Announcements
Announcements
1. ANNUAL HANGING OF THE GREENS AND CHILI COOK-OFF- Later today it will be time to decorate the church for Christmas and find out who will be crowned this year’s chili champion. We will decorate from 4:00-5:30 pm, then gather in the Fellowship Hall for a potluck supper. All are welcome!
2. ADVENT BOOK STUDY- Join us on three Thursdays, starting December 4th at 10:00 am for this year’s Advent Book Study. In All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas, a group of diverse Wesleyan scholars will take you on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley’s means of grace. There is still time to join- books are available online through Amazon, Walmart, and Christianbook.com. If you signed up before the 9th, please stop in the church office to collect and pay for your book.
3. ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING- We are still need two more families to read scripture and light the Advent candle during worship service on 12/14, and Christmas Eve. The lighting ceremony is used to reflect on the season of waiting and preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ. The readings will be sent out in advance so we can answer any questions you may have. If you and your family would like to take part in this meaningful tradition, please sign up on the narthex bulletin board or contact the church office.
4. HOLIDAY HOPES TREE- This year we will again be supporting AIDCARES.ORG with our Holiday Hopes tree. AID’s goal is to empower people with physical, developmental, intellectual and mental health challenges to enjoy lives of dignity and purpose. Unwrapped gifts need to be returned to BFV by Sunday, December 7th. Please contact Kelly Tucek (630)337-7531 with any questions.
5. GREAT AGERS- Great Agers annual Christmas luncheon will be December 12, so circle the date on your calendars and pick up your invitation on the bulletin board in the narthex. We will be serving a complete meal and then enjoy holiday music by the Saddle Shoe Sisters, a Chicago retro girls group specializing in music from the 50's and 60's. All reservations must be in by December 10 so don't delay!
6. THE MEANING OF ADVENT- PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF CHRIST- Advent is the time of anticipating the arrival of the Christ child on Christmas morning. Each week of Advent, we will highlight the meaning of the Advent Wreath and its symbolism. The season of Advent is the beginning of the church year for Christians. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve. Meaning "arrival," Advent is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and his eventual return. The circular shape of the evergreen wreath epitomizes God himself, his endless mercy and eternity, which has no beginning or end. The green pine boughs signify hope in God and eternal life. We celebrate this holy season at Bethany or Fox Valley by lighting the symbolic candles of the Advent Wreath.
Next Week: Advent begins with the lighting of Candle of Hope.