News and Events

Advent at the Advocate

Posted on by Lisa
Calendar for Advent and Christmas 
at the Advocate 
In these weeks of anticipation, contemplation, and celebration,
please join us in the Advocate Chapel and House

Candlelight Evening Prayer
Sundays at 5 PM
In addition to our regular Sunday morning Schedule, in Advent we will offer a candlelight evening prayer with poetry, incense and chants. Join us in the chapel for this restful, prayerful time.

Sundays, December 16 and 23 
Our regular Sunday schedule, with Holy Eucharist at 9 and 11
At 10:10AM we will have intergenerational puppet theater with Debbie Wuliger!
All followed by lunch.
Monday, December 16. 
The annual dinner with cookies and carols at the Community House (a residential facility for men experiencing homelessness).  The Advocate will provide the bbq and hush puppies. As you are able, please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
6 PM – 7 PM.
Sunday, December 22. The Advocate goes Christmas caroling.
All are welcome to gather in the Advocate House at 6PM for refreshments and rehearsal, then head out to the nearby neighborhood for about an hour of caroling, then return to the House for a hearty soup supper. 6 – 8 PM.
One Bread in Advent — For the Season of Advent, we will all share one bread in our communion. Rather than having a gluten free option for those who require it, we will all receive gluten free bread. Kerry Bullock-Ozkan bakes this bread. The ingredients are: coconut flour, tapioca starch, chia seed, olive oil, salt and water.
It won’t taste as sweet (please advise the children to be prepared), but it will hold a different kind of sweetness for us all.
As always, Christ is fully present in the bread and in the wine. Those who do not wish to receive the one, can receive the other. Those who do not wish to receive either, but would like a blessing (in which Christ is also present!), may fold their arms and receive a blessing.
Tuesday, December 24. Christmas Eve. Holy Eucharist with candles and carols. 4 PM. and 8 PM.
Wednesday, December 25. Christmas Day. Simple Eucharist with carols. 5 PM.
Sunday, December 29. The First Sunday After Christmas. Holy Eucharist with lessons and carols. 10 AM.Sunday, January 5. The Second Sunday After Christmas. 

Monday, January 6. The Burning of the Greens!As you are able, bring your greens from home — Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands — and we will burn them in the fire circle, while singing songs and staring in awe at the light coming into the darkness. And there will be cake!
6 PM.
All are welcome to all.

The Book of Common Prayer in November

Posted on by Lisa

For the month of November, The Advocate will be using the Book of Common Prayer in our worship at both the 9 AM and the 11 AM. An essential (as in “of the essence”) aspect of Episcopal and Anglican worship is our common prayer. And while there are increasing options approved for worship in the Episcopal Church, many of which we use at our 11 AM liturgy through the year, the vast majority of Episcopal churches worship with the Book of Common Prayer.

The Episcopal Church website describes the Book of Common Prayer as: a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. As Armentrout and Slocum note in their Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, that “Anglican liturgical piety has been rooted in the Prayer Book tradition since the publication of the first English Prayer Book in 1549.”

We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer. The prayer book, most recently revised in 1979, contains our liturgies, our prayers, our theological documents, and much, much more.

We use the Book of Common Prayer in our Sunday worship at the 9 AM each week.

The current Book of Common Prayer was approved in 1979 after more than a decade of discernment and trial rites. It replaced the previous BCP which had been in use since 1928. The 1979 BCP placed a greater emphasis on the Eucharist as the principle act of worship on Sundays, and also introduced options for the Eucharistic rites. These options have nuanced theological distinctions and histories.

There are 6 different Eucharistic Prayers in the Book of Common Prayer. Two are in the more traditional language, reminiscent of the language of the Kings James Bible and found in the the 1928 BCP. These are called Rite One. Four are in a language contemporary in the 1960s and 70s, capturing the beginnings of gender-inclusive language. These are called Rite Two. The Rite Two prayers also reflect a wider spectrum of theological influence. On All Saints Sunday, November 10 and November 24 we will use Rite Two prayers. On Sunday, November 17, we will use a Rite One setting. It will be, in some ways, archaic, penitential, gender-biased, and clergy-centric. In other ways it will be beautiful and nostalgic. Our hope is that it will offer an opportunity to reflect on the language of our liturgy and the language of our faith.

Come and visit The Advocate this month and see how the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer expresses and forms our faith.

Jobs posted at Farmer Foodshare and the IFC!

Posted on by Lisa

Farmer Foodshare is looking for an Executive Director. “Farmer Foodshare approaches hunger from both sides of the problem – small farmers struggling to stay in business, and disadvantaged populations who lack access to fresh and nutritious food. This is what makes them unique! Since 2009, Farmer Foodshare has fostered cross-sector partnerships to build a local food system in which all members of our community can have access to healthy, nutritious food, and those who labor in agriculture can make a viable living.”

See more about the Farmer Foodshare Executive Director job posting here!

Also, the InterFaith Council is seeking a Heavenly Groceries Food Ministry Coordinator. A terrific opportunity for someone who wants to work 15 hours a week for a very good agency. See flyer below.

Heavenly-Groceries-Coordinator-Job-Call-2019Download

Advocate Sweet 16 Celebration, Saturday, September 21

Posted on by Lisa


Join us Saturday, September 21, as we celebrate our 16th birthday. It’s a celebration in 6 parts!

1) 3 PM – 5 PM Visioning ahead. Come meet with our vicar and senior warden to begin a process of visioning for our future. As with so much of what we do, this will be the work of the people. And it will be what it will be because of who participates. So please come if you can!
2) 4:30 – 7:30 PM Fairy Hair and Face Paint and other kids activities. Sparkle Body Arts will provide fairy hair and face painting from 4:30 – 7:30. Only one person at a time, so we hope some folks will come early and others will be willing to wait and duck out during the talent show. 5:15 – 6:45PM. Once the Visioning gathering is over, around 5, we will also have bubbles and a costume photo booth during the cookout!
3) 5:15 – 6:45 ish. A cookout!. We will joined by the Dogwood Blossom Band as we gather for veggie burgers and beef burgers, with the the usual augmentations. Beverages provided. Please bring a side dish if you can. If you can help with the grilling, please contact “Paul B. Marvin” pmarvin64@gmail.com.
4) 7 ish til….  An Advocate Talent Show in the Chapel! 
If you want to participate in the 2nd Annual Advocate Talent Show OR display some art work, please email Erin Dangler erin@erindangler.com by Sept. 17th. Erin will send you a confirmation with all the details and getting participation information from you. Remember, Participation over Perfection! 
5) Campfire and S’mores. Here’s where we have dessert!
6) A pondside campout ! Those who wish can bring their tents and stay the night, then come to church in the morning.
Also…. Sunday at 10:50 we will dedicate our new Peace Pole!
     



The Way of Love

Posted on by Lisa

The Way of Love
is a way of life.

More than a program or curriculum, it is an intentional commitment to a set of practices. It’s a commitment to follow Jesus: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest.

During A Teachable Moment between the 9 AM and 11 AM liturgies this fall, all are welcome to engage in The Way of Love. Each week we will explore one of the themes offered by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

See the introduction and Bishop Curry’s invitation here.

Episcopal 101

Posted on by Lisa

Are you interested in learning more about the history, theology, liturgy, and structure of the Episcopal Church? If so, join us Sunday afternoons, September 8 – October 13, for “Episcopal 101,” a conversation-based introduction to the church. In each conversation we will be asking, “What difference does this make for us?”

Each week’s topic will be posted beforehand (see basic plan below). Any and all are welcome to join in any or all sessions.

Note: for these preparing for confirmation or reception in the Episcopal Church at the Bishop’s Visitation on Sunday, October 20, participation is expected.

Classes will generally be held1:15 – 2:30 PM at the Advocate.

If you are interested in being a part of the conversation, be in touch with the Vicar (Vicar@TheAdvocateChurch.org).

Episcopal 101, general plan:    
1) Jesus, Scripture and the early Church   
2) The Church in England and The Anglican Communion 
3) Anglican spirituality and The Book of Common Prayer  
4) Anglican Moral Theology
5) The Episcopal Church USA and how the Advocate fits in.

Eating Together Faithfully

Posted on by Lisa

This fall, Hannah Boning and Jimmy McKinnell will be facilitating a group through Eating Together Faithfully, a framework for conversation from Life Around the Table. There will be eight conversations around eight meals discussing what it means to eat with God’s intentions for all creation in mind. How does the way we eat together reflect who we think God is? What does it mean for food to be healthy and just? Participants should expect good food, good discussions, and some outside reading and preparation each week.

We hope to begin the first week of October. Contact Hannah (boningh@gmail.com) or Jimmy (jimmymckinnell@gmail.com) if you are interested or have questions!

September @TheAdvocate!

Posted on by Lisa

September 4 House Dinner returns to the Advocate House!

September 8 We will return to our Sunday morning schedule


September 11 A new Wednesday schedule begins
5:15 PM Contemplative Prayer (note the new time!)
6 PM Holy Eucharist (note the new time!
7 PM An evening of fellowship and conversation. This week, the Reader’s Roundtable will beet to discuss The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, by Louise Erdich. See more here.

September 15 Welcome, “Pounding” and blessing of the Johnson Service Corps cohort for 2019-2020

September 21 The Advocate’s Sweet Sixteen Party!
3 PM – 5 PM Kids activities to include face painting, fairy hair, giant bubbles, costumes and photos, while the adults gather to envision the future of the Advocate.
5 PM – 6ish Kids activities continue during cookout accompanied by music from The Dogwood Blossom Band
6 ish – 8ish Advocate Talent Show!!
8 PM -> Campfire and campout on the Advocate grounds

Also coming in September:
 Episcopal 101
The Way of Love
Eating Together Faithfully


Hymn Sing Cookout and Water Play Sunday July 7

Posted on by Lisa

On these hot summer days, with the news cycle and its images challenging our psyches and our souls, we need a place to get back to our center, our foundation, our strength. Join us this Sunday, July 7 at the Advocate for liturgy, sacrament and SONG!


9 AM   Holy Eucharist, Rite Two from the Book of Common Prayer, with hymns from the 1982 Hymnal, with Nancy Trueblood at the piano. During the sermon time we will sing the old chestnuts, the tried and true. If you have a hymn you want us to be sure to sing, let me know! (vicar@TheAdvocateChurch.org)


5 PM  Holy Eucharist from Enriching Our Worship with hymns and songs of Peace and Justice, led by Jesse DeConto (of Durham Beer and Hymns fame). 
[Note: the NC Jazz Ensemble cancelled for this Sunday, so the Jazz Mass was cancelled, too]

6:30 PM   Cookout (beef and veggie, burger and dogs, provided) and a Potluck Side Dish and Dessert. As you are able, please bring a dish to share. The baptismal pools and sprinkler will be set up for water play too!.

All are welcome, all are encouraged to come!