Advent Events

Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve. Advent helps us prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. There are many activities planned at LUMC for the joy of the season:

  • December 2—The Hope and Joy of Christmas Children’s Christmas Pageant in Wesley Hall, 11 am. There will be an 8:30 service (Sanctuary) , ONE 11:00 a.m. service. No pre-school nursery or Children’s Church, children are encouraged to attend this service.
  • December 3—4, 10 am—7 pm Labyrinth Walk All—children, youth and adults— are invited to Walk the Labyrinth to usher in the beginning of the New Church Year and Advent Season. Find the joy and peace of Christ’s birth, centering your thoughts and prayers, as you journey to the center, and travel out again. Walk, reflect, pray and be blessed with spirit of Christmas.
  • December 5—5:45 pm Movie night, Nativity Story and The Star: Both Movies begin at 5:45 pm. Children meet in the KidsWay room, 4th/5th grade in BreakOut room for The Star. The Nativity Story is in MC005/007. Children will stay in KidsWay room until The Nativity Story has finished (about 15 minutes). Movie will be finished by 7:25 pm Adults: If you need to bring your supper to the movie, please plan to do so. The Wednesday night Supper Crew will have disposable plates, etc. available for you to fill your plates and bring to movie ($6); or you can “brown bag” your supper.
    Movie candy, popcorn and drinks will be available.
  • December 9—8:30 am traditional service in Sanctuary; 11am Sanctuary service— Chancel Choir Cantata, Gloria Deo Children’s Church will be canceled on December 9, we will still have all nurseries available as usual. ANew service will be held in Wesley Hall
    • 2 pm—Ladies Christmas Tea Ladies are invited to join in the Fellowship Hall.
  • December 11—12:10-12:40 pm Taizé Service Spend some time joyfully singing Taize songs, listening to scripture lessons, and praying. Service last 1/2 an hour.
  • December 12—4:15 pm Caroling @ Carolina Gardens See page 8 of December’s newsletter for details
    • 5:30 pm Happy Birthday Jesus Party, Wesley Hall:
  • December 16—Regular Sunday morning schedule
    •  5:30 pm Moravian Love Feast, Sanctuary (description at bottom of page)
  • December 18—6:30 pm Blue Christmas Service
  • December 23—Regular Sunday morning schedule
  • December 24—4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 pm Candlelight and Holy Communion Services

No services on Christmas Day nor New Year’s Day.

The Origins of the Love Feast

The first Love Feast was served in Germany on August 13, 1727, following the renewal of the     Moravian Church. The Love Feast, or Agape Meal, is a Christian fellowship meal recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry and expressing the koinonia (community, sharing, fellowship) enjoyed by the family of Christ. Although its origins in the early church are closely interconnected with the origins of the Lord’s Supper, the two services became quite distinct and should not be confused with each other.

The Love Feast is styled after the common meal partaken in love and fellowship by the early church as       described in the book of Acts:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts. 2:42

The Love Feast nourishes the soul, give us pause and inspire; and transport us to sacred realms and add beauty to our often complicated lives. John Wesley first experienced it among the Moravians in Savannah, Georgia. His diary notes: “After evening prayers, we joined with the Germans in one of their love–feasts. It was begun and ended with thanksgiving and prayer, and celebrated in so decent and solemn a manner as a Christian of the apostolic age would have allowed to be worthy of Christ.”

John Wesley instituted this service in the Methodist church after the Moravian pattern:

During the love feast a small meal of a bun and mug of coffee is served. “A simple, ritual meal where hymns are sung, special music shared, and scripture is read.” The Christmas Love Feast is made special with the addition of candles, lit at the end of the service as a reminder of the light of Christ’s love.