Churches mark beginning of Advent on Sunday

Season anticipates celebration of Christmas

By Rob Cullivan

The Gresham Outlook, Nov 28, 2009

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This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, the season of anticipation of the nativity of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25.

Churches throughout East County are marking Advent in various ways. Here’s how some of our local congregations are preparing for Christmas.

Powell Valley Covenant, 1335 S.E. 282nd Ave.

The church will begin the season with the lighting of the Advent wreath at its traditional service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, as well as at its LifeChurch service at 11:30 a.m.

The celebration continues at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, with a special “Advent Sing,” featuring special music and readings. The church will also present its seasonal play, “Honored Guest,” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.

Advent ends at 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 25, with the traditional Julotta Service. Children are welcome to come in their pajamas as they present the baby Jesus with a birthday cake, while the congregants enjoy Swedish pastries.

For more information, call 503-663-3013 or visit www.powellvalley.org.

United Methodist, Troutdale, 27324 S.E. Stark St., Troutdale

The public is invited to an Advent service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.

For more information, call 503-661-4520.

East Hill, 701 N. Main Ave.

Pastor Jason Albelo notes his church will be participating in a worldwide movement called the Advent Conspiracy (www.adventconspiracy.org) “which seeks to restore Christmas as a world-changing event, just as it was when Jesus entered our stories more than 2,000 years ago.

“As Americans, we spend $450 billion a year on Christmas presents we can’t remember, while people in third-world countries die because of a lack of clean water – a problem that could be solved worldwide for just $10 billion,” he says. “We're praying about how we might redirect some money that normally would have gone to the malls, and instead give to people in need around the block and around the world.”

Albelo notes the church will collect money for homeless students in the Gresham-Barlow School District, as well as funds to help build wells in Nigeria.

The church will also present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” the popular story by Barbara Robinson, a lighthearted comedy. Admission is free at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and at 9:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.

For more information, visit www.anewchristmas.com, www.easthill.org or call 503-661-4444.

Mountainview Christian Church, 1890

N.E. Cleveland Ave.

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