Weekly News & Prayer Concerns

ADVENTure eNews

Weekly Publication

from Advent Lutheran Church

Charlotte, North Carolina

(Submission Deadline: Noon Wednesdays)

Visit us at our new and exciting website: adventlu.org

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Advent's Vision

We are Advent Lutheran Church. As diverse children of God, we strive to be the embodiment of that which God wants all people on earth to be. We love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We love our neighbor as ourselves, and express this love in service to others. By accepting God's gift of grace through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God forever.

10am Sundays

Starts July 7th

CARING FOR CREATION

In 1993, the ELCA adopted a social statement on environmental stewardship called " Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice." It is a non-political, non-partisan statement that uses scripture as the basis for our responsibility to protect God's creation and to act as God's stewards of the earth. One of the commitments in the statement is for congregations to take a role in education, awareness and advocacy.

On April 28, 2019, Advent council adopted a motion to designate the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost as "Stewardship of Creation Sunday," as recommended in the ELCA statement. This Sunday is Advent's first year celebrating this new addition to our church calendar.

Make plans now for Advent's 2019 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

The 2019 VBS will be held from July 29th through August 2nd. This year the sessions will be in the evenings from 6-8pm. Additionally, dinner will be available for the attendees from 5:30-6pm. Children ages 4 and up to 5th grade are invited and encouraged to attend. Our theme will be "Who is my Neighbor". Cost is $20 for the first child in a family and $15 for each additional child. You may register for the event by clicking this link Registration Link to VBS . Registration fees may be paid by check to Advent with VBS in the memo line or through Online Giving available on the Advent website. If using OLG, be sure to click on the drop-down arrow that will allow you to add VBS as the fund to be credited.

We hope to see your children, grandchildren, neighbor kids, and any other who wish to attend.

Social Ministry Planning Session:

Have a great idea for an outreach ministry? Want to get involved in Advocacy? Do you know how we can better "serve neighbor"? Join us for a Social Ministry Planning Workshop on Saturday, June 29, from 9 a.m. until 12:30, and share your ideas.

Our Social Ministry Board has coordinated our outreach ministries for over 50 years, starting in 1968 with a tutoring program for local school children and in 1969 by collecting clothing for Lutheran World Relief. We have a strong board, and this year are incorporating Advocacy into our ministries. The board coordinates such activities as the Chili Dinner, Sandwich Making, the Crop Walk, Hot Dogs and Homework and Room in the Inn - and for our new church year, want to include other activities that interest our congregation. See you June 29. Workshop will be in the Gathering Space.

Summer Office Hours

Beginning the week of June 17th and continuing throughout the summer, the church office will be open 10 hours a day, Monday through Thursday. The office will be closed on Fridays.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Watch out for school supplies on sale! Once again, Lutheran Services of the Carolinas has provided Advent with a list of 52 foster children needing school supplies this fall. The tree will be up and the list of kids posted on July 7-28. Supplies will need to be collected and turned in by Sunday Aug 4.

WELLNESS ON WHEELS - OPEN TO ALL

Services: Free Health screenings and health education including nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

When: Second Thursday of every month: June 13, July 11, August 8; 10am-1pm. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED.

Where: St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church, 1600 Norris Ave., Charlotte NC

For additional information: Connect @WOWCLT on Twitter or Facebook.

"Live Abundantly" Advent's Health Ministry Team

News you don't want to miss!

Welcome to newly-elected council, Wubben Endowment Board, and Nominating Committee members elected at the June 9th congregational meeting:

Elected to Council:

Vice President, Chris Cochran

Social Ministry liaison, Toni Hagerman

Stewardship liaison, Anne Brown

Youth liaison, Alyssa Schrader

Witness liaison is still open

Treasurer, Pam Rhynes

Secretary, Jennifer Canipe

Those leaving council are: Don Hagerman, Pam Isacks, Tanya DeGrace, Emily Hebert

Wubben Endowment Board welcomes Andrea Hankins as Adam Bostian's term ends.

Nominating Committee will have 4 new members. They are: Peter Christ, Debra Efird, April Hibbeler, Diane Large. Those rolling off are: Eric Heberlig, Jennie Henderson, Russ McKittrick, and Jake Thrower.

Welcome to all those who were elected. Many thanks to those whose terms are ending.

YOGAFAItH

Come join us for Yoga and Faith with Tawnie every Monday in the GYM from 7-8pm. Just a $5 donation. Please bring your own mat. Open to members and non-members so bring friends. If you have any questions please contact Brooke at

youthandmilestones@adventlu.org .

Prayer of the Day - Available on your Phone

If you are anything like me, your phone or email buzzes all day long. And if your messages are like mine, most of them are additions to a long to-do list with the occasional joke or funny meme. We are offering the opportunity to join together in daily prayer. If you would like to receive daily prayers on your phone, go to Advent website under Worship & Music/Prayer of the Day OR

email me at Spiritualdev@adventlu.org with your cell phone number. We

write/curate these prayers specifically for Advent with the intent of experiencing the joy of praying as a community.

Summer Reading Program

We have launched the summer reading program and thanks to many generous donors, we have lots of books to check out! You will find crates of books in the gathering space. We are using the honor system, so please just take one or two at a time and return them when you are finished.

MaryLou Kuklentz still has plenty of slots left to read with her dog McTavish. Hop on over to adventlu.org to find days/times. Remember to mark your calendar for the celebration at the end of the summer on August 2nd at 5:30 at our summer cookout.

Contact Carol Schierlmann at SpiritualDev@adventlu.org for questions or donations.

Advent Podcast Update

The 3rd Radical Love podcast is now available. This latest one includes Pastor Dick. Please take some quiet time to listen to these messages that have been created as a labor of love from your SD and Worship Team. You can find a link to the podcast on the website or you can access via ITunes or your podcast app on android phones. Feedback is welcome.

June: Quenching Thirst

In the hot summertime we all need to keep drinking lots of fluids to keep from dehydrating, and we don't want any of our neighbors to go thirsty. We'd like to stock our food pantry with Gatorade and flavored drink packets (to add to water bottles), as these items are also high on the list for the Charlotte Hit the Streets ministry supported by some of our members. Please add these items to your cart when you're loading up on cooling beverages!

Electronic 'Givers' Participate in Worship

So that all who give by an automated means can participate in worship, we are providing a special card in the pews that you can use when the offering plate is passed. Members are encouraged to take a moment to give thanks before placing the electronic giving card into the offering plate.

"Because we are designed in God's image, we are happiest and most fulfilled when serving and giving." - Dave Ramsey

Worship Schedule for June 23rd:

2nd Sunday of Pentecost

Readings: "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson and Luke 8:26-39

Lay Assistant

8:30am Lenore Watson

11am Teleah Amaker

Usher Captain

8:30am Mark Large

11am Ed Efird

Reader

8:30am Pastor Ward

11am Pastor Ward

Greeters

8:30am Joyce Veit & Tim Caldwell

11am Connie Searing

Acolytes

8:30am Brooke & Abby Hibbeler

11am James Hebert & Michael Goerke

Altar Guild

Diane Large, Mary Carriker, Tanya DeGrace

Counters

Dan & Betsy Brown

Bread

Marylou Kuklentz

Chalices and decanter from Holy Land

This Sunday, we will dedicate and place into service communion ware - a beautiful decanter and two chalices - purchased by Pastor Ward while on the group trip to Israel earlier this year. They are from the Hebron Glass company located in the West Bank city of Hebron, which is known for its traditional glass blowing. The colored swirls in the glass are made from expensive materials mixed with plain glass during the blowing stage.

Coming Up ....

Worship Schedule for June 30th:

3rd Sundayof Pentecost

Lay Assistant

8:30am John Lewis

11am John Basilice

Usher Captain

8:30am Tim Taylor

11am Pam Rhynes

Reader -- I Kings 19:15-16

8:30am Jeff Hibbeler

11am Gerry Osborne

Greeters

8:30am Barb Blish & Joyce Veit

11am Connie Searing & Dick Kuklentz

Acolytes

8:30am Emily & Meredith Tunnell

11am James Hebert

Altar Guild

Barb Blish & Mary Carriker

Counters

Tim Caldwell & Dick Kuklentz

Bread

Carol Wisner

In This Issue....... (Click Links Below)

Worship & Music Ministry

Quick Links

Advent's Website

UCF - Campus Ministry

NC ELCA Synod

Flowers on the altar on June 23rd are given by Barb & Dale Blish in honor of their 39th wedding anniversary.

Spiritual Development

Looking for a good read?

2019 Advent Book Club - all welcome

*We meet at the University Panera at 6pm on dates below:

July 12 -- 6pm - The Woman in the Window: A Novel by A.J. Finn

August 2 -- 6pm- The Library by Susan Orlean or The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of A Terrorist, A Train, and Three American Heroes

September 13 -- 6pm - The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carre

October 11 -- 6pm - The Perfect Nanny: A Novel by Leila Slimani

Email Jennie Henderson with any questions (jhendersonfit@gmail.com)

Nurture, Support & Fellowship

Communicate and Connect:

Join the closed "Advent Friends" Facebook group to stay abreast of events and see photos.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169250383088993/

If you would like to receive occasional important Advent news via text message on your phone, please text 'Advent' to 96362 or scan the QR code on the notices posted around the building.

(Please note: you must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the program. You may receive up to five (5) text messages per month for which you may be charged by your mobile phone carrier. You may opt out of this service at any time by texting 'stop' to 96362 or by emailing churchadministrator@adventlu.org

When shopping on Amazon.com, use "SMILE"

Don't forget - when shopping on Amazon, access the site through http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-1182420 , and simply do all of your Amazon on-line ordering through Smile.Amazon. Amazon will donate 0.5% of what you buy to Advent - not much, but if you're shopping anyway with Amazon, why not use Smile. Every penny will be used in service to God and His people.

Benefit Adventure Preschool - re-link your Harris Teeter VIC cards - #5494

Giving envelopes in the pews

Advent appreciates all gifts, but we also want to give credit where credit is due! If you give cash using the blank envelopes in the pews, please put your name on the envelope so we can properly record your donation. If you want part or all of your gift to go to any special fund other than the General Fund, please note that on the envelope also.

Outreach

If you wish to financially aid those devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, Lutheran Disaster Response will directly reach the victims. To donate, go to www.elca.org/disaster .....

or if you prefer, make your donation payable to Advent with disaster relief in the memo line, and we will send your contribution in with any others received.

You can donate to provide aid in the area of greatest need or to a need you specify.

Youth at Advent

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

Summer Mission Trip to Wilmington NC -- June 23-29

MILESTONE AND YOUTH GROUPS AT ADVENT

KIDS 4 CHRIST

The Kids 4 Christ youth group is for children Kindergarten through 2nd grade. This group celebrates several milestones, including First Communion and Blessing of the Backpacks. We meet once a month to learn and enjoy the fellowship of others in our group.

MUSTARD SEEDS

The Mustard Seeds youth group is for children 3rd grade through 5th grade and also meets once a month. We celebrate our 3rd grade Bibles milestone. In addition to monthly meetings, there are other opportunities throughout the year including BYG camp and Youth Quake.

MIDDLE SCHOOL/Route 67

The Middle School youth group is for youth 6th grade through 7th grade and prepares students for entering confirmation. We celebrate our Mission and Service Milestone. This group includes fellowship, study, mission and BYG-er camp.

CONFIRMATION

This group meets throughout the year for two consecutive years as they learn about what it means to be a Christian and a Lutheran. They explore the Bible, Christian history and faith development.

HIGH SCHOOL

This group ranges from fellowship to mission trips. We have a dynamic schedule to accommodate busy high school students grades 9 th -12 th .

Prayers Requested

Before adding someone to our prayers, please be sure you have the person's permission. Please let us know when prayers may no longer be needed. Names will be removed from the list after two months unless updates are received. An asterisk (*) after a name means an update is needed . Please contact the church office with updates.

Illness or Other Needs

Bill Aldred, friend Marylou & Dick Kuklentz

Lemont Bell, Gene Reid's friend

Arlene Bostian, Phil Bostian's mother

Lauren Bradshaw, friend of Sarah Sue Hardinger

Ida & James Chisolm, members

Carol DiRe, member

Kailyn Douglas, friend of Lisa & Andy Robinson

Elizabeth Evans, friend of Scott Evans

Mary Jane Falls, Friend of Betsy Dailey

Eileen Folkerth, Susan Goerke's mother

Michael Funke, nephew of Barb Blish

Sarah Gainey, friend of Lisa Robinson *

Jennifer Gazda, member

Consvella Harge, friend of Marie Cochran

Phuong Huynh, niece of Ann Schado *

Dean Jarrett, Carol Schierlmann's uncle *

Mother, Sister, Brother and Family of Jimmy C Johnson

Jeannie Jones, former Preschool teacher and friend of Marie Cochran

Dick Kuklentz, member

Teresa Ledford, member *

Susan Ledford, Mother of slain police officer, Jordan Sheldon

Richard & Phyllis Lester, Sharon Thrower's parents

Peggy Loftis, friend of Carol DiRe

Ray Matthews, Jesse Priser's father

Vicki McCombs, Friend of VDC community

Justin Mertz, Diane Jowers' nephew

Mertz Family, Diane Jowers' family

Rick Messina, member

John & Alice Olenchuk, friend of Lisa Robinson

Carolyn Osborne, member *

Leo Peeler, member

Blake Robinson, family of Lisa & Andy Robinson

Grace Robinson, family of Lisa & Andy Robinson *

Pastor Frank Rufato, friend of Chris Rasmussen *

Richard Schulz, Dan & Jan Otolski's brother-in-law

Reggie Short, friend of Gene Reid *

Pam Simyon, Mary Lou Kuklentz' daughter-in-law

Rob Simyon, grandson of Dick & Marylou Kuklentz

Pastor John Spencer

Debra Spencer *

Myra Steele, sister-in-law of Jennifer Frisina *

Bill Tomon, coworker of Andy Robinson

Ware Washam, friend of Sarah Sue Hardinger

Herbert Watson, Member

Helen Webb, Kuklentz' daughter-in-law

Beverly Williams,member

Lewis Williams, member

Renaté Wilson, Tanya DeGrace's mother

Bethany, friend of Lisa & Andy Robinson *

Carolyn & Rebecca, friends of Lisa & Andy Robinson *

Grace, Friend of Lisa & Andy Robinson

John & Alice, friends of Lisa & AndyRobinson

Kailynn, Friend of Lisa & Andy Robinson

Sarah, Friend of Lisa & Andy Robinson

Births

Celebrations

Deaths

We remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died, especially ...

Elfrieta Brewer, Mother-in-law of Pastor John Spencer

Always keep ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and NC Synod Bishop Tim Smith in your prayers.

For additions or updates to this listing:

Please contact Pastor Ward at ThePastor@adventlu.org or 704-549-1555 ext. 101

or Harriett Easley at ChurchAdministrator@adventlu.org
or 704-549-1555, ext. 100