Join AST's Christmas Lights Appeal and tree lighting ceremony

Atlantic School of Theology community, friends, and neighbours are warmly invited to gather for a special time of remembrance and dedication at our annual Christmas Lights Appeal ceremony.

Join us to kick off the holiday season with a moving tradition that supports our students and honours cherished memories.

Event Details:

  • When: Thursday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m.

  • Where: Outside the AST Residence on the AST campus.

  • What: Christmas tree lighting ceremony, dedication of lights, carolling, hot cocoa, and holiday treats.

A Dedicated Tribute: Remembering Jim Reimer

We will assemble around a living tree, growing right on our campus grounds, that serves as a dedicated and permanent tribute to Jim Reimer, a beloved former facilities staff member who passed away in 2018.

Jim Reimer, who lived and served on the AST campus for many years, is deeply missed by the community. Terry Slaunwhite, Facilities Manager at Atlantic School of Theology, shared personal memories of his lifelong friend: “Jim loved fishing and boating... on weekends sometimes, we would launch our boats from the AST shoreline and go fishing for the day.”

This living tree ensures Jim Reimer's dedication to the school remains a visible, growing part of our campus heritage.

Honour a Loved One and Support Ministry Students

The annual Christmas Lights Appeal offers a tangible way to honour the memory of someone important to you. By sponsoring a light, your loved one's name will be symbolically illuminated by an actual light on the tree during the ceremony.

"So much of Christmas is about hope," shared Jennifer Hartmann, AST’s Manager of Philanthropy. "The reason we use light at Christmas is because the light was what guided the witnesses to Christ the night He was born."

Proceeds from the appeal go directly toward the AST Annual Fund. This fund is crucial for supporting our ministry students in several vital areas, including:

  • Student bursaries and financial aid

  • Library purchases and academic resources

  • Bringing in guest speakers and expanding programs

Hartmann notes that sponsoring a light provides two valuable outcomes: honouring someone close to you in a tangible way, and helping support students as they pursue a theological education that prioritizes inclusivity and community involvement.

How to Sponsor a Light and Important Deadline

You can easily participate and ensure your loved one's name is included in the dedication.

Light sponsorships start at just $10.

  1. Visit the AST Christmas Lights Appeal page on CanadaHelps or scroll down below. 

  2. Make your contribution.

  3. Choose your light colour and share the name of the person you are honouring or remembering.

Important Deadline:

If you sponsor a light before December 1, your dedication will be featured prominently in the tree lighting event program and listed on the website. Contributions received after December 1 will still be gratefully accepted and will appear on the website throughout the holiday season.

We look forward to sharing this moving celebration of memory, light, and hope with you!