Pastors at Advent Lutheran Church of Boca Raton told their members NOT to come to church on Sunday, January 25,as they kicked off their first Church without Walls event. Instead of a typical Sunday service, more than 100 Advent members spread out in teams to eight different venues within the local community to make a difference in other peoples’ lives.

“Today, instead of going to church, we were the church,” said Leanne Welch. She and her family joined others who pruned trees, pressure washed the driveway, washed windows, organized children’s toys and washed lawn furniture at the Family Promise house in Boca Raton, a ministry which helps homeless families with dependent children to get back on their feet.

Volunteers also cleared garbage and debris from the beach, prepared sandwiches and prepped food for distribution at the Boca Helping Hands food pantry, beautified the grounds of the Tri-County Animal Shelter, served at-risk youth a special pancake breakfast, visited with seniors at Banyan Place and Advent Square and even washed their windows.  The Church without Walls event is just the first of many community events to come throughout the year.  For more information, call 561-395-3632.