Abiding Love Videos

Pastor Brad Highum!

2011-12-14T09:51:00.001-08:00

Howdy y'all- I sat down and chatted for a few minutes with Abiding Love's new associate pastor, Brad Highum. He's a very affable man whose energy and enthusiasm really shine through, even on camera! Our new associate pastor spends a few minutes discussing Abiding Love's welcoming community, his sartorial selection as a metaphor for his personality, guitar pickin' and Don Ho's "Little Bubbles." Even in just a few minutes of conversation it becomes very apparent that Pastor Brad is a terrific addition to the Abiding Love family.

VBS 2011

2011-08-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Yet another successful joint venture at Abiding Love. Directed by Melissa Ortiz, featuring Bethany Sump as the Song Leader who got us going to start each day and helped bring it to a close, Tom Hokanson leading the band of merry musicians and with the dedication of a multitude of fabulous volunteers, the Abiding Love VBS experience is the best around. Enjoy the three minute video below capturing some of the highlights. Thank you Ashley D for taking the photos!

Vacation Bible School 2011 Trailer

2011-07-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Symbols of the Church: Prayers, Exchange of Peace and Communion

2011-06-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our last installment of Symbols of our Church.
If you missed the previous episodes, then go to our video blog home page:
http://abidinglovevideos.blogspot.com/

Today's episodes are on Prayer, Exchange of Peace and Communion. Hope y'all have enjoyed these videos!

Prayer:

Exchange of Peace:

Communion:

Symbols of the Church: The Pulpit, Altar and Baptismal Font

2011-06-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

I hope that you enjoyed our first installment. If you missed it, copy and paste this into your browser:
http://abidinglovevideos.blogspot.com/2011/06/symbols-of-church-candles-trinitarian.html

Our next two segments are on the pulpit, altar and baptismal font.

Pulpit

Altar and Baptismal Font

Symbols of the Church: Candles & Trinitarian Blessing

2011-06-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, a video was interspersed throughout the late service, detailing some of the symbols of our church. This video was well-received by most accounts, so we will present to you the opportunity to watch it again, or for the first time, whichever the case may be. It has been divvied up into easily managed sections and will be dispersed over the next week or two. A couple of young ladies at our church put in a lot of hours to narrate, act, film, video and edit this program- they hope that you will learn a few things, so, enjoy!

Today's segments- Candles and Trinitarian Blessing (girls presented this one especially well, I thought)

Please note that each one is its own video below:

Candles:

Trinitarian Blessing:

Macey and Maria present...

2011-06-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Boy, have we got a treat for you. A couple of young ladies of our congregation have spent hours working on...well, just watch the following 17 seconds of video to find out. Hope to see you Sunday!

An Amazing Worship Experience

2011-05-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's going to be AWEsome. Join us this summer for some fantastic worship services. A mixture of traditional, contemporary and, most definitely, unique experiences await you beginning June 5th!

Help!!!

2011-05-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Pastoral Call Committee wants your help! Pressure is on. The previous Call Committee hit a Grand Slam with Pastor Lynnae and the current Call Committee wants to avoid striking out. Watch the message below and please feel free to communicate with any of the committee members: Jan Haas, Emma Albin, Nader Ayoub, Jill Feary, Trey Huddleston, Bill Nicholson, Kyle Olson, Pastor Lynnae and Bob Thonhoff. Or, you can send an email to the committee: AbidingLoveCall@gmail.com

Garage Sale 2011 !!!

2011-02-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

Wow- How many years running has this Garage Sale been a part of the fabric of Abiding Love?!?! I know that, as soon as last year's sale was completed, our family began setting aside items for this upcoming event (we even have a designated "Abiding Love Garage Sale" area) and I'm certain that many of you do the same! It is, quite simply, an Abiding Love tradition! There are a number of ways to help: donating items for the sale itself, sorting and pricing, providing comestibles for the volunteers on Thursday and Friday, aiding on the day of the sale, etc.

Sign-up Sheets for food or working are on the table in the church narthex.
How can you help? Clean out those closets and garages. Bring those items to the church on Thursday, March 3 after 1:30 pm or on Friday, March 4 between 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. If you have items that will need to be picked up, call Annette
Smith at 280-4533 or 751-6429. Volunteers needed to help price and set up the
garage sale and work at the sale on Thursday, March 3, 1:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Friday- 8:00am - 9:00pm, Saturday- 7:00 am until closing.

EARLY GARAGE SALE SHOPPING FOR MEMBERS on Friday, March 4th, from 6pm - 8pm

Ashley Dellagiacoma- Youth and Education Minister

2010-12-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

I finally had a chance to sit down with Ashley, our new Youth and Education Minister and chat. She's a delightfully engaging young lady who is bringing her own brand of uniqueness and enthusiasm to our church! Take five minutes to find out a bit about Ashley in this interview!

Advent Happenings at Abiding Love

2010-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well, the Season of Advent is certainly upon us and there are many wonderful activities going on in celebration at Abiding Love. Who better than Pastor Lynnae to keep us up to date! But better watch soon! The contents of this video will expire on Sunday! Hope you can make one (or all!) of these terrific expressions of Abiding Love's vibrant spirit!

Stories to Tell and Gifts to Share...Karen Gonzalez

2010-09-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

As the people of God, we have stories to tell about what God has done for us and about the difference that God’s grace has made in our lives. Sometimes we are less aware of these stories until they are coaxed out of us—but they are there, part of whom we are.

The Stewardship Ministry Team's focus on the stories to tell and gifts that our congregation has to share continues in an interview with Karen Gonzalez. Karen shares insight from her involvement with Abiding Love's Children's Center. Indeed, part of her story reveals how she was called to this profession.

Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share...Jorge Cox

2010-09-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

As the people of God, we have stories to tell about what God has done for us and about the difference that God’s grace has made in our lives. Sometimes we are less aware of these stories until they are coaxed out of us—but they are there, part of whom we are.

The Stewardship Ministry Team's focus on the stories to tell and gifts that our congregation has to share continues with an interview with Jorge Cox. Jorge shares insight from his involvement with Interfaith Hospitality, but truly he shares nuggets of wisdom from which we may all benefit.

Abiding Love Youth Retreat in Colorado

2010-09-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Led by their fearless, gung-ho, hotel-loving-but-nonetheless-roughing-it adult leaders: Callie & Jared Clarkson and Angela Renfro, a gaggle of Senior High youth went on an experience that can only be summed up as extraordinary. As I watched the video that Jared compiled and edited (terrific job, by the way- loved your music selections, J!), I found pangs of longing creeping in- wishing that I had been a part of this amazing experience! I hope that you will take some time to witness their experience.

Instead of the full 17 minute video, it is broken into 5 parts. If you are only able to watch a single segment, then may I act as your video sommelier and suggest that you read the short summaries and select accordingly?

1) Sunday-Monday: Travel, arrival and set-up. Some beautiful scenery shots. Emma A shares her thoughts. (3 min 06 sec)

2) Tuesday: Visit to a B-17 Crash Site Memorial. Kelsey H reflects on the strengthened friendships (3:26)

3) Wednesday: Quest for Emmaline Lake. Josh E reflects on the trip's impact on his faith. Emmaline is found! (3:48)

4) Thursday: Hike to Stormy Peak. My favorite segment. Breathtaking vistas. A serenade to Pastor Lynnae. Insight from Audrey H, Justin J and Sara P. How Great Thou Art, indeed! (3:26)

5) Back to Civilization- Adios. The hike back down the mountain. Cooling one's heels in a mountain stream. Activities at the main camp. Ella V and Sarah C share their reflections on God's impact and influence. (4:16)

What an amazing adventure.

Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share...Mike Frisch

2010-09-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

“We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard!” – Acts 4:20

As the people of God, we have stories to tell about what God has done for us and about the difference that God’s grace has made in our lives. Sometimes we are less aware of these stories until they are coaxed out of us—but they are there, part of whom we are.

That’s not all. Whether we know it or not, we also have stories to tell about what God has done through us—stories about how God has used us to make a difference in the lives of others. Getting to know those stories makes us even more aware of God’s grace.

God has given us so much—and the gifts of God are for sharing.

Mike Frisch has much to share about his involvement with One House at a Time...

Your Stewardship Ministry Team – Reggie Kikta, Joel Lehman, Kyle Olson, Greta Rymal, Denise Alaimo, Jeri Lyn Sump

Rally Day 2010

2010-09-15T06:49:00.001-07:00

Rallying Around the Lord! What a fantastic kick off to the new school year. A joyous and celebratory atmosphere surrounded Abiding Love this past Sunday as the annual Rally Day activities sparked everyone's interest. The new Sunday School curriculum, "Godly Play", seemed to get off to an excellent beginning. Its hands-on, exploration-based, child-centric activities has already begun engaging the minds of Abiding Love's young 'uns! A tasty luncheon and fun activities followed- See the action here!

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae- September 9

2010-09-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation is over. School is back in session. Rally Day approaches. Pastor Lynnae is now our senior pastor. She is short one gall bladder. "Jump in" and catch up with the goings on in Three Points with Pastor Lynnae!

Baobab Blast- part 3

2010-07-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, the trilogy ends here. If you weren't able to be a part of Baobab Blast, then I hope that you were at least able to live vicariously through the videos! Special thanks to Elizabeth Taylor for taking many of the photos (the ones that turned out really well? those were hers) featured in our videos. A great big pat on the back to Cindy Atwell who organized this year's Baobab Blast. I think she said it best, however, when she told me that all of the volunteers seemed to be in exactly the spot that best suited their talents. She felt so confident in everyone's abilities that she could macro-manage (real word?) rather than micromanage.

Some insight into how well we at Abiding Love run our VBS? My daughter brought along a friend who had already been at one VBS the week before AND was attending another VBS during the daytime the same week as our own Baobab Blast. So- needless to say- she's become something of an expert in these matters! She declared that this was her very favorite- two years in a row!!!

Anyhow- kudos to another fantastic Vacation Bible School! Enjoy the final installment of Baobab Blast 2010!

Baobab Blast Part 2

2010-06-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a great time we're having and what an overwhelming response to our first day of Baobab Blast! Judging by the number of times Day 1 has been viewed, it has become one of the most popular videos we've had on the videoblog! So, by (presumed) popular demand, I give you more: Baobab Blast!!!

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae

2010-06-24T05:33:00.001-07:00

Mission work is an important part of every church. Reaching out to spread The Word and helping others is important to our own wellness, not just that of others. Pastor Lynnae reflects on its importance within the Abiding Love community as well her favorite mission work.

Baobab Blast! VBS 2010

2010-06-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Baobab Tree. This massive tree, found primarily in Africa and Madagascar, is an apropos symbol for Vacation Bible School in Abiding Love's 30th year. It is a thick, durable and long-lived tree. It stores life giving water in its trunk to nourish during difficult times. For those who are resourceful, virtually every part of it is useful: its leaves can be eaten or made into soup, its fruit is reputedly richer in vitamin C than oranges, its pulp mixed into porridges, the seeds often utilized as a soup thickener. On occasion, its huge trunk is even hollowed out and utilized for shelter!

Just as this fabled tree is sustains and nourishes, so to do our outreach and education programs. The most popular of which (or at least, so it seems to me) is Vacation Bible School. Come and join us if you will- take a peek at what is happening at "Baobab Blast"

Chili Cook Off 2010

2010-05-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

A great time was had at the 2010 version of Abiding Love's Chili Cook Off. Although the attendance was down, the spirits were not and a festive atmosphere ruled the evening! Thanks to the Sr High youth for organizing the event and a special appreciation goes to Jared Clarkson for dropping some tunes as our DJ. We also appreciate our judges, Heath Haddock, Joel Lehman, and Pastor Lynnae, for their difficult deliberations determining the 2010 Chili Champion!

Pastor Fetter- The Interview- Final Chapter

2010-05-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on family, his legacy and -the goatee???

Forty years of serving God. Serving his community. Serving us. Thank you, Pastor Fetter. You'll always be a "Fisher of Men", but I'm glad that you'll now have the opportunity to be a "Fisher of Trout and Bass." You've earned it. You have been a moral beacon and a role model for so many, for so long. You are loved.

Pastor Fetter- The Interview- Part 2

2010-04-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

In Part 2 of the interview, Pastor Fetter reflects upon his evolution as a church leader, from his role as Pastor/Secretary/Fireman (yes,firefighter) at his first church to his role in opening a mission church and the leap of faith that was required. And what sort of advice would he give to the 1970 version of David Fetter?

Painted Churches Trip 2010

2010-04-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

Videos at the end of the synopsis. The first video is primarily of the churches themselves. The second video focuses on the fun and fellowship. Enjoy!

Synopsis by videographer, Kim Thonhoff:

Dolly made arrangements for the bus and coordinated the basic tour- She also coordinated the lunch stop and the Shiner Brewery. Pastor Lynnae was the tour guide and had researched all the churches, brewery, etc. and shared the information about each stop before leaving the bus. Dolly and Lynnae presented with their "Czech" foundations and added a few "Slavacia" tips now & then.We had a guided tour of the brewery by the brewery staff. After the tour, there was a tasting area- You had the opportunity to taste four different kinds of beer.

We stopped in LaGrange (Weikel's Bakery) for a morning kolache & coffee stop before. Lunch was in Schulenburg at the Oakridge Smokehouse -an "all you could eat" buffet with homecooking delights. We toured these churches:Shiner-St. Cyril and Methodius, Praha-St. Mary's Church of the Assumption, High Hill (Schulenburg)- Nativity of Mary the Blessed Virgin, Dubina-St Cyril and Methodius, and Ammansville (Schulenburg)-St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. (Not necessarily in this order) The churches visited were amazing. The Shiner Brewery was the last stop.

Overall, it was a day full of Christian fellowship. We learned a lot and reflected a lot as we went inside those beutiful, amazing churches. Also, the wildflowers were breathtaking so the bus ride was just so enjoyable. We left at 8:30 am and returned around 6:00 pm tired and refreshed. The trip was a delight. If people want to take a tour of the painted churches- They can contact the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce and make arrangements. Or, they can pay Dolly and Pastor Lynnae as personal tour guides- Both would be equally enjoyable.

Part 1: The Churches

Part 2: The Camaraderie

Jesus Loves You, and So Do I...

2010-04-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Many times I have heard these words, "Jesus loves you, and so do I..." But how well do I know the man who frequently utters these words? Not nearly as well as I thought! Take a few minutes and see if you learn anything new as well.

In celebration of 40 years of service, appropriately enough on the exact day of the 30th anniversary of Abiding Love, I sat down with Pastor Fetter for an interview. Part 1 of his reflections on forty years...

Thirty Years of Love

2010-04-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Wow. Thirty Years of Love. A plethora of memories. To borrow from an old bumper sticker- I wasn't born a Charter Member...but I got here as fast as I could. Watching my youngest brother, born in 1981, being baptized in the bowling alley (and hearing the crashing of the pins in the background). Acolyting in the original building. Confirmation classes in the nursery. Being submerged into frigid water in the dunking booth on a cold All Hallow's Eve Carnival as a teenager. Countless youth group activities as a high schooler (and now a sponsor). Playing softball against other churches. Easter egg hunts. Serving as a member of the church council. Warm, lazy summer evenings under the oak trees during Vacation Bible School. My first Communion. My daughter's first Communion. Mentors of my youth becoming good friends in my adulthood. What a wonderful place. Here is a motley collection of felicitations given on Abiding Love's big 3-0 !

Left to Tell

2010-03-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

It is rare that a book comes along that can be described as life-altering, but Left to Tell is just that sort of work. This is the type of story that you share with others. A friend passed along Left to Tell to me. I read it and insisted that my wife read it. She then gave it to her mother and a co-worker. The co-worker was so taken by it that she is sharing it with her church. And so am I. This gripping tale almost seems to be fictional at times, but as they say, you can't make this stuff up. Eight women hiding for 91 days in a 3 foot by 4 foot bathroom? Machete-wielding killers searching for them? Saved by prayer? Forgiveness?

Three Wednesdays. April 7, 14 and 28. 7 to 8pm. An unforgettable story.

Please RSVP to Jeff Roberts at 512.301.7575 or uoftexas95@yahoo.com so that enough books can be provided. Speaking of provided- free books for the first ten people to
confirm that they will attend.

Reviews of the book (inspirational by themselves!)
http://www.lefttotell.com/book/index.php

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae- Lent

2010-02-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Lenten season is upon us. Pastor Lynnae gives a short preview of upcoming Wednesday services, ruminates upon fond Easter memories and names a somewhat surprising "favorite apostle". In case you're curious- no, she did not have previous knowledge of the questions. I simply sprang them upon her and the on-the-spot responses are, to me, quite revealing of her personality.

2010 ALLC Garage Sale!!!

2010-01-27T17:32:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again, folks! Clear out the closets! Streamline the garage and attic! The Annual Churchwide Garage Sale is on March 6th. You can help out in a variety of ways! Donate time, possessions, elbow grease, or all three! Check out the sign up sheet at the church or contact Annette Smith, aka "Garage Sale Granny" at 280-4533. Need further inspiration? Watch the following videos!

Garage Sale Granny says...

Yellow Bird says...

Truffles for sale...

2010-01-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Truffles for sale. Yummy, yummy truffles for sale...

Wow- this may be the best Senior High Fundraiser yet! Support your friendly, neighborhood R.O.C.K. group while enjoying some terrific and tasty handmade candies! In the stores, these might cost up to $2.50 each, but you can purchase these youth-crafted candies for a dollar apiece! Find the booth in the narthex this Sunday and order yours!

Food Pantry Turns Five!!!

2010-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone- just a reminder that a very important part of Abiding Love's outreach mission is turning five and there will be a celebration on January 31st immediately following 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. Protein dishes will be provided- Please bring a side dish and enjoy the fellowship!

Here is a video created in the fall (edited by Ken Albin) which reminds us of the growth that we have seen and the lives that have been touched...

Altar Guild

2009-12-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

Vestments mysteriously changed. The altar seemingly "altered." Wine glasses filling themselves? The Altar Guild at Abiding Love is full of terrific people who do a lot behind the scenes. I caught up with three of them preparing for the recent Thanksgiving service and ended up with this 4 minute interview! Enjoy!

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae #3

2009-11-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

Pastor Lynnae shares a bit about Ethiopia! From attempting to see the Ark of the Covenant to thoughts on meeting Haile Selassie (former Emperor of Ethiopia) and a quick rundown on Ethiopian cuisine, Pastor L drops some thoughts!

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae #2

2009-11-06T09:13:00.001-08:00

Time for another trey with Pastor Lynnae. Three more fairly random questions for Pastor L. Why is Vinny Del Negro her favorite player of all time? Fairly perplexing to me, too...until you hear her explanation...

The Office part 2- Joan

2009-11-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Well, you know how sometimes you aim to keep things brief, but you can't quite figure out a way to get it done? That was my problem in attempting to edit this interview with Joan. She's a sweet, lovable lady with a lot to say and I hope that you'll enjoy this conversation! The real question, though, is at the end...does she still have her great smile at the end of a long day in the midst of a hectic week???? Watch, my friends, and the answer shall be revealed!

Three Points with Pastor Lynnae

2009-10-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick hitter- in honor of her favorite sport, I'm calling it "Three Points with Pastor L". She was completely unprepared for the topics as I asked her fairly random questions. Find out her take on the Spurs, her favorite saint and Halloween plans- all wrapped up in under two minutes.

Behind the scenes with Cindy

2009-10-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

Who are some of the "behind-the-scenes" people that help Abiding Love run smoothly on a daily basis? That's what I aim to find out. Who are they, what do they do and what stories can they share with us? For starters, we head to the hub of activity...

Senior Luncheon

2009-10-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! A thousand apologies for falling behind on the video blogs, but I've been without my camera for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, I've got it back now and I should soon be back to making regular posts!

It looks like we had a real nice turn out for the Senior Luncheon. It is always a pleasure to see the inter-generational interactions. I know that the high schoolers have expressed an interest in being more interactive with our more experienced church members and this was a great opportunity for that. Additionally, it was nice for the younger set to display some of their talents. Enjoy this short clip!

Peter Pan and the R.O.C.K.

2009-09-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Engaging in fellowship, fun and golf...or something like that, the Sr High youth and their sponsors had a swell time at Peter Pan miniature golf, topped off by ice cream at Austin Scoops.

It's not too late for you to enjoy the adult version's Chip in For Children on Monday, September 21, beginning at noon. Call the church office for more details! Just as much fun (but without the 18 foot tall dinosaur!!!!)

ROCKin' N'Awlins

2009-09-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

My apologies that this is a little late arriving, but it looks like the youth had a terrific time in New Orleans. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and making this trip possible! Here is a brief peek into their experiences from the lens of one youth's camera:

Interview with the Parkers

2009-09-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Gosh, the Parkers sure are nice people! I had never really sat down and chatted with them, but they're just as nice as can be and they are truly a couple steeped in faith. If you have a bit of time, please watch this extended interview (about 8 minutes)with them- and take time to enjoy their insights and perspectives on life.

Rally Day Recap

2009-08-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

What an amazing Rally Day! In all honesty, I have to say that was one of the finest Rally Days I have ever attended. What a terrific event! Of course, these events only work when everyone pulls together as a community. Great job at the Sunday School opening by Cindy Atwell and her crew. Excellent victuals at the picnic. Fine job by the Sr. High youth running the games! Enjoy this video highlighting Rally Day!

A Brief Message from Reggie

2009-08-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

A Bold Step Stewardship message brought to you by Reggie Kikta...

Rally Day!!!

2009-08-25T10:30:00.001-07:00

Sunday, August 30th, come on down for Rally Day!!! First day of Sunday School, meet in sanctuary at 9:45 for opening and meeting teachers; Late service is followed by a 5th Sunday Luncheon; Following that, the Sr. High Youth will lead us in a variety of games!

Tower of Babel and the Babbling Brook

2009-08-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

I've got two videos for you today! First, thank you to Cindy Atwell for leading the lesson on The Tower of Babel (and manning the camera) this past Sunday. Take 2 1/2 minutes to see what the kids learned and created in the first video.

Then, take a minute and a half to relax and enjoy photos and video from Pastor Lynnae's recent vacation to South Dakota! Cool and refreshing- made me jealous!

Taking A Bold Step Together

2009-08-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone- I feel like Uncle Sam sometimes. You know, "I WANT YOU..." in this case, I want you to check out the following video message...

Do Re Mi- a Bold Step Message

2009-08-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is a follow-up of the message recently delivered by Kim Thonhoff on August 2nd.
The purpose of this message is to describe the Kairos Bold Step Children, Youth, & Family Ministry Committee. This members of this committee share a similar passion – a deep love for kids of all ages and a belief that the love of Christ can shine through them and touch the lives of many. Through the support of Kairos, we are beginning to make a “Ripple” out of that passion.

Watch this You Tube clip filmed recently. It is an absolutely delightful experiment using the song Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music. This particular clip was filmed in Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium.

So, how does this apply to the Bold Step Children, Youth, & Family Ministry Committee?

It's the ripple effect that occurs. The ripple started with just a song and one happy man and then, a small group and on & on -but those original dancers never left the dance. The invitation was for all and all were changed by the magical notes and spirit of the dance.

This video so accurately describes the purpose and function of our Committee- Our church has all the physical things in place-nice facilities, good programs, dedicated staff, diligent pastors, friendly people, schedules defined with well written newsletters, bulletins, etc., etc. and yet, a complacency still exists. The separate entities function well but not necessarily in relationship to each other

In the video clip, people stop- they look up and smile and the radiance continues until the whole station rocks with enthusiasm! Laughter erupts and those not involved in the scheme are enticed. They begin to merge into the dance. The travelers eventually burst into a joyous and eruptive state. The dance takes on an inviting life of its own. There are no cultural barriers, no age barriers, no status barriers-the homeless, the beggars, the executives, the blue collar workers, young and old - dance as one in a spirit of peace, unity, and sheer heartwarming delight.

When the song ends, the travelers move forward as usual but with a smile, clutching their cameras and clinging to a moment that was heavenly. The station no longer appears gray and it’s bustling with new relationships- conversations, applause, handshakes, new friends, new hopes, and a totally new life.

It’s important to note though, that this miracle happened without any physical changes- The train station was still gray. The trains were still running as scheduled. People still were headed for their usual destinations, but they had a different perspective on life.

It’s time to bring our Spirit back-not with Julie Andrews but with Jesus Christ. You see-Jesus sings the song and is inviting us to dance with Him not in separated entities but in relationship to Him, to each other, to our children, to our youth, to our seniors, but most of all to our FAMILIES. We need to DROP our baggage and move forward out of our comfort zones to hear the beat of His Spirit in our Abiding Love station. It’s time NOW to do more than listen, we need to not only BEGIN the dance but we need to STAY in the dance until we SPREAD His love to everyone. It’s time to make our church THE PLACE where people become part of the FAMILY dancing to the song that Jesus is singing. Not just people individually but entire FAMILIES together being energized by the invitation of the music.

What is our Committee doing? Jesus Christ is the Song. Our committee is the “Do Re Mi!” We are starting at the very beginning-It’s a very good place to start! With research about Family Ministry, we are rehearsing what the new dance could become here at Abiding Love Lutheran Church. We are envisioning Jesus Christ as the Song and our Committee is the beginning of the Ripple. We hope by the end of the song we will be a Congregation that grows with Families integrated into the rhythmic excitement of Christian living. By setting defined goals and definite timelines for their completion, our committee is imagining “Beyond Belief” relational experiences that will keep people coming back to this sanctuary to be part of God’s Family.

Our Kairos Bold Step Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Committee asks for your prayers as we choreograph this new dance that we hope will awaken us from our complacency. We pray that you will allow yourself to become the dancers once the Vision is in place. If we are the “Do Re Mi,” then you and your families must be the middle part- the crescendo, the melody, the harmony, and the motion that is needed in between the beginning and the end of the process to bring our Congregation back to Do… Do- the core, the Spirit and our sustaining LIFE in relationship with Jesus Christ! In a song, that’s the purpose of our committee!

“Do Re Mi!”

A Special Invitation

2009-07-30T07:10:00.001-07:00

We hope that you'll join us on Sunday, August 2nd at either service with an opportunity to learn more about a special guest...

I Scream, You Scream...

2009-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

a fun time had by all at the Ice Cream Social on Sunday night. Thanks to everyone who came out. Enjoyed seeing some new faces. Thanks for bringing visitors! And thanks for the ice cream! It was quite enjoyable. And, of course, we greatly appreciate Dona, Karron and Reggie for leading us in some classic summer songs. Take a moment to enjoy this quick video snapshot of the gathering- under two minutes!

at the car wash, yeah!

2009-07-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

Well, the youth who are attending the National Youth gathering are certainly working hard to earn their meals! Thanks to everyone who has donated to the Gumbo Pot and/or had their vehicle washed this past weekend. Every dollar gets them closer to New Orleans, and approximately 1,000 of those dollars were generously donated this Sunday! Thanks for your help and take a peek at the car wash...

Stained Glass Sunday

2009-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Kim Thonhoff for leading the Sunday School class about the stained glass pieces of art in our church, most of which were created by our very own Steve Essinger. Following his example, the kids made samples of their own! Enjoy this short video of Abiding Love children learning and creating! (videographer apologizes for the initial poor sound quality)

Songwriting with Tom

2009-06-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

What a neat idea! For Sunday School in the summertime, we are having special guest teachers share some of their expertise in various areas. This past Sunday, Tom sat down with a group of kids (and grown-ups) and taught us how he writes a song! Working together, we created a song about Daniel in the Lion's Den. Everyone seemed to enjoy the process!

My own kids dragged out a couple of instruments, a notebook and pencil when they got home and each wrote a song. Thanks for the inspiration, Tom!

This coming Sunday (the 21st) our guest teachers will teach us about photography- come on out and join us- all are invited, young, old and won't tell!

VBS 2009 Days 5 & 6

2009-06-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all- well, we've wrapped a tremendously successful Vacation Bible School. This video includes a short bit from Thursday's final evening of regular VBS as well as the Friday evening celebration!!!

We had invited a couple of young friends to join my girls at VBS. Apparently, the kids were practically begging each evening to return to Abiding Love and were rather upset the one evening that they had to miss out. While we often are excited for our own children at ALLC to participate in VBS, it is important to remember that it also serves as an outreach program. Judging by the smiles on faces we have worked to help accomplish that mission!

The volunteerism and outpouring of love, kindness, generosity and (of course) patience exhibited by our church members showed everyone what ALLC is all about. Thanks to everyone who made it possible (too many to name), but I'd like to point out the Herculean efforts of a few individuals: Tom Hokanson, whose music always inspires; Kim Thonhoff for her terrific opening and closing scripts; and Holly Leoni whose directorial skills brought it all together. Thanks and enjoy!

-Jeff

ALLC 2009 VBS Day 3 & 4

2009-06-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Wow! There is just so much going on that it is a struggle to keep the video under 5 minutes! But I managed to do it. This video is a compilation from multiple cameras, so it has a slightly different "personality". By the way, hopefully you've noticed that the songs accompanying these videos are the same ones that the kids are learning at VBS. What a terrific band we've got!

ALLC VBS 2009 Day 1 and 2

2009-06-10T08:04:00.001-07:00

Here's a glance at the first couple of days of Vacation Bible School. We have such a great group of volunteers and their hard work and guidance is really paying off as the kids are definitely enjoying themselves. I've especially noticed that as VBS progresses the kids are getting MORE involved, not less. That's a sign of a good program- the children are willing and eager participants. The video is about four minutes or so. Enjoy!

R.O.C.K. V'ball

2009-06-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day, the senior high youth had a great time at Dick Nichols Park, playing volleyball, electing new officers and eating pizza!!!! Personally, I hope that this becomes an annual tradition!

Graduates 2009

2009-06-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

I grabbed the first three seniors who showed up on Sunday and asked a few questions. What struck me the most was how much of an effect the little things that we as a congregation do impact their lives and attitudes. Take a look (just over 3 minutes) and witness the difference that we make on these young people's lives and think back to the mantra, "it's about love, love, love"

VBS preparations!!!

2009-05-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, what a wonderful group of people we have here at Abiding Love. Nearly fifty volunteers are signed up to help this year's VBS run smoothly. I am SO excited that I e-mailed the entire 1st grade and pre-K at Macey and Maria's school inviting them to attend. I hope that this short (3 1/2 minutes) but lively video will give you insight into some of the preparations and training . An incredible amount of work has been put into this Abiding Love original creation (the VBS program, not the video) and it should be a terrific experience for all involved!

Click on this video to watch the team in action!

What's Going On?

2009-05-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, that's a great question- what IS going on? In an effort to better connect the Abiding Love Community, we're hoping to create more tangible evidence displaying the myriad talents that make our church so special. We have such an amazing group of people and a diverse set of activities that I think that many of these talents are overlooked, or rather, go unnoticed. We are going to use these video blogs to help tie our community together in a visual manner. We plan to keep them short (hopefully under 5 minutes), sweet, fun, educational, spiritual and meaningful. I hope that you'll enjoy watching them as much as we enjoy creating them!

-Jeff Roberts

Announcing: Abiding Love Videos

2009-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Abiding Love Videos are coming soon! This will include instructional videos for members of Abiding Love Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas.