WELCA Retreat-March 15-16

The annual Abiding Presence women's retreat will be held from 6:00 pm Friday, March 15th to 2:00 pm Saturday March 16th at Singmaster Center in Gettysburg, PA.  We are fortunate to have Vicar Nicole leading the program this year.  The women's retreat is a wonderful opportunity for relaxation, fellowship, inspiration, laughter, worship and much more.  Please put it on your calendar and plan to join us.  If you've never been to the retreat I encourage you to make this a new adventure.  You'll be glad you did. Contact Sue Franke if you have questions.

Lunch with Pastor-Tuesday, February 26 at Noon

Our February Lunch with Pastor will be held on Tuesday, February 26 at Tau Tau Restaurant, 6413 Shiplett Blvd. in Burke (in the Shoppers Food Warehouse shopping center).  We will meet at the restaurant at noon.  Please let the office staff know by Monday, Feb. 25 if you are planning to join us this month.

AP Bridge Group

The Abiding Presence bridge group is actively looking for new members.  All who enjoy bridge or want to learn are encouraged to contact us.  We play at members' homes the third Friday of every month and plan to start additional sessions as part of the Wednesday night gatherings.  Anyone interested or with questions can contact Dick Bowes or Kris Vick.  If you cannot locate these jokers, let Pastor know--she will bridge the gap!

AP Book Group-Monday, February 25

The Abiding Presence book group will meet at 7:30 PM on February 25.  The book to be discussed is Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.  All are welcome to come.

Electronic Offering Cards Now Available in Sanctuary

Now, as we transition back into the new sanctuary a new addition is electronic offering cards at the end of each set of chairs.  These cards will provide a way for those who give electronically to have something to place in the offering plate when it is passed.  No longer will you have to feel awkward when the plate is passed if you give electronically.  Also, a great way to help teach our youth the importance of stewardship by being able to still place this card in the offering plate if your family gives electronically.  The hope is this card will provide an option for those who give electronically at the time of offering, help in teaching about stewardship year round, and provide information for our visitors as to how they can give.  Keep your eyes open for these new electronic offering cards!

 The Puppets are Looking for Some New Faces and Friends to Join Us

 If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the blue curtain, now is the time to find out!  We have a great group of youth and adults who work together to put on the puppet show before Sunday School each week and bring puppets to worship once a month.  We have a few that will be leaving us in the months ahead.  We will be sad to see them go, but we are always excited to see the team grow.  Come join us and give it a try, learn a new skill, bring joy to all those who wait for those puppets to appear, and have fun in the process.  The puppet team begins in 3rd grade, and beyond that all are welcome to join us.  We can always use an extra hand or two.  The puppet team will be going on a retreat in the spring.  Joining now would be a great opportunity to come with us to the retreat and to grow together as a team.

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 from Vicar Nicole or Pastor Keseley.

Confirmation

Hey Confirmation Youth!  Are you ready to have some fun outside?   Then get ready for some down and possibly a little dirty occasion.  The Bleicken's have mapped out boundaries and are set for some Ultimate Capture the Flag.  This Ultimate Capture the Flag adventure is going to take place March 17, 2013 from 1:30-3:30pm at the Bleicken's home.  All the confirmation youth are encouraged to come and have a good time, parents you are welcome to stay.  This promises to be a great way to enjoy the afternoon of St. Patrick's Day.  

Hand in Hand Service

Have you ever spent the time baking bread from scratch-not with a bread machine?  Well, as part of my internship project we will be doing just that.  On Saturday, March 9, from 10:00 AM till noon, we will be spending time baking bread with ALL ages.  If you are in pre-school there will be a job for you; middle and high school, do not fret-there will be lots of kneading to be done; parents and grandparents are essential as well.  We will spend a few hours together learning how to bake bread from those who have baked bread before, joining in conversation, and building relationships.  We will be baking a few different kinds of bread, and all the bread we bake will be going to organizations Abiding Presence currently supports.  March is a fifth Sunday month so some of the bread will be placed in the freezer and taken to the Carpenter's Shelter later in the month.  If you have a hidden talent of bread baking and would like to share it with others, please let Vicar Nicole know, or if you want to learn something new, please rsvp to Vicar Nicole!  All generations can bake and share in fellowship!

February is ECHO Food Drive Month at Abiding Presence

While we collect food for ECHO year-round, ECHO has assigned February as the month for AP to hold a food drive.  Please bring all donations of non-perishable food items and place them in the bin in the narthex, marked for ECHO.  You may also donate money which will be sent to ECHO so that they can purchase needed items.  Please indicate ECHO Food Drive on the memo line of your check.  ECHO is currently low on:  pancake mix and syrup, canned meat, baked beans, vegetable oil, sugar and flour (2 lb. sizes), powdered milk, juice (46-64 oz. cans), adult/child pain meds, bandaids, laundry detergent, deodorant, shaving cream, children's toothbrushes, box potatoes, muffin mixes, tuna, peanut butter and jelly.

ECHO is registered again this year for the Feinstein Foundation's challenge grant.  All food donations as well as financial gifts that are donated between March 1 and April 30 as a result of the Feinstein challenge qualify for a proportionate amount of matching funds.  More information about the foundation whose goal is to end hunger in America can be found at www.feinsteinfoundation.org <http://www.feinsteinfoundation.org>.  Checks may be brought or mailed to ECHO at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22150. Don't forget to indicate on the check that it is in response to the Feinstein challenge so that ECHO will qualify for the matching funds.

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Campaign "13 for 2013" 

Tied in faith. Sent in hope. Wrapped in love!  We will be meeting every 4th Friday of the month.  Our next session will be on Friday, February 22 at 9:30 a.m.  We hope you can join us!

Children's Weekend Meal Program 

We  only need 37 cans of ravioli/spaghettios by Wed., Feb. 20th for the Thurs., Feb. 21st delivery.  The next delivery we are collecting for is Thurs. Mar. 7  We will need individual packages of the following:  

• 30 sm. jars of peanut butter
• 43 ravioli/spaghettios
• 53 cereal
• 14 granola bars
• 22 fruit cup
• 35 pretzels
• 48 chicken soup

You may place your donations in the bin under the coat rack.

Thank you for your continued generosity.

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, March 25th. 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.

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.