Mark your calendar now!  Rally Day is Sunday, September 8

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.

Sunday School Teachers Needed!

We are gearing up for Sunday School this fall and looking for teachers!  No experience necessary-only the desire to help the children of Abiding Presence learn about the stories and love of Jesus.   Please talk to Sara Dyson (Sunday School Coordinator) or Pastor if you have any interest in teaching or helping out in some way!  There will be a Sunday School teacher interest meeting on Sunday, August 11 following the 10:00 AM service.  If you have even the slightest bit of interest in teaching this fall, please come!!

Lunch with Pastor-Monday, August 12 at Noon

Our August Lunch with Pastor will offer a chance to meet and get to know Vicar Christine.  We will meet on Monday, August 12 at noon at Burke Glory Days in their party room.  Please let the church office know if you can come.

Mainly Music Summer Session-Tuesday, August 13 at 10:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Cost is $5.00 per family.  Children and their parents/care-givers are invited to join us for music and snack.

Lutherans Day at the Ballpark-Sunday, September 15, 1:35 PM

This year's Lutherans Day at Nationals' Park will be on Sunday, September 15.  The Nationals will take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:35 PM.  If you are interested in tickets to see the game, please let Pastor Keseley know as soon as possible.

Noisy Offering for August-Weekend of August 17-18

The Children's Weekend Food Project is a community outreach program that AP started in April 2011, in response to an immediate need for weekend meals for 25 students at a local elementary school.  These students received free lunch at school but also needed support on the weekends.  Abiding Presence began by providing 25 children with "Weekend Meal Packages" that contained 2 meals and a snack for weekends during the school year.  Over the last two years, the program has grown from 25 to 65 students.  Over the course of the 2012/2013 school year we provided approximately 2,600 meal packages!  The program will again support 65 children with weekend meal packages.  We will begin in September collecting food donations for our first delivery in October.  The money collected from the noisy offering will be used to supplement food donations.  Please help us in making this another successful year.

AP Children's Fall Consignment Sale-Saturday, September 14 from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM

The work begins Wednesday, September 11th when we bring the clothing racks down from the attic.  Consignors drop off their items Thursday and Friday, September 12th and 13th.  There will be a Consignors/Volunteer Presale Friday, September 13th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.  The doors open to the public Saturday, September 14th at 8:00 am.  Check out our webpage for more information.

This is a great opportunity to go through your closets and toy chests and find those items you want to sell (or donate).  We sell gently used children's clothing, toys, books, bikes, sports equipment, baby equipment and furniture, and even maternity clothes.  The church accepts donations and sells the items.  100% of those sales go to the Playground Fund.  Bring your donations to the church and place them in the donation box by Fellowship Hall.  You can join the committee and help in the planning and promoting.  Get the word out.  Remember all of the sale proceeds go to the Playground Fund.  Contact Lynne Linder with your questions.

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.

Flower Chart Open Dates

We have several upcoming open dates on our flower chart.  Please consider providing altar flowers for our worship services for one or more of the followings weekends:  September 1 & 8, October 27, November 10, 17, & 24, and December 1,8, & 15.  You may either purchase flowers or provide flowers from your own garden.  We need to have them delivered or brought to the church prior to the Saturday Vespers service each week.  The flower chart is currently in the church office. 

Prayer List

One of the many responsibilities of the Vicar is to keep the weekly prayer list that we read in worship up to date. If you have a loved one who is not a member of AP on the prayer list, please take a moment to check in with Vicar Christine and let her know how they're doing, if they should stay on the list and the correct pronunciation of their name. That will help us make sure that the list is up to date and help Vicar Christine get a better sense of who is on the list as she begins her ministry with us.

Names can be added to the list each week by filling out one of the prayer request cards located at the end of each row and handing them to an usher. If you would like someone to remain on the list for more than a week, just let Pastor or Vicar know.

Old iPads Wanted
Have you recently upgraded your iPad and now have an old one sitting around the house gathering dust?  If so, Abiding Presence could put it to good use!  We're looking for an old iPad or two that could be loaded with the bulletin/slides and used by our acolytes and crucifiers during worship.  If you have one to donate, please let Pastor Keseley know.

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.

3-B's Friday Bible Study

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.

A small group dinner will be held on August 17.  Please sign up on the sheets in the narthex, or email Sara Dyson or Mike Utell to sign up!  

Save the Date-July 24-27, 2014-Ninth Triennial Women's Gathering 

"Of Many Generations" will be the theme of next summer's Ninth Triennial Gathering of the Women of the ELCA.  The Gathering will be in Charlotte, NC from July 24-27, and will consist of workshops, inspirational speakers, fellowship and worship opportunities.  Registration will begin sometime this fall, with early bird discounts available.  If you are interested in being placed on an email list to receive more information as soon as it is available, please contact our synod's Triennial Gathering Promoter, Carol Moonan.

Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke "Lunch N' Life"

Are You 50 or Better? Please join us for the next Lunch N' Life sponsored by the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke on Thursday, September 19, 2013, from 12:00-2:00 PM.  This meeting will be held here  at Abiding Presence, and will feature the Washington Post writer, Robert Thompson, aka, Dr. Gridlock.  He will discuss current traffic issues and plans for the future for our area.  For reservations, call Faye Quesenberry (703) 620-0161 by September 15th.  The cost is $10.00; checks payable to SCFB. If transportation is needed, call the SCFB office (703) 323-4788. Seewww.scfbva.org .

Adventures in Learning

Older Adults Shape Up Mentally and Physically with the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke

Join the Shepherd's Center of Fairfax-Burke (SCFB) for its Fall session of Adventures in Learning. This program is open to all adults age 50 or better.  Registrants bring a bag lunch and stay for a full day of classes/activities and socializing, or pick and choose the classes that interest them the most. The classes run Mondays, September 30 through November 4, 9:30 AM to 2:45 PM  at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Rd., Fairfax; cost $30.00.  Beginning August 30th, registration form and class schedule will be available at  www.scfbva.org, or by calling 703-323-4788.  Registration is open throughout the session.