Youth Mystery Dinner, April 14th Pg. 3 Lenten Soup Suppers Pg. 4 March 2018 A Publication of the Mission of Advent Lutheran Garden of Giving Update Pg. 5 Upcoming EVENTS > > > > Lenten Soup Suppers & Mid Week Service - Wednesdays, through March 21st Daylight Savings Time - Sunday, March 11th Classics Potluck - Wednesday, March 14th, 12:30pm Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 25th, 8:30am & 10:30am, with Palm Processional Holy Week Maundy Thursday - March 29 11:00am and 7:00pm Worship Good Friday - March 30 11:00am and 7:00pm Worship Easter - April 1 7:30am Outdoor Sunrise Service 8:30am and 10:30am Worship
2 ADVENT VOICE A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR With the month of March, we are well on our way on our Lenten journey, a season shaped by the purple robe placed around Jesus when he was shamed and tortured by his guards. They were taunting him for those whispers and cries that he was God s anointed, mocking the notion that there was any kingship but Rome, putting to an end the threat posed by this peasant claim of a divine revolution. What does it mean for us that our altar is vested in purple for the season of Lent? Do we see Jesus there, beneath his crown of thorns? When the bread is broken, do we see Jesus there with pierced hands? What does it mean that our central image as a faith community is the brokenness of a cross? It s an important question for our time. Religion and power are usually a deadly mix. We know about the crusades. We know about the inquisition. We know about the thirty years war that devastated Europe with war, disease and famine. (In the German states, between 25% and 40% of the population perished.) We know about Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; Hindi and Muslim in India; Sunni and Shia in Iraq. We know Germany s final solution against the Jews. But such joining of religion and violence is not the fault of religious traditions; it is the fault of the human heart that uses religion to divide the world into us and them, and to disguise our conflicts with a righteous banner. So during Lent, the altar is vested in purple. The pastor is vested in purple. Perhaps we should drape our whole campus in purple to be clear that Jesus renounced the sword. During Lent, we confess that Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture, and that He says, quite simply and directly, Love your enemies. Jesus said that greatness is in service. That all are neighbor. That bread is to be shared. That unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24) Too many in our world are looking for a wedding of religion and power. Jesus wedded religion and weakness that strange and powerful weakness that looks down from the cross and says Father, forgive them. So during Lent, we have an altar dressed in purple, and a crucified messiah, leading us toward an Easter hope. Glad to be on the journey with you,
Easter Garden We are taking orders for the annual Easter Garden plants to decorate the sanctuary. Order forms are available in the church office. March 18th is the last day to return order forms. For questions contact Deb Shaffer, 425-346-5703, or dshaffer1@aol.com March 2018 3 Making the Love of Christ Known Advent Lutheran Church Contact Us: 4306 132nd St. SE Mill Creek, WA 98012 Phone: 425-337-5373 Website: www.adventlutheran.net E-mail: churchoffice@adventlutheran.net National Youth Gathering Fundraiser in January 128 Envelopes We only have about 30 envelopes left! Advent Lutheran Youth are raising funds to help defray the cost of their trip to the National Youth Gathering in Houston this summer. Check out the Youth Table in the Fellowship Hall. If all envelopes are returned with the corresponding amount contributed we will raise over $8,000 toward our service trip to the National Youth Gathering! Please consider taking an envelope (or two!, or three!), and place cash or check inside and return to the Church Office. Thank you in advance for your generosity, and for supporting the Youth here at Advent! Worship Schedule 8:30am and 10:30am - Worship 9:45am - Sunday School, A1 9:45am - Adult Forum, Fellowship Hall Advent Staff: Pastor: Scott Postlewait, pastor@adventlutheran.net Visitation Pastor: G. Lee Kluth Office Manager: Jennifer Schroeder churchoffice@adventlutheran.net Choir Director/Accompanist: Kirsten Lysen Bookkeeper: Kathy Wax treasurer@adventlutheran.net Volunteer Pastoral Care Minister: Jill Bossen prayerrequests@adventlutheran.net Lutheran Counseling Network: Merry Long merrylong06@comcast.net Church Council: George Howard President/Admin Kim Hall Vice President Bill Case Secretary Kathy Stamey Fellowship Cari Krippner Worship Sue Taylor Youth Pamela Stubsten Finance JoAnne Purvis Social Justice/Outreach Ken Krause Education Jon Schneidler Facilities/Columbarium Karen Young Treasurer Carolyn Johnson Finance Secretary churchcouncil@adventlutheran.net Volunteer Sunday School Coordinators: Diane Krause peacarrot@aol.com Katie Postlewait katiemiata@hotmail.com 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 churchoffice@adventlutheran.net
4 ADVENT VOICE Lent Soup Suppers and Worship We gather together on Wednesday evenings to share a soup supper at 6:00, and then a brief worship at 7:00. The Season of Lent helps us prepare for Easter. This Lent we will recognize again that we can not arrive at Easter without first encountering the Cross of Christ. Join us on Wednesday evenings in Lent (3/7, 3/14, 3/21) for soup supper at 6:00, and a short worship service at 7:00. Each week we'll take a look at a different cross in Lent, and how the meaning of that cross moves us along on our journey toward Easter. Our offerings will go to a different ministry that Advent supports each week. Invite your neighbors, friends, and family! Wednesdays during Lent are a time when you don t have to worry about what to fix for dinner, a time when you can gather with your Advent family and friends, and a time to engage your faith. Let these Lenten evenings be a beautiful point of peace for you and your family in the middle of your week. Soup will be provided by various groups each week. March 7 Classics & Quilters March 14 Council / Sunday School March 21 Sign up in the Fellowship Hall for Everybody Bring Soup night. Wednesday Offering Recipients March 7 Open Door Ministries March 14 Everett Gospel Mission March 21 Penny Creek Elementary Outreach We begin in the Fellowship Hall for a joyful procession with palms, remembering the noisy crowd ascending to Jerusalem for Passover and the acclamation of Jesus as Israel s true king. The joyful celebration leads us into Holy Week to ponder the dramatic turn of events up until the triumph of Easter morning. Join us during an intergenerational Sunday School time between services to make palm crosses! Will you have flowers blooming for Easter? Help decorate the cross in front of the Fellowship Hall on Easter Morning, April 1, by bringing cut flowers. What a beautiful symbol of rebirth by covering the cross in flowers. ADULT FORUM: Luther s Theology of the Cross February 18th - March 18th at 9:45am. It s not too late to be part of the conversation as Pastor Paul Anderson leads us on a journey through Luther s Theology of the Cross for Lent. Pick up your guides in the church office so you have a chance to read and reflect before each session, and plan to be part of this great opportunity. JoAnne Purvis is back from her trip to Nicaragua in support of Corner of Love. Corner of Love is a growing international mission dedicated to glorifying God through healthcare, education, and clean water projects in Nicaragua. We saw 150 patients who were given Parasite treatment and basic necessities for living. Clothing and shoes and toys for the kids. The people are so happy and thankful for all that the church has given to them. Thanks, JoAnne
March 2018 5 The Garden of Giving has been resting over the winter. With the cold and snowy weather, it is not possible to work in the garden yet. However, our over 25 volunteers that work in the garden have been making plans for another successful year. In 2017, the Garden of Giving produced 2428.9 pounds of produce. We also had 655.4 pounds of produce donated from members of our Church. This was 3084.3 pounds of fresh produce given to our Thursday Food Bank at Advent Lutheran Church. Looking ahead, our Sunday School Children, 3 Girl Scouts Troops, and Preschool, plan on doing some planting as soon as weather permits. Our 4th annual Open House of the Garden will be held between services once our garden starts to produce. Pauline Siekas will be no longer carrying the leadership role for the garden. She will be spending quality time with her grandson. She did an awesome job while being our leader. We will all miss her expertise, but this mission of feeding the hungry is so important, we will carry on as best we can. If you are interested in helping, we meet at the garden on Monday and Thursday mornings and you can contact Sandy Barrett at gronquist@frontier.com or 360-393- 5667. This year s Easter Egg Hunt will take place after both the 8:30 and 10:30 services Easter Sunday, April 1st. Help us fill the bin in the Fellowship Hall with candy and plastic eggs, for the hunt! (Individually wrapped, nut-free please.) Remember to set your clocks forward! Daylight Savings Time starts Sunday March 11th.
6 ADVENT VOICE You Don t Have a Problem The Rev. Kirby Unti, Bishop, NWWA Synod From the March 2018 edition of The Spirit During my formative years, my dad was the Executive Director for the Easter Seal Society of Washington. It no doubt shaped his values - and informed mine as well. Let s just say he knew - and introduced to me - a great number of people who whose physical and mental challenges were not always easy to cope with. One such introduction was to Johnny Kemp - who was born without arms or legs. His parents were told he would be better off institutionalized. Dad convinced the Kemp family that Johnny could be fitted with artificial arms and legs and that he would do just fine. He became a life-long friend who went on to have a successful law firm - providing counsel to people with disabilities. Then there was Harold Wilke - who was born without arms. I remember the first time he sat at our family dinner table. Smoothly operating his knife and fork with his feet, he removed any doubt that he could do anything. You should have seen him pick out the correct paper denominations from his wallet when paying for a purchase. The stories go on, including my attendance at Easter Seal Camp with my dad where I witnessed kids my age readily do what I was unable to do given all my body parts. This background is important to understand the wisdom that dad shared with me the first time I got a dent in my first car. I was devastated. A friend sat on the hood and left an impression equal to her size. My day was ruined. More like my whole week was ruined. There was also the time I had my car window broken and my eight-track player and tapes were stolen. His response in both cases was the same, Kirby if money can fix it, you don t have a problem. My dad taught me so much about perspective. How do you weigh the things in life that matter? He taught me wisdom The patient sorting out of what choices lead to life and what choices lead to death. You can only imagine what my own girls have gone through. The first time my girls dented their cars you can be sure what words came out of my mouth. They may not be words filled with great empathy, but they are words filled with great truth. Life does present us with challenges that money can do nothing to fix. These are the challenges that really matter. These are the challenges that call us to place our faith in God. Johnny and Harold were both people of great faith. People who taught me that even when money can t fix what you are facing, faith can make all the difference in the world. Faith moves people from being victims to survivors - teaching all of us to see the challenges of life as opportunities to grow in faith and lean sharply into the direction of life. Let us lean into this life together, knowing that God is leading.
7 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 1 2 3 6am Korean Worship (SAN) 9:30am Bible Chicks (offsite, 425 6:30pm Korean Bible 10am Bible Study FH = Fellowship Hall 8:30am Worship Study, 9:45am A = Sunday A building School 4:30pm Girl Scout (A3&4) If you would 7pm AA like (C1) to add or delete 6pm Girl Scouts (A3) 9:45am Adult (Preschool Forum 6pm Boy Scouts something 7pm from Bible the Study church (offsite, calendar, 7pm Women s AA 10:30am Worship bldg.) 6pm AA Women s Group or (A4) have Dottie questions Brewer about 425-948- room 7pm Women s Support Group availability, 7313) please contact SAN Worship = (SAN) Sanctuary Jennifer in the church office 5pm Going Deeper (FH, 7pm AA, (C1) 425-337-5373 or SAN) C1 = Portable C1 7pm Centering Prayer (SAN) churchoffice@adventlutheran.net C2 = Portable C1 1 12pm Piece Makers 3pm Food Bank 4:30pm Girl Scouts 6:30pm Lynnwood Community Band March 2018 2 1pm Hendershott Memorial (SAN, FH) 1:30pm Cub Scouts 3pm Girl Scouts (A2) 3:30pm Girl Scouts (A3) 3:30pm Girl Scouts 3:30pm Girl Scouts (FH or C1) 3 8:30am. OA (A3) 4 5 6am Korean Worship (SAN) 8:30am Worship 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Adult Forum 10:30am Worship Worship (SAN) 11 Daylight Savings Time 6am Korean Worship (SAN) 8:30am Worship 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Adult Forum 10:30am Worship 12:30pm Worship (SAN) 9:30am Bible Chicks (offsite, 425 4:30pm Girl Scouts (A3&4) 6pm Boy Scouts 6pm AA Women s Group (A4) 7pm Women s Support Group 7pm AA, (C1) 7pm Centering Prayer (SAN) 12 9:30am Bible Chicks (offsite, 425 4pm Girl Scouts (A3&4) 6pm Boy Scouts (A2) 6pm AA Women s Group (A4) 7pm Women s Support Group 7pm AA, (C1) 7pm Centering Prayer (SAN) 6 6:30pm Korean Bible Study, 7pm Mill Creek Chorale 7pm Bible Study Study (offsite, Dottie Brewer 425-948-7313) 13 6:30pm Korean Bible Study, 7pm Mill Creek Chorale 7 10am Bible Study 6pm Girl Scouts (A3) 6pm Lenten Soup Supper 7pm Lenten Worship 7pm Women s AA 7:30pm Choir (SAN) 14 10am Bible Study 12:30pm Classics 6pm Lenten Soup Supper 7pm Lenten Worship 7pm Women s AA 7:30pm Beyond the Book 7:30pm Choir Practice (SAN) 8 3pm Food Bank 6:30pm Lynnwood Community Band 15 12pm PieceMakers 3pm Food Bank 4:30pm Girl Scouts 5pm Exec Council 6:30pm Lynnwood Community Band 9 3:30pm Girl Scouts 16 3pm Girl Scouts (A2) 3:30pm Girl Scouts (A3) 3:30pm Girl Scouts 3:30pm Girl Scouts 7pm Lynnwood Community Band Concert (SAN) 10 8:30am OA (A3) 17 8:30am. OA (A3) 12pm Boy Scout Court of Honor (FH, SAN) 18 19 6am Korean Worship (SAN) 8:30am Worship 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Adult Forum 10:30am Worship Worship (SAN) 9:30am Bible Chicks (offsite, 425 4:30pm Girl Scouts (A3&4) 6pm Boy Scouts 6pm AA Women s Group (A4) 7pm 3rd Monday Bible Study (offsite katiemiata@hotmail.com) 7pm AA, (C1) 7pm Women s Support Group 7pm Centering Prayer (SAN) 20 6:30pm Church Council 6:30pm Korean Bible Study, 7pm Mill Creek Chorale 7pm Bible Study (offsite, Dottie Brewer 425-948- 7313) 21 10am Bible Study 6pm Girl Scouts (A3) 6pm Lenten Soup Supper 7pm Lenten Worship Service 7pm Women s AA 7:30pm Choir (SAN) 22 3pm Food Bank 6:30pm Lynnwood Community Band 23 3pm Girl Scouts (A2) 3:30pm Girl Scouts 5pm Mill Creek Chorale Las Vegas Chorale Concert (SAN, FH) 24 8am Mill Creek Chorale Retreat 8:30am OA (A3) 25 Palm Sunday 6am Korean Worship (SAN) 8:30am Worship with Palm Processional 9:30am Youth Selling Mystery Dinner Tickets, FH 9:45am Sunday School 9:45am Adult Forum 10:30am Worship with Palm Processional 12pm Youth Planning Meeting, FH Worship (SAN) 26 9:30am Bible Chicks (offsite, 425 4pm Girl Scouts (A3&4) 6pm Boy Scouts 6pm AA Women s Group (A4) 7pm Women s Support Group 7pm AA, (C1) 7pm Centering Prayer (SAN) 27 6:30pm Korean Bible Study, 7pm Mill Creek Chorale 28 10am Bible Study 7pm Women s AA 7:30pm Choir (SAN) 29 30 Maundy Thursday 11am Maundy Thursday Worship, SAN 3pm Food Bank 7pm Maundy Thursday Worship, SAN Good Friday 11am Good Friday Worship (SAN) 3:30pm Girl Scouts (FH, A1, A3) 7pm Good Friday Worship (SAN) 31 8:30am OA (A3)
4306 132nd Street S.E. Mill Creek, WA 98012 Follow us on Facebook www.adventlutheran.net 425-337-5373 E A Publication of the Mission of Advent Lutheran Church Graduating from High School this year? It s a tradition at Advent that High School graduates receive quilts handmade with love by our quilting ministry, The PieceMakers, on Graduation Sunday. If you d like to be on the list to receive a high school graduate quilt, please let the church office know no later than April 1st. churchoffice@adventlutheran.net or 425-337-5373. Lynnwood Community Band Spring Concert Friday, March 16th, 7:00pm. Admission is free. All ages are welcome. Food bank donations are appreciated! Friday April 7th, 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.