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

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 receive clues and a chance to guess what object might represent God’s love. 

Advent Vespers: A Time for Prayer and Reflection

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

Join us for Advent Vespers in the Iona Community tradition. Lead by those who recently made the pilgrimage to the Iona Abbey in Scotland, these services will reflect the community’s deep commitment to simplicity, inclusivity, and contemplative worship. Rooted in the ancient Christian practice of evening prayer, Iona Vespers blends Celtic spirituality, ecological awareness, and social justice themes with traditional liturgy.

A time of visiting will follow with cookies and tea in the Hearth Room.

Advent Theme Deep Dive

Sunday, December 14 | 11:10 a.m. | Chapel
 

If you would like to visit with others about the theme for our Advent series, the graphic used for our publicity, and how the series is impacting your understanding of “shelter” in this season, join us after Worship. Bring your refreshments along. We will finish by Noon.

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.

Christmas Eve Services

Family Service | 5:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
 
Come celebrate the birth of Jesus and Jesus’ action in the world. This is a shorted service ideal for families with young children.
 
Traditional Lessons and Carols Service | 9:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
 

Join in community for this candlelit service of scripture verses and carols telling the story of the promise of a Messiah and the birth of Jesus. The service will be in person and livestreamed via the Church YouTube Channel.

Advent Devotional Packets

People in Uncertain Times

The Advent devotional kits 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.

Digital Devotional