Sunday, November 30th is the beginning of the season of Advent – celebrated all around the world according to the liturgical church calendar.

Advent is a term that means “arrival” it is a a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the coming of Jesus. Each week we celebrate a different theme that connects us to the story of Jesus birth: Nov 30 Hope, Dec 7 Peace, Dec 17 Joy, Dec 21 Love and on Christmas Eve we will light the center Christ candle.

Advent has three invitations for us:

• remember the first arrival of Jesus as a baby,
• watch for the second arrival of Jesus Spirit in our midst every day,
• long for the third future arrival of Jesus when he returns to restore all things!

We have a few ways we invite you to engage in this meaningful season:

Devotional – For those who enjoy a daily reading devotional we built our Advent series around Shadow & Light by Tsh Oxenreider. You can buy a copy at the Connection table or any where books are sold. On Tsh’s website she has a playlist as well as some art that accompanies the book: Shadow and Light Website

Encounter Advent Experience –  5pm Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14 our weekly Encounter service will be focused on experiencing Advent in song, art, spiritual practices, and readings. If you long for more advent/Christmas songs as well as to dig deeper in this season plan to join us! Everyone is welcome to join even if they are not from Mill City Church.

Blue Christmas –  During the holiday season there is a lot of time devoted to what we can celebrate, but we often struggle to create spaces for the things we need to lament. This Blue Christmas service will be a reflective service devoted to those grappling with grief of any kind. It will be an evening of musical worship, Scripture, and readings held in the Sanctuary at Mill City Church. Everyone is welcome to join even if they are not from Mill City Church.

Serving Opportunities –

• Care Kits – Thursday December 18th join us to support Clare Housing, one of our partners who provides affordable housing, supportive services and compassionate care to domestic violence survivors and HIV positive individuals. We want to help give personal care items to their residents by packing ‘Care Bags’. Just show up. No sign up necessary.
• Children’s Books for Christmas – Access to Books for Children will be distributing children’s books in conjunction with The Salvation Army Toy Shop December 18-20. Volunteers are needed to assist families with picking out books and replenishing the books on the tables. You can also purchase books to be given out on this wish list: Kids Books Wish List

Christmas Eve Services – Wednesday, December 24th 1:30pm | 3:00pm | 4:30pm | 10pm (Carols and Candles)