Faith Forma on for All!

Transcription

1 Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Gather in grace Grow in faith Go in service A Word from Our Pastors... Our focus for the coming year: Faith Formaon for All! Special Congregaonal Mtg. Sept. 20, 9:45 AM All vong members are encouraged to aend this special meeng when we will vote on the potenal sanctuary expansion and the purchase of the organ. Calendar....p.12 Celebraons....p.11 Human Concerns....p.10 Faith Community Nurse...p.8,9 Pastors Message.....p.1 Stewardship...p.6,7 For Your Calendars: Sept 13 Gods Work Our Hands Sunday Sept 20 Regular Worship schedule resumes Sept 20 Congregaonal Meeng Sept 27 Race for a Soldier Sept 27 Adult Forum Returns Oct 4 First day of Cross Genera- onal Sunday School Oct 24 Women s Retreat We have a list of great new and returning programs for this coming year below. However, our focus on faith formaon for all is more than just programs. As we gather together as Chrisan community in worship, study, and play, we are forming our faith together! As your pastors, we will be thinking about faith formaon as a part of everything we do together, not just programs. Re-booting this year: Confirmation! Talk to Pastor Seth if you are interested in being involved with our Middle School students. Cross Generational Sunday School! ALL AGES of kids, youth, AND ADULTS are welcome to join together as we learn songs and stories of our faith. A key component of this gathering will be me in small groups with people of all ages to build faith and friendships across the generaons! We will meet on Sunday mornings at 9:45 Always been curious about some ADLC small groups, but haven t aended? Contact the church office for more informaon and give something new a try! Here are a few of the ADLC groups that focus on Bible Study/ Small Group discussion, back for another great year: Adult Forum, Wednesday Morning Bible Study, Friday Morning Bible Study, Last Friday Bible Study, Book Group, Theology on Tap, Gather (for women), Men s Square & Women s Circle We are working alongside the new Faith Formaon Commiee to provide great opportunies including a group for families with young children and connued addion of small group studies. If you have any ideas or feedback, we would welcome your conversaon! Peace and Joy, Pastor Stephanie and Pastor Seth

2 Pastor s Visits We are thoroughly enjoying geng to know you all beer! We connue to work through the directory, seng up mes to meet with each household, either in your home or here at church. So, if your last name starts with A - M, know that we will be contacng you soon to set something up. The sole purpose of the visits is to get to know you beer! What are the greatest joys in your lives? What are your greatest challenges? What do you love about Agnus Dei? What are your dreams for the church? We look forward to vising, Pastor Seth and Pastor Stephanie Join our pastors for a weekly bible study based on the leconary on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM in the youth room. It will be led by either Pastor Seth or Pastor Stephanie depending on which of them will be preaching that Sunday. All are welcome! Sunday, September 13 We are collecng children s socks and underwear now! It is once again me for God s Work, Our Hands Sunday on September 13. This year, we will be joining with Key Peninsula Lutheran Church to help families on the Key Peninsula with children s underclothing. From now unl Sept 13, we are asking for your donaons of boys and girls underwear and socks, sizes No boxer shorts please. Aer worship on the 13 th, we will head over to KPLC where we will help repackage the clothing for distribuon to Evergreen and Vaughn Elementary Schools. Parents will be able to pick up underwear and socks for their children when they aend parent/teacher conferences the week of October 12. In preparaon for this day of worshipful service to God and neighbor, we are urging and encouraging you to help us collect as many of these items as we can for the families of the Key Peninsula. Donaons can be brought to Agnus Dei, and we will load everything up to take with us on the 13 th. 2 Just as last year, there will be another project available at the church that those who are unable to travel with us can work on here. Thank you for your parcipaon!

3 Pastoral Care Please let Pastor Seth and/or Pastor Stephanie know if you are in need of pastoral care. If you would like to be contacted by one of our pastors please call the office at or them at or In an emergency, you can reach Pastor or Pastor While our pastors are away, Sept 17-28, Lyle Miller will be available for emergency pastoral care, his number is Jeanee and Loren Carlander Audrey Clinton Dan Dana Ken Hay and family Dick Lamer Mavis Moore and family as they mourn the death of Jerry Dave Roberts Hal and Myra Snider Jack Ser Rose VanderKlomp Serving Our Country: Jason Barelli, U.S. Navy Ma Fistler, U.S.A.F.(Carlander s Grandson) Staton West, U.S. Army To the lawn mowers and yard tenders for August: Ellis Rousseau, Lyle Miller, Harlan Damron and Don Krump To Gail Brandt for creang lovely new cloth communion napkins To the many volunteers who facilitated the week of Vacaon Bible School for children in our community. To everyone who provided snacks and aended the summer youth group meengs with our high school students A message from Mavis: I would like to thank everyone for their support in these last weeks. Thank you to everyone who came to Jerry s memorial, and to those who helped by providing food and flowers. Thank you for your many kind words, cards and prayers. Sincerely, Mavis Moore giving our Soldiers Permission to Start Dreaming Race For a Soldier Half Marathon, Sunday, September 27 Road Closures: Borgen Blvd. 7:50 AM to 12:00 noon Peacock Hill Ave. 7:50 AM to 8:20 AM Thanks to the annual Race for a Soldier Half Marathon in Gig Harbor, a new meaning for PTSD has been created Permission to Start Dreaming. The mission of the race is to raise awareness and funds to support programs that help our soldiers heal emotional wounds. More information can be found at The race course route will impact traffic in our neighborhood. Please make note of the road closures when planning your travel to worship on Sunday morning, Sept 27. 3

4 Shall Agnus Dei buy the pipe organ? A committee recruited to make a recommendation on the purchase of our presently leased pipe organ offers the following points for your consideration at the September 20 congregational vote: The organ is one important part of the woven tapestry of worship life we seek at Agnus Dei. It is one piece of the entire music program we want to grow. In what other church could you experience strings and wind instruments, piano and organ all on one Sunday? We celebrate variety of style and hymnody each Sunday, accompanied by instruments that best speak the musical language of the text and musical style of the chosen hymn. Our goal is to weave all these different strands together to create one unique, diverse, and beautiful tapestry one that relects the community of Agnus Dei. A pipe organ is an ideal support for congregational song, which may be why Lutherans sing so well Psalm 150 reminds us to Praise God with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals. Each Sunday when we lift our collective voices in song, accompanied by the organ, we are praising God with ALL of these instruments. The pipe organ is a distinct Lutheran heritage. After Luther himself, Bach was the greatest Lutheran, and his inluence deines organ music to this day The traditional connection between the organ and the Lutheran Church is what has given Lutherans such a strong reputation for musicality and strong congregational singing. A good pipe organ becomes a magnet that draws the participation of other instrumentalists and people who want to participate in great worship music The Fritts organ has served as a musical outreach for musicians in the community. Students have requested practice time and some of our own youth have begun their musical training on the organ right here. The organ has attracted new members to Agnus Dei. If the congregation votes to purchase the organ, there are many means to inance it: a down payment raised from committed donors, ongoing individual pledges, memorial funds, beneit concerts, even borrowing from the building fund and/or the Above and Beyond fund. (The committee members are Marilyn Colyar, Carol Dana, Van Hardison, Donald Heinz, Susan Luebeck, and Shari Shull.) 4

5 Musical Ensembles to begin in September All are welcome to join in the song! 11:00 AM Choir The Choir will meet on Wednesday, Sept 9 at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary for the first rehearsal of the season followed by dessert. There is a seat for you in the choir! All are welcome to join in prayer and praise to God through psalms, hymns and anthems. Sing to the Lord a new song. Joint Choir Sundays in October The Choir will travel to Portland, Oregon on Sunday, October 4 to sing with the Choir of First Immanuel Lutheran Church, where Tom Bradford and Van Hardison sang before they moved to Gig Harbor. On October 11, the First Immanuel Choir will travel to Gig Harbor to sing with us at Agnus Dei. We look forward to this opportunity of joining our voices in song as we worship together. Handbell Ensemble The Handbell Ensemble will meet on Sunday, Sept 20 at 12:15 PM for the first rehearsal of the season. If you are interested in ringing bells and joining the group, please see Shari Shull before the first rehearsal so a folder will be ready for you. New ringers are always welcome! New this fall Music Classes for Lile Lambs and all Pre-Schoolers Music Classes for Lile Lambs and all pre-schoolers ages 3 5 will be offered this fall by Shari Shull. Shari has just been cerfied to teach the Musikgarten curriculum, The Cycle of Seasons. The Cycle of Seasons is a musical celebraon of the four seasons using acvies that build on a child's growing independence and competencies. It nurtures children's ability to use language and capitalizes on their delight in dramac play within a musical context. Tuesdays 12:00 12:40 pm Wednesdays 12:00 12:40 pm Tuesdays 1:00 1:40 pm 3 year olds 4/5 year olds Pre K students 13-week semester September 15 December 15 Contact Shari for more informaon and to register sharishull@comcast.net The Musikgarten philosophy stresses that when music and movement are a natural, joyous part of childhood, children benefit greatly in many areas of life. Language development, self expression, memory skills, concentraon, social interacon, fine motor skills, listening, problem solving, teamwork, goal seng, and coordinaon are all impacted by early music and movement educaon. What's more, as a child learns to play music, other areas of development creavity, family bonding, self-esteem, confidence, emoonal development are also posively impacted. Scent Sensitivities Alert! One of Gods great gifts are the creation of beautiful scents as well as noses to smell them (some more sensitive than others!). We are aware that some members of our congregation are sensitive to scent, so we ask our entire community please be mindful and courteous with perfume and cologne in worship. Thank You! 5

6 Sundays at 9:45 Plan on joining Agnus Dei s adult forum when it resumes on September 27 with a three part series on Islam. The focus will be on learning more about the beliefs and faith of Muslims, especially those in our community. September 27: Professor Mahew Ingalls from the University of Puget Sound will bring us informaon about the Muslim faith--history, differences within the faith, etc. October 4: Professor Turan Kayaoglu from the University of Washington, Tacoma will describe what typical Muslim worship and faith pracces look like. October 11: The final forum in this series will offer us a chance to hear from college students who are members of the Muslim community on their experiences as Muslims in this area. It will also be a chance for us to learn how we can be supporve neighbors to these people of faith. Blessing of the Animals, October 4 Planning is underway for the Blessing of the Animals Service on October 4th, Sunday evening at 5:00 PM If the weather permits we will hold this service outdoors in the fenced play yard. If you would like to help plan this service please call the office at Stewardship means many things to many people. To some it is money to be pledged for the use of the Church, others want to emphasize that it stewardship includes how we use our me and our talents for God s work, others want to include what we do with all of our possessions, and others want to include how we use the resources of the earth around us. Stewardship is really all of this and more. W.H. Greever puts it this way, It is the Chrisan concepon of life as a whole, manifested in atudes and acons. Mike Snowden Stewardship Commiee 6 Sharing our Gifts Stewardship Update Thank you to all, good and faithful stewards. August Attendance Sundays: Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug General Fund Giving Report General Fund: Goal Actual % of Goal Annual $384,000 August $32,000 $31,757 99% Year to Date $256,000 $243,091 95% 2015 Designated Giving Report August Year to Date Building Fund $310 $4035 FISH (local food bank) $320 $2965 World Hunger $1095 $ Organ Lease $720 $5829 Lutheran Community Services NW $ Building Fund and Above and Beyond Balance $170,977.64

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8 Faith Community Nurses Zoe Holmes, Teresa McDonald, and Gwen Daugs We can do no great things---only small things with great love. ---Mother Teresa Maybe it was all the sunny days without the typical rainy days, but this summer we have been extremely busy with house guests (mainly grandchildren), traveling and gatherings with friends and relaves. So, now that September is here, we can relax. But wait! September is a me of transion. Teachers and children head back to school, graduates head off to college or to the military or to new jobs. All the acvies that were put on hold for the summer are back. Look at us here at Agnus Dei Lutheran, where Rally Day is just around the corner. The congregaon will be hopping as fall programming, God s Work, Our Hands, kicks off. We return to two services each Sunday so our pastors will be busier. And church leaders will take a big breath and dive into the frenec pace. Are you ready for all of this? More than that, will you have the energy and enthusiasm you need to step it up to all of the changes and acvies? Are you a model of well-being, or are you overwhelmed and stressed as your obligaons grow? In the Caribbean there is an art of doing nothing, guilt-free called Liming. This art is certainly not widely pracced in America! It involves a dayme mental rest, a me to detach from acvity, work or busyness (also spelled business ). Would you be interested in training yourself to take a few minutes in the middle of the day (or maybe up to an hour) to renew and revitalize yourself by praccing a favorite healthy pleasure instead of elongang your daily grind? Why is this important? Here are some reasons: Neurosciensts have found that even a few minutes of renewal me each day increases your aenon span, helping you to focus with even beer memory ability. By releasing muscle tension, your circulaon improves and helps prevent physical fague. Renewal breaks assist you in praccing discipline and responsibility for your own mental and physical health. Rather than thinking, I have too much to do! or I can t take me for a break right now! change to I m going to take a few minutes for my well-being. The basic idea is to take a mental vacaon, shiing yourself out of the rat race to allow your body to release tension and perming your mind to enjoy the present. Here are some liming suggesons for you to try, but it s possible that you already have a favorite liming acvity that you do but you ve just never call it that! Praying or meditang is an opportunity to be thankful and think of others, allowing you to pause and be aware of the presence of God in your daily acvies. Reading and mentally thinking of a Bible verse is another acvity many find helpful in taking a mental rest. Deep, abdominal breathing is one of the best pracces. If you have never done any yoga breaths, this is a simple technique to learn. Breathe deeply though your nose and push your stomach out. Now hold the breath for a few seconds and then slowly exhale through your mouth, contracng all of your abdominal muscles, squeezing out all the air you can. (connued on pg.9) 8

9 (faith community nurses cont.) Visualizing a favorite place is a good escape to renew yourself. By reliving a pleasant me when you felt contentment, the cells in your body can respond posively in the same way as experiencing the actual event. Doing a crossword puzzle, playing cards or playing a favorite computer game also work. Take a nature walk, not a fit bit walk. If possible walk with a child to see what can be seen at his or her level. It s important that you choose an acvity that is right for you! Only you know what is helpful and renewing for you and your spirit. Now is the perfect me to rally before the rally. Whatever it is that will keep you at your best, commit to a rou- ne that works for you now, before you re pulled in a million direcons. It could give you the stamina you need in the weeks to come. Paying aenon to what helps you live well can be the difference between thriving or simply surviving. May God s presence be a source of strength in whatever transion/changes you are facing this fall and in the upcoming, busier season of the year, the winter holidays. Please remember that the faith community nurses are available to assist you and your family with any health related issues. Invitaons: Free Senior Exercise Class at St. Johns Episcopal, Gig Harbor, 7701 Skansie Ave. Join seniors of all ages and faiths. All are welcome! Monday through Thursday from 9:00-10:00a.m. This class is held in the parish hall which can be accessed by parking near the Thrist Store and following the sidewalk behind the church. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bole. Call with any quesons. China Connect Friend/Fund Raising Dinner Friday September 25 at 6PM. St Marks by the Narrows. Rsvp by September 18 to mhalstead@chinnaconoonline.org or See the flyer on the bullen board. Alzheimer s Caregiver Conference Emmanuel Lutheran, Tacoma Saturday, Sept 26, 8am 2:30 see the flyer on the Health Ministry Board for more informaon. Reformaon Trip to Germany with Redeemer Lutheran, Fircrest May Early registraon due Oct. 1, 2015 Contact Sarah at for informaon. Fundraising help is available. Agnus Dei is on facebook! We will post news, photos and events. Like and Share posts so other will see them too! Women s Retreat October 24, Save the Date! 9

10 Human Concerns FOOD BACKPACKS 4 KIDS FOOD DRIVE Time to stock our FB4K food supplies! We begin on September 9 delivering food bags for students whose families need weekend food. Students at Peninsula High School, Harbor Ridge Middle School and Purdy Elementary whose parents fill out an application take home a food bag each week that school is in session. Last year we had 65 students that we provided this necessary nutritional support for. It is difficult to imagine how anyone especially a child can go hungry in our community. Yet, the reality is, there are students who do. FB4K exists to provide food for children who might otherwise go without. This program is made possible through generosity of people like you! WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?. Bring food donations to the Donation Station at church.. Write a check to Agnus Dei with FB4K in the memo line. Volunteers shop for food at reduced prices.. Join us on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 to help assemble food bags. (We are finished in time to attend the text study at 10:30) FOOD THAT WE NEED: Canned chicken Hearty soup Canned tuna Chili 1 lb. pasta Pasta sauce Peanut butter Mac n cheese Pasta Roni Rice-a-Roni Granola bars Cup of Noodles Instant oatmeal Pork and beans Fruit cups Pudding cups Top ramen Gluten-free versions of the above items We have so much appreciated all the support that Agnus Dei members have given us for the past four years that we have served these schools. You are a very generous and compassionate community of faith in action!! A big shout out for all the school supplies Supplies for both Lutheran World Relief and local kids continue to roll in at the donation station. Items for the Key Peninsula Children s Home Society have been delivered, so that parents can pick up needed supplies before the start of the school year. So far about 25 School kits have been donated by congregation members. When added to the 40 kits donated by VBS, that makes a really GRAND total of at least 65 kits. Those kits will be boxed for mailing in October. If you still have 40 page notebooks, pencil sharpeners or kids scissors, we could make a few more kits. Your generosity is overwhelming! Old T-Shirts Needed It s time again to clean out your t-shirt drawers again, we are collecting to make diapers for the baby kits. We need men s large and extra large, women s extra large, any color t-shirts. Leave them in the donation station in the narthex. Thanks! 10

11 September 2015 S M T W T F S This Month at Agnus Dei--(all meengs at church unless noted.) Wednesdays, 9:30 am--back Packs 4 Kids begins Sept 9. See info on page 9, for more informaon Contact Phyllis Brandt or Pat Borgen Wednesdays, 10:30 am Leconary Study with our pastors in the Youth Room. Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00--Prayer Shawl Ministry meets in the ADLC Youth Room. All kniers and crochet enthusiasts are welcome! Contact Gwen Daugs Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsals resume on Sept 9, Contact Shari Shull Thursdays, 10:00 AM Church Staff Meeng Fridays, 10:00 am--augsburg Bible Study in the community room. Contact Rose VanderKlomp Sept 1, 7:00 PM Sanctuary Expansion Team Meeng, Contact Denny Sapp Sept 3, 2:00 Cross Generaonal Sunday School Mtg Contact Pastor Stephanie Sept 5, Saturday, 8:30 am--men s Square at the Sunset Grille, Breakfast and Bible Study. Contact Steve Carlson Sept 5, Saturday, 8:30 am--women s Circle at the Sunset Grille, Breakfast and Bible study. Kayaking or walking for those who wish. Contact Sonja Miller Sept 8, 7:00 PM Council Meeng in the Community Room. Sept 9, 7:00 PM Stewardship Meeng, contact Mike Snowden Sept 13, God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday. Gather for a light lunch directly aer worship followed by a service project. Wear your yellow shirts! Sept 15, 1:30 pm--gather Bible Study in the community room. Social me begins at 1:00 pm followed by the study found in the September Gather Magazine, page 26. For more informaon contact either Marge Olmsted or Barb Deák Sept 17, 5:30 Theology on Tap discussion group meets Connued... at the Marketplace Grille. Contact Lyle Miller September 18, Friday, 7:00 pm--agnus Dei Book Group in the community room. Contact Neal VanDerVoorn Sept 20 Congregaonal Meeng, 9:45 in the Parish Hall Sept 22, Tuesday 1:00 Quilng for Lutheran World Relief in the Community Room Sept 24, 12:00, Dining for Women The Gig Harbor Chapter of DFW meets monthly for a program and lunch benefing programs that empower women and girls. Sept 25, 7:00 PM Last Friday Bible Study meets in the Youth Room. Contact Jim Adair Celebrations: SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Ann Rousseau, Loren Carlander 2 Tim Wilson 4 Kathy Stark 5 Marlene Bridgforth 9 Margie Anderson 10 Leslie McDonnell 11 Myra Snider, Brittani Oliver, Kyle Gootkin, Ed Sheets 13 Keely Gootkin 18 Bob Babare 20 John Stava 21 Tom Chakerian 22 Kristofer Henderson, Joanne Bucholz 23 Bryan Rousseau, Benjamin Brueckner, Paul Miller, Sophie Alvestad 25 Jeannette Racette 27 Jack Chakerian 29 Bryan Humlie 30 Sharon Smith, Fiona Peterson SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 6/81 Robert and Cindy Beals 7/08 Katy and Nels Peterson 9/50 Marge and Bob Olmsted 15/61 Jim and Linda Goetting 15/90 John and Jeannette Racette 11

12 Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Calendar September 2015 For more information see event details on page 11 12

13 Serving in Worship September 2015 Serve in Worship Schedule Coordinators: Altar Guild: Dianna Carlson Altar Flowers: Dianna Carlson Assis ng Ministers: Shari Shull Communion Servers and Greeters: Marilyn Hermstad Lectors: Marilyn Colyar Offering Counters: Linda Ribary Ushers: Marilyn Hermstad Sound System: Posi on Open Coffee Hour Hospitality for August Coordinator Linda Olson Team: Morgan/Gross, Gossler, Humlie, Jackson, Michaud, Ouchi, Page 13

14 The monthly newsletter of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Peacock Hill Ave NW Gig Harbor, WA Submit newsletter items, subscription requests and address changes to Editor/Administrative Assistant: Cindy Beals Church Staff Pastor: Rev. Stephanie McCarthy , Pastor: Rev. Seth Novak , Minister of Music, Shari Shull, A.I.M , Pianist, Susan Luebeck Administrative Assistant, Cindy Beals , Council President, Randy Spitzer Treasurer, Lance Colyar Financial Secretary, Pat Humlie Asst. Fin.Secretary, Rose VanderKlomp Zoe Holmes, Faith Community Nurse Gwen Daugs, Faith Community Nurse Teresa McDonald, Faith Community Nurse Jack Stier, Parish Sexton Council Jim Adair, John Barelli, Lynette Brentin, Marlene Bridgforth, Steve Carlson, Samantha Carter, Lance Colyar, Don Krump, Randy Spitzer, Tim Wilson Little Lambs Preschool Director/Teacher Shannon Moore Board President Debbie Snowden Financial Secretary Kimberly Morgan Secretary Kristin Page, Ardith Johnson 14