Advent Lutheran Church Newsletter

Advent Lutheran Church April 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Photos of our Happen-ings at Advent

1-4

Pastor Matt’s Corner, From the Bishop

5

Message from Pastor Paul Anderson

6

Happy Helpers 7

Child Center News, Super Youth Team Worship & Hospitality

8

Income & Expense, Food Bank Donations, Attendance, People in our Prayers

9

Camp Corner (Camp Lutherhaven News)

10

Upcoming Events,

Announcements,

Thank You

11

Outreach Committee,

Parish Nurse

12

Drawing by Wes Todd 13

April Calendar 14

April Hospitality

Schedule

15

Worship Schedule 16

PHOTOS OF OUR H APPENINGS AT ADVENT!

2

Youth and leaders at Schweitzer

Fun times at Schweitzer!

3

Processional on Palm Sunday

Super Youth kids enjoying lunch at Northtown Mall

Super Youth kids taking a break at ‘Get Air’ at Northtown Mall

4

Advent’s Easter Flower Cross and Egg Hunt

5

PASTOR MATT’S CORNER By Pastor Matthew Larson

New Faces Sunday April 24th

Are you new to our community? First of all, welcome! We would like to recognize all the new people who have come to Advent since last October. Whether you are transferring a membership or want to be a “friend of the parish” we would like to welcome you into our community. Pastor Matt will be having a new faces gathering on Sunday April 10 after worship in the classroom. He hopes to see many of you that plan on being welcomed on April 24

th!!

On my way to Rome and Germany What does international economics have to do with continu-ing education? Everything!! Because of the strong dollar and the “new” sharing economy (Uber, AirBnB) it has become very practical for me to go to Rome and Germany for two weeks for continuing education. A copy of my itiner-ary will be available in the narthex so that you can see the many sites that I will be visiting. My week in Rome will be emphasizing the first 500 years of Christianity through archeology, architecture, and art. My week in Germany I will be visiting a handful of Martin Luther’s important sites. I will be writing a daily journal, taking pictures and video and plan on making a PowerPoint presentation when I get back. I will be gone May 23-June 9. Pastor’s Corner About the resurrection……”Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:10-11) “And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering….”(Luke 24:40-41) Not a lot of belief going on in the first few hours of Jesus’ resurrection. The apostles also stumbling over themselves when Jesus reveals himself to them. Yet some still disbe-lieved, in their joy! When is it that you have been so full of joy yet could not fathom the circumstances that brought about that joy? Maybe it was a car accident that you walked away from? Or a sick child recovering back to health? Think back to that time and remember the complete joy that you had and yet telling yourself….”I can’t believe that happened!!” It did happen. Joy and disbelief seem to go hand in hand many times. Have you seen any of the homecoming videos on the internet when a military person surprises their child or children when the kids had no idea? Tear jerker. However, you can almost see the lips of the children or hear in their voice when they embrace their mom or dad, “I can’t believe it!” This is the power of resurrection. It is not my belief that makes this happen, it is and was God who has answered death with life. In fact, maybe it is my own, “I can’t believe it, it’s Jesus” that gets me to another place. Faith. Faith in the one who has come back, who has freed me from bondage to sin and has embraced me as a child, forever. Faith. The gift that keeps me reliant on God, not myself. Maybe the joy was too much for the apostles that led to the disbelief? Perhaps joy takes down the barriers of ego and pride so that we can see that which we could not?

Does God give you such joy that you can say to yourself, “I can’t believe it?” And in that disbelief, see Jesus in all of his glory? The end of Luke’s gospel says this….”And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy…” Let us worship God with great joy and do great things as the church so that the world can say, “We can’t believe it.”

FROM THE BISHOP

By Bishop Martin Wells God’s Beloved People, I’ve just read a very helpful piece written by Ken Inskeep of the ELCA Research and Evaluation Office. Ken’s office is funded by our “mission support,” the portion of our congregational budget that goes to unrestricted support of the church as synod and Churchwide offices. Just as important, this kind of paper would not be possible except for your annual parochial reports, so thank you to all those of you who have filed yours this year and “Please, please!” to the rest of you! We need your information to plan for our common future! Ken is a skilled and trusted interpreter of ELCA statistics and a very fine writer and armchair theologian. In this piece, a background paper to the effort Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has proposed entitled “Future Directions,” (see her arti-cle in the February “Lutheran”) Ken offers us the statistics that let us see from a 40,000 foot perspective and begin to imagine how God is shaping a future for our church. I don’t remember ever seeing such an excellent summary of the last 50 years of Lutheran life in the United States. The paper is posted at www.ewaidsynod.org. The picture isn’t necessarily a pretty one, but then again, it is a human picture and history and so it reflects our efforts, good and bad. It certainly reflects the work we have attempted, over and over, to capture an urgent future in a very complicated era. I’d be very interested to see what you “see” in this paper. Here’s a few things I noted:

The peak year for ELCA (and predecessor church bodies)

membership and financial support was 1965. I was a soph-omore in high school. Where were you and how did you come into active membership in the church over the years?

We’re a Baby-Boom church, as the statistics show our hey

-day years of 1946-1964.

In terms of evangelism and stewardship we’re locked-

down, stubborn, faithful and persistent in our practices, and we don’t change them!

Local needs of congregations take priority. The heart of

the church is in the congregations and most congregations believe they are doing exactly what they should be doing.

At two major turning points, the mergers in the early 60’s

and in 1986, the world changed dramatically just as we sought renewal with out-of-date tools!

“In a negative, self-reinforcing feedback loop, as mission

support declines and whole units were downsized/eliminated, the case for mission support becomes more difficult to make.” (p. 11).

The age-old challenge to the church is “how to present its

theology so that it is recognizable and appealing to outsid-ers.”

So there is our promise and peril. There have been easier times to be the church but no time is more important than right now! We remain a church bearing the promise of Life right at the center of our being. I pray that the promises recounted in Holy Week rekindle your desire to share these promises with others! Easter Joy!

6

Dear Friends and Members of Advent Lutheran Church. I’m Pastor Paul from Fairfield Community Church. We are an ELCA and a PCUSA united congregation. I have been here now for nearly 12 years. When I began my ministry here, both congregations at the time, agreed that they would start a Sabbatical fund for the Pastor after 7 years of service. Because of the joining of the 2 churches and all of the details that involved, the timing after 7 years was not good for taking a sabbatical. It was agreed upon by the council and the congregation in November of 2014 to grant me a sabbatical during the months of July, August, and September of 2015. Some of the benefits for me were rest, reuniting, and retooling. Rest: “Be still and know that I am God” is the verse that comes to mind when I think of the kind of rest I needed. I am not sure why it is, but like many of us, I equated rest with being nonproductive. I discovered that rest is not the opposite of productivity. It took me a couple of weeks to begin to experience deep rest. Reuniting: Another benefit for me and my family was to be reunited with our family that is so spread out because of our calling here in Fairfield. We reunited with family in Montana and as far back as Indiana. I remember sitting in the yard with my my mom in the middle of July. I became anxious while sitting there, wondering what there was that I needed to do. She looked at me with her wise eyes and said, “Maybe you just need to sit.” And again the verse, “Be still and know that I am God came to mind. Retooling: This was also a time for retooling. I took the opportunity, while on sabbatical, to look at different worship styles. It’s hard to get the chance to experience different styles of worship when your pastoring a congregation. I feel as though I was retooled during my sabbatical through this experience. I felt very well rested and ready to return at the end of September. I am humbled and filled with gratitude for having been given this wonderful gift. This benefited the congregation as well. Fairfield community church was given the opportunity to hear the gospel preached from several different Pastors. I arranged pulpit supply for them while I was gone. The congregation really wanted this to work and be a benefit for their pastor. They recognized the pastor’s need for rest and really wanted this to work for him. The congregation and I were so ready to be together again at the end of the sabbatical. This experience was a good one for all of us and the congregation would attest to that. I think that a gift of a sabbatical to their pastor is one of the most generous gifts a congregation can give. Sincerely, Pastor Paul M. Anderson

7

HAPPY HELPERS

By Forrest Diehl Hope everyone had a great Easter! We were on the road this year during Holy Week and Easter – so we were unable to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with you, but let it be known that we were with you in Spirit! This year, March brought us both the calendar season of Spring and the liturgical season of Easter in the same month. Certainly, it is an early start for both; and the prevailing words for both seasons are: Christ Is Risen; He Is Risen, indeed! The month of March also brought us the Iditarod Race, the 1,049 mile dogsled race from Anchorage (actually Willow) to Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod begins the first week-end each March and usually lasts 8 - 14 days, depending on the weather and trail conditions. This year, Dallas Seavey won the race in 8 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes, beating all previous winning times. This year (even year), the northern route was run. The route was changed somewhat because of inadequate snowfall in some areas along the trail. Dallas’ father (Mitch) finished second in the race, within an hour of Dallas’ team winning time. I mention this just to remind you that there are indeed other sporting events going-on in March, which do not involve a ball/puck. Hey, and thanks to the Praise Hymn choir for helping us get through the time-change to daylight-savings-time, on March 13

th. Their “Time Change Song (Spring)” song, led by

Paula Kenney, was both delightful and uplifting as all our biological clocks were trying to adjust. Thank-You!! Also, last month, I learned something that I want to share with you. In working the Sabbatical Committee (Pastor Matt, Bill Thurston, Kara Wilson, and Georgia Coulston), I learned about the Lilly Endowment National Renewal Program. The Lilly Endowment Program will provide, if application is accepted, congregations money in support of a renewal program for their pastors, to include support and renewal activities for the congregation, during the pastor’s absence. So now, under this program, the sabbatical does not apply just to the pastor, but also applies to the congregation. Presently the committee is submitting an application for this grant. The application includes a proposed itinerary for Pastor Matt, itinerary for the church staff, and itinerary for the congregation. The deadline for submitting this grant application is April 15

th. We should

know by mid/late August if we were chosen to receive the grant. Please keep this in your prayers as I see this as a real opportunity for us to pause, and collectively refresh ourselves to move into the future. Lastly, the month of March brought us the NCAA Basketball Tournament. This year, Gonzaga University has made it to the NCAA Basketball Play-offs for the 18

th consecutive

time. Gonzaga has survived the first week of March Madness (into the Sweet Sixteen) and hopefully they will their second week of competition (this article submitted before the last week in March). The Happy Helpers wish you all the best in your Bracket selections! Go Zags! April 4, 2016 is the Day!

The following is a partial list of tasks done during the month of March by the Happy Helpers. I say partial list, because I was only present for one day during March and I know the Happy Helpers always do more than they claim: installed new wood veneer skin on storage room door, located off the gym (Neal Bedsted, Wade Wipperling, Ken Otteman, Roger Sheurer); tightened urinal divider in children’s restroom (George Harrison, Jim Gunby); repaired water fountain located in hallway off the gym (Ed Orr, Jim Gunby); updated message on outdoor church sign along Broadway Ave (George Harrison, Clancy Howard); vacu-umed ceiling air-vents in Child-care classrooms (Harry Benton); installed wood trim on door frames located in gym and hallway off the gym (Wade Wipperling, Ken Otteman, Bill Thurston); built and installed plexi-glass bulletin board in Child-care classroom (Ed Orr, Don Newland); changed furnace air filters (Mel Carlson); tightened loose metal framing for ceiling tile in Child Center classrooms (Steve Emig, Don Newland, Jim Gunby); adjusted water pressure to drinking fountain located in narthex (Harry Benton); ordered light ballasts (Ken Otteman); moved sofa for congregational member (Harry Benton, Jim Gunby, Ed Orr); changed clocks to show day-light savings time (Ed Orr, Clancy Howard, Don Newland); repaired window slide in Child-care classroom (Ed Orr, Steve Emig); replaced door latch assembly to laundry room located in Child-care center (George Harrison, Ed Orr); installed shelving in infant classroom (George Harrison); policed and organized books, pamphlets, etc. in sanctuary (Leroy York); policed trash and debris from church grounds and parking lot, and tidied-up flower beds (Linda Camp); etc. The Happy Helpers meet each Thursday morning, 8:00 A.M., at the church. Coffee, tea, and “goodies” are provided. During March, Don Newland provided the goodies. Thanks Don! Visitors and new members are always welcome. Dave Opsal visited us on Thursday, March 17. Thanks for stopping by, Dave! If you can’t make it by 8:00 A.M., come anytime. Usually, we finish talking by 9:00 A.M. and working by 11:00 A.M. And finally, the Happy Helpers thank Jeremy Hosteller for volunteering to do electrical work, as needed, for the church and Child Care Center. Jeremy replaced a couple of light ballasts and did a couple of other needed electrical related tasks at the church /center during the month of March. Thank you Jeremy!

8

ADVENT LUTHERAN CHILD CENTER NEWS By Heidi Bocook, Director

March was a busy month for us at the Child Center. We had our annual Easter Egg Hunt, which only lasted less than an hour, but took our staff a couple weeks to stuff eggs for! Our Lead Staff also led Parent Teacher Confer-ences to keep families up to date on their child’s progress throughout the year. Moving forward into April will bring all things Spring and hopefully a calmer month! The classes always enjoy when they can regularly go out-side for recess again when spring time hits. Some of our classes even take their classes out to play in the rain now that the weather is a bit warmer. I always enjoy watching to learning that goes on while the kids explore puddles, drips, and mud. Springtime also brings more field trips to the classrooms. The warmer weather makes it easier to drive the buses and makes for more field trip possibilities. We have several field trips planned, including a dance studio, Finch Arboretum, and the planetarium at SFCC. My favorite part of springtime at the Child Center is always introducing the kids to different aspects of nature. All the classrooms get different bugs to watch grow, hatch, and set free, including butterflies, ladybugs, and praying mantis. It’s also time to start getting the garden beds ready for planting. The kids always love getting their hands dirty pulling weeds and planting seeds. I hope April brings as much enjoyment to all of you in your homes and lives as it does to the children in our class-rooms!

SUPER YOUTH TEAM By April Marshall

The school year is quickly winding down, but things are still in full-swing for the youth here at Advent! First of all, we had a great time at Get Air last month for a family activity. The kids jumped up a storm, and the adults got a chance to visit outside of church. We are already discussing plans for a summer outing to Riverfront Park, like we did last sum-mer—it was a lot of fun for all! But for now, our main focus is on finishing the school year strong and gearing up for VBS. Since we are hosting the Tri-Parish VBS this year, we are hoping to get a lot of volunteers. I don’t know how many of you were in church the day Kristin got up to talk about VBS. She mentioned that last year we had over 70 volunteers. And then she said only eight were from Advent. I heard a little collective “oh” come from the congregation. I know we have such a caring and supportive congregation here at Advent, and I would love to see more participation this year. VBS will be June 20-23, so please join us. Talk to me or Kristin if you want to know how you can give a little of your time this summer to spread the Lord’s love to the children in our community.

Here’s a brief update on what our youth ministry programs are up to for April. Our Super Sunday programs are contin-uing to look at the life of Jesus. We’ve been practicing learning the Lord’s Prayer, too. It is so exciting for us to see these kids grow in their faith. Recently, one of our Team Preteen boys learned the Lord’s Prayer. We could see how proud he was of himself after he recited it to me and Wes. It’s moments like that make it worth volunteering our time to our youth. We’ve got some really great kids here, that’s for sure. GIFT is picking back up now that Lent is over. Anna is continuing to educate our kids about some of the “superheroes” of the Bible, like Moses and Joseph. And please mark your calendar for April 20

th, when the kids will

be helping the Happy Piecemakers put together the care packages. This is a great intergenerational activity that everybody enjoys! Kara is keeping our high school youth busy with activities, and they are continuing their weekly Starbucks Bible study. She is also planning an all-nighter for the kids, now that Anna has graciously volunteered to chaperone the event! Kara is also working on coordinating an Idaho Servant Adventure experience for June sometime. Keep your eye on the Youth Activity calendar to see when dates for these fun experiences are nailed down. Finally, please note that there will be no Kids’ Worship or Team Preteen on April 3

rd and 10

th because of Spring

Break. We also will not have GIFT on April 6th

.

WORSHIP AND HOSPITALITY

By Carol Gerdts If March is any indication of the rain the Pacific Northwest needs, then the traditional “April showers” could send us all floating down the river. I’m only grumbling good naturedly. With Easter so early this year, we can really enjoy our spring flowers without hoping they will bloom in time. April brings us to Team #4 led by Mike McCune & Paula Kenney. I’ve seen them “camped out” at the signup table and hopefully you have seen them too. Team #3 headed by Babs & Rick Velategui and SaraLu and Ian Moore appreciated the help given them during the busy month of March. All who helped can say YES, I DID MY PART. We look forward to introducing our new faces around the end of the month (April 24). All who have been or will be contacted will be invited to the Fellowship Hour to mingle and hopefully let us get to know one another better.

9

INCOME/EXPENSE INFORMATION By Bonnie Calhoun

Advent General Fund Income/Expense

Feb Year to Date

Income 26,986.19 59,343.51

Expense 31,183.18 63,883.05

Net -4,196.99 -4,539.54

Child Care Center Income/Expense

Feb Year to Date

Income 55,806.99 112,336.09

Expense 56,290.00 114,305.62

Net -483.01 -1,969.53

Notes for Advent Lutheran Church In February, expenses exceeded income by $4,197.

Expenses included the budgeted disbursement (10%) of benevolence dollars for the ELCA, Spokane Valley Partners, Grace Ministries, Lutheran Community Ser-vices and the Wenatchee Valley Lutheran Latino Minis-try.

Average monthly expenses are coming in $303 lower than average budgeted monthly expenses.

2016 January-February total expenses are $7,057 low-er than 2015 January-February total expenses.

Average monthly income is coming in $2,904 lower than average budgeted monthly income.

2016 Sunday offering giving was $4,465 less in Febru-ary when compared to January.

However, Sunday offering giving for January-February 2016 was $2,457 higher than in January-February of 2015.

Notes for Advent Lutheran Child Center In February, monthly expenses exceeded monthly

income by $2,209.

Average monthly expenses are coming in $6,746 less than average budgeted monthly expenses. This is pri-marily due to a reduction in payroll costs related to a decrease in classroom enrollment.

Average monthly income is coming in $7,957 below budgeted monthly income.

Total Private Pay/USDA/DSHS income for January –February is $15,735 less than in January-February of 2015. This is primarily due to a decrease in private pay tuition enrollment.

SPOKANE VALLEY PARTNERS FOOD BANK AND CLOTHING BANK DONATIONS

By Ken Otteman Last month Advent donated a total of 40 lbs. of food for the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank.

February Services Average Attendance: 173

PEOPLE IN OUR PRAYERS For our Church Family and Friends: Ginny Besemer, Bette and Len Bouge, Tara Bradley, Belle Campbell, Mike Canney, Carter, Hazel Cascaden, Bud & Betty Jo Cook, Charlie Cole, Lonnie Day, JoAnn Dunlap, Flanagan family, Tillie Funk, Jennifer and David, Gary, Gene, Alisa Gergawy, Carol Gerdts, Holly Gunby, Landon Hill, Cheri Hoagburg, Leigh & Steve Hopkins, Fran Hooper, Pastor Allen & Linda Ingebritsen, Joslin family, Mary Ann Klemmer, Shirley Kjos, Alison LaFrance, Joanne Limbaugh, Eloise Lorentz, Connie Martin, Bonnie Mertes, Jack & Flo McDougall, Katie McIntyre, Joyce Mertes, Moore family, Walt & Marian Moseman, Marie Nelson & family, Gloria Nichol, Ken Nodland, Joanne Okert, Patsy Opsal, Kenneth Owens, Jeff Peck, Alan Potter, Barb Potter, Gerry O’Rourke, Tim O’Rourke, Martha Schneider, Keith Shipbaugh, Louise Sperline, Kathy Sordorff, Alvin Tesdal, Tito Tinajero, Todd, Wes & Michele Turner, Jayleen Yu, Weinman’s daughters, Kristin and Michele, Kara Wilson, Keith & Florence Wilson, Roy Wisecarver and family, Walt Zachow, 20 year old young man in rehab. For Family Members & Friends Serving in the Military: 2 Lt. Ashley Allingor-Army; 2 Lt. Zane Allingor-USAF, CPL Damien Anderson, TSG Ryan Armstrong, Major Ryan Baker, MAJORS Megan & Robert Barnwell, SSGT Alex Baron, USAF, U.S. Army, Lt. Jordon Bolster, Steve & Christine Coulston, CPT Christopher Finch, Robert Guyton, TSG Christine Johnson, SGT Aaron Lang, Sr. Airman Richard Luna III, MSgt. Duncan McFarlane, Bryan McGoon, SSG Aaron Moeller, Sam Nelson, Sgt. Alex Pohle, Blaine Rector, Kurt Strigel, SPC Cody Strunks, Colin Wells, U.S. Air Force, Ryan Wells, TSgt Sarah Whitney, TSG Jason Wood.

For Family Members & Friends Serving in Mission fields around the world:

Mike & Terese Benton (Tanzania).

If you have a prayer request, please send an email to the church office at alcspokane@comcast.net or call the

church office at (509) 928-7733.

10

CAMP CORNER

By Lauren Gust

Lutherhaven Ministries is your congregation's year-round outdoor ministry. We're Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Shoshone Mountain Retreat & Ranch up the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho Servant Adventures, and week-long Lutherhaven Day Camps held in communities around the Northwest. The Camp Corner features news and happenings at Lutherhaven. Did you know? 2016 marks our 70th year offering quali-ty, safe, Christ-centered programs for campers of every age! We're not just a summer camp! Lutherhaven is busy all year! Here are a few things coming up at camp:

April 26: Spring Golden Agers' Day Out

One of the best and most popular retreats we do!

A one day retreat especially for retirees, senior adults & older adult groups.

Gather with old and new friends with special guest Colonel Brian Newberry.

May 13-15: Spring Men's Retreat at Shoshone

Weekend getaway in the mountains... bunch o' guys,

bacon & Jesus!

Woodworking, .22's & pistol fun competition shoots,

rock wall climbing & more! Spend time in Word and worship with Pastor Dave Noll of Redeemer Lutheran. Work Weekends at Your Camps...

April 22-24: Shoshone Mt. Retreat Work Weekend May 20-22: Lutherhaven Work Weekend

Help your camps get ready for summer! We have projects for all ages! Free weekend including 4 meals, lodging, devotions and work projects.

Other camp

news: Join us in honoring the past, present and future of camp by writing a letter! In honor of Lutherhaven's 70th anniver-sary and to preserve camp's history, we are asking you to write a heartfelt letter to camp to share your memories. Download the form here or visit our website and share it with your congregation. We ask that letters are mailed or emailed by April 30, 2016. The incredible Pinecrest Retreat Center remodel is in full swing. Phase II will be open by summer. Volunteers still needed; no experience required! Come by yourself, as a family or with a crew from your church for a day, an over-night, a weekend or longer. Contact Steve at steve@lutherhaven.com or phone 208.667.3459 x 112.

Lutherhaven is a Camp that Changes the World, selected by Chicago's Center for Faith and Service for the crucial role we play in cultivating the talents and passions of our young people; nurturing faith formation in kids, teens, adults and families; and inspiring and equipping our next generation of leaders. Only three camps in the Northwest made the 2015 list of outstanding camps. Thanks for being part of making Lutherhaven the fantastic outdoor ministry it is!

Visit our website at www.lutherhaven.com or www.facebook.com/lutherhaven All of us at Lutherhaven wish you well as we welcome spring!

Now we all thank our God!

We can't wait to see you at camp!

11

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, April 2: Hunger Run. The Hunger Run is a timed 5K run/walk along the Centennial Trail at Mirabeau Meadows in Spokane Valley on April 2, beginning at 9 a.m. For more information on these events, please see Kara Wilson. Sunday, April 3: St. John’s Lutheran Church of Sprague invites everyone to their “all you can eat” 31st Annual Sausage Feed. 11:00 am-3:00 pm. Adults: $12; 6-12 yrs: $6; 5 and under: free. Smoked sausage, mashed potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut, homemade ap-plesauce, dessert. Sprague Community Hall, 3rd & C Street, Sprague, WA. Sponsored by Thrivent. Questions? Call Maureen at 509-257-2806. “The Fox on the Fairway” Lions Benefit Night: April 20 at 7:30 pm. Hilarity hits a hole-in-one. Main stage of the Spokane Civic Theatre. The Fox on the Fairway takes audiences on a hilarious romp which pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy denizens of a private country club. Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors, and over-the-top romantic shenanigans, its’s a furiously paced com-edy that recalls the Marx Brothers. This is a fundraiser for hearing impaired and blind. Tickets are $30/each. Questions or need tickets? Contact Chuck & Janet Esser at 922-0536; Linda Semmen at 389-4191; or Al Ellison at 701-3522. Lutheran Campus Ministry at EWU Annual Benefit Dinner: April 30, here at Advent. Doors open at 5pm and dinner approximately 6pm. Dinner of pulled pork and fixings is complimentary. Guests will be asked to donate to the ministry. A dessert auction and live auction will be held. Tickets available at www.lcmewu.com or call 509-951-5701. Help fill the room. Gather your friends and family and host a table of 8!

ANNOUNCEMENTS Maggie Joslin’s memorial service will be held here at Advent on Saturday, April 2nd, at 11:00 am.

The first Sunday of each month, the Happy Cut-Ups will be selling their beautiful hand-made cards! Stop by their table in the fellowship hall to purchase your cards. All cards are only fifty cents each! There will be no ‘Generations in Faith Together’ (GIFT) on Wednesday, April 6th due to Spring Break and no Team Preteen or Kids’ Worship on April 3rd and April 6th. If you are new to Advent over the past few months, Pastor Matt will be holding a gathering after our Worship service on Sunday, April 10 to get to know you better. We plan to recognize our ‘New Faces’ on Sunday on April 24. Attention Blood Donors: Please consider giving blood at Valley Hospital on Monday or Thursday afternoons. They are anticipating severe shortages after Spring Break because of restrictions placed on travelers to Zika infected areas. Advent’s next Blood Drive is August 21st.

Bus Drivers needed: Advent is in need of bus drivers or people willing to pick up our friends from Park Place and bring them to church each Sunday. Please contact the Church office. Old Eye Glasses and Hearing Aids: If you have eye glasses or hearing aides you are no longer using, please donate them! We have collection boxes here at the Church, under the bulletin board, for both eye glasses and hearing aids.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

It is once again time to start planning for our VBS program! We will need volunteers! If you are able to volunteer for VBS, June 20-23, from 9am-noon, please contact Kristin Larson at 481-1228. This year’s theme is ‘Cave Quest.

There will be a Visitation Ministry meeting on Sunday, April 24th in the conference room immediately after the Worship service. We invite all who are interested in this ministry to join us for a brief meeting. Questions? Contact Holly Gunby at 995-6770.

THANK YOU

Team #3 would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to ALL who offered their services during March and Holy Week to make worship a truly beautiful experience. In particular, thanks to Marilyn Keith who was Assisting Minister for BOTH Easter services, other team Leaders like Francie & Darrell Shoquist, Carol Gerdts, Joani Nelsen, Paula Kenney, Diane & Darwin Ronngren who helped fill some holes in the schedule. Thank you also to Kara, Tes and the youth for a delicious Easter Brunch! We thank everyone who brought their favorite cross to share during Lent. You may now take your cross home. You can retrieve them from the church office. And a huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated candy for our Easter Egg hunt for both the Church and the Child Center! We had enough candy and your support was truly appreciated!!

We are in need of additional Assisting Ministers. If you are interested, please see Pastor Matt.

12

OUTREACH COMMITTEE By Raeann Ducar

Fill the Shelf Sunday! The Last Sunday of Every Month beginning April 24

th!

Spokane Valley Partner’s Food Bank needs food! This year they have experienced the lowest food supply in eight years. Our Outreach Committee is planning a new look to this worthwhile ministry that our church has supported for many years. We know that sometime it is just a matter of remembering to bring something to add to the Food Bank box at church. We want to help you remember and include suggestions of what the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank needs every month. When you see the “Fill the Shelf” logo it will be a reminder that the last Sunday of the month is approaching and we frantically (like the lady in the logo) need your help to fill the box. Please bring what you can so we can help our neighbors down the street! If you have questions or other ideas on how we can support this program, please contact Jodi Meddock at 951-7356. To start off, we will be collecting macaroni & cheese, tuna, peanut butter, and dry cereal. Thank you!

PARISH NURSE By Debbie Martin

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Month or IBS. More Americans are being diagnosed with IBS. IBS is a disease that affects the intestinal system. Symptoms can include: nausea; cramping; abdominal bloating; vomiting; diarrhea; and constipation. One may also suffer between diarrhea and constipation. There are no concrete causes and cures. The goal is to work with your care provider to decrease the intensity of the symptoms and severity. It is important to keep a food diary and record what foods can cause the symptoms. Most common irritants of the intestine are coffee, nuts, dairy, alcohol, and high fiber foods as wheat bread. Many suffer from these symptoms and go undiagnosed. Medications prescribed from your health care provider can help alleviate the symptoms but it is imperative that one be pro-active in dealing with their IBS. Keep a food diary, avoid foods that cause symptoms, decrease stress in your life, incorporate relaxation times/techniques-exercise, reading, etc. Also, be sympathetic to those that have IBS. As a sufferer, one does not always know when symptoms may occur.

‘Fill the Shelf’

Sunday’ is coming!!

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This sketch was drawn by Wes Todd last year during Pastor Matt’s Good Friday service.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satur-day

1 6:30am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant 6:00 pm Co-DA Meeting 122

2 11:00 am-Memorial for Maggie Joslin

3 9:30 am-Worship Service/Communion/Confirmation After Worship Coffee Fellowship Happy Cut-Ups Monthly Card Sale 10:45 am High School Bible Study at Starbucks 7pm-8am Youth All-Nighter 7:30 pm-Al-Anon 122 AA Meeting 106

4 10:00 am–11:30 ALCC Happy Feet 6:00 pm Super Youth Team Meeting 7:00 pm Boy Scouts F/158

SPRING BREAK

5 9:00am Happy Piecemakers 9:30 am Child Center Chapel S 5:30pm Executive Committee 6:00-pm Cub Scouts F/106/158

SPRING BREAK

6 9:30am Mid-week Bible Study 7:00 pm - Choir

SPRING BREAK

7 8:00am Happy Helpers Happy Cut-Ups 10:00-10:30 am Amazing Athletes 7:30pm AA Meeting 106

SPRING BREAK

8 6:30am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant 6:00 pm Co-DA Meeting 122

SPRING BREAK

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10 9:30 am-Worship Service/Communion/Confirmation After Worship Coffee Fellowship ’New Faces’ Gathering Praise Team Practice 10:45 am High School Bible Study at Starbucks 7:30 pm-Al-Anon 122 AA Meeting 106

11 10:00 am–11:30 ALCC Happy Feet 6:30 pm Worship & Music Committee 106 7:00 pm Boy Scouts F/158

12 9:00am Happy Piecemakers 1:30pm-VBS Planning Meeting 122 6:00pm Council Meeting 122 Cub Scouts F/106/158

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9:30am Mid-week Bible Study 5:30 pm Generations in Faith Together/Dinner/ Confirmation 7:00 pm - Choir

14 8:00am Happy Helpers Happy Cut-Ups 10:00-10:30 am Amazing Athletes 7:30pm AA Meeting 106

15 6:30am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant 9:00-12pm Spokane Valley Partners Food Sorting 6:00 pm Co-DA Meeting 122

Synod Assembly

16 9am-5pm- ALCC Deep Dive Train-ing

Synod Assembly

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9:15 am –Kids’ Worship 9:30 am-Worship Service/Communion/Confirmation After Worship Coffee Fellowship 10:45 am High School Bible Study at Starbucks 7:30 pm-Al-Anon 122 AA Meeting 106

Synod Assembly

18 10:00 am–11:30 ALCC Happy Feet 7:00 pm Boy Scouts F/158

19 9:00am Happy Piecemakers 9:30 am Child Center Chapel S 6:00pm Outreach Committee 106 Cub Scouts F/106/158 7:00-pm Head of Committee Mtg.

20 9:30am Mid-week Bible Study 5:30 pm Generations in Faith Together/Dinner/ Confirmation 6:15 pm GoldenAgers’ Outing to Spokane Civic Theatre 7:00 pm - Choir

21 8:00am Happy Helpers Happy Cut-Ups 10:00-10:30 am Amazing Athletes 7:30pm AA Meeting 106

22 6:30am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant 6:00 pm Co-DA Meeting 122

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

23 2:00 pm- Memorial for Olaf Johnson

24 ‘New Faces’ Sunday 9:15 am –Kids’ Worship 9:30 am-Worship Service/ Communion After Worship Coffee Fellowship Pastor Matt’s Bible Study Praise Team Practice Visitation Ministry Meeting 10:45 am High School Bible Study at Starbucks 7:30 pm-Al-Anon 122 AA Meeting 106

25 10:00 am–11:30 ALCC Happy Feet 7:00 pm Boy Scouts F/158

26 8:45 am-GoldenAgers’ Day out-Camp Lutherhaven 9:00am Happy Piecemakers 9:30 am Child Center Chapel S 6:00pm Cub Scouts F/106/158

27 9:30am - Mid-week Bible Study 106

5:30 pm-Generations in Faith Together/Dinner/Confirmation 7:00 pm - Choir

28 8:00am Happy Helpers 10:00-10:30 am Amazing Athletes Happy Cut-Ups 7:30pm AA Meeting 106

29 6:30am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant 6:00 pm Co-DA Meeting 122

NEWSLETTER MAILED

30 3-8pm- Campus Ministry Dinner

APRIL 2016

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Ministry

Description

April 3

9:30 am

April 10

9:30 am

April 17

9:30 am

April 24

9:30 am

Communion

Assistants

(4)

Beverly Lee

Francie Shoquist

Thomas T.

Norm & Audrey Knuttel Grace Carlson

Renae Howat

Beverly Lee

Thomas T.

Assisting

Minister

(1)

Thomas T.

Reader

(1)

Gayle Warner Donovan Howat Kate Larson

Acolyte

(1)

Kate Larson John Henry Wiegand John Henry Wiegand

Media

Person (1)

Ushers

(3-4)

Chuck & Janet Esser Roger Scheurer Chuck & Janet Esser Bill & Rita Thurston

Greeters

(2-4)

Roger & Carol Scheurer Tom Shirey Dennis & Cathy Johnson

Altar

Flowers

Margaret Ensor

Fellowship

Host

Mike McCune

Fruit Tray

Cookies Dennis & Cathy Johnson

Gerry O’Rourke

Grace Carlson Bill & Rita Thurston

APRIL HOSPITALITY SCHEDULE

Team #4 Leaders: Paula Kenney: 926-0702 Mike McCune: 893-2694

“Share with God’s people .....,Practice Hospitality”

Romans 12:13 (NIV)

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WORSHIP SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

9:15 am Super Youth Sunday 9:30 am Worship Service with Holy Communion 10:45 am High School Bible Study at Starbucks on Sprague

“Called by God’s Grace to Love and Serve”

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

VERADALE, WA

PERMIT NO. 19

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Advent Lutheran Church 13009 E Broadway Spokane Valley, WA 99216

Church Phone: 509-928-7733 Child Center Phone: 509-928-0231 Fax: 509-892-5219 www.adventlutheranspokane.org