News from Advent Lutheran Church May 2016 STAFF Paul Filpus-Luyckx COUNCIL Secretary Rev. Jason Peterson Interim Organist Mary Filpus-Luyckx Debbie Merzlak Rev. Andrea Windsor- Peterson Pastors Maggie Heaney Interim Music Director Brandi Pate Nursery Attendant President Heather Herrmann Vice President Scott Fiegen Treasurer Ann Simon Jared Fischer
A Word from the ELCA Bishop Can We answer the Question WHY? Once for continuing education I signed up for an introduction to philosophy course at the community college. I was a music education major in college and never had any philosophy courses. Since philosophy and theology are so closely related, I thought it was about time that I became better acquainted with the Western philosophical tradition. So off I went to learn how the great philosophers have addressed the questions of human existence. It was an interesting experience. As we marched through the centuries of Western philosophy, it seemed that the philosophers changed the approach to addressing the big questions meaning, transcendence, suffering, the role of the will. The whole process was led by a professor who described himself as a lapsed Mormon who, I believe, never quite made it out of the protest milieu of the 1960s. This convergence of a professor working through the rejection of his tradition and the philosophical systems that paid more attention to how versus why was uncomfortable. I didn t buy into determinism, especially when one student used it to explain a rather unfortunate choice that involved drinking and driving (no one was injured). What was a Lutheran girl to do? My chance came when the professor assigned a paper to be written about our understanding of any of the philosophies covered in class. I dove in. This was an extra credit assignment designed to give a second chance to those who were in some danger of not passing the course. As I was not in that category, I immediately became one of those students (I m sure my classmates used earthier language). I titled my paper How or Why: Newtonian Mechanics vs. A Quantum Metaphysics. Pretty much over the top, but I was on a mission. I wanted to make the point to my professor that there is more in life than the how of things, that there is meaning and transcendence even if we can t by reason or human understanding perceive it. I wanted to give witness to my conviction that there is more going on than a life of just mechanics and technique on the way to some deterministic conclusion. And I wanted to point to the truth I had experienced that there is a loving and relational being who cares about us and about the creation. Needless to say the professor was mystified by the amount of effort I put into the project, and he did take five points off because I used a contraction. But the point then, as it is now, is that we as a culture and a church have become proficient at talking about the how of things. For the church this means how has become the question that determines where we focus, how we live, where we allocate resources. We have developed programs beautiful programs on how to do Christian education, worship, stewardship, advocacy, justice, evangelism, global ministry and youth ministry. Don t neglect any of these. But can we, as a church, answer the question why? As we engage in conversation about the future direction and priorities of this church this year, this is the question we must answer. If we can t answer this question clearly and with conviction, I don t see a lot of change for (Continued on page 3)
(Continued from page 2) us. In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther gives us some direction: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also true human being, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America May Worship Schedule One Service for Summer Begins Sunday, May 1 6th Sunday of Easter Worship & Holy Communion 9:30a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 10:45a.m. Confirmation Class 10:45a.m. Sunday, May 8 7th Sunday of Easter Mother s Day Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion 9:30a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 10:45 a.m. Confirmation Class 10:45 a.m. Sunday, May 15 Day of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30a.m. Pentecost Brunch Welcoming newest Confirmed Advent Members Sunday, May 22 The Holy Trinity Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Congregational Meeting 10:45a.m. Sunday, May 29 Time after Pentecost-Lectionary 9 Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Prayer Requests 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, Kip Hamilton, Ann Furlong, Virginia Reedstrom, Ted Helmick, Chet White, Lamar Keisler, Laura Rizzo, Helen Perkins, The Williams Family Pray for Our Deployed Military: Dale Tupper, Peggy Martin, Aaron Hanes-Dodd, Phil Lewis, Jim Coffman, Rob Gulbrandson, Rayland Dawood, Steven Johnson
VBS June 13-17, 2016 Cave Quest: Following Jesus the Light of the World Planning continues for this Summer's Vacation Bible School "CAVE QUEST: Following Jesus the Light of the World". VBS will be held from 9:00am-11:30am the week of June 13-17. Everyone who is interested in helping out with Bible school is invited to join us at our next meeting on Saturday May 21, 9-11am. We continue to need volunteers to teach, help with snacks, help with decorating and serve as crew leaders. Please join us as we prepare for this opportunity to share the Love of Jesus with children. If you are unable to come to the meetings, but would still like to help, please contact Heather Herrmann (706) 863-5151 or 706 (306)-6009 or herrmanndh@bellsouth.net
Service Ministry The Service Ministry is spotlighting a different project we support each month. We hope to show you 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! HOW DOES FAMILY PROMISE WORK??? SHELTER 24-hour shelter is provided, with evening and overnight accommodations provided by area churches, our Host Congregations. FAMILY CENTERS Guests work with staff to set priorities and take the steps necessary to gain self-sufficiency. Guests must find employment, take classes on parenting, and care for their children. MEALS Host congregation volunteers provide a family-style evening meal as well as breakfast. Guests prepare their lunches. HOSPITALITY IHN S trained volunteers welcome homeless families into their churches and offer a caring, interactive environment. On June 5th Advent will be hosting Family Promise for the week. Our faith is about more than words and helping those in need; it is a way to show the love of Christ by actions. Look for the sign up board in the Narthex. School s Out---including Free School Lunches Service Ministry is continuing to collect food suitable for children during May. Many children will go hungry without our help. Suggested items include: peanut butter, jelly, canned meats (like tuna), meals in a can (pasta, chili or soup), macaroni and cheese, canned or single servings fruits. Ask a child what they would like to have for lunch and let them help choose an item! Please place in box in Narthex.
Church Events Congregational Meeting Sunday, May 22nd. The annual congregational meeting with be held following worship. Nominating Committee: Patty Williams Donna Meisner Daisy Morgan Church Council Nominations by the Nominating Committee: Mary Filpus-Luyckx, Council President Scott Fiegen, Secretary Jared Fischer Book Club The Book for the month of May is: The All Girl Filling Station Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. The Leader for the month is: Pat Grim. The Hostesses for the month are Ingrid Zamecnik & Stephanie Riner.
Music Ministry As we begin to move into our summer months, the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir will be on a well-deserved respite from practices and anthems. Thank you to all who served in the Bell Choir and Chancel Choir. Thank you to our Interim Music Director, Maggie Heaney and our Interim Organist & Accompanist, Paul Filpus-Luyckx. We have been so blessed by all of the musical gifts that have been shared during this interim time. During the summer it is a wonderful time to have special music each Sunday. If you would be interested in singing a solo, a duet, or playing an instrument, please let the office know. Sunday, May 15th is Pentecost Sunday. Along with celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit, we at Advent will also welcome three new confirmed members: Holly Sadenwasser, Harrison Lever, and Sophie Van Bladel. Following Worship we will be having a Pentecost/ Confirmation Brunch. We would like to ask the congregation to bring a breakfast/lunch item to share as we welcome these three newly confirmed members and share in Christ s fellowship together. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex of the Church.
S M T W T F S 1 Worship 9:30am Sunday School 10:30am 2 3 Service Ministry 2:30pm Ministry Night 4 Choir 5 Same Gender Bible Study 6 7 Same Gender Bible Study 10am 8 Contemporary Worship 9:30am Sunday School 10:30am 9 10 Stephen Ministry 11 Choir 12 13 14 Property Meeting 9am Interfaith Meeting 15 Day of Pentecost & Confirmation Worship 9:30am Pentecost Brunch 11am 22 Worship 9:30am Congregational Meeting Following Worship 29 Contemporary Worship 9:30am Synod Assembly- Birmingham, AL 16 23 Book Club 7:30pm 30 Memorial Day Office Closed 17 Church Council 24 31 Stephen Ministry 18 Choir 25 19 26 Interfaith Week of June 5 20 27 Synod Assembly Birmingham, AL VBS June 13-17 21 VBS Decorating Day 9-11am 28 Synod Assem- bly- Birmingham, AL Lydia Group 9am
Assisting Ministers Service Times 1-May 8-May 15-May 22-May 29-May Francesca 9:30am Mary Filpus- Nikki Fiegen Bobby Bisbee Furlong Lynn Reed Luyckx Lectors 9:30am Heather Herrmann Will Huerth Rhett Bickley Jamie Sadenwasser Angie Hubble Communion Assistants Acolytes / Crucifiers Ushers Greeters Bulletin Prep 9:30am 9:30am 9:30am 9:30am (Wednesday before) Candy Jablonski Kate Peterson / Holly Sadenwasser Dieter Beck Ulrike Beck Donna Meisner/Shirley Chipman April 27 - Mary Filpus- Luyckx / Paris Fiegen Barbara Plumley Marissa Goodrich / Jaime Jimenez Art Rahn/ Joe Pravato Paris Fiegen/ Maggie Heaney May 4 - Jackie & Ken Voss Gayle Ricklefs Lily Summers/ Kate Peterson Eric Jablonski/ Jim Plumley Carole Hope/ Carol Billings May 11 - Renee Blanchette / Linda Lawrence Ingrid Zamecnik Sophie & Max Van Bladel Steve Merzlak/ Jared Fischer Jane Burnette/ Maria Pravato May 18 - Kenny Odeen / Diane Aizcorbe Patty Williams Jeff Fiegen / Niki Whitaker Scott Fiegen / Bob Perry Dieter Beck Ulrike Beck Mary Filpus- Luyckx /Paris Fiegen Flowers Given By Missionary Support Given by Erin Taylor & Family Mary & Paul Filpus-Luyckx Hospital / Shut In Ministers Don & Mable Plueger Bobby Bisbee Patty Williams Danny Moran Alice Glisson Visitor of Visitors Fellowship Coffee Hour Paris Fiegen Di Hamilton Nancy Bickley Linda Lawrence Gayle Ricklefs Advent Women Coffee Only Coffee Only Coffee Only Coffee Only Eternal Candles Given by Altar Guild Saturday Maria Pravato Maria Pravato Maria Pravato Maria Pravato Maria Pravato Post Service Mary Suprek Mary Suprek Mary Suprek Mary Suprek Mary Suprek
5/7 Stormi Hubble 5/11 Nick Pravato 5/12 Paris Fiegen 5/16 Timmy Kitts Asher Sullivan Ava Sullivan 5/17 Christine Keller 5/19 Lisa Huerth 5/21 Ulrike Beck 5/22 Clayton Lamb 5/24 Lisa Cheek 5/25 Shirley Chipman 5/26 Zach Teffeteller Amber Jimenez Britainy Hubble 5/28 Jenny Holland Don Smith Kristina Fischer 5/29 Joe Tokarska 5/31 Alli Prescott 5/8 Nancy & Rhett Bickley 5/9 Scott & Paris Fiegen 5/17 Will & Lisa Huerth Have a birthday or anniversary in June? Let the office know, so it can be included in the next newsletter! 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 June Newsletter Entries is May 24th