2016 Reverse Advent Calendar

The Sardis REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR

The Reverse Advent Calendar 

Decorate your 2 boxes.

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Label the slots in each box #1 through #24.

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Each day in December, through the 24th, place the gift, listed on the corresponding date in this booklet, in the designated slot. (In selecting the size of item be aware that the slots measure 3 ½” X 3 ½”).

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Read the accompanying Bible passage, pray for the community service agency the gift will support, and give thanks to God for the priceless gift of our Savior, Jesus

Return your boxes and contents to Sardis by January 8, 2017.

1

Donate a pair of socks, for an adult, man and/or woman for Room-in-the-Inn (RITI).

Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Pray: Pray for the Room-in-the-Inn ministry that provides overnight shelter for homeless neighbors, a ministry coordinated by the Urban Ministry Center.

Sardis hosts 13 neighbors on Sunday and Wednesday nights, December through March.

2

Donate band aids for the Health Room at Rama Road Elementary School.

Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned.

Pray: Pray for the Planting Seeds of Hope ministry, a partnership between Sardis and Rama Road Elementary that provides support for the staff, teachers and students through volunteerism and financial gifts.

3

Donate a jar of spaghetti sauce for Loaves and Fishes.

Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be vast authority and endless peace for David's throne and for his kingdom, establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of heavenly forces will do this .

Pray: Pray for Loaves and Fishes, an agency that provides emergency food through 20

Donate a jar or dishwashing detergent for a Community Link Welcome Basket Today’s Scripture: John 1:1-2

4

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning.

Pray: Pray for Community Link, an agency that works with people who are moving from homeless shelters into homes. The Welcome Basket is a gift for a family that has “graduated” into permanent housing.

Donate pencils for students at Rama Road Elementary.

5

Today’s Scripture: John 1:3-5 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light .

Pray: Pray for the Planting Seeds of Hope Ministry.

Donate swim goggles for the Alexander Children’s Network (recreation in the facility pool is a favorite activity for the children at ACN).

6

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:26b-28 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David's house. The virgin's name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, "Rejoice, favored one!

The Lord is with you!"

Pray: Pray for Alexander Children’s Network, an agency that provides professional treatment to children with serious emotional and behavioral problems.

7

Donate a package of spaghetti noodles for Loaves and Fishes.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:30-32

The angel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father .

Pray: Pray for Loaves and Fishes.

8

Donate toothbrush(es) and small toothpaste for Room-in-the-Inn. Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:38-41

Then Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be with me just as you have said." Then the angel left her. Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah's home and greeted her cousin, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit .

Pray: Pray for Room-in-the-Inn neighbors and Sardis volunteers.

9

Donate container of hand sanitizer for Rama Road Elementary.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:42-45

With a loud voice Elizabeth blurted out, "God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her."

Pray: Pray for our Planting Seeds of Hope volunteers.

Buy or make a “Happy New Year” card(s) for patients in the Levine Children’s Hospital.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:46-48

10

Mary said, "With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my Savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored.”

Pray: Pray for staff, medical personnel and patients at this 234 bed pediatric hospital located on the campus of Carolina’s Medical Center.

Donate coloring book and crayons for children housed with their parent(s) at Elizabeth House.

11

Today’s Scripture: Luke1:49-50 “The mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God.”

Pray: Pray for Elizabeth House staff and clients. Elizabeth House is one 2 sites operated by Charlotte Family Housing that provides housing and support for families moving from homelessness to permanent housing.

Donate gloves/mittens for men and/or women homeless neighbors in Room-in-the-Inn. Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:51-52

12

“The Mighty One has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.”

Pray: Pray for our homeless neighbors and our RITI volunteers at Sardis.

13

Donate canned meat for Loaves and Fishes.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:54-55

“God has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham's descendants forever."

Pray: Pray for the hungry in our community.

14

Donate sponges for Community Link Welcome Baskets.

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn't want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly.

Pray: Pray for families who are celebrating Christmas, for the first time, in their own homes.

15

Donate disposable gloves for the Urban Ministry Soup Kitchen.

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 1:20-21

As Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Pray: Pray for the clients and volunteers at the Soup Kitchen operated by Urban Ministry. Soup and a sandwich are provided 365 days a year, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., no questions asked.

Donate underwear for women and/or boxers for men, all sizes are needed, for Room-in-the-Inn. Today’s Scripture: Matthew 1:22-24

16

Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel.(Emmanuel means "God with us.") When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife.

Pray: Pray for those who lack adequate clothing.

Donate paperback books for children at Elizabeth House.

17

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-4 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David's house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David's city, called Bethlehem, in Judea.

Pray: Pray for all children to develop a desire for learning.

Donate canned pasta (like “Spaghetti O’s) for Loaves and Fishes.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:5-7

18

Joseph went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Pray: Pray for the hungry in our community and for the staff at Loaves and Fishes.

19

Donate ChapStick/lip balm for our homeless neighbors who come to us through Room-in-the-Inn. Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:8-9

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord's angel stood before them, the Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

Pray: Pray for those with chapped lips and for those with chapped/broken spirits.

20

Donate Lysol wipes for Rama Road Elementary.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:10-12

The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you— wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger."

Pray: Pray for our Sardis tutors who volunteer with students at Rama Road.

21

Donate deodorant for our homeless neighbors who come to us through Room-in-the-Inn.

Today’s Scripture: Luke2:13-14 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors."

Pray: Pray for the Sardis volunteers who provide meals for our homeless neighbors.

Donate canned fruit for Loaves and Fishes.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:15-16 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go right now to Bethlehem and see what's happened. Let's confirm what the Lord has revealed to us." They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

22

Pray: Pray for the hungry in our community and the volunteers who support Loaves and Fishes.

Donate glue sticks for students at Rama Road Elementary School.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:17-18 When they saw this, the shepherds reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them/

23

Pray: Pray for the parents of students at Rama Road Elementary School.

Place pledge card in this last slot. Make a pledge of offering to be given at the Christmas Eve service to support Crisis Assistance Ministry. Make a pledge to volunteer to serve those in need in our community. Visit sardis.org ; in the menu banner, click on the “Serve” tab to examine all the ways to serve. Adults may contact Community Service Ministry chair for 2017, Dave Templeman, dgtempleman@carolina.rr.com to register to volunteer. Opportunities arise throughout the year for children and youth. To make sure elementary children and youth are on a list to be contacted about volunteer opportunities, youth may contact Adrian Martin by emailing adrian.martin@sardis.org; children may contact Katie Harrington by emailing katie.harrington@sardis.org.

24

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:19-20 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

Pray: Pray with thanksgiving for the priceless gift to us of Jesus Christ!

Join us at sardis for these events during this advent season

4 Lessons & Carols A gently-paced service.

3:00 p.m. in the Chapel

17 The Sound of Christmas Community Concert 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

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14

18

19

“The Grinches of Joyland” Christmas Musical & Dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Children’s Musical During 11:00 a.m. worship

Congregational Caroling Meet at Sardis at 4:00 p.m.

Service of Hope and Remembrance 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

College-Aged Christmas Gathering 6:30 p.m. at the home of Doug & Paula Banks dbanks@banks-law.net

Saturday, December 24 5:00 7:00 9:00 11:00

Sunday, December 25 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary

6100 Sardis Road | Charlotte, NC | 28270 704.366.1854 | www.sardis.org