GIFT will reconvene in the Fall of 2018. But feel free to familiarize yourself with with this FAQ, or download this brochure for more details.
In contrast to a traditional Sunday School, GIFT is a monthly event, for all ages, and includes a meal. At every monthly GIFT event, we meet together to share lunch and prayer, then participate in an opening activity to prepare our hearts and minds for the GIFT experience. A hands-on learning experience in small groups follows, during which we build relationships with each other and Christ. The groups then come together to share our learning experiences, to receive resources to apply in our daily lives, and to share each other’s prayer needs. We leave equipped to live as disciples of Jesus, ready to engage in service and mission to each other, Advent, and the world.
GIFT FAQ
GIFT meets once each month. Here's the schedule for 2018 - 2019:
It is likely we have a giant in our lives. This giant holds us captive, intimidating us with its taunts and chipping away at our joy. Before they gain a foothold in our hearts we need to remember that God has a plan for us. With God’s plan we live in victory and He silences our giants once and for all.
Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants
In Goliath Must Fall, Pastor Louie Giglio examines the story of David and Goliath to reveal how we must slay the giants of fear, rejection, complacency, anxiety, anger, and addiction in our lives. The six-session video study shows how the key to living free from our giants is not better slingshot accuracy but keeping our eyes on the one and only giant-slayer: Jesus. Put your hope in him, and watch Goliath fall.
Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and the founder of the Passion movement. Passion has gathered collegiate-aged young people at events across the U.S. and around the world, uniting them in worship, prayer and justice. Louie is an engaging pastor who reaches individuals of all ages using Bible lessons while sharing with us his own giants.
GIFT this year will be one hour in length. We will spend 25 minutes watching the DVD, 25 minutes discussing what Jesus is saying to us and 10 minutes learning how to apply this to our daily lives. Please feel free to bring your own packed lunch with you if you so choose to eat as we watch the DVD.
October 21, 2018, Dead But Still Deadly
November 18, 2018, Fear Must Fall
January 20, 2019, Rejection Must Fall
February 17, 2019, Comfort Must Fall
March 17, 2019, Anger Must Fall
May 19, 2019, Addiction Must Fall
- Grow in their relationship with God throughout the ‘whole’ of life
- Live as disciples of Jesus at home, at work, in the community, and throughout the world
- Develop an understanding of the Bible in the tradition of our Episcopalian faith
- Deepen our spiritual life and practices
- Engage in service and mission to the world
- Participate in the life and ministries of Advent
The GIFT intergenerational approach to faith formation is based upon a Biblical model. In Exodus, the people of Israel were instructed to teach their children about the reasons they celebrated the various festivals. GIFT at Advent focuses on the celebrations of the church to shed more light on why we celebrate, what we celebrate, and the way we celebrate. An intergenerational program also fulfills the promise we make as a church when we baptize a new member. At baptism, the Priest challenges the people with the following question: “Will you do everything in your power to assist this person in the promises they make today?” The people reply, “We will.” The best way to fulfill the baptismal promise is to join all of the generations together whenever and however we meet, whether we meet to worship, to enjoy fellowship, or to learn more about our faith and our God. Finally, studies show that formation is more effective when it is intergenerational. Children who have intergenerational experiences in the formation process are much more likely to continue to be part of the church as college students and adults. Everyone is welcome at GIFT, regardless whether they attend with family members or alone.
Call the church office at (440) 871-6685, or send a note through our contact form.
GIFT follows the 10:00 a.m. service, and begins at approximately 11:30 a.m. Each session is approximately 90 minutes long, including lunch.
Yes, so that the design teams in charge of the lunches know how many will attend.
You can register in any of the following ways: call the Advent office at (440) 871-6685, or sign up on one of the clipboards which circulate during Sunday services, or sign up on our contact form.
Please register no later than the Monday which precedes each GIFT session.
Yes. A different design team will host a lunch for each GIFT session; this will not be a pot luck lunch. The lunch will be free.
Yes. Please call the office at (440) 871-6685 to volunteer for one or more design teams.
The lunch will be served before the GIFT session begins.