EVENTS > > JANUARY 2016 MAKING CHRISTMAS BRIGHT ONE MEAL AT A TIME. Upcoming. First Communion classes start this month. Pg. 3

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1 First Communion classes start this month. Pg. 3 Sunday School Christmas Program Pg. 5 JANUARY 2016 A Publication of the Mission of Advent Lutheran Church Save a life in the new year by participating in the first blood drive of Pg. 6 Upcoming EVENTS > > > > Family Game Night, Dec. 31,begins at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall First Communion Series, Jan. 10 & 17 during Sunday School at 9:40am Blood Drive: 1-7pm Monday, Jan. 11 in the Fellowship Hall Single Worship Service, Annual Meeting and Lunch, 10am Sunday, January 24 MAKING CHRISTMAS BRIGHT ONE MEAL AT A TIME The Saturday before Christmas dawned clear and cold, as more than 100 people arrived at Advent to take part in our annual Christmas Food Baskets event. Volunteers of all ages pitched in to form a human assembly line that stretched out of the Fellowship Hall and into the courtyard. Packers filled nearly 700 grocery bags with the ingredients for a traditional holiday meal. Each basket contained about twenty items, including a turkey, milk, stuffing, gravy mix, rolls, rice, butter, cranberry sauce, potatoes, apples, onions, corn, beans, cookies, paper towels, cake mix and frosting. Once the baskets were complete, about 55 delivery drivers convened in the sanctuary for a brief service with Pastor Scott and pianist Eva Mahaffey before heading out to make their rounds. Thanks to your generosity, this year the church raised nearly $11,600 for the Christmas Food Baskets ministry. The funds provided meals for 225 Snohomish County families, which Continued on Page 4

2 2 ADVENT VOICE A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 A new year brings opportunity. That's why so many of us make New Year's Resolutions to reflect on what the year has brought, both good and bad, and to look ahead. In many ways, it s a wonderful spiritual practice. This time of resolution and reflection offers us a chance to look seriously at ourselves to look at how we spent our time and our money this past year; how we loved well and maybe did not love so well; how we looked outside of ourselves, and how we had trouble seeing past our own concerns; how we offered ourselves in service to others, and how we failed to do so. And, while this type of introspection might not be comfortable, when we are deeply honest with ourselves we tend to get the most out of it. When we allow ourselves to be deeply honest about where we ve been, we are able to take the next step on the journey toward where we want to be. It s a time to bring our real selves to God, complete with bumps and bruises and chipped paint. And this is, after all, who God wants. God doesn't want the perfect and pristine picture of ourselves that we like to present. God doesn't want only perfect people who have no dents or chips. Jesus says, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." (Mark 2:17). So in this New Years' time of reflection, may we acknowledge the good and the bad, the places where we have done God's will and the places where we have fallen short. May we bring both of those places to God, trusting that God's grace welcomes and heals and challenges and encourages. May God bless you abundantly in 2016, and may you remember every day the grace, forgiveness, and new life that Christ offers, for you! Glad to be on the journey with you! From the staff at Advent, thank you all so much for the cards and goodies we received. It warmed our hearts and was very much appreciated.

3 Advent Classics The Christmas luncheon of the Advent Classics was held on December 9th. A very short business meeting was held and then we enjoyed entertainment provided by David Little. We had a sing-along of favorite Christmas hymns and secular songs. A highlight was the sing-along of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Each table was responsible for one or more of the "days" and a few of the fellows and a gal or two (You know who you are!!) acted out the 'Maids a Milking' so well that they were awarded CD's of David Little. The next meeting of the Classics will be on January 13. First Communion Series, January 10 and 17 Would you like your child to have a better understanding of the Sacrament of Holy Communion? Pastor Scott invites children and their parents to attend a First Communion Class during Sunday School, on Sunday January 10 and 17. For those who desire it, we'll mark your child's first communion at worship on January 24. Sunday School begins at 9:40 with a 10 minute Sunday School Opening, and then children and their parents will meet with Pastor Scott from 9:50-10:20. Please contact the Church Office (425) or Pastor Scott pastor@adventlutheran.net to let us know you plan to attend. JANUARY Making the Love of Christ Known Advent Lutheran Church Contact Us: nd St. SE Mill Creek, WA Phone: Website: churchoffice@adventlutheran.net Sunday Worship Schedule 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:40a.m., September-June (Preschool-6th Grade) Adult Forum: 9:40am in the Sanctuary Advent Staff: Pastor: Scott Postlewait, pastor@adventlutheran.net Visitation Pastor: G. Lee Kluth Office Administrator: Laurie Dunlap, laurie@adventlutheran.net Volunteer Sunday School Coordinators: Jana Auchterlonie and Katie Postlewait sundayschool@adventlutheran.net Choir Director: Janet Hitt Bell Choir Director: Mike Irons Church Accompanist: Kirsten Lysen Custodian: Bernice Clements Church Council: Steve Osher President/Outreach Fred Row Vice President/Columbarium/Stewardship Don Tracy Secretary/Property/Projects Irene Bizier and Karen Young Treasurers Deb Shaffer Youth Jan McWherter Fellowship Gail Kautzman Social Justice Jen Voss Education Kim Hall Worship George Howard Outreach churchcouncil@adventlutheran.net Advent Voice is the monthly newsletter of Advent Lutheran Church The deadline for articles is the 15th of each month. Please submit articles, graphics, and photos to Laurie@AdventLutheran.net This Month's Contributors: Nancy Fischer, Jordan Grant, Steve Osher, Pastor Scott Postlewait, Bill Trueit, Trudi Trueit

4 4 ADVENT VOICE Continued from page 1 fed about 1,000 people. Advent partnered with local churches, schools, and Volunteers of America to identify recipient families. It was also exciting to have TV news coverage of our annual event for the first time. KIRO TV News reporter Maria Guerrero interviewed Ministry Committee Chair, Carolyn Johnson, then accompanied Janet and Mike Irons on their delivery run. The story ran on channel 7 that evening. You can view it here: The Christmas Food Basket Ministry would like to thank everyone who gave of their time, talents, and resources to make the event a success. Thrivent and The Classics made special donations. Sunday School students crafted all the Christmas cards to include in the baskets. Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and youth members helped assemble the baskets, load cars, and deliver food. Local businesses also played a key role in the project. Food was purchased through the U.S. Navy Commissary in Marysville. The commissary stretched our food dollar even further with coupons and also worked with vendors to provide free paper towels and cookies for the baskets. The food was transported courtesy of Coastwide Laboratories, a division of Staples. Central Market in Mill Creek donated all the grocery bags. Lowe s gave Advent the use of several large carts to load the groceries into vehicles for delivery. Costco handled recycling the cardboard boxes and packing materials. Starbucks and Top Pot Doughnuts supplied refreshments for volunteers. This was truly a church and community partnership. Thank you, Advent! by Trudi Trueit photos by Bill Trueit

5 JANUARY CORNER Sunday School Christmas Program Thank you to the Sunday School for a great Christmas program. You helped us hear anew the story of Christ s birth. Sunday School resumes Jan. 10 9:40am for opening in the Sanctuary then to our classes. Your child hasn t been to Sunday School yet this year? No problem! Sunday school is open for children K-6th grade. Adult forum resumes Jan. 10 Jan. 10 and 17 Preview our 2016 congregational budget Photo by Jordan Grant New Year s Eve Family Game Night Bring your favorite game and some snacks to share. Come alone, with a friend or bring the whole family and ring in the new year at Advent! We ll begin at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. Need more information: Contact JoAnne Buiteweg and Bill Case casey.joie@frontier.com, Jan. 24 One worship service at 10am congregation meeting and lunch to follow (no Sunday school/adult forum) Sunday School: 9:40am begins in the Sanctuary. Confirmation: 7pm, Thursdays in the C2 portable High school youth group, 7pm Sundays, in the C2 portable For more information contact the church office at or churchoffice@adventlutheran.net.

6 6 ADVENT VOICE A MESSAGE FROM ChURCh COUnCil The birth of Jesus Christ brings us hope, love and God s grace! We remember Jesus birth by sharing with others, worshipping Him and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate. Members of Advent Lutheran Church brought over 200 Christmas baskets to families in need in the community as a way of making the love of Christ known. Thanks to all who contributed their time and energy in this successful event! Mill Creek Food Bank is partnering with Advent Lutheran Church to use our facility once a week to distribute food to families in need. This will be an exciting adventure and an opportunity for members of Advent to donate time when food is distributed. The Garden of Giving and the food produce that is grown and given away is another way of caring for those in need. We remember Jesus birth by sharing our gifts with others and letting God work through us to make the love of Christ known. Jesus Christ s story is one of hope, love and grace! Merry Christmas to all! May God s peace and grace be with us all! Steve Osher Church Council President Prayer Chain Advent is a praying congregation! Blood Drive January 11 Western Washington needs over 800 pints of blood EACH day! You can help by donating your blood at Advent on Monday, January 11, from 1PM to 7PM. The whole process takes about an hour, and in that one hour you will be helping up to three people. If serious illness or other life factors affect you or those you love, contact the church office and we will send your request through our prayer chain. We have people who will pray for your need! If you are interested in joining the prayer chain as a pray-er, contact the church office or Carol Ketz. Many thanks to our prayer-s!

7 1 JANUARY CALENDAR JANUARY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Set your clock If you would like to add or back 1 hour delete something from the today! church calendar, or have Food Drive questions Sunday about room 4:30am: availability, Korean Bible please contact Laurie in the church Group (C2) office or 9:40am Sunday School laurie@adventlutheran.net 9:40am Adult Forum 3 2 5:30pm: Boy Scouts, 6:00pm AA Women s 7pm AA, (C1) 7pm Women s Bible Study, Offsitetier.com 4 (offsite, ) 5:30pm: Boy Scouts 6:00pm AA Women s Group (C2) 7pm AA, (C1) 1 FH = Fellowship Study Hall (C1) 6:30pm A Christmas = A building Baskets 10am: Bible Study (A3) (Preschool 3:30pm bldg.) Girl Scouts (A3) 6:30pm Korean Bible 5:30pm TOPS (C1) Study, SAN (A1) = Sanctuary 6pm: Girl Scouts 7:00pm Mill Creek Chorale 7pm Women s AA (A1) C1 = Portable C1 7:00pm: C2 Bible = Study Portable C1 (offsite, ) 5 6:30pm Korean Bible Study, (C2) 6:30pm Girl Scouts 6:30pm Church Council 7pm Bible Study (offsite) 7:00pm Mill Creek Chorale (SAN) am: Bible Study 3pm: ABM HS Cheer 5:30pm TOPS (C1) 6pm Girl Scouts 7pm Women s AA (A1) 3 12:30pm Piecemakers 7pm Confirmation (C2) 7 12:30pm Piecemakers 4pm Girl Scouts, A2 6:30pm Girl Scouts, A1 7pm Confirmation, C2 1 Happy New Year! 3:30pm Girl Scouts FH,C1 7pm Al-Anon (C2) 8 4pm Girl Scouts 6pm Girl Scouts, A1 7pm Al-Anon (C2) 7pm: AA Newcomers (A3) 2 8am Tree Recycling event 9:00am, AA (C1) 11am: AA Women (C1) 9 9am,.AA (C2) 11am: AA Women (C1) 10 9:40am Sunday School 9:40am Adult Forum 7pm Youth Group (C2) 17 9:40am Sunday School 9:40am Adult Forum 7pm Youth Group (C2) 24 10am Worship 11am Annual Meeting and lunch 7pm Youth Group (C2) 31 9:40am Sunday School 9:40am Adult Forum 7pm Youth Group (C2) 11 (offsite, ) 1pm: Blood Drive 7:30pm, AA (C1) 18 Church office closed, MLK Day (offsite, ) 12:30pm IRG 25 (offsite, ) 5:30pm: Boy Scouts 12 6:30pm Korean Bible Study (A1) 7:00pm: Bible Study (offsite, ) 7:00pm Mill Creek Chorale 19 5:15 Girl Scouts, A3 6:30pm Korean Bible Study (A1) 7:00pm Mill Creek Chorale 7pm Bible Study (offsite) 26 6:30pm Korean Bible Study (A1) 7:00pm Mill Creek Chorale 13 10am: Bible Study 12:30pm Classics 5:30pm TOPS (C1) 7pm Women s AA (A1) 20 10am: Bible Study 5:30pm TOPS (C1) 6pm Girl Scouts (A3) 7pm Women s AA (A1) 27 5:30pm TOPS (C1) 7pm Women s AA (A1) 14 6:30pm Girl Scouts, A1 7pm Confirmation, C :30pm Piecemakers 7pm Confirmation, C2 28 7pm Confirmation, C2 15 7pm Al-Anon (C2) 22 7pm Al-Anon (C2) 29 5pm Pinewood Derby Set-up 7pm Al-Anon 16 9am,.AA (C2)11am: AA Women (C1) 23 9am, AA (C2) 11am: AA Women (C1) 30 8am Pinewood Derby 9am,.AA (C2) GivE ONliNE Online giving is a great new way to support the ministries at Advent.

8 nd Street S.E. Mill Creek, WA Follow us on Facebook E A Publication of the Mission of Advent Lutheran Church Inside This Issue Christmas Baskets First Communion Classes Sunday School Christmas Program Blood Drive There will be a single worship service on January 24 at 10am followed by lunch and the Annual meeting.