Grocery lists—to make that perfect holiday dinner. Packing lists—to make sure nothing is left behind when you go to visit family.
And, of course, wish lists. Those letters to Santa, or Mom and Dad, reflecting the desires and dreams of every child who eagerly runs to the tree on Christmas morning, hoping the perfect gift is waiting for them there.
We all have our own wish lists in life—the things we want, the things we worry about. And we can become so preoccupied with what we’re getting, that we forget what God has already given us.
That’s why the Bible reminds us to seek God first— to put our trust in Him, and all our day-to-day concerns will be met (see Matthew 6:25-34).
His love for us is so great, He sent His only Son. And that is the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ.
To learn more about Jesus, the true reason for the Christmas season, email us at faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca or visit a Salvation Army church near you.
Photo:
FAITH BUILDERS 5 In the Nick of Time? In Red One, Santa needs saving. But isn’t that what the Christmas season is about? SOMEONE CARES
Can’t Thank Them Enough” At Christmas, The Salvation Army restores a mother’s hope.
8 A Murdoch Mysteries Christmas
The Salvation Army partners with the CBC for a very special episode.
The Elf and the Innkeeper What can these two unlikely characters teach us about the true meaning of Christmas?
A Charlie Brown Christmas Word Search
Be Like Murdoch: Give!
When eight Salvation Army musicians were invited by the CBC this past summer to take part in an upcoming Murdoch Mysteries Christmas episode, they were pleasantly surprised by the reception they received from all of the actors and staff.
“Everyone we spoke to was friendly and appreciative,” states Kristin Ostensen, managing editor of our sister magazine, Salvationist, who was granted a rare backstage pass to watch the filming. “The cast and crew were so welcoming and thanked us for being there and for being part of the episode. They even handed out ice cream to all of us later in the evening because it was so hot! ”
Kristin’s story is on page 8.
The Salvation Army has been giving hope to people for almost 160 years, from its earliest days in London, England, to the streets of Toronto in the time depicted in Murdoch Mysteries, to the more than 400 communities across Canada and Bermuda served today. According to The Salvation Army’s 2023/24 Annual Report:
• 3.2 million community meals were distributed
• 438,000 people were helped at Christmas with food hampers and toys
• three million visits were made to the Army for assistance
But we can’t do it by ourselves. So do like Detective Murdoch does in this episode when he passes a Salvation Army kettle. Give and give generously.
From all of us at Faith & Friends, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy 2025.
Ken Ramstead
Mission Statement
To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.
Faith & Friends is published bimonthly by:
The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4
International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England
Lyndon Buckingham, GENERAL
Commissioner Lee Graves
TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Lt-Colonel John P. Murray
SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Geoff Moulton, DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND LITERARY SECRETARY
Pamela Richardson
ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ken Ramstead, EDITOR
Kristin Ostensen
MANAGING EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST AND SALVATIONIST.CA
Lisa Suroso
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST
Emily Pedlar
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Rivonny Luchas
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Giselle Randall
SENIOR EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST
Abbigail Oliver
EDITOR OF JUST FOR KIDS AND STAFF WRITER
Logan Graves CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR
Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version
Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6153
circulation@ salvationarmy.ca
All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794
ISSN 1702-0131
RIn the Nick of Time?
In Red One, Santa needs saving. But isn’t that what the Christmas season is about?
by Diane Stark
ed One, in theatres now, is a Christmas action-adventurecomedy in which Jolly Old St. Nick (J.K. Simmons) gets kidnapped. It happens right under the nose of Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), the head of North Pole security. To help rescue Santa, he enlists the help of Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), a bounty hunter and—gasp—a Level Four on Santa’s naughty list. That man is rotten; he literally steals candy from babies. Callum doesn’t want to work with him, but if they don’t find Nick fast, there will be no Christmas.
Can the two men set aside their differences and work together to rescue Santa and save Christmas?
The Best Gift
In today’s world, it’s easy to get distracted by the secular trappings of Christmas. We often think more about gift-buying and card-sending than we do about a baby in the manger. Jesus, who was born in
Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago, grew up and saved the whole world.
The truth is, we’ve all been on the naughty list. Even if we think we’re a good person, the Bible says that everyone has sinned and, therefore, we fall short of God’s standard (see Romans 3:23).
Our sin separated us from God, and there was nothing we could do to fix it. But God—because He loves us so much—had a solution for our sin problem. He sent Jesus to earth to be born as a baby, live 33 years, die on a cross and then overcome death when He rose again. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, God forgives us of our sin and gives us a new life in Him.
Accepting Jesus as our Saviour removes our name from the naughty list. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven and guaranteed a place in heaven when we die.
There’s no better gift than that.
“I
Can’t Thank Them Enough”
Christmas Wishes Nicole Strickland, a family services worker in Weyburn, Sask., poses with just a few of the Christmas offerings The Salvation Army provides
At Christmas, The Salvation Army restores a mother’s hope.
by Juan Romero
When asked how she and her son’s holiday season would look without The Salvation Army, Sara (not her real name) gives a simple answer.
“Christmas? There would have been none,” Sara replies.
Reaching Out
After escaping an abusive marriage, Sara and her young son found themselves in a challenging situation. At the time, Sara was going to school, so she didn’t have a stable income to maintain her and her son. In an attempt to do
anything to survive, they turned to The Salvation Army in Weyburn, Sask.
“We didn’t have anything in our house. Our fridge was empty, the freezer had nothing in it. We were struggling with where to find our next meal,” Sara explains. “We had no idea where it was going to come from. So, I reached out to The Salvation Army.”
Grateful Tears
Once they contacted the Army, Sara and her son received winter gear, were set up with the food
“We didn’t have anything in our house, our fridge was empty. The freezer had nothing in it.”
SARA
bank, received counselling and were registered for the Christmas Adopt a Family program.
“When we went to The Salvation Army, I was very concerned because I had never done it before, but they were very welcoming. They never judged us. They just took us in with open arms. They treated us like family,” she shares.
What Sara had initially predicted was going to be a non-existent Christmas, suddenly became a special holiday she would never forget. The day she visited The Salvation Army to pick up the gifts from their adoptive family, Sara felt an overwhelming sense of joy and emotion.
“The day that I picked it up, I bawled in their office because we had never had anything like that,” Sara says. “We had never had help. I am
very grateful for The Salvation Army. I can’t thank them enough.”
Giving Back
Both Sara and her son got everything on their wish list, and more. Her son, who has an artistic side, got a complete drawing kit. He also received some bedding, clothes and even a skateboard, which he now uses to travel to school. Sara got lots of winter wear, a turkey and items for their home.
Today, Sara works part time and is rebuilding her life. She hopes to spend a happy Christmas with her son.
“I am hoping to get out and visit some nursing homes. They don’t get very much company,” Sara says. “The Salvation Army gave me so much that, during the holidays, I try to give back. I am looking forward to it.”
(left) Juan Romero is the staff writer/news media relations specialist at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
A MURDOCH MYSTERIES
Christmas
THE SALVATION ARMY PARTNERS WITH THE CBC FOR A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE.
by Kristin Ostensen
IT’S A HOT SUMMER EVENING this past August, but winter’s in the air, with piles of white snow lining the sparkling streets of an early 1900s Toronto. Festive decorations adorn the city’s shops, and the familiar sight of a Salvation Army kettle sets the scene.
It’s Christmas on the set of Murdoch Mysteries, Canada’s favourite detective series.
This year’s special, which airs on CBC November 25, reflects a unique partnership between Murdoch Mysteries and The Salvation Army, which is featured in several scenes.
It’s the second time the show and the Army have collaborated in this way, the first time being a Christmas episode in 2016.
“The response to the first episode was incredibly positive among the cast, crew and everyone involved,” notes Julie Lacey, producer of Murdoch Mysteries. “From the positive reactions we received across our social media channels, we could see that the episode resonated with our audience as well.”
Photo: Kristin Ostensen
Perfect Fit
Now in its 18th season, Murdoch Mysteries is led by Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a member of the Toronto Constabulary and a man of both science and faith, being a devout Catholic. He’s joined by a cast including Chief Constable Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) and, starting this season, Inspector Albert Choi (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kim’s Convenience).
In this holiday special, Detective Murdoch and his colleagues
Neil Winemaker, first assistant director for Murdoch Mysteries, gives the Salvation Army musicians instructions before filming begins
Christmas Cheer Detective Murdoch and Inspector Choi come across a Salvation Army kettle while searching for a missing man
from Station House #4 find themselves searching for a missing man on Christmas Eve, when they come across a Salvation Army kettle and pause to enjoy the music.
The episode’s kettle musicians are not actors, but actual Salvation Army members. Four members of the Canadian Staff Songsters and four members of the Canadian Staff Band—the Army’s premier musical groups—are featured.
The group’s musical talents are well used in the episode, as they share a rousing rendition of Joy to the World with an appreciative audience.
Photo: Kristin Ostensen
Action!
Photo: Courtesy of Shaftesbury Productions
“The Salvationists we worked with were wonderful, and having them in our holiday special really added to the authenticity of the time of year and the period,” says Julie. “The scenes they are in look and sound amazing. The music is a perfect fit for the already music-centric episode.”
Corey Robert, the Army’s territorial marketing director, agrees. “Having the Canadian Staff Songsters and Canadian Staff Band involved made the experience even more special, bringing authenticity and a powerful sense of community to the project.”
One of the Salvationists featured in the episode was Andrew Burditt, who plays solo cornet with the Canadian Staff Band.
“I thoroughly enjoyed participating in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries,” he says. “The chance to meet the actors and learn about the process was wonderful, and any opportunity to promote the work of the Army is something we should embrace.”
Positive Message
Making sure The Salvation Army was seamlessly integrated into the episode was a collaborative effort.
Ring Those Bells
A smiling kettle worker thanks Detective Murdoch and Inspector Choi for their donation
Photo: Courtesy of Shaftesbury Productions
“ The Salvationists we worked with were wonderful, and having them in our holiday special really added to the authenticity.”
JULIE LACEY
“Working closely with the CBC, the Murdoch production team and The Salvation Army Heritage Centre, we were able to ensure historical accuracy while showcasing the impact of the Army’s mission during that period,” says Corey.
The Salvation Army has been active in Canada since 1882 and was well established in Toronto by the early 1900s. Today, the Army serves in more than 400 communities, providing hope, assistance and compassionate care to Canadians in need.
“Like everybody else in the country, we see the Army out in full force during the holiday season, but when approaching the script, we also wanted to highlight the amazing work they do all year round,” says Julie. “We specifically had Inspector Choi address this in a line of dialogue, as we thought this was the most effective way to put the message in people’s minds. In the episode, Detective Murdoch and Inspector Choi donate to the Salvation Army kettle in support of the Army’s mission, encouraging people to give.”
That mission is more vital than ever, as many Canadians struggle to meet basic needs due to the rising cost of living. Christmas is the season of giving, a reminder to
love one’s neighbour, as this episode of Murdoch Mysteries emphasizes. “It shares a positive message of supporting the people in your life, not only at Christmas, but all year round,” Julie continues. “It’s similar to the message of The Salvation Army.”
Global Reach
Along with this heartwarming Christmas episode, this season of Murdoch Mysteries promises to be an exciting one. For Julie, who has worked on Murdoch Mysteries since the very beginning, it’s no surprise that the show continues to be popular worldwide, even as it reaches the 300-episode milestone this season.
“Murdoch appeals to a broad audience of people who love murder mysteries, but it’s also a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” she says, “and the accessibility of the humour created by Peter Mitchell and his writing team is a large part of what draws people to the show.
“Detective Murdoch is a brilliant role model with an open mind,” she concludes, “a true inspiration at Station House #4, and to our audience.”
Watch Murdoch Mysteries Season 18 Mondays on CBC TV and CBC Gem.
The Elf and the Innkeeper
What can these two unlikely characters teach us about the true meaning of Christmas?
by Pamela Richardson
If you asked me to share a Christmas memory from my childhood, I could tell you about the year there was a large box under the tree with my name on it. And when I opened it, inside was a beautiful doll that I had wanted so badly.
I could also tell you about when I was the “star” of our church’s Christmas pageant, when I was chosen to hold the star at the very top of a large tree-shaped, multi-tiered platform filled with a children’s choir. I found out years later that my father, the director of the performance, chose me for the
“starring” role because if I fell from my perch atop the tree, there would not have been a lawsuit. (My family has laughed at this many times over the years.)
Or I could tell you about a play I attended with my family about Christmas Eve at the North Pole. The performers were dressed as elves, all scurrying around as they got ready for Santa’s big trip. I remember quite clearly one elf, dressed in green with pointy shoes and bells on her hat, running back and forth across the stage saying, “There’s so much I have to doooooo!”
Making a List
That phrase and the silly way the elf said it have stayed with my family over the years. Quite often, when one of us was feeling overwhelmed, we repeated the phrase.
So during university exams, I would take a break from studying to call my parents and lament, “There’s so much I have to doooooo!” When our son was young, and our house looked like a small tornado had whipped through, I would say, “There’s so much I have to doooooo!”
And now, when work deadlines, family responsibilities and a hundred other things need my attention, that little elf’s voice still rings in my ear. Do you ever feel like you have a lot to do? Are you like me, a person who makes “to-do” lists and refers back to them regularly to cross off the things that have been accomplished? Have you ever completed a task that was not on your list and then gone back to add it to the list, just to have the satisfaction of crossing it off?
I am guilty as charged. Christmas can be such a stressful time.
Shopping, wrapping, baking, travelling, the list goes on. There’s so much we have to doooooo! (OK, I’ll stop now.)
Setting the List Aside
Perhaps that’s how the innkeeper felt on the first Christmas night so long ago when Joseph knocked on his door looking for a place for his very pregnant wife, Mary, to rest. The Bible tells us in Luke 2 that the young couple had travelled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea in response to a decree from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of the entire Roman world, and they must have been exhausted.
The innkeeper could have said, “Seriously? You need a room for the night? Do you know how many people are in Bethlehem for the census? There’s so much I have to do!”
Instead, he put aside the many things he had to do and made his way outside to prepare a place in his stable for Mary, Joseph and the baby who would be born that very night. If he had remained focused on the long list of things he had to do, he would have missed the opportunity to play a part in the arrival of Jesus, God’s Son.
So, set aside your to-do list this holiday season and, like the innkeeper, find an opportunity to connect with Jesus, the baby who was born that first Christmas night to be the Saviour of the world.
