The Advocate : January 2010

Welcome to this month's issue of The Advocate! If you are having trouble viewing the newsletter, you can view the full HTML version of the newsletter online.

I think it was about 10 years ago. I was visiting with a family from our congregation and we were having a nice conversation around the kitchen table when something happened. I began to get a panicky feeling inside, my heart began to race, and I was having trouble breathing.

Nothing like this had ever happened to me before so, as you can imagine, I was pretty much alarmed by what was happening. I didn’t want to panic these kind folks so, as soon as possible, I excused myself and headed out into the cool night air.

Since this family lived in our neighborhood I was able to walk home, but I was still wondering if I would survive this attack, whatever it was.

I went through batteries of tests to check out my heart and determine what was wrong. When all the dust had settled, it turned out it wasn’t my heart at all. It was my lungs.

My doctor informed me that I had experienced an asthma attack and that it was brought on by an allergic reaction. After further testing he found that I was extremely allergic to cats and that exposure to them would almost certainly cause me to have an asthma attack.

I protested and explained to my doctor that I was a pastor. I could not “prescreen” my parishioners and only visit those who did not have cats! He worked with me and, over the years, we tried various combinations of medications to control my allergy. Some were more effective than others, but no treatment was completely effective. Depending on the cat and the house, sooner or later the effect of the medications would be overwhelmed and my lungs would begin closing and filling up. For the next two or three days I would be coughing and wheezing to clear my lungs out.

Florida has been much better for my asthma. I have been able to stop taking daily control medications and pretty much rely on my emergency inhaler. But cats…as much as I love them as animals, my body is tolerating them less as I get older.
As much as it pains me to have to do this, my pastoral support team and my staff have as much as insisted that I make it generally known to you that, like it or not, I have a serious allergy to cats. It is stressful on my body to be in a home with cats. It can take two or three days to recover my normal energy level if my exposure leads to a bad asthma attack.

Because of this, if you are a cat owner, please let me know and, if I come for a visit, perhaps we can meet on the porch or go for a walk in the neighborhood. Or maybe we can meet at a coffee shop. If you are homebound or unable to move and you own a cat, we will probably have to plan for someone else to visit you.

I wish this limitation weren’t a part of my life and my ministry, but people I love have urged me to let you know that, unfortunately, it is.

Thank you for your understanding and for your willingness to be flexible with me. It is my joy to be your pastor.

Serving with you,

First of all, I want to thank the good Lord for calling me into his ministry and mission.  He has given me good health and many blessings for over 50 years.

I want to thank anyone and everyone who played a part or who attended my Pastor Emeritus ceremony and celebration.  December 6th, 2009 is a fond memory which I shall treasure as long as I live.  I thank the Advent Church Council and all the committees and members who had the idea and carried it out to the last detail.  It was beautiful and wonderful!

I wish to thank our Bishop, the Rev. Edward Benoway, for making the trip and preaching for this special occasion.  I want to thank our Pastor, the Rev. David Jahn, for arranging and presiding at such a meaningful and beautiful service.

I want to thank our church staff and volunteers for all the work they did to carry it out so wonderfully.  I wish to thank all the good cooks for preparing and bringing all the delicious food for the banquet.  It was a delightful and enjoyable congregational gathering.

I wish to thank you for including my wife, Dinah, in the service and other festivities.  It meant a lot for her to be there and see many of you and feel your love and appreciation.  It meant a lot to me to have her there to experience your love and celebration.

As I was experiencing my heart operation, I prayed to the Lord that I would continue to serve Him by serving the people of Advent to the best of my ability as He and Pastor Dave wished.  To God by the Glory!  Amen!

ADVENT'S FIRST ANNUAL CRUISE ON CARNIVAL SENSATION!
Come join us for our first annual (we hope) 4 day cruise on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

Prices include port taxes and federal taxes.

Interior Cabin—$367.95/pp

Ocean View—$402.95/pp

Balcony Cabin—please call

IMPORTANT:   A deposit of $150.00/pp is due no later than Feb. 1st to receive this price.  Final payment is due on Feb. 17th. 

 To reserve your cabin, please contact Kathleen Windt directly at 253-3674 at Gadabout Travel or visit her at the Gadabout Travel Agency next to Publix in the Suntree shopping center!

Looking for persons who are seeking growth opportunities in the service sector!  This is a job which can be done from home.  Salary:  None.  Benefits:  Endless.  Education/experience desired:  None required.  Hours:  Minimum, 1 daily.  Job description:  You will be asked to provide intercessory prayers for members and friends of Advent Lutheran Church who are ill, in hospital, experiencing grief or loss, or in need of emotional and/or spiritual support.  If you are willing to provide this service, please contact HelenAnn Bower at 724-6864.

I used to wonder why we should pray for others.  After all, God knows all our needs, so why bother Him with information He already has?  I could understand praying for forgiveness, and I could understand giving prayers of thanks.  Other prayers, I’m afraid, were more of a “wish list” provided to the Almighty -- “Please God, let him call me,”  “Dear God, let me pass this exam,”  “Please God, don’t let that cop stop me for speeding,”  etc. etc.

Then my Mother told me something which she had discovered.  When one is angry with someone else, or dislikes someone else, or has been hurt by someone else, make a commitment to pray for that person every day for at least a month.  “It will change how you feel, and you will discover that you can’t sincerely pray for someone else and hold on to those bad feelings.”   Mothers have a way of being right, and mine was.  From there I moved up the ladder, so to speak, really  praying for persons who were in pain for whatever reason.  I knew that God always answers our prayers, and that sometimes the answer is “no” or “not yet”.  But my prayers became prayers for His comfort to others, that His presence be felt by those in pain, and I began to look forward to my quiet time with God.  Making a conscious effort to listen for His will , seeking ways to help be His hands, slowed me down.  I didn’t know if my prayers helped others, but they certainly helped me.

Six years ago my son, who is 43 years old, was given a terminal diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure and told he probably had 3 years to live.  As my friends heard of this, they added his name to prayer lists all over the country.  You here at Advent have been praying for him daily.  His cardiologist says his ejection fraction is still 16%.  But Christopher is feeling much better -- so much better, in fact, that he is planning to move to Florida, “so I can be a help to Mom.”  That may mean, he can drive and I can cook, but he has been here twice since August, and the change in him is like a miracle.  Prayer works!  His body may not be cured, but his spirit has been, and he is experiencing hope for the first time in years.

Won’t you join the Chain (Prayer) Gang, and become a Prayer Partner for others?  As you approach the celebration of the Gift of Love and Peace, as you prepare  your heart as a home for a little Child, take this opportunity to bring the gift of peace to yourself as you serve those in need.

With thanksgiving,
HelenAnn Bower 

“Give the Gift of Love”
Florida Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Presents
A special Lunch and Learn Presentation at
Advent Lutheran Church
7550 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL  32940
February 21, 2010 at 12:30 pm
(Absolutely no selling—information only!)

You are invited to attend a free informational seminar entitled PLANNING AHEAD for All the Right Reasons, presented by Florida Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, your local Dignity Memorial provider.

Planning ahead for funeral and cemetery arrangements is a subject we all think about from time to time, but few of us actually do anything about it. The death of a spouse or family member is considered one of life’s most stressful events that each of us will one day face. On a regular basis, we plan for other stresses and concerns in life, like sickness, accidents or loss of job or property, yet we do little to prepare for the inevitable things, like the death of a spouse or family member. A common reaction of a husband and wife may be, “We’re fine. We don’t need to do this right now!”

Florida Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home recognize how difficult funeral and cemetery planning can be, and through these seminars, will explain what planning ahead is, the wrong way to do it and the right way – in 4 easy steps. We believe that no one should be uninformed and unprepared on the day that they experience the death of a loved one. You will receive valuable information and answers to all of your questions.

Lunch will also be served. Join us on February 21, Sunday, at 12:30 pm in the Knoedler Center Hall. Space for the seminar is limited, so please call ahead. Contact Missy at 321.636.5054 to reserve your place.

May the year of 2010 be as wonderful, tearful, blessed and as challenging as my recent years as your Worship & Music Commissioner at Advent.  I welcome you to take this journey with me as I tell you about the mountains and valleys I have crossed here at Advent.  It all started with my search for a church one Sunday morning (around the year 2000).  God told me as I pulled into the parking lot of Advent “This is where you will worship me.  This is where you will serve me.”

I never knew what it meant to be a “member” of a church.  During the time of Pastor Stephen Jones, I became a member and was invited by Derek Heinlen to be a part of the biggest bible study I’ve ever known. They became the beginning of my “church family” at Advent.

I witnessed the building of the new sanctuary. In the new sanctuary, as I watched others read from the podium, I wondered what it would be like to be a reader.  What are my motives?  Can I get over my fear of public speaking?  God introduced me to Ken Gordon who painted the path to become a reader.  I soon learned that this also meant you were a communion assistant.  I had watched my “could-have-been mother-in-law” during her service as a Eucharistic Minister at Ascension Catholic. I loved what she represented.  Could I be one?   

“The body of Christ.”   “The blood of Christ.”

I watched Melanie Arnold in her service as a Worship Assistant.  I thought to myself, ‘that’s what I want to be.’  God granted me that ‘want.’  I sang in the high school choir and was handpicked to participate in a quartet  to do a piece from Porgy & Bess.  Could I lead this worship service in chanting the Kyrie?  Boldly and with tremendous fear I was coached by Jeanmarie Bailey, Pam Hartmann, and Emily Miner one afternoon.  Ugh. Nearly paralyzed, I did it, but I was not happy with my chanting.  Could I do better?

I was intrigued by the altar and all its elements and paraments.  Pam Hartmann introduced me to Barbara Harris and in time I eventually became the chair of the altar guild. Being more and more active in the worship service, Melanie Arnold asked me to be the scheduler for the 11:00 am service.  The more of God’s grace I received, the more I wanted. 

Soon there was a phone call from Pastor Tom Unrath asking me to prayerfully consider  becoming a co-commissioner of Worship & Music with Pam Hartmann since Melanie Arnold was resigning.  Scared to death and knowing nothing about “being a Lutheran” I took the invitation.  God’s got me this far!  He’s on a roll! 

Meeting after meeting, being micromanaged, I blindly walked this walk with Pastor Rick and Pam Hartmann.  Little by little I’m mentored to be a servant for Christ.  A day too soon so I felt, Pastor Rick told me in tears, that he and Pam were leaving.  She resigned and I resigned as co-commissioners.

Doris Jannke, president of council, asked me to hang in there as Worship & Music commissioner.  In fear, I agreed to carry on temporarily. During this ‘temporary time period’ Vicar Cindy Werner finished her internship and went back to seminary to soon become ordained.  Advent later participated in her Rites of Ordination & Installation at a fellow Lutheran church.

Pastor Tom Unrath prayerfully guided us through several months as Interim Pastor until a new pastor was installed.  I have much to thank Tom for as he encouraged me and gave me much spiritual guidance through these trying times. I guess the ‘temporary position’ was informally formal at this point.  I had forgotten about anything temporary by this time.  I believe my first memorial service, funeral service, and ministering  members who were hospitalized at my place of employment were under Pastor Tom’s care and advisement.

Spring of that same year, Pastor David Jahn was installed at Advent.  Being surrounded by so many clergy, for his installation, was especially humbling.  Looking back in hindsight, what lay ahead was a whole new lifestyle to worship.  Pastor Dave gave us a little time to settle in; then off we went.  After my 10-day prayer retreat with Contemplative Outreach, I returned home to put together my first 15 minute speech.
This speech was the “Devotion” that started the retreat for the creation of the Worship Planning Teams. 

Deep Water (Saturday & Wednesday nights)
Traditional Worship Planning Team (Sunday mornings)
The Ledge (Sunday morning Contemporary)

Retreats and workshops created and instructed by Karen Hagen, David Moyer, myself, and Pastor Dave trained and retrained nearly every aspect of the behind-the-scenes teams involved in the Worship & Music committees and are growing still today.  Karen Hagen and I became more acquainted as she took on the tremendous roles as the Traditional Worship Planning Team chair and what I would call the Projection Choreographer.  She and Kristine Panning trained the acolytes, communion assistants, and assistant ministers (once known as the Worship Assistants), and the lists still grow. 

The Worship & Music commission grew into 16 members strong.  During the same summer, 2009, my passion grew into becoming another type of leader in worship, one with a voice.  Jeanmarie Bailey worked weekly with me on voice lessons and two solos later, taken from the “Red Hymnal,”, or ELW, my dreams came true.  As it happens when hearts collide, Jeanmarie and I became the best of friends.

The Worship Planning teams were building momentum.  The Children’s Choir, under the leadership of Allison Cobb and Lori Jahn, was resurrected.  The Deep Water team, with the help of  Pastor Dave, utilized the time & talents of many of Advent’s congregation in opening the curtains to Advent’s dramas.  The enthusiasm continued into the Christmas Eve services. New times and styles of services were open to the public for Christmas Eve.  Many, many new visitors came to Advent.  New faces came to worship at the Christmas Eve services.  If you missed Christmas Eve at Advent, you missed more than a worship experience.  You missed fellowship and family as has not been seen by Advent in my years of worship here.

It all sounds great doesn’t it.  In all this grace Advent took hits of several types;  the human sexuality decisions of the ELCA, the changing of pastors, and the economy. This commission also saw the loss of 3 of its members, all staff too.  This was the resignation of Emily and Matt Miner and the resignation of Jeanmarie Bailey. I can’t begin to tell you how these resignations broke my heart on so many levels, but God has crazy ways of moving us.  Regardless of why these resignations took place, the Spirit has greater things for these individuals and for this commission and church.

So there you have it…a reader’s digest version with “just the facts” from your Worship & Music commissioner. 

So what?  What’s the point in all this?  I heard an evangelist tell ‘me’ more than once… DO IT AFRAID.  If God can carry me on this rock and roll journey, he can carry you too.  You just have to say ‘yes.’ Also, God’s always there.
Proverbs 3:5,6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Do not rely on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths…”

My paths didn’t feel straight and my trust and insight wrestled constantly, but He got me here regardless.  Imagine what He can do for you if you just step out of your comfort zone and say “yes!!!”

Debra Bohn
Worship & Music Commissioner

Disaster Relief  Call from Bishop Benoway

The Lutheran Church in Haiti is one of five Companion Synods with the Florida-Bahamas Synod.  In response to the strong 7.0 earthquake on January 12th, our sisters and brothers in Christ are in dire need of help in the aftermath of this disaster.  Please pray for them and consider making a  financial donation for disaster relief.

Please SEND your checks to: 
ELCA Int'l Disaster Response
Attn: Haiti Earthquake Relief
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on your check's memo line.

Our condolences go out to the family of Jean and Carl Ott
on the loss of Jean’s Mother.

A donation to the organ fund was made by Harlan and Audrey Nassen in memory of Harlan’s sister, Ruby Triggs.

A donation to the organ fund was made by Bernie Blumhagen in memory of Don Welker, a former Advent choir member.

We began our new journey in mid-January - Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. This letter communicates the Christian vision more powerfully than any of Paul's other letters.  A sampling of the 11 lessons include: "The Purpose of God"; "Amazing Grace"; "Live in Love, Live in Light”; "Unity and Uniqueness."  Please join us as we travel through this remarkable letter.  We meet in the Education Building.

Ron Klein, Facilitator 

You may not make a hole like a meteor does when it strikes the earth. You may not give a speech that people will be quoting for years to come. You may not perform some great feat that makes the TV evening news. But you can make an impact by answering God's call to serve. Our Stephen Ministers have an impact on people's lives at times when they really need someone.

Act Now if You'd Like to Be Part of the Next Stephen Minister Training Class!

Time is running out if you want to be part of Advent Lutheran Church's next class of Stephen Ministers, which will be taking place soon. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow in faith, develop stronger relational skills, and bring Christ's love into the lives of hurting people. To be part of this class, you will need to pick up a copy of the Stephen Minister Application from the Welcome Center. Fill it out and return it to Kristina Petrik or leave it in the mailbox marked “Stephen Ministry.” (Please make sure to place the application in the envelope provided, marked, “CONFIDENTIAL).”  We will then schedule a time when you can meet with a couple of our Stephen Leaders to learn more about the training and so we can learn more about you. If you have any questions, please call Kristina Petrik at 321-684-1420.

Do you have a knack for planning and organizing?  Do you feel God speaking to you?  Is He saying, "I want you to teach the little children about their Savior, Jesus!"  Well we are looking for you!

Our VBS program this year is Group's High Seas Expedition.  Group Publishing always has a fantastically fun VBS curriculum and this year's is no exception.

To be the fearless Director or any crew member of this awesome expedition, please call  Carol Ann at 259-8515 ext 228 or send an email to adluch@bellsouth.net.

What a great Augsburg Concert!  Thank you to all involved who brought such wonderful young people into our midst.  The music was awesome and the attendance from the community, on a very cold night, was impressive.

Our team is working to be sure each and every visitor feels welcomed and informed of the activities happening at Advent!  A letter of welcome and brochure about Advent continues to go out to all who stop at the Welcome Center and who fill out the yellow visitor card.  Thank you Don Hagen for our Welcome Center sign.               

On Sunday, January 17th we welcomed 14 more new members!  We are so happy to have you all be part of our church family.  The next new member’s class will be Saturday, March 20th at 9:00 am.

Now our focus is on the upcoming Lenten season.  We will be working on banners and postcards to make the community aware of all the wonderful happenings at Advent!

Doris Jannke
Acting Evangelism Commissioner

We have an exciting new year ahead of us and have already started to enjoy some of the events we have planned. After listening to your responses we have decided to plan the following events!

Our January Wine Tasting was a great success and we had a wonderful turn out!

• February 20th at 7:00 PM we will hold a Movie Night in the Knoedler Center. The movie will be the feature film Fireproof. Everyone will be responsible for their own munchies and we will start the movie promptly at 7:30.
  
• There will also be potluck dinners during the Lenten season before the 6:00 PM service each Wednesday during lent. Each of these are being sponsored by different groups throughout the church.
  
• March 6th there will be a group of people from Advent attending a production of The Producers at The Henegar Center in Melbourne at 8PM.
  
• April 18th—Carnival 4 Day cruise!  See flyer on kiosk in the narthex (lobby.)
  
• April’s event hasn’t been scheduled yet but we will be going on a “Beer & Baseball” outing. We will start with a private tour of the Indian River Brewing Company in Melbourne and follow that up with a Washington Nationals Spring Training game. Don’t like beer? That’s ok too, you can just join us for the game if you’d like as well!
  

As you can see, we have a lot going on in the upcoming months and are very excited to get to know each other at these events! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us at cdickman83@yahoo.com  or  call 321-368-2604.

Cheers and God Bless!

Advent would like to thank all members who participated in the “Live a God-Pleasing Life” Stewardship program for 2010.   The results of the Intents for Giving pledge sheets as of January 7, 2010 are provided below:      

Operating Fund …………… $401,439.00 …………… 134 Pledges
Future Building ……………  $   3,692.00 ……………    5 Pledges
Total Pledges …………....… $405,131.00  ………….. 134 Pledges

Our ministries can only happen because of your support in time, talent and finances.  Your participation is God’s blessings in action.  Your hands and financial support allow Advent to do many things that are pleasing to God such as working with our children and youth, outreach programs, our staff and maintenance needs and much more.

Also, 137 Time and Talent Sheets were returned.  These Time and Talent Sheets have been consolidated and each Advent Commission has been provided with a listing of their commission’s volunteers.

Thank you, again, for sharing your blessings and being a partner in this journey of faith.
Stewardship Committee

Aloha,

I hope that you successfully weathered the record setting cold temperatures the past couple of weeks. We have a lot of frost damage and hopefully the plants will grow back. The Men met to work on the Church Work Day, and luckily Pete Jolly and Don Rydeen had inside chores because outside it was cold with snow flurries.

The Men are planning a trip to the Space Coast Stadium to watch Washington Nationals Spring training game. We will be going to the Mets game on Saturday 6 Mar 2010. The start time is 1:05 PM. Unfortunately the ticket booth won’t open until 1.23.10, so I don’t have the exact cost per ticket. However, the tickets last year were about $17 plus $5 for parking…we’ll carpool to save this cost. If you would like to go to the Mets game with us, please give your name and money to Fred Zimmermann or Dave Bedwell. The deadline is Saturday 27 Feb 2010. Last year wives also enjoyed the game…so they are invited.

We will also be serving a Lenten meal during the quickly approaching Lenten season.

The Men’s group is a great place to learn about God, work around Advent, and enjoy the local attractions with friends from Advent. I invite you to come to the next meeting on Saturday, 20 Feb 2010, at 9 AM in the Knoedler Center kitchen. Let me know if you’re coming so we can have enough food and coffee…very important to have a lot of coffee!

Take care of yourselves.
Aloha and God’s blessings,
Rudy Pacarro

Our next meeting will be Saturday, February 20th at 9:00 am!

Feb. 1 - Business meeting at 10 A.M.
Feb. 8 - Quilters at 10 A.M.
Feb. 15-Bible Study at 10 A.M.
Feb. 22-Quilters

We continue to box up the layettes, health kits, school kits, sewing kits, soap and quilts for Lutheran World Relief.  They will be delivered to St. Timothy's later this month.

Our Backpack Project Continues...
In January, we collected adult-sized white socks.  We are continuing the collection of socks, and will start the collection of flashlights. The children of Advent, with the help of our church family, are collecting items to place in backpacks, and given to the homeless here in Melbourne at Christmas time.  There are collection bins in the narthex under the bread table.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office at 259-8515. Please help us out!

Preschool News...
Registration for next school year will begin in February for returning families and children of church members.  On March 1st we will begin registering other children on the waiting list.  We offer a 2-Day Program for two year olds, a 3-Day Program for three year olds and a 5-Day VPK Program for 4 year olds.  We follow the public school calendar and all classes are 9:00 - 12:00. 
Please feel free to stop by with your child and take a tour of our great preschool or call Chris at   254-7139 for more information!

God's Fun House: New Dates and Time...
SUNDAYS from 12: 30 PM  - 2:00 PM
Are you a 3rd - 5th Grader?  Have you experienced the fun of God's Fun House? This is a time for you as a kid to have a super awesome, amazingly fun time while learning about God.  God's Fun House runs from 12:30 to 2:00pm once a month. Check out our website at  www.adventsuntree.com for dates.   It doesn't cost anything except the gas to get you here. You are guaranteed to have a blast and have fun!!  Hope to see you soon. 
Upcoming Dates:
February 14th
March 21st
April 11th
May 16th (offsite pool party!)
Please contact Josh Jesse for details.

Matt Miner is no longer the director of Advent Youth effective January 31, 2010.  However, Matt did a great job over the past several years preparing an Adult Leadership Team to lead out Advent Youth.  This Adult Leadership Team includes:

Rick Rowe, Karen Jesse, Alberta Jo Parker, Sarah Gould, Eddie Wolchick, Cindy Gordon, Terri Gordon

These individuals will be using Matt’s office and computer as they lead weekly Youth meetings on Sundays from 12:30 - 2:30.  The above leadership team has a good relationship with Advent youth and will continue the strong youth programs developed under Matt.

Matt has worked with Chris & Megan Dickman, who volunteered to help lead the 2010 Youth Mission Trip, showing them the process they need to follow for Youthworks (the organization Advent deals with for the Mission Trip).  At a meeting on Sunday, January 10th, the Youth and parents (involved with the 2010 mission trip) decided it would be better if they changed the trip from Denver to Birmingham, AL this summer due to enhanced fund raising issues associated with the Denver trip.  They also decided to change the date of the mission trip to accommodate the Advent Youth/adults involved and the Youthworks available dates.  The new mission trip dates are now July 3-10, 2010.

Albert Jo Parker has volunteered to be the point person for the Mission Trip Fund Raising. Alberta Jo will work closely with the youth to ensure those tasks performed by Matt will be completed.

The Silent Auction committee was formed in October 2009 and they will continue towards a successful Silent Auction Event in March 2010.  To this point, Matt and the committee have secured over 250 items and the committee is continuing to secure more items in the community.  Members of the Silent Auction Committee are – Rick Rowe, Sarah Gould, Jyl Lee, Karen Jesse, Albert Jo Parker, Megan Dickman, Chris Dickman, Amanda Jones  and Kelly Neeley.

Respectfully Submitted
Bob Borchers
Church Council Representative to Youth

Congratulations to our members who are celebrating their birthdays this month:

Congratulations to our members who are celebrating their anniversaries this month:

Hello from your Property Commissioner Pete Jolly.

The Property Work day for January was held on Saturday, January 9th. Work accomplished included vacuuming the Sanctuary pews and cleaning the nursery carpet. Thanks to Don Hagen, Don Rydeen, Al Steen, Rudy Pacarro and Pete Jolly for a good work day. The Property Committee also helped to set up and prepare for the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra performance that was held later that evening.

The next scheduled Property Work day is February 6th. Work scheduled may include shrubbery trimming, sidewalk pressure washing, parking lot “barrier fence” repair and other outside jobs (weather permitting). There may be other unscheduled work sessions called as necessary during the month. I will try to be more diligent in getting email notifications or phone calls made to the Property Committee members well in advance of these work sessions.

If anyone is interested in getting on my email list for these work sessions or joining the Property Committee please feel free to contact me.  My contact information is as follows:

Phone                      321-610-7790
Cell                          703-283-0716
E-mail                      old_plane_man@yahoo.com

God Bless,
Pete Jolly

NEXT PROPERTY WORK DAY IS  February 6th at 8:00 am!

Next Pick Up Date Saturday, February 20, 2010 at  9:30 am.

Next Ordering will start February 20th through February  28th.

If you know anyone who would benefit from Angel Food or you would like to make a donation, please contact Tammy Leahy at 321-544-7381.

Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE use your 2010 envelopes for your contributions.  If you place a loose check into the offering plate, the volunteer counters must look up your envelope number and then make a copy of your check for record purposes.  Not only does this take volunteer time, but it also uses paper and ink  (paid for by your contributions!)  By using your envelope, you are giving us a record of your contribution and saving money that could be used for other expenses.  Please help us by using your envelopes and please don’t tape them shut.

Thank you,

Ron Klein,
Co-Financial Secretary

We welcome Judy Wood as the newest member of our commission.

1.  Habitat for Humanity, Don Rydeen.  Don reported that he met with HFH folks and brought back an invoice for $435 which is all that remains from the $13,500 commitment for our 2009. Don reported that there will be no HFH project for Advent this year.

2.  Since Advent has begun its own Food Pantry the commission decided to suspend support of the Sharing Center and use all donated food for our local ministry.

3.  The Haven.  Judy Wood, who is on the Board of the Haven, volunteered to take this project.  Judy will be in contact with The Haven executive director and staff to bring us a prioritized list of needs.  The commission thanks Susan Lucas for her service as Advent’s Haven coordinator over the past several years.

4.  Angel Food , Tammy Leahy.  Tammy reports a steady decrease in the number of Angel Food orders.  Tammy also reported that there are no repeat orders coming except the 3 packages for the DOCK which are donated by Christian Service. 

5.  SVAAC Community Care and Advent Food  Pantry, Kristina Petrik.  Kristina reported that $920 was given out in December to support the needs of folks who have come to Advent on Thursdays from 6 to 7 PM.  Many food packages were given out from Thanksgiving through Christmas.  The pantry is well stocked at this time but there are always shortages of certain items such as tuna fish and peanut butter.

6.  His Place, Ron Klein.  Ron reported that with the agreement of the commission he purchased and delivered 20 large cans of coffee to His Place following an urgent alert from them that they were running low.  They have had their doors open for the past week as one of only three Brevard Cold Night Shelters for the homeless.  The other two are in Titusville and Cocoa and are small (15 each) compared to His Place (100).  The folks are fed a hot dinner, bedded down in the fellowship hall and then given a hot breakfast before being released. 

7.  Hacienda Girls Ranch, Jeanne Bedwell.  Jeanne reported that she has been in contact with Matt Miner to see if the Youth Group would be interested in interacting with the girls at the ranch who range in age from 12 to 18.  It was suggested by Kristina that she (Kristina) contact Alberta Jo Parker as she schedules the Youth outreach activities.  Others suggested looking at the Disney website for info on donating time locally to qualify for Disney Park tickets.  Next month Jeanne will bring a prioritized list of needs to our meeting for disposition.

8.  NEW ITEMS:
Tammy agreed to look into the Homeless Veterans organization in Cocoa.  Eighty homeless veterans (5 women) are temporarily housed there and the needs are great.  Tammy has authority to spend up to $200 for priority needs of this organization. Tammy also agreed to shop for the two girls in foster-care who arrived with just the clothes on their backs.  This is in response to an urgent request from Brevard Interfaith Coalition.  The commission authorized up to $100 for this purpose.

Kristina displayed a “Homeless Handout” package which she saw at Faith Viera during a recent visit.  It consists of a small can of fruit, a package of crackers, a beef jerky and some other small food items meant to be given to homeless folks as a snack.  Kristina was given the go-ahead to purchase items to make up around 30 or 40 of these bags.  Maybe the youth group would like to package the bags – Kristina to ask Amanda Jones.

Please direct all concerns member/attendee and extended family & friends to the office (x 221) or Pastor Dave (x 222).    The cards are in the pew racks. Fill one out and place it in the Prayer Box located near the Baptismal Shell.

SYMPATHY
Our condolences go out to Jean and Carl Ott on the loss of Jean’s Mother.

Members in the hospital or rehab:
Fran Spina at Holmes Regional Hospital

Members/Attendees under the Doctors care:
Christine Symons 
Laura Wunder  
Grace Carpino  
Patria Shockley
Joyce Chinn
Karen Marks
Dee Neal
Ib Jensen
Yvonne Kilbreth
Fran Spina
Helen & Jerry Morr
Marge Olsen
Jane Eller
Jan Kincannon
Bill Remensnyder
Ray Loyd
Bob Parker
Jeanmarie Bailey

For homebound members:
Joy Charles
Bart & Dorothy Rinehart
Jane Rogers
HelenAnn Bower     
Ann Steele
Marjorie Stephenson
Charlie Yost
Inge Kilbourne
Barbara Everngam
Martha Work
Roald Olsen
Ray Alfred

Relatives of Members/Attendees Serving Overseas:
Larry Talento
Jared Marn
Michael Carey
Ian Avondstondt     
Dan Fuller
Brandon Hardin
Scott Anderson
Kevin Powell
Christopher Napolitano
Stephanie Torgerson
Greg Maly                                
James Preshong
Bill Piper

Siblings, Children, and Parents of Members and Attendees facing surgery, hospitalized, ill, in recovery or treatment:
Other relatives/friends are remembered through our Prayer Chain.

Updates Encouraged!
If our prayers for comfort and healing have been answered, please contact the office to let us know that we can move your loved ones to the section of  “Prayers of Thanks!”

If there is someone we missed that should be on the list please call the office to let us know.

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