Opportunities for Outreach and Social Ministry
Advent's Community Connections Team is always seeking new and better ways to reach out to its members and the community. We invite new ideas and ways in which to do this. Our activities and outreach will, therefore, vary from time to time. Some of the activities that we routinely participate in are as follows. For more information about any of our outreach and social Ministries, please contact Community Connections chairperson at community@advent-lutheran.org or call the church office at 408-779-3551.
Quarterly Mission
The Quarterly Mission project was first introduced in 2002 as a way of encouraging members and friends of the Advent Community to get personally involved in supporting variety of special missions or ministries.
Community Table
At Advent since 2006, the Community Table in partnership with Martha’s Kitchen is a non profit interfaith project to feed the hungry in our community. A free hot meal is served every Tuesday at 5 P.M. at Advent Lutheran Church in the Berkland Fellowship Hall. All are welcome, no questions are asked and no judgments are made. If you would like to help, please contact the Community Connections Chairperson at community@advent-lutheran.org or call the church office at 408-779-3551.
The Lord's Table
Members of Advent volunteer to assist with this ecumenical service to the poor and homeless by helping to serve a meal at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gilroy on the third Sunday of every other month.
Friends Outside
Advent participates in the 'Love in Action' project through Friends Outside every Christmas Season. This annual project helps families of incarcerated persons by providing the children and spouse of those incarcerated a box of holiday food and a special gift for each member of the family. Members of Advent volunteer to "adopt" a family so they can share their many blessings. For more information about Friends Outside in Santa Clara County, log onto www.friendsoutsideinscc.org.
Fair Trade Coffee Project
The Fair Trade Coffee Project is a social action project through Lutheran World Relief to assist small scale coffee growers to obtain a fair price for their coffee, tea, and chocolate. A fair price for their products helps the small scale farmer earn a better income, obtain health care, education, care for the environment, and build a better future for their communities.
The coffee, tea, and cocoa are available for individuals to purchase for themselves or as gifts each Sunday following worship services. YOU can make a difference! For information on Fairly Traded items, please contact the Community Connections chairperson at community@advent-lutheran.org or call the church office at 408-779-3551.
Habitat for Humanity / Silicon Valley
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with the community to help very low-income families build and own affordable, decent housing in Santa Clara Valley. Their vision is the elimination of substandard living conditions in Santa Clara County. The heart and soul of Silicon Valley Habitat for Humanity is its volunteers. For more information about Silicon Valley Habitat for Humanity or to volunteer, log on to www.habitatsanjose.org or call 408-294-6464.
Sew Seeds
The Sew Seeds sewing group sews quilts to give for LWR, sews for the needs of the work of the congregation, sews for local ministries.The group sews the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday of every month, and occasionally on Saturdays. The group is open to anyone who is supportive of the mission of the group. Contact the church office for more information: 408-779-3551
Crop Walk
This is an annual community event to raise money for the Church World Services. Twenty five percent of the proceeds go to local charities such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Sacred Heart Community Service. The remainder of the funds is used for the many projects of the Church World Services.
Reach Out
'Reach Out' is a volunteer and offering of food ministry. Members of Advent donate the 'food of the month', which is given to the Ecumenical Community Food Pantry, located at the St. Catherine Parish in Morgan Hill.
Community Garden
Advent's Community Garden is located adjacent to the church and is available for those persons who love to garden, but do not have the space for a garden. This is an excellent opportunity to try out your 'green thumb'. Families that have participated have been able to share a sense of community, as well as share their bountiful harvest with Reach Out in Morgan Hill, St. Joseph's in Gliroy and, of course, with friends and family.
Lunch Box Ministry
A variety of non-perishable foods are packed into lunch bags. These specially packed lunches are available to anyone who might come into our church office requesting food.
Neighbors in Need
Advent allocates funds in the annual church budget for persons who come into the church office seeking assistance. Bag lunches, short-term hotel vouchers and gas vouchers are provided to those that need them. A gift of the New Testament and a community resource list is also distributed to them.
ELCA World Hunger Appeal
The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) commitment to supporting people who live with chronic hunger and poverty around the corner and around the world is carried out by ELCA World hunger through relief, development, education and advocacy. Their world hunger appeal has provided thirty years of caring and sharing around the globe.
For more information, log on to www.elca.org/hunger, write to: ELCA World Hunger Appeal, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, Illinois 60694 or cal: 1-800-638-3522.
Lutheran Social Services
Lutheran Social Services provide help, healing and hope to children, elderly and the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. For more information, log on to www.lsss.org.