Christmas Devotions: God of Good News in Hidden Places

As I read this Iona Christmas prayer, I reflected on both Josefina as hidden and her captors and how badly they need to hear the good news. I also thought of the joy the children at St. Thomas brought us through their sharing the good news during the Christmas pageant. May the mission work of St. Thomas in 2011 continue to celebrate the good news and look for God in hidden places.

God of good news,
today you begin again to reshape our lives and communities.
You do not start from the outside,but from within.
You begin in the hidden place.
Behind the inn.Before the marriage.At the wrong time.
You invite a handful of guests into your company.
Shepherds.Local children perhaps.Maybe some animals.
You join the community of the invisible ones.
The homeless and hopeless.Refugees,fleeing a tyrant king.
Later,you find fisherfolk.And a tax collector.More children.
The small.The unimportant.The forgotten.The frightened.
These are the people you choose,
as little by little you start sharing
the secrets of a kingdom that will change the whole world.
From within.From the hidden place.

God of good news:
as we celebrate worldwide the tidings of your birth,
as we set the heavens echoing with angel songs,
as we contemplate new year and pray for peace on earth…
remind us of the hidden places,of the forgotten people,
of the starting-points and the time it takes,
of the pace of the slowest and the dreams of the children
and the human scale and the soul of our towns
and the freedom to create secret dens.

Remind us that the great joy promised to the whole people
starts with those who need it most,in places where they hide.
Remind us,with all our seasonal cheer and tinsel,
that some people are left out in the cold;
that it is there,with them,that you are being born into the world again;
that it is there,through them,that you will change the world.
God of good news,
help us to find you again
in the hidden place.
Amen

Note from Josefina

Hola como estan espero que bien despues del gran susto que les di. Bueno solo queria agradeserles por no averse olvidado de mi en este momento tan duro que pase pero sobre todo les doy las gracias por no aver dejado sola a mi mama ahora que los necesitava muho. Gracias por todo el apresio y amor que le tienen a mi familia muchisimas gracias que Dios los bendiga.

Hi, how are you, I hope that you are well after this big scare that I gave you. So, I just wanted to thank you for not forgetting about me during this difficult time that I went through and to say that I am thankful that you didn't leave my mom's side either because she also needed your support a lot. Thank you for the care and love that you have for my family. Many thanks, God bless.

Advent Letter from Chichipate, Guatemala

Ellen from Sister Parish visited Chichipate this week, took these photos and brought the following letter for us all. The photos are of Modesta's family, a woman participating in the purse project. They have three generations living together. It's so great to see these photos and receive news so quickly after Ellen's visit!

If you wish to try some tamales this month and think of our brothers and sisters in Chichipate, Feast bakery and coffee shop across from Templeton school sells them in both fresh and frozen versions. Enjoy!

December 7, 2010

Dear brothers and sisters from St. Thomas Church,

We send you many greetings and blessings during this Advent season and thank you for your letter. We enjoyed hearing about the traditions of your Church.

This year the Advent and Christmas celebration is being organized by the youth of our congregation. In Chichipate we celebrate Advent with “Posadas” or resting places, for Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. The Posadas start on December 16th and visit nine different houses, before ending at the church on Christmas Eve. The Posada is like a procession and is accompanied by singing of Christmas songs, fireworks and many people. It goes into one each night and the people accompanying the Posada are served a hot beverage and sing carols and pray.

The youth are selling tamales and other things to raise money to buy the decorations for the Posadas and for the church. They will also buy a Christmas tree and lights. After Christmas Mass on the 24th, there will be a cultural show put on by the youth, coffee and, of course, tamales. The SP committee and the Church committee will make hundreds of tamales for this celebration. Mass usually lasts from 7 to 10 pm, the show until 12 or 1 am and then people go home to continue the celebration with more coffee or hot chocolate, tamales or other special foods like turkey or pork.

In Martin’s house, the whole family gathers after Mass to share tamales. Sometimes they sleep on Christmas Eve and sometimes they stay up all night.

At Teresa’s house they burn Mayan incense called Copalpom to give thanks to God. They give each person in the family a candle to symbolize the light of the new Baby Jesus for the world. They eat tamales or sometimes meat and drink hot chocolate.

There are some people that spend the whole night at the church praying and setting off fireworks.

Many blessings and peace

May you have a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

Chichipate Sister Parish Committee.

Prayers of Thanksgiving for Josefina and her Angels

We just received some remarkable news that Josefina has escaped after being held all this time in a variety of dark places by those who kidnapped her. A woman helped her escape and she is now reunited with her mother. We ask for ongoing prayers for safety and courage for Josefina, her mother, the woman who helped her escape and the Sister Parish representatives helping with this process. This is truly a story of hope and courage as Josefina emerged from utter darkness into the amazing light. The following materials are from an Iona service dedicated to women of courage.

Reading
Our faith is a light, the kindly gift of that endless day which is our Father, God. By this
light, our Mother Christ, and our good Lord the Holy Spirit lead us into this fleeting
life. When the time of trial has passed, suddenly our eyes shall be opened and in the
brightness of light we shall see fully. This light is God our maker, and the Holy Spirit in
Christ Jesus our Saviour.
~Julian of Norwich

Creed
WE BELIEVE IN GOD,
WHO BROUGHT FORTH LIGHT FROM CHAOS AND DARKNESS.
WE BELIEVE IN JESUS,
WHO FACED THE DARKNESS OF THE GRAVE
AND ROSE FROM DEATH TO LIFE AND GLORY.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
WHO WALKS WITH US IN DARKNESS AND LIGHT.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED ALWAYS
BY A GREAT COMPANY OF SAINTS AND ANGELS.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO SHARE AND PROCLAIM
THE JUSTICE AND WONDER OF GOD.
AMEN


Last, Suzanne H. has highlighted a presentation by her friend Dec. 9th at the library and it relates to Josefina's situation - human trafficking:


Many Faces of Human Trafficking: Global Issues Community Discussion Series
Stepanka Korytova, Ph.D. and Julie McGinnis, J.D. of Middle Way House give a presentation on illegal trafficking in humans in Midwestern cities, focused on U.S. and local Indiana legislation, and community options. A partnership program with the Center for the Study of Global Change at Indiana University. Presenter: Stepanka Korytova, Ph.D.; Julie McGinnis, J.D. Middle Way House. Contact: Adult/Teen Services, MCPL, 34803228. Age Range: Adults. Cost: Free. Communities: Bloomington. Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Program Room 2B, Second Floor Monroe County Public Library 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Bloomington.

Mission Media Suggested Book

If you are looking for a good read, Carol S. has suggested the following book to us all. If we have several people who read it, perhaps over the holidays, then we can gather and discuss it over a warm drink in January. The first BBC link describes the boy from Malawi and his amazing story, then the second link is to the book itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8257153.stm

http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Harnessed-Wind-Electricity/dp/0061730327

Specific Prayers for Guatemala

As we walk along side our brothers and sisters in Guatemala, we have two very difficult situations for our prayers:

1) A teenage girl, Josefina Juarez, disappeared and we are praying for her and her family. Pastor Lyle and Suzanne met her during their Solidarity Delegation trip. Our congregation has written a letter to request appropriate follow up on the case, which has not yet happened, according to the information we have received. Here is a photo of young Josefina.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://agn.gob.gt/agn/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D1907:romelia-josefina-juarez-sajic%26catid%3D93:alba-keneth%26Itemid%3D205&ei=jvYATaSoJ8uQnwep98TlDQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djosefina%2Bjuarez%2Bsajic%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26prmd%3Divo

2) We pray for the family of Adolfo Ich Chaman, who was killed in a conflict in Chichipate over mining and land rights. Below is a website sent to us by Sister Parish that describes the lawsuit that is being brought against HudBay Minerals for the murder of Chamán. The site contains all sorts of information about the conflict between the mine and the communities, as well as the history of violence there.

http://www.chocversushudbay.com/

Advent Devotions

The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian community, committed to seeking new ways of living the gospel in today's world, striving to rebuild the common life, bringing together the sacred and the secular. With a strong emphasis on justice and peace, many of their devotions relate quite well to mission related ministries. Here are a few selected Iona Advent devotions to stir us.

Re-enchanted

Within these fragmented days,
a gentle invitation
threads through our lives,
reminding us that all is sacred
and rooted
in a love that knows no bounds
And with that quiet knowledge we re-enchant our times,
taking risks on holy ground:
hearing God’s heartbeat in our global discomfort,
halting our harshness in our work for justice,
loosening our souls as our fears are named,
recognising new markers
in the passions of our prayers.

Re-enchanted,
we journey freely,
re-imagining God’s presence
with re-awakened minds;
discovering afresh that surprising healing Word

which today, so powerfully,
illumines our poverty of understanding.
~ Iona Advent, Peter Millar

Darkness and Light: A Creed for Advent

We believe in God,
robed in splendour,
veiled in mystery,
ruler alike of darkness and light.
We encounter God
in Jesus Christ,
who was tortured and put to death,
but whose radiance could not be quenched;
whose touch brings a blaze of colour
to a dull, drab world:
reviving the weary,
healing the wounded,
dazzling the satisfied.
We walk with God,
guided by the light of God’s loving spirit,
who enters the shadowed places of our hearts
and leads us into truth and life.
We wait for God,
and for the fulfilment of God’s promises,
for the time when the darkness will hold no fear
and the light will no longer blind,
but creation will be made whole once more
and God’s peace will reign for ever.
Amen
~Iona Advent, Cally Booker


The Voice of God

The voice of God is the voice crying out for justice:
the voice aching for wholeness;
the voice ranging ahead of us,
inviting us to stand fast for justice,
caressing our vulnerability,
tempting us to become whole.
In stillness, let us seek to become open to the voice of God.

We pray:
With people who only hear tormenting voices
raging inside their heads … self-destructive voices,
oppressive voices saying, ‘You’re no good’,
‘You’re wicked’, ‘You’re no one’ …

For people whose voices boom so loudly
they imagine they speak with the voice of God;
for multinational corporations,
dictators and bullies, politicians lost in their own self-importance,
countries who imagine they have a special calling from God …
With those whose voices don’t seem to count;
whose mouths move, but no one listens.
Whose voices can’t penetrate the plate glass of our indifference …

For ourselves: who are assaulted by a Babel of voices telling us,
‘You need this’, ‘You want that’,
‘Buy this product, you’ll be more popular.
You’ll be more beautiful.’
In silence, we strain to hear the voice of God.
Silence (extended)
Out of the troubles of silence gather us,

Voice of God:
agitate and excite us,
startle us with your unexpected presence,
ready us to act for justice. Amen
~Iona Advent, Rachel Mann


Send Us Out With Aniticipation and Joy

At this time of Advent,
fire our imaginations
with the sweep of your salvation.
Catch us up
in the cause of your kingdom,
already breaking into this world
in our ransomed lives
yet waiting for its final fulfilment when Christ shall come again.
And let your Spirit,
wild as the wind,
gentle as the dove,
move within us and among us,
to enliven our worship and strengthen our faith
and send us out with anticipation and joy.
~Iona Advent, John Harvey

Thank you for your support of Sister Parish

Thank you St. Thomas for supporting our Sister Parish relationship with Chichipate, Guatemala through your purchases of SERRV holiday gift items and donations supporting the handcrafted purses. The handcrafted purse project is a joint project between our two communities, providing the women with an income, supporting their community and the ongoing delegations between our communities. Please let us know if you would like to get involved with Sister Parish - we are planning on a delegation in 2011 to visit Chichipate. Let's keep them in our prayers as we celebrate Advent and Christmas together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

MCUM Family Blessings for Christmas

Thank you St. Thomas and Thrivent for the opportunity to share with a family in need in our area. The Mission Committee voted during our November meeting to seek Thrivent funds to be used at MCUM. What a blessing it was to think about them by name, shop for items they need (coats, boots, etc. and a few fun items) and pray for them. Please continue to keep Jairo, Rosa and Daniel (5 yrs old) in your prayers. MCUM is such a wonderful organization and St. Thomas has participated in a variety of ways in their ministries over the years. Here is their beautiful mission statement and some photos of our adopted family's Christmas items.

United Ministries' Mission Statement

Monroe County United Ministries is a nurturing organization serving working families and those in distress by assisting with emergency needs and subsidized childcare. We provide quality education and a safe place for children, basic needs assistance for the poor and community service opportunities.

United Ministries' Values

We believe in children:

In striving for positive development, well being and safety of children
That by providing our services to children, we benefit the community in the future
In providing services to meet developmental needs
In the commitment to licensing standards

We believe in families:

In families in their own diversity
In helping families to meet their goals
That families receiving services 'belong'
In translating human values to the children and parents
In parents striving to improve the life of children

We believe in people:

In the intrinsic worth of every person
In non-discrimination
That people in need deserve help
In targeting our services to those in need
In helping those who are willing to help themselves
In acknowledging our role as collaborator with the person in need
In a holistic approach

We believe in faith:

That faith serves as the foundation for action
In acting on our faith
That supreme guidance leads our work

We believe in ourselves:

In our own knowledge and skills - that we merit support in community
In good stewardship
In accountability
In lifelong learning

World AIDS Day: Wednesday, December 1st

Open our eyes
to what we need to see,
Open our ears
to what we need to hear,
Open our minds
to what we need to know,
Open our hearts
to what we need to bear,
Open our hands
to what we need to give,
Open our lives
to justice and love.

~Ruth Burgess, Iona World Aids Day prayers

Remember the Mashiah Foundation, ELCA missionaries in Africa who have established a home for women and children with HIV/AIDS and help them develop a livelihood through sewing/quilting.

Story from the ELCA website:
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Stories-of-Faith-in-Action/2009/Quilting-Transforms-Lives.aspx

Website of the foundation that organizes this work with stories of people touched by their ministries:
http://mashiahfoundation.org/

Blog showing the beautiful quilting and sewing these women do:
http://womenofhopecreations.blogspot.com/

Friday night Bible dates

Check out this cute post from our missionaries, Kate and David!

Friday night Bible dates

Christmas Gift Giving Ideas

If you would like some Fair Trade gift giving ideas for the holidays, here are a few, but there are many more!

1) In Bloomington, visit Global Gifts on the Square for Fair Trade gifts and also the Divine Chocolate Advent calendars;

2) Order directly online or on the phone from SERRV (where we ordered the items for sale in the narthex) at:

www.serrv.org

Some additional gifts that help others and/or the environment (just google these names):

1) ELCA Good Gifts ( eg. God's Global Barnyard, Healing and more)

2) National Wildlife Federation: see "plant a tree" ornaments and more

3) Heifer International

There are lots of ways to give gifts that make a difference to others and the earth, so please share more of your ideas in the comment portion here - thanks!

Sister Synod in Indonesia

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the earthquake in Indonesia, especially with our Sister Synod. If you would like to learn more and contribute via Lutheran World Relief, just cut and paste this link:

http://www.lwr.org/emergencies/10/IndonesiaQuake/index.asp

We also pray for a reduction in religious tension in Indonesia, especially for or Sister Synod there. For a little background, you can cut and paste this article from the NYTimes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/world/asia/30iht-indo.html

LWR and Cholera in Haiti

Please pray for all of those struggling in Haiti. Here is some information from LWR on the situation and how you can donate:

http://www.lwr.org/emergencies/10/haitiearthquake/

Guatemalan Issues

Here are a few articles on the political, economic and crime challenges in Guatemala. These are an important part of the context for our Sister Parish relationship. Please share other articles you come across too as we go along this journey of learning together about the issues our sisters and brothers in Chichipate face.

On crime and politics:

http://www.economist.com/node/16381040?story_id=16381040

On drug related crime:

http://www.economist.com/node/15663302

On malnutrition and politics:

http://www.economist.com/node/14313735

NYTimes country background and articles:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/guatemala/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=guatemala&st=cse

AIDS Quilt and World Aids Day

World Aids Day is coming in just a few weeks (Dec. 1). Bloomington is lucky enough to have the AIDS quilt on display here in for a few days now. Please see the article from the HT below for details.

AIDS quilt panels to be displayed at IU
By Dann Denny331-4350 | ddenny@heraldt.com
November 8, 2010, last update: 11/7 @ 10:47 pm

A panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt that was displayed Oct. 31 at Bloomington High School North. A 520-panel section of the quilt will be displayed at IU starting Thursday. Chris Howell | Herald-Times
A 520-panel exhibit of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on view at no charge starting Thursday at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union.

“This is a pretty big deal, and we’re excited about it,” said Bethany Lister, a spokeswoman for the event. “There have been several other displays in Bloomington, the last occurring in 2004. But this is the biggest.”

It will also be the biggest ever held in the state. Before this event, the largest display of the quilt in Indiana was in 1999, also in Alumni Hall.

“It’s important to keep educating the younger generation about AIDS,” Lister said. “Lots of undergraduates don’t know who Ryan White was, and AIDS is no longer headline news.”

Lister said today’s young people are not as frightened by AIDS because there are several medications that can effectively treat it. “But even though these medications can improve the quality of life and extend life, there is still no cure,” she said.

The exhibit will be massive. Some of the panels will be hanging on the ceiling. Others will be attached to walls or on the floor. Ryan White’s panel is included in the display, along with the panels commemorating the lives of other Hoosiers.

“You walk around and you don’t know where to look next,” said Kathryn Brown, a sexual health educator at the IU Health Center and member of the Community AIDS Action Group of South Central Indiana. “I want students to understand that if they have never been to a quilt display, it’s a really emotional experience. Once you walk in there you immediately realize that you just can’t stay there for just five minutes.”

After a student reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Indiana Memorial Union Gallery, there will be an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. the same day, with the exhibit remaining open that night until 9:30. The exhibit will also be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15. There will be a closing ceremony at 4 p.m. Nov. 15.

There will be related events, such as performances by Kaia, the Bloomington Peace Choir, Voces Novae, Quarryland Men’s Chorus and the African American Choral Ensemble; multiple screenings of "Common Threads", a documentary about the quilt; community quilting bees; and closing remarks from Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. Visit www.thecaag.org for more information. All events are free and open to the public.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is presented by CAAG of Southern Indiana, The Names Project and Union Board.

AJ O’Reilly, Union Board canvass director, said, “I hope people take away that AIDS is still around and is not just an issue that is overseas. The goal is to get people talking about these issues.”

Liz James, Union Board coordinator of the AIDS Quilt display, said many college students today know nothing about the quilt, which was part of the ’80s and ’90s American culture.

“I think the AIDS Memorial Quilt display will make my generation more motivated to make a difference when they realize what the past generation has done to foster AIDS education and awareness,” she said.

To learn more about the AIDS Memorial Quilt display — including schedules, photos, and volunteer information — visit www.thecaag.org.

About the quilt

The AIDS Memorial Quilt began with a single panel created in San Francisco in 1987.

The panels come from every state in the nation and every corner of the globe.

The panels have been sewn by friends, lovers and family members.

Many of the panels, which are the size of coffins, are 3-D — with personal items attached to them such as a T-shirt, teddy bear and jewelry.

The quilt has raised more than $4 million for services for people with AIDS.

The quilt totals 1.3 million square feet.

LWR/SERRV Gift Items and Guatemalan Purses to Support Sister Parish

1) Look for the LWR/SERRV items for sale in November in the narthex. There are lots of great holiday gift ideas! All profits will support future Sister Parish delegations.

2) Look for Guatemalan purses soon! A group of women in Chichipate have made a handbags in a variety of colors and sizes and they should be arriving in the next few weeks. Keep your eyes out for them! The purses will be offered as a gift for donations to St. Thomas/Sister Parish.

Interfaith Shelter link and information

St. Thomas supports the Interfaith Shelter here in Bloomington, Indiana. Check out the website for the Interfaith shelter with background information, training, schedules, FAQs, donation opportunities and more!

http://interfaithwintershelter.org/

Mission Media Series in the Community

The Mission Committee invites you to join in and attend some of the guest speakers that are part of the IU Themester on Sustainability. Here are two opportunities we would like to highlight:


1) Author/Poet Wendell Berry, Sustainability Nature/Humor, Nov. 9. 10. 11. We feature the one on Nov 11th, 7:30 pm, Rawles Hall 100. Rawles Hall is off 3rd Street near Swain Hall. Atwater is the closest garage.

2) Author Barry Lopez, Sustainability Nature Writer, Nov. 17th 5:30 pm, IMU Solarium
Note: Suzanne H. is currently reading his "Vintage Lopez" book, so chat with her if you would like to know more about this author.

Meet at the church at 5:00 pm for Barry Lopez and 6:45 pm for Wendell Berry and carpool to the event. Determine where to meet for drinks afterwards to discuss the presentation.

For more information on these events and a full list of the Themester opportunities see:

http://themester.indiana.edu/calendar.shtml

For a map of the IU campus see:

http://www.indiana.edu/~iubmap/

Mission Fair Follow Up

Thanks to everyone who participated, attended and helped share the excitement during the Mission Fair! We had people sharing their passion for the following mission issues and organizations:

St. Vincent DePaul
ECHO

Earth Care

Pages to Prisoners
IU GLBT

Sister Parish
ELCA Missionaries: Kate and David

Kiva Microloans/St. Thomas Lenders
ELCA Hunger Initiatives
MCUM
Crop Walk for Hunger

Pinnacle School and Learning Services (formerly DePaul School)

Doctors Without Borders
Fair Trade

Homelessness: Interfaith Shelters

ELCA Multicultural Ministries: American Indian

St. Thomas Mission Fair This Sunday

Come see and hear some of the many varied mission passions of members and friends of the St. Thomas community this Sunday in between services, 9:30 am - 11 am. Take some time to see what they have on their table displays and chat with them about why they are passionate about their mission interest. Spread the word and come join us!

Iona Mission Blessing

May God write a message upon your heart,
bless and direct you,
then send you out
as living letters of the Word.
Amen

Iona Blessing

LWR Nothing But Nets

Suggested offering in celebration of Bishop Gafkjen’s installation is a $10 contribution from each family to Lutheran World Relief’s project “Nothing but Nets,” a comprehensive international effort to reduce infant and child mortality by two-thirds and reduce overall incidences of malaria in Africa by 2015. Please make check’s payable to St. Thomas with a memo of “Nothing but Nets”. A check will be delivered at the installation service on September 11th.

CROP Walk and St. Thomas

St. Thomas has participated in the annual Church World Service Crop Walk for many years. This fall we are in need of a coordinator for our congregation. The Monroe County Crop Walk is October 17 this fall. Please tell Kaye in the church office or Shari/Mission Committee if you are interested in coordinating our walkers this year. Thanks!

http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/TR/2010FallCROPHungerWalk/TeamRaiser-Fall2010?pg=entry&fr_id=5700

MCUM "Each One Feed One" Campaign

Learn how you can help with the "Each One Feed One" campaign, August 27-29. Both volunteers and donations are needed:

http://www.mcum.org/

Lutheran World Relief and Floods in Pakistan

Learn about what LWR is doing to help bring emergency relief in Pakistan with the floods. It tells how you can help too:

http://www.lwr.org/emergencies/10/PakistanFloods/index.asp

Mission Fair Coming in September

Is there a project or organization you are involved with here in town, in our region, nationwide or in another country? We share the love of God with others in so many ways, walking with people near and far. September will bring the opportunity for us each to share our mission involvement with others in our community to inform, share our excitement, or just chat about what excites us!

The St. Thomas Mission Fair will be coming in a few weeks, so think about if you would like to reserve some space so that you can share your mission involvement! More details will be coming in the weekly announcements, newsletter and here.

Reflection on our Mission Partners

IONA EASTER REFLECTION 2010

The tomb was silent,
and the body of the One
who had valued them for themselves
had somehow gone.

Sorrow was now their companion
as they encountered the bewildering
silence of God.

Yet in that place of dislocation,
they met a stranger on the road,
and slowly recognised
that hope could be reborn.

Their hope and our hope,
present in the very silence
which makes desolate the heart
and imprisons the spirit.

For in the places of fragile hope and few resurrections
still that stranger walks,
and understands,
and heals.

It’s the solidarity of Love at work
in our uncertain but still beautiful world,
and we are held.

Peter Millar, Iona Community

When I read this, I thought of our missionary, Kate. She has clearly been challenged and touched by ministering to kids who struggle with their daily existence, not having enough to eat and other things that put them at risk. I think of other ELCA missionaries who work with the Women of Hope ministry of the Mashiah Foundation in Africa with women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. The people in Chile and Haiti also come to mind. We all experience a place of "fragile hope" at some point in our lives. I like how this Iona reflection captures the accompaniment model of walking along side others and the solidarity of Love at work. I pray that in this Eastertide we and those we pray for around the world will feel the comforting presence and impact of this Love at work.

Pastor Lyle's Sabbatical

Let us keep Pastor Lyle in our prayers as he begins his sabbatical. He will be visiting many of our mission partners. Pray that his sabbatical will be a renewing time for him and that it will strengthen his ministry and mission work on behalf of the St. Thomas community.

Easter People

The Master Carpenter
O Christ, the Master carpenter, who at the last, through wood and nails, purchased our whole salvation, wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your bench may here be fashioned to a truer beauty of your hand. We ask it for your own name's sake.
Amen

Blessing
May the joy, and the confidence, of Easter be ours, both in our personal lives, and in our life of obedience and discipleship in the world. Amen

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. We are an Easter people! Amen

Global Mission Gathering..Glocal

Why attend the Glocal Mission Gathering?

What's different about this event?

The ELCA Glocal Mission Gathering brings together experts and resources on global and domestic ministry under one roof, for one weekend, in one convenient location so congregational leaders can build skills you need to be an effective part of God's mission no matter where you serve. Your input into this event will also help ELCA Global Mission serve more effectively.

Why Attend?

Mission takes place everywhere in the world — including North America, where it influences our ministry every day. By understanding how God's activity is changing the world around us, we can build and develop skills that help us engage, serve, support, learn, and travel more effectively, globally and domestically. These skills can help you be an effective part of God's mission.

Register for an upcoming event. For only $35 per person and in only 1-1/2 days, your team can:

Enhance your connections with the worldwide Lutheran family
Gain practical skills for mission
Give, receive, and serve more effectively
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When: Friday, April 23, 2010 3:00 PM - Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:30 PM
Central Time Zone

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Where:
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1310 Main Street
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701


Planner: Sunitha Mortha

Interfaith Shelter Gratitude Celebration

Dear Ones -
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We have successfully completed our mission to provide a warm safe place to sleep in Bloomington, Indiana from November 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010! Congratulations on a job well done (but not finished). As many of you have expressed, our work is not complete because tonight there will be 30+ people looking for another place to sleep. So, the IWSI Task Force has extended my contract to organize a Homelessness Summit to bring together all interested parties in the next few months to work toward a innovative and integrated solution to our community situation.
Please contact me if you would like to help with the planning.

A more urgent matter is we have planned a Gratitude Celebration for the IWSI, in particular, for all the volunteers who made the program a success. It will be from 5-7 pm on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at First United Church, 2420 E. Third Steet, Bloomington. We have planned an IU Jazz Ensemble to play, along with refreshments, including finger foods. It will be a
wonderful way to celebrate the IWSI community we have built. We need a fairly accurate count of how many people to prepare food for, so please RSVP to me by 5:00 pm Tuesday April 6 if you are planning on attending. You can RSVP directly to me at tom@innerspark.org.

With deep gratitude,
Tom
Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Capshew, Interfaith Minister
Interfaith Winter Shelter Administrator
Cell Phone (812) 219-6734

Violence in Nigeria and the Mashiah Foundation Update

For World Aid's Day a couple years ago, we supported an ELCA effort in Nigeria called The Mashiah Foundation/Women of Hope for women and children with HIV/AIDS through a sale of their quilted items. They also spoke at the ELCA Global Mission Event and created the magnificent gigantic quilt (in this photo above) that they gave to the ELCA. Here is the link if you would like to learn more them:

http://www.mashiahfoundation.org/

I recently emailed them to find out how they are doing with the recent violence in Nigeria and received this update from the parents of the missionaries:

Hi--

Thanks for your concern. We've talked to Mary Beth a couple times since the violence began Sunday morning. They haven't experienced anything or heard any fighting where they are. In fact, on Sunday Mary Beth spent the afternoon at a nearby pool with the kids. Today Hillcrest notified all parents to pick up their kids at noon. Other activities around the community and ministry ground to a halt too because so many people just chose to go home and not be out on the streets. She doesn't know if anything more is happening or if people are being super cautious. It's interesting that this violence is receiving so much news coverage while the violence in January, which was much worse, didn't make the news at all. That was probably due to the fact that the Haiti earthquake happened about the same time.

Rick and I just returned Saturday from our month-long visit to Nigeria. We were originally scheduled to go over there right as the January riots took place. The result was that we delayed our trip for two weeks. We felt safe while we were there, and even went about most of our usual in-town excursions. There are military personnel at various spots throughout the city to stop rioting as it happens. Yesterday's violence occurred in small villages on the outskirts of Jos.

Thanks for your prayers.

Sandi

News from Francisca in Chile

We received this email from Francisca today:

Hi!
Don´t worry friends, in my house nothing happened, because my house is very strong and solid, only it was the fright of the sudden movement of all the things for the earthquake, lamentably in other places of my country the houses fall out and the families stayed in the street, but we have a good government here at the time are calm of that everything will go out well. Only it is a thing of time. Thank you for your worry! I love you.
Francisca

Who is that with Cindy?

You might notice someone new worshiping with Cindy from our committee. Please take a minute to welcome Jonatan, Cindy's husband, during his first trip to the US! Welcome to St. Thomas Jonatan!

World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer will be celebrated on March 5. See the bulletin insert for details. Women around the world especially celebrate this day. See the article in the Lutheran magazine discussing how important this day is to so many people. Consider participating in some way to show your solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world, whether at home or as part of the local recognition discussed in the bulletin insert.

Prayers for Chile

Please keep the people of Chile in your prayers after the massive earthquake there recently. Please pray specifically also for our sister synod and the family of Francisca, the youth who visited us this summer.

Here is an update on the situation in Chile from the IK Synod Office:

Partners in Mission,

As you know by now, Chile was hit with a serious earthquake the morning of February 27. The ELCA has released news about how the earthquake is affecting our companion church, the IELCH (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile). Here is a link to the most recent (as of 6:00 EST Saturday evening):

http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4461

In addition, through other communications channels I have received the following bits of information about some particular individuals and congregations, some of which is in the news release linked above.

From ELCA churchwide staff: The earthquake was really major and long. Both Pastora Gloria Rojas and Karen Anderson (ELCA missionary who works with EPES, a community health organization in Chile) are in their homes communicating by phone (cell phones do not work). Pastora Gloria has been able to contact all the congregations and pastors except Concepcion. Concepcion and Talca (near Concepcion) is where the major damage happened because of the proximity to the epicenter and has no communication. There are two IELCH congregations in/near Concepcion.

From an I-K Synod Global Mission Committee member's phone conversation with Pastora Gloria's son: Everyone in Santiago is doing well some structures tumbled they do not know how extensive the damage is at this time but they do know that Pastor Oscar (who serves in Concepcion) and his family are doing well.
I have sent a communication to Pastora Gloria assuring her that the people of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod are in prayer for her as she leads her church through this tragedy and for the people of the IELCH as they minister to one another and others around them even as many of them assess damage, work through grief and uncertainty, and look for a way forward.
Please share this information as broadly as possible, accompanied by encouragement to hold Pastora Gloria Rojas, the people of the IELCH, and the people of Chile in prayer. As more information becomes available we will share it synodically. In coming days we will also be in conversation with IELCH leadership about ways in which we as a synod can best express our companionship with our sisters in brothers in Chile, both in the immediate future and in the weeks and months ahead.

In the meantime, if folks desire to give immediate financial donations to Lutheran relief work in Chile they may do so through the ELCA's International Disaster Response at:

https://community.ELCA.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=537.

Thank you for your solidarity with the people of the IELCH and of Chile in general as they now seek to stand on the firm foundation of God's gracious promise of resurrection and new life.

Grace, mercy and peace be with you,

Pastor Bill Gafkjen
Assistant to the Bishop
(Campus Ministry, Candidacy, Global Mission & Synod Assembly Planning)
Director for Evangelical Mission

Note from Missionaries Kate and David

February 18, 2010

Dear Friends:

A couple of days ago our family boarded a plane from Boston to Buenos Aires and our two and half month home assignment came to an end. As we now reflect on what this time back in the United States has meant to us, the image of the medieval pilgrimage comes to mind. Medieval pilgrims usually set out toward a specific destination in light of a particular event. They traveled to be eyewitnesses of sacred events and places. They went seeking first-hand knowledge and experiences of a particular way God can "break into" human lives and transform us for God's own purposes. In our case the destination has been into the heart and hearths of your congregations and homes. The event has been the celebration of our shared faith in Christ and our connection through global mission.

As with the medieval tradition of showing hospitality to pilgrims and wayfarers -- who were warmed by the glowing embers of the hearths of inns and homes along the way -- you have so generously received us in your congregations and homes. You have welcomed us with potlucks replete with delicious food as we gathered around tables for joyful fellowship. We helped complete the circles around your Communion tables and joined our voices with yours in prayer and songs of thanksgiving and praise. We were privileged to be invited into the intimacy of many of your homes to swap stories over an evening cup of tea in your living room or a morning coffee at the kitchen table. We truly had the privilege of many delightful moments of fellowship during this time! Thank you!

Your hospitality has sustained us along the way and has strengthened us for our journey now back to our ministry in South America. Visiting your local missions and ministries has energized us with a renewed sense of passion and purpose. Like the pilgrims who returned to their ordinary lives with so many tales from afar, we return with all the richness of the life and faith stories that you have shared with us.

We also want to give a special thanks to our siblings and parents who helped to care for our children Emily and Matthew during much of the time we were visiting sponsoring congregations.

Tomorrow we leave for a camping retreat with the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) volunteers who are serving in Argentina and Uruguay this year. It will be like the crossroads where the paths of several pilgrims meet as we share tales of our travels with them and hear their stories from these months that we have been away. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

In Christ,

Kate and David

Attached pictures:

One of several happy reunion moments with our children after being away visiting sponsoring congregations.

New Spanish Classes Begin at St. Thomas

Ever considered learning Spanish? Come and join the new class being taught by Cindy V. at St. Thomas. This is a great opportunity to learn Spanish and relate it to our mission relationships in Guatemala, Argentina, Peru and more. The class begins this month (Tuesdays) and will run probably through May - no need to commit to coming to all the sessions though. If you would like further information, contact the church office or Cindy V.

I-K Synod Mission Coaches

Our synod is trying to encourage and develop "mission coaches" to help support mission within the churches of our synod. I am participating in this process and would be happy to include anyone else interested. There is one information and training session this month and another in March. Please contact me for more information. (Shari)

Lenten Global Mission Devotions

Here is a link for the 2010 ELCA Global Mission Lenten Series. You might find a use for it either for your own personal devotions or perhaps for a small group you are involved with during Lent. The ELCA website actually has their Lenten Global Mission Series materials going back several years so you could choose among them in case you prefer one of the previous themes.

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/Engage-in-Global-Mission/Lenten-Series-2010.aspx

2010 Prayers for our ELCA Missionaries Kate Lawler and David Wunsch

Please support our ELCA missionaries, Kate and David through prayer. Here are some suggested ways you can support them in prayer each month.

January - for safe travels on their visit to sponsoring churches in the US and as they return to South America

February - for financial support of the Global Mission work of Kate and David and other ELCA missionaries

March - for the companion Lutheran churches Kate and David serve in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Uraguay as they celebrate Lent and Easter.

April - for the Young Adults in Mission program Kate and David coordinate in Argentina and Uraguay

May - for our missionaries Kate, David, and their children Emily and Matthew

June - for the work of Kate and David in supporting leadership development in our companion churches in South America

July - for the work of Kate and David in encouraging and supporting peace and reconciliation in South America

August - for the ongoing financial support of our missionaries Kate and David and other ELCA missionaries

September - for Kate and David and their work with the young women in South America

October - for Kate and David and their work with confirmation classes in South America

November - for Kate and David who face challenges in feeding the spirits of those they serve in South America many of whom also have hungry bodies

December - for our missionaries Kate, David and their children Emily and Matthew as they celebrate Christmas in South America. We remember with thanks their visit to St. Thomas at this time last year.

ELCA Resources for the Earthquake in Haiti

Gracious God,
Your word of peace stills the storms that rage in our world.
Bring hope to places that know devastation in the calm after the earthquake.
Bring comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones and property.
Let your love be known through those who work to bring order in the chaos.
Help us to shoulder the burden of suffering
and make us bearers of the hope that can be found in you
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

from the ELCA website

We mourn the loss of life and ministry of Ben Larson, ELCA Wartburg seminary student in this earthquake. He and his wife led the music at the recent ELCA Global Mission Event we attended:

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4394

Here is the link for ELCA resources in disaster response worship materials, prayers, donating to LWR for Haiti relief work and more:

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster-Response/Ongoing-Responses/Haiti-Earthquake.aspx

Prayer for Haiti

Comforting Lord,
Be with the people of Haiti
As they mourn their loved ones
Who have died in the earthquake.
Give the rescue and relief workers
The strength, courage and compassion
They need for the difficult job they face.
Help us to continue to hold this country
In our thoughts and prayers over the
Coming months as they continue
To rebuild their lives and their country.
Amen.

2009 Mission Report

Hello!
Please review this draft report to council and let us know if we missed something. It's been an active year and we continue to seek God's guidance for how we can be involved in 2010.

January: "Taste of South America" event with recipe booklet as fundraiser for our ELCA missionaries, Kate Lawler and David Wunsch.

February/March: Planning increased communication and educational activities for our Sister Parish relationship: create bulletin board, send Easter card to Chichipate, plan panel discussion.

April: Guatemalan Panel Discussion to raise awareness of important issues in Guatemala.

May: St. Thomas Lenders group started, providing global micro loans through Kiva.org online. Plant sale fundraiser for ECHO (Education Concerns for Hunger Organization).

June: Mission Media Series continues with several summer sessions on environmental issues, "End of the Spear" and the documentary with our bishop in it, "In God's Name."

July: Visit from our sister synod - Francesca joined us from Chile, participated in our community and then the ELCA Youth Gathering.

August: Solidarity Scarves fundraiser for the Sister Parish Solidarity trip to Guatemala.

September: St. Thomas Mission Fair, where all are welcome to share their projects, activities, organizations with an emphasis on education, not fund raising. Began involvement with new local Inter-faith winter shelter. Introduction to "Every Person a Missionary" materials through small groups at St. Thomas.

October: CROP Walk to eliminate poverty and hunger. Sister Parish Solidarity trip to Guatemala.

November: Guatemalan Advent Series, Sister Parish Devotions book and "Sharing the Dream" fundraiser for our Sister Parish activities.

December: Visit from our ELCA missionaries, Kate Lawler and David Wunsch (and David's parents and Kate/David's kids)

Mission Related Worship: Throughout the year, the Mission Committee recommended various additions to our worship to focus on certain mission issues, eg. Global Mission Sunday, Sister Synod Sundays, Crop Walk commissioning/prayers, Earth Day liturgy/prayers and more.