Christmas Events 2008
for Livermore, Pleasanton, and the Tri-Valley
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Olive wood Manger Scene.
Carved in Bethlehem from the
wood of local olive trees.
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A community service of |
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Christmas Events 2008
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Christmas Photos
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All Events in Chronological
order Click links for details below |
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| all | Lights of the Valley (web site of Christmas lights) | |
| November 7-9 | Fri-Sun | Christmas Bazaar |
| November ??? | Sat-Sun (Fri Preview) | Alden Lane Christmas Open House |
| November 21 | Friday | Magical Evening - Pleasanton Shopping |
| November 26 | Wednesday | Thanksgiving Eve Service and Pumpkin Pie Fellowship. |
| Starts Nov 28 to Dec 29 | Wed-Sun most weeks | |
| December 6 | Saturday | Livermore Home for the Holidays |
| December 6 | Saturday | Livermore Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting |
| December 6 | Saturday | Pleasanton Hometown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremonies |
| December 6 | Saturday | Symphony Concert |
| December 6-7 | Sat & Sun | Valley Concert Chorale Christmas Concert |
| December 6-7 | Sat & Sun | Holidays in the Vineyards |
| December 5 to ? | Daily | Deacon Dave's Christmas |
| December 12 | Friday | Valley Concert Chorale Sing along Messiah |
| December 14 | Sunday | Ravenswood Victorian Yuletide |
| December TBD | Saturday | Friends of the Vineyards Annual Holiday Party |
| Dec 13, 14, 20, 21 | Sat, Sun | The Nutcracker |
| Dec TBD | Thurs to Sun | Live Manger Scene |
| December 24 | Saturday | Christmas Eve Services |
| December 31 ?? | Saturday | New Year's Eve Labyrinth Walk. |
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Christmas
Bazaar Christmas Bazaar |
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Alden
Lane Christmas Open House This year's theme is Tuscan Vineyard Christmas |
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Magical Evening -
Pleasanton Shopping
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Thanksgiving Eve Eve Service &
Pumpkin Pie Fellowship
"Stone Soup" Worship: Please bring your
favorite homemade soup ingredients (fresh veggies, rice, pasta, canned or
boxed broth, etc.) for the “Stone Soup” pot. All ingredients will be donated
to a local soup kitchen for the enjoyment and nourishment of our extended
Livermore family. Pie fellowship follows in the Parish Hall |
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Niles Canyon Train of Lights Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights.
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Livermore Home for the Holidays Home for the Holidays |
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Livermore Christmas Parade & Tree
Lighting This event begins with a parade down First Street at 6:00 followed by the
lighting of the Christmas Tree
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Pleasanton Hometown Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Ceremonies This year's theme is, “Remembering Days Gone By” Special Appearance by Santa Location: Main Street, Pleasanton Times: Times: 4:00pm to 9:00pm Times from 2007: Main Street is closed from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Parade: 5:30 to 6:30 Tree Lighting following parade at about 6:30 to 7:00. More info: Pleasanton Downtown Association |
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Holidays in the Vineyards An open house at our wineries celebrates the season by sharing the joy of
special wines, crafts, music and more! All of the wineries throw open their
doors and offer very special holiday experiences for you and your friends
and family to enjoy. |
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Ravenswood Victorian Yuletide Come celebrate a Victorian Christmas at Ravenswood Historic Site.
Music, entertainment, carriage ride, food, crafts, and more. |
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New Year's Eve
Labyrinth Walk New Year's Eve Labyrinth Walk |
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Valley Concert Choral
Christmas Concerts Valley Concert Choral Christmas Concerts
Valley
Concert Choral - Sing-along Messiah Valley Concert Choral Christmas Concerts |
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Symphony Concert Livermore-Amador Symphony Family Banjo / Horn Orchestra Concert
Livermore-Amador Symphony Concert
- Celebrating Mendelssohn at 200 |
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The Nutcracker The Nutcracker |
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Deacon Dave's Christmas - The biggest and best holiday display in Livermore is set to open on Friday, December 5 at 6:30 pm. A holiday tradition for 26 years, this year’s display promises to fill visitors with holiday spirit. The front yard of Deacon Dave Rezendes’ home at 352 Hillcrest Ave in Livermore, Casa del Pomba, is visited by tens of thousands of guests each year. The theme each year changes, and is always kept a secret until opening night ceremonies. On December 5th, the home and yard will be dark as a candlelight procession makes its way down the blocked off street. Members of the community are welcome to join the procession which features the Livermore Granada Chorale leading Deacon Dave to his home. After a blessing of the lights, the theme is announced, and the lights are turned on. At that time, guests are invited to walk through the yard. It is a spectacular evening, a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. Members of the non-profit group Good News Bears will help Deacon celebrate his special night by serving refreshments. Visitors wishing to support the group are invited to bring a new stuffed animal or cash donation to help them meet the ever-increasing need for “stuffed love” at shelters, hospitals, and emergency services. Find out more about their good work at www.goodnewsbears.org Last year, in honor of Deacon Dave’s twenty-five years of sharing the gift of the holiday spirit with the community, the display was themed “Silver Bells of Christmas.” Guests walked through a huge chapel – complete with Christmas Crew members as the choir! – into a village reminiscent of Victorian times. Dad was in the living room guarding the tree and gifts, the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while Mom and Grandma enjoyed a cup of tea while keeping an eye of the family dog that kept trying to steal the cookies. An idyllic scene to remind us all that family is the heart of the holidays. This year’s theme will again feature over a quarter of a million lights and will be fun for the whole family. And as usual, each light is a prayer for peace. New this year are 50,000 LED lights. Approximately 25 volunteers work hard throughout the year to put on the display. They are from many faiths, and welcome guests of all faiths. Be sure to walk through to gain the total experience. The crew members love to share the spirit of the holidays, and are often on hand to answer any questions. Just look for anyone wearing a red “Casa del Pomba” ball cap or jacket. Deacon Dave opens his yard from the opening on December 5th until January 1st. The hours are 6 pm to 9:30 pm Sunday through Thursday, and from 6 pm until 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday. The gates may be closed during inclement weather, although every effort is made to leave the lights glowing. There is no admission charge. All the donations collected in the coin toss, ponds, and at the door are for Santa’s Secret Service, a program providing a visiting Santa, carolers, and gifts to area nursing homes, shelters, and hospitals. Visit www.casadelpomba.com for more information on the display, Santa’s Secret Service, and Deacon Dave’s family history. A big thank you to Terry’s Tree Service for trimming the trees in preparation for lighting; Unforgettable Memories for the opening night sound system; Good News Bears for serving refreshments; and the fantastic crew who makes it all happen. Be sure to make room in your busy holiday calendar for a visit to Casa del Pomba on Hillcrest Avenue in Livermore. Take East Avenue to Hillcrest, and then follow the glow! It’s worth the trip and sure to make your season bright. Besides, you never know when Santa Claus will show up! Check out the webcam at www.casadelpomba.com/webcam.htm and see the happy smiles on visitors. Come experience the “Cheer Factor”!
Location:
352 Hillcrest Ave, Livermore |
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A web site listing locations suggested homes with Christmas light
displays. |
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Live Manger Scene Live Manger Scene |
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All Christian Churches have special Christmas Eve services.
Those for which we have information are listed below.
Full list of Tri-Valley Churches, and web
links
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Christmas Scriptures The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. -- (Isaiah 9:2-7)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. -- (Luke 2:1-20)
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” -- (Matthew 1:18 to 2:18)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. -- (John 1:1-18)
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