advent church - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-28T21:47:13Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/advent+churchFinding Faith: The best gifts come with treasured memorieshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/finding-faith-the-best-gifts-come-with-treasured-memories2022-11-29T21:05:57.000Z2022-11-29T21:05:57.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p>We asked some of our friends in the religious community to tell us about their most memorable Christmas or Hanukkah gifts. Here are their touching, thoughtful reflections.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">A grateful recipient</span><br /> The Christmas season brings with it the spirit of reflection and joyful anticipation for the year to come. For me, the season is a reminder of the art of being a grateful receiver. <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894813867,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894813867,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="107" alt="10894813867?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>In 2020, in the middle of COVID, my family got the news that my dad had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. One of the silver linings of COVID and the normalization of virtual learning was I had opportunities to fly back and forth to my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, to spend time with my family. <br /> During one of my visits, my dad and I were going through his closet, cleaning, sorting things, and mostly just talking. Out of one of his drawers, he pulled out a pair of thick, wool, dog print tube socks. “You need these, Genevieve. You love dogs!” <br /> My first reaction was to remind him how incredibly hot it is in South Florida, and how I wouldn’t be able to wear them. <br /> After a long pause, he said, “Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to wear them where I am going either. Just accept the gift, Genevieve, you can always throw them away later.” <br /> These socks represent a defining moment in my life. They help me remember that over the course of life, you will be likely to find yourself being offered a meaningful gift. It could be a tangible item, or someone’s time, their money, their advice, their help. Dad’s dog socks help me remember how incredibly precious this act of giving is — that this person cares for you, loves you, and wants to support you so much that they offer up a little piece of themselves. <br /> Every gift that comes from the heart has the ability to strengthen a relationship. Accept the gifts you’re offered, graciously and with thanks. You may not realize how meaningful they are until later.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Genevieve Hoppe, head of school, Unity School of Delray Beach</em></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818095,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818095,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="103" alt="10894818095?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>A symbolic acorn</span><br /> As a pastor for nearly 36 years, I have experienced generosity beyond anything I deserve — from a Starbucks gift card to an all-expense-paid trip to Israel with my wife. Yet, the singular gift that quickens my heart and draws tears of gratitude each Christmas was given in June of 2012, when I said goodbye to a congregation in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that I had loved for over 12 years to accept a new ministry in Delray Beach. <br /> One of my dearest friends in that church presented me with a tiny box wrapped with clumsy 75-year-old fingers. Over the last 12 years, we had buried his wife, shared more lunches than I can count, spent hours together driving scenic roads and took a day trip to New York City marked by continuous laughter. <br /> Inside, I found a gold acorn Christmas ornament. He said that 12 years ago when I became his pastor, I was then only an acorn in his life. But in that time, our relationship has grown into a mighty oak tree. <br /> Some months ago, Bill moved his church membership to the church triumphant and he will celebrate his first Christmas with his Lord in heaven this year. That simple gold ornament hangs on my Christmas tree and each time I see that small acorn, I’m filled with gratitude for the gifts of friendship and love we shared.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Doug Hood, senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach</em></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818480,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818480,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="109" alt="10894818480?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a><span style="font-size:14pt;">Grandson changed me</span><br /> Some people say, “I don’t really care about gifts, I have everything I want.” <br /> I envy them because I care about gifts and still seem to want things. As a Christian pastor I preach annually that “Jesus is the best gift of this and any Christmas.” <br /> And I believe it. <br /> But the second-best gift I ever received was in the middle of the pandemic, three days before Christmas when my grandson was born. It may be commonplace to say, “I didn’t realize how much it would change me,” but it has changed me. And my wife, Grandma Zu Zu, and my son, now “Dad.” <br /> It’s the reason climate change is really starting to bother me. The change shows in how much I hope he’ll play guitar like me. He wasn’t on any list or in any sermon. He just was. And is. What a gift!</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Andy Hagen, lead pastor, Advent Church, Boca Raton</em></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818297,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818297,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="105" alt="10894818297?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>Family is everything</span><br /> When I left my country, the Philippines, to come to the United States for work, I knew that it would be difficult for me to go home on Christmas. That’s the nature of working in health care and as a priest. <br /> Because of some immigration restrictions, I was only able to go home and visit my country three years after I landed to the United States. <br /> Finally, I was able to return home in 2005 during the Christmas season. In early November, I got my green card, proof of a permanent U.S. resident status, meaning I could travel freely outside the U.S. Then, the excitement of seeing my country and my loved ones, the joy I felt as I picked some Christmas presents for my family and close friends, and the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with family and loved ones was the greatest Christmas present I ever got. <br /> I don’t know when this opportunity will happen again in my life. I share the love of family with those who are around me on Christmas. I pray that my presence to those people who the Lord has entrusted to my care will bring joy to their lives and draw them closer to their loved ones as well, on Christmas and throughout the year.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Father Dennis Gonzales, St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Delray Beach</em></p>
<p> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894819063,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894819063,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="101" alt="10894819063?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a><span style="font-size:14pt;">A POW’s compelling log</span><br /> My grandfather, James Feerick, volunteered for the Army Air Corps (predecessor to the Air Force) and was a bombardier when he was shot down over Germany. He ended up in the same POW camp The Great Escape memorialized. My grandfather led choir practice to cover up the sound of hammering inside the barracks and would sing his favorite songs to encourage the men, even when he was punished for it. At POW reunions, many people said his singing kept their spirits alive and helped them survive.<br /> In 2013, my parents gave my sisters and me a reproduced version of my grandfather’s wartime log that he kept as a POW. It is full of names and roles of other prisoners, sketches and journal entries. My parents added pictures and entries that testify to the full life he lived after the war. It is a gift that inspires us to live life to the full and never forget that acts of heroism can be as simple as a song.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— the Rev. Kevin McQuone, spiritual director and assistant professor of pastoral theology at St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach</em></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894819075,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894819075,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="103" alt="10894819075?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>A Hanukkah miracle</span> <br /> Most of my possessions were in storage because I was renovating a house. When it was time to move into our home, I discovered that the head of the moving company had disappeared. A few boxes were returned, and we were making do with what we had. <br /> But all of my ritual objects were gone! The night before Hanukkah, I noticed a box that I’d had a television sitting on top for a few weeks. I moved the television and looked in the box. I found a hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) that was a family heirloom, a piece from the 17th century.<br />Finding it has become our family’s Hanukkah miracle!</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— David Steinhardt, senior rabbi, B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton</em></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818872,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10894818872,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="107" alt="10894818872?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>Menorah memories</span><br />Each Hanukkah at my house, we light a menorah that I purchased in Israel while competing as part of the World Maccabiah Games. It gives me an opportunity to think about my many beautiful memories exploring Israel while representing the USA and my Jewish heritage.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Melissa Perlman, president, BlueIvy Communications</em></p>
<p><em>Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com</em></p></div>Religion News: St. Paul’s to have special performance by choir of girls and young womenhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/religion-news-st-paul-s-to-have-special-performance-by-choir-of-g2022-03-29T16:44:44.000Z2022-03-29T16:44:44.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10246710096,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10246710096,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10246710096?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></strong><em>The Girl Choir of South Florida will perform April 24 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p>Music at St. Paul’s will feature The Girl Choir of South Florida at 3 p.m. April 24 at the church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. The choir, for girls and young women ages 6 through 18, aims to transform girls’ lives through musical excellence. It provides a safe space for girls and young women to hone their skills and share their voices and build supportive, lifelong friendships. Tickets are $20 at the door. Free for ages 18 and younger. <a href="https://musicstpauls.org">https://musicstpauls.org</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Supplies needed for Pahokee church</span><br /> St. Lucy Catholic Church parish is collecting items for St. Mary Catholic Church in Pahokee through Palm Sunday, April 10. Especially needed are baby items like food and formula, towels and blankets, wipes and diapers. Clothes in sizes 2T-3T are also needed. Drop off donations in the vestry. Cash donations are also welcome. Call Alice Marie Dill at 561-278-1280.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Raffle drawing at St. Lucy offers several prizes</span><br /> The St. Lucy CCW raffle ticket fundraiser drawing is on April 10. Prizes include dinner for four hosted by Father Brian Horgan in the rectory, $1,000 cash, and four tickets to dinner and a show at the Wick Theatre. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. <a href="https://stlucycommunity.com">https://stlucycommunity.com</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Traditional agape feast planned at Advent Boca</span><br /> The Last Supper or Agape Love Feast will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 14 in the gymnasium at Advent Church, 300 E. Yamato Road, Boca Raton. The Love Feast, or agape meal, is a Christian fellowship recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry and expressing the community, sharing and fellowship enjoyed by the family of Christ. Tickets are $20; children eat free. Register by April 10 at <a href="https://adventboca.org">https://adventboca.org</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">St. Gregory’s yoga Mass scheduled for courtyard</span><br /> The next St. Gregory’s Episcopal yoga Mass led by Father Ben Thomas takes place at 4 p.m. April 23 in the courtyard of the church at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. The event begins with about 20 minutes of yoga, followed by Mass and a wind-down at the end. Call 561-395-8285 or visit <a href="http://www.stgregorysepiscopal.org">www.stgregorysepiscopal.org</a> or <a href="http://www.frbenjaminthomas.com">www.frbenjaminthomas.com</a>.<br /><br /></p></div>Finding Faith: Some of usual Passover, Easter to return as pandemic easeshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/finding-faith-some-of-usual-passover-easter-to-return-as-pandemic2021-03-02T20:27:02.000Z2021-03-02T20:27:02.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8622071698,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8622071698,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8622071698?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>Dozens of students, including kindergartner Sarah Lash, were marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach, using ingenuity in the form of 9-inch cotton-tipped applicators. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p>Happy Passover! And Happy Easter!</p>
<p>Because both are tied to the lunar calendar, Easter, the most important Christian holiday, will always coincide with Passover, the first festival of Judaism, but the spring timing isn’t all they share.</p>
<p>Jews have been celebrating Passover — which commemorates their escape from slavery in Egypt — since the exodus itself, scholars say, which was around the 13th century B.C.<br /> Centuries later, Jesus would be crucified during the Passover day of preparation, what Christians call Good Friday. The night before, Jesus hosted the Last Supper, a Jewish seder. <br /> It is called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday now, and Christians revere the day as the origin of Christianity’s most important sacrament: the Eucharist of which Holy Communion is part. </p>
<p>Maundy Thursday services will be held on April 1 this year, with Easter on April 4. </p>
<p>At St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach, the annual seder that brings Christians and Jews together to celebrate has been canceled because of the coronavirus for the second straight year, but the interfaith spirit of goodwill remains. The church hopes the seder can return next year. </p>
<p>For some Christians, Easter is a one-day holiday. But the season really begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year was Feb. 17, and lasts about six weeks.</p>
<p>On Ash Wednesday, the ashes from the burning of palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday, which have been crushed into a fine powder and blessed by the priest, are applied to the forehead in the shape of a cross. </p>
<p>The minister prays, “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15), or “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19), the older, more traditional invocation. The ashes are also a plea to God for mercy and compassion, pardon and forgiveness.</p>
<p>In this no-touch pandemic world, Pastor Dave Franklin at Advent Church in Boca Raton said about 35 drivers came to the church drive-thru to be marked with ashes.</p>
<p>At St. Joseph’s Episcopal, the Ash Wednesday service was live-streamed to classrooms, then kids were taken one class at a time to the church, where they were marked with ashes. Nine-inch cotton-tipped applicators were used, which was fun, funny and a break from the isolation of the pandemic. </p>
<p>Rabbi Josh Broide at Boca Raton Community Synagogue says his congregation is eager to celebrate Passover, which is March 27 to April 4, but many still feel vulnerable to the virus. Involving the children in the retelling of the Exodus story and the Resurrection story is important to both faiths.</p>
<p>“Families look forward to getting together, and it’s important to engage the children,” Broide said. “It’s also a time to reflect and see what matters. Politics are divisive, the economy is erratic. Do we really need to fight with each other?”</p>
<p>St. Joseph’s and most other churches and synagogues are finalizing Easter and Passover plans and, as with Ash Wednesday, celebrations may require creativity. Some will be virtual only and some usual activities will be canceled as they were last year during lockdowns. But in-person services have resumed in places, and Broide and Franklin feel positive about the future. </p>
<p>“We have a tight community and that helps,” Franklin said. “It’s been a blessing to have virtual church because it allows us to stay connected, to engage with people online who don’t feel comfortable coming to in-person worship, and it’s especially important at Easter.”</p>
<p>Holidays can make people feel more isolated, Broide said. “I get a lot of calls from lonely people and I tell them to stay strong. I believe we can see the beginning of the end,” he said. “Call it cautious optimism.”</p>
<p>Or faith.</p>
<p><br /> <em>Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. janisfontaine@outlook.com.</em></p></div>Finding Faith: Clergy’s message of love and hope aims to bridge political differenceshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/finding-faith-clergy-s-message-of-love-and-hope-aims-to-bridge-po2021-02-02T20:25:38.000Z2021-02-02T20:25:38.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8507541076,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8507541076,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8507541076?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>A pantry in front of Advent Church in Boca Raton provides free dry and canned foods to people in need. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p>Churches might have the legal right to discuss politics from the pulpit, but should they?</p>
<p>“Our particular tradition is not to use the pulpit for politics, even though we might like to,” said Pastor Andy Hagen of Advent Church in Boca Raton. “The role we have is to present the values of our faith and keep speaking them.” </p>
<p>Those values? “Love and hope.” </p>
<p>Father Marty Zlatic of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church of Boynton Beach agrees: Making any sort of political statement from the pulpit is “a delicate dance.” </p>
<p>“We have to remember that 50% of our congregation is red and 50% is blue. We don’t have a political preference,” he says of the church. “It’s a morality preference. It’s how we treat people and that we respect the dignity of every human being.” </p>
<p>From pure seeds, positive things bloom, he says.</p>
<p>“I preached on Sunday on the gospel John 1:47,” Zlatic said recently. “I didn’t mention any names. The goal is to prepare the message in a way that even someone who opposes it might hear it.”</p>
<p>The passage: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” In biblical translations, guile means “deceit” or “fraud.” </p>
<p>Most of the time his message is one of hope and healing, Zlatic said, but people need the promise of truth to hope and the knowledge of truth to heal. “People always need to talk about hope.”</p>
<p>“My healing word is ‘understanding,’” Hagen said. “I don’t believe we’re divided. I believe we want the same things, but we’re not convinced we can all get them. Someone has convinced us there’s not enough of the pie to be shared.” </p>
<p>COVID-19 has divided people, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Even though online church service viewership is consistent and more popular than anyone expected, others aren’t so happy to worship from home. </p>
<p>“People are yearning for a human connection,” Zlatic said. “We’re a very huggy church. Praying on the phone, rather than being able to hold someone’s hand, it’s certainly harder. I’ve learned to smile with my eyes.” </p>
<p>To strengthen those connections, Zlatic gave the congregation “homework.” He asked people to take out their church member directory and call someone they didn’t know, just to say hello. He laughs when he says, “I told them to be sure to say we’re not asking for money!” </p>
<p>So far, it’s working out well. </p>
<p>Some kindnesses sprouted organically. The St. Joe congregation spontaneously started the In Touch ministry, where volunteers regularly call homebound congregants to check in on them.</p>
<p>At Advent, Hagen said the church started a small food pantry outside, where people can drive up to drop off (or pick up) food. As the sun was setting, he watched a little girl jump out of a car to put a few cans in the box. It’s been more popular and successful than anyone imagined, he said. </p>
<p>“I think when you focus on love, great things happen.”<br /> <br /><em>Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and events. Contact her at janisfontaine@outlook.com.</em></p></div>