News from Advent Lutheran Church August 2013 STAFF Rev. Jason Peterson Rev. Andrea Windsor- Peterson Pastors Ginny Sweeton Director of Music/ Admin. Assistant COUNCIL Larry Bentle President Mary Filpus-Luyckx Vice President Karen Smith Secretary Debbie Merzlak Treasurer Jared Fischer Heather Hermann
Then Jesus told his disciples, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) Many of you have probably noticed some changes at Advent already. Most of these new changes have been centered in worship. Primarily one of the biggest worship changes has been the addition of a procession led by the cross. The reason for this comes from our key verse this month where Jesus tells his disciples if any want to become Jesus followers one of the things he asks us to do is to take up the cross. The cross is central to our Christian witness. It is the symbol of our salvation. It is the tool that God used to reconcile the world through Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that, as we are united with Christ in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. Therefore, when we begin our week with worship we enter in by following the cross of Christ. The procession represents Jesus leading us in, reminding us that worship is always about God first. Then as we close our time in worship we are led back out into the world with this same cross, where we are reminded to pick up our cross to go and serve in the world. Another change you may have noticed is that the baptismal font has been moved. In the living waters of Baptism we are claimed, called, and made new. Having a baptismal font that is moveable allows us to experience these living waters more easily. When the font is in the back of the church, we can enter the sanctuary be placing our fingers into the waters and remembering our own baptism into Christ. When the font is up front we can place our fingers in the font before we receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. When the font is in the center of the aisle, we are reminded of how central baptism is to the Christian life. Therefore, when the font is moved at various times of the year, there is a specific reason. The change in placement also makes us more aware that something is different. Jesus says, if any want to follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. May we who are sealed by the cross of Christ in Baptism be faithful in our call to follow the one who first took up the cross for us. In Christ s love, Pastor Jason and Pastor Andrea
August Worship Schedule Sunday, August 4 11th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:15 a.m. No Sunday School Sunday, August 11 12th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:15 a.m. Summer Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Sunday, August 18 13th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:15 a.m. Summer Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Sunday, August 25 14th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:15 a.m. RALLY DAY! Prayer Ministry Pray for Healing & Provision Dee Alderson, Faye Hoops, Doug Clark, Marge Rahn, Edgar Bollinger, Johnny Jones, Ruth Neumann, Ericka Blanchard, Carol Billings, Trey Tonsing, Twila Alwine, Ray Schneider, Maitland Van Nostrand, Jeannie Curtis, Tyler Tonsing, Michelle Daley, Chet White, Patsy Puczkowski, Jenny Holland, Kenneth Sampson, Bri & Kennedy Ralston, Ann Furlong, Royce Larson, Michael Tokarska Pray for Our Deployed Military Peggy Martin, Aaron Hanes-Dodd, Kristen Ullman, Keith Johnson, Marty Studdard Pray for Comfort in Times of Grief
Fellowship Events Fellowship Coffee Hour We will continue throughout the summer & fall with only one service. Join us following the 9:15am worship service in the Fellowship Hall around 10:30am. Volunteers are needed to sign up to bring goodies for coffee hour. Sign up in the Narthex. Men s Breakfast There will be no men s breakfast throughout the summer months. We will resume in September! Catch the Spirit Dinner Wednesday, August 21st 6:15pm, Advent Youth and Education Ministry will host our August CTS Fellowship Dinner. Please sign up on the poster in the Narthex! Property Ministry Our next Property Ministry meeting will be on August 3rd at 9:00am. We will be having all of the tile floors refinished on August 5th, so we will need to move all of the furniture from the Fellowship Hall, Sunday School wing, and Choir room to the Adult Sunday School room. In order for this to happen, we would really appreciate all available people to assist with this effort. Any questions, please contact Gary Lawrence. RALLY DAY planning is underway! Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Sunday, August 25th for this fun event as we kick off our new fall ministries!
Parish Ed August is the month we highlight the Parish Education Ministry. Look for our information poster in the Narthex. Join us Wednesday, August 21st, for our Catch the Spirit End of Summer/Backto-School Picnic Dinner, and again on Sunday, August 25th for Rally Day to kick off Sunday School. Sunday School classes will begin on September 1st, and are offered for all from age 3 to adult. Welcome back to our teachers: Heather Herrmann PK and Kindergarten Jamie Sadenwasser 1st through 3rd grades Kip Hamilton 4th through 6th grades March Jimenez High school Pastor Andrea and Pastor Jason Confirmation Class Topics for the adult class are still to be determined look for more information to come soon. Advent Youth Join Advent Youth on Wednesday, August 21st at 6:15pm for a Catch the Spirit Fellowship Dinner! We will enjoy a wonderful meal and fellowship. BIG STUF YOUTH TRIP
Service Ministry The next meeting for Advent s Service Ministry will be at 2:30pm on Tuesday, August 6th at church. We would love your participation. NEEDED: Plastic grocery bags, used eyeglasses, men s pants (preferably jeans), used but usable men s sneakers, socks, and winter coats, hotel toiletries, costume jewelry, and full size bars of soap. These items are donated to various charity groups in our area. When Help Can t Wait, a local ministry serving nursing home residents, has a boutique, The Classy Closet and are in need of gently worn ladies negligee outfits for resale in their boutique. The proceeds of the shop support their ministry. All are invited to shop there as well. A local dry cleaner donates ladies unclaimed items and there are beautiful dresses, slacks, and blouses. Their address is 3814 Commercial Court, Martinez, GA (near the Martinez post office). GAP Item of the Month for August Canned meet (can be dropped off at the Service Ministry table) A New Members Class is coming up in August the date is to be determined. If you are interested in becoming a member of Advent, please speak with one of the pastors or call the church office. Choir Notes "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD...Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." As the psalmist says, we are to come before our Lord in song. And what better way than in the Advent chancel choir! Our new year begins soon, and we want you to be a part of it. Open to all adults, we rehearse on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. We will begin our new year on with a choir workshop on Saturday, September 7 from 9:00am to noon. We will have some food, fellowship, and singing, as we preview the music for the fall season, and get a special glimpse at our Christmas cantata. I can't wait! Regular rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30pm. Stay tuned for news about our handbell choir, and kids choir... Contact Ginny Sweeton, Director of Music, at gsweeton196@gmail.com or in the church office, with any questions. We look forward to a new year of making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
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 4th, 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 9:15 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!
Love is Up for Renewal! One of the ways God has worked His love in us and through us at Advent is by calling us to pray for one another. You are invited to join this year s Prayer ADVENTure and grow in your ability to love. On this adventure, you will pray for about ten assigned members and visitors by name each week for one year. The Holy Spirit will lead you in knowing what to pray (so will checking in with the individuals from time to time). Please check one. Advent Prayer ADVENTure 2013-2014 I agree to pray for other members and visitors of Advent for one year. I want to know more about praying for members and visitors of Advent for one year. Name: Phone number: Email:
A New Road 31 Coping with Grief Seminar At Camp Kinard, Leesville, SC October 4-6, 2013 A New Road is a bereavement seminar sponsored by the SC Synod ELCA and Thrivent Financial. This is a weekend designed to offer support for men and women who have been widowed within the past three years. Registration deadline is September 16. Brochures are available in the church office. See Ann Simon for more information (706-863-1425 or dcgadm@knology.net). Enjoy Reading? Join us at Book Club on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30p.m. for fun, food and fellowship. ADVENT BOOK CLUB DATE BOOK AUTHOR DISCUSSION HOSTESSES 8-26-13 Ms. Queen Takes the Train William Kuhn Leslie Heavener Patty Williams 9-23-13 Flight Behavior Barbara Kingsolver Gayle Ricklefs Jan Lamke 10-28-13 Sensible Shoes Sharon Brown Mary Suprek Betsy Walker 11-25-13 Skinny Dip Carl Hiaason Patty Williams Pat Grim 1-27-14 Breathing Lessons Anne Tyler Martha Ostendorff Trudy Groves 2-24-14 Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese Betsy Walker Dee Glander 3-24-14 Sufficient Grace Darnell Arnoult Pat Grim Gayle Ricklefs 4-28-14 The Bookie s Daughter Heather Abraham Donna Meisner Ulrike Beck 5-12-14 Uncommon Reader Alan Bennett Jan Lamke Mary Suprek Coordinator: Patty Williams W: 706-738-4448 H: 706-863-1418 C:706-399-9787
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Faithful Servants Assistant Ministers *Mary Suprek 706-860-7767* 8/4 Kip Hamilton 8/11 Karen Smith 8/18 Lynn Reed 8/25 Mary Filpus-Luyckx Lectors/Lay Readers 8/4 Hilda Sullivan 8/11 Sister Barbara Lee 8/18 Nikki Fiegen 8/25 Hilda Sullivan Communion Assistants *Mary Suprek 706-860-7767* 8/4 Individual Cups 8/11 Al Trappe, Maggie Heaney 8/18 Patty Williams, Daisy Morgan 8/25 Candy Jablonski, Di Hamilton Acolytes / Crucifers 8/4 Zachary Hubble 8/11 Holly Sadenwasser 8/18 Samantha Jimenez 8/25 Hayden Morrison Ushers *Joe Pravato 706-447-4308* *Steve Merzlak 706-855-8006* 8/4 Jim Plumley, Art Rahn 8/11 Bill Fincher, Sam Jimenez 8/18 Steve Merzlak, Joe Pravato 8/25 Maria Pravato, Linda Lawrence Greeters *Ron Ricklefs 706-738-2166* 8/4 Julie Fillgrove, Patty Williams 8/11 Carole Hope, Judy McQueen 8/18 Gary & Linda Lawrence 8/25 Jim Plumley, Jim Williams Altar Flowers *Sign up in the Narthex!* 8/4 Gary & Leslie Heavener to honor Alison s birthday 8/11 8/18 Maggie Heaney in honor of summer birthdays 8/25 Irmgard Crowder in memory of Boyd Crowder Eternal Candles *Sign up in the Narthex!* Missionary Support *Sign up in the Narthex!* 8/4 8/11 8/18 8/25 Patty Williams in memory of Neil Williams Hospital/Shut-In Visitor *Martha Ostendorff 706-736-8673* 8/4 Judy McQueen 8/11 Martha Ostendorff 8/18 Ron Ricklefs 8/25 Hilda Sullivan Visitor of Visitors *Ron Ricklefs 706-738-2166* 8/4 Jim & Barbara Plumley 8/11 Linda Lawrence, Shirley Chipman 8/18 Donna Meisner, Patty Williams 8/25 Ken & Francesca Furlong Fellowship Coffee Hour *Sign up in the Narthex!* 8/4 Coffee only 8/11 Coffee only 8/18 Coffee only 8/25 Coffee only Altar Guild *Maria Pravato 706-447-4308* (Early/Saturday) Maria Pravato (Late) Julie Filgrove
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 8-9 Wyatt Tokarska 8-10 Christa Bollinger Gary Heavener 8-11 Nancy Tokarska 8-14 Geannine Reid 8-15 Ingrid Zamecnik 8-17 Kenneth Furlong HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 8-2 Kip & Diana Hamilton 8-6 Ron & Gayle Ricklefs 8-17 Jim & Maggie Heaney 8-20 Jan & Patsy Puczkowski 8-24 Art & Marge Rahn Jack & Ingrid Zamecnik 8-30 Tom & Dee Alderson Dale Tupper 8-20 Ginny Sweeton 8-22 Maggie Heaney 8-28 Nick Pravato 8-30 Sam Jimenez 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 18th!