News from Advent Lutheran Church October 2017 StaffStaff

PastorsPastors

Jason PetersonJason Peterson

Andrea WindsorAndrea Windsor--PetersonPeterson

Director of Music/OrganistDirector of Music/Organist

Melinda EastMelinda East

SecretarySecretary

Tara SprayTara Spray

Nursery AttendantNursery Attendant

Brandi PateBrandi Pate

_____________ _____________

Church CouncilChurch Council

PresidentPresident

Mary FilpusMary Filpus--LuyckxLuyckx

Vice PresidentVice President

Ken VossKen Voss

SecretarySecretary

Jared FischerJared Fischer

TreasurerTreasurer

Steve MerzlakSteve Merzlak

Diana PerryDiana Perry

Erin TaylorErin Taylor

_____________ _____________

Ministry Ministry

Chairpersons Chairpersons

Christian Education Christian Education

Heather HerrmannHeather Herrmann

FellowshipFellowship

Linda JaathLinda Jaath

ServiceService

Jackie VossJackie Voss

YouthYouth

Marcy JimenezMarcy Jimenez

__________________________

From the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA - Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

This is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. For the past year it has been “All Reforma-

tion All the Time!” Everything Martin Luther. The really observant have branched out to

Philipp Melanchthon and Johannes Bugenhagen. True believers will dress their children up as

Martin and Katie for Halloween, or if they tend toward the fear factor, Johann Tetzel.

Bring in the extra brass. Fire up the choir. Sing the fight song (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our

God”.) Dress in red. Binge-watch every Luther film and documentary. (I particularly liked Jo-

seph Fiennes as the young, hot Luther.) This is our year!

Oct. 32.

Now what?

When I am out and about the church, I like to ask people what it means to be Lutheran—what

is distinctive about the Lutheran movement. Grace is almost always mentioned, along with

justification. Some will say we are ecclesia semper reformanda—the church always being re-

formed. Others point to our work for disaster relief, ELCA World Hunger, advocacy and other

work for justice. Most of this is part of the Lutheran experience, but not unique to us. What

then, did Luther uncover and what relevance does it have now?

Interestingly, Luther did not give his greatest emphasis to reform or to reforming the

church. Semper reformanda—always reforming—was actually coined in 1947 by Karl Barth,

a Reformed theologian. Liberation in Christ through faith was the freedom that transformed

Luther. This freedom is what he wrote about most frequently and most passionately. The Free-

dom of a Christian, a short and accessible treatise, is probably most familiar. I commend it to

you. In this brief work and in others, Luther makes the case that liberation in Christ is both a

freedom from and a freedom for.

Freedom from is liberation from all spiritual bondage. We are set free from being trapped in

ourselves, consumed by ourselves, from the belief or terror that we can and must save our-

selves, that our self is the center of the universe. Life in Christ is not an inward-dwelling ex-

perience. We are free to get over ourselves. Freedom from is liberation from the law’s accusa-

tion and judgment. We are liberated from terror and despair, which are soul-crushing. We are

liberated from the incessant and impossible task of measuring up. Freedom from liberates us

from estrangement from God and God’s creatures. Caught in sin and standing before a God

who demands righteousness, when we believe we are responsible for our salvation, breeds re-

sentment toward God and the objectification of others.

Freedom for means that in Christ we are set free for loving and serving others. Freedom is a

relationship, not a new set of activities or the demands of a new law.

Freedom for means that in Christ we are set free for loving and serving others. Freedom is a

relationship, not a new set of activities or the demands of a new law.

Luther put it this way: “Faith, however, is a divine work in us which changes us and makes us

to be born anew of God. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different people, in

heart and spirit and mind and powers; and it brings with it the Holy Spirit. O, it is a living,

busy, active mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works inces-

santly. … And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without

compulsion, a person is ready to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything,

out of love and praise to God who has shown them this grace” (Luther’s Works, 35:370-1.)

No longer is God transactional and others a means to an end. This freedom is scandalous be-

cause it is based on unconditional grace. It is a gift. Think about it—do we feel the burden be-

ing lifted? Think about it—do we feel the complete love of God? Think about it—do we now

see others through God’s eyes, free and beloved children?

On Reformation Sunday we will hear Jesus’ promise: “You will know the truth, and the truth

will make you free” (John 8:32.)

On Oct. 32 and beyond let us live in that freedom.

October Worship Schedule

Sunday, October 1 17th Sunday of Pentecost

Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Confirmation 10:45 am

Sunday, October 8

18th Sunday of Pentecost Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School & Confirmation 10:45 am

Sunday, October 15

19th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School & Confirmation 10:45 am

Sunday, October 22

20th Sunday of Pentecost Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School & Confirmation 10:45 am

Sunday, October 29

Reformation Sunday (Don’t forget to wear red)

Worship & Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. No Sunday School or Confirmation

Classes

Prayer Ministry

Pray for Healing & Provision: Marge Rahn, Edgar Bollinger,

Ruth Neumann, Tania Hayes, Art Suprek, Irmgard Crowder, Maggie Heaney, Jackie Voss, Daisy Morgan, Karen DeVilbiss, Ted DeVilbiss, Donna Meisner, Gary Lawrence, Diana Perry,

Lee Hoops, Sheila Eastman, Nancy Bickley, Alice Glisson, Nikki Whitaker, Jean Harrell, Virginia Reedstrom,

Ed Merzlak, Collin Morgan, Tiffany Murphy, Randy Lester, Otis Smith, Raquel, and Denise Jean.

Pray for Our Deployed Military:

Peggy Martin, Rob Gulbrandson, Rayland Dawood, Steven Johnson

Music Ministry

Choir has begun practicing again (Wednesdays at 6:30pm) We are very

happy to have three new members; Heather and Violet Herrmann, and

Emma Fischer, and also most of the members who sang with us last

season. We still have plenty of room for more, so if you enjoy singing,

please come sing with us.

The choir room is coming together well (still a work in progress.) A

great big Thanks! to Sister Barbara Lee for all her time and effort spent

here. She has a wonderful gift for organization! And many thanks to the

Property Committee for their great ideas and support in planning im-

provements to the choir room.

On Sunday morning December 17th, we plan to present our Christmas

Cantata, “The Winter Rose” by Joseph and Pamela Martin. Although not

difficult, there is a lot of music to learn, so we are asking anyone inter-

ested in singing “The Winter Rose” with us to start practicing with us

as soon as you can. (We want all singers but especially need more men.)

The Youth and Children will soon begin practicing their Christmas Pro-

gram which will be presented Wednesday evening December 20th.

We also look forward to Bells beginning soon.

Blessings!

Melinda

GAP Food Pantry Item of the Month

Food stamps help to feed many families, but they are never enough to cover all

their basic needs. And they do not cover other essentials, like paper products. This month Advent is collecting paper products like toilet tissue and personal size

tissues. This is always a much-requested item and supplies often run out.

Can you add one or two items to your shopping list to make a

difference in the lives of so many?

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support

for the less fortunate in our community.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to this effort,

please see Jackie Voss or the Pastors.

BLESSING OF THE

ANIMALS

WORSHIP SERVICE

Saturday, Oct. 7 11AM

ADVENT LUTHERAN CHURCH REAR PARKING LOT

Please bring your animals for a Blessing!

(Keep animals always in your care)

3232 Washington Road

Augusta, GA 30907

706-860-0439

www.adventaugusta.org

advluch@adventaugusta.org

FAMILY PROMISE at ADVENT

Advent will be hosting guests from Family Promise the week of October 15th. We

will be providing shelter, meals and support for families as they go from being

homeless to being self sufficient members of our community.

There will be ample opportunity for your help and support.

Can you:

Cook a meal? Spend the night? Spend some time? Provide supplies?

Look for the board in the Narthex and please see how you can help. Remember

you don’t have to cook a whole meal by yourself—sign up with a friend!

Nancy Tokarska

Co-coordinator, Family Promise

God’s Work Our Hands was a success thanks to you! This year we were able to:

Bag 60 lbs of grits for the GAP Food Pantry

Bag 50 lbs of rice for the GAP Food Pantry

Double bag grocery bags for the GAP Food Pantry

Pack over 250 toiletry kits for the homeless

Pack over 50 oral hygiene kits for the homeless

Provide 50 lunches for the residents of Maxwell House

Paint part of the interior at GAP

Clean and restock the Free Food Pantry

Provide two boxes of needed supplies to the hospitalized veterans at the

Charlie Norwood VA Hospital

Special thanks to:

Paul Filpus-Luyckx for leading the painting crew at GAP

The Men’s Breakfast Group for providing meat, cheese and bread for our

Pot Luck lunch on Sunday

The Children’s Service Ministry who worked very hard and accomplished so

much

Have You Seen the Service Ministry

Information Center?

Check out the Service Ministry Table and Bulletin Board in the hallway outside

the Adult Classroom. There you can find information on everything Service

Ministry does and how you can help.

There are places for your donations of clothes, grocery bags, pop-tops from soda

cans and much more!

This year we are collecting Box Tops for Education that can be found on many

food products, as well as other items you buy. All you have to do is cut out the

coupon and put it in the labeled box. This is one way you can help others by just

using what you already use!

This year your Box Tops for Education will help the students of Lamar-Milledge

Elementary School of Augusta, GA. This school is located in an impoverished area

and families often buy generic products to stretch their food dollars. Your contri-

bution will help the school purchase needed items they might not otherwise be

able to buy.

You can find a list of what products have Box Tops for Education on the bulletin

board.

Bonus secret!

Be sure to look for the fun way to learn and win a prize! Details on the bulletin

board!

Advocacy Ministry

Disaster Response and Evacuee Shelter at Advent How should we at Advent respond to the recent disasters? How should we pre-

pare to help those in the future? Should we plan mission trips to

support those in Houston, Florida or Puerto Rico? Should we plan for an Evac-

uee Shelter? We will discuss these ministries and start planning this October.

With the pending arrival of hurricane Irma, Advent was officially named a Shelter

Congregation by the Southeastern Synod. Lead by the Spirit,

Pastor Jason and Pastor Andrea, worked with Synod and then gathered

congregation members to quickly put a plan in place and call for

volunteers. Fortunately, Irma moved west and quickly lost strength, so we were

not needed as a shelter. But will we be needed in the future?

How do we prepare?

We all have friends and family who were caught in the path of Hurricanes Harvey,

Irma or Maria. How can we help? Can we partner with a church, synod or Lu-

theran Disaster Response to journey there and help rebuild?

At the suggestion of the Service Ministry, the disaster response ministry will be

housed within the Advocacy Ministry.

Lunch is provided.

All are welcome, bring a

friend, let us know you are

coming by signing up at Sign-up Central.

The first meeting

is Saturday, October 21, noon

to 1:30.

ADVENT BOOK CLUB 2017—2018 Meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted.

Join us on Monday, October 23rd at 7:30pm

in the Adult Sunday School Room as we meet to

discuss the book, “A Piece of the World.” The Discussion Leader for the evening will be Gayle, and

the Hostesses are Susan & Patty. All are welcome!

Friends, Food and Funds for GAP Ministry

Jason's Deli is donating 15% of dinner purchases on October 27, 2017 to GAP

Ministries. You can enjoy a delicious dinner and support GAP at the same time.

So that your order will qualify, you must make a

reservation by October 24 by clicking here.

Just come to Jason's Deli on 2907 Washington Road between 5:00 and 10:00.

Look for the GAP volunteer in a blue t-shirt to check in before you order.

Take-out orders will also qualify for the donation.

Come ONE! Come ALL! For ADVENT’S

In The Church Parking Lot

Saturday, October 28th 2:00pm - 4:00pm

We need your CARS! And YOU Too! ALL Decorated to give out CANDY from your TRUNKS or

CHAIRS.

Please BE here by 1:00pm To DECORATE your car & get SET UP.

Please See Sign-Up Central for Other Opportunities to Help!

Reformation Sunday

October 29th, 9:30am

The Joint CSRA Reformation Service;

Sunday, Oct 29th at 7:00pm

Pre-Service Music 6:45pm

Reception following service

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

825 Greene Street, Augusta, GA

There will be a Potluck after the worship service.

If you can volunteer to help, or to bring a food item,

please sign-up on Sign-up Central.

What does Golf have to do with

Homelessness?

When Family Promise Has a Fundraiser!

Family Promise is having a fundraiser to help homeless families in the Augusta

area. It is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997. About one in every four

homeless person is a child.

Family promise is a network of 22 congregations throughout the Augusta area that

work together to provide a "hand up" to dozens of homeless families each

year. The host congregations provide overnight lodging two - four times a year for

a week at a time. The families are provided with lodging and meals as well a life

skills and parenting classes.

The Golf Marathon is October 30th. We need sponsors for our golfer, James

Smith, who has graciously consented to golf for this cause.

There are pledge sheets in the Narthex.

Won't you consider donating to this worthwhile cause to help homeless families?

10/8 Patti Agenbroad

10/11 Patsy Puczkowski

10/13 Tom Alderson

10/15 Peter Kohler

10/15 Nancy Bickley

10/16 Ruth Neumann

10/16 Karen Smith

10/21 Sophie Van Bladel

10/22 Nikki Whitaker

10/24 Gary Lawrence

10/27 Don Plueger

10/27 Dale Reedstrom

10/28 Ted DeVilbiss

10/30 Jane Burnette

10/30 Max Van Bladel

10/31 Karen DeVilbiss

10/31 Michael Licitis

10/4 Ron & Bille Zimmerman

10/9 Steve & Debbie Merzlak

10/15 Rick & Erin Taylor

Happy belated birthday

to

Billie Zimmerman!

She had a September

Birthday.

9/20/17

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Worship

& Holy

Communion

9:30am

Sun. School &

Confirmation 10:45am

5 When Help Can’t Wait 2pm - 9pm

Praise Band

6:00pm

Bible Study 6:30pm

AA 8-9am

6

AA 8-9am

7 Property Meeting 9:00am

Blessing of

The Animals 11:00am

2

AA 8-9am

3 Bible Study 10:00am

Staff Meeting

12:00pm

AA 8-9am

4 Choir Practice

6:30pm

AA 8-9am

8 Contemporary

& Holy

Communion

9:30am

Sun. School &

Confirmation 10:45am

9 Columbus

Day!

AA 8-9am

10 Service Ministry 2:30pm

Ministry Night

6:30pm

AA 8-9am

11

Choir Practice 6:30pm

Pastor’s Will Be

On Vacation 10/11/17 - 10/18/17

AA 8-9am

12 Stephen Ministry 6:30pm

AA 8-9am

13

AA 8-9am

14

15 Worship

& Holy

Communion

9:30am

Sun. School &

Confirmation

10:45am

16

AA 8-9am

17 Bible Study 10:00am

ALS 6pm - 8pm

Council 6:30pm

AA 8-9am

18 Choir Practice

6:30pm

AA 8-9am

19

Bible Study 6:30pm

AA 8-9am

20

AA 8-9am

21 Advocacy 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Chinese Church

6pm-9:30pm

22 Worship

& Holy

Communion

9:30am

Sun. School &

Confirmation 10:45am

23

Book Club

7:30pm

AA 8-9am

24

Signup For

Jason’s Deli

GAP

Donation Day

*See

Newsletter

Article*

AA 8-9am

25

Choir Practice

6:30pm

AA 8-9am

26 Stephen Ministry 6:30pm

AA 8-9am

27 Jason’s Deli

GAP

Donation Day

5pm - 10pm

AA 8-9am

28 AA 8-9am

Lydia Project

9am - 12pm

2pm - 4pm

29 Worship

& Holy

Com. 9:30am

Sun. School &

Conf. 10:45am

Reformation

Potluck After

Worship

30 Family

Promise

Golf

Marathon

AA 8-9am

31

AA 8-9am

Join Us For

The Joint CSRA Reformation Service at

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

825 Greene Street, Augusta, GA

Sunday, Oct 29th at 7:00pm

Pre-Service Music 6:45pm

10/1/17 10/8/17 10/15/17 10/22/17 10/29/17

Assisting Ministers Jamie Sadenwasser Bobby Bisbee Heather

Herrmann Mary Filpus-Luyckx Ingrid Zamecnik

Lectors Ken Furlong Diana Perry Violet Herrmann Scott Boeke Bob Holm

Communion

Assistants Carol Billings Marcy Jimenez Maria Pravato Mary Suprek Barbara Plumley

Acolytes /Crucifiers Lily Summers/

Holly Sadenwasser

Sophie Van

Bladel/

Stormi Hubble

Lily Summers/

Max Van Bladel

Zach Hubble/

Timmy Peterson

Stormi Hubble/

Kate Peterson

Ushers Bob & Diana

Perry

Tom Alderson/

Jim Williams

Carole Hope/

Sam Jimenez

Dieter & Ulrike

Beck

Steve Merzlak/

Timmy Peterson

Greeters Don & Mable

Plueger

Julie Fillgrove/

Carole Hope

Peter & Vicki

Kohler

Lynn Reed

Patty Williams

Erin Taylor/

Tom Alderson

Flowers Given By

Ron & Billie

Zimmerman

Oct 4th

Anniversary

*Sign up in

Narthex*

In Honor of

Rick & Erin

Taylor’s

Anniversary

In Memory of

Neil Williams

By The Williams

Family

*Sign up in

Narthex*

Missionary Support

Given by

*Sign up in

Narthex*

*Sign up in

Narthex*

*Sign up in

Narthex*

*Sign up in

Narthex*

*Sign up in

Narthex*

Hospital/Shut In

Ministers Jackie Voss Patty Williams

Don & Mable

Plueger Patty Williams Carol Billings

Visitor of Visitors Maria Pravato Gayle Ricklefs Maria Pravato Gayle Ricklefs Maria Pravato

Fellowship Coffee

Hour Coffee Only Coffee Only Coffee Only Coffee Only Potluck

Altar Guild Sat. Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence

Altar Guild Late: Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence Linda Lawrence

3232 Washington Road

Augusta, GA 30907

Phone: 706-860-0439

Web: adventaugusta.org

Email: advluch@adventaugusta.org

DATED MATERIAL

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Deadline For November

Newsletter Entries

October 23rd