|
Celebrate Advent 2020 with Beneficent Church
Beneficent Church's 2020 celebration of Advent - the beginning of our Christian year - looks a little different. This year, our expressions of Christian love start by caring more for our neighbor's health than for our desire to celebrate "like we always do." So rather than try to create a calendar full of carefully orchestrated and restricted events which require lots of hand sanitizer, half-covered faces, and physical distance, we are opting to fling open the (virtual) doors and invite everyone to join us for this blessed Advent season! On this page, we've highlighted just a few of the ways you can join us and experience the joy of Advent - ways that are meaningful, rooted in the gospels, and full of the rich spirit that is our hallmark. You'll find even more in the "Advent with Beneficent Church" activities guide. We invite you to join us weekly for our virtual Sunday worship and stop by often throughout this time of preparation and anticipation, and witness the many miracles which take place along the way until, finally, we celebrate as a community the joyous birth of Jesus! |
 Click to download
Advent Activities Guide
The "Advent with Beneficent Church" activities guide is a great starting point. Use it to plan the events and activities you want to join, and mark your calendar! Click this image to download your copy!  Click to download
Daily Meditations Booklet
Beneficent's Senior Minister, Rev. Elizabeth Chandler Felts, has written a series of seasonal meditations to accompany us on this journey. Based in scripture and full of personal anecdotes, these daily readings will give you words to consider throughout the season. Click the image and download your copy today! |
Reverse Advent Calendar
Back by popular demand is the Advent calendar you fill up day by day instead of emptying! In light of the ongoing pandemic, instead of shopping for items to add to a shopping bag each day, we will (at a social distance) crowdfund to provide the tools needed by youth - especially LGBTQ+ youth - in our community who have no home to call their own.
This year, our gifts will support HYPE (Honoring Youth Power and Experience), a program of House of Hope, which provides transitional housing and support for youth - especially LGBTQIA+ youth - ages 13-24 who are experiencing homelessness. The items on our "wish list" range from toothbrushes and shampoo to socks and gloves to sleeping bags, tents, and grocery-store gift cards.
Each day starting November 29, visit our online Advent calendar and click the door for that day. Behind the door, read about that day’s featured item, then click on the link to make a donation to crowdfund for that day’s product. Recite the prayer of dedication written by one of our Deacons, and help us buy that item for our young neighbors through HYPE. And if we don’t reach the goal to buy a particular item, your donation will be sent directly to HYPE in support of their work.
Note that the minimum online donation for each item is $10; to make donations less than $10, please send a check to the Church Office. All donations of every size are important!
At the end of each week, we’ll share with you what’s been raised and let you know the impact of your generosity. Every donation can have a real and dramatic impact on our community.
During this busy season, we encourage you to pause for a moment each day and prayerfully consider how our lives are spiritually intertwined with all of God’s children.
Back by popular demand is the Advent calendar you fill up day by day instead of emptying! In light of the ongoing pandemic, instead of shopping for items to add to a shopping bag each day, we will (at a social distance) crowdfund to provide the tools needed by youth - especially LGBTQ+ youth - in our community who have no home to call their own.
This year, our gifts will support HYPE (Honoring Youth Power and Experience), a program of House of Hope, which provides transitional housing and support for youth - especially LGBTQIA+ youth - ages 13-24 who are experiencing homelessness. The items on our "wish list" range from toothbrushes and shampoo to socks and gloves to sleeping bags, tents, and grocery-store gift cards.
Each day starting November 29, visit our online Advent calendar and click the door for that day. Behind the door, read about that day’s featured item, then click on the link to make a donation to crowdfund for that day’s product. Recite the prayer of dedication written by one of our Deacons, and help us buy that item for our young neighbors through HYPE. And if we don’t reach the goal to buy a particular item, your donation will be sent directly to HYPE in support of their work.
Note that the minimum online donation for each item is $10; to make donations less than $10, please send a check to the Church Office. All donations of every size are important!
At the end of each week, we’ll share with you what’s been raised and let you know the impact of your generosity. Every donation can have a real and dramatic impact on our community.
During this busy season, we encourage you to pause for a moment each day and prayerfully consider how our lives are spiritually intertwined with all of God’s children.