2019 Advent Calendar: Come along as we wait together
We are looking forward to waiting for Christmas and walking towards Jesus during Advent with you. Here are some ways you can join the Restoration community during this season. All of these things are ‘friend-friendly’. Feel free to invite others to come along!
Advent Community Prep –
We would like a half dozen people to help us prepare the sanctuary each Saturday of Advent from 9:00 to Noon (that’s Nov. 30, Dec 7, 14, and 21, plus an opportunity to clean up on Jan. 11!). This is a great bring-a-friend and parent/child opportunity to make our space beautiful and smelling of pine… Sign up here! (pssst- even if all the slots are taken, you can still come. It’s that fun.)
The Guide to Prayer: For the last 2 years, Restoration has created a curated guide to prayer from the lectionary readings and Daily Office that is found in the ACNA Book of Common Prayer. We love following this together as a church. Each day you will have something to read from the Bible and prayer requests for things that are happening at Restoration. We use these guides individually, in small groups, at retreats, in leadership gatherings… they guide our prayer.
They are refreshed with everything we have developed for Good Things Grow Here and they will be available on the first Sunday of our new liturgical year, Dec. 1, 2019. Make sure you pick one up!
RestoMen will gather on Dec. 3 at 7:30- dinner followed by a conversation around this question: “How do we really connect with God?” You will get a chance to discuss around tables and listen to the ways men in our congregation have worked this out in their own lives. Take a break from the bustle, bring a friend, think with others about connecting to God.
Caroling at Sunrise Senior Living – Bring a Santa hat and your vocal chords to belt out some Christmas Carols on Sunday, Dec 15 right after the 5pm service (about 6:45pm) at Sunrise Senior Living, 2000 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22207. This is your one Restoration chance to sing carols during Advent. We love doing this each year. (And bring a friend!)
- Dec 12 Please return your tagged gift to Restoration by this date.
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Dec 14 We will partner with Glebe Elementary staff and volunteers to sort the gifts and prepare them for distribution on December 15. Sign up here to help out on Saturday. It’s a blast!
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Sign up here to bake cookies and to help bag them so that they can be given to families on December 15.
RestoWomen will hold a Christmas Gathering on December 17- good conversation, good food and stories from some of our work to wait in this season of advent – a spiritual discipline in itself. Hope you’ll come (and maybe bring a friend!).
Lessons and Carols – Celebrate a Christmas Eve Eucharist with us at 3:00, 5:00 and 9:00. This year, all 3 services will be the same. At the 3:00 and 5:00, we will provide a nursery for children under 3 and we invite all of the kids to come dressed as their favorite characters from the nativity story (Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 2: 1-12).
With so many people traveling and with such a large number of people visiting for Christmas Eve, we encourage you to be a volunteer for one or more of these services! It is a huge help if you worship at one service and serve at another! Thanks for considering it. Contact Kathy Kenyon to learn how you can be part of the Christmas Eve team.
Sunday, Dec 29 – We will celebrate the Eucharist once at 10:00 am. Because this falls within the twelve days of Christmas, we invite you to wear your silly Christmas sweater and come ready to sing your final Christmas carols with gusto!
We love this season. Come along with us as we wait together.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.
Bring your weariness. Find your hope. (and bring a friend!)
-David
