News from Advent Lutheran Church March 2016 STAFF COUNCIL Rev. Jason Peterson Rev. Andrea Windsor-Peterson Pastors Maggie Heaney Interim Music Director Brandi Pate Mary Filpus-Luyckx President Heather Herrmann Vice President Debbie Merzlak Treasurer Ann Simon Jared Fischer Paul Filpus-Luyckx Nursery Attendant Scott Fiegen Secretary Interim Organist
From the Bishop Time to get to know each other By: Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop of the ELCA Sometimes I just don t get us. We are the least likely of all people to speak enthusiastically about our church. I don t know if it is some cross-cultural Lutheran modesty that compels us to hide our light under a bushel, but the effect is that the ELCA is one of the best kept secrets from ourselves. Other people in this country and around the world value who we are as a church and the work we do in Jesus name. Recently I was in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan observing the work of the Lutheran World Federation. The Syrian refugees knew what is Lutheran. Our colleges and universities affirmed the value of a Lutheran education our tradition of free inquiry, vocation and service to the neighbor. Chris Kimball, president of California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, proudly states that Lutheran is the school s middle name. Non-Lutheran students attending the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia refer to the school simply as Lutheran. Lutheran Services in America is the largest social service-providing entity in the country, serving 1 in 50 Americans. I bet most of you reading this column didn t know that. Of course I understand that our primary identity is Christian and that baptism doesn t make us Lutheran, it makes us part of the body of Christ. But the Lutheran witness to the gospel has something important and distinctive about it that is valued by other Christian and religious traditions, and by the secular world as well. Other people see it. We don t. I ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Many sociological explanations for this probably could be cited: the erosion of trust in large institutions, our culture of individualism, increased secularization the list could go on. But here s my theory: We don t know who we are and don t know each other. Kenn Inskeep, director for ELCA Research and Evaluation, notes that the ELCA s predecessor church bodies had a strong and widely shared Lutheran identity in the 1950s. There was a strong Lutheran theological identity. Theology was primarily the domain of the clergy, but many lay members knew the basics and could recite from Martin Luther s Small Catechism. And people knew of and supported the agencies and institutions of the church. Before you worry that I m going to get all Ozzie and Harriet Nelson on you, I m not advocating a return to the 50s. There were many things in our church and in our country in those years to which I would never retreat. My point: We have lost something that helped us understand God and the world and that connected us to each other. This isn t the first time the Lutheran movement needed a little shoring up. In 1527 and 1528, Luther took part in the Saxon Visitation, an assessment of congregations and clergy in the German state of Saxony. He wrote: The deplorable, wretched deprivation that I recently encountered while I was a visitor has constrained and compelled me to prepare this catechism, or Christian instruction, in such a brief, plain and simple version. Dear God, what misery I beheld! The ordinary person, especially in the villages, knows absolutely nothing about the Christian faith. As a result they live like simple cattle or irrational pigs and, despite the fact that the gospel has returned, have mastered the fine art of misusing all their freedom (preface to the Small Catechism). Luther also piles on pastors and bishops with stronger language. His Small and Large Catechisms were written, in part, to address this need. (Continued on page 3)
March Worship Schedule Wednesday, March 2 Wednesday Lent Worship Lenten Dinner 6:30 pm Worship 7:00 pm Sunday, March 6 4th Sunday of Lent Traditional Worship & Holy Communion 8:15 am & 10:45am Sunday School for All Ages 9:30 am Confirmation Class 9:30 am Breakfast by Women of Advent 9:30am Wednesday, March 9 Wednesday Lent Worship Lenten Dinner 6:30 pm Worship 7:00 pm Sunday, March 13 5th Sunday of Lent Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion 8:15 am & 10:45am Sunday School for All Ages 9:30 am Confirmation Class 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 16 Wednesday Lent Worship Lenten Dinner 6:30 pm Worship 7:00 pm Sunday, March 20 Palm Sunday Traditional Worship & Holy Communion 8:15 am & 10:45am Sunday School for All Ages 9:30 am Confirmation Class 9:30 am Thursday, March 24 Maundy Thursday-Seder Meal 6:30 pm Friday, March 25 Good Friday Tenebrae Worship 7:00 pm Sunday, March 27 Easter Sunday Traditional Worship & Holy Communion 8:15 am & 10:45am Easter Feaster Breakfast 9:30 am Worship & Holy Communion 10:45 am (Continued from page 2) We are going to have our own Saxon Visitation in a process requested by the ELCA Church Council. We are going to have a churchwide conversation about the priorities and future direction of this church. When I say we, I mean all of us members, congregations, synods, rostered, lay, seminaries, colleges and universities, agencies and institutions, bishops, churchwide staff all of us. But we can t talk about priorities and future directions if we don t know who we are or what we do. We are developing a tool kit that will help us all engage in the same conversation. I m hopeful that, with the Spirit s guidance, we will come up with something terrific. I m equally hopeful that we get to know each other and come together as a church.
Youth Ministry Family Promise of Augusta Presents Cardboard City- March 4-5, 2016. The doors will open at 4pm on Friday, March 4 and the event will go until 7 am on Saturday, March 5. Advent Youth will sleep outside in cardboard box homes for the night on the front lawn of First Baptist Church on Walton Way Extension. They will have an eye opening experience of what it is like for homeless families and at the same time, help Family Promise box up homelessness and send it packing! Advent Youth are asking for help from the people of God at Advent to help raise their rent of $100 so that Family Promise can help more families become self sufficient. For more information you can go to: http://familypromiseaugusta.com/cardboard-city/ Youth Group Event March 13, 2016 The Youth of Advent will gather from 12-2pm for a time of food, reconnecting, and service. We will begin with a meal and fun activities to reconnect with one another. We will also spend some time at the church helping to clean tables and the fellowship area in time for Easter. Make plans to join us for this much needed time together! Sunday, March 13th
Notes from the Music Room All choirs will continue to meet in the Interim time as usual. Paul Filpus-Luyckx will accompany the choirs and Maggie Heaney will direct. A special thank you to both Paul and Maggie for sharing the gifts God has given them with Advent. During the Lenten Season, the Choir will be meeting on Saturday mornings at 10:30am instead of following Wed. night services. Do you play an instrument? Please let Paul know. We have opportunities to accompany anthems, and play for special occasions. Please contact the church office, regarding any of these opportunities: advluch@adventaugusta.org Prayer Requests Each week at Advent we use Galatians 5:22 to guide our prayer time as we pray for all those in need: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Pray for Healing & Provision: Dee Alderson, Marge Rahn, Edgar Bollinger, Ruth Neumann, Tania Hayes, Scott Fiegen, Art Suprek, Al Trappe, Irmgard Crowder, Diana Perry, Bob Rankin, Sister Barbara Lee, Ann Furlong, Virginia Reedstrom, Ted Helmick, Chet White, Lamar & Vera Keisler, Laura Rizzo, Shana Sorkin, Skyler Suprek, Rene Hopkins, Helen Perkins Pray for Our Deployed Military: Peggy Martin, Aaron Hanes-Dodd, Phil Lewis, Jim Coffman, Rob Gulbrandson, Rayland Dawood, Steven Johnson
Fellowship Ministry Lenten Dinners will be March 2nd, 9th, and 16th through Lent at 6:30pm before our 7pm worship. Please sign up at Sign-Up Central to bring soup or sandwiches for our Lenten Dinners. We also need people to sign up to set up and clean up on Wednesday nights. If you are interested in helping with the Seder by preparing a dish, please see Francesca Furlong or Jane Burnette. Book Club This month, the Advent Book Club is reading Yada Yada Prayer Group Book One by Neta Jackson. Our meeting will be held Monday, March 28th at 7:30pm in the adult Sunday School room. Our hostess will be Pat Grim and our discussion leader will be Mary Suprek. First Communion classes will begin Sat. March 5, 10-11:30am. We will meet for three consecutive Saturdays. If you are interested in having your child participate in these classes please contact Pastor Andrea. Students will receive their first communion during the Seder Meal on March 24th at 6:30pm. (Average age for 1st communion is 2/3 Grade) Thank you to all who participated in Advent s Souper Bowl of Caring. The curse has been lifted, $240 was raised on behalf of the Broncos team and $227 was raised on behalf of the Panthers team. For the first time in three years, the winning team of the Souper Bowl has matched the winning team of the Super Bowl. (Sorry Panthers fans) The people of God at Advent raised a total of $467, not including the canned goods that were donated, to help GAP ministries in downtown Augusta. Thank you once again for your generous support!
Service Ministry The Service Ministry is spotlighting a different project we do each month. We hope to show how Advent works both locally and around the world in service. We have projects that have many different skills, we hope one appeals to you! The Lydia Project is a grassroots project started in 2003 by Augusta, Georgia businesswomen and community supporters. The Lydia Project provides free services to any women facing any type of cancer. This support includes ongoing correspondence and encouragement each month for a year. Lydia grants funds for rent, utilities, medical supplies and prescription assistance to women who are unable to afford these basic needs while undergoing cancer treatment. In the CSRA, Lydia will provide overnight stay while receiving cancer treatments or testing at Lydia s lodging service at The Daksha Chudgar Lydia House. Lydia provides physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals for support and financial assistance. Dedicated volunteers all over the nation help make outreach possible to women served. 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 women 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 monogramed on the pocket with faith, hope, or love in ensure women and their families are not alone during such a devastating time. To request services go to The Lydia Project on-line or call 706-736- 5467. We, at Advent Lutheran, hold a Lydia Cutting Day the fourth Saturday of each month at 9AM, to cut bags for the Lydia sewers. Please come join us and volunteer a little of your time to help those in need.
Advent Lutheran Church is putting together a Relay for Life Team April 23rd, 2016. Saturday, April 23, 2015 11am-11pm Westside High School 1002 Patriots Way, Augusta, GA What Is Relay? Organized, overnight community fundraising walk Teams of people camp out around a track Members of each team take turns walking around the track Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie Family-friendly environment for the entire community Because it s a team event, individual participants are not required to be there the entire time. But it's so much fun, you'll find it hard to leave! While the American Cancer Society is making progress toward a world without cancer, only with your dedication and fundraising efforts can we finish the fight against the disease. With your help, we aren t just fighting one type of cancer we re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Each person who shares the Relay For Life experience can take pride in knowing that they are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten our loved ones or rob anyone of another birthday. For More information about Relay for Life you can visit: www.relayforlife.org/augustaga If you are interested in joining Advent s team, please see Pastor Jason or Pastor Andrea.
Dear Friends, Thank you for your in-kind donation to the Children s Hospital of Georgia Regents Health System. Your gift of bears to the Child Life Fund demonstrates your interest in a brighter future for pediatric patient and their families...we appreciate your investment in our vision and your partnership on the path to a promising future. Sincerely, Susan L Barcus Members and Staff of Advent Lutheran Church, On behalf of Toastmasters Club 326, I want to thank you for the generous use of your facilities on Thursday nights. This organization has made an impact on my life and many others in our community. Thank you, Robert, Treasurer
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 Pastor s Bible Dinner 6:30pm Pastor s Bible Property Meet- Study 10:00am Worship 7:00pm Study 6:30pm ing 9:00am Service 10:00am First Ministry 2:30pm Communion Ministry Night Class 6:30pm 10:30am Choir 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Worship 8:15am Dinner 6:30pm Women s and 10:45am Handbells Stephen Ministry Worship 7:00pm Small Group Sunday School 6:00pm 6:30pm 9:30am 9:30am 10am First Communion Class 10:30am Choir 11:30am Seder Commitee 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Contemporary Pastor s Bible Supper 6:30pm Pastor s Bible Men s Meeting Worship 8:15am Handbells Study 10;00am Worship 7:00pm Study 6:30pm 9am and 10:45am 6:00pm 10am First Com- Sunday School Council 6:30pm munion Class 9:30am Choir 10:30am Youth Group 12-2pm 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PALM SUN- Handbells Stephen Ministry Maundy Good Friday DAY 6:00pm 6:30pm Thursday Worship 7pm Lydia Cutting Worship 8:15am Seder Meal Day 9am and 10:45am 6:30pm Sunday School Choir 10:30am 9:30am 27 28 29 30 31 EASTER Handbells Worship 8:15am 6:00pm and 10:45am Book Club Breakfast 7:30pm 9:30am Easter Egg Hunt 12pm
Assisting Ministers Lectors Communion Assistants Acolytes / Crucifiers Service Times March 6 March 13 March 20 Mar 27 8:15 10:45 8:15 10:45 8:15 10:45 8:15 10:45 Pam Tipler Lynn Reed Bobby Bisbee Karen Smith Mary Filpus- Nikki Fiegen Heather Herrmann Francesca Furlong Luyckx Jamie Angie Hubble Pam Tipler Tim Sadenwasser Sadenwasser Paris Fiegen Paul Filpus-Luyckx Mary Suprek Gayle Ricklefs Patty Williams Daisy Morgan Candy Jablonski Di Hamilton Lynn Reed Mary Suprek Maggie Heaney Marcy Jimenez Sophie Van Bladel/ Max Van Bladel Kate Peterson/ Sam Taylor Stormi Hubble / Zachary Hubble Jeff Fiegen / Niki Whitaker Lily Summers Kate Peterson / Holly Sadenwasser Sam Taylor / Samantha Jimenez Marissa Goodrich / Jaime Jimenez Ushers 8:15 Dieter & Ulrike Beck Linda Lawrence/ Maria Pravato Eric Jablonski / Jim Plumley Joe Pravato /Bobby Bisbee Greeters 10:45 Scott Fiegen/ Jeff Fiegen Donna Meisner Brandi 8:15 Pate Will Huerth / Sam Jimenez Jane & John Burnette Mary Filpus- Luyckx /Bob Perry Don & Mable Plueger Steve Merzlak/ Nikki Fiegen Dieter & Ulrike Beck 10:45 Nancy Bickley Rhett Bickley Renee Blanchette Erin Taylor Julie Fillgrove Carole Hope Paris Fiegen Lisa Cheek Mary Filpus- Luyckx / Kenny Odeen Linda Lawrence/ Heather Herrmann Bulletin Prep (Wednesday before) Jackie/Ken Voss Renee Blanchette / Linda Lawrence Paris Fiegan / Diane Aizcorbe Before/After Linda Lawrence/ Linda Lawrence/ Linda Lawrence/ Altar Guild Service Heather Herrmann Heather Herrmann Heather Herrmann Flowers Given By TBD TBD TBD Easter Missionary Support Given by TBD TBD TBD TBD Hospital / Shut In Ministers Bobbie Bisbee Alice Glisson Don & Mable Plueger Patty Williams Visitor of Visitors Nancy Bickley Gayle Ricklefs Di Hamilton Scott & Paris Fiegen Fellowship Coffee Hour Advent Women Coffee Only Coffee Only Advent Men Eternal Candles Given by TBD TBD TBD TBD
3-1 Sean Sullivan 3-4 Scott Bowers 3-5 Elaine Mertins 3-7 Liza Fincher 3-11 Debbie Merzlak Mary Filpus-Luyckx Emily Setzke 3-12 Morgan Heavener 3-16 Brian Tupper 3-17 Michael Cartee Rob Gulbrandsen 3-18 Nick Reed 3-19 Lochlan Huerth 3-21 Elsie Hobbs 3-22 Sarah Van Bladel 3-24 Robin Keller 3-26 Kristen Teffeteller 3-27 Violet Herrmann Jim Koch 3-31 Irene Trappe 3-12 Ted & Karen Devilbiss 3-21 Jim & Sherry Koch 3-23 Mike & Carol Smith 3-31 Bob & Ginnie Frabrizio Have a birthday or Anniversary in April? Let the office know about it so it can be included in next month s newsletter! Thanks! 3232 Washington Road Augusta, GA 30907 Phone: 706-860-0439 Web: adventaugusta.org Email: advluch@adventaugusta.org DATED MATERIAL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Deadline For April Newsletter Entries March 20th