News from Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence

Join us for a week filled with fun and faith! Our theme this year is Kingdom Rock, Where Kids Stand Strong for God. Each day we will begin with an opening where we will sing, pray and learn about the day's Bible theme. Then we will travel in small groups to stations for music, science and crafts, games, Bible time and snack. We'll end each day with a closing celebration.

Children ages 3 (and potty trained) through completed 4th grade are welcome to join in the fun. There is a special VBS leadership program for youth who have completed 5th and 6th grades.

The cost for the week is $25 for one child or $50 per family for multiple children. Registration forms are available in the narthex. Scholarships are available for those in need; simply talk with Pastor Keseley.

Bible Study 101-Mondays, April 15, 22 and 29 at 7:00 PM

Pastor Keseley is teaching Bible Study 101. Come learn about how Lutherans read the Bible. If you have always been curious about Bible Study but haven't known where to start, this is the place!

Sunday Morning Adult Education-Sundays, April 14, 21, 28 and May 5 at 10:00 AM

Vicar Nicole will be leading a four week session on Spiritual Gifts, but with a twist from how you may have discussed them before. We will take some time looking at where these gifts appear in the Bible and the importance of diversity. Jesus' first disciples had a variety of gifts and today we witness an assortment of gifts as his disciples as well. Come explore what your Spiritual Gifts are and how we all can use them in our everyday lives.

Service Ministry Team "Brainstorming Session" - this 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. Anyone from the congregation who is interested in this discussion is invited to attend.

AP Musicians' Spring Concert-Sunday, May 5 at 7:00 PM

Spring is a time to celebrate. Join the Abiding Presence musicians as they take us on an International Music Celebration on Sunday, May 5 at 7:00 PM in our new sanctuary. A freewill offering will be received to support Chinese orphans through the Love Without Boundaries Foundation.

AP Adult Choir

The adult choir always welcomes new voices, and now we're going to make it easier! If you can't make Tuesday night rehearsals, please join us at 10:00 AM each Sunday in the choir room for a fast-paced, "abridged" rehearsal, and sing with us at the 11:00 service when you feel ready. For more information, please contact Mandy Hull.

Altar Flowers

Following Easter we will once again need altar flowers for worship services. Opportunities are available on the flower chart. It is not necessary to use a florist; your own flowers or a purchased bouquet in a vase are welcome additions. Upcoming Open dates: May 5 & 12, and July 14. There are also a number of open dates later in the year. The flower chart has not yet been re-hung, and is currently in the office. Please stop in to sign up.

Church Softball Team

Our AP softball team will begin their season on April 15. Two back-to-back games are scheduled each week, either on Monday or Tuesday evenings at Rolling Valley West Field #1 (near the Pohick Regional Library). If you would like to play on the team, please contact team captain Kyle Morrisey. The cost is $40.00 per person. Everyone is invited to attend the games and cheer on the home team. The first two evenings scheduled are: Monday, April 15 at 6:45 & 7:45 and Monday, April 22 at 8:45 & 9:45 PM.

Empty Nester Alert!

On Saturday, April 27 the Empty Nesters will have a potluck supper at Jane and Richard Curtis's home in Fairfax Station, and then go to George Mason's TheatreSpace for a Ten-Minute Play Festival where student writers, directors and actors will present their work. 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, followed by a short drive to GMU. 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.

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 have also added sessions at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evenings as part of the Wednesday night gatherings at church. Anyone interested or with questions can contact Dick Bowes or Kris Vick.

AP Book Group

The Book Group will meet April 29 to discuss Skipping a Beat: A Novel by Sarah Pekkanen. All are invited to come join the discussion.

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.

Mainly Music Spring Carnival and Lunch-Next Saturday, April 13

The Mainly Music group will hold a fundraiser show with spring carnival and lunch next Saturday, April 13. The event will be held at the church from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. The cost is $20.00 per family.

VBS Helpers Needed

It's time to start putting all of our helpers in place for Vacation Bible School this summer! VBS will be held July 15-19 from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM. Adults are needed to serve as small group guides and station leaders. Youth who have completed 7th-12th grade are needed as helpers. Please let Marlys Loyer or Pastor Keseley know if you are able to help.

Children's Musical-"Pirates of the 'I Don't Care'-ibbean"

Wednesday, May 22

"Yo Ho Ho!" Come enjoy this musical presentation about Faith and Treasure presented by our children's Sonrise Choirs. Through story and songs the "pirates" learn what REAL treasure is-and so will you! Join us for dinner prior to the show and stay after for cake and fellowship. Times will be published soon. If anyone is interested in helping with props and staging, please contact Lori Rossett. Also, if any children 3 yrs.-6th grade are interested in participating, let Ms. Lori know! There's room for all!

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.

Mainly Music Spring Session

Continues every Tuesday morning through June 4 from 10:15-11:45 am. Visit our website to register: www.abidingpresence.net/children-and-youth. For more information contact Leslie Trieu.

Senior High Youth

We are gearing up for the spring and our last few Wednesday Night Gatherings. We are excited and want you to join us. Here is what it will look like for you...dinner is served from 6:15-7:00; hang out time till 7:15 (starts when you finish dinner); help Pastor/Vicar with youth groups 7:15-7:45; the BEST part of the night is a trip for ice cream/frozen yogurt and some faith talk 7:45-8:30. You should bring some money for our ice cream/frozen yogurt adventure.

Adult Bible Study on Sunday Mornings

Adults interested in Bible Study will gather at 10 AM in the library with Mike Magnell for a study on 1 Timothy.

Thursday Morning Bible Study-Hallelujah, the Bible and Handel's Messiah: The Easter Portion

This study continues, as we reach the Easter portion of the Messiah. Our Bibles are the main text as we learn the source of Handel's music. Our group welcomes new members at any time. If you are interested in joining this study, please contact Kathryn Ives.

3-B's Friday Bible Study

3B's is a women's fellowship group that meets in each other's homes for a light Breakfast, Bible Study and a time to share our Blessings from God. The Bible study we use comes from the ELCA's women magazine, "Gather." This year's study is "Gathered by God"- a look at all the ways God calls us to gather. We would love to have you join us. Our next study is on Friday, April 12 at the home of Janelle Orrico. We also meet at the church on the 4th Friday of every month to help with the Quilt Campaign. For more information, please contact Kathy Schmiesing.

April "Noisy Offering"-Weekend of April 20-21

In 2013 Lutheran World Relief is challenging Lutherans across the U.S. to donate 500,000 quilts to send around the world to people in need. Why quilts? Simply, because quilts can change lives. Those who receive the quilts receive not only warmth and shelter, but also the message that someone cares for them. Those who make quilts weave love and caring into every stitch of the quilt.

Here at Abiding Presence we are going to answer the challenge by making at least thirteen quilts between now and the end of 2013. Everyone in the congregation is invited to help. A quilting group meets on the fourth Friday morning of each month. Saturday quilting sessions will also be held as announced.

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. The pieced quilt tops are being fashioned out of left-over fabric donated to the project. Money is also needed to pay for shipping the quilts to the places where they are needed. The noisy offering in April will be used to help with this effort. Contact Lynne Imre or Kathryn Ives with questions.

Spring Consignment Sale is Next Weekend

Our spring children's consignment sale is Saturday, April 20th 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 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 via email.

Consignment sale needs

Helpers--if you have an hour to spare Friday, or Saturday, April 19th or 20th, please sign up for an AP Volunteer Spot. Consignors and Shoppers work 3 and 4 hour shifts but AP members can volunteer for as little as an hour of time. Each consignment sale brings many neighbors into our church for the first time. It's a great way to share with our community.

Yard Signs-We have 100 lawn signs to place to advertise our sale. If you can help by placing a couple of them on Thursday or Friday before the sale (April 18th or 19th), please pick them up after church. We've identified some strategic intersections so we can suggest a location. We just ask that you place the signs and pick them up the following Sunday/Monday. We'd like to reuse the signs for our future sales.

Donations--if you have gently used children's items-clothing, books, toys, furniture-that you would like to donate to the consignment sale, please place them in the pink box near the Fellowship Hall. We can accept items through Monday April 15th. The committee will tag them for the sale and all the proceeds will go to the playground fund.

We love donations!

Children's Weekend Meal Program

We are collecting these NEW ITEMS: pasta and Hunts spaghetti sauce. Please continue to donate:

oatmeal, 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!

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.

Shepherd's Centers of Fairfax-Burke Spring Activities

Are You 50 or Better? The next Lunch N' Life sponsored by the SCFB will be on Thursday, May 16, 2013, 12:00-2:00 PM at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Road Burke, VA. Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling, USMC (Ret.) will do a presentation entitled In the Bunker with the Vice President on 9/11. For reservations, call Faye Quesenberry, (703) 620-0161, by May 10th. The cost is $10.00; checks payable to SCFB. If transportation is needed, call the SCFB office, 703- 323-4788.

Bingo Fundraiser-Bring the Family on Saturday, June 8 from 1:00-3:00 PM!

All ages welcome! The doors open at 12:30 pm at the Parish Center Gym, St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 3700 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA. All proceeds benefit SCFB and its work for area seniors. Tickets: $12.00 each, which includes 2 Bingo Cards that can be played for the entire event, and complimentary beverages and snacks. Additional cards may be purchased on site--$1.00 per card per game. Prizes for each game are donated by local merchants. To purchase tickets, please call Lisa Carroll, 703-426-2824.

2013 Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, June 3, 2013

National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) of Northern Virginia is hosting a tournament for the benefit of The Shepherd's Centers of Northern Virginia at the Westfields Gold Club, 13940 Balmoral Greens Ave, Clifton, VA. Cost is $150 per person; lunch and registration begin at 12:30 and tee times begin at 1:00 PM. Reservations requested; checks payable to NAIFA Northern Virginia should list on the memo line "SCFB 6/3/13 Golf". Please mail reservation form and check to NAIFA NOVA, PO Box 3063, Oakton, VA 22124. For more information, please send an email to naifanova@gmail.com.

The Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting and enriching the lives of older adults in the Fairfax-Burke community. Go to www.scfbva.org for more information about SCFB. We appreciate your support.

Sun., 4/14 First Communions

8:30 am, Praise Service

9:45 am, Learning

11:00 am, Traditional Service

12:15 pm, Hallelujah Ringers

12:15 pm, Service Team Mtg./Lunch

1:30 pm, Korean Cong.

3:45 pm, Girl Scout Troop

4:00 pm, Daisy Troop

5:00 pm, Return from Puppets Retreat

Mon., 4/15 7:00 pm, Bible Study 101 with Pastor

Tues., 4/16 10:00 am, Mainly Music

6:00 pm, Girl Scout Troop

7:30 pm, AP Choir

Wed., 4/17 10:00 am, ESL

10:15 am, Music Together

5:00 pm, Puppets

6:15 pm, Dinner

6:45 pm, Sonrise Preschool Choir

6:45 pm, Holy's Youth Group (K-2nd)

7:00 pm, Confirmation

7:00 pm, Sr. High Youth Group

7:15 pm, Bridge Group

7:15 pm, Sonrise Cherubs Choir (K-2nd)

7:15 pm, Spirits! Youth Group (3rd-6th)

7:15 pm, Preschool Youth Group

7:45 pm, Sonrise Singers Choir(3rd-6th)

Thurs., 4/18 10:00 am, Bible Study

7:30 pm, Woodbridge Flute Choir

7:30 pm, Drop-off Consignment Sale Items

Fri., 4/19 9:30 am, Drop off Consignment Sale Items

6:30 pm, Set up for Sale

Sat., 4/20 8:00 am, Spring Consignment Sale

Confirmation Level 2 Retreat

4:00 pm, Praise Band

6:00 pm, Vespers Service

7:00 pm, Spanish Congregation

Sun., 4/21 New Members Received