Staff Pastors Jason Peterson Andrea Windsor-Peterson Director of Music/Organist Melinda East Secretary Tara Spray November 2018 Newsletter Nursery Attendant Brandi Pate Church Council President Angie Hubble Vice President Thanksgiving Meal Worship Sunday, November 18th 5:30pm Erin Taylor Secretary Marcy Jimenez Treasurer Steve Merzlak At Large Members Diana Perry Sunday, November 18th Following Worship Zack Teffeteller Ministry Chairpersons Christian Education Heather Herrmann Evangelism Mary Filpus-Luyckx Fellowship Linda Jaath Youth Marcy Jimenez
Words from the Pastors Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 November is a month that is dedicated to thanksgiving. We are not just talking about the U.S. Holiday, Thanksgiving, but rather a more all-encompassing focus on giving thanks. We are extremely thankful for such an amazing and God centered congregation here at Advent Lutheran Church. This fall has seen one exciting event after another. Many wonderful and dedicated people have given fully to help share the love of God with one another and this community. Some of the events we are thankful for are God s Work, Our Hands Weekend, Advent Oktoberfest, Support of Mission Work, Reformation services, Advent s Community Trunk or Treat and so much more. We truly give thanks to God for such a special and generous congregation here at Advent. In reflecting upon all these fall activities, it has given us great appreciation for the many special people in our lives that make life in Augusta so incredible. When we stop in our daily lives to give thanks for all the blessings we experience, we can begin to see God at work more clearly. You see, giving thanks can change our perspective and our outlook on life tends to change. We become less focused on material or superficial things and we become more focused on the things that make life so special and blessed. It is no coincidence that leading up to our U.S. holiday, Thanksgiving, we begin the conversation about Stewardship. Usually when we mention stewardship, many will immediately think of money. While money or possessions are one aspect of stewardship, stewardship itself involves so much more. Listen again to the words we pray for our offertory prayer: Most merciful God, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us, ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love Ourselves, Our time, and our possessions. Notice that when we pray in worship that we use the word our instead of your. Why is this? Maybe it is because in a small way we are reminding ourselves that the things of this world were never really ours in the first place. All things come from God and we are stewards of what God gives us. It also helps us to focus not just on me, myself, and I, but rather on the whole community of God in Christ Jesus. It is not just my Father in Heaven or your Father in Heaven, but our Father in Heaven. Not just my God and your God, but Our God. Not just my self, my time, my possession, but ourselves, our time, and our possessions. Grammatically it may seem like a small difference, but theologically it truly is so much more and it truly shapes what it is that we are thankful for.
So how are we doing in these three areas? With our stewardship of self, how are we taking care of ourselves or our bodies? Do we eat right? Do we exercise? Do we get enough sleep? Do we go to the doctors regularly? Are we in relationships that build us up or ones that tear us down? Do we tell others how much we love and appreciate them on a regular basis? Do we give of ourselves fully in worship and service to God? In giving thanks to God for creating us, it helps to shape who and whose we are in this life. With our stewardship of time, how are we spending the time God has given us? Are we taking time to renew our minds, body, and spirit? How are we devoting our time? Do we give God the first fruits of our time or does something else in life claim it first? How do we divide our time between God, family, work, friends, service, leisure activities, social media, time using electronics, etc.? Time seems to be the new currency in today s age, so how are we spending our God given time? With our stewardship of possessions, how are we caring for the things that have been entrusted to us? Are we taking care of God s creation and all that God has made? Do we spend too much on wants instead of needs? Do we care enough for the needs of others? Do we share with others our possessions things like money, food, clothing, shelter and more? We could spend this whole newsletter raising more and more questions about all the ways that we are being stewards of what God has first given us. However, if we shift our focus back to thanksgiving, then maybe our stewardship will shift as well. When we give God thanks for all the things we have been given in this life, then when we give back to God in many and various ways, maybe then, we truly become cheerful givers. In Christ s love, Pastor Jason and Pastor Andrea
November Worship Schedule Sunday, November 4th All Saints Day Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School & Conformation 10:45 am Sunday, November 11th 25th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School & Conformation 10:45 am Sunday, November 18th Consecration Sunday Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School & Conformation 10:45 am Congregational Meeting Following worship Sunday, November 18th Thanksgiving Worship Meal 5:30pm Sunday, November 25th Christ the King Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School & Confirmation 10:45 am
Pray for Healing & Provision: Marge Rahn, Edgar Bollinger, Tania Hayes, Mary & Art Suprek, Irmgard Crowder, Maggie Heaney, Ken Voss, Daisy Morgan, Ted DeVilbiss, Alice Glisson, Hilda Sullivan, Patty Williams, Suzanne Fouche, Lee Hoops, John & Nancy Tokarska, Amy Tokarska, Betty & David Kadlewicz, Sheree Cartee, Michael Cartee, Steve & Debbie Merzlak, Jared Fischer, Emerson Johnson, Brett Billings, Erika Larson, Virginia Reedstrom, Otis Smith, Raquel, Diana Walker (friend of Hilda Sullivan), Bruce Carlton (brother of Melinda East s neighbor), Judy Younce (Debbie Merzlak s sister), Tony Cruize, Brandon (friend of Joey Tupper), Ray Ricklefs (Ron Ricklefs brother), Greg Dross (friend of Daisy Morgan), Lucy McKinley (Renee Blanchette s Aunt), Jay Prescott (Ina and Alli Prescott s dad) Pray for Our Deployed Military: Peggy Martin, Rob Gulbrandson, Rayland Dawood, Steven Johnson
Music Ministry First, I want to thank everyone who helped make Reformation Sunday such a wonderful, worshipful experience and especially our Choir for giving extra practice time and offering their musical gifts at both services on Reformation Sunday. Also, a special thanks to Sandra Prichard (from Resurrection) who conducted, to Tonia Busbee (ensemble leader) from St. James Lutheran Church in Graniteville, to the singers from the different local churches, to the St. James Ringers and the St. James Ensemble. Thanks so much to Pastor Jason and Andrea for all their support and willingness to go even beyond what would be reasonably hoped for (even cleaning the Choir Loft, and thanks to Nancy Tokarska for helping to clean it!) Thanks to everyone who helped in every way! Also, a belated Thank you to Sister Barbara Lee who has successfully completed a much needed reorganization of the Choir Room. Now we can find things and keep up with things. Thank you Sr. Barbara! Now we are getting ready for our Christmas Program, Starry Night, Noisy Night. This delightful Christmas musical will be presented on Sunday morning, December 23rd. We invite everyone of all ages to participate (from children to every senior citizens.) We need singers, but if singing is not your thing, there are plenty of opportunities for character roles (speaking and non-speaking) also staging, building, making costumes, etc. Don t miss out on the fun!! See you in church, Melinda
Greetings from India Before I left for India, I shared with you all my recent experiences in Uganda and Bangladesh. As I said in that message, I will be focusing and serving primarily in Uganda starting July 2019. During the homily, I alluded to a woman by the name of Jane who underwent tremendous trauma. While at church one Sunday, Jane began shrieking. The locals said oh she has demons, which is the term they use for mental health issues. I sat down with Jane to find out her story. When Jane was 6, her stepmother accused her of stealing. So she bound her to a tree, laid banana leaves on her, and burned her alive. As Jane screamed in agony, some neighbors heard her and rescued her. Jane eventually married and has 3 children with a man who is unable to work. Jane is the primary breadwinner, and has only been able to work maid jobs due to her scars from her burns. However, she is developing more contractures from the burns which are very painful and this she can t do heavy lifting with maid work. She has been fired from her job. She had no means of supporting her family at the time, who she had to leave behind to find work. She wanted to start her own business selling charcoal, which she can do right outside her home. She needed building supplies to make a small structure. Through your generous donations after my last homily, Jane s vision is becoming a reality. I was able to give her the money to make the structure. The donations will also help pay for her rent for 6 months, which is just $16 US dollars per month. So, on behalf of Jane, thank you for your help and sharing your generosity with a woman who has been through so much but continues to have so much faith in Christ. I will keep you updated on Jane and her business when I return!! God bless!! I love you all! In Christ s love, Pam
November 18 is Consecration Sunday. This is a day when collectively as a church we come together to turn in our pledge, time and talent cards which represent the giving of ourselves, our time, and our possessions to God. These cards will be distributed in worship on November 11 th and we will hear about this year s stewardship theme. Our Stewardship Theme for this year is Grateful and Cheerful giving based on 2 Corinthians 9:7: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Cheerfulness comes as a result of an attitude of thanksgiving/gratefulness. When we think of giving it is often something we have to check off rather than something we are excited to do. Recently there was an email from the ELCA on Stewardship which focused on gratefulness. It was such a refreshing look at stewardship that it has become our stewardship emphasis this year. By focusing on grateful and cheerful giving, stewardship and how we live it changes and becomes more than just the business of the church, but rather a way of life lived out through our faith in God. We thought we would share this letter from the ELCA as we begin to talk about the ways we live out our own stewardship at Advent, in our communities, and in the world. Steve Oelschlager, Stewardship Program Coordinator for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America writes:
Dear friend in Christ, Whenever we talk about stewardship, it doesn't take long before the topic of gratitude enters the conversation. The two are commonly linked, possibly because giving thanks and being generous are naturally understood as appropriate responses to God's abundant blessings. Perhaps it's a surprise then that the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast implies that gratitude can be a disposition that precedes goodness, instead of just a logical response that follows. Quite provocatively he says, In daily life, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. Or, said another way, being grateful is a perspective we can cultivate that helps us see that God is good and our lives are blessed, as opposed to a quid pro quo acknowledgment after the fact. Independently, the professor and researcher Brené Brown writes that grateful people don't just have an inclination or attitude of gratitude, but instead, these people engage in specific practices that fuel their sense of gratefulness. Saying grace before a meal, offering a prayer of thanks at the beginning or end of the day, or taking time to worship God are disciplines that exercise our trust in God's very nature of goodness. These practices don't just focus on blessings that have already materialized. Similarly, generosity and stewardship are faith practices that increase our confidence, our faith in God and God's ability to provide for our well-being in the present and future. As we continue to learn more about gratitude, it seems to me there is a need to better understand its relevance to a life of faith and living life as stewards. We are a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and life. Thank you for doing God s work with a faithful, generous heart! Faithfully, Steve Oelschlager We hope that you will join us on for worship on November 18 th for Consecration Sunday. The congregational meeting will follow worship.
SPECIAL SCHOOL PROJECT For those of you who may not know me, my name is Zach Hubble and I have been attending Advent Lutheran Church for the last 13 years. This year I am a Senior at Lakeside High School, and I am hoping that our wonderful congregation will be able to assist me with my Senior Project! I currently serve on the Youth Board for GAP Ministries, so I decided that for my Senior Project, I would really like to help some of the families that struggle, especially during the holidays. For my Senior Project, I will be partnering with GAP to provide meals for 100 families. Each of the 100 families will get all the food necessary to provide a holiday meal to their family of 4-6 people. Our Service Board already donates the money to supply all of the meat for the holiday bags, so I am hoping you will help support me by donating food (or money to purchase the food). All donations will need to be in no later than December 15th, so I will know what else I need to purchase. Some of the items that I need donated include: Stuffing mix, gravy in jars or packets, jiffy cornbread mix, canned vegetables, small bottles of vegetable oil, and cans of cranberry sauce. (The youth are helping me make homemade cookies for each of the bags!) Thank you so much for any assistance you can give. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions at 706-220-6733.
Advent First Wednesday Lunch + What a blessing it was to gather together for the first "Advent First Wednesday Lunch +" group. Everyone had a wonderful time of fellowship and fun sharing lunch with one another. The next gathering of the group will be Wednesday Nov. 7th 12-2pm. Come when you can, bring your lunch and an extra sandwich to share. Drinks will be provided by the church. This month we will also share in a game of BINGO for those who are interested. Hope you can come to this wonderful fellowship opportunity. Thrivent Action Team Project Oppotunities Collecting Teddy Bears Please bring in new unused teddy bears for the Children's Hospital's. There is a box provided in the narthex. When Help Can't Wait We are collecting items needed to help with nursing homes. Some of the items needed are: lip moisturizer, lotions, shampoos, toothbrushes, tooth paste, regular and sugar free candy, coloring books, crayons, deodorant, playing cards, hair brushes, games, stationary, socks, paper, etc. Thrivent Shirts are available in the narthex, for free!
GAP Donation Request for November Baby, It s cold outside! Imagine being homeless. and cold! The November donation Item of the Month for GAP is warm hats, gloves and socks. We especially need large size men s socks. They are the most requested item when the weather gets cold. Large size gloves are also requested. Hats that can pull down over the ears help keep those in need warm at night. Please deposit these items in the GAP donation box under the Sign-Up Central Board. For those who would like to make a monetary donation towards the purchase of any of these items, please contact the church office. Thank you for being so generous in donating items for those in need throughout the year. Advent is truly filled with such faith filled people of God.
The Angel Tree Is Coming! The Angel Tree with names of Children and Elder Angels will be up the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Please select an angel as you begin your Christmas shopping. Children s Service Project The children of Advent will be gathering together again to make gifts for the home-bound members of our church for Christmas. We have a fun project planned. Look for more information on Sign-Up Central. Our home bound members truly look forward to receiving a Christmas gift made with love by our children and youth!
Sunday, November 18th at 5:30pm This year we are trying something new for the Thanksgiving dinner and worship time. In the past, these two events have been separate. First we began with dinner in the fellowship hall and then we went into the sanctuary for a time of worship. This year, we are combining these events much like the Seder Meal. We will be having a Thanksgiving Worship Meal where worship and dinner will be done together. We will eat, pray, sing, and fellowship together all in one service. We hope you will join us for this special time of worship and meal together.
Advent Family Thanksgiving Do you have a place to share Thanksgiving dinner? Do you have room to add one or two people to your Thanksgiving dinner? The Service Ministry of Advent wants to make sure everyone can share Thanksgiving with family. If you need a place to go or if you are willing to have a guest, please sign up at Sign-up Central. There is much to be thankful for at Advent!
Starry Night, Noisy Night Please Sign-up in the narthex to Star in this years Christmas Program. There are so many parts: Speaking Parts Non-Speaking Parts Singing Staging Building Sets Making Costumes If you are not sure what to sign up for, sign-up and we will find a place for you here. The Choir, Children, Adults, Youth, Stage Volunteers, There are so many ways to participate! The story is told from the stable animals point of view! Sunday, December 23rd during morning worship.
Fall Activities from Advent
ADVENT BOOK CLUB 2018 2019 Meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00pm unless otherwise noted. Join us on Monday, November 26 at 7:00pm in the Adult Sunday School Room as we meet to discuss the book, Penguin the Magpie, by Cameron Bloom & Bradley Trevor Greive. The Discussion Leader for the evening will be Ulrike Beck, and Ingrid Zamecnik is providing refreshments. All are welcome! ADVENT BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE 2018-2019 DATE BOOK AUTHOR LEADER HOSTESS 11/26/18 Penguin the Magpie Cameron Bloom & Bradley Trevor Greive Ulrike Beck Ingrid Zamecnik 1/28/19 The End of Your Life Book Club Will Schwalbe Jackie Voss Susan Ditslear 2/25/19 Your favorite childhood book Ingrid Zamecnik Betsy Walker 3/25/19 Quiet, the Power of Introverts in a World That Can t Stop Talking Susan Cain Gayle Ricklefs Jackie Voss 4/22/19 The Wonder Emma Donoghue Martha Ostendorff Jan Lamke 5/27/19 Before We Were Yours Lisa Wingate Mary Suprek Pat Grim
November 2018 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 06 Cheryl Fouche 06 Matt Reed 06 Rick Reed 07 Lewis Huerth 14 Juergen Jaath 14 Charlotte Miller 18 Lily Summers 18 Diana Perry 18 Derek Herrmann 19 Marcy Jimenez 19 Addison Koch 22 Patty Williams 29 Dale Tupper 29 Greg & Sarah Van Bladel
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 4 All Saints Sunday Worship/Holy Communion 9:30am Sun. School & Confirmation 10:45am 5 6 Bible Study 10:00am Staff Meeting 12:00pm SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK & CHANGE BATTERIES IN SMOKE DETECTORS ON 11/3/18 7 Advent First Wed. Lunch + 12:00pm Choir Practice 1 Bible Study Toastmasters 8 Stephen Ministry Toastmasters 2 9 3 AA Celebration 8am - 9am Property Meeting 9:00am 10 Strength in Suffering 10:00am 11 Worship/Holy Communion 9:30am Sun. School & Confirmation 10:45am 18Consecration Sunday Worship/Holy Communion 9:30am Cong. Meeting After Worship 12 19 13 Bible Study 10:00am Service Min. 2:30pm Ministry Night 20 Church Council 14 Choir Practice 21 No Choir Practice 15 Bible Study Toastmasters 16 22 23 17 Advocacy 12pm - 2pm 24 Chinese Church 6pm-9pm Thanksgiving Meal Worship 5:30pm 25 Christ the King Sunday Worship/Holy Communion 9:30am Sun. School & Confirmation 10:45am 26 Book Club 7:00pm 27 28 Choir Practice 29 Toastmasters 30
11/4/18 11/11/18 11/18/18 11/25/18 Assisting Ministers Mary Filpus-Luyckx Heather Herrmann Lynn Reed Jamie Sadenwasser Lectors Paul Filpus-Luyckx Violet Herrmann Erin Taylor Tom Alderson Communion Assistants Ingrid Zamecnik Mary Suprek Carol Billings Marcy Jimenez Acolytes/ Crucifiers Emma Fischer/ Brian Sadenwasser Wyatt Tokarska/ Timmy Peterson Max Van Bladel/ Sophie Van Bladel Stormi Hubble Holly Sadenwasser Ushers Linda Lawrence/ Tim Sadenwasser Linda Lawrence/ Jim Williams Bob Holm/ Steve Merzlak Vicki &Peter Kohler Greeters Renee Blanchette/ Lisa Cheek Bobby Bisbee/ Julie Fillgrove Maggie Heaney/ Carole Hope Shirley Chipman/ Linda Lawrence Missionary Support Given by *Sign up outside church office* *Sign up outside church office* *Sign up outside church office* *Sign up outside church office* Flowers Given By In Memory of Jean Reed By Lynn Reed To the Glory of God, In Honor of Our Veterans By Joy Jiminez *Sign up in Narthex* In Memory of Bill & Edna Varidour by Gina Hammock Hospital/Shut In Ministers Martha Ostendorff Gayle Ricklefs Martha Ostendorff Gayle Ricklefs Visitor of Visitors Linda Lawrence Lisa Cheek Linda Lawrence Lisa Cheek Fellowship Coffee Hour Coffee & Treats Coffee & Treats Coffee & Treats Coffee & Treats Altar Guild Sat. Renee Blanchette Renee Blanchette Renee Blanchette Renee Blanchette Altar Guild Late: Brandi Pate Brandi Pate Brandi Pate Brandi Pate
3232 Washington Road Augusta, GA 30907 Phone: 706-860-0439 Web: adventaugusta.org Email: advluch@adventaugusta.org DATED MATERIAL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Deadline For December Newsletter Entries November 29th