What's Up at Advent at Arlington Church

Greetings!  
 
 
Christmas is a time for many things: friends, giving, love, hope, music, food, and joy.  It is also an important time of giving thanks (it is appropriate that with Thanksgiving we begin to prepare for Christmas) for God's Advent (coming) to us in Jesus.  And a central way that we give thanks to God is through our worship and by loving others.
 
At Advent Arlington we are doing both.  We have times of worship incorporating our children and special music planned for this Sunday and on Christmas Eve.  I also see many of our members and Growth Circles reaching out to those in need and offering concrete acts of support for families in this Christmas season.  How are you and your family going to thank God for coming in Christ Jesus this Christmas?  
 
May God's Love Grace You,
 

Pastor Don Kerns
Advent at Arlington Church
 

Parent's Night Out this Friday Night (5:30-9:00 pm)

Bring your kids to Advent at Arlington Church this Friday night.  It's a great deal for the whole family: 

- Parents get to go finish up Christmas shopping before it's too late or just have an evening to step away from the stress and relax.

- Children get to eat dinner, sing, play games, and watch a movie.  They will even have a visit from Santa!
- Cost is $7/child
- Open to the community
If you have helped out with Parents Night Out before Thank You!! If you can help with this one Dec 18th would be greatly appreciated.  We have the schedule worked out and will have everything needed for the kids who attend.  This is a great time at the church and it helps parents in the community get a much needed time out.   This will be the last Parent's Night Out we hold for several months as we start a Wednesday night children's program.  It is a good way to see how these types of programs work and how fun they are for the kids!  Give Kelly Henson a call @ 598-8774 if you can help.

Christmas Eve 2009 Arl

 

Arlington Planning Commission Meeting next Monday at 6:30 pm

Advent comes before the Arlington Planning Commission again this coming Monday evening (December 21st) at 6:30 pm.  I know it's a busy time of year, but the more supporters from the church that attend the better.  Last month our plan for a new driveway and parking lot were approved (Phase I).  This project is being bid on as we speak. On Monday we are presenting our plans for Phases II and III of our Master Plan (possible future construction of a children's education building and a multipurpose recreation/worship/fellowship building).  Your prayers are needed and your presence at the meeting is desired.

 

100 Year Anniversary squareChristmas Parade

Thank you to those who came out to the church the other week for the Arlington Christmas parade.  It was a lot of fun as we served up a lot of much welcomed hot chocolate, coffee, and apple cider on the church lawn.  The Christmas caroling was beautiful.

 
Special recognition goes to our own Frank and Betty Shepherd who served as this year's parade Grand Marshalls!
 
We also want to recognize our affiliated recreational youth football team, the Advent Arlington Rampage who were chosen for the Best Float award!
 
 

Wednesday Night Alive Comes to Arlington

Since Advent Church's inception 31 years ago, Advent has had a program for it's children.  At that time children met weekly in Dave and Linda Schieber's house.  Now, Wednesday Night Alive and its Youth Club remain one of the central components of Advent Church.

 

For those not familiar with Advent's program, it is very similar to having a one day a week Vacation Bible School experience with a dinner instead of "snack time."  Children are brought together weekly for an evening of Bible study, worship, family dinner time, and recreation.  Each week there is a theme which is brought out in decorations, meal activities, how the children dress-up, and at times in the Bible lesson.  For instance, we've had bad-hair day, backwards day, pajamas night, and NASCAR night as well as appropriate holiday themes.

 
Adult support (especially that of parents) is essential.  Just like VBS, this program requires a lot of work to make it go well.  It is really a family ministry not just a children's ministry.  Our goal is to mentor our children and help them grow into disciples of Jesus and this happens best as they find love, challenge, and support from adult disciples of Christ.
 
We are still working out the details of our program, but it will be modeled on that in Cordova.  We will have a 7-week Winter Semester beginning on January 27th and ending on March 10th (the week before Shelby County School System's Spring Break).
We will meet each Wednesday evening from 5:30-7:30 pm.  It will be for children from 1st-5th grades for now, but it will be expanded in the future.  Older children and teens are welcome to attend the program in Cordova or serve as assistants/helpers in our program.  Free childcare will be provided for the children of our volunteer workers. 
 
We hope to follow this up with a Fall Semester in Arlington. Our initial program will focus on the children already affiliated with our church.  In the future we will reach out to the community.
 
Volunteeers are needed in the following areas: set-up and decorating, meal preparation, servers, clean-up, teachers, assistant teachers, recreation leaders, crafts, music, and parking coordinators/greeters.
 
We will have a volunteer and parent meeting in mid-January.  Registration forms will be available soon.  Let Susan Morgan (290-5509) know if you and/or your children plan on participating.
 
Our Vision
We envision a church of committed disciples who cause God great joy by sharing His love with others as we have seen it in Jesus Christ.
Our Mission 
Exalt: Provide an environment in which members and visitors glorify God and celebrate their faith in Jesus Christ as we worship God together.
 
Equip: Create Biblically literate disciples that witness for Christ, win others to him, and follow Christ as Savior and Lord in their daily lives.
 
Embrace: Nurture a sincere atmosphere of prayer, care, and sharing as we remain closely united in spirit and encourage one another in the things of God.
 
Empower: Demonstrate the Gospel as ambassadors of Christ through acts of loving concern, compassion, mission, and service to members, the community, and beyond.
 
Evangelize: Bring people to faith in Jesus Christ and welcome them into our fellowship.
 
Excel: To do all we do in excellence so we might glorify God in our efforts.
 
 
Our focus is on Worship, Children's Ministries, and Adult Growth Circles