YOUTH MINISTER:  Kevin Armstrong
Some of Advent's youth and their families enjoyed a meal, games, and lots of room to run around, during the Stewardship Dinner at 151 Stillman Road.

There are few bonds stronger than the bond between a father and his son.  Yet in today's busy world, there is little time to foster that bond.  Are you ready to do something about that?  How about some quality father / son time?  Camp Capers in Waring, TX is offering a Father and Son Retreat on Friday at 5pm through Sunday at 10am, February 11-13.  Sons age six to eighteen are invited to bring their dad or another male figure in their lives.  The weekend will be led by The Rev. Scott Brown and The Rev. Ripp Hardaway.  To get more information or to register, go to www.dwtx.org under special events or contact Brenda Johnson at (830)995-3966 or capers@hctc.net

New Food and Assistance Ministry Nears Take Off Advent's Food and Assistance Ministry is about ready to be launched. The committee that has been faithfully attending Monday evening meetings over the last several months has formulated a plan that should work beautifully if a critical mass of the congregation is supportive of this effort, and:

• Volunteers sign up for Pantry duty that will occur during weekdays.
• Parishioners are generous in their giving of food items and money.

This ministry will focus first on providing assistance to persons in need of food items. People who require food assistance often have other needs to address, and that is the second part of the ministry. Advent intake volunteers will interview each client, assess their needs, and make the appropriate referrals--in many cases, to Love INC. We will be using Classrooms A and B on Pantry days. Classroom B will always be used for food storage, while Classroom A will serve as the intake room and will still be available for Sunday School classes. Until the Advent Pantry is up and running for about 6 months, we will rely on parishioners to donate specified food items and purchase items from low-cost places such as Sams with monetary donations. After the Pantry is in existence for awhile and fulfills the necessary requirements, we intend to join the Lower Rio Grande Food Bank to take advantage of its incredible prices, stretching our purchasing dollars as much as possible. To participate in this new ministry, please consider your talent and your treasure. The Advent Pantry will need lots of both. Bob Robey, the committee chair, will speak about this effort during the Annual Parish Meeting at 9:30am on February 6.

Love in the Name of Christ
 The church doorstep is a frequent destination for people in desperate need.  But most churches cannot fully meet the needs of every homeless family, single mom, hungry child who asks them for help.  Or can they?  Love in the Name of Christ enables churches and ministries in a community to pool their resources and outreach services so that those in need are not turned away.  As churches show Christ's love to their neighbors, communities see exciting results:

• Families in need receive immediate and long-term help.
• Church members use their gifts and talents in hands-on ministry.
• Local churches come together, modeling the unity of the Body of Christ.
• Communities are transformed.

Imagine the difference churches can make by joining with other churches in their community to help those in need.  When the Body of Christ works together, the results can be miraculous.

The story of our own Love INC affiliate:

The challenge:  Christian leaders in Brownsville realized that though their community had many churches, few were working together.  Some people in need received help, but others simply cycled from church to church.  Few lives improved enough to actually break through poverty.

The solution:  Christian leaders in Brownsville founded Love INC based on a simple strategy.  Bring community churches together across denominational lines and inventory their collective resources, ministries, and talents of the people in the congregation.  Next, match those resources with people in need.  Then, train church members to walk alongside people in need through a network of relationships and supportive services that together transform lives.

The Love INC Model:  Every Love INC affiliate is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, managed by an executive director and governed by a board of directors.  The Clearinghouse is the foundation of all Love INC affiliates and includes the following steps:

1.  Receive requests for help.  Requests are received either directly from a person in need or a person in need is referred to the local Love INC office by a network church of local agency.

2.  Assess the need.  Specially trained Love INC volunteers or staff screen the request for extent of need and the legitimacy, and discover any deeper issues fueling the crisis.

3.  Provide help.  The request is referred to the most appropriate Love INC partner church, agency, or faith-based organization.  Staff or volunteers swing into action, providing whatever resources or outreach programs are appropriate to address the needs.

4.  Follow up.  The Love INC office reviews the outcome.  Was the immediate need met?  Is there a core issue that requires longer-term attention?  The follow-up also provides an opportunity for the recipient to become connected to a church if he or she desires.

For more than 33 years, Love INC has been mobilizing the Church to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ.  Love INC currently has more than 150 affiliates in 30 states, representing a network of over 9,000 churches, 7,000 community-based organizations, and over 180,000 volunteers serving more than 1 million people in need every year.

For additional information contact Bob Robey, our Church Ministry Coordinator for Love INC, at 459-5333.

VOLUNTEER and OUTREACH

Rector's Discretionary Fund: Described in Title III, Canon 14, of the Canons of the Episcopal Church, it is an account of Church of the Advent, administered by the Rector for "such pious and charitable uses as shall by him be thought fit."  It is a fund that addresses urgent needs among our congregation and community members.  The loose offering on the first Sunday of each month is designated for this fund.  The only other monies that go into this fund for the poor are from parishioners who wish to write a check to Church of the Advent with memo to Rector's Discretionary Fund.  We are experiencing critical requests for assistance, as well as food, from people in need who come to our church door.  The Rector's Discretionary Fund is being depleted.  Rest assured that each request is screened for legitimacy personally by Father Reese.  If you can help, it would be very much appreciated.

Cleaning for a Reason:  If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment.  All she has to do is sign up on www.cleaningforareason.org and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment.  Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.  This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women.  It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there who care.  Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.

Growing Faith by the Cabinful:  helps raise money for scholarships to send children from the Good Samaritan Community Services neighborhood to Camp Capers.  Last year we helped the diocese raise $19,000, which sent 114 children to camp.  Our gifts not only enabled children to attend, but our generosity also provided them with new bedding, towels, toiletries, shoes and clothes--items they took home to their family and clothes that helped them start the new school year.  The children grew in so many ways and ALL said they could not wait to go back again.  This year, we are continuing this effort with the goal that every Good Samaritan child who wants to, will get the chance to attend Camp Capers.  We are hoping that our church will sponsor one child, covering the cost of camp ($360) and providing that child with a Bible blessed by our congregation.  There is a donation box and posters in the Parish Hall if you would like to contribute.  Camp Capers is such a wonderful gift to a child--helping them grow in immeasurable ways.  With your help Good Samaritan children, as with all our children, are growing friendships, growing courage and leadership and most importantly growing their faith.

Advent's Lenten Blood Drive:  Are you looking for a way to make the Lenten season more special? Have you sometimes given up such things as desserts or soft drinks? How about a sacrifice that will be meaningful to you and beneficial to someone else? On March 27, 2011, the Third Sunday in Lent, Church of the Advent will once again host a Lenten Blood Drive. Perhaps you will consider donating a pint of blood. The blood mobile will be parked outside the church on that day, and you will have opportunities to make an appointment at your convenience--perhaps before or after the service that you attend. Just think what a wonderful gift that would be and how good you would feel about it. More details will follow as the date approaches.

ADVENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY

 The 151 Stillman Road property, particularly the prayer garden and area around Stewart Chapel, is very much in need of volunteer individuals and families to primarily weed and prune on the weekends.  If you would like to take a turn on a rotating basis, please call Sharon Putegnat at 541-6422.

UPCYCLE WAY 

On Sunday, January 30th, parishioners enjoyed a presentation by Gabriela Conner, who, through her company Upcycle Way, designs and makes purses, shopping bags, belts, jewelry,  and many other items, all out of discarded materials.  Looking at all her creations, no one would dream that they would be made from things like pull-tabs, plastic bags, etc.  The creative energy of her stylish design talent and beautiful handwork transforms disposables into desirables.  These products are Conner's way of raising awareness of the value still present in items we habitually throw away.  Profits from Upcycle Way sales go to educational programs for children and to a temporary flooring program set up to improve living conditions of people who have only dirt floors in their homes.  Thank you to Gabby and Sharon Putegnat for organizing this worthwhile and creative event!