UPCOMING AT ADVENT – ST. NICHOLAS
a newsletter of the
ADVENT – ST. NICHOLAS ENGLISH SPEAKING CONGREGATION
QUITO,  ECUADOR

served by the Lutheran and Episcopal (Anglican) traditions
welcoming an ecumenical community

Isabel La Católica 1431  Tel: 2507-494  Fax: 2507-425  P.O. Box: Casilla 17-07-9688
adviele@uio.satnet.net

www.iglesialuterana.ec

Pastoral Services: Rev. Geoffrey Reeson  Tel: 2446-189 
gmmasn@andeangate.com  and  gasn_bu@yahoo.com

THIS WEEK: 

 - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007

     10:00 AM.       LADIES BIBLE STUDY GROUP                

               The Ladies' Bible Study group (English-speaking) will gather again this Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. (to noon).  We are a group of women who seek to draw closer to God by studying his word. We are using John Stott's study guide on "The Sermon on the Mount". For further details and directions for getting to our gathering venues, please contact Sarah Groman by telephone 2454611 or email sarahgroman57@gmail.com or  Cherith Rydbeck  2464308.

      5:00  PM.       WOMEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDY GROUP  

               The Women’s Evening Bible Study group will meet this Wednesday, October 3 at Sarah Araque’s home at 5 PM. Sarah’s home address is Río  Coca 2326 y Avda. Amazonas.

               We will be studying the first chapter of A Conspiracy of Goodness, Contemporary Images of Christian Mission, by Donald Messer. Everyone is welcome!!

               For more information you may contact Sarah at (H) 2244-935 : 2442-202
saraque@cotopaxi.k12.ec or Sandra at (H) 2521-083  edwards@rdyec.net .

        - SATURDAY,     OCTOBER 6, 2007

          10:00 AM.       WORLD HOSPICE DAY 

Please join us to sing with at least 70 other countries around the world. We will all sing this song:

When my life is finally measured in Months, weeks, days, hours,
I want to live free of pain, Free of indignity, free of loneliness.

Give me your hand,
Give me your understanding,
Give me your love,
Then let me go peacefully
And help my family to understand.  

We will be in Parque Inglés from 10am to 1pm and the finale will be releasing 1000 helium balloons and a prayer.

Nicky (Bailhache)

            3:00 PM.         MAKING OF STRAW CHRISTMAS STAR DECORATIONS
             Last January, it was already clear: Our Christmas tree decorations would not last for another year.

To make new straw star decorations, a group of people from our three congregations are gathering on Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m. in the church patio. The group will be meeting until everybody has the feeling that our tree will be really beautiful. Please, bring scissors and/or sharp cutters and thread and needle, and, if you have, straw. Looking forward to hidden talents …
Dagmar (Schloz)

        - SUNDAY,         OCTOBER 7, 2007
           8:40 AM.         “THE LOFTY VOICES” CHOIR PRACTICE
           9:00 AM.         SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION

                                                  Lutheran With One Voice  

                        NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
                 Suggested Scripture Readings for Personal Preparation:
                 Habakkuk 1: 1 – 6, 12 – 13, 2: 1 – 4; Psalm 37: 3 – 10    
                 2 Timothy 1: 6 – 14; Luke 17: 5 – 10  

                 Flowers:              “By Martha™”

                 Greeter/Usher:     

                 Readers:                Nancy Fullilove, Ruth Johnston, and Antonella Dueñas

                 Music:                    Sarah Araque

                 Minister:                  Rev. Geoffrey Reeson

                 Sermon:                     Rev. Geoffrey Reeson

                 Refreshments:             “By Ruth™”

IN THE MAILBAG …

De: Nan Shorey [mailto:SHOREY_N@lincoln.edu.ar]
Enviado el: Miércoles, 26 de Septiembre de 2007 9:48
Para: adviele@uio.satnet.net
Asunto: greetings

Dearly beloved faith community,

Greetings from Buenos Aires. It's been four full years since I left ASN to come here, and you remain very precious to me. I faithfully read the "Upcoming" every week and today I particularly noticed this weekly petition:

For all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God, that they may find and be found by God.

And I would like to thank you for praying that prayer.....for me. :-) Much good is happening in my life and I am experiencing a deep inner peace and goodness...it feels like a "growth spurt" of faith. Perhaps some day we can gather together and chat about.

All my best,
Nan

PS Although I faithfully read Upcoming every week, I must confess to a memory failure (which of course could not be age-related). What is it that Nancy Fullilove does? AND, I LOVE her name. "full of love". Since I'm a Nan already, I wonder if it would be OK if I borrow it...

Teacher, High School Social Studies
Lincoln School, Buenos Aires, Argentina

TOWARD CELEBRATING 50 YEARS …

      In 2008, “The Advent” Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. With our sister German and Spanish speaking congregations, the English speaking congregation of “Advent – St. Nicholas” forms part of the Advent’s tri-congregation membership.

      In the sermon on Sunday, September 16, Gene (Braun), who is part of the tri-congregation anniversary planning committee, shared with us some initial thinking having to do with the church that we hope for as we look to the future. This newsletter would like to open an avenue for the sharing and articulating of those hopes, along with picking up information on what other anniversary celebrating churches the world over may be doing.

      In this issue we pass on an experience of the Church of South India:

 To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Church of South India has raised the equivalent of US$1 million for social projects, after most of its four million members each contributed at least 10 rupees, or 25 US cents, towards a special jubilee fund.
 
"This jubilee is unique, as the entire church from top to the bottom is involved," the church's general secretary, Pauline Sathiamurthy, told Ecumenical News International.
 
The million-dollar jubilee fund will be used, among other things, to finance endowment scholarships for poor children, especially girls, renovate 60 church orphanages and historic churches, and provide drinking water to 120 villages.

"The jubilee celebration will not end with these projects," Vijay Kumar, the CSI's diaconal ministry director, told ENI. "We will make every effort to  make the church more committed to the service of the poor, and need of the times," he said.

Kumar also explained that the church is to launch a "green program" to increase awareness of conservation, bio-diversity and renewable energy issues, and to promote the church's eco-friendly programs. 

 [The Church of South India brings together Anglican, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. It covers the four southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and also has a diocese in the Jaffna region of Sri Lanka.]

       May we all feel welcome to make use of this space for sharing and articulating our individual and collective hopes as we look to the future.  

IN PRAYER …                

Please let  either Geoff (Reeson 2446-189 : gmmasn@andeangate.com) or Sandra (Edwards  2521-083  :  edwards@rdyec.net)  have the prayer needs that you may like to have included in this community prayer list, as well as any news which will help with updates or advise us to no longer include certain individuals.

Thank You.

 For our Church Family, that God direct and guide us in our service to the English-speaking community of Quito, and the wider Ecuadorian community we are immersed in.

 For our Children’s Sunday School ministries, and all who teach and learn, and grow together in them.

 For our Transition Commission, in it’s discerning of how best to meet the pastoral needs of our changing congregation.

 For the Illinois South Conference of the United Church of Christ, celebrating all that the continuing Ecuador Partnership is. 

 For all who suffer devastation as a result of natural disasters, that God grant them strength, wisdom, and support in their struggles to overcome their situations.

 For Amy and Luca, Matteo and Francesca (Robertson-Renda), that God direct and guide them in their settling in Honduras.

 For Betsy (Phil Groman's sister), as she continues to recover from her hip surgery, that God would uphold her, guide her and protect her in the weeks to come. 

 For Christopher (Groman), in thanks for the powerful work that God is doing in his life, that he continue to experience God's presence and grace, and that he may accept whatever it takes to live a better life. 

 For Denise and John (Nauel – friends of Dot Ensminger), in their ongoing struggle with their health conditions, that God’s uplifting and healing hand be on them.

For Dorothy (Onisko – Michelle Fried’s mother), asking that her leg permit her enough mobility to be able to continue to live at home.

For Fanny (Bautista), in her struggle with ALS, that she be upheld in her changing conditions.

For Jeanee (Panoke – a friend of Dot Ensminger – who with her son visited with Advent – St. Nicholas about a year ago), in her ongoing struggle with cancer, that God’s healing and uplifting hand continue to be on her.

For Michael and Yhome (Heneise – Neisazonuo), that God direct and guide them as they relocate in the US.

For Michael (Larsen, Sarah Araque’s nephew), on military tour in Iraq, that God’s care be over him and his wife and small children.

For Nancy’s (Fullilove) Dad, as he faces his changing conditions in his retirement home.

For Paula (Heinz – Amy Robertson’s aunt), who has an advanced brain tumor. 

For Todd (Clarke, Sarah Araque’s nephew), that God’s healing hand be on him as he undergoes treatment for the dissolving of blood clots.

For those of our church family who are working through trying personal and family situations, that they may know that peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

For all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God, that they may find and be found by God.

For all inmates who are working through the uncertainties of their imprisonment.

For the ministry of the Alcoholics Anonymous group that meets in this church.

For the ministry of the “Grupo APASHA” (HIV+ affected persons support group).

For the Tri-Congregation Church Council (Consejo Directivo) of “The Advent” Evangelical Lutheran Church, that God direct and guide it in its leadership ministry and in its preparations for the celebrating of the 50th anniversary of the church in 2008.  

For the Central Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Ecuador, as it discerns God’s purposes and seeks God’s direction for it.

For Bishop Wilfrido Ramos and his ministry as Diocesan Bishop of the Central Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Ecuador.

For the Venezuelan Anglican Episcopal Church and its Bishop, the Right Reverend Orlando J. Guerrero, in its ministries to the Venezuelan people. 

For all small church congregations throughout the world, in their efforts to satisfactorily provide for their pastoral needs.

IN CLOSING …

Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for the LORD …
Psalm 37:7a (NRSV adapted)

DO HAVE A BLESSED REST OF THE WEEK!