Lunch with Pastor-Tuesday, April 2 at Noon at Auld Shebeen

We will be a bit late in celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but please join Pastor Keseley and the staff for lunch on Tuesday, April 2 at Auld Shebeen in Fairfax.  We will meet at the restaurant at noon (3971 Chain Bridge Rd. in Fairfax), or you may meet at the church at 11:30 AM to carpool.  Please let the office staff know if you are planning to come and if you plan to carpool.

Empty Nester Alert! 

Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 27 for our next event-a potluck supper at Jane and Richard Curtis's home in Fairfax Station, followed by a short trek to George Mason's TheatreSpace for a Ten-Minute Play Festival where student writers, directors and actors will present their work. Empty Nesters has no age or offspring requirements for participation-we are adults of Abiding Presence who get together for fun and/or service activities.  All adults are welcome.

Please contact Jane to let her know if you can come and what kind of food you would like to bring.  Supper will be at 5:45 pm to give us plenty of time to eat, drive to GMU and park.  Carpooling from the Curtis's is welcomed. We will not buy group tickets for the play festival.  Tickets are $15 (or $10 for students, faculty, GMU staff or seniors) at the door.

WELCA Spring Convention-Saturday, April 27, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Faith Lutheran Church, 3313 Arlington Blvd. in Arlington

All women in the Metro DC Synod are invited and encouraged to attend WELCA's annual spring convention.  The theme of the convention is "Communication: Vertical and Horizontal".   The event will include worship, workshops, exhibitors and vendors.  Registration is $25.00, which includes lunch.  The fee is waived for women under age 40 and for first time participants.  For more information and/or to register, please go to www.metrodcelca.org.

AP Book Group

The Book Group will meet March 25 to discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  All are invited to come join the discussion.

Abiding Presence "Playtime at the Park" is back this spring! Join Pastor and Julia at South Run for playtime.  Even better, invite a friend or neighbor to come along.  This event is weather permitting.  If you're not sure if we'll be there, just give Pastor a call/text/email.

Sunday School Teacher Appreciation-Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 AM

Sunday School families are hosting a brunch to thank our Sunday School teachers for another terrific year.  More details will follow, but Sunday School families and teachers should plan now to be part of this special morning.

Sunday School Teacher Meeting-Sunday, April 7 at 9:45 AM

Sunday School teachers will meet together during the Sunday School time.  Parents will be asked to volunteer to lead the classes for this week.  Please let Jen Burkman know if you can help with your child's class.

Youth Sunday

Youth Sunday is Sunday, April 7 at both services. Youth ages preschool through Senior High should plan to participate in the planning and leading of the service.

Senior High Celebration Dinner at Glory Days-Sunday, April 7

We will be gathering after a wonderful weekend of worship to celebrate together at a dinner full of fellowship and laughter.  The Celebration Dinner will take place from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Youth Sunday Rehearsal on Wednesday, April 3
We'll have an abbreviated Wednesday Night Gathering schedule on April 3 in order to practice for Youth Sunday.  Hot dogs will be served from 6:15-6:45 PM.  Youth ages preschool through Senior High will rehearse for Youth Sunday from 6:45 PM-7:45 PM in the sanctuary.  Children's Choir will happen as usual in the midst of the rehearsal time since the choirs will be singing as part of Youth Sunday.

Spring Consignment Sale

Our spring children's consignment sale is Saturday, April 20th 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Consignors (sellers) and volunteers (workers) can begin registering on Monday, March 4th at 8:00 AM.  The sale is limited to the first 99 consignors.  This year we've added a half-price sale option.  Consignors can offer a 50% discount on any of their items during the last hour and a half of the sale (12:30 PM to 2:00 PM).  Item drop off is Thursday, April 18th 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM or Friday, April 19th 9:00 AM to Noon.  Registration is $6 due prior to or at drop off.  For more information or to register go to www.abidingpresence.net/activities/consignment-sale  or contact  Lynne Linder

Service Ministry Team "Brainstorming Session" - Sunday, April 14

Come learn about how you can help Abiding Presence Serve Boldly!  Although we're making some great strides in moving toward a congregation "where every member serves," we still have some work to do.   The newly formed Service Ministry Team, a group of folks who lead service ministry groups at Abiding Presence, will meet on Sunday, April 14 at 12:15 PM to brainstorm ways that we can educate the congregation about our ministries and invite them to participate more in our work.  A light lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP to Jen Burkman.  Anyone from the congregation who is interested in this discussion is invited to attend.

ECHO Needs

Through April, donations to ECHO of food or money will be eligible for a proportionate match by the Feinstein Foundation.  If you were thinking of donating to ECHO, now would be a very helpful time to do so.  The Feinstein Challenge ends on April 30.  You can bring checks or non-perishable food items to our building at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22150.  Checks can be mailed to that address.  Please include a notation on the check that it is in response to the Feinstein Challenge so that ECHO can count it toward the matching grant. 

ECHO needs powdered milk, flour and sugar (small bags of each), canned meats, vegetable oil, shaving cream, deodorant, and facial tissue. They also are always in need of large pots and pans and queen size bedding and towels.  All donations can be brought to ECHO during their hours of operation:  Monday-Friday 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM.

ECHO Yard Sale-Saturday, April 6

It is time for ECHO's popular Spring Yard Sale!  Decorative housewares and collectibles as well as fashion accessories that have been donated will be sold to benefit ECHO's services to needy people in Burke and Springfield.  The sale will be held in the St. Bernadette gymnasium, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, on Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 am until noon.  ECHO still needs volunteers to help with the sale and/or setup the day before.  If you are interested in helping, send an e-mail to echoadmin@verizon.net.

Children's Weekend Meal Program

We are  collecting these food items:  NEW ITEMS: pasta and hunts. Please conoatmeal, cereal, cookies, granola bars, chicken soup, peanut butter crackers, rice crispy treats, cookies, goldfish crackers, teddy grahams, pudding cups and fruit cups/applesauce for future deliveries.   You may place your donations in the bin under the coat rack.  Thank you for your continued generosity.

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Campaign "13 for 2013" - Tied in faith. Sent in hope. Wrapped in love!

We are meeting every 4th Friday of the month.  Our next session will be on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 AM.  We hope you can join us!