(Submission Deadline: Noon Wednesdays to Pam at Officeadm@adventlu.org) 

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Service will also be livestreamed at Adventlu.org

To access the online worship service:  

 Go to adventlu.org and then click on the link for the worship service on the home page

Altar Guild - Lisa Droste

Counters: Marc Jensen & Don Veit (8/29)

Teachers/school counselors/students we would like to cover you with a sending as we start another academic school year which is full of challenges. Bring your backpack or school technology for a blessing during the worship service this Sunday, August 22nd.  We are looking forward to celebrating this important milestone with you and the Advent Family. 

Each year Advent participates in God's Work, Our Hands, an ELCA service-focused event held in the fall. This year our service will primarily be held the weekend of September 10-12 and will focus on the needs near and around Advent in University City. 

All of the Advent service opportunities were planned to include as many congregational members as possible. There are outdoors opportunities and ones you can do on your own with your own family. (All COVID-sensitive!) There are activities that are especially appropriate for children, senior adults, and everyone in between! It is our goal that every single member of our community find some way to plug into the God's Work, Our Hands service event. 

For more info or to suggest an additional service opportunity, please contact Toni Hagerman (hagermanic@gmail.com). 

Here is the link to use to sign up.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4DAAAD23A6F94-gods

On Sunday, September 12^th, after the morning service, we will have a picnic style potluck to celebrate the work completed by our members over the God’s Work, Our Hands weekend. We are looking for families or individuals who can help with sides. 

Please email Amy Anzia-Dodson at anziadodson@gmail.com if you can bring one of the following (again to feed 8-10 people )

The Advent congregation is invited to join Emmaus Charlotte for their weekly worship services beginning on Sunday, August 29, at 5pm to be held at Our Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, 8200 McClure Circle, Charlotte 28216. Services will continue each Sunday at that time. Emmaus is a recent start-up congregation of the North Carolina Synod and has been established to contribute to the spiritual, social, and educational empowerment of the West Charlotte Community. Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson is Pastor.

A devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Haiti on Saturday morning. Over 1,400 people were killed, and that number is expected to increase as search-and-rescue efforts continue. Blocked roads are delaying the delivery of vital supplies to hospitals, which are overwhelmed with more than 6,900 injured people. At least 26,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, but the full extent of damage is still unknown. Haiti is also suffering through a political crisis and was hit by Tropical Storm Grace on Monday night, which caused severe flooding in communities already damaged by the earthquake.

For over two decades, the ELCA has maintained a presence in southern Haiti through support for agricultural and sustainable development work. To continue our engagement with those communities, Lutheran Disaster Response is collaborating with partner organizations in the communities to meet relief needs, including food, water, medical supplies and temporary shelter. In the future, other areas of support will include psychosocial care, water and sanitation, and creating sustainable livelihoods through agriculture and livestock. We also stand with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Haiti as it assesses damage and impacts on churches and church life.

Together, as church, we can be there for our neighbors in Haiti.

Click here to give directly to the ELCA or you may give to Advent through OLG-click here (put 'Haiti Crisis' in the field for 'other') or via check and add 'Haiti crisis' in the memo line. All donations that come in through Advent, will be requested to be matched through the Wubben Endowment.

Attempts to scam us persist... even within the church!! Please be aware that if you receive a suspicious email from Pastor Ward (or anyone, for that matter), do not respond to the email or click on any links. For a couple of years now there are ongoing emails that are sent supposedly from Pastor Ward asking for help for a project or purpose or that include a link saying it's something you might be interested in. You should never respond to such emails nor should you ever click on a link in an email that you are unsure of its validity. When in doubt, check with the sender first.

As Pastor Ward has stated in the past, he will reach out by phone or text if he truly needs help from anyone. If you receive such an email, call or text him or another staff member before you respond or click on any links.

THE COVID DELTA VARIANT  

Unvaccinated people are at risk:  8 times more likely to get sick and 25 times more likely to go to the hospital or die from COVID than those who are vaccinated. 

Vaccinated people who get the COVID Delta variant can spread it to others. This is different from earlier variants. This is why you should follow the CDCs 3Ws when outside of your home: 

Vaccination is the best way to protect our friends, family, and ourselves. The longer it takes to get more people vaccinated, the more likely we will see more variants. This will also cause more people to get sick and die.  

Keeping our family and friends healthy is a Team Sport:  it takes all of us.  

** covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/vaccinations 

                              “Live Abundantly” Advent Health Ministry Team 

CALLING FOR CARD MINISTERS 

Card Ministers are asked to serve in 2-week stints, during which time they are typically assigned from 8-15 people to be the recipients of their cards, depending on current needs.  No, you do not send a card to everyone on Advent’s Prayer List during your time period! There is a system in place for immediate issues as well as long-term concerns, and names of recipients are monitored by the Card Ministry Coordinator.  You will be expected to purchase your own cards (dollar store!) and postage, but these can be reported as “Gift by Receipt” if you so choose. 

Is your interest piqued?  Please contact Debra Efird at debra_efird@yahoo.com or 980-621-1283.    

RACIAL EQUALITY ACTION PARTNERS MEETING

The Advent Family is invited to join REAP (Racial Equality Action Partners on the 2nd Sunday of each month (unless announced otherwise) at 4:30 via Zoom . Upcoming meeting dates are September 12, October 10. Click this zoom link to join:

Little Free Pantry:   Add non-perishable food inside the Little Free Pantry in the side yard of the Wubben-Smith House or bring to church and place inside red doors. Food supplies can also be ordered from Amazon wish list https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MNHZQ6F3AYHH?ref_=wl_share. Select Sharon Thrower Registry address.  Contact is Sharon Thrower preschooldirector@adventlu.org.

Volunteers needed to drive bags to Roof Above every other week. Contact Debra Efird at debra_efird@yahoo.com.

Have viennas and bottled water picked up at your home – contact Abby Bostian (abostian@carolina.rr.com).

Our Neighbors’ Plate:  Needs volunteers on Wednesday/Thursdays or to provide desserts. Use Sign-Up Genius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b45acac2ea7f49-ourneighbors) to volunteer.  Also needs financial support for supplies. Add “Our Neighbors’ Plate” on memo line of checks or add as fund in Online Giving.

(Remember to give to sandwiches and World Hunger -- Just add to your regular offering and mark appropriately on the memo line.)      

Making plans for an event at Advent, are you the leader of a small group or ministry leader with monthly meetings? Whatever the event or gathering (even zoom meetings) be sure to let the church office know the date, time, and room or space. Doing so is a big help in keeping the church online calendar current while communicating Advent activities and avoiding the possible mishap of overbooking a particular area.  Call us at 704-549-1555 or email Harriett (churchadministrator@adventlu.org) or Pam (officeadmin@adventlu.org).  Thanks, we appreciate your help.

Come and join the Advent Book Club.  WE WILL BE ZOOMING AS LONG AS NECESSARY.  See connection info below. All are welcome. Contact Jennie Henderson (jhendersonfit@gmail.com).  Group will be meeting twice a month on Fridays, 6pm, per the schedule below.

Connection info:  Click here for zoom link to book club meeting!    

If you are interested in receiving short daily prayer and devotions, please email spiritualdev@adventlu.org with the name, cell phone# and email or you may sign up online at www.adventlu.org under the Prayer of the Day tab.

NOTE:  Small groups continue to meet using the church subscriptions to Zoom. Contact officeadm@adventlu.org or churchadministrator@adventlu.org to make your request and schedule the day/time on the church calendar.

For anyone: "Exiles" small group that reads and discusses books or videos. Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Contact Pastor Ward or Carolyn Osborne.

For anyone: Faith on Tap: Meets 4th Thursday night of the month at Armoured Cow at 7:30pm. This is a joint group of Newell Presbyterian and Advent. Anyone is welcome! Just show up!

Regular stretching releases stress and tension in our body. Jennie Henderson, an ACE CertifiedPersonal Trainer, is leading some stretching sessions for the Advent Family through Zoom. All skill levels are welcome. Modifications are offered. All you need is a water bottle, a chair, a space to lay down, and a resistance band/long towel. Any questions can be directed to jhendersonfit@gmail.com.

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/169250383088993/

Don't forget - when shopping on Amazon, access the site through http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-1182420 and simply do all of your Amazon on-line ordering through Amazon Smile.  Amazon will donate 0.5% of what you buy to Advent - not much, but if you're shopping anyway with Amazon, why not use Smile. Every penny will be used in service to God and His people.

Youth at Advent    

Colorful worship will begin a new series in the early fall. Meanwhile, you may enjoy previous videos of Godly Play in several ways: 1) From the home screen of the Adventlu.org website in the lower left side; 2) from the Advent Lutheran Church Charlotte ELCA YouTube channel; 3) or by clicking directly on this link:    https://youtu.be/XLJmLWy1t98

Before adding someone to our prayers, please be sure you have the person's permission. Please let us know when prayers may no longer be needed.  Names will be removed from the list after two months unless updates are received. An asterisk (*) after a name means an update is needed.   Please contact officeadm@adventlu.org or churchadministrator@adventlu.org) to provide updates.

Ashton Family, daughter and grandchildren of Esther Abdel-Hameed

Amanda Bainbridge, sister-in-law of Deloris Bainbridge

Dwight Hartsell, member

Colette Hishon, member

Doug Hodge, friend of Gary Moe

Kassidy Sechler, young Rowan County teenager who collapsed during ball game on July 17

Deaths - We remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died, especially..

Judy Gould, friend of Russ & Lynn McKittrick and wife of NC LMM Treasurer - on July 31

Eileen Folkerth, mother of Susan Goerke - on August 7

Deborah Miller, mother of Esther Abdel-Hameed's son's fiancee - on August 8

Derek Poole, friend of Kera Hebert - on August 9

Bill Horne, Vice President of the ELCA - on August 14

Brew Benge, friend of Mona Ingolia - on August 13

Please contact Pastor Ward at ThePastor@adventlu.org, or 704-549-1555 ext. 102

or Pam Rhynes at Officeadm@adventlu.org or 704-549-1555 ext 105