25 October 2019 – Advent Announcements

Caring and Sharing the Warmth Coat Drive: NEW DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 3. The weather is changing, so this is a good time to review cold weather items in our closets and share with others in need. Please bring clean, gently-used coats, jackets, gloves, hats, and scarves AND/OR donate money to help purchase items needed and put them in the box in the narthex. We welcome both adult and children’s sizes. We will work with key contacts in schools to help identify recipients. A Thrivent Action Grant has been approved for this project. You can check out the project page here. Outreach contacts:  Carolyn Jones and Lydia Berrong.

Trunk or Treat: TOMORROW, October 26, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Check your email for a message from Pastor Scott with details.

Installation Service: The Rev. Dr. David H. Brooks will be installed as the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, 824 North Buchanan Blvd, Durham on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m. A reception will follow. Members of Advent, you are invited..

Daylight Savings Time ends November 3, 2018. Turn clocks back one hour when going to bed on next Saturday, November 2.

Save the Date: On Saturday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. there will be an outside yard clean-up to prepare the grounds for winter. Lunch will be served. See Paul Simis for more information.

Adult Bible Class Leaders: Oct. 27 – John Cangelosi, Nov. 3 – Joe Schradie, Nov. 10 – John Stow

Readings for Sunday, Oct. 27, Observation of Reformation Day: For those who wish to prepare for Sunday’s lessons, please read Rev. 14:6–7, Psalm 46, Rom. 3:19–28, John 8:31–36 or Matt. 11:12–19

The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace: “Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).