Advent Offerings

Advent Preaching Series

Long Awaited…

Advent is a time we anticipate the birth of a baby that would change the world. Today we know how long the season of Advent is ― four weeks. But that was not true for our ancestors. The prophets reassured our ancestors of God’s covenant, but they had no idea how long they would wait for this covenant to come to fruition. They were not given a timeline to follow. As our ancestors waited, they experienced unexpected events that caused an even longer wait. Join us during this Advent season for our Advent series, Long Awaited . . . We will start with the covenant promised to our ancestors, highlighting the unexpected twists and turns they experienced, before coming to a new covenant offered through the birth of Jesus.
 
During the series, we will parallel how the Church has responded to a pandemic, a Long Awaited return. Just like our ancestors, we were not given a timeline, and it has definitely been longer than expected. It has challenged us to re-envision church in our lives and in the world. And, we’re not there yet!
 
Worship with us Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
 
November 27 ‒ Long Awaited . . . Home
December 4 ‒ Long Awaited . . . Crash
December 11 ‒ Long Awaited . . . Recalculating
December 18 ‒ Long Awaited . . . Relocating

Advent Workshop

Sunday, December 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Dining Room
 
Join us Sunday, December 11 after worship for the Advent Workshop. We’ll be back in the Dining Room this year, visiting different craft tables to make holiday gifts and decorations. No registration required, just stop in!
 
We are looking for volunteers to help with leading crafts. If you’re interested, please email Erika Hagen, ewarkentien@yahoo.com.

Advent Vespers: A Time for Prayer and Reflection

Wednesday, November 30 | 7:00 p.m. | online (pre-recorded)
Wednesday, December 14 | 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 of Long Awaited… As our ancestors waited for God’s covenant to be fulfilled, they experienced unexpected events that caused an even longer wait. We know about “waiting.” The pandemic has lasted longer than we expected, and has challenged us to re-envision our lives in new ways.

The service on Wednesday, December 14, will conclude with cookies and tea in the Hearth Room.

First Cong Christmas Pageant

The Long Awaited…Don’t Stop Believin’
Sunday, December 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
 
A story as old as time. The familiar story of the arrival of the promised new King will be retold in a new light by the children and youth of First Cong during this year’s in-person Christmas Pageant.
 
“Good news! Good news! I bring good news. A baby has been born, I bring good news!”

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 (December 18) 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 Guides Available!

The Season of Waiting Devotional

Kate Bowler describes Advent as the “season of waiting…and waiting…and waiting…” In her four-week devotional guide for Advent, Bowler offers words of hope and remembrance amid our every day, and sometimes dark, world. A few paper copies of Kate Bowler’s 2022 Advent Devotional Guide, The Season of Waiting, are available on the bench inside the Lathrop entrance and on the table in the back of the Sanctuary or view a digital copy for no charge.

Share A Gift

During Advent, we will be collecting items to distribute to some of our partner organizations. We will collect diapers (any size), scarves, socks, hats, and gloves to share with families and individuals in need. Items can be placed under the tree in the Chapel when the building is open. These items will provide care, warmth, and love far beyond the walls of the Church.