View this email in your browser What's Happening at Advent! Sunday, October 06, 2024 20th Sunday after Pentecost 10:00 AM - Worship with Holy Communion 11:40 AM - Women's Bible Study & Men's Discussion Group 12:30 PM - Blessing of the Animals LIVESTREAM BULLETIN We give thanks for those assisting with worship: Pastor - The Rev. Alex Stall, Jr.; Assisting Minister - Chris Haar; Altar Guild - Susan & George Toth; Greeter - Ismay Lovell; Usher - Rensford Lovell; Cantor - Chris Haar; Organist - Rhonda Rose; Videographer - Shane Gainer; Social Hour Host - Nancy Jairrels; Counters - David Falksen and Rensford Lovell. Women’s Bible Study and Men’s Scripture Discussion | Sunday, 11:40 AM. All women are invited to a discussion of Holy Wisdom, Sophia, in the classroom. Men may gather in the lounge with Pr. Alex for a discussion of next week’s readings. Bring your pets, your support animal, or any other special critter to the labyrinth for this time of prayer and thanksgiving - in person or via a photo, painting, or sketch. Week of September 30, 2024 In our gospel this past Sunday, Jesus tells the disciples “Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 8:40, NRSV). This coming Sunday, October 6, is World Communion Sunday, started in 1933 by Hugh Thomson Kerr who ministered in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA. It is not widely celebrated, but it should be! It is intended to promote unity and ecumenical cooperation. By focusing on the Lord’s Supper – celebrated by many denominations – we are reminded that in spite of differences in doctrine and traditions, we are all interconnected by the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From Jesus we take our name – Christian. World Communion Day hearkens us back to Mark 8:40. It is a reminder that we are part of the body of Christ on earth and that we are all one in Jesus – and we are called to be for one another!   I’m looking forward to our Blessing of the Animals this Sunday. I know a few folks who will be bringing their furry friends to church that day. We’ll gather on the labyrinth at 12:30 for the blessing. I hope you and your critters will be there – whether in person or by photo. We’ll be giving out “Rescue Our Pets” stickers for folks to use to provide first responders with emergency information and we will share information with participants about upcoming events here at Advent. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate with us, so come on out!   One more note – our Sunday mornings are starting to get BUSY. As our congregation does more and more stuff – team meetings, Bible studies, education, presentations, and community gatherings, we are beginning to see more and more overlap of activity. This is such a wonderful problem to have! I would ask that you please consider scheduling things for other days, if you can. Feel free to make use of Zoom, or even better, come to the church during the week – there’s no one here but staff a lot of the time during the week, and it feels really good to have people here doing the business of “being church!”   Grateful always, Pr. Alex Landscaping Team Meeting | Saturday, October 12, 10 AM. The team will meet to review design plans for the north lawn. Bring your ideas and drawings.  Council Meeting | Sunday, October 13. Advent leaders will meet in the Fellowship Hall following the Social Hour. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend. Talk to Pastor Alex or Council President Marianne Hawn if you have questions.   Garden Refresh for Fall | Saturday, October 19, 9 AM - noon. Come out and help prep our landscape for winter.   Advent Book Club | Saturday, October 19, 3 PM. You are invited to discuss Drew Gilpin Faust’s Necessary Trouble: Growing Up at Midcentury, a memoir of coming of age in a conservative Southern family in postwar America.  Recognizing Advent's Military Family | Sunday, November 10. During the Social Hour we would like to recognize our active duty and former military members. If you have a picture of yourself in uniform and would like to share it (it will be returned), please give it to Rick H. or place it in his mailbox. SYNOD & ELCA EVENTS Give to Lutheran Disaster Response Your gifts in support of Lutheran Disaster Response help our church provide immediate relief, such as water, clothing, gift cards, tarps and other needs. Hurricane Helene will also require a long-term response. Lutheran Disaster Response will provide support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, unmet needs, and emotional and spiritual care for those impacted by Hurricane Helene. GIVE NOW World Food Day For 50 years we have joined together as Lutherans to address the root causes of hunger and poverty through ELCA World Hunger. On Tuesday, October 15, a special online event will celebrate World Food Day and the 50th anniversary. Click the link below to learn more and register.                       LEARN MORE Presiding Bishop Eaton on Civic Engagement ELCA Conference of Bishops Emphasizes the Need to Speak the Truth "We, the members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speak with one voice to condemn the hateful, deceptive, violent speech that has too readily found a place in our national discourse. We lament the ways this language has led to hate-fueled action." READ FULL STATEMENT The Forgotten Luther Symposium October 25 & 26 Scripture gives us a dramatic and eloquent description of the tension between loyalty to gods of particular nations, ideologies, races, places, on the one hand, and loyalty to the one God of universal justice on the other. Yahweh holds a great council and summons the gods of injustice (the gods of blood and soil, country and color, family and race) to account. As the logo for this series proclaims from Psalm 82, the verdict is in: Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all nations belong to you. The Forgotten Luther Symposium will gather speakers like Amanda Tyler, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, and Rep. Jamie Raskin to discuss a Lutheran response to Christian nationalism on Friday, October 25, and Saturday, October 26, at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD. For more information or to register, click the link below. LEARN MORE & REGISTER Facebook Website Email Office Email Pastor Alex Support Our Ministry Copyright © 2024 Advent Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via completion of a Visitor's Card or our website. Our mailing address is: Advent Lutheran Church 2222 S. Arlington Ridge Road Arlington, Va 22202 Add us to your address book Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 11 am - 3 pm Phone - 703-521-7010