Call Committee: The call committee met on Tuesday, May 2 to discuss the pastor visits, review your survey responses, and determine a recommendation for next steps. John Stow will give an update to the congregation on Sunday. As always, your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Parking Lot: The parking lot is being paved next week, May 8 through 12. During that time, we will not be able to use the parking lot and no activities are planned at Advent for the week.

Tending the Flame: Did you know our District has a conference each summer that includes speakers and workshops on topics such as Faith Sharing, Connecting with Millennials, Small Groups, Confirmation-visual approach, House Church Experience, Organic Evangelism, and many more? Registration is now open for “In Real Life,” the 2017 Tending the Flame conference. That’s right, don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, grow, and discover the way God is calling you to serve him. Partnering with Lutheran Hour Ministries, this conference is workshop-rich, worship-filled, and wonderfully refreshing. We even have programs for children and teens – it’s for the whole family. Register now for “In Real Life” on August 4-5 in Richmond. Don’t miss out on the early registration rate – http://www.se.lcms.org/ttf2017.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels on May 7, May 14, June 11, and June 18; Pastor Greg Williamson on May 21 and June 25; Pastor Larry Lineberger on May 28 and June 4.

Call Committee: Thank you to everyone who helped with and attended the pastor visits this week. If you haven’t already, please take some time to complete the post-visit surveys. If at all possible, please complete the surveys online (the links have been emailed.) If you can’t complete them online, printed copies are available in the narthex. All surveys should be completed/turned in no later than Sunday morning, April 30.As always, your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Parking Lot: Due to weather, the parking lot paving will now be May 8 through 12. During that time, we will not be able to use the parking lot. Schedule changes (all at 7:00 p.m.):

• Call committee meeting will be at church on 5/2
• Choir will rehearse on 5/3 but not on 5/10
• The next Men’s Bible Study will be on 5/16
• The next Women’s Evening Bible Study will be on 5/17
• Council meeting will be on 5/18

Tending the Flame: Registration is open for the 2017 summer outreach conference Tending the Flame. This year’s theme is “In Real Life” with Lutheran Hour Ministries Tony Cook as the main speaker. This conference will offer wonderful speakers and workshop sessions, a program for children and teen, and a Visual Faith room. The conference begins Friday August 4 and will end Saturday evening, August 5. Don’t miss out on the early registration rate available through June 1 – http://www.se.lcms.org/ttf2017 and on our conference app: http://my.yapp.us/TTF2017

Worship Leaders: Pastor Larry Lineberger on April 30 and May 28; Pastor James McDaniels on May 7, and May 14; Pastor Greg Williamson on May 21.

Call Committee: Two pastor visits have been arranged, one on April 25 and one on April 27. We are in need of a few people to help with the visits and opportunities are available to meet with the pastors outside of the main congregation meeting. The schedules for both days are available on the table in the narthex – please take a look and sign up or let someone on the call committee know if you can help.

The main Congregation Meeting will be at 7:30pm on both evenings. The meetings will follow an interview format lead by John Stow and will last no longer than an hour. There will be dessert and time for socializing after the meeting.

As always, your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Worship Leaders: Pastor Greg Williamson on April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on April 30; Pastor James McDaniels on May 7, and May 14.

April 14, Good Friday, 7:00pm– Standing in Forgiveness: As we near the end of this Holy Week, we gather to remember our Savior’s suffering and death. In obedience to his Father’s will and out of his love for us, Jesus took his final steps to the cross. He died to save his enemies, and he died to save us. He suffered and died for the sins of the world. This sad day is a day that is for us very good.

April 16, Easter Sunday– Standing in Victory: All through Lent and into Holy Week, we followed Jesus on his path to the cross. On Good Friday we stand at the foot of that cross to see before us the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. On Easter morning we celebrate a victory! Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God slain for our sins, has risen from the dead. Because he has risen, we too will rise. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Call Committee: Two pastor visits have been arranged, one on April 25 and one on April 27. We are in need of a few people to help with the visits and opportunities are available to meet with the pastors outside of the main congregation meeting. The schedules for both days are available on the table in the narthex – please take a look and sign up or let someone on the call committee know if you can help.

The main Congregation Meeting will be at 7:30pm on both evenings. The meetings will follow an interview format lead by John Stow and will last no longer than an hour. There will be dessert and time for socializing after the meeting.

Do you have questions you would like asked? Please submit them ahead of time by email to Karla (kmkbyrnes@gmail.com) or write them down and hand to any member of the call committee. Questions must be received no later than Saturday, April 22.

As always, your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Easter Potluck Brunch: Sunday morning, 9:15am. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome!

Easter Egg Hunt: As in past years, we will have an Easter Egg Hunt after service on Sunday. If you are able to bring a dozen filled plastic eggs per child in your family, that would be helpful. If you are not bringing children, but would like to bring eggs, that would also be helpful. We usually have visitors with children on Easter.

Reformation Relevance ‘Merely a sleep’: Check out this article about Martin Luther’s “Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15” – https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/merely-a-sleep.

Parking Lot Paving: Thanks to a very generous donor who is providing funds, we will be having our parking lot paved!! It is currently scheduled for May 1 through 5. During that time, we will (obviously) not be able to use the parking lot. Mid-week Bible studies and choir should plan accordingly.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels on Good Friday, Easter, May 7, and May 14; Pastor Greg Williamson on April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on April 30.

April 9, Palm Sunday – Standing in Humility: The crowds on Palm Sunday welcomed Jesus, waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” That word means “Save us now!” and soon Jesus would do just that. We welcome our Savior and celebrate the salvation he won for us through his death and resurrection. From our humble King we learn to live in humility towards one another.

April 13, Maundy Thursday– Standing in Faith: On the night he was betrayed, Jesus gave to his disciples and to us the holy meal that is his body and blood. As we receive this gift we stand together in faith, trusting in the words of our Lord. Through his holy Supper our Savior nourishes our faith and strengthens our fellowship. We are one body in Christ, and as we partake of his holy meal we remember and proclaim his redeeming death until he comes again. Come, Lord Jesus!

Call Committee: The call committee interviewed two pastors last week and have invited both to visit. Mark the dates to meet them – April 25 and  April 27. Their profiles, interview questions, and notes of their responses are in the green binder in the narthex. Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

The call committee will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11 at church and on Tuesday, May 2, location tbd.

Parking Lot Paving: Thanks to a very generous donor who is providing funds, we will be having our parking lot paved!! It is currently scheduled for May 1 through 5. During that time, we will (obviously) not be able to use the parking lot. Mid-week Bible studies and choir should plan accordingly.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels on April 9, April 16, May 7, May 14, and Holy Week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on April 30.

April 5, Mid-week 5 – Standing in Truth: In our world we are surrounded by many philosophies and religions, all claiming to have   the truth. The Roman governor Pilate questioned Jesus about his kingdom. Jesus answered that his kingdom is not of this world and that he came to bear witness to the truth. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” He did not know that the Truth stood before him in the flesh. We gather to worship Jesus our Savior, whose kingdom is a kingdom of truth and who is himself the Way and the Truth and Life.

Call Committee: The call committee interviewed two pastors this week. Their profiles, interview questions, and notes of their responses are in the green binder in the narthex. Pastor Lineberger is following up with a few additional questions. An update and call committee recommendations will be coming soon. Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels on April 9, April 16, and Lent Mid-week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on April 2 and April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on April 30.

March 29, Mid-Week 4 – Standing Through Persecution: Jesus was rejected, betrayed, deserted by his friends and arrested. He was unjustly tried and condemned to death, yet he willingly endured it all to save us. We have the freedom during this Lenten season and always to gather for worship. Many of our brothers and sisters around the world do not enjoy such freedom. We remember the suffering of the saints who endure persecution for the sake of the Savior who suffered for them, and for us.

Missionary Visit: We were honored to have Pastor Shauen Trump with us last Saturday. Shauen is the LCMS Area Director of Eastern and Southern Africa Missions and lives with his wife Krista and their three boys in Nairobi, Kenya. He gave a fascinating presentation about what God is doing in Africa. One of the most important ways we can help is by praying. Check out their website to find out more.

Call Committee: The call committee will be interviewing two pastors next week. Their profiles are in the green binder in the narthex; please look at them when you have a chance. Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Change the World: One Life at a Time – 500th Reformation Anniversary Celebration: Information about service times, music, and the health fair will be coming soon. For details about the event contact John Cangelosi, Dave or Judy Neely, Lois Durr, or Lorraine Bleeke.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels on April 9, April 16, and Lent Mid-week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on April 2 and April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on Mar. 26 and April 30.

Missionary Visit: Pastor Shauen Trump, the missionary in Kenya that we supported with 2016 mission funds, will be coming to Advent tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. He will give a short presentation on what God is doing in Africa and there will be time for questions and visiting. Our fellowship committee will be providing donuts, bagels, and coffee. Please join us.

Call Committee: Of the two pastors we interviewed, one is expecting a call to another congregation and the other has asked to be removed from the list. The call committee has contacted two other pastors and requested an interview. Their profiles are in the green binder in the narthex; please look at them when you have a chance. Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

March 22, Mid-week 3: Standing in Suffering: Jesus suffered the penalty that we deserved for our sins. The Lamb of God suffered the penalty of death for us so that through faith in his name we have the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus paid the price of our salvation and by his wounds we are healed.

The LWML Carolinas District Joy Event will be held on March 25, 2017, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norlina, NC. Registration is 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. The cost is $20 which includes lunch. The theme will be the Reformation. Rev. Mike Merker from Jordan Lutheran Church in Apex will be the Bible study leader. Please let Lois Durr know if you plan to attend.

Men’s and Women’s Weekday Bible Studies are in recess until after Easter.

Council Meeting: Thursday, March 23, 7:00 p.m.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels April 9 and 16, and Lent Mid-week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on Mar. 19, April 2, and April 23; Pastor Larry Lineberger on Mar. 26 and April 30.

Reminder: Daylight Savings time starts March 12, 2017. Turn clocks ahead one hour when going to bed on Saturday, March 11.

Missionary Visit: Pastor Shauen Trump, the missionary in Kenya that we supported with 2016 mission funds, will be coming to Advent on Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. He will give a short presentation on what God is doing in Africa and there will be time for questions and visiting. Our fellowship committee will be providing donuts, bagels, and coffee. Please join us.

Call Committee: John Stow has been in contact with both pastors we interviewed and will provide an update soon. Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged! Check our website or for other information.

March 15, Mid-week 2– Standing Unafraid: We fear many things, and we often fear death. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, faced death and through his death and resurrection defeated it for us. In him we can face both life and death unafraid. Join us for a light supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels March 12, April 9, and Lent Mid-week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on Mar. 19 and April 2, Pastor Larry Lineberger on Mar. 26.

Missionary Visit: Pastor Shauen Trump, the missionary in Kenya that we supported with 2016 mission funds, will be coming to Advent on Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. He will give a short presentation on what God is doing in Africa and there will be time for questions and visiting. Our fellowship committee will be providing donuts, bagels, and coffee. Please join us.

Call Committee: John Stow has been in contact with both pastors we interviewed and will provide an update at the beginning of the service on Sunday Your questions, feedback, suggestions, and especially your prayers are welcome and encouraged!

March 8, Lenten Mid-week Service: Standing in Prayer: When a Canaanite woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus did not immediately do so. But hidden beneath his “No” was the Savior’s “Yes,” and the woman’s daughter was healed. Jesus Christ is the “Yes!” to all the promises of God. When the time came for him to go to the cross, out of obedience to the Father and for the sake of our salvation, Jesus answered, “Yes!” Join us for a light supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m.

Liturgy during Worship: Starting this Sunday, March 5, we will be following a different order of service at least through Easter. We will be using Divine Service Setting One, which begins on page 151 in our hymnals. Pastor McDaniels and possibly our other guest pastors will be chanting parts of the service. Many of you are familiar with this setting, but because it will be Lent, a few of the responses aren’t used for much of the year. Please be patient as we learn this new setting together. Constructive feedback is always welcome.

Worship Leaders: Pastor James McDaniels Mar. 5, 12, and Lent Mid-week services; Pastor Greg Williamson on Mar. 19, Pastor Larry Lineberger on Mar. 26.