WORSHIP GOD.          FOLLOW JESUS.

                           SERVE OTHERS.             MAKE DISCIPLES

At Advent Lutheran Church we believe that we are called to show God's love to others.  That means that we are called to do God's Work with Our Hands.  Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  We have been given so many gifts from God, the greatest gift of all being Jesus Christ.  In thanksgiving we are called to show the love we have received from God to others, that all may know the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You do not have to be a member of Advent to join with us in doing ministry! 

Please take a look at the ministries below and if you want to come and join in, you are invited!

Eyeglass Recycling

In just about any dresser drawer, one can find a pair of eyeglasses that are no longer being used.  That same pair of eyeglasses can change another person's life!  The Social Concerns Team is sponsoring a Lions Recycle for Sight Program collection box.  The eyeglasses will be delivered to a Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength, and package the eyeglasses.  Most of them are distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.

If you have used eyeglasses you no longer need, you can donate them now.  The collection box is located on a table in the Narthex.  The Lions accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses, and plastic and metal frames. Children's glasses are especially needed.  If you have any questions, please contact Allan MacDonald or Jennifer Parker.

Lutheran Social Services has been providing food to families in need since 1927 and today is one of the largest single direct providers in Central Ohio.  Last year pantries served more than 2 million meals.  LSS strives to provide nutritious food in an atmosphere of kindness, dignity and respect.  We, at Advent, can help by collecting non-perishable goods and placing them in the LSS bin located in the Narthex.

LSS attributes their success to the assistance and support of dedicated volunteers.  Advent volunteers assist at the Champion Avenue Food Pantry on the third Saturday of the month stocking shelves and helping patrons shop.  Contact person is Elaine Cooper.

Pick a side…..we are not talking about the NFL teams.  Choose a side of the Sanctuary to sit on! We are literally split down the middle to see how much money and food we can donate to LSS Food Pantries.  HELP PUT A TACKLE ON HUNGER!

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MORE INFORMATION IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY! CLICK HERE

Contact Person, Pastor Aaron Layne

Advent is committed to make a difference in the world around us and to spend time outside the walls of our church.  We especially love to help people right here in the Columbus community, both spiritually and materially.  One of the ways we do this is with the Bed Brigade.  The Bed Brigade is a service ministry that started in Circleville and has grown to operate out of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grove City.  The need for beds is so great that other churches like Advent has partnered with St. John in this ministry.  This is a dedicated group of people who build beds from scratch and provide mattresses, linens, and pillows, as well as Bibles, prayer and hope.  There are two groups:  one group builds the beds and one group delivers beds.  All beds are single beds, which can easily fit in a van.  Plus, the time commitment for each group is only about 2-3 hours, which gives you plenty of time for other daily activities.  If you would like to see how a bed can uplift a family and help them get back on their feet or if you are interested in joining the Bed Brigade Team, contact Carl Lahman at (614) 329-8639 or carllahman@gmail.com.  

The mitten tree provides hats, gloves and mittens for students at Columbus Middle Schools,  Many of those students who walk to school are in need of warm accessories during the winter months.  All sizes and types of hats, gloves and mittens are appreciated.  Contact person is Jennifer Parker.

One of Advent’s ministries is a partnership with the Salvation Army, to serve the homeless and less fortunate in areas around Columbus.  Currently Advent has four teams that serves and delivers food, the second Sunday every other month.  Each team is responsible for only 4 Sundays a year.  Hours to prepare the food is 2:00-4:15 p.m.; delivery of food is 4:30-6:30 p.m.  Every meal, every cup of lemonade, every handshake, smile, and “God Bless You” makes a difference in someone’s life.  Contact person is Stacy Bolzenius.

Advent volunteers to staff a RED KETTLE for the Salvation Army each year.  This event has become one of our most popular and rewarding ministries.  Members sign up for one hour shifts to ring bells, sing carols or just greet people as they enter a local Kroger store at Christmas (actually Advent) time.  Others volunteer to an evening or two to count money at the Salvation Army headquarters in Columbus.  Contact person is Will Saunders.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

And not one of them is forgotten before God.

Luke 12:6

For the past 20 years, Advent has held a  "Blessing of the Animals" service on the first Sunday of October.  It is a special outdoor service of thanksgiving and prayer for the living treasures of God's good creation. All animals and their human companions are invited. In fact, two other Lutheran congregations and their pastors have recently joined us with their pets!

Our pets are the lucky ones.  As there continues to be a real need for cat and dog food assistance at the local LSS food pantries, we ask those attending the service, as well as members of the congregation, to bring a bag or can of cat or dog food.  Our donations are greatly appreciated. Contact person, Jennifer Parker. 

Each year, members of Advent sign up to bring so many bags of particular items that are typically used in connection with a Thanksgiving Dinner. For example, each bag contains: 3 cans of vegetables, a box of stuffing, box of cookies, 4 baking potatoes, 1 can of cranberry sauce, 2 containers of gravy and 2 cans of fruit. These bags are brought into Advent around Thanksgiving and then are transported  to LSS for distribution. Each bag is designed to feed a family of four. If a family is larger than 4 individuals, they receive an extra bag. Cash donations that are provided by the membership are used to buy additional bags containing the same items. Matching funds received from Thrivent provide butter and whole chickens which are also purchased to supplement the bags of groceries that are donated by the members of Advent. This enables the less fortunate to truly be thankful on Thanksgiving Day.  Contact person is Larry Seifert.  For a list of the items needed, please click here.

Isabel's Quilt Group for Lutheran World Relief convey a priceless message of love and commitment to people in desperate need.  Work on our quilts at the home of Jeni Lahman with people working together on this far reaching project.

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How you can help

1.    Contribute fabric for quilt squares

2.    Help cut squares into appropriate sizes

3.    Join others on designated dates to sew quilt squares together.

Contact Person, Jeni Lahman

This endeavor, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, is part of the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. Operation Christmas Child, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to share God’s love in a tangible way with needy children around the world.

How you can help:

1.  During the month of November, fill a shoebox with small gifts with the list provided, label your    

     box for a boy or a girl and bring it to the designated are in the Narthex 

2.  Contribute money to offset mailing costs.  Click here for more information

Contact Person, Allan MacDonald