Festival of the Presentation of Our Lord

On Saturday, February 2nd, we celebrate the Festival of the Presentation of Our Lord.  Forty days after the birth of Jesus is the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in keeping with Jewish law. They were greeted there by Simeon, who offered the song "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace," otherwise known as the Nunc Dimittis.  Please join the Choir and Orchestra as we perform Jeff Taubenberger's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis at the 6:00 PM  Vespers Service.

 

Stewardship 2013 - Serve Boldly

If you have not yet submitted your Pledge Card or Time and Talent forms, it is not too late, and we still need you.  We each have our own unique gifts from God, and our work in serving God will not be complete without you and your gifts.  If you no longer have your Stewardship packet, extra forms are available at church. Thank you again for your generosity!

 

WELCA Valentine Care Packages for our College Students

This is the third year in a row that the women of Abiding Presence will prepare care packages to send to our college students for Valentine's Day.  We'll meet at 12:15 on Sunday, January 27th in Martin Luther to stuff USPS boxes full of Valentine's candy, cards and goodies.  In the past our college students have expressed their sincere thanks at having been remembered for Valentine's Day.  We all know how special it is to receive a package in college.  Donations of Valentine's candy and cards are needed as well as any other goodies you think they might appreciate.  To cover postage a $5 donation would be appreciated which you can give to Sue Franke.  There will be a box in the narthex labeled WELCA for donations.  Come support our youth.

 

Wednesday Night Gathering has Resumed

There is lots to do on Wednesdays at Abiding Presence!  Dinner is served each week at 6:15 pm and a freewill offering is collected to cover the cost.  Wednesday Night Gathering activities include puppet team practice, confirmation, preschool through Senior High youth groups, children's choirs and adult Bible study. Our nursery is open from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm each week.

 

Lunch with Pastor-Tuesday, January 29 at Noon

Our January Lunch with Pastor will be held at the Austin Grill on Tuesday, January 29.  We will meet at the restaurant, 8430 A Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield.  Please let the office staff know by Monday, Jan. 28 if you are planning to come.  (Please note the change in day from Thursday.  We are planning to meet on Mondays or Tuesdays most months this year.)

 

Festival of Groundhog Day

February 2nd  marks Groundhog Day, an important, though secular holiday.  We celebrate by feasting on Ground Hog (i.e. sausage).  Please join us immediately following the 6:00 PM service at the home of Rick and Jane Schuchardt for this adults-only event.   You are asked to bring either an appetizer of Ground Hog, a non-Ground Hog appetizer for those who abstain, a dessert, or a beverage to share.  For more information, please contact Mandy Hull. For directions to the Schuchardt's, contact Jane.

 

Senior High Youth Snow Tubing Day - Monday, January 28

Fairfax County has no school, so the senior high youth are going snow tubing at Boulder Ridge in Pennsylvania.  It is going to be a great afternoon and evening have fun and enjoying this great winter activity!  FRIENDS are welcome and encouraged to join us! The group will tube for 2 hours and stop for dinner on the way home.  The group will meet at the church at 1pm and return by 10pm.  The cost will be $25 with the registration and you will need to bring money for dinner. Registration forms are available from Pastor or Vicar and due by January 23. Parents we will need your help with driving. 

 

2013 Senior High Youth Mission Trip

We're planning ahead and have already set the dates for our 2013 Sr. High mission trip. We'll be headed to rural Bluefield, WV, for a week of home repair, July 7-13, 2013. The cost will be $550 per person for the week, which will include all meals except for dinner one night.   Registration forms available on the Sr. High Youth bulletin board.

 

Children's Weekend Meal Program  

The next delivery of weekend meals for children in our area is next Thursday, Jan. 24. Please leave donations by Wed., Jan. 23rd in the bin in the narthex.  Thank you so much for your generosity. 

 

19 Mac-N-Cheese                                               65 Pretzel packets

25 Individual Pudding Snacks                      65 Goldfish packets

49 Cans of chicken Noodle Soup                   55 Individual Applesauce or Fruit Cups

 

Weekend Meal Program Service Opportunity 

We are looking for scout troops and students who need service hours to help with collecting food and/or packing the weekend food packets.  Packing for one delivery only takes about 20 minutes for a group of 10 people.  We deliver 130 packets every 2 weeks.  We are also looking for people with vans to deliver the packets.  It takes about an hour to load and deliver. For more information on the Weekend Meal Program, Please contact Sharon Downs  or Clare Maaseide. 

 

Hypothermia Shelter Help Needed

The Service Ministry team is working with the hypothermia shelter operated at the Rising Hope on Route 1, with the aim of taking responsibility for manning the shelter and providing meals on Monday, Feb 18 and Monday, March 24.  A training class for this ministry will be held on Saturday, Jan 26 from 9 AM to 12 PM.  This ministry, a partnership between New Hope Housing and Ventures in Community, provides shelter, a hot meal and a bagged breakfast for up to 25 adults every night from Dec. 1 to March 31 each year.  There must be at least 4 volunteers from one of their Faith Partners each night, or the shelter does not open.  We will commit to just the two nights this year, and then will evaluate the interest and availability of our congregation in pursuing a longer term relationship with this ministry in the future.  If you are interested, please contact Pam Park or Sue Franke for more information.

 

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Campaign Update-13 for 2013

Tied in faith. Sent in hope. Wrapped in love!

On Friday, January 25, from 9:30 to noon, 13 for 2013 will have our first meeting in 2013.  If you can't make it to a week-day meeting, we will also meet on Saturday, January 26, from 10 to noon.  At these meetings we will be starting to assemble quilts and also hope to have a few quilt tops ready for tying. Remember, we welcome any leftover fabric you would like to donate.  Just bring it to the church office or give it to Lynne Imre or Kathryn Ives.

 

If you want to start a quilt on your own, please remember that Lutheran World Relief mission quilts are simple.  Tops and bottoms can be made of whole pieces of fabric or any type of patchwork of smaller squares.  They must be 60" by 80" and made of washable fabrics with no holes or stains.   They should be tied with crochet or similar cord or machine quilted.  (Fabrics may not contain religious, patriotic or military symbols.  No camouflage pattern.)  If you just want to make a 60" by 80" top and bring it to us, we will be sure it receives batting and a back and is tied.

 

Don't forget, if you can't participate in making a quilt, you can still get involved by donating to help purchase batting and backing for the quilts.  Money is also needed to pay for shipping the quilts to the places where they are needed.   Lynne Imre and Kathryn Ives are contact people for your questions about the project.

 

Meal Ministry

AP has started a new meal ministry similar to the cookie brigade. Members of the meal ministry team will be assigned a week. Pastor will identify a family in the congregation who could use a meal delivered.  It you would be willing to prepare and deliver a meal approximately 3-4 times a year, please contact Susan McClean. 

Current ECHO Needs

Currently, ECHO needs canned meats, powdered milk, canned fruit, vegetable oil, bandaids, deodorant, and adult or children's over-the-counter pain medicines. We would love to have donations of new or gently used men's medium and small sweatpants and sweatshirts and, queen size bedding.

ECHO volunteers assemble "children's enrichment bags" for the children of families who come to us for clothing.  The items in these bags are meant to entertain and educate.  You can assist in this worthy project by donating new or used educational games and toys, blocks, dolls, action figures, and books for children under 14.

 

All donations may be brought to ECHO at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, on weekdays between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, or on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 7:00 and 9:00.  Note that when weather causes schools to be closed, ECHO will be closed as well.