structure; many more days to plug in the lights; and many more days to program all of the lights to each song.
The set this year was built early on in the summer, and until now it had been weathering in a farmers field. It was brought to the church to be completed and assembled. It took a little while to figure out how to paint the "buildings" to look like aged stone, but after a few trial runs they are really beginning to look realistic.
Volunteers cook and bring in meals throughout the Tree Setup Week to keep the other volunteers nourished during the long days and nights. It is truly amazing to see so many people using whatever talent they have to bring this set together, whether it be painting, building, or even vacuuming!
It is really heart-warming to see ordinary people devote so much time and energy to any and all aspects of this production.
The set this year was built early on in the summer, and until now it had been weathering in a farmers field. It was brought to the church to be completed and assembled. It took a little while to figure out how to paint the "buildings" to look like aged stone, but after a few trial runs they are really beginning to look realistic.
Volunteers cook and bring in meals throughout the Tree Setup Week to keep the other volunteers nourished during the long days and nights. It is truly amazing to see so many people using whatever talent they have to bring this set together, whether it be painting, building, or even vacuuming!
It is really heart-warming to see ordinary people devote so much time and energy to any and all aspects of this production.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Invitation Cards have arrived!
Each year, thousands of flyers are handed out to local neighbourhoods, as well as by members of the church and those involved with the production to spread the word of the Gift of Christmas. This year, it was decided that we will be handing out smaller cards to make it easier for people to keep them in their wallets or purses.
The invitation cards have been printed and are ready to be handed out! The business card sized invitations have all the necessary information including dates and the website address. They are beautifully designed and highlight this year's Bethlehem theme. Special thanks to the marketing team for their successful efforts in creating an invitation that catches interest and gets the necessary information out there in an easy and practical way.
It is time to start inviting family, friends, co-workers, neighbours, strangers at the bus stop, the person behind you in line at the grocery store...anyone and everyone! Cards can be picked up at the Bethel Pentecostal Church office or on Sunday mornings in the church foyer.
The invitation cards have been printed and are ready to be handed out! The business card sized invitations have all the necessary information including dates and the website address. They are beautifully designed and highlight this year's Bethlehem theme. Special thanks to the marketing team for their successful efforts in creating an invitation that catches interest and gets the necessary information out there in an easy and practical way.
It is time to start inviting family, friends, co-workers, neighbours, strangers at the bus stop, the person behind you in line at the grocery store...anyone and everyone! Cards can be picked up at the Bethel Pentecostal Church office or on Sunday mornings in the church foyer.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Famous Home for Christmas Reunions
It is all coming together for another fantastic year of amazing performances. We are always beyond excited to present a Home for Christmas reunion at each performance. Some of this year's reunions are already booked and others are well in the works. Please let us know (email production@giftofchristmas.ca) if you have anyone in your life who you would like to surprise with a loved friend or family member at one of this year's performances. Since the Gift of Christmas is fast approaching, we can only plan reunions from countries that do not require visas due to time constraints. But we know there are many stories out there, please share them with us!
Here is a very thankful letter from a woman we are flying in for one of this year's surprise reunions. She has not seen her mom in over 15 years and her brother in over 30 years...It is guaranteed to be a memorable and heartwarming reunion! These emails and letters are what makes all the long phone calls, arranging flights, coordinating places to stay, well worth the time and effort. Each reunion starts with a story...and ends with overwhelming joy!
"Just a quick note to let you know what a blessing for me to be able to share this good news to all here that know me. It has given me such an opportunity to make people aware that God answers prayers and how faithful he is to his WORD. I work for a moving company that moves people all across Canada and US. We have long distance drivers that load out of our warehouse that have known me for a long time, been here 20 years, and that I can share this news with. They are all amazed that in this time of selfishness that anyone would think of doing this. What a great way to open the conversion and let them know the Lord can do anything. Pray believing and I will do it . I could go on forever but just wanted to again say that THANK YOU."
You can see pictures and read stories from the past couple years on the Gift of Christmas website. We will soon be posting the 2008 reunion stories and pictures.
Here is a very thankful letter from a woman we are flying in for one of this year's surprise reunions. She has not seen her mom in over 15 years and her brother in over 30 years...It is guaranteed to be a memorable and heartwarming reunion! These emails and letters are what makes all the long phone calls, arranging flights, coordinating places to stay, well worth the time and effort. Each reunion starts with a story...and ends with overwhelming joy!
"Just a quick note to let you know what a blessing for me to be able to share this good news to all here that know me. It has given me such an opportunity to make people aware that God answers prayers and how faithful he is to his WORD. I work for a moving company that moves people all across Canada and US. We have long distance drivers that load out of our warehouse that have known me for a long time, been here 20 years, and that I can share this news with. They are all amazed that in this time of selfishness that anyone would think of doing this. What a great way to open the conversion and let them know the Lord can do anything. Pray believing and I will do it . I could go on forever but just wanted to again say that THANK YOU."
You can see pictures and read stories from the past couple years on the Gift of Christmas website. We will soon be posting the 2008 reunion stories and pictures.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in The Making Of...The Gift of Christmas. We will update you regularly on what is going on behind the scenes and all the planning it takes to pull off this incredible production. It has already been an exciting year and we are all eagerly anticipating this year's production!
You can visit the Gift of Christmas website at www.giftofchristmas.ca for pictures and reunion stories from previous years and for information about this year's program and schedule.
This year, we will be spreading the word about the Gift of Christmas through Facebook! Go to facebook.com/giftofchristmas to become a fan and invite your family and friends to do so too! There is also an Event Invitation to send to family and friends!
We have also been posting on Twitter this year! Visit twitter.com/giftofchristmas and follow our Tweets!
Thank you again for visiting the blog and we hope to see you in December!
Blessings,
The Gift of Christmas Team
You can visit the Gift of Christmas website at www.giftofchristmas.ca for pictures and reunion stories from previous years and for information about this year's program and schedule.
This year, we will be spreading the word about the Gift of Christmas through Facebook! Go to facebook.com/giftofchristmas to become a fan and invite your family and friends to do so too! There is also an Event Invitation to send to family and friends!
We have also been posting on Twitter this year! Visit twitter.com/giftofchristmas and follow our Tweets!
Thank you again for visiting the blog and we hope to see you in December!
Blessings,
The Gift of Christmas Team
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