News from Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence

If you have not already registered your child, there is still time! The week will be filled with fun and faith! 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.

Vacation Bible School Service Project

We would like to invite the congregation to participate in our Vacation Bible School Service Project for New Hope Housing. New Hope Housing is committed to find lasting solutions to end homelessness. Children attending VBS will be donating items for a housewarming kit to provide residents as they move into permanent housing. The congregation can support this effort by also donating some of these basics for those residents: dishes, flatware, pots and pans, trash cans, brooms, mops, new towels, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies.

Boy Scout God and Me Award

Pastor and Vicar will be teaching the God and Me and God and Church programs for any boy scouts interested in receiving the awards through their troops. Classes will be taught following Vacation Bible School on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17 from 1:00-3:00 PM. The boys should bring a bag lunch and will have a supervised lunch/play time from 12:30-1:00 PM. Anyone interested in participating is asked to please contact Pastor Keseley.

Blood Drive - August 5

Our next scheduled Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Monday, August 5 beginning at 3:00 PM.

Mark your calendar now!

The 2013-2014 Sunday School year will begin on Sunday, September 8. There will be opportunities for all ages to get involved in learning and growing in faith. Given the growing number of children in our congregation, we are going to need to increase the number of Sunday School classes that we offer. Please prayerfully consider if you might be willing to serve as a Sunday School teacher or helper this year. If you would like more information or to volunteer, contact Sara Dyson, Sunday School Coordinator, or Pastor Keseley.

Wednesday Gathering Dinners-Begin September 11

Our Wednesday Gathering dinners will begin again on September 11. If your family would like to participate, but have not done so in the past due to dietary restrictions, please contact Kathi Schultz in the church office this summer to discuss. We are obviously not able to accommodate all dietary restrictions, but we will do our best to provide an alternative for people who are vegetarian, need gluten-free foods, etc. We will be planning for the fall later this summer, so please do not delay in contacting us to discuss the possibilities.

Playtime at the Park-Tuesday July 30 at 10:00 AM, Lee District Playground and Sprayground

Join Pastor and Julia for outdoor playtime this summer. The next date will be Tuesday, July 30. The Utells have planned a July 30 outing at the Lee District Playground and Sprayground. There will be no playtime at the park on July 16 due to VBS. On July 23 and August 13, please join us for a summer session of Mainly Music in the Fellowship Hall. Outdoor events are all weather permitting, so call the office if you're not sure if we're there.

Pre-Baptism Dinner-Sunday, August 4 at 5:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Families who are thinking about having their children baptized at Abiding Presence are invited to join Pastor Keseley for a pre-Baptism dinner. It's a chance to learn more about baptism and get to know other families in the congregation. Infants are welcome to attend with their parents. Childcare will be available in the nursery for older kids. RSVP to Pastor Keseley.

Mainly Music Summer Sessions-Tuesdays, July 23 and August 13 at 10:30 AM

Cost is $5.00 per family for each session.

Back by Popular Demand-Bible Study 101

Tuesdays, July 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 7:00 PM

Pastor has had a few requests for another session of Bible Study 101. It's the Bible Study for people who have always wondered about Bible Study and haven't been sure where to start. Don't worry if you'll miss a week for vacation-just come when you can.

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 Studyand 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 will be held on Friday, August 9th, at 9:30 AM at the home of Mary Edge.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

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Adult Confirmation Group

Starting this fall, Pastor Keseley will be putting together a group of adults who are interested in taking part in an adult confirmation experience. The group will meet approximately 2-3 times per month from September through May and then have the opportunity to affirm their faith. The adult confirmation group is geared towards anyone who is looking to grow in their faith regardless of whether or not they had a confirmation experience as a teenager. If you might be interested, please let Pastor know so that she can begin putting together a calendar for the classes.

Summer High School Youth Group Bible Study

Who: All rising high school freshman to rising college freshman

What: Dinner, games, and Bible study

When: Sunday nights, 6:00-9:00 PM

Where: Home of the Luckys, 6834 Camus Pl. Springfield, VA 22152

Why: To build a Christ based community where you can learn about God, life, faith, and how they all fit together while enjoying the fellowship of some new and old friends

Lock-In, July 23-24. Lock-Ins are always a blast! We hope to have as great of a turn out as the fall lock-in. Stay tuned for more information!

25:40 Fundraiser - Sunday, July 21
Double your fun, double your benefit to 25:40!!
Bring us your dirty cars and we will get them shining like new! Come to the Cardinal Plaza Shell Station, 8334 Old Keene Mill Rd in Springfield on Sunday, July 21 from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Then head across the street to Boardwalk Fries, 6230 Rolling Road in Springfield for lunch or dinner, where they will donate 15 percent of your ticket to 25:40! They are open from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM.

More than 2,000 children in a small, rural corner of South Africa's Eastern Cape have no parents. Orphans here are more vulnerable to abuse because they do not have anyone to protect them. 25:40 helps villages to keep these children safe and to provide the services they need and the hope they deserve. We need your help to reach all of them - one child at a time. Please see www.2540.org for more information.

Six Sundays of Summer Service!

Our Summer Service time between Sunday worship services continues through the month of July. Below is a "shopping list" of items that you can contribute to these projects. The projects are ongoing throughout the summer, and many of them have "take home" options that can be completed by your family at home (or can be picked up later by those attending the Saturday Vespers service.) And all of the activities can serve as ideas for family projects that each family can continue or expand throughout the year.

July 14 - We will put together school bags for needy children. Please provide: 70 page notebooks, unsharpened pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, rulers and scissors. We will also be using sturdy fabric to make backpacks - a very easy sewing project for teens or adults working on new sewing skills. Instructions and donated fabric will be available for you to take home. The supplies will be split between ECHO and the ongoing LWR school kit project.

July 21 - Small pots (2-4 inches) are needed, as we will have a chance to pot a plant for a neighbor in need. Let those in your community know that they are loved!

July 28 - White socks and hand lotion are needed for the homeless in Fairfax County. An easy project, but one that is much appreciated. These items were the ones most requested at the hypothermia shelter last winter.

Let's use our hands and feet to serve others as Jesus taught us.

Games and Fellowship Night at Eleanor Kennedy Homeless Shelter-Sunday, July 28

Our next game night at the Eleanor Homeless Shelter will be on July 28. If you can help out, please contact Jen Burkman.

Giant Grocery "Cash for Causes"-Help us fund our Playground

If you shop at Giant grocery and are willing to purchase Cash for Causes gift cards from the church, you can help fund the playground without any extra effort. For every $100 in gift cards AP sells, the playground account will earn $5.00. Complete an order form found in the office, and place the form and your check made out to Abiding Presence in the specially marked box in the office. Our next order will be placed around August 1. To date the playground fund has grown $173.75 through AP's participation in this program. This is a very easy way to watch the playground fund grow!

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

We are meeting every 4th Friday and following Saturday of the month. Our next sessions will be on July 26-27, at 9:30 AM. We hope you can join us!

ECHO Updates

Current Needs: dried beans, vegetable oil, jelly, juice, flour, peanut butter, dried milk, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix and syrup. ECHO accepts donations and gives receipts from 9:30 am-12:30 pm on weekdays and from 7:00 - 9:00 pm on Tuesday-Thursday evenings. Drive around to the donation door on the west side of our building at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, and a cheerful volunteer will help you with your donations.

Farewell Receptions - Saturday, July 27 & Sunday, July 28

This will be Vicar Nicole's last weekend at Abiding Presence. We will honor her ministry with us during our fellowship times following the Saturday vespers worship service, and following the Sunday morning services, July 27-28.

Summer S'mores (and Hot Dogs, too!)-Wednesday, July 24 at 6:15 PM

Our "School's Out S'mores" event was such a success that we're planning another night around the campfire. We'll start around 6:15 PM with hot dogs and then move to s'mores later in the evening. Each family is asked to please bring a side dish to share to go with the hot dogs. All ages are welcome to come enjoy fellowship around the campfire!

"Sundae Sunday" Ice Cream Social-Sunday, July 21 at 3:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Come beat the heat and make your own sundaes! If you can bring a plate of cookies or bars, please contact Kathi Schultz in the church office.

Lunch with Pastor-Monday, July 22

This will be the last lunch that Vicar Nicole will attend with us. We will meet for lunch at Red, Hot and Blue, 4150 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax on Monday, July 22. If you wish to carpool, please meet at the church at 11:30 AM, or meet at the restaurant at noon. Please let the office staff know if you are coming.

Physically Fit for His Service and for Summer-Thursday Evenings this Summer

Wendy Kunc is leading a fitness class for all fitness levels on Thursday evenings this summer. The class meets in the Fellowship Hall from 7:00-8:00 pm. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and bring an exercise tube (medium resistance), a mat or large towel for ab work and stretching, and a bottle of water if you like. If you have questions, contact the church office and they'll put you in touch with Wendy. On July 18 (VBS week), the exercise class will be held outdoors, weather permitting.

On July 14 and August 17 there will be small group dinners. There are usually around 4 couples at each, and it's a great way to get to know other couples at church in a more private and one on one setting. Please sign up on the sheets in the narthex, or email Sara Dyson or Mike Utell to sign up! Other upcoming events:

Friday, July 19 (5:30-7:30 PM) - Restaurant Night at Sakura Japanese Steak House in Fair Lakes. Join us for a couples' night out! If there is enough interest we can provide childcare in the nursery for a small cost per child.

Saturday, August 3 - Family Travel Day. Whether you have kids or not, please join us for a day out! We are still planning the location and details, but are trying to make it only a day trip, and thinking along the lines of the Children's museum or aquarium in Baltimore. Ideas are always welcome!

Nursery Assistants Needed

We are in need additional people to help out in our church nursery during worship on Sunday mornings. We have a paid nursery staff, but we need one volunteer to assist during each service. Youth are welcome and encouraged to help! Volunteers would need to serve once every 2-3 months, and you can choose which service time that you would like to assist. Please contact Susan Magnell if you are willing to give of your Time and Talents in this way, or if you would like more information.

Noisy Offering for July will support the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax/Burke

Weekend of July 20-21

The Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke (SCFB) is a "not for profit" organization dedicated to helping older adults continue to live independently in their own homes by providing enrichment and social networking opportunities that keep life exciting and rewarding for them. Programs include Accompanied Medical Transportation and Companion Shopping (for older people who are no longer able to drive), Friendly Callers/ Visitors (for people who are mostly homebound), Caregivers Support Groups (for those who have loved ones with dementia), low-cost exercise classes (to promote strength, balance and flexibility), and Lunch N' Life, Adventures in Learning, and Wednesday at the Movies programs, all of which provide mental stimulation and socialization opportunities. Recently, Abiding Presence has become one of the new partners of the Shepherd's Center Faith Community, with several members helping provide the offered services. In fact, the September Lunch 'N' Life luncheon will be held in the Abiding Presence Fellowship Hall on September 19 and will feature "Dr. Gridlock" as the guest speaker. Please see the June newsletter for more information about the Shepherd's Center and on programs that the SCFB provides.

Lord of Life Preschool

Lord of Life Preschool-Fairfax still has a few openings for the fall session, and they would love to have you come and visit. LOLPS-Fairfax is a half day, part year program for children ages 2 ½-5. For more information check their website at www.lordoflifepreschool.org or call 703-323-5581. Summer office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-12:00 noon.

Sat., 7/13

4:00 pm, Praise Band

6:00 pm, Vespers Service

7:00 pm, Spanish Congregation

Sun., 7/14

8:30 am, Praise Service

9:30 am, Fellowship/Summer Service Opportunity

10:00 am, Traditional Service

12:30 pm, Iglesia Gosen Cong.

6:00 pm, Sr. High Dinner, Games & Bible Study at Luckys' Home

Mon., 7/15