Dinner Church Back for Advent

Promises Fulfilled? Promises Unimagined. Promises Kept!

There will be two Wednesday evening Advent Dinner Church services, December 6 and 13 at 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The meal will be served at 5:30 and while people are finishing up with their dinner, the service will begin at 5:55. Our time together will include table discussions, singing, a short Bible study and new this year, age appropriate activities at the table for children.

Our focus is on the Advent themes of how God’s promises are fulfilled, (un)imagined, and kept.

• Wednesday, December 6: Promises Fulfilled?
  Who exactly was John the Baptist? What was his role in preparing for Jesus? Was Jesus the fulfillment of a promise God made to Israel? Or do we wonder when John asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Luke 7.20) How do we handle situations when it is unclear whether promises will be fulfilled or not?
• Wednesday, December 13: Promises Unimagined. Promises Kept!
  John the Baptist’s parents were quite old. Were they even imagining that they might still have a son? Were Jesus’ parents ever imagining that Mary would get pregnant in some unbelievable way? Where have you experienced the promises of God in your own life in ways you never imagined?

Advent is a time of preparation, and it is a time when we see God’s love and grace unfolding in marvelous promises made and promises kept! Dinner Church is time well spent for Advent. Sign-up on the tear off sheet on the last page of this bulletin, the Gathering Place, or call the church office or email, info@stmattlutheran.org.

As a follow up to the discussions around the tables on Wednesdays, Pastor Mark will be leading a class on Sunday, December 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the Upper Room.