News from Advent Lutheran Church August 2017 STAFF Rev. Jason Peterson Rev. Andrea Windsor- Peterson Pastors Melinda East Director of Music/ Organist Tara Spray Secretary Brandi Pate Nursery Attendant COUNCIL Mary Filpus-Luyckx President Ken Voss Vice President Jared Fischer Secretary Steve Merzlak Treasurer Diana Perry Erin Taylor
Pastor s Page But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has better promises. Hebrews 8:6 On October 8, 2013 we began something new at Advent, Ministry Night. In 2013, we were exploring how we can best do ministry together. The people of God at Advent had been diligently at work meeting and planning on a regular basis. This meant that each individual ministry held their own meeting each month. Since Advent has eight ministries, we would have eight different meetings a month. This old model worked well in the church for many years, but in 2013 we saw the need to try something new. Four years later, this new model of ministry night has worked well. It has allowed us to best coordinate the eight different ministries all on one night. However, in order for ministry night to work best, we need more participation. In all honesty, we need all of you to participate. As we come back from some time of Sabbath rest and begin to plan for the future, we want to encourage you all to come to ministry night and remind you what this evening is all about. Ministry Night allows for us at Advent to: Have all ministries meet in the same room at separate tables in one evening. Participants can choose which ministry to be a part of and can change tables to a different ministry all on the same night. Have better communication between each of the various ministries. Plan 3-6 months in advance. Have a master calendar at the meeting where we can put our dates for publication and avoid double booking Provide a space where ministries can overlap and work together. Make decisions that night among those in attendance. Have dinner together where it is provided allowing for those with busy schedules to come and eat and not worry about what to cook that night. Pray together and Fellowship with one another. and so much more. Ministry night is not just for ministry heads or council members. Ministry night is open to all those who want to participate in the life and ministry of Advent. Ministry night is a wonderful place to come and meet new people, learn more about the ministries of Advent and participate where called, and be surrounded by the body of Christ at work Our hope for ministry night is that it can evolve in the future to be a place for Christian learning, children and youth activities, and continued fellowship. Join us August 8 th at 6:30pm for this wonderful time together where we can dream big and listen to the Holy Spirit as it leads and guides us as the church. If you have any questions, please see one of us. We look forward to seeing you at Ministry Night. In Christ s love, Pastor Andrea and Pastor Jason
Advent s August Worship Schedule Sunday, August 6 9th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, August 13 10th Sunday of Pentecost Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Sunday, August 20 11th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Sunday, August 27 12th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Rally Day & Picnic following Worship Pray for Healing & Provision: Marge Rahn, Edgar Bollinger, Ruth Neumann, Tania Hayes, Art Suprek, Irmgard Crowder, Maggie Heaney, Jackie Voss, Daisy Morgan, Hilda Sullivan, Karen DeVilbiss, Donna Meisner, Bob Holm, Candy Jablonski, Gary Lawrence, Diana Perry, Jean Harrell, Virginia Reedstrom, Ed Merzlak, Marijo Bower, Judy Younce, Terrie Svejkovsky, Penny Lowe, Fred Vergar, Tricia Cresanta, Vicki Dickinson, Pamela Sale, Eric Holland, Reagan Milford, Kathy Wells, Colin Morgan, Bonnie Roper Frank, Darrell Marshall, Trey Tassan, Tiffany Murphy, Randy Lester, and Larry Meisner. Pray for Our Deployed Military: Dale Tupper, Peggy Martin, Aaron Hanes-Dodd, Rob Gulbrandson, Rayland Dawood, and Steven Johnson
August is here! For many families that means school is just around the corner! Shopping for school supplies, books, and fall clothes becomes a part of everyone's schedule. Here at Advent, on Sunday, August 6th, we want to celebrate and bless the beginning of another school year. Students, preschool through adult, bring your backpacks or lunch boxes to worship at 9:30 a.m. The service will lift up children and students of all ages, dedicating them to God's glory as we begin a new school year. These backpacks and lunchboxes are our children s constant companions as they go about their school days. Therefore, it is very important to have them blessed, along with reminding our children of God s presence in our lives. This blessing is not limited to backpacks or lunch boxes. Bring anything your child uses that is important to him or her so these too can be blessed. Teachers, aides, principals, administrators, secretaries, cooks, librarians, janitors, and bus drivers come to church to be blessed, affirmed in your vocation, and encouraged as you serve children and families in your daily work!
Ready for an ADVENTure? You are invited to embark on an adventure that the Holy Spirit can use to enable you to keep what Jesus called the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22: 37-39) When you love someone you want to... spend time with them, talking together, getting to know them better, doing things that please them. When you sign up for the Prayer ADVENTure, you promise to talk to God about other members and visitors of Advent for one year. You will be given the names of about 10 people, whom you will pray for by name at least once each week. This assures that you spend time with God, asking Him to lead you in what to pray for another seeking His will. Over time as you pray for another person, you find that you care about him or her and want good for him/her. I have discovered that years after I ve prayed for someone for a year, I continue to care deeply for that one. As you spend more time with God in prayer, your love for Him grows as well. Ready for the challenge? Please sign up to join this year's Prayer ADVENTure, in the upcoming August Bulletins. Be amazed at what God will do in and through you!
Back to School Time! August is here and kids are heading back to school. Food stamps help provide food items, but shoes, clothes, school supplies, etc aren t covered and can leave little money for other essentials like personal care items. This month the requested donation for the GAP Food Pantry is shampoo, soap and toothpaste. Super-sized items cannot be divided, so please purchase regular sized products so that more families can be helped. You can place your donated items in the container under Sign- Up Central. If you would like to donate money, please see Jackie Voss or the Pastors. Thank you for helping others who struggle to meet the needs of their family. Every donation shows God s love and care.
Dear Church Family, Thank you for paying for me to go to Lutheranch. It was so much fun, and I appreciated it so much. It was so thoughtful of you to do it. Thanks again! From, Violet Dear Church Family, Thank you for sending me to camp at Lutheranch. I had such a fun time and grew more in my faith. We sang songs and played games while learning more about God. I really enjoyed kayaking and canoeing. Thank you for giving me a lifetime experience! Love, Timmy Dear Church Family, Thank you for sending me to Affirm. I had a wonderful time and made amazing friends. I had a wonderful time learning about God and how our God is an awesome God. I love God more from this experience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to have this experience. Love, Kate
Saturday, August 26 th 7:00 AM 1:00 PM Rain or Shine Will be held in the comfort of the Fellowship Hall All proceeds donated to Advent Lutheran Church Sponsored by Service Ministry Mark Your Calendar! How Can You Help? Donate your unwanted stuff Sign up to help set up yard sale Thursday, August 24 th and Friday August 25 th Sign Up Sheets on Sign-Up Central! See Nancy Tokarska for any questions!
After having some time off to rest, the Lydia Project is in full swing. The Lydia Project is named so for Lydia who appears in the Bible (Acts 16: 14-15) She was a successful businesswomen who traded in purple cloth. Lydia used her gifts to aid those in need. Every woman receives a handmade tote bag filled with items and a Lydia Journal to help her on her journey. All totes given to those in need, are purple handled and monogrammed on the pocket with Faith, Hope, or Love to ensure women and their families are not alone during such a devastating time. At Advent Lutheran Church we have a Lydia Cutting Day, the fourth Saturday of each month, to cut bags for the Lydia sewers. Please come join us and volunteer a little of your time to help those in need. This month we will meet on Saturday, August 26 th at 9 AM in the Banner Room. See you there!
Beginning immediately after the Worship Service, the PICNIC will feature games, fun, fellowship and FOOD!!!! The Fellowship Ministry will supply the meat-brats, dogs, burgers and we ask members to supply the other dishes. Watch the board in "Sign-up Central" for a variety of sign up sheets: help organize, set-up, clean-up, to bring food and yes we need cooks for the meat. If you can provide a game or direct or help with games/activities please contact the games/activity directors Pastor Andrea and Erin Taylor. If you have a special request for a game/activity let them know that too. We hear Pastor Andrea REALLY likes water balloons!
Plans are under way for another weekend of projects to do God s Work with Our Hands for those in need in our community. Look for the schedule of events and plan on showing your faith to others. A New Road 35 Camp Kinard 6053 Two Notch Road Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina 29070 October 6-8, 2017 A New Road offers a weekend of support for women and men who have been widowed within the last five years. It is a seminar held at Camp Kinard on the first weekend in October each year. Participants attending receive support as they hear the stories of team members who are farther along on the grief journey. They replenish emotional energies through devotional periods and opportunities for spiritual growth. They receive informative grief coping skills and legal guidance on topics such as Social Security, wills, probate and other financial matters from professional presenters. A panel of young people who at an early age lost mother, father or both will share their coping skills.
The Little Free Pantry Advent has installed their Little Free Pantry (known as an LFP). The LFP is a box with items in it that people with needs can freely take from, and others will add items to it from their resources. The idea was published in the ELCA s Living Lutheran magazine, where Jessica McClard, a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, described how she saw the Little Free Libraries and thought the idea could be adapted to feed the needy. Each LFP has a combination of food and personal care items (such as diapers and toilet paper) in it. The LFPs are usually outside and thus available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are now LFPs all across the U.S., including one that a sorority set up at Georgia Military College over on Davis Road. Advent built most of our LFP on Earth Day as an Advocacy Ministry event, inviting in the children of Advent to glue it and drive screws. On Sunday, we used the Sunday School hour to paint it. After its dedication last Sunday, we stocked it. This puts the LFP at the overlap of three of our ministries; Service, Christian Education, and Advocacy. As we heard in the Gospel reading from Matthew 25: 37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 40 The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Jesus is saying here that our advocacy for the needy is advocacy for him. Our LFP has this verse painted on it: Hebrews 13:16; Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.. The beauty of an LFP is that it s not all about us. As for the question of What do we put in the pantry?, here is some guidance from Concordia First United Methodist Church in Kansas:
Food: Baby Items: Household Items: Personal Needs: School Supplies: Peanut Butter Diapers Dish Soap Toothbrushes Pens Canned Fruit/ Veggies/ Protein/ Wipes Hand Soap Toothpaste Highlighters Soup Granola Bars Diaper Deodorant Coloring books Cream Dry Pasta Feminine Hygiene products Crayons/ Markers Crackers Toilet paper Index Cards Cereal Bars of soap Folders Coffee/Tea/Bottled Water Socks Notebooks Gloves Since people that stop by may, or may not, have can openers and a place to cook food, the LFPs usually have a combination of regular canned goods and pop-top items. As we get into the colder weather next winter, we will have the opportunity for our knitters and crotchetier to make to scarves, hats, and gloves to hang on the hooks. The list of rules on the What not to put in the LFP list are mainly for health and safety: no homemade food, no open food, no uncovered sharps, no expired food, no chocolate in the Georgia sun. Our guiding verses are from Matthew 25: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me and from Hebrews 13: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.. It is our prayer that our mighty God will work through us to use this our LFP to meet the needs of many people. It has been for only two days now and one family has already been helped by it. To his glory, Paul Filpus-Luyckx
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 Bible Study Staff Meeting Bible Study Property 10:00am 10:00am 6:30pm Meeting 9:00am 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Worship & Holy Communion 9:30am Blessing Of The Backpacks Service Ministry 2:30pm Ministry Night 6:30pm Stephen Ministry 6:30pm Praise Band 10:00am Navy Heritage & Culture Assoc. Yard Sale 8am - 1pm 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Contemporary & Holy Communion 9:30am Coffee Only 20 Worship & Holy Communion 9:30am 21 Bible Study 10:00am Council 6:30pm 22 23 Bible Study 6:30pm 24 Stephen Ministry 6:30pm 25 24th & 25th Set Up For Yard Sale AA 8:00am - 9:00am Chinese Church 6pm-9:30pm 26 Yard Sale 7:00am - 1:00pm Lydia Project 9am 27 28 29 30 31 Worship 9:30am RALLY DAY Church Picnic Following Worship Book Club 7:30pm
8/6/17 8/13/17 8/20/17 8/27/17 Assisting Ministers Pamela Tipler Jamie Sadenwasser Ingrid Zamecnik Mary Filpus-Luyckx Lectors Scott Boeke Ken Furlong Violet Herrmann Lynn Reed Communion Assistants Maggie Heaney Carole Hope Marcy Jimenez Barbara Plumley Acolytes /Crucifiers Sophie Van Bladel/ Stormi Hubble Brian Sadenwasser/ Kate Peterson Holly Sadenwasser/ Lily Summers Zach Hubble/ Max Van Bladel Ushers Bob & Diana Perry Mary Filpus-Luyckx/ Tim Peterson Jared Fischer/ Tim Sadenwasser Bob Holm/ Jim Williams Greeters Don & Mable Plueger Carol Billings/ Shirley Chipman Julie Fillgrove/ Erin Taylor Dieter & Ulrike Beck In Honor of In Honor of Flowers Given By Jackson Taylor s 21st Birthday In Honor of Jackson McBride *Sign up in Narthex* Summer s Birthday By By Erin & Rick Taylor Maggie Heaney Missionary Support *Sign up in *Sign up in *Sign up in *Sign up in Given by Narthex* Narthex* Narthex* Narthex* Hospital/Shut In Ministers Alice Glisson Jackie Voss Patty Williams Alice Glisson Visitor of Visitors Gayle Ricklefs Martha Ostendorff Gayle Ricklefs Martha Ostendorff Fellowship Coffee Hour Coffee Only Men s Breakfast Coffee Only Coffee Only Altar Guild Sat. Martha Ostendorff Martha Ostendorff Martha Ostendorff Martha Ostendorff Altar Guild Late: Heather Herrmann Heather Herrmann Heather Herrmann Heather Herrmann
8/1 Jackson Taylor 8/17 Dale Tupper 8/9 Wyatt Tokarska 8/18 Katie Licitis 8/11 Nancy Tokarska 8/22 Maggie Heaney 8/15 Ingrid Zamecnik 8/23 Rhett Bickley 8/16 Lyla Fischer 8/28 Nick Pravato 8/17 Kenneth Furlong 8/30 Sam Jimenez 8/2 Kip & Diana Hamilton 8/13 Danny & Laura Moran 8/17 Jim & Maggie Heaney 8/24 Art & Marge Rahn 8/24 Jack & Ingrid Zamecnik 3232 Washington Road Augusta, GA 30907 Phone: 706-860-0439 Web: adventaugusta.org Email: advluch@adventaugusta.org DATED MATERIAL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Final Deadline For September Newsletter Entries is August 21st!