2nd Annual Homecoming Event on September 11th!

This special Sunday event is the kick-off and celebration of a new season of Christian education and mission.  There will be various booths, games and international cuisine that will represent different ethnic and hometown traditions.  Invite your neighbor, relative and  friends to join in this celebration.  We look forward to seeing you there!

BIKE TO WORK DAY!

Wednesday, June 22nd is “Bike to Work Day.”  Advent will be one of the Westminster breakfast stations that will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Check it out at

www.36commutingsolutions.org

Evangelism Empowerment Team (EET) Lays out plans for 2011

Evangelism Empowerment Team (EET) – Planning Schedule for 2011

At it’s December 13th meeting the EET giggled, contemplated, and brain-stormed ideas for the upcoming years which would set the Evangelism focus for each month.  Below are the focusses. 

January - 

- “Get to Know You” month.  New question on Nametags each of 5 weeks.

• Week 1 – Jan. 2, 2011 – Home State
• Week 2 – Jan. 9, 2011 – Hobbies
• Week 3 – Jan. 16, 2011 – Pets
• Week 4 – Jan. 23, 2011 – Interesting fact that few people know about you
• Week 5 – Jan. 30, 2011 – Number of siblings

-  Possible “Unhanging of the Greens”

February -

- “Ask a Friend to Church” Month – To coincide with Valentine’s Day and Knowing God’s Love.  Activities

to be announced.

- Possible “Souper Bowl” Party with youth and Hunger Fund

- Possible Spaghetti Dinner – W/ Youth

March -

- Ash Wednesday Worship, March 9, 2011

- Lenten Soup Suppers and Worship March 16, 23, 30

- Possible Pancake Breakfast – MIM (Shrove – March 6?)

April -

- Lenten Soup Suppers and Worship April 6, 13

- Palm Sunday Worship April 17 w/ Processional around block

- Maundy Thursday Worship April 21

- Good Friday Worship April 22

- Easter Sunday Worship April 24

- Possible Easter Breakfast – Youth

- Possible Seder

May -

            – Intergenerational Celebration End of Sunday School Year Picnic (Poss. May 22)

            - Possible Bridge Blessing with other Churches (or June depending on when it’s done)

June -

            -Vacation Bible School June 19-24

            – VBS Celebration at Worship June 26

            - Possible Cross – Cultural Worship with Partner Congregations (or July)

July -

            – Outdoor Worship (Later in Month)

            – Possible Summertime Christmas Event

August -

            – Westminster Fair?

            – St. Bernie and Larry Celebrations

September -

            -Rally Sunday Homecoming Event September 11, 2011

October -

            – Run for the Cure – Oct. 2

            -Blessing of the Animals -  Feast of St. Francis – Oct. 9

            - National Boss Day – Oct. 16 (I added this one!)

            -Reformation Day – Oct. 30

November -

            – Joint Thanksgiving Worship (to be worked out with other Westminster Congregations)

            – Craft Fair

December -

            – Hanging of the Greens (on a Sunday?)

            – Caroling with Adventurers?

            – Christmas Eve Worship (Saturday)

            – Taize Worship

            – Children’s Program

Other focuses and ideas:

• Signage – 80th street, banners
• Publicity – Ads in papers, flyers
• Occasional skits in church about how to invite new folks
• Monthly Birthday celebrations at Coffee
• New member welcome and integration
• Sub-committee on welcoming guests and potential members
• NEED MONEY for 1 & 2

52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Practical Hospitality.

Come join the (Evangelism Empowerment Team) EET “book club” as we read through Randy Hammer’s “52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Practical Hospitality.” This little gem of a book suggests 52 different ways our congregation can be a welcoming community to the strangers among us. We hope to be fine-tuning many of the things we’re already doing, and finding some new ways to encourage our visitors to become new members of the family of Advent. The season of Advent is almost here – let’s see if the glow of the Advent candles can ignite a flame of faith in the hearts of our neighbors, so that all may know Christ’s love!

Ann Hibbs, EET reporter

EET – EVANGISM EMPOWERMENT TEAM

A HUGE thank-you to everyone who contributed to, and participated in, our First Annual Advent Homecoming/Rally Day/Community Fair event on Sept. 12. It was wonderful to see some familiar faces, and get acquainted with some new ones. Our beautiful new garden was the perfect setting, the weather cooperated, and the dunk tank got quite a workout! A special thanks to our Hmong brothers and sisters for lending us their praise band.

While you were eating that delicious burger or satisfying your sweet tooth at the bake sale, did you learn something new about the ministries of Advent? Did you hear the Holy Spirit whisper in your ear that YOUR God-given gifts would be a perfect fit for that group over there? We’re just getting started – watch your bulletin and future editions of the Advance for upcoming events that will help keep the momentum and energy of Rally Sunday alive and well, “So that ALL may know Christ’s love!”

Ann Hibbs,

EET reporter

Welcome to EET: Advent’s New Evangelism Committee

What is EET?

Clue one: It’s not what you do with food. Clue two: It’s not what you shriek when you find a mouse in the pantry.

EET stands for the Evangelism Empowerment Team. Like so many other aspects of Advent’s mission, our approach to taking the message of the Gospel outside the sanctuary walls is heading in a newly energized direction, In the coming weeks and months, the EET will be identifying and implementing projects and tools that will empower ALL of Advent’s current members to become confident spokespersons and advocates of our mission statement, “So that all may know Christ’s love!” Stay tuned to this space for progress reports and updates.

Alumni Event: We Need Your Help!

You all have a homework assignment! We’re planning an Advent alumni event, and need names, addresses, e-mail addresses, or other contact information. If you have kept in touch with inactive or former members of Advent, please share that information with Dyann in the church office at your earliest convenience.

Thanks to the EET Seed Team: Lyle Berge, Cindy Lindholm, Judy Warhola, Ann Hibbs, Tara Hoeg, Virginia Feighner and Judy Neve