29
30
1
2
Renew your commitment to worship. Attend worship all four Sundays of Advent. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 as a family. Pray night and day earnestly to restore whatever is lacking in your faith as Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians.
Renew your promise to serve. Remember what makes you excited and renew that passionate fire that calls you to action. Many members of the community receive free or reduced lunches, and have difficulty feeding their children during long school breaks. Learn more about Bags of Grace at st.lukes.org/advent.
Renew your Advent rituals. Visit st.lukes.org/advent for more ideas of advent traditions.
Renew your spirit for laughter. In your best Yoda voice try saying, “The Force is strong with this one!” Talk about what Force you have in you. How can you use that Force to bring joy to a friend who is alone through the holidays?
6
7
8
9
Refine your worship! Go to worship on this second Sunday of Advent. If you went to Traditional last week, try Contemporary. If you went to Contemporary, try Traditional. Where did you see God? Did this experience refine your anticipation of Christ’s coming?
Refine your Christmas shopping. Purchase an extra gift for a child in East Winter Garden for the annual Christmas Shop. Learn more about East Winter Garden at st.lukes.org/community
Refine how much time your family spends watching TV or using the computer or iPad. Use that free time to spend time with your loved ones, talk, pray, and be together. Give yourself the gift of togetherness.
Refine your schedule. It can be big or little, but remove something from your schedule. Remember what Yoda says, “Size matters not.” Like tiny baby Jesus, this small change could refine your life!
13
14
15
16
Rejoice in Worship! Take the Song of Joy in Zephaniah 3:14 to heart. Sing aloud in worship. Pick one song in worship and sing it over and over all day as you rejoice in the coming of our Lord!
Rejoice in your relationships! Do you have someone you haven’t seen in a long time? Is there a broken relationship in your family that needs mending? Make a call and repair the relationship. Let God rejoice in our healing.
Rejoice in music! Find a friend and start singing your favorite Christmas carol while standing at the post office or shopping in the grocery store. It could be contagious. Share the good news like the angels did!!
Rejoice with Yoda! In your best Yoda voice, practice saying this famous quote from him. “Rejoice for those around you who transform into the force.” Show how the force has transformed you! Do a random act of kindness for your next door neighbor.
20
21
22
23
Be a part of a revolution that changes the entire world! Go to worship! Read Mary’s Song of Praise, Luke 1:39-55. Think about how your soul magnifies the Lord!
Be a part of the revolution to tell others about the birth of Christ. In your best Yoda voice, “Do or do not…there is no try.” This could be the greatest gift you give this year!
Start a prayer revolution! Be quiet today. Christmas is almost here. Take time to pray for the poor who won’t have the kind of Christmas you will have. Ask others to spend quiet time in prayer for those in need.
Start an offering revolution! Bring your offering to benefit children in our community, our state, and our world. Small gifts can help so many when we all give. What if everyone gave one dollar more…
3 Renew the spirit of giving! Check your Christmas list and think of who would be blessed by a gift from the Global Fair Trade Market. The market will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6 in the Welcome Hall of Building C.
10 Refine your spirit of service! Schedule time to cook, bake, or serve a warm meal at the Coalition for the Homeless on Saturday, December 19. Sign up to serve at st.lukes.org/advent.
17 Rejoice! Unto us is born a Savior! Invite someone who doesn’t attend St. Luke’s to join you for Christmas services next week.
24 Be a revolution for God’s force! As you go to sleep, ask God to awaken the incarnation of Christ in you Christmas morning. Be changed! Welcome God’s force in your life in the birth of Jesus.
4 Renew the light in your life! The lights on your Christmas tree remind you that a special day is coming. Wait until it is dark outside, and turn out all the lights in the room except those on your Christmas tree. Do the lights look brighter? Ask God to let you bring the light of Christmas to someone who is going through dark times.
11 Refine your possessions. Each of us is blessed with more than we need. Collect clothes and toys that you can donate to those in need. Place items in the Goodwill Collection area at St. Luke’s across from Building A, beside the Fellowship Hall.
18 Rejoice in prayer! A new Habitat home has been completed! Join us at the Habitat Dedication on Saturday, December 19. Pray for this family as they have their first Christmas in their new home.
5 Renew yourself in prayer. Attend the St. Luke’s Christmas Concert! As you listen to the beautiful Christmas music and watch the holy family, pray that the feeling you have tonight in the sanctuary stays with you in the busyness of the next few weeks.
12 Refine your prayers. Schedule a time to pray. Make a list of ways to see hope and light around you and how you can bring light to the lives of others. Spend time thanking God for this time of preparation for the birth of Christ.
19 Rejoice in gratitude! Get a box and have each member of your family write something for which they are grateful. Put the slips of paper in the box, wrap this gift, and put it under the tree. Open your gratitude gift on Christmas morning!
25 Let the Revolution begin! Read Luke 2:1-20. Welcome baby Jesus! Today you are renewed! You are refined! You rejoice! Know that the revolution is alive in you! As Yoda says, “Always pass on what you have learned.” Share the good news!
Upcoming Events NOVEMBER 29 • Morning Worship: “Renew” • 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and Luke 21:34-36 • *Bags of Grace food lists are available in information racks and online at st.lukes.org/advent. • *Wish Tree tags are available in the Welcome Hall of Building C.
DECEMBER 5 • *St. Luke’s Christmas Concerts in the Sanctuary at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. TICKETS REQUIRED DUE TO LIMITED SEATING
DECEMBER 6 • Morning Worship: “Refine” • Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 3:2-6 • *Please return all food items for Bags of Grace TODAY. • *Please return all Wish Tree gifts and or make your donation TODAY. • *Global Fair Trade Market 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Building C • *St. Luke’s Christmas Concert in the Sanctuary at 5:00 p.m. TICKETS REQUIRED DUE TO LIMITED SEATING
DECEMBER 7 • *Bags of Grace sorting and delivery to schools.
DECEMBER 9 • *Holiday Blues Gathering with Pastor David Stephens in the Building C Special Events Dining Room from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. • Child Development Center Christmas Program at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
DECEMBER 12 • *Please return unwrapped gifts for the East Winter Garden Christmas Shop TODAY to Building C. • *Free Movie on the Lawn at 6:00 p.m. behind Building C. R.S.V.P. at st.lukes.org/movienight.
DECEMBER 13 • Morning Worship: “Rejoice” • Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Matthew 11:2-6
DECEMBER 19 • *Cook, bake and/or serve dinner at Coalition for the Homeless.
DECEMBER 20 • Morning Worship: “Revolution” • Micah 5:2-5a and Luke 1:39-55
DECEMBER 23 • Isaiah 12:2–6 and Luke 1:47–55 • *Preeve Worship at 6:00 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 8:30 p.m in the Sanctuary
DECEMBER 24 • Christmas Eve Worship Services • *Children’s Nativity Participation Pageant: 4:00 p.m. • *Candlelight Service Times: 5:30, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, & 11:15 p.m. (Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the service you plan to attend)
DECEMBER 25 • Merry Christmas – St. Luke’s Campus is closed December 25, 26 and 28. We wish you a safe and meaningful Christmas! *Detailed information available at st.lukes.org/advent
Advent Details Christmas Concerts December 5 and 6: Purchase tickets at st.lukes.org/ christmasconcert, in Building C between Sunday worship services, or at the Building C reception desk from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. Children under 3 are free if they will sit in a parent’s lap. Wish Tree Tags: Tags representing Orange County Public School children are available in the Sanctuary and in Building C. Please return your gift with the tag attached to Building C no later than Sunday, December 6. Holiday Bags of Grace: Families who benefit from free and reduced lunch during the school days have a tough time stretching their food budgets over long school breaks. Bags of Grace provides a family of four with enough food for four days. Food lists are available at st.lukes.org/advent. Please return food items no later than noon on Sunday, December 6. Volunteer on Sunday, December 6 and Monday, December 7 to sort and deliver food. Email serve@st.lukes.org for details. Global Fair Trade Market: We work with Ten Thousand Villages whose mission is to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term fair trading relationships. The Market will be setup from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6 in the Building C Welcome Hall. Please consider this option as you begin purchasing Christmas items for those on your list. Holiday Blues Gathering: Not everyone welcomes the holidays with joy. For those dealing with loss, sadness, grief, stress, loneliness, financial issues, and despair, the holidays can be a time of dread. Come join us for a time of fellowship on Wednesday, December 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Building C Special Events Dining Room. Call 407.876.4991 ext. *262 or email care@st.lukes.org to R.S.V.P. or for more information. East Winter Garden Christmas Shop: St. Luke’s has partnered with community organizations in East Winter Garden since 2013 to host a Christmas Shop created through toy donations. While children make their own gifts and play games, parents can shop for the gifts they want to give their kids at very low costs. Residents, volunteers from St. Luke’s, and community organizations come together in a fun, intergenerational holiday atmosphere. Funds received from the Christmas Shop go back into the Community Transformation budget and are used throughout the year for activities. Tags are available in the Welcome Hall of Building C. Please return gifts or make your donation by Saturday, December 12. Christmas Movie Night: Watch “The Santa Clause” at 6:00 p.m. on the lawn behind Building C. Enjoy complimentary hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate and s’mores. R.S.V.P. or sign up to serve at st.lukes.org/movienight. Coalition for the Homeless: St. Luke’s provides a special Christmas dinner at the Coalition for the Homeless. We need extra cooks, servers and bakers for this special meal on Saturday, December 19. Sign up to serve at st.lukes.org/advent. Christmas Preeve, Wednesday, December 23 in the Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Creative, Interactive Service for Families with the Children’s Choir 7:15 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Sanctuary Choir 8:30 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Contemporary Praise Team Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24 in the Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Children’s Nativity Pageant 5:30 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Contemporary Praise Team 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Contemporary Praise Team 8:30 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Sanctuary Choir 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship with the Sanctuary Choir 11:15 p.m. Candlelight Communion with the Mixed Ensemble
4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road Orlando, FL 32819 407.876.4991 www.st.lukes.org
2015 ADVENT CALENDAR