2016 - adventmorton.org · issues and confirm the status of the leukemia. Arnie BAILEY, in-law of the Majors, being treated for advanced lymphoma. ... and “asker” both years.

201620162016

MAY 1: “CHILDREN’S NARRATIVE COMMUNION” worship at both services. We introduce each part of our liturgy with simple, engaging and child-friendly explanations of their meaning. Children and parents will be doing the narration. This is also LUTHERAN SOCIAL SER-VICES OF ILLINOIS Sunday. We will be affirming our connection to and support of this vital human services ministry to the neediest of Illinois’ citi-zens. Video, talk, insert and special of-fering at both services.

9:00 AM FRENCH TOAST BAR, Breakfast Fundraiser, in support of CF Summer Camp and Leadership Lab. French Toast and all the toppings! MAY 6: Friday, 6-8 PM TACOS and BINGO, Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser, for the South Dakota Mission Trip this Summer.

Yummy Please come for tacos and all the trim-mings, and a night of BINGO. All are welcome. MAY 8: 8 AM Service of Word, Song and Prayer for the Last Sunday of Easter!!! 10:30 AM Kids’ Worship with the performance of our Sunday School Spring Musical iAM!. This is always a very special service, and Jolynn has found another awesome musical for the kids to share! We will also have something special for MOTHER’S on this their special day!

MAY 15: 8 AM Simple Communion for the Day of Pente-cost!!! 10:30 AM Communion with “Patriotic Medley” presentation by the Advent Adult Choir This is also the FINALE Sunday for our Sunday School Ministry! We will have highlights, thank you’s, recognitions, and presentation of Bibles. We celebrate the privilege we share as God’s people, to nurture faith, hope and love in our young ones! MAY 22: 8 AM Holy Communion Services for the festival day the HOLY TRINITY. 10:30 AM PRAISE WORSHIP with Praise Team. Ella will be our preacher !!! Recognition of May BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES during both services. MAY 28 and 29: KICK OFF of our Summer Worship Schedule: Saturday 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM. Farewell and Godspeed ceremony during both services for our awesome Director of Youth & Fami-ly Ministry, Ella, as she completes her work among us. Sunday, May 28 10:00 AM Brunch and pro-gram in honor of Ella.

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Pentecost Geraniums Order them today!

See page 6 for details.

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O’Brien’s Observations

Bonnie Newman 191 E. Queenwood,

Morton Terrace, Morton

Aerienne Reibert Rosewood Care Center

Rm 210 900 Centennial Dr E. Peoria, IL 61611

Betty Johnson 464 S. Minnesota, Morton

Tippy Bach Apostolic Restmor 1500 Parkside Dr

Room 614E, Morton

Ralph Walker Apostolic Restmor 1500 Parkside Dr

Room 204A, Morton

Homebound Members

and Friends

“You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves (servants) to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a sin-gle commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 Easter is freedom. Through Christ’s death and resurrec-tion, we are set free, free FROM the power of sin, from bondage to the past (regrets and resentments), from fear of present or future threats and ultimately FREED from self. Focus on me, myself and I results in life wast-ed, either in self-rejection, the relentless negative judg-ment of self or in self-indulgence, relentless pursuit of personal comfort, care and convenience. And we are freed FOR. Not for focus on self, but for fo-cus on the other - which is LOVE. Set free are we, by the sacrificial grace of God, to be filled with that love, and then share that love in service and SELF-GIVING for others. And why, Pastor Dennis, is this so important? Because human nature and human society are relentless in pull-ing us AWAY from self giving into self focus. Much of our recent news has focused on the EXPOSURE of “off shore, shell businesses” being used by wealthy individu-als and companies to hide their assets and avoid paying taxes on them in their home country. A recent article about this practice included this obser-vation: “One…report calls out a Ugandan company for avoiding taxes on a $400 million oil deal. The forgone tax reve-nue, it notes, would be enough to cover a shortfall in health care spending (by the government of Uganda) that has resulted in hospital patients sleeping on the floor.” The Christian Science Monitor 4/18/2016 p. 10 Such incidents are powerful pictures of what happens when individuals and corporate entities use their free-dom and good fortune as “an opportunity for self indul-gence”. Hoarding what we have for “me and mine” how-ever we do it, hurts our neighbor, darkens our world & destroys our spirits.

And let us pay attention to how preoccupation with what is MINE wounds the world. Hiding of assets (often legal-ly), HURTS the world God loves. And so, in Uganda, corporate greed creates gaps in healthcare which impair hospitals, and compromise the care patients receive. This is a powerful reminder that God calls us, as those FREED FOR LOVE by the Risen Christ, to share that love by BOTH taxes and personal generosity. Through taxes, we participate as CITIZENS in caring for the COMMON GOOD in critical ways - healthcare, edu-cation, community safety and safety nets for the vulnera-ble. Are governments, the programs they offer, and the tax revenue systems they use to support their work less than perfect? Absolutely! But is that a justification for “self indulgent” hiding from taxes, even if its legal? Ab-solutely not! And let us not forget that willing and GENEROUS giving, of self, time and MONEY - in care for the needy neigh-bor - is another way we practice the SERAVANT LOVE for which Christ has freed us. Consider this eloquent and profound advice from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy: “As for those who in the present age are rich, command them NOT …to set their hopes on the uncertainty of rich-es, but rather on God who richly provides us with every-thing for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus stor-ing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they make TAKE HOLD of the life which really is life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Instead of shell accounts, phantom companies, and off shore accounts, let us as God’s Easter people, find our joy, our fulfillment and our FREEDOM, in living Christ’s willing, sacrificial, servant love. CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!! ALLELUIA!!

Ken BISCHOFF. Continued chemotherapy regimen. Ken has experienced some significant fatigue but has been able to go to work, and carry on most of his nor-mal activities. Libit GLENN, friend of Dana Bischoff from North Carolina, she has completed chemo and is now doing radia-tion. Overall is doing well.

Chuck KINNEY, underwent knee replacement sur-gery during the 3rd week of April. He is recovering steadily, and says THANKS and Many Thanks, for all his Advent friends who have sent e mails, cards and other well wishes. Carol PETONKE, continued struggles with extreme fatigue. Betty JOHNSON, continued medical issues, including minor surgery in March. Jeff DANIELS, brother in law of the Veskaufs, treat-ment for lung cancer.

Brenda VENNETTE, friend of the Doughertys, re-ceiving chemotherapy.

Cindy FLOWERS, coworker and friend of Mugs Ma-jor, recovering from bone marrow transplant for recur-rent cancer. Cindy lives in North Carolina.

Doug SNYDER struggling with infections, scheduled to resume chemotherapy soon.

Mark DELICATH, Lynn Goffinet’s cousin, as he con-tinues to adjust to living with one lung.

Ed PETERSON, friend of Kinney’s, dialysis while he awaits kidney transplant surgery, lives in Bartonville.

Doris HODGE, Jeannette Anderson’s mom, at home and receiving therapy for mobility issues. Joan ANDERSON, mother of Bob, returned to her care center residence.

Kay WILSON, Lynn Goffinet’s life-long friend, has completed one full series of chemotherapy for leuke-mia. Her immune system is still compromised and she is awaiting a bone marrow test later in May to deter-mine if she needs further treatment. Request prayers as the physicians continue to address her immune system issues and confirm the status of the leukemia.

Arnie BAILEY, in-law of the Majors, being treated for

advanced lymphoma.

Bill and Donna ABNEY, Ruth Abney’s in-laws, both with serious medical issues, looking at residential care. Jeff ZIEGLER, friend of Pastor Dennis’s, recovery from blood clot surgeries.

Joyce CLAUSING, cousin of Pastor Dennis, due to post surgical problems, is in rehabilitation at a Mil-waukee, WI care enter.

Carrie ZILCH, being treated for severe and chronic pain in neck vertebrae, after last year’s surgery.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING For the birth of ALANNA REAGAN, to April and John WRIGHT, on March 29. We welcomed her into God’s kingdom through Holy Baptism, on April 24. Welcome to God’s world, Alanna! GOD’S PEACE AND COMFORT: Family and friends of Devon LITTLE, teammate, schoolmate and friend of Elizabeth Keenan, who took his own life during the week of April 17. His family lives in Metamora. Friends and Family of Julia BROWN, friend of Johnna Maragos from De Pere, Wisconsin who passed away after battling interstitial lung disease. Pr.Dan TUHY and family on the death of his youngest uncle PHILIP. Friends and family of Alice MATTICE, friend of Pastor Dennis, from Chico, California. Continued prayers for all who have lost loved ones in the continuing rash of suicide bombings in cities throughout the world; and in the recent earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan. EXPECTANT MOTHERS:

Jen Gillette, Alaina White and Alicia Wheeler

Please include these individuals in your PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL PRAYER.

PRAYER does make a difference!

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Page 4

The Kroger community rewards program is now 1 year old.

These funds have been used for confirmation expenses, LOMC camps, youth music program supplies, Carlinville retreat, and more! If you have a Kroger Plus card simply register it on-line to link your card to Advent. By doing this, Advent will get a quarterly % cash return for your purchases.

*** If you are already registered, you will have to re-register each year (they may send you a reminder via email but you can also check your account online).

The website to register is:www.kroger.com/communityrewards Sign in and then Click on "view your rewards details" At the bottom of the page under Community Rewards, check to make sure Advent Lutheran Church is listed as the organization name. If you are registering for the first time, our organization number is 10654.

Contact Jodi Schaefer if you have questions: 309-253-7604 [email protected]

SPECIAL NOTICE for

KROGER Plus Card Holders:

THANK YOU, LADIES!!! For the 2

nd year, Advent has supplied

desserts for a pastors’ conference of the Rural Home Missions Association. The RHMA , which is headquartered in Morton, is a non denominational ministry which recruits, places and supports pastors in small, often struggling rural congregations across the Midwest and beyond. Once a year, they bring these pastors and their wives together for a weekend confer-ence here in Morton. They have asked for our help in providing dessert for one of their large dinners. Many thanks to Judy STEGMAIER who has been the contact and “asker” both years. And thanks to those Advent women who together provided desserts for 142 people on April 17: Judy, Becky Ward, Gloria Sidell, Barb Williamson, Jolynn Lottman, Anna Wesner and Karen Darling!!

THANK YOU! We want to thank all our Advent Family for the pray-ers, visits, positive thoughts, calls and food during the hospitalization and recov-ery. God’s blessings to all! Dean and Ruth Rohweder

GARDEN Kudos: THANKS ALSO to those who came out to clean the Garden area outside our covered en-trance, on April 22: Jolynn Lottman, Bonnie Junk, Becky Ward, and Todd Greim. IT LOOKS GREAT!!!. And to ELLA, who spent sever-al hours at Advent on Holy Sat-urday sprucing up our garden areas for EASTER!!!

Thanks to all who pro-vided food and came to set up, serve and clean up fro the Funeral of Clarice Carriere on April 6. Even though the luncheon crowd was small to say the least, our hospitality, generosity and care were much ap-preciated by her son, Craig and their friends.

Dear ADVENT LUTHERAN CHURCH, Your supporters (27 households) who shopped at Kroger between Jan - Mar 2016 have contributed to your

$356.39 total donation. Thank you

for your continued support of your lo-cal Kroger store. Thank you, Community Rewards Staff

Thank you to the Monday Bible Study participants for the card and gift certificate to Olive Garden. It was my privilege to get to share the lesson’s and laughs Liz Curtis Higgs provided. You are an awe-some bunch of former(?) bad girls! Johnna

A BIG THANK YOU to SKYLAR WILLIAMSON for collecting $210 to buy food pantry items for WeCare! It was a double bonus as most of the items were purchased at Kroger, benefit-ing Advent Lu-theran's youth programs through the Kroger Com-munity Rewards Program!

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LOMC Memorial Day Work Weekend

May 27-30 Thanks to all of you, last year was a great success with a lot of projects getting done. Let’s do it again this year! Bring family & friends to share the good times, work, and fellow-ship. Housing is available but rooms fill up quickly so call 815-732-2220 ASAP.

ADULT NURTURE OPPORTUNITY during May

Sundays @ 9:30 AM: Learning Forum in the library.

We conclude our exploration of “Luke, The Apostolic Gospel”.

GERMAINE IN JUNE:

June 2 – 4 Central/Southern Illinois SYNOD ASSEMBLY at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Festival Eucharist (Communion) Worship, Thursday Evening at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic church sanctuary, Peoria. ALL ARE WELCOME.

June 12: 10:00 AM Mid-Year CONGREGA-TIONAL MEETING, in the FLC

June 26: 6-8PM LUTHERAN NIGHT at SPLASHDOWN. All are invited, bring along a canned good to share with local food pan-tries.

June 19-24: “FAITHWORKS EXTRAVA-GANZA” Confirmation Camp at LOMC in Oregon, Illinois.

June 26: LOMC CAMPS for children kin-dergarten age through High School youth begin this week and continue through early August. Check it out at www.lomc.org

CONFIRMATION MINISTRY CORNER:

We conclude our year of meals, sessions, service pro-jects and outings in May:

MAY 1 - 9 AM FRENCH TOAST BAR Fundraiser for Summer CF Camp. Thank you in advance, congrega-tion, for your support.

May 1 is also our FINAL THEME SESSION, we put a wrap on our study of the Lord’s Prayer, focusing on the petition, “Forgive Us Our Sins”. We conclude May 1 with a FAMILIES MEETING at 2 PM in the Youth Room. MAY 15 (tentative) is our final SMALL GROUP MONTHLY GATHERING. We hope to gather at the home of Samantha HOVEY for a time of food, fellowship, games, conversation and prayer. HIGHLIGHT for the SUMMER: “Faith Works Extrava-ganza” Confirmation Camp at LOMC. We join middle school youth and their leaders from ALL OVER ILLI-NOIS, for a week of on and off site SERVICE PRO-JECTS, bible Studies on the theme “Fearless” and all the awesome outdoor camp activities. We have FIVE youth attending, with Pastor Dennis and Marty sharing as adult guides! We have been blessed to work with SIX young people and their families this year: Savannah HACK, Brayden ZILCH, Ashla McCAMMON, Samantha HOVEY, Mark BISCHOFF and Skylar WILLIAMSON. Special thanks to Marty HANSON who completes his 8

th or 9

th year as a small group guide!! You rock,

Marty!!!! Thanks also to ELLA, who also took part in most of the Confirmation activities this year!!

South Central Illinois Synod ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

June 2 -4, at the EMBASSY SUITES Conference Center in East Peoria.

Theme:

“We are Church for the Sake of the World” Representing us this year…. Adult lay voting representatives: Alton and Ann DAVIS Youth voting representative: Elizabeth KEENAN (welcome, Eliza-

beth!!!) Ella will be attending as a visitor and Pastor Dennis will be our clergy voting representa-tive.

Reminder of the worship service, Thursday, June 2 between 7:30-8PM Exact time to be announced closer to the event.

Please stop by the bulletin boards in the information hallway to see more about upcoming meetings and gatherings.

The Announcer as well as week-ly bulletins are online at

adventmorton.org

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP FOR CAREGIVERS 3rd Tuesday of every month

9:30—10:30am at Morton Public Library Open to everyone

See kiosk for more information

2016 Altar Flower sign-up sheets are in the hallway.

Sign up for Sundays to sponsor the Altar Arrangement.

May 22, Aug 7, and many Sundays late in the year are still available.

Joy in our Past, Faith in our Future 50TH anniversary of

ADVENT LUTHERAN CONGREGATION.

May 28 & 29, TEE SHIRT WEEKEND

as we bid Ella fare-well and God speed.

PLEASE WEAR YOUR Anniversary

“Gear’ to worship that weekend.

DON’T FORGET to check out the HISTORICAL DIS-PLAY in the entry area to the Family Life Center. Thanks to the Endowment for funding the memory boards and to John ZIAH and other mem-bers of the committee for making it happen!. Historical materials are also on display in the Sunday School room opposite the entrance to the Family Life Center.

ANNIVERSARY MISSION PROJECT: Seminary Scholarships

As a congregation we want to use our 50th Anniversary year as a mission

opportunity as well as a time to celebrate. We have identified SCHOL-ARSHIPS for SEMINARY STUDENTS as our Anniversary Mission Offer-ing . We are aiming for a total of $10,000 in special giving, with half go-ing to ELLA , to assist her in her first year of theological education, and half to the ELCA’S Fund For Leaders in Mission, a permanent en-dowment fund which grants well ov11er 200 scholarships for students at ELCA Seminaries every year.

We will highlight this Mission Goal during the May Tee Shirt week-end services. Our goal is to raise the $5,000 for Ella by Fall, and the rest by our final anniversary event in December of 2016.

SIGN THE CHARTER: find the “reaffirmation” Charter in the library and PLEASE sign it, if you haven’t already done so. This includes children and youth. ONE PERSON sign per line. THANKS!!

May 8, DEADLINE for or-

dering Anniversary Tee

Shirts, Women’s V neck shirts, Golf

shirts and hand bags. See display in the en-

try area.

Members of the ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE: Judy STEGMAIER & John ZIAH, co-chairs; Pastor Dennis, Ruth Rohweder, Ruth Smith, Art Herm, Jolynn Lottman, Bev Potts, Arlene Parr and Sally Ferko and Ka-ren Darling.

Time to ORDER GERANIUMs! Geraniums will be placed on the altar prior to the Pentecost Service on May 15. Orders may be placed in the offering plate or placed in the secretaries’ box in the office. Gera-nium orders must be turned in by Wed May 11. The geraniums will be planted around the church after Pentecost.

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INTERNSHIP NOTES: The beginning of our year with SEMINARY INTERN, Patrick JENKINS is just a few months away. Since approving this program in January, Pastor Dennis and the office staff have completed all the paper work required, and been officially endorsed as an internship site for Luther Seminary in the coming year. This month, Pastor Dennis heads off to Minneap-olis for a 2 day Training Program for first time Internship Supervisors May 10-11. There is quite a bit of prepara-tion needed for this training - reading, completing self assessment surveys, and the like. So no worries about Pastor Dennis getting into mischief any time soon!! The next step will be gathering a LAY INTERN-SHIP COMMITTEE of 5 – 8 Advent members. This group will meet with Patrick monthly during his time with us, and will do an extensive SIX month review and even more thorough FINAL EVALUATION of Patrick for the Seminary. The work of the committee will be confidential, and inte-gral to the success of the internship. If you would like to offer to serve or suggest someone you believe would be an asset to this group, talk to Pas-tor Dennis. TIMELINE: Patrick will conclude his full time staff position as Director of Contemporary Worship and Small Group Ministries at St. Mark’s on August 21. We anticipate that he will begin his work among us in early September. Pray for him, Mallory and their children, Joanna and Levi as they make this transition!!!

Patrick JENKINS - BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:

Patrick is a candidate for or-dained ministry through the Central Southern Illinois Syn-od of the ELCA and is work-ing toward a Master of Divini-ty Degree at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He takes classes both on-campus and on-line allowing him to serve St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Washington, IL as a worship

and small group coordinator (a full time staff posi-tion). He has served St. Mark's for over 7 years and in that time has led the praise band, choir, and small group leaders and studies, as well as gained preaching experi-ence. He has also served as an intern chaplain at Washington Christian Village where he completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (a requirement for ordination). Patrick was raised in Canton, IL (Trinity Lutheran Church) and attended Northern Illinois University where he earned a degree in Music Performance. While at NIU, Patrick served as a peer minister at Lutheran Cam-pus Ministries and helped lead discipleship and worship ministries. Patrick is married to Mallory, a health and P.E. teacher

at Dunlap Middle School. They have two children, Jo-

Anna (5), and Levi (3). They currently reside in Peoria.

This year’s “Pedal for a Purpose” bicycle ride will take place May 29- June 2, travel over 300 miles, and visit 14 churches on a loop through the northeast corner of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the ELCA. Our efforts will focus on raising awareness and money towards shared ministry through seminary debt reduction for new pastors. At the 2015 Synod Assembly, there was great concern for the high levels of education debt that new pastors have as they graduate from seminary. This debt can be a significant bur-den on the pastors and their families, the congregations they serve, and the ministry we share. Our goal is to raise $30,000 that will be contributed towards a larger strategic plan to provide debt relief for pastors in our synod. This strategic plan will be presented for discussion and ap-proval at the 2016 Synod Assembly in East Peoria on June 2-4, 2016.

How can YOU help ?? 1) Hop on a bike and join us! Learn about shared ministry through seminary debt reduction. 2) Sponsor someone who is cycling. Cover the cost of regis-tration, pledging per mile. 3) Attend a worship service and program. Share in a meal, worship, and presentation. 4) Make a monetary donation. Help us reach our goal of $30,000. 5) Pray. Uplift in prayer students who attend the eight ELCA seminaries and those participating in the ride. Checks may be made payable to: “Central/Southern Illinois Synod” with a note “Pedal for a Purpose”. Checks may be sent the synod office at 524 S. Fifth St., Springfield, IL 62701-1822 or offerings may be brought to the 2016 synod assembly, which will be held in East Peoria, IL, June 2-4, 2016. Thank you for your generous support! For complete details check out the synod website at: www.csis-elca.org Page 7

Pedaling for a New Purpose… Shared Ministry through Seminary Debt Reduction May 30-June 2, 2016

Service Committee

Page 8

NURTURE, SPREAD and SERVE: living God’s mission as God’s people,

gathered and called together in Christ .

2016 MINISTRY GOALS UPDATE

Caring Contact for members who miss worship: Thank you to Tom Dougherty who developed a tracking software program for entering attend-ance names each week. He also developed a letter template to send out to those so identified. We also have a procedure outline developed. John Ziah has taken over the “implementation” stage, with the first letters going out in early May. If you would like to assist John with collecting and entering the attendance data or/and with prepar-ing and sending out letters, please contact John at 356-2446 or the church office.. Initiate Fellowship Groups The Women’s MONDAY Afternoon Bible Study, has completed “Really Bad Girls of the Bible” the THIRD series studies., in early April. Attendance averaged 12-15 each week! The Men’s Group fellowship went to the River-men Hockey Game in April. Next is a Chiefs Baseball game. It will be on a FRIDAY evening later in May, details TBD. Bruce Simmons and Scott Ward coordinate this outreach. ADOPT Morton Villa and Morton Terrace care centers. Barb Williamson continues to work diligently on implementing this major goal. We have 9 per-sons have stepped forward to take part and sev-eral of those who are currently making regular visits on assigned residents Barb is also working on special projects like East-er goodies and visits and pet visits.. Contact her, 840-2814 and offer to help! ENHANCE OUR OUTREACH & Publicity to the community and unchurched. We currently have a regular add in the Morton paper, and have pub-licized special events such as the Agape Concert and Walk for Water extensively via news media, posters, radio, and flyers. RESEARCH NEEDS of our surrounding commu-nity (ies) The Church COUNCIL is committed to implementing this in the Fall of 2016.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CLEAN WATER!

THANK YOU for generously filling your water bottle "piggy banks"! $352 in coins and bills were received via these cute little cash holders to help alleviate our global water crisis. We will be forwarding this to ELCA World Hunger, along with checks written to ELCA World Hunger, and the financial donations received at our fun Walk for Water event on April 17. A total of $1,125 was collected!! When you add the $250 received back in February for our Val-entine's Day card fundraiser for ELCA World Hunger, we're donating a total of $1,375. Praise be to God! With a water well costing $2,500, we're able to provide 1/2 of one. As many as 500 families gain access to clean, safe water with a water well. When a community gains access to clean water, everything changes. Women and children don’t spend hours gathering water. Communities are healthier. People can work, farm and go to school. And together, they build stronger economies and a future filled with hope. Thank you again for answering God's call to love and serve others in need! The gift of clean, safe wa-ter is priceless!

Please remember Advent Lutheran

collects food pantry items for We Care year round!

There's a collection bin in the hallway be-tween the kitchen and Family Life Center. WeCare Food Pantry items needed for May: breakfast cereals Crackers, any type continuation of side dishes:

rice/ noodle/ stuffing mixes, instant mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, Hamburger/ Chicken/ Tuna helper

Thank you for your support!

More GROUPS AND GATHERINGS May

Meetings PRIME TIMERS

Prime Timers will meet at LHV on Tuesday May 3rd

at 12:00 noon for a lunch and short program. Please sign

up on the kiosk. This will be our last get together till September.

Page 9

Church Council Tues, May 24

Fellowship 6:30pm Meeting 7:00pm

Busy Hands Quilt sewing group

May 10 & 24 at 9:00am. Come join

us!

LUNCH BUNCH

11:30am on Wed. May 18th~~

Jack’s Café Rt 9 & 121,

Tremont Please sign up on

the kiosk. This will be Ella’s last Lunch Bunch

with us.

: (

YFM Advisory

Wed, May 11 6:45 pm

Worship Corner

Wow what an April! Hope you all enjoyed the day with “Agape”! Get Ready for May: May 8—Mother’s Day, and Chil-dren’s program May 15—Spring Patriotic Music The summer worship sched-ule will begin Saturday, May 28 at 5 PM and Sunday, May 29 at 9 AM . This schedule continues through La-bor Day weekend Saturday, Sept 3 and Sunday, Sept 4. Farewell to Ella the weekend of May 28/ 29. Remember your sem-inary gift for Ella to be given then. Let’s color the church blue for the next T-Shirt Sunday -May 28/29 weekend. The next Worship Committee meeting is Thursday, May 12th at 10:30 AM.

Peace, Judy Stegmaier

ADULT LEARNING FORUM news

All are invited to join in a time of study, sharing and friendship, MOST SUNDAYS @ 9:30 AM in the library.

Pastor Dennis provides most of the leadership.

Learning Luke: the Apostolic Gospel.

Worship

Thurs, May 12 10:30 am

Endowment Thurs, May 12

6:30 pm

Final Chance The last day to

order t-shirts is MAY 8th.

Hurry now to get yours be-fore the next T-Shirt Weekend on May 28/29.

Please see Sally Ferko or Ruth Rohweder.

Property Tues, May 3

7:00 am

Mission Trip

Thurs, May 19 6:30 pm

Join in the celebration of The Ascension of Our

Lord Cathedral Vespers and

Holy Communion Bishop Rev. S. John Roth,

Preaching Central/Southern Illinois

Synod, ELCA Thursday, May 5 @ 7:00

pm at Zion Evangelical Lutheran

Church 1534 S. Easton Avenue, Peoria (309) 637-9150 www.zionpeoria.org An offering will be re-ceived for the Central/Southern Illinois Synod’s support of its Companion Synods in the Malagasy Lutheran Church.

Youth and Family Ministry With Ella

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Ella’s Contact Infor-mation Email:

[email protected] Cell: (309) 339-5749

Leadership Lab Registrations are available at Ella’s office. Lab is July 25-30 at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Lab is for youth entering high school through adults. If you would like to see why people go to Leadership Lab, check out this video. The early bird deadline is 5/10/16 for $360 and the regular registration deadline is 6/25 for $380. Youth interested in going to Leadership Lab can use their fundraising money to help pay for registration. Scholarships from the church are also available.

High School Graduation Milestone There will be a table in the narthex May 8-22

with gift bags for cards set up for our two grad-

uating high school seniors, Nick Driscoll and

Alexa Nason. On May 22 we will be recogniz-

ing Alexa’s graduation at the 10:30 worship

service.

High School Sunday

School will be meeting

May 8 and 15 at McDon-

alds from 9:30-10:15

am. High School Small

Group will meet one

more time before sum-

mer. Exact date and lo-

cation TBD.

Rotation Sunday School is wrapping up for the school year.

May 1 9:15 am Service Project Seeds of Kindness May 7 9:30am--noon Saturday Musical Rehearsal and Pizza Party, May 8 9:15 am Practice during Sunday School 10:30 am worship - Musical performance May 15

9:15 am End of Year Sunday School Celebration

10:30 am worship - Sunday School volunteer

recognitions and Bible presentations

Members of Advent,

My last Sunday as your Director of Youth and Family Ministry is May

29. I would like to thank every person in the congregation for being a

part of my life the past three years. It has been an amazing experience,

and I have learned so much from my time here. You all have been a

wonderfully supportive and caring congregation to work with. I move to

California in August to start seminary, but my church membership be-

longs at Advent, so you are still going to be a part of my life as I go

through the candidacy process and four years of seminary study! I am

already looking forward to visiting when I come home for school breaks.

Thank you, Ella

The Advent Summer Mis-

sion Trip group is hosting

a

BINGO & Taco

Night Fundraiser

on Friday May 6 from 6-8

pm in the Family Life

Center.

6:30 pm Thurs

May 19

is the next

Mission Trip

group meeting.

Advent Mission Trips

Rock!

April 2016 Offering

4/3/16 $ 7,315 4/10/16 $ 5,880 4/17/16 $ 2,893 4/24/16 $ 2,315

Total $18,403

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE - 2016

Wow, April was an exciting month, wasn't it! I feel very gratified that so many experienced and EN-JOYED David Scherer, AGAPE, and his ministry. I was impressed and inspired by his intentional and per-sonal investment in his desire to spread the love and redemptive power of our God. My hope is that the Holy Spirit will inspire each of us to examine our own commitment to intentional and invested expressions of faith within our church family and in the greater community. Advent has grown so much in your will-ingness to explore different vehicles by which to worship. THANK YOU!

May is busy with the Sunday School Program, iAM, on Sunday, May 8, 10:30 service. It will be a great performance from our small, but mighty group! The HS/Adult choir will present what is becoming an annual salute to those who have served or are cur-rently serving our country in the military on Sunday, May 15, 10:30 service. Please plan on supporting both of these special services. Another music year is drawing to a close, but I'd love to have spe-cial music during the summer. PLEASE contact me if you are interesting in sharing your gifts with your Advent family.

With One Voice, Jolynn Lottman

Page 11

Worship at 10:30 Sunday April 17 with Dave Scherer (AGAPE*) was phenomenal. The only problem was not having enough space between the pews to dance! While it was well worth it to bring AGAPE to Advent, it was also expensive. If you did not get a chance to donate towards the costs to bringing him in and would still like to, there will be an offer-ing basket in the back of the church for the next two Sundays or you could turn in a donation to the office. And be sure to check out the Advent Facebook page for more pictures from the concert and our Walk for Water!

Advent Lutheran Operations Fund

Income and Expenses Summary

2016

Month of March

Actual Budget Difference

Income $ 23,113 $ 21,529 $ 1,584

Expenses $ 21,678 $ 21,454 $ 224

Net $ 1,435 $ 75

2016

March Year to Date

Actual Budget Difference

Income $ 67,115 $ 64,738 $ 2,377

Expenses $ 68,536 $ 66,392 $ 2,144

Net $ (1,421) $ (1,655)

Actual vs. 2015

Benevolence 2016 Y-T-D: $ 9,477 -9.6%

as % of Operating In-come: 14.1%

(goal for year: Benevolence = 15% of Operating income) Support the ministry...

April 17, 2016

Walk for Water

and

AGAPE*

Page 13

MAY 2016 Sunday Worship Assistants

Altar Guild: Mary Bartholomew

Lori Prichard

Happy May Birthday!

May 22 Holy Trinity Sunday Ride for Danny: Hartseil 8 am Nursery: Stacy Seffern 10:30 am Nursery: Jodi Schaefer

May 1 French Toast Fundraiser Ride for Danny: Hanson 8 am Nursery: Terri Hartseil 10:30 am Nursery: Rebecca Hack

May 8 SS Musical during 10:30am Ride for Danny: Parr 8 am Nursery: Melanie Carpenter 10:30 am Nursery: Matt & Becky Taylor

May Baptismal

Birthdays

May 15 Pentecost Sunday Ride for Danny: Carlson 8 am Nursery: Amy Keenan 10:30 am Nursery: Shelley Hovey

Happy May

Anniversary!

Please watch for sign ups and calls or contact Barb Williamson

for Worship helpers for May. Many Helpers are still needed!

Thank you!

May 29 Memorial Day Weekend Ride for Danny: Veskauf 9 am Nursery: Ann Davis

Chuck Dirst 5/1

Dave Gillette 5/1

Becky Gillette 5/1

Chuck Kinney 5/1

Helen Kuntz 5/1

Deb Simmons 5/1

Nick Gurdian 5/1

Norma Probasco 5/4

Paige Sutter 5/4

Mark Brodahl 5/7

Chad Hovey 5/8

Jillian Carpenter 5/8

Judy Stegmaier 5/10

Josh Tuhy 5/10

Matt Hovey 5/11

Kortney Atchley 5/11

Dalton Oakman 5/11

Cheryl Carlson 5/13

Aaron Unsicker 5/15

Nathan Sandoz 5/19

John Ziah 5/22

Barbara Ziah 5/22

Andy Worlow 5/22

Barb Williamson 5/23

Michael Smith 5/25

Melissa Allen 5/25

Douglas Snyder 5/27

Harry Carlson 5/27

Lois Post 5/28

Mike Smith 5/ 3

Linda Sheldon 5/ 4

Leland Post 5/ 5

Alex Bartholomew 5/ 5

Chip Carlson 5/ 8

Mary Mills 5/ 9

Becky Gillette 5/ 10

Gary Sidell 5/ 10

Pat Beyer 5/ 10

Bev Potts 5/ 11

Jim Rohweder 5/ 13

Dave Gillette 5/ 16

Samantha Nason 5/ 16

Spencer Nason 5/ 16

Tracie Williamson 5/ 18

Aimee Hungate 5/ 20

Emily Ellis 5/ 20

Ruth Smith 5/ 24

Glenn Abney 5/ 26

Jennis Egan 5/ 26

Cari Shorter 5/ 28

Eric Prichard 5/ 28

Connor McDonald 5/ 29

Tyler McDonald 5/ 29

Grant Johnson 5/ 31

Ron Ferko 5/ 31

Joyce Gettys 5/ 31

Ann Sandoz 5/ 31

Ken & Dana Bischoff 5/1

Carl & Karen Kaufman 5/2

Tim & Stephanie O'Brien 5/3

Leland & Lois Post 5/7

John & April Wright 5/7

Dave & Mary Mills 5/15

Paul & Rosemary Schwarzentraub 5/16

Alton & Ann Davis 5/17

Larry & Barb Williamson 5/19

Chuck & Carol Pollow 5/27

Matt & Becky Taylor 5/20

Bill & Bev Hungate 5/20

Andy & Cathy Worlow 5/30

13TH ANNUAL PRAY FOR THE CURE, A SPECIAL EVENING DEDICATED TO BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2016 Salem Lutheran Church 1700 W. War Memorial Drive Peoria, IL

Join us for this ecumenical prayer service enhancing the breast cancer survivor’s spir-itual well-being in healing and recovery through special prayers and music/dance by Southside Mission Youth Motion Praise Dance Ministry, One Voice of Grace Apos-tolic Church, and Women of Vision

Prayer service open to all survivors, families, friends, and the general public.

Advent Lutheran Church 1211 S. Main Street P.O. Box 282 Morton, Illinois 61550-2449 309-266-5883 [email protected] www.adventmorton.org

Pastor: Rev. Dennis O’Brien

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

8:00 AM Worship 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Adult Learning Forum 10:30 AM Worship Summer Worship Schedule begins May 28 / 29 Saturday 5:00 PM Sunday 9:00 AM

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