What a glorious time of year – when we focus on and celebrate the birth of our savior and the Christ child coming into the world! Come and join us as we rejoice together and remember Jesus’ birth and the beginning of his time here on earth.
“Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King…”
Jesus is the light of the world. To symbolize this, we will read some scriptural passages about his birth and then light the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath. May his light fill your heart and go with you into all the world!
All are welcome! Bring your friends. The candlelight service will be from 6 – 8pm on December 24.
Meaning of Advent
What is Advent?
Advent is a season of preparation before Christmas. It is a time to lay aside all the business of the season – carol singing, bazaars, pageants, parties, shopping and school concerts – and remember the true meaning of Christmas. That is why we celebrate Advent for the four weeks before Christmas. Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’ and refers to the coming of Jesus. In Advent we see a threefold coming of the Messiah:
1. A celebration of His first coming – born to Mary as her Son, Jesus.
2. Preparation for His second coming at the end of the world as judge.
3. Celebration of His coming into our hearts through rebirth.
Here at HCC we follow the tradition of lighting the advent wreath candles each week. This year the weekly themes observed will be:
First Advent Week: Hope
Second Advent Week: Joy
Third Advent Week: Peace
Fourth Advent Week: Love
The Advent wreath with lighted candles is a graphic reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. The evergreen symbolizes the eternal life which Christ offers and the circle represents Christ’s unending presence with us.
Traditional Christmas Carol Service at the Basilica @ 7:30pm
Each year we enjoy the Traditional Christmas Carol Service at the Basilica of Notre Dame. This is a great time to feel the unity of Christianity worldwide with the scripture reading about the birth of our dear LORD and SAVIOR and together singing the familiar carols, listening to a meditation about Christmas and enjoying a time of fellowship. This year, we will meet at 7:30pm on Wednesday, December 5. All are welcome and please invite your friends. There is room enough for all.
1st Friday of Advent: We light the 1st candle on the Advent Wreath
On November 30 we light the 1st candle on the Advent Wreath. This is a long time tradition for HCC to remember the month leading up to Christmas by reading appropriate scriptures and prayers for the week’s theme and lighting the candles in the wreath. Jesus is the light of the world, and as we get closer to the day marked to remember his birth, more candles are light each week. At HCC, since we meet on Friday’s for our weekly worship service, we observe the Advent weeks from Friday to Friday.
Monthly after worship service prayer time
On the first Friday of every month, we have the opportunity for an hour of corporate prayer. During this time, specific prayer items can be addressed and various styles of prayer implemented. All are welcome to this valuable time of praise, glorification and intercession in prayer. Please see the bulletin for details.
Worship Evening from 7 – 8:30pm
Never been to an HCC Worship Evening? You are most welcome as we gather to focus on praise, worship, prayer, reading the Word and meditating on the GOOD NEWS that Jesus brought to us. This time has both lively worship, and quiet times of prayer and reflection. Bring your friends.
Fellowship and Scottish Barn Dance Evening: 6 – 8pm
We are planning our first ever fellowship and dance evening with Scottish Barn Dancing and maybe some American Line Dancing. This should prove to be a lively evening for those who would like to participate and learn a new dance… Or for the more sedate – there will be plenty of time for fellowship and some goodies to share as well. All are welcome.
Monthly prayer time after the worship service @ 10:45am
Our monthly after-worship-service-prayer-time is this Friday, September 5, starting at 10:45am. All are invited to come and join us for this focused hour of prayer.
Welcome Potluck (Covered Dish Meal) starting at 6pm
This is a very exciting time at HCC. Every year we welcome the newcomers who have been arriving over the past few months – and also welcome back those who have traveled for the summer. We have several new families and folks to get to know. At our Welcome Potluck, there is plenty of time to fellowship, meet and get acquainted with new folks enjoy those we have been missing and want to have a nice chat with.
Please bring some of you favorite foods to share. We will meet in the garden and enjoy the cool of the evening. All are, well….. WELCOME!
Small Group “kick-off”
After the summer holiday, we are happy for the small groups to restart. These small groups (or Bible Studies / fellowship groups) meet at various locations and on various evenings. There is even a group in El Rehab.
Each group chooses its own Biblical study and includes time for prayer, fellowship and encouragement. This is the place to get to know each other and also be of help to one another as we live and prosper in Egypt. Here is a practical example of how the body of Christ grows and strengthens each member. Please come to the Friday Worship Service (9am) and to the Small Group “kick-off” or email HCCsmallgroups@hotmail.co.uk for more information.