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.

It seems strange to be entering our second decade in this new century. 2009 was certainly a year filled with changes for our family and for our congregation. 2010 is already continuing this trend. I have to believe that God is in these changes and with us as we go through them, even when they are very hard.

Most of you already know of Matt and Emily Miner’s resignations. Serving with them in the work of God’s reign has been a highlight of my time at Advent. There has not been a week of my first year here in which I was not blessed and impressed by what I saw God doing in the lives of others through them. I will miss them in so many ways.

Still, as hard as it is to think of losing them, I don’t want anyone to think for a moment that their leaving means that Advent is giving up on Youth or Christian Education ministry. During this month I will be meeting with kids and parents to talk about the future and to put together a team to pray, discuss, and plan where God may be taking us from here.

It will not be the same. No one has the unique and wonderful set of gifts that God gave us through Emily and Matt. But I am convinced that it will be good. God loves the kids of this congregation and longs for them to grow up to be strong men and women of God. This will never change. Because of God’s heart, we can believe that the future of our Youth and Christian Education program will be bright. If we continue to seek God’s will and courageously live into it, there will be good things in store.

Another difficult transition faces us in the resignation of our accompanist for the traditional services, Jeanmarie Bailey. Jeanmarie has been a cheerful, talented, reliable blessing to our congregation for many years. She was always there, practicing and faithfully getting ready to lead us in worship, even at 7 AM when I would arrive to begin my preparations.

Even though God is leading us to different places in ministry, we part ways on the best of terms. Please keep her in your prayers.

Bill Stanton, our congregational president, and the Congregational Council are working to determine the best course of action in finding a replacement for Jeanmarie.

Even in times of unsettling change, God is with us. God is in our future, waiting for us. As we walk with Jesus and become the people we are called to become, we have nothing to fear and every reason to look ahead with confidence and joy.

Serving with you,

As I write this letter for our January Advocate, Christmas is around the corner. Last month, I wrote about Stewardship and the giving of our time and talents. At Advent, we are blessed to have many performing God’s work on earth. As you celebrate Christmas, please include a prayer for our members who are doing the hard work in all our commissions (Christian Serving, Evangelism, Worship and Music, Stewardship, Youth, Christian Education, Property, Fellowship), our Men’s and Women’s groups, our Pre-School, our Council, and most importantly pray for our staff.

Even as we celebrate, we acknowledge having difficult times in the life of our church. Like the perfect storm, internal and external problems have combined to reduce our membership and our financial strength. Overall, our attending membership and our giving are down by about 20%. For 2009, our giving was $80,000 below our projection made last January. We have run a deficit in excess of $60,000 and diminished our operating reserves to next to nothing. We have faced the possibility of similar short-falls in the last two years. The difference this year is that we no longer have a reserve to cushion us if we do not experience an upturn in giving. Good stewardship requires us to reduce our spending to match our projected income.

As we look forward to 2010, we are projecting that our giving will be up only slightly from that in 2009. Based on this projection, to avoid an operating deficit in 2010, we will need to cut our expenses by $80,000 as compared to those in 2009 and by approximately $100,000 as compared to those in our 2010 budget requests. Our Finance Committee, Commissions, Staff, and Council are working to make hard choices.

One of those hard choices is that we will need to make a reduction in personnel. Pastor Dave working with staff has defined the choices for staff reduction. As the magnitude of reduction necessary became clearer, Matt and Emily Miner, guided by the Holy Spirit, have offered their resignations to be effective January 31, 2010. We owe much to both Matt and Emily for their leadership of Youth and Christian Education and for their positive influence on our young members. While not a direct casualty of the budget crisis, Jeanmarie has also submitted her resignation. We also owe much to Jeanmarie for her steadfast commitment to Advent and our Worship and Music. We are saddened by all their departures, will miss them and wish them the very best.

The reductions we are making are and will continue to be painful. All ministries and staff are affected. The changes will place a greater burden on our members, as volunteers, to keep our programs going. This is a severe bump in the road for Advent. We will lose speed. However, we will not be deterred from continuing to seek, understand, and implement God’s work at Advent. We remain committed to quality programs for Christian Education, youth and Worship and Music. With God’s help and yours, we will cross this bump and begin rebuilding for the brighter future that is possible for Advent. We ask for God to guide us as we make these decisions and implement these changes.

Yours in Christ,
Bill Stanton
President, Advent

Dear Advent Family,

We will miss you.

When we came to the church over six years ago, we had no idea that it was the beginning of a great adventure. It has been a true joy to have served and loved here.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

You love Kansas, and she loves you. Kansas loves God and loves to be at church. This is the greatest gift you could ever have given our family.

Whenever there has been a need, big or small, you have met it. We will always remember loud noisy offerings and squabbles over who gets to buy the last sweatshirt to fill the backpacks. Mission trips and vacation bible school have been awesome events as a direct result of your generosity.

You have been ‘Jesus with skin on’ to each other and to us. We had 30 days of meals delivered each day to our door when Kansas was born. When we changed apartments, we had 25+ people help us. Our programs are staffed with lots of wonderful volunteers, and our lives are overflowing with wonderful people we are glad to call friends. This truly has been a blessed season.

The decision to leave and the days that have followed it have been the hardest of our lives. Please know that we leave with full souls but sad hearts.

We believe that God’s presence is brilliantly ALIVE at Advent. Trust God and this church will soar!

Peace,
The Miners

There are some exciting events coming up at Advent:

Matt, Emily & Kansas Miner's last Sunday here at Advent is January 24th. Please plan to attend their Farewell Potluck immediately following the 11am service. Please bring a delicious dish to share. If you would like to make a money donation for the Miners, please make your check payable to Advent Lutheran Church with "Miner Farewell" written on the memo line. Place checks or cash in the white box which is on the Welcome Center. Donations can be made up to January 17th. After that date, all donations should be made out directly to Matt and Emily Miner. Thank you! We hope to see you there!

On Sunday, January 3, 2010, we will be studying the last chapter of our latest book "GROWING OLDER AND WISER". Certainly we have done just that! Please join us beginning Sunday, January 10, 2010 for our next series which will be sure to hold your interest. Watch the weekly bulletins for the next subject. We meet in the Education Building at 9:30 am.

Ron Klein Facilitator

Many blessings to each of you this New Year!

What an awesome December we had at Advent. Our wonderful Dramas, our Christmas Pageant, our fantastic Christmas Eve Services and so much more!

We are moving forward into a New Year of great outreach to the community… spreading God’s words and love to all! Our new website www.adventsuntree.com offers so much to the community and to each of you. Please note that you may revisit Pastor Dave’s sermons and Bible studies anytime on the website. His latest sermons, his Revelation Bible study, and his series on the Ten Commandments are there for you to listen to again and again!

Our New Member’s Connection Class on December 12th was once again so informative to our new members and to our established members who came to enjoy Pastor Dave’s walk through our Lutheran History and Doctrines. New members will be received into our Advent family sometime in January. (Date to be announced.)

Here are some highlights from the New Member’s Class for your review, study, and reflection for this New Year: What is your personal relationship with God? What is your personal time with God like? What makes for a healthy relationship with God? Revisit John Chapter 15 vs 5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Pastor Dave encourages everyone to be good disciples. He saw us as:

• Worshiping regularly
• Contributing financially
• Making a connection to Advent with at least one of its ministries!

In a discussion on worship we talked about why we worship…. because we love God, we bless God, we thank God, we offer God a blessing, and we offer God praise. We come in with an attitude of giving; we come out with so much more. We can’t out give God! When we come together in worship we see Christ in a totally different way! In worship we are reminded that we are a precious child of God. We soak up his goodness.

My hope is that you and your family are blessed in tremendous ways this holiday season and in the New Year.

Doris Jannke
Acting Evangelism Commissioner.

Aloha,

I hope that your New Year’s celebration was a grand one! This year the Men’s Group will continue in our tradition…we started it last year…of going to the Washington Nationals Spring training game at the Space Coast Stadium in March. This will be the first trip of our new year.

Like last year we hope to include the following events:

• Cooking a Lenten Luncheon for our church
• Supporting the Strike for Hope Bowling
• Going to the BCC Planetarium
• Going on another Museum Trip
• Working at the Advent October Fest
• Going to the Advent Christmas Dinner and Dance
• Working at the monthly work days at Advent

At each meeting we have a devotion, breakfast, and a short meeting. The money from our monthly freewill offerings, and the October Fest supports local organizations and the different ministries at Advent. If you’d like to attend the monthly Men’s Meeting, please show up at the Knoedler Center kitchen at 9 am on the 3rd Saturday of the month. We’ll be looking for you.

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

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE SATURDAY, JANUARY 16TH AT 9:00 AM!

Calendar of Events for January 2010
January 4th—Business meeting at 10 am
January 11th —Quilting at 10 am
January 18th—Bible Study at 10 am
January 25th—Quilting at 10 am

Congratulations to our new officers for the years 2010 and 2011:
President - Jean Ott
Vice President - Lynn Borchers
Secretary - Betty Symons
Treasurer - Ella Holub
Bible Study Leaders - Dij Pacarro & Betty Symons
Publicist - Betty Symons
Quilting - Lynn Borchers

Our backpack project continues….

This past year was AMAZING, and the final results were TRULY appreciated!!! THANK YOU!!!

January is socks month!

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 of the sanctuary. Please help us out!

Thank you to all of you who supported the preschool through the Christmas wreath and gift card sales!

We have 2 openings in our VPK class for 4 year olds. Tuition in this class is paid for by the state for every 4 year old, regardless of family income. For more information on this please call Chris at 254-7139. School will be closed December 19th through January 4th. See you in the new year!

Chris Quavillion

Your Advent Youth have been involved in many important activities in the recent past:

They continued work on fundraising for Mission Trip to Denver next summer. Many items are already secured for auction in March 2010. The auction will be silent for the week of March 13 – 19, with anyone able to come in and bid on auction items, and then will culminate with things closing in a live auction format on March 20th location yet to be determined. The live auction may occur at a location other that Advent in order to maximize attendance. More details will be provided when final plans have been made.

Eighteen Advent youth and adults went to the Brevard Sharing Center in November where we sorted 4 and ½ pallets of food over 50 large boxes so that they are better equipped to hand out food on a daily basis. They currently call Advent Youth when they have need and our youth love to make an impact at this facility.

Advent Youth were also very active with the backpack project weekend, and are looking at getting more involved in this process during the year. Their hope is to expand the backpack project as they handed out all the backpacks and there was still a need. After the backpack hand-out we went down to Brunswick Harbour Bowling Alley and spent a couple hours in fellowship and bowling. A good time was had by all.

On December 20th Advent Youth spent the afternoon together decorating the worship space for Christmas and then spent time celebrating afterwards with our annual youth group Christmas party.

Advent Youth are planning on starting a seven week curriculum in January called How To Save a Life. This curriculum is based from an upcoming movie being released to theaters; it deals with teen depression and suicide. The topic of depression in teenagers has become more and more of an issue each year. The movie debuts January 22nd and we are planning on taking our youth to see it on January 24th during youth time.

For the season of Advent we moved youth from 12:30 – 2:30 and it has been successful. We are looking at keeping this time through January. We do need your feedback so let us know if you like the change or not.

Overall, youth activities are going well indeed, but it has become apparent that we will not be able to sustain supporting two Compassion International Youth. Beginning January 2010, we will have to let one of our youth go back into the service for someone else to sponsor. If you know anyone who would like to sponsor an international youth, please let us know.

Matt Miner
Director of Student Ministries

A gift from J. Tennican was made in memory of Lois Rydeen.

A gift from Harlan & Audrey Nassen was made in loving memory of Betty & Ed Seymour.

Gifts from the following people were made in memory of Gunther Weigel:
Ron & Li Klein
Harlan & Audrey Nassen

Gifts from the following people were made in memory of Hugh Aamodt:
Mary Byers
Jo Smith
Kay Malito
Bob & Joan Robbins

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,

During December, the normal work day (Dec. 5th) was cancelled due to conflict with a “marathon” choir practice session and inclement weather. An alternate work day was scheduled (and held) on Dec. 21st. The tile floors in the two preschool classrooms of the “Ed Wing” were cleaned and stripped of old wax. The carpeted areas of the classrooms and the hall were also vacuumed. Thanks to Don Hagen, Bill Stanton, Don Rydeen and Pete Jolly for a job well done.

The property work day for January will be the second Saturday (Jan. 9th) due to the first Saturday falling on the holiday weekend.

If anyone is interested in getting on my E-mail 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

The next Property Work Day is January 9th.

Everyone is looking for savings.  Here's a great opportunity for members and friends of Advent to get the word out on the services that keep their business growing.  We can help.  

We would like to publish your business ads at the back of our telephone directory which will be distributed early next year.  If you would like your business information included, please email your ad to Carol Ann at adlluch@bellsouth.net.

Habitat for Humanity - Advent is still short some $2,000 in it’s pledge to Habitat. Don Rydeen reports that he might have access to a Wurlitzer Juke Box that could be sold on Ebay to make up this difference. Other folks on the commission offered financial support to Don.

DOCK – Shirley Piper reported that DOCK operations appear to be going smoothly. The DOCK continues to pray and search for someone to lead the children’s Bible Study – an important part of the DOCK children’s learning.

AngelFood Ministry – Tammy has a team of 3 including Amanda Jones and Karen Jesse to help handle orders and pick up the orders. Tammy requested names of Advent members who would benefit from the delivery of an order donated by a member. Tammy has committed to increasing the marketing of AngelFood to our congregation beginning in January.

SVAAC – Community Care operation happens at Advent on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 PM under the direction of Bill and Kristina Petrik. This ministry will only be for folks who are behind in payments and in danger of losing utilities, house or other services. In addition to this SVAAC supported ministry Advent has opened a Food Bank which is managed by Sue Nichols and others. Help from Advent and other SVAAC churches has been solicited and received. The commission voted to send $1,000 to SVAAC for our contribution to start-up. This was delivered to SVAAC at their December meeting. In addition, the procedures from the SVAAC community Thanksgiving service have been donated for this outreach. Other commitments could be made as we see how this ministry develops. Matt Miner and the Advent Youth Group collected non-perishable food during November and donated a good amount to Community Care. Thanks, Matt and the Youth Group.

Hacienda Ranch was added to our list of ministries by Jeanne Bedwell. The commission decided to send a check for $100 to them as a beginning gesture. Much more can be done here, Jeanne will keep us informed.

The Angel Tree ministry was again successfully carried out by Rebecca Neeley with support from her Mom, Kelly. Sixty angels were made by Rebecca for 30 children at the DOCK and 30 at Brevard Interfaith Coalition. Thanks to our Advent congregation, all sixty gifts have been delivered by Rebecca and Kelly.

Ron Klein, Acting Commissioner

Thank you notes were received from Rose Zelko , Dij Pacarro, and Jeanmarie Bailey for Pastor and all of Advent.

The notes are posted on the bulletin board outside of the main office. Please drop by and read them!

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. It is available monthly.  Each month the menu is different. You can order various food packages which are restaurant quality at a discounted price. Everyone is welcome to participate. It is a great way to decrease your monthly grocery bill. Everyone qualifies.

Order forms, along with monthly information are available in the narthex. There will be two Sundays per month when orders may be placed. Please visit this area for detailed information. www.angelfoodministries.com

This is also a great way to help others by ordering a box to be donated to a family in need.  Volunteers will be needed to make this ministry a success. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions about the program, contact Tammy Leahy 544-7318. (If you know a family in need, please let us know.)

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 Ray & Barbara Harris on the loss of Ray’s Mother and to Harland and Audrey Nassen on the loss of Harland’s sister.

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

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

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.

A. Nicole Irby daughter of Evelyn & Dick Childs
Betty Landram sister of Dee Neal
Betty Taylor daughter of Mary Wilgeroth
Blake Brandenburg grand nephew of Kristine Panning
Cheryl Phinney mother of Matt Miner
Christopher Bower son of HelenAnn Bower
Dawn Baxter daughter of Dale & Georgia Suter
Debbie Northrup daughter of Jo Smith
Dorothy Hrobak sister of Tony Porada
Joan Jones daughter of Ann Wallace
Jodi Colligan stepdaughter of Joanna Spina
Lisa Frost cousin of Philip Read
Louis Petruzzelli brother of Rose Zelko
Marianne Hadjin sister of Louise Breitfeller
Marie Caruso mother of Susan Romano
Marie Hajducko mother of Michelle Moyer
Michael Sirois son-in-law of Jacquie Rowe
Randall Sweeney father of Karen Jesse
Robert Martorana father of Michelle Widere
Rosemary Rourk mother of Cindi Read
Ruth Christianson sister of Mary Bowen
Sabrina Allgeyer niece of Steve Allgeyer
Less Flynn aunt & uncle of Deb Bohn
Terry Markwart brother of Melanie Arnold

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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