Advent Offerings

Advent Preaching Series

The Inn: Sheltering the Holy

Each Advent, we try to reflect the concerns, emotions, and responses to what is happening in our community and the world. This year, it seemed appropriate to address how many of our Holy siblings struggle to find shelter, just as the Holy family did. Many of God’s children struggle to provide housing, food, and safety for their families. People have been furloughed or fired from jobs. Many of our immigrant siblings live in fear, rather than being welcomed and embraced. During this Advent season, what is the role of the church in providing hope, peace, joy, and love to ALL of God’s children?
 
Worship with us Sundays at 10:00 a.m. In person or online.
 
November 30 ‒ The Inn: Sheltering the Holy with Hope
December 7 ‒ The Inn: Sheltering the Holy with Peace
December 14 ‒ The Inn: Sheltering the Holy with Joy
December 21 ‒ The Inn: Sheltering the Holy with Love

Advent Workshop

Sunday, December 7 | 11:00 a.m. | Dining Room
 
Head on down to the Fellowship Room after Worship on December 7 for the Advent Workshop. All are welcome, along with all crafters, to share a warm home made lunch of mac and cheese or baked spaghetti (gluten-free options too), crisp green salad and fruit. After lunch, check out the crafting tables to create Advent gift to others.  No registration or payment is required.  This is an Advent gift from the boards of Education and Community Life, along with enthusiastic and clever members of the Congregation, led by crafter extraordinaire, Jenn Hackel.

Advent Vespers: A Time for Prayer and Reflection

Thursday, December 11 | 7:00 p.m. | Chapel
Thursday, December 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Chapel
 

Vespers is a quiet time of worship that includes scripture, prayer, music, and reflection in keeping with our Advent theme, The Inn: Sheltering the Holy. 

Participating in this service is a meaningful way to pause mid-week and focus on the meaning of Advent.

Homeless Persons' Memorial Service

Sunday, December 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Capitol Square (East Main and King St)
 

Houseless individuals, members of local faith communities and representatives from social service agencies as well as the general public will gather at 3:00 p.m. on December 21, the longest night of the year, to remember and honor people who died without shelter in Dane County and elsewhere this year.

At a time of year when many of us reflect on our blessings, prepare to celebrate holidays with family and friends, we are also called to remember and offer support to our brothers and sisters who are struggling, who may be vulnerable, who are cold, and hungry and sick. This Memorial Service is an opportunity to ensure that every life is celebrated and remembered, that no one’s death among us goes unnoticed.

Christmas Pageant

The Inn Crowd: Who’s In? Who’s Out?
Sunday, December 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
 
A story as old as time. The familiar story of the arrival of the promised new King produced and performed by the children and youth of First Cong.
 
“Good news! Good news! I bring good news. A baby has been born, I bring good news!”

Blue Christmas Gathering

Monday, December 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Chapel
 

We live in a world with personal and corporate pain. Recognizing “Blue
Christmas” gives space and time away from the hype of Christmas and an opportunity to experience a sacred presence amidst our lives, which are sometimes awkward, uncomfortable, and messy. The service is “come and go” where you can move to various “stations” in the Chapel for solitude and reflection from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Stations will include Remembrance Candles, Reflecting on Art, Communion, Scripture, Music. Cookies and quiet conversation around the fireplace will be offered in the Hearth Room throughout the hour.

What's In The Box?

A long-standing First Cong Advent tradition starts this Sunday! What’s In The Box? first kicked off the start of Advent in 2002 and has been going ever since. 
 
Each year, on the first Sunday of Advent, a gift box is presented to the children (and adults) of First Cong. A tree ornament representing God’s love is inside the box for each child. Following the anticipation and waiting Advent represents, the box will not opened till the last Sunday of the four-week Church holiday. 
 
Each week children learn clues and guess what object might represent God’s love. Previous What’s In The Box? objects have included flamingos, porcupines, pineapples, ladybugs, and even DNA! What symbol of God’s love is in the box this year?

Advent Devotional Packets

People in Uncertain Times

Advent devotional kits will be available. The devotional kit includes a small blue battery-powered candle, a pencil, a weekly devotional by Bread for the World, and a “reverse” Advent calendar. The reverse Advent calendar offers us the chance to do something tangible by collecting items to donate to a local pantry.