Merry Christmas to all!

Ritchie family: We are looking for continued meal support for the Ritchie family through mid-January. If you would like to help or want more information, go here or contact Carolyn Walker (carolyn.walker814@gmail.com.) Thank you for your help!

Christmas Services: Please join us for our Christmas Eve Candle Light Service on Dec 24 at 7:00 p.m., and for Christmas Day Service on Dec. 25 at 10:30 a.m. There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class on Christmas Day.

Missing Jacket: If anyone mistakenly took the wrong jacket home after church last Sunday, please return it to John Cangelosi. It is a black North Face fleece jacket.

Stewardship: Thank you to all of you that have submitted your Estimate of Giving cards.  As of December 18, we have received 29 cards with a total giving estimate of $144,180. Offering envelopes for 2017 are in your church mailbox.

Worship Leader Schedule: Mid-week services, Dec. 21, 24, and 25, Jan. 1 and 8 – Pastor McDaniels; Jan. 15 – Pastor Lineberger; Jan. 22 – Pastor Williamson.

Meal Support for the Ritchie family: Are you able to help provide a meal? Get more information and sign up here or contact Carolyn Walker (carolyn.walker814@gmail.com.) There are four people in the family and there are no food restrictions. Meals can be delivered to their apartment or to Advent. It would be great if we could supply them with a meal every other day or so for the month. Thank you for your help!

Mid-week Advent Service: Please join us on Wednesday, Dec. 21, for a light supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. This week’s service “From Heaven Above – The Gift of Life,” based on John 1:1-5, invigorates us with the message that we have been given a life of faith here on earth in Christ’s name and eternal life in heaven with him through his precious birth among us. We join with the people of God in celebrating the life of faith we have here on earth in Christ’s name and the life that awaits us in heaven with him through his birth among us.

Christmas Card to Your Advent Family: You are invited to bring or send a Christmas card from your family to your Advent family and post it on the bulletin board in the hallway. Extra pushpins are on the board for your convenience.

Worship Leader Schedule: Mid-week services, Dec. 21, 24, and 25, Jan. 1 and 8 – Pastor McDaniels; Jan. 15 – Pastor Lineberger; Jan. 22 – Pastor Williamson.

Inclement weather policy: The Pastor will confer with the President, the Chair of the Board of Worship, and an Elder to reach a decision about cancellation of a Worship service or other event. If the event is cancelled, the congregation will be informed by email no later than two hours before the event is scheduled to begin. The office manager will set up a phone tree to call all members who do not use email as soon as the decision is made and will notify local ABC and NBC stations. The announcement will also be posted on the Advent website and Facebook as soon as possible. If a service is not cancelled and someone feels unsafe driving, they are encouraged to stay home.

Call Committee: The call committee has gotten confirmation that the Congregational Profile and two nominations have been received at the SED office and the have begun working on compiling a list of names. As always, check our website for the latest information.

Mid-week Advent Service: Please join us on Wednesday, Dec. 7, for a light supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. This week’s service will be “From Heaven Above –The Gift of Love,” based on John 3:13-17. It looks at how the steadfast love of God is revealed in the gift of his Son and how we, as the redeemed people of God, have the privilege of sharing his love with others. We join with the people of God in welcoming the steadfast love of God revealed to us in his beloved Son.

Confirmation classes:Confirmation classes are being held on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour whenever Pastor McDaniels is leading worship. On other Sundays, homework will be assigned and regular Sunday School will be offered. If you have any questions, contact Carolyn Walker (Carolyn.walker814@gmail.com) or Pastor McDaniels (revjmcdaniels@aol.com).

Worship Leader Schedule: Dec. 4 – Pastor Lineberger, Dec. 11 – Vicar Moretz, Mid-week services, Dec. 18, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Jan. 1 – Pastor McDaniels

A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to everyone!

Call Committee: The call committee submitted the Congregational Profile and two nominations to the SED. We are now waiting for the list of names to be considered. This will take approximately six weeks. As always, check our website for the latest information.

Decorating for Advent and Christmas: Anyone interested in helping to decorate the church for Advent/Christmas is invited to meet at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 26.

Mid-week Advent Service: Please join us on Wednesday, Nov. 30, for a light supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. This week’s service will be “From Heaven Above – The Gift of Hope”, based on Matthew 12:15-21. It looks at how the people of Israel waited in hope for the promised Messiah and how we now wait in hope for his return on the Last Day.

Call Committee: The call committee will be submitting the Congregational Profile and two nominations to the SED. President Denninger and staff will review the CP in detail, review nominations from the congregation, and compare our profile with pastors’ self-evaluations, both nominated and on the Synod call list, to make sure priorities match. Based on this information, they will provide us with a list of names to be considered. This will take approximately six weeks. As always, check our website for the latest information.

Stewardship: Commitment Sunday is this Sunday, November 20. Bring your Estimate of Giving card for 2017. We’ll be placing them in the offering plate. Thank you for your faithful support of Advent’s ministry.

Confirmation classes There will be a short meeting after church on Nov. 20for parents and for students in 6^th grade or above interested in beginning confirmation studies. Older children or young adults interested in learning more about Lutheran doctrine are also welcome. Pastor McDaniels will lead the confirmation classes on the Sundays he is with us and will supplement “homework” for the remaining weeks. If you have any questions, contact Carolyn Walker (Carolyn.walker814@gmail.com) or Pastor McDaniels (revjmcdaniels@aol.com).

Thanksgiving Baskets: On Sunday, Nov. 20, Advent will assemble and deliver Thanksgiving Baskets to several families. Please select an item or items from the turkey display in the Narthex and bring it to church by Sunday, Nov. 20. Thrivent has allocated $250 for this event.

Decorating for Advent and Christmas: Anyone interested in helping to decorate the church for Advent/Christmas is invited to meet at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 26.

Need Host family: Advent will have two Christmas services this year since Christmas is on a Sunday – Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. and Christmas Day at 10:30 a.m. Pastor McDaniels and his wife Janis are requesting a place to stay overnight after the Christmas Eve service so that they do not have to drive back to Greensboro. Please consider hosting them especially if you live in the vicinity of our church. Contact Peggy (pjearnhardt@triad.rr.com) if you can help or have questions.

Call Committee: We are now accepting nominations from the congregation of pastors to add to our call list. The Nomination Form is available in the narthex and on our website and is due by Nov. 13. Forms should be returned to John Stow or any member of the call committee. The next congregational meeting will be after worship on November 13 (around noon.) We will be voting to approve the Congregational Profile at that time. As always, check our website for the latest information.

Stewardship: Join us this Sunday as we focus on our faith and God’s purpose for us as His stewards. Commitment Sunday will follow on November 20 when we will return our estimate of giving cards during the service. For the past several years, we have concentrated on whole-life stewardship with its center being our faith in God’s grace through Jesus. Our trust in Him and our thankfulness lead us to be good stewards of all He has provided.

Operation Christmas Child: Nov. 13 is the final day to bring home-packed shoebox gifts. Boxes will be blessed during worship. The third week in November is national collection week. Project organizers Carolyn Jones, Jennifer Simis, and Janice Wriedt thank you for your continued support for this annual outreach event.

Confirmation classes There will be a short meeting after church on Nov. 20for parents and for students in 6^th grade or above interested in beginning confirmation studies. Older children or young adults interested in learning more about Lutheran doctrine are also welcome. Pastor McDaniels will lead the confirmation classes on the Sundays he is with us and will supplement “homework” for the remaining weeks. If you have any questions, contact Carolyn Walker (Carolyn.walker814@gmail.com) or Pastor McDaniels (revjmcdaniels@aol.com).

Thanksgiving Baskets: On Sunday, Nov. 20, Advent will assemble and deliver Thanksgiving Baskets to several families. Please select an item or items from the turkey display in the Narthex and bring it to church by Sunday, Nov. 20. Thrivent has allocated $250 for this event.

Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2:00 a.m., Fall Back. The clocks are set one hour earlier.

Call Committee: We are now accepting nominations from the congregation of pastors to add to our call list. The Nomination Form is available in the narthex and on our website and are due by Nov. 13. Forms should be returned to John Stow or any member of the call committee. The next congregational meeting will be after worship on November 13 (around noon.) As always, check our website for the latest information.

Operation Christmas Child: It’s time to pack shoeboxes! Look for information, suggestion sheets, brochures, preprinted shoeboxes from Samaritan’s Purse, and a donations box in the Narthex. Dates to remember: Nov. 6 – Shoebox packing activity during the Sunday School hour; Nov. 13 – Final day to bring home-packed shoebox gifts. Boxes will be blessed during worship. The third week in November is national collection week. Project organizers Carolyn Jones, Jennifer Simis, and Janice Wriedt thank you for your continued support for this annual outreach event.

Honoring Our Veterans: Please help us update our list of Advent veterans so we can recognize and honor them on Nov. 13. You are invited to review and revise the list posted on the bulletin board across from the mailboxes. Consider adding names and service information about members of your family: spouse, parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. Questions? Contact Carolyn F. Jones cmfpjones@yahoo.com

Thanksgiving Baskets: On Sunday, Nov. 20, Advent will assemble and deliver Thanksgiving Baskets to several families. Please select an item or items from the turkey display in the Narthex and bring it to church by Sunday, Nov. 13. Thrivent has allocated $250 for this event.

Call Committee: The call committee met with Pastor Seaman, SED on Tuesday to review the draft of the Congregation Profile including input we’ve received on what we would like to see in our new Pastor. This document is close to being completed, but please continue to let us know your feedback. We will also begin accepting nominations from the congregation of pastors to add to our call list this Sunday, October 30. Forms will be available in the narthex. The next congregational meeting will be after worship on November 13 (around noon.) As always, check our website for the latest information.

Flood Relief: For details about SED Disaster Response and how you can help, visit: http://se.lcms.org/disaster. One of the ways to help immediately is to donate funds. There are several options:

1. Donate online at http://se.lcms.org/donate
2. Mail in your check to: Southeastern District, 6315 Grovedale Dr., Alexandria VA 22310
3. Give by credit card by calling the SED at 800-637-5723 (Mon-Fri 8 am – 4:30 pm)
4. Write a check to SED, note Disaster Relief, and drop it in the offering plate on Oct. 30. Please do NOT make checks for disaster relief payable to Advent. Any checks to Advent will go to our general missions income.

Operation Christmas Child: It’s time to pack shoeboxes! Look for information, suggestion sheets, brochures, preprinted shoeboxes from Samaritan’s Purse, and a donations box in the Narthex. We will try to keep you informed about items we have received and items needed. Jennifer Simis can tell you about how to donate money to purchase extra items for our Nov. 6 activity. Please do continue the tradition of packing gift boxes at home!

Dates to remember: Nov. 6 – Shoebox packing activity during the Sunday School hour; Nov. 13 – Final day to bring home-packed shoebox gifts. Boxes will be blessed during worship. The third week in November is national collection week.

Project organizers Carolyn Jones, Jennifer Simis, and Janice Wriedt thank you for your continued support for this annual outreach event.

Honoring Our Veterans: Please help us update our list of Advent veterans so we can recognize and honor them on Nov. 13. You are invited to review and revise the list posted on the bulletin board across from the mailboxes. Consider adding names and service information about members of your family: spouse, parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. Questions? Contact Carolyn F. Jones cmfpjones@yahoo.com

Come join us at Advent on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 5:15 pm for Praise and Pizza. It will be a time of praise music, prayer and Session 1 of a DVD based study “The Grace-Shaped Life” by Max Lucado. This study takes you on a journey to discover the depth of God’s grace – greater than you can imagine, more than you deserve, and all that you need. Max asks the deep questions: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? He says that “God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly.”

Following this, will be a time for pizza and fellowship. All are welcome! It’s Free! And it’s a great opportunity to bring someone who may not attend church, or who is searching for a better understanding of how their story is part of God’s. Praise music begins at 5:15. Please join us, and bring a friend!

Praise and Pizza, Saturday January 16, 2016, 5:15-7:00 p.m. – “Two of the scariest lies in our world right now”

What are two of the scariest lies in our world right now? What are the implications of those lies? And what is the truth?

Come join us at Advent Lutheran Church, 230 Erwin Road, Chapel Hill NC this Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 5:15 pm for our first Praise and Pizza of the New Year. It will be a time of Praise Music, prayer and a video by Francis Chan titled, “Two Scariest Lies in our World right now.” Following this will be a time for pizza and fellowship.

All are welcome! It’s Free! It’s a great opportunity for anyone searching for a better understanding of why Jesus had to come and die and what that means to their life, both today and for eternity and for Christians seeking an informal time of worship and fellowship. Praise Music begins at 5:15. Please join us, and bring a friend!