Monday, December 2, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
ELCA Pacific Typhoon Response
Pacific Typhoon Response
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded, Super Typhoon Haiyan, crashed across the central islands of the Philippines. Your help is needed to make a difference in affected areas. Through partnerships and as a member of ACT Alliance, Lutheran Disaster Response is responding to the most urgent needs of food, water, clothing, shelter, sleeping material and medicine.
Gifts designated to "Pacific Typhoon Response" will be used in full – 100 percent – to help with immediate and long-term need. Your generous offerings of prayer and financial support will help those affected as they journey to recover.
Other Ways to Give:
Give by MailLutheran Disaster Response
39330 Treasury Center
Chicago, IL 60694-9300
Write " Pacific Typhoon Response "
on your check's memo line.
39330 Treasury Center
Chicago, IL 60694-9300
Write " Pacific Typhoon Response "
on your check's memo line.
Give by Phone
Credit card by phone: 800-638-3522
Credit card by phone: 800-638-3522
Donations may also be made online and via your own church.
Please join with others around the world in praying for those affected by these storms.
Monday, September 23, 2013
St Thomas Mission Fair 2013
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| Youth Group is coordinating our Crop Walk involvement |
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the St Thomas Mission Fair! Below are photos from the mission fair booths highlighting several of the many wonderful organizations St Thomas is involved with: MCUM, St. Vincent De Paul's, Opportunity House, Interfaith Winter Shelter, Bread for the World, Network of Biblical Storytellers, Kiva St Thomas Lenders, Crop Walk, Living Waters, New Hope Shelter, Sister Parish, ECHO, St Thomas Community Garden, and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard! |
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| Sunday School's Offering Project to support our missionary and a local Preschool |
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| Beads from our friends at Living Waters |
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| Interfaith Winter Shelter |
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| Pamela's talking Bible! |
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| Checking out all of the countries where St Thomas Lenders has made Kiva loans. |
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| Beautiful bounty from the St Thomas Community Garden |
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| ECHO and the St Thomas Community Garden table |
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| St Thomas 4-6 graders completed a scavenger hunt with clues for each booth |
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| Bread for the World booth |
Monday, September 9, 2013
ELCA Anniversary Celebration at St. Thomas
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A BIG thank you to everyone who supplied items for the personal care kits and who helped assemble them Sunday, as we marked the 25th anniversary of the ELCA together! With you help we assembled 78 kits, far exceeding our best guesses - thank you!!
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| We had a wonderful intergenerational experience, with people a wide variety of people supplying items for the kits. Then on September 8, every child in the Sunday School put together a kit, as well as members of the congregation, Pastor Lyle and youth group. Thank you to the Mission Endowment Fund for assistance with the shipping costs to Lutheran World Relief. The kits are sent all over the world to help people in need, such as immediately after natural disasters. |
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Our Visit from Karen Anderson, ELCA Missionary
What a delight to have our new missionary, Karen Anderson, join us for a pitch-in/pot luck dinner and presentation. We had a variety of Chilean dishes to try - a few recipes are on the Welcome Center if you wish to try any.
Karen shared some of the educational materials they have developed for community health education on topics such as HIV, nutrition and smoking. She gave a presentation on the activities and impact of EPES, the public health organization in Chile she founded over 30 years ago.
Here are a few of the people who gathered afterwards for a departure photo with Karen. Thanks to everyone who helped with this event. We look forward to learning more about Karen and her ELCA sponsored work in Chile.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Delegation to Living Waters
St.Thomas supports the food pantry and clothing available to Living Waters - thank you to the Mission Endowment Fund which provided a financial gift to support fresh fruits and vegetables. Below are photos of the pantry and clothes closet.
Delegates were happy to have time to get to know Pastor Jack and his family more this time and have some time to see the museum and other aspects of the community.
With both delegations, we try to be present to participate in worship, joining together as two ELCA congregations. We are thankful for our friends at Living Waters and that we are one body.
If you would like to be a part of future delegations or to participate in other aspects of our relationship with Living Waters, please let the mission committee or church office know.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Meet our new missionary, Karen Anderson!
Come Have Dinner With Our New ELCA Missionary from Chile!
On the evening of Sunday, August 11 we will be gathering at 6 pm at church for a pitch-in meal to get to know our new ELCA missionary, Karen Anderson. This is a great opportunity for our congregation. Missionaries do their best to visit each congregation at least once, so this is wonderful that we get to meet her early on in our new relationship!
Karen writes, "As ELCA global mission personnel in Chile, I look forward to the opportunity to share with you some of the exciting things that have been happening in our health ministry at the Fundación EPES and to learn more about your communities and congregations."
All our welcome! Hope to see you August 11th.
On the evening of Sunday, August 11 we will be gathering at 6 pm at church for a pitch-in meal to get to know our new ELCA missionary, Karen Anderson. This is a great opportunity for our congregation. Missionaries do their best to visit each congregation at least once, so this is wonderful that we get to meet her early on in our new relationship!
Karen writes, "As ELCA global mission personnel in Chile, I look forward to the opportunity to share with you some of the exciting things that have been happening in our health ministry at the Fundación EPES and to learn more about your communities and congregations."
All our welcome! Hope to see you August 11th.
Invitation to Congregation: LWR Personal Care Kits
The Mission Committee would like to invite the congregation to donate items for Lutheran World Relief Personal Care Kits. The Mission Committee is coordinating this as part of the ELCA's "God's Work, Our Hands" nation wide celebration of our 25th anniversary on September 8th.
"When LWR distributes Personal Care Kits, it’s often to people who have lost everything. In the wake of an earthquake, or having fled from violence as their homes were overtaken, they clasp a towel from a faraway place, with a bar of soap, a toothbrush…and washing up, they know that they have not been forsaken by the world.
The very simple gesture of giving a Personal Care Kit can give someone the encouragement to start anew, starting with a bath. You can share God’s grace and love by providing that simple comfort."
Here is the list of items we are seeking this summer for each kit. LWR recommends shopping at stores such as The Dollar Store for these items, especially since thinner towels are sometimes difficult to find in other stores. You are invited to donate one, more or all of these items as you are able:
One light-weight bath-size towel (between 20"×40" & 52"×27"), dark color recommended. The thinner the better rather than super big fluffy towels since they need to be shipped
Two bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping
One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging
One sturdy comb
One metal nail clippers (attached file optional)
Please bring the items to church this summer (especially during August) and place in the marked container in the narthex or in the church office. Our deadline is September 8 when we are assembling the kits.
Thank you!
"When LWR distributes Personal Care Kits, it’s often to people who have lost everything. In the wake of an earthquake, or having fled from violence as their homes were overtaken, they clasp a towel from a faraway place, with a bar of soap, a toothbrush…and washing up, they know that they have not been forsaken by the world.
The very simple gesture of giving a Personal Care Kit can give someone the encouragement to start anew, starting with a bath. You can share God’s grace and love by providing that simple comfort."
Here is the list of items we are seeking this summer for each kit. LWR recommends shopping at stores such as The Dollar Store for these items, especially since thinner towels are sometimes difficult to find in other stores. You are invited to donate one, more or all of these items as you are able:
One light-weight bath-size towel (between 20"×40" & 52"×27"), dark color recommended. The thinner the better rather than super big fluffy towels since they need to be shipped
Two bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping
One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging
One sturdy comb
One metal nail clippers (attached file optional)
Please bring the items to church this summer (especially during August) and place in the marked container in the narthex or in the church office. Our deadline is September 8 when we are assembling the kits.
Thank you!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
May ECHO Plant Sale
Please watch for the annual plant sale fundraiser on behalf of ECHO (Education Concerns for Hunger Organization). Plants will be on sale in the narthex on the first two Sundays of May. Feel free to make a further contribution as you are able!
For further information about this event, speak with Jan, Vicki, Marie or Kaye. For information about ECHO, please visit their website (link provided below) or look on the welcome center at St. Thomas.
http://www.echonet.org/
Sister Parish South to North Delegation
St. Thomas is currently raising funds to bring the delegation from Chichipate, Guatemala to visit our community here in Bloomington, Indiana. We are seeking some leading financial contributions to kick off this fundraising campaign so that we can commit to the delegation and they may begin the long 9 month "delegation birthing" process of seeking visas, making arrangements, etc. Please speak with Suzanne, Lyle or Kaye if you are able to make a contribution to help us make this early commitment. Below is a reminder of the Sister Parish program mission and vision.
Mission
Sister Parish exists to foster mutual understanding and commitment to peace and justice among people in the United States and Central America. This objective is pursued through intentional linking between churches and Christian communities in the United States and Central America. Delegation travel to the North and South with home stays is an essential aspect in enhancing awareness and understanding, and nurturing closer relationships.
Vision
We believe the Kingdom of God is already present but not complete, and the liberating Gospel calls us to work together to build this Kingdom through:
Consciousness-Raising. We will seek to transform the world by sharing each other’s experiences so that we can better understand and overcome the sources of injustice and oppression.
Solidarity. By putting ourselves in the reality of others and by building an interdependent community of brothers and sisters within and among countries, we will promote mutual respect and dignity for all people, advocate for human rights, and work for social and economic justice for all.
Reconciliation. We will live in peace with one another by finding the courage to recognize our own failings and to forgive each other despite the history of violence that has caused so much pain.
Ecumenism. We will accept each other and respect each person’s beliefs and practices, as we unite to work together so that all may share equally in the fullness of God’s creation.
World Malaria Day in April
World Malaria Day is during the last week of April and the ELCA is recommending that we mark the day in our worship on April 28th. Please keep this campaign in your prayers and donate funds to support our Sunday School kids as they use their offering money for this purpose. Take a moment to copy/paste and watch the ELCA video below too!
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-Malaria-Campaign/Malaria-Resources/Video.aspx
25th Anniversary of Sister Parish
The Sister Parish organization is celebrating 25 years of ministry together. Please check out their celebrations and reflections on the blog:
http://sisterparish.org/activities/25th-anniversary/
They have also asked for our prayers as they gather in Guatemala and El Salvador this month.
Look for more information and items for sale to help mark this special occasion and our next delegation!
Laundry Detergent Donations for New Hope
New Hope Family Shelter is seeking laundry detergent donations. If this is something you are able to help with, please let Ruth or Kaye in the church office know.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Support the MCUM Feinstein Challenge during April
From the recent MCUM newsletter:
"We invite you to make an impact in the fight against hunger by participating in the 15th annual Feinstein Challenge. During March and April, all food and financial contributions donated to MCUM will qualify for the Feinstein Challenge, sponsored by the Feinstein Foundation. This foundation divides $1 million proportionately among agencies addressing and alleviating hunger across the country. The more donations we receive, the more our neighbors in need will benefit.
During last year’s challenge, generous supporters contributed 5,353 pounds of food and $53,325.00 in direct support of Monroe County families in crisis. Help us exceed the 2012 numbers and assist even more struggling individuals."
Check with Kaye in the church office or our current MCUM board member, Judy, with any questions. Thanks!
"We invite you to make an impact in the fight against hunger by participating in the 15th annual Feinstein Challenge. During March and April, all food and financial contributions donated to MCUM will qualify for the Feinstein Challenge, sponsored by the Feinstein Foundation. This foundation divides $1 million proportionately among agencies addressing and alleviating hunger across the country. The more donations we receive, the more our neighbors in need will benefit.
During last year’s challenge, generous supporters contributed 5,353 pounds of food and $53,325.00 in direct support of Monroe County families in crisis. Help us exceed the 2012 numbers and assist even more struggling individuals."
Check with Kaye in the church office or our current MCUM board member, Judy, with any questions. Thanks!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Interfaith Winter Shelter Update and Thanks
Thank you to St. Thomas members and friends for the budget support given to the Interfaith Winter Shelter(IWS). This is a truly ecumenical community effort to provide shelter in Bloomington. Please read the excerpt from the IWS website below for more background on the important work this organization provides. Thank you to Charlene on the Mission Committee for her initiative and effort to provide evening food to the folks in the IWS and for recruiting many St. Thomas congregants to provide delicious, warm soup. "God's Work, Our Hands." ~ELCA
From the IWS website:
The Interfaith Winter Shelter began in the late spring of 2009 when clergy and lay leaders from many faith communities came together to consider ways to respond to concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of men and women who are homeless. The project quickly “snowballed” and today involves over 20 faith communities, over 450 volunteers, and a number of public, private, and governmental entities working together to provide emergency winter shelter to Monroe County’s homeless individuals.
IWS models its program after PADS, a similar program in Chicago that has been in operation for over 20 years. In this multi-site model, several different faith communities host the shelter for one or two nights per week on a rotating basis, using volunteers, financial resources, and in-kind donations from each hosting site and the community at large.
The IWS operates as a “low barrier” shelter during the winter months. It was designed to offer a safe and warm place to sleep for men and women who—for whatever reason— have no other alternative but the streets. The primary criteria for admission into the shelter is respectful behavior, regardless of whether or not a guest is under the influence of alcohol or illegal substance. Experience has taught us incidents of inappropriate behavior are rare. Guests simply appreciate a warm place to sleep.
Participating sites and volunteers agree to follow a set of guidelines that allows for the safety and well being of guests and volunteers alike, including no drugs, alcohol, or weapons on the premise.
From the IWS website:
The Interfaith Winter Shelter began in the late spring of 2009 when clergy and lay leaders from many faith communities came together to consider ways to respond to concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of men and women who are homeless. The project quickly “snowballed” and today involves over 20 faith communities, over 450 volunteers, and a number of public, private, and governmental entities working together to provide emergency winter shelter to Monroe County’s homeless individuals.
IWS models its program after PADS, a similar program in Chicago that has been in operation for over 20 years. In this multi-site model, several different faith communities host the shelter for one or two nights per week on a rotating basis, using volunteers, financial resources, and in-kind donations from each hosting site and the community at large.
The IWS operates as a “low barrier” shelter during the winter months. It was designed to offer a safe and warm place to sleep for men and women who—for whatever reason— have no other alternative but the streets. The primary criteria for admission into the shelter is respectful behavior, regardless of whether or not a guest is under the influence of alcohol or illegal substance. Experience has taught us incidents of inappropriate behavior are rare. Guests simply appreciate a warm place to sleep.
Participating sites and volunteers agree to follow a set of guidelines that allows for the safety and well being of guests and volunteers alike, including no drugs, alcohol, or weapons on the premise.
Meet Our New ELCA IK Synod Missionary
ELCA Missionary Profile
Karen L. Anderson
Chile
Karen Anderson served as a missionary with the ELCA in Chile from 1982–2000. She has returned to help the EPES staff design, launch and direct EPES’ International Training Course on Popular Education in Health which, among other important tasks, explores the role of the church in the struggle for health and human rights. EPES works to build a sustainable health care organization dedicated to promoting the health, dignity and rights of the poor in Chile. To see pictures from EPES, visit www.imageevent.com/elcahunger/epes.
Education
B.S. Nursing
St. Olaf College
(Northfield, MN)
M.Ed. International Education
University of Massachusetts
(Amherst, MA)
M.P.A. International Health
Harvard University
(Cambridge, MA)
Contact
Karen L. Anderson
c/o EPES
Casilla 100, Correo 14,
La Cisterna
Santiago, Chile
Email
Karen.anderson73@gmail.com
Websites
www.epes.cl
www.actionforhealth.org
Karen L. Anderson
Chile
Karen Anderson served as a missionary with the ELCA in Chile from 1982–2000. She has returned to help the EPES staff design, launch and direct EPES’ International Training Course on Popular Education in Health which, among other important tasks, explores the role of the church in the struggle for health and human rights. EPES works to build a sustainable health care organization dedicated to promoting the health, dignity and rights of the poor in Chile. To see pictures from EPES, visit www.imageevent.com/elcahunger/epes.
Education
B.S. Nursing
St. Olaf College
(Northfield, MN)
M.Ed. International Education
University of Massachusetts
(Amherst, MA)
M.P.A. International Health
Harvard University
(Cambridge, MA)
Contact
Karen L. Anderson
c/o EPES
Casilla 100, Correo 14,
La Cisterna
Santiago, Chile
Karen.anderson73@gmail.com
Websites
www.epes.cl
www.actionforhealth.org
Monday, March 18, 2013
St. Thomas Kiva Lenders
Thank you, St. Thomas Lenders, for making 178 loans via Kiva for a total of $5,600. Please consider inviting your friends at St. Thomas to join the lending group and participate - a $25 loan goes a long way!
Also, note that Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, will be speaking at the Neal Marshall Center on the IU campus on March 19 at 7 p.m. Please contact Dawn or the church office for more information if you wish to go as a group or need a ride.
Also, note that Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, will be speaking at the Neal Marshall Center on the IU campus on March 19 at 7 p.m. Please contact Dawn or the church office for more information if you wish to go as a group or need a ride.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Labyrinth at St. Thomas
We’re bringing an indoor labyrinth to Heritage Hall for a few days during Lent. Labyrinths have been part of Christian tradition for a thousand years. It’s not a maze, so there’s nothing to figure out. Anyone can walk a labyrinth – old walkers and young walkers, sorrowing walkers and joyful walkers, fast walkers, slow walkers, and wheelchairs. Come and take a walk!
Sunday, Feb. 17 - Adult Forum offered by Sharon Wailes, who’ll tell us about the ancient origins of labyrinths and how walking a labyrinth can be part of our spiritual growth.
Wednesday, February 27 through Sunday, March 3 – Walk a labyrinth at Saint Thomas. Before and after worship on Wednesday and Sunday, one of us will be there to greet you and hold your walk in silent prayer. You can also drop in any time the church is open to walk the labyrinth.
It may not be immediately obvious how walking around in a set pattern connects up to living the life of faith. An article in The Lutheran explains, Christians adopted the labyrinth in the 12th century when the Crusades made pilgrimages to Jerusalem difficult. Labyrinths were placed in cathedral floors throughout Europe so the faithful could pray and spiritually attend to their journey as if they were on a physical pilgrimage to the holy city... Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no tricky dead-ends. It has one path — a pattern of U-turns — that leads to the center and then out again. The twisting path becomes a metaphor for the faith journey, a mirror for what is happening in one's life... For Christians, the path also is a reminder of Christ's journey to the cross. [The Lutheran, January 1999]
An interesting observation - Neolithic labyrinths are found throughout Scandinavia and the Baltic coast. Apparently Lutherans have been walking labyrinths since before there were Lutherans!
Thanks to Pamela from the Iona Spiritual Growth Group for writing this article for the newsletter.
Sunday, Feb. 17 - Adult Forum offered by Sharon Wailes, who’ll tell us about the ancient origins of labyrinths and how walking a labyrinth can be part of our spiritual growth.
Wednesday, February 27 through Sunday, March 3 – Walk a labyrinth at Saint Thomas. Before and after worship on Wednesday and Sunday, one of us will be there to greet you and hold your walk in silent prayer. You can also drop in any time the church is open to walk the labyrinth.
It may not be immediately obvious how walking around in a set pattern connects up to living the life of faith. An article in The Lutheran explains, Christians adopted the labyrinth in the 12th century when the Crusades made pilgrimages to Jerusalem difficult. Labyrinths were placed in cathedral floors throughout Europe so the faithful could pray and spiritually attend to their journey as if they were on a physical pilgrimage to the holy city... Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no tricky dead-ends. It has one path — a pattern of U-turns — that leads to the center and then out again. The twisting path becomes a metaphor for the faith journey, a mirror for what is happening in one's life... For Christians, the path also is a reminder of Christ's journey to the cross. [The Lutheran, January 1999]
An interesting observation - Neolithic labyrinths are found throughout Scandinavia and the Baltic coast. Apparently Lutherans have been walking labyrinths since before there were Lutherans!
Thanks to Pamela from the Iona Spiritual Growth Group for writing this article for the newsletter.
Malaria Nets
The Mission Committee is supporting our Sunday School's efffort to raise funds for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. We have invited Jessica Nipp Hacker, the ELCA Coordinator of the Malaria Campaign to visit us as St. Thomas on Sunday, February 24. She will be with us in both church services that day, sharing information about the campaign and how we can help. Please join us for a forum led by Jessica Nipp Hacker from 9:45-10:45 am in the conference room.
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