The Loop / December 3, 2024
Catch Up with the Current series:
This Week’s Announcements:
BECOME // ADVENT IS HERE!
Kenny here. This past Sunday, we started our Advent series for 2024. If you’re new to Revolution, Advent is a special time for us: our services are more stripped-back, we use a more traditional liturgy… and we sing lots of Christmas songs! This is a special season for all Christians, and it is a great time for us to draw comfort from the traditions of our faith as we also intentionally practice waiting together. As we remember the patience of our ancestors in the faith, who awaited the arrival of a surprising Messiah 2000 years ago, we can also meditate on what we are still waiting for: the emergence of God’s Kingdom on this earth, and the return of our Savior, Jesus, who will lead us into the life and world we are designed for. We are excited to share this season with all of you. It’s my favorite time of year, and it will be wonderful to spend it with this community!
We also want to share some Advent devotional resources with you, if you would like to spend more focused time in reflection and prayer this year. There are two resources in particular we are highlighting: a downloadable daily devotional guide from The Bible for Normal People, and a book called Honest Advent by Scott Erickson. Both are sincere, plain-spoken, and encouraging tools for you to use, if you would like.
I also want to offer my time to you: if you would like to meet up to talk, to walk, to vent, to cry, to pray, to ask questions… just let me know. I would love to spend time with you, and you can reach me by email at kenny@revolutionannapolis.com, or by phone at 803.727.8500.
See you soon,
Kenny
BECOME // PRESENTS FOR THE GIVING TREE
It's time for the annual Giving Tree! Each Christmas season, we partner with our friends at Lighthouse Shelter here in Annapolis to provide Christmas gifts to children in our community. If you want to help, pick up an ornament from the Christmas tree we will have at church on Sunday, buy the gift written on the back, and bring it back with you on December 15! Our volunteers will load everything up and take it over to the Lighthouse after church. This is such a wonderful way to show everyone in our community that they are important and their hopes matter to their neighbors! Help us be a blessing to Annapolis!
BELONG // REVOLUTION WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Women’s Retreat! It was so wonderful to have so many of you there. For our next event on Friday, December 13th, we’ll meet at Sarah Kramer’s house from 6-9pm. Please sign up HERE to give us an idea of the headcount… that will help us let you know how many cookies to bring for the cookie exchange! These will be our dessert for the evening, next to the wonderful dinner Sarah is going to make for all of us. We’re also going to do a White Elephant ornament exchange! So please bring one for the occasion. Let Sarah, Maggie or Emily know if you have any questions–we hope to see you there!
BECOME // HOLIDAY SHOP @ MILLS-PAROLE
From December 16-19, Mills-Parole Elementary will be running a shop where students can purchase gifts for their families from a national vendor. This event is run by the school, and it serves as a school fundraiser… but it relies on volunteer support. If you would like to sign up for a shift, let Cathy Miller know!
BELONG // WANT TO GO TO THE BOAT PARADE?
Did you know we have a parade of boats covered in Christmas lights every December here in Annapolis? It’s one of the best Christmas events of the season, and Revolution is organizing a group to watch the lights together! If you are interested, you are welcome to meet early and hangout at Allison's home in Eastport (anytime between 4:30m-5:30pm), with appetizers and drinks provided. Feel free to bring your own dinner and thermos (for hot drinks!) if you’d like… and around 5:30, we will walk down toward the Eastport Bridge (about a mile away) to see the lights. There are closer parking options if you don’t want to walk that far! Reach out to Allison or Emily with any questions! We hope to see you there!
Sign up link: Outdoor Group: Eastport Holiday Boat Parade
BELONG // INTEREST SURVEY: WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A LOCAL GROUP ON KENT ISLAND?
David Pinkham is exploring interest in a new group for folks who live on the “other side” of the Bay Bridge. If that community includes you, please take a moment to fill out THIS SURVEY to let him know what kind of group would most interest you (or folks you know). We are grateful for David’s efforts to humbly expand our community in this direction… and your feedback makes all the difference!
BELIEVE // COFFEE, ANYONE?
Do you have questions? Doubts? Would you just like to talk through things with someone? Kenny is also always up for that, too! Just send him an email (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or text (803.727.8500).
BECOME // SUPPORTING REVOLUTION CHURCH
At Revolution, we believe that our church needs to be a witness to God’s bottomless love and an example of what it means to wrestle and grow with our faith together. Following Jesus isn’t easy! But even in our doubts, if we take the things we are struggling to believe and put them into practice together, we learn to ask better questions and live in ways that are more beneficial for others.
If you want to join us in this mission, you can be a part in a few different ways:
First, you can commit to presence: it is our sincere hope as a church that you find real purpose and meaning in being a part of our services and groups at Revolution. They exist for you! But have you ever thought about what you have to offer those gatherings in return? Your unique perspective, hopes, experiences, and struggles are part of the bigger story of our church. You have an important part to play here, and that part begins by making faithful presence a priority!
Second, you can commit to generosity: we want to imitate God’s generosity by looking for ways we can share what we have been given with others to bring hope, justice, and safety to our neighbors. One way you can practice that generosity is by supporting our ministry here at Revolution financially: we are a non-profit organization committed to maintaining a Christian ministry in Annapolis, forgiving the debts of our neighbors, and financially supporting both church plants and existing churches in our area. Your gifts help keep this commitment going! But we also want to make sure you know that giving is important no matter where you do it: find a non-profit, charity, or aid organization whose cause you support and make a plan to be faithful and generous towards them! God can do more with our resources than we can… and giving is one of the practical ways we put our trust in what He can do.
Third, you can commit to service: here at Revolution, we are in need of all sorts of volunteers to keep our ministry going. If you are available to help out on any of our Sunday morning teams, or with any of our groups or other outreach ministries during the week, we need you! This is a great way to contribute to the church… and to make new friends.
The city of Annapolis needs help, too! If you are able, make time in your week to participate in a routine act of service for our community. There are multiple food pantries we support, all of whom need help, as well as opportunities to work with kids in need of tutoring, care for unhoused residents in our city who need assistance, and serve as an advocate for a variety of justice-seeking non-profits working to make Annapolis a more equitable place to live. For help a place to serve, just talk with Kenny (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or our Community Engagement Lay Leader, Cathy Miller (cathygrowinghealthy@gmail.com).
BELONG // STAY IN THE LOOP ALL WEEK LONG!
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