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.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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
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
Discover how changes in the world are transforming the way churches like the ELCA proclaim and serve
Lead inviting worship that includes global voices
Travel internationally in a way that is effective, sustainable, respectful, and cross-culturally sensitive
To register click on the registration tab at the top/bottom of the page!
When: Friday, April 23, 2010 3:00 PM - Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:30 PM
Central Time Zone
Add to Calendar
Where:
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1310 Main Street
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
Planner: Sunitha Mortha
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
Discover how changes in the world are transforming the way churches like the ELCA proclaim and serve
Lead inviting worship that includes global voices
Travel internationally in a way that is effective, sustainable, respectful, and cross-culturally sensitive
To register click on the registration tab at the top/bottom of the page!
When: Friday, April 23, 2010 3:00 PM - Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:30 PM
Central Time Zone
Add to Calendar
Where:
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1310 Main Street
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
Planner: Sunitha Mortha
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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
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
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