Sunday Worship
Worship at 10:15 am
Bible Readings for Worship
After a couple program years of the Narrative Lectionary, a Psummer of Psalms, and some other engaging opportunities, we are returning more fully to the Revised Common Lectionary. This set of Bible readings is used by many mainline Protestants and is similar to the Roman Catholic lectionary. We join the year of Luke (year C) in progress. The Gospel readings are paired with an Old Testament passage sharing the theme, and a Psalm response echoing that as well. Through this autumn, we'll also encounter New Testament readings from 1st & 2nd Timothy and 2nd Thessalonians. With the season Advent (starting Dec. 1), we begin a new church year and move to the year of Matthew (year A).

For a complete listing of the readings, visit https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Online Worship
You will find our worship services online on YouTube. Click here.
If you have prayer requests or announcements including birthdays to be shared in worship,please send them to Nick no later than 9:00 on Sunday morning at nick@theMCC.net

Mar. 29 – 5th Sunday in Lent
The new state protocol permits religious gatherings to continue as essential, so a small group of leaders will again be ready to lead worship for the rest of you to stay home and worship through your computers. ELW Service of the Word will frame our service. (It was previously scheduled to be A Heartland Liturgy with communion, but none of that seemed feasible or appropriate for this setting.) On this 5th Sunday in Lent, we'll hear a final Gospel story from Don Falkos, of grieving sisters, weeping Jesus, and the raising of dead Lazarus. We’ll also hear Ezekiel's vision of a valley of dry bones raised to life by God's rejuvenating and enlivening Spirit--very appropriate and essential words of good news for us and our world!
* If you have prayer requests to be shared in worship or announcements, including birthdays, that you would like spoken to the congregation, please send them to Nick no later than 9:00 on Sunday morning at nick@theMCC.net
* Here is the link for livestream of worship at 10:15. (It will be accessible after, but we invite you to set aside regular time on Sunday morning to be present in joining our voices, even distantly.) Here is the Advent bulletin, which includes readings, hymns, and all you need to follow along and participate in worship. It might help to print out the bulletin or have it ready on another device during worship.

Apr. 5 – Shared MCC Palm Sunday worship

Apr. 9 – Shared MCC Maundy Thursday worship

Apr. 10 – Shared MCC Good Friday services

Apr. 12 – Easter Sunday
Shared MCC early service
10:15 Festival worship, ELW setting 2

Read The Whole Bible in a Year: 2020
To see the outline for the whole year, you can click here.

Up-Down-Up-Down?
Your Advent Worship Team recently had conversation about our capabilities and how we engage worship. We want you to remember that we stand and sit in worship for both theological and human reasons, but that you are always welcome to join in body and spirit however is best for you. Please stand, sit, laugh, cry, reflect, and participate in whatever way you need within the worship service.

This reality is simply an extension of what we already recognize with children: that each of us engages worship in the way that is appropriate for us. For that reason, children’s activity tables are in the front of the worship space for children to be part of the assembly and meeting God not only with their ears and voices, but also with their creativity. There are also books and more to help active bodies stay part of the gathering. (And, of course, there’s staffed nursery care for age 5 and under when it’s most appropriate to have a break from worship!)

"What Does This Mean?"
Having marked the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation when Martin Luther nailed 95 points of discussion on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany on Oct. 31, 1517, we proceeded through a “back to basics” of Luther’s way of teaching the faith through his Small Catechism. You can open a copy (click here) with reflection questions that we printed in weekly bulletins of Advent Lutheran. You can also download an app here. (Luther would be all for it – he used the newest technology of his time and had posters printed to be hung in family homes.)

Advent Worship Services
10:15 am During the School Year
  9:30 am Summer Schedule
Weekly worship at Advent Lutheran is a vibrant experience, engaging our passions and concerns and faithful pondering, yet in a fairly casual setting with the sounds of children constantly bubbling around us. Our worship is enriched by a wide variety of volunteer musicians on piano, guitars, handchimes, congas, tambourine, flute, banjo, voice, and an occasional harmonica. Our beautiful and adaptable worship space in the Blessing Room is enhanced by designs from our Liturgical Arts Team.

Services at Advent generally follow the historic liturgy of the church, and Advent uses a wide variety of liturgies for worship:

• both new and “classic” settings from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, including the Spanish of setting 7

• Now the Feast and Celebration by Marty Haugen
  

• the Earthkeeping liturgy by Dakota Road
  

• the old favorite Chicago Folk Mass
  

• plus some of our own creations, like the African Song celebration (with drumming), a setting composed by our own Tom Hind, a Creation-oriented liturgy, one built around materials from the Iona Community, and more
  

Also about once a month, we share worship services with our partner congregation, Community of Hope UCC.  These services are typically a blend of styles and formats and may include Holy Week services, Lenten and summer outdoor midweek worship, festivals for Confirmation and celebrating Sunday School students, the “God’s Work. Our Hands” day of service, ecumenical occasions, and more.

Top Ten Things to Know About Advent
10. Advent is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

  9. Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope, a United Church in Christ
      congregation, are in a partnership called Madison Christian Community.

  8. A variety of worship settings are used and the congregation can sing in
      four part harmony.

  7. The use of inclusive language in worship is valued.

  6. Families with young children are welcome at worship and children
      may receive Holy Communion at an early age.

  5. Advent is a Reconciling in Christ congregation meaning we’re officially
      registered as openly welcoming for the LGBT community. We’re not only
     “officially registered,” though, we’re a place that people describe as the most
     welcoming and comfortable church they’ve ever known. More information
     about this at the top right of this page.

  4. A "culture of commitment" is fostered by the practice of renewing
      membership annually.

  3. People of Advent are not threatened by change and seek new ways
      of being faithful to God.

  2. Members of Advent are scattered throughout the greater Madison area

  1. Members of Advent are encouraged to identify their spiritual gifts
      and use them in service.

Mission Statement
We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with filial affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
Romans 12:5-6a, 9-13