Community Volunteers: Per the discussion at the Voters meeting, we’ll be updating our list of Advent’s members/friends volunteer work in the community. We’ll be gathering this information on-line (fill out the form here) or by having you fill in an information sheet located in the narthex. Examples of volunteer work include helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity, helping serve food at a soup kitchen, helping distribute food at CORA, etc. Please respond by Sunday, August 11.
Pastor Scott’s Heart Surgery was successful and he is recovering at home. He will be on medical leave through September 8, 2019. Gina will provide updates through the Caring Bridge website. Give thanks to God for His mercy endures forever. Please continue to hold Pastor Scott, Gina, and the family in your prayers.
In Pastor Scott’s absence, Advent Worship will be led by Pastor Greg Williamson on August 4, 11, 18, & 25. If pastoral assistance is needed during the week, please contact the Elders: John Cangelosi or John Stow.
Men of Advent’s Bible Study Retreat is scheduled for Nov. 1-3, 2019. We have currently reserved 10 rooms for 20 attendees at the Trinity Center in Salter Path, NC. We also encourage anyone to invite friends to join the retreat. The weather should be excellent on the Carolina coast this time of year! If you plan to attend or have any questions, please talk to Bill Ackerman, Dave Neely, or John Stow.
Readings for Sunday, August 4 (Prop. 13), 8th Sunday after Pentecost: For those who wish to prepare for Sunday’s lessons, please read Eccl. 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26, Psalm 100, Col. 3:1–11, Luke 12:13–21
Faith in Christ Is Rich toward God: To live for earthly things “is vanity and a striving after wind,” and work that is driven by such vanity “is an unhappy business” (Eccl. 1:13–14). The man who lives like that has nothing to show for “all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun … all his days are full of sorrow” (Eccl. 2:22–23). So, too, your “covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5), makes a god out of that which cannot give you life or happiness. For “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). But “Christ who is your life” (Col. 3:4), in giving you Himself, gives you all the wealth of heaven. Instead of striving to lay up treasures for yourself, be “rich toward God” in Him (Luke 12:21).