As followers of our Lord Christ, Who is Friend and Companion, we, the people of the Advent are called to share with one another the joys and responsibilities of Christian fellowship through hospitality, celebration, learning, creative expression, play and service.
We gather in His Name—in large and small groups, in age specific settings and intergenerational extravaganzas, in the church and on the lawn, to break bread and to break ground.
Parish Life at the Advent is rich in opportunities to greet, gather, grow, and give. On a weekly basis or in once-a-year fashion, fun and fellowship opportunities for everyone abound. The annual Ministries Fair showcases this wide array of activities, offering newcomers and veterans alike a chance to pick and choose their way to becoming a more integral part of parish life at the Advent.
Hospitality is a spiritual gift, and the welcome is guaranteed to be warm at any and all Advent programs. Find a ministry that corresponds to your talent or family life, that sings to your soul or simply encourages you to sing out loud!
Approximately 200 youth represent our church on the
basketball courts each Saturday during the season and ECW circles, Fellowship
Groups, "Sorta Young" Advent Adults, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and
EpiscoPals meet regularly for programs and activities.
ECW circles, Fellowship Groups, the Solo ADVENTurers, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and EpiscoPals meet regularly for programs and activities.
Parishioners with specific interests find creative outlets through the Advent Artists Guild, a selection of Adult and Children’s Choirs, and the Advent Aprons kitchen ministry.
Food is a central theme in our vast and varied programs (Pancake Supper, Parish Picnic, Sunday brunches), thanks to Gail Owens’ haute church cuisine. If you are gifted in the kitchen or simply willing to pitch in as you learn, there’s always good company to make the load light. The Advent kitchen really gets cooking each summer as dozens of women preserve Spartanburg’s tastiest fruits and vegetables for sale at the annual ECW Bazaar. This fair, held each November, brings together parish and community in support of the Episcopal Church Women’s mission, routinely raising tens of thousands of dollars to support outreach.
Every other March, Advent parishioners journey to the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC for a “mountaintop experience”. Stimulating speakers, outdoor fun, and evening socials make this an ideal weekend for building bonds within our ever expanding parish family.
Kanuga - A huge success!
April 9 - 11, 2010 found almost to
200 of our Advent Parish Family at Kanuga for an enlightening and
restful weekend. Ron Robinson, chaplain at Wofford College, was the
guest speaker and facilitator. If you have not already seen the
wonderful banner and excellent pictures displayed in the Parish &
Community Life Center from the weekend, please make the effort to
stop by to see them. They will remain up until after our annual
Parish Picnic on May 23.
A
big thanks to the following folks who helped with the weekend and
represented our church so well: Leigh & Patrick O'Shields and
Evan & Bobby Hammett, co-chairs; Nancy & Ted Gage,
registration; Megan Rudolph, Chris Overarch, Reed Chewning, Laura
Myers, Joy Oates, Keenan Mullen, Stephanie Hall, Dede King, Mimi
Killoren, Tricia Liollio, Lindsay Lowry, Jennifer Cubitt, Nicole
Myers, Caroline James, Molly & Alan Duesterhaus, all the other
fun things!
First
Wednesday
Our
last First Wednesday supper until August will be Wednesday, May 5
beginning at 5:45pm. Everyone is invited! Please plan to come for fun
and fellowship and more of Gail's wonderful food. $5 per adult, $3
per child, $15 family max. Please call 504-3680 to make your
reservation.
EpiscoPals
Wednesday,
May 12 at 11:45am will be the last meeting of the year. The program
will be Katherine Jeter's presentation "Confronting Cancer and
Other Calamities - a Christian Approach." Advent members and
their guests who are 50 years or older are welcome. Please reserve
your $5 lunch by calling 504-3682.
Needlework
anyone?
If
you're interested in knitting, crocheting, embroidering,
cross-stitching, or needlepointing love gifts for the Advent Bazaar,
please come join the new IN
STITCHES
group! Any Adventer aged sixteen or more is welcome. We will be
meeting in the art room on first and third Thursdays from two to
five. If you are interested in learning one of these skills someone
will gladly teach you. Perhaps we will do other charity work after
the Bazaar. Our first meeting will be June 3.
Carolyn
Roberts and friends
Fellowship
Group
Our
regular 3rd Sunday night Fellowship group will meet on May 16th at
6:30pm at the home of Dolores and Walter Brice. Bring a covered dish
and bring your own beverage. Please call Dolores if you can come
(585-2356). Please call Donna Traywick (504-3692) if you have
questions about any of our Fellowship offerings.
"Sorta
Young" Adult Fellowship
Our
"sorta young" adult fellowship group will meet for the last time
this school year on Saturday evening, May 22 at 6:30pm at the home of
Allison Nease. Mark & Amy Byers will be co-hosts. Please bring
your favorite appetizer and the beverage of your choice and give Amy
a call at 582-8924 if you can come.
We gather in His Name—in large and small groups, in age specific settings and intergenerational extravaganzas, in the church and on the lawn, to break bread and to break ground.