World AIDS Day

Watching the facebook posts from people around the world who see the presence of World AIDS Day so much more visibly than we do here in Indiana, I am thankful for the support of St. Thomas for the Women of Hope sale and our litany marking the day. http://womenofhopecreations.blogspot.com/

Sister Parish Solidarity Walk

Thank you to all the people who supported the Sister Parish Board of Directors visit to Bloomington! Thanks to those who provided a home stay, transportation, food and more. The Solidarity Walk is an annual event to raise funds for the Sister Parish organization. Please consider contributing if you are able. Contact the church office for more information. Sister Parish board members will be doing Temple Talks and the Adult Forum at church on November 11th, so please attend if you are able. The Mission Committee is hosting a Craft Sale on Nov. 11th to fund several of our mission partners. Please stop by and shop and make an extra donation if you are able. Thank you!

Hurricane Sandy

Prayer after a Storm Loving God, we come to you trusting in your mercy and knowing that your steadfast love endures forever. Look with mercy on those who are harmed or displaced by the storm. Give them your strength to meet the days ahead, your peace which passes all understanding and new hope in the resurrection. Move in those who are able to give aid, that we may be your hands and heart on earth. Be with all who offer assistance, may your Spirit may uphold them. As you have made water a sign of your kingdom, and of cleansing and rebirth, grant your people vision to see new life on the other side of disaster. To you be given all honor and praise, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. (Pastor Kay Braun, adapted) Please consider giving to the ELCA disaster relief to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Here is the direct link for online contributions or you can make a check out (put "Hurricane Sandy" in the note line) and give it through the church office. https://community.elca.org/page.aspx?pid=784

Sister Parish Board Visit and Solidarity Walk at St. Thomas

The Sister Parish Board will be holding their annual meeting at St. Thomas November 9-11. There are a variety of opportunities for our congregation to engage in conversations and food with them! Please check the newsletter and bulletins for all of these opportunities. One key opportunity is the Solidarity Walk on Saturday, Nov. 10. Please consider joining in this short Solidarity Walk or supporting it through prayer and/or your donations. This is the one key fundraising event that the national organization does each year to help fund their organization. Sister Parish has also recently updated their website, so you can add this to your bookmarked pages and check it out! http://sisterparish.org/activities/solidarity-walk/ The Mission Committee invites you to join into the conversations, food and fun with the Sister Parish Board Nov. 9-11. Please check the newsletter and bulletin for more details. Thanks to all the people who are helping make this visit possible through their offers of housing, transportation, food and more!

Upcoming Mission Holiday Sale

Beginning November 11, the mission committee will be hosting a sale of items that support several of our mission partners. We will have fair trade items from LWR/SERRV, as well as jewelry from Living Waters and quilted items from an ELCA missionary organization for women and children with HIV/Aids. The mission committee plans on hosting this sale for three weeks, unless inventory runs too low. So please stop by and see if there are any potential gift items you would like to purchase for the holidays. Please also consider if you are able to make any additional small donation beyond the price of the items to support our mission ministries and programs. Thank you!

CROP Walk

Please consider supporting the youth group as they sponsor our participation in CROP Walk this year! They have a table in the narthex, so please check it out. The walk begins this Sunday, October 21, at First United Church. Registration is at 1:30 pm and the walk begins at 2 pm. Please consider making a contribution to this wonderful fundraiser that supports local, national and global hunger and poverty alleviation. You can still contribute even the week or two after the walk occurs. Thank you to our youth group for sponsoring this event for St. Thomas!

St. Thomas Kiva Lenders

Wow! The St. Thomas Kiva Lenders have just hit the $5000 mark for the 160 loans that the team has made to men and women all around the globe! That is really exciting! Thank you for being a part of their stories, walking along side of them as they take the initiative to improve their lives. May this continue to be a blessing for many more. Thank you from the Mission Committee!

Visit From Our New Friends From Living Waters

The visit began with breaking bread together at the Bakken home with our new friends from Living Waters (Cherokee, North Carolina, ELCA).

Pastor Jack Russell delivered the sermon as we worshipped together.

Blessing for our new relationship, walking alongside each other in faith.

Sharing gifts with one another, including this gift to us from Living Waters of a "Dream Catcher." We look forward to growing in faith and friendship together!

Prayer for Restless Discomfort

“May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.  May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.  May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.  May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. Amen!”

    ~from ELCA blog on hungerrummblings

Evening on Islam hosted at St. Thomas on Monday, Sept. 10

Think you don't know enough about the practice of Islam?  Tired of hearing people equate Muslims with terrorism?  On Monday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. Chris Ogan will host an informational panel about the religion and its practice that also provides information resources for further study.  Zaineb Istrabadi, Instructor of Arabic in IU's Department of Near East Languages and Cultures; Rosemary Pennington, Project Coordinator for Muslim Voices, an Indiana University project dedicated to promoting understanding and dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims; and Chris Ogan, a long-time student of Turkish Muslim culture, society, and media  will be the presentors. 

The evening will also include refreshments of tea and Turkish pastries and sweets.  Please join us.

St. Thomas Mission Fair on September 16

The Mission Committee would like to invite and encourage you to share your passion and knowledge about whatever service/mission projects you might be involved in either through St. Thomas or on your own.  The St. Thomas Mission Fair is on Sunday, September 16 between services and briefly after the late service and we would love to reserve some table space for you to display some literature, photos, objects and more from your organization or activity.   

This is an opportunity to raise awareness for mission related issues or projects here in our community, nationwide or around the globe that are near and dear to your heart.  Just let us know if you would like some table space so that we can reserve it and have a table sign ready for you with the name of the organization or project. 

This event is purely about raising awareness and enthusiasm, not about raising money, so it takes the pressure off and everyone can just share their passion for their activity and learn from each other!

If you have any questions or would like to reserve table space, please contact the Mission Committee (phone or email Shari) or the church office.

Cherokee Jewelry for Sale

On Sunday, August 26, after the early service and before and after the late service, Mission Committee members will be hosting a sale table of beaded Cherokee jewelry made by the women’s group at our mission partner congregation, Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee, North Carolina.  The women use these jewelry sales as their fundraiser for their community service projects, so all funds raised will go directly back to Living Waters.  The jewelry is beautiful—please check out the table next Sunday.

Reflection on the First Delegation to Living Waters

 Pastor Jack and his wife and partner in ministry, Lisa.  Living Waters Church, below.

After a 10-hour drive, the last part of it through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, our delegation arrived in Cherokee, North Carolina, on Thursday night.  On Friday morning, we met with Pastor Jack Russell of Living Waters Lutheran Church.  He spent some time telling us about the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, the land that they now occupy (which is known as the Qualla Boundary), and their congregation.  There are about 13,000 eastern Cherokee--descendents of those who hid from the 1838 forced removal to Oklahoma which became known as the Trail of Tears) who now live on the tribal lands in North Carolina as well as in neighboring parts of that state and other states.  Of the 16 churches that serve the town and surrounding area of Cherokee, Living Waters is the only Lutheran Church -- and only one of 3 congregations that ministers to the community through a food pantry and clothing pantry.
 
We also met Lisa Russell, as well as their daughter and son.  We spent most of the day working in the food pantry (Lisa put our guys to work sorting all of the bulk foods into portion bags) and the clothing closet.  We were able to sort the bags and boxes of your donated clothing into categories for the upcoming distribution on June 27.  Lisa runs a truly remarkable ministry to the Cherokee community from their small church -- clothing is donated to anyone in need who comes to the church on distribution days, but she also works with the local Drug Court to give clothing to young people who are coming out of a rehab program as well as mothers and children living in the local emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse.  Some of your donations will also go to a local group that works with men and women trying to find employment who need a set of good clothes for their job interviews.  
 
On Saturday, at Pastor Jack's urging that we learn more about the Cherokee history and culture, we went to the wonderful Museum of the Cherokee Indian in town, as well as the Oconaluftee Indian Village, which recreates the life of the eastern Cherokee people in the 1700s.  On Sunday morning, we were warmly welcomed at worship service, which begins with the traditional Cherokee practice of smudging -- sage incense is burned in a large sea shell and the shell is passed to each member of the community, who prays and cleanses themselves four times with the smoke from the incense.  The congregation also sings the Cherokee Morning Song and prays a traditional seven-direction prayer (East-South-West-North-the Sky-Mother Earth-and the inner human spirit).  All these take place before the official Lutheran liturgy begins.  After worship, we joined the congregation for a Father's Day dinner, with Lisa Russell's delicious Indian fry bread made into tacos, as well as lots of great desserts. We met and spoke with many members of the congregation and received a wonderful and warm welcome.  Monday morning, we regretfully left behind our view of the mountains and the cool weather (in the 70s every day we were there) and headed for home.  
 
We are all grateful for the opportunity to have represented our congregation to another loving and giving group of Christians at Living Waters.  We hope that this will be the first of many visits between our congregations.
 
On behalf of our delegation (Ruth Rives, Liz Gaskins, Alonso Saldivar, Darrell Bakken, and Dawn Bakken), thank you.

 Delegates Alonso and Darrell helping in the pantry at Living Waters (above).

 Delegates Liz and Ruth helping in the clothes closet at Living Waters (above).

The Smoky Mountains (above).  Thanks to delegate Dawn for this reflection and the photos!!

Living Waters Delegation Update

Our delegation to Living Waters in Cherokee, North Carolina arrived safely!  Friday they spent about half of the day meeting with Pastor Jack and learning more about their congregation.  Then they helped with two of their projects there - the clothes closet and the pantry.  Thank you to those of you who sent along summer clothes as they requested to help boost the summer clothing they have available in the clothes closet!  Our delegation will worship with our new friends at Living Waters tomorrow.  We look forward to hearing more from them.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers.  Look for additional Cherokee prayer resources in the narthex provided by the delegation.

Cherokee Morning Song

Our delegation to Living Waters is sharing some devotional material with each other in preparation for their trip to visit our new friends in Christ there in Cherokee, North Carolina.  Below is a video of the Cherokee Morning Song, which we understand they sing regularly.  Thanks, Dawn, for circulating this to share with us!

Cherokee Morning Song

Help Fill the Clothes Closet at Living Waters

When our delegates to Living Waters Lutheran Church in Cherokee, North Carolina, leave on June 14^th, we would like to take with us contributions of clothing for the “Clothes Closet” run by the church as part of their mission to the community.  Right now, they are looking for summer clothing in all sizes, infant to adult.  Please consider donating—from your own closets, garage sales, consignment shops, Goodwill, etc.—any lightweight, summer clothes that are 1) gently used, 2) clean and without stains, and 3) with all original buttons, working zippers, etc.  

There will be large marked bins in Room 13 in the Sunday School wing, or label your bags and boxes “Living Waters Clothes Closet” and place them in the room. 

Please make sure that all donations are at the church by Sunday, June 10.

Trip this Summer to Living Waters

We have just started walking alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ at Living Waters ELCA church in Cherokee, North Carolina. This is the only Native American ELCA mission east of the Mississippi River. The Mission Committee reached out to Liz Gaskins to see if we could start learning more about the native peoples of North American, as well as our learning about the native peoples of Central American through our Sister Parish program.  We sponsored the first event with Liz when she shared a video presentation about some of the history of American Indians.  Subsequently, the Mission Committee started seeking more ways to deepen this understanding and perhaps build a similar relationship as to the one we have in Chichipate, Guatemala where we accompany one another and deepen our mutual understanding and faith together.  

Living Waters has been sharing their digital newsletter with us now for a few months and we hope to share ours now too more easily since it is going digital. In their newsletter they highlighted two new ministries: a clothes closet and food pantry for those who need either or both. As a Partner in Ministry, St. Thomas supported their new clothes closet and food pantry ministries through mission committee, Mission Endowment and Thrivent funds. We are also sharing prayers and hope to continue to find more opportunities for learning and sharing our faith communities. 

Photo: Pastor Jack (center, in purple) of Living Waters at his installation as an ELCA pastor


Pastor Jack from Living Waters said they would love to have us join them for worship on Sunday, June 17 in North Carolina. They integrate some of their Native American traditions into the ELCA worship service. We are talking with Pastor Jack about staying a few days perhaps to work on a joint project together, and learn more about their history, customs and congregation. 

We currently have an intergenerational group planning a trip together from approximately June 14-17/18.   The group is planning on driving out together, staying a few days and then driving back.  They are doing a little bit of fundraising with an Indian Taco sale on May 19th at church, but also welcome donations both to underwrite the cost of the trip and to support the projects being done by Living Waters.  If you are interested in learning more or donating, please contact the church office, Liz Gaskins or Dawn Bakken who are coordinating this trip on behalf of the Mission Committee.  

Sunday School Lemonade for Red Cross and Salvation Army

One of our St. Thomas Sunday School classes (co-teachers Ronna and Tiffany) is participating in the Bloomington-wide Lemonade Day (www.bloomington.lemonadeday.org) and they are raising funds for tornado victims via the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.  The stand will be open for business from 11 am – 3 pm on Saturday, May 19 at Lowe’s near the main entrance. Come and treat yourself to a cup of summer! 

Guatemalan Worship and Lunch

The St. Thomas delegation members who traveled to Chichipate, Guatemala planned a wonderful Sunday of reflections to share their experience more widely with the congregation.

 Delegates to Chichipate, Guatemala planned and led our worship service, sharing the type of music and prayers they experienced there:

  "The Q'equchi' greeting of our Sister Parish is "Ma sa ach'ol?" Literally, this means "How is it with your heart?"  Our hearts are full of your love and care for the people of Guatemala.  Fill our hearts and spirits with your love that embraces all persons and places; all hopes and dreams. "
 ~ from the worship service greeting

 Each delegate shared a reflection, here Kris is sharing hers.

We had a marimba player too with the celebration.

 The delegation provided a wonderful Guatemalan meal for the congregation, both as a "thank you" and as a way of sharing more of what they experienced.

 Pastor Lyle enjoying some of the delicious food!

 The huge pot of chicken soup is almost gone!

 Suzanne in a lovely Guatemalan blouse, showing us her plate of tortillas, beans and rice.

 Jon and Zach at the tortilla table, trying to demonstrate how to make tortillas!

Beautiful watermelon for everyone...thanks to the delegation for this wonderful event!

ELCA and World Malaria Day, April 25

World Malaria Day is April 25, 2012. In the ELCA, we’re challenging members to turn World Malaria Day into “World Malaria Week” and raise $200,000 between April 25 and May 1 (including your congregational offerings on April 29) to launch work in Liberia – where malaria accounts for 30 percent of all deaths seen in hospitals. Find more details in an email sent to all congregations. Our sisters and brothers in Liberia are ready. Will you help?

ELCA World Malaria Litany
It comes like a thief in the night, stealing health and hope; Lord of love, bring healing to your broken world. Suffering from malaria, your people cry out to you; Lord of love, bring healing to your broken world. Under the yoke of disease, the walk to the clinic is long; Lord of love, bring healing to your broken world. Resources at our fingertips, love on the tips of our tongues; Lord of hope, use us to heal your world. We have an abundance of gifts, given to us to share; Lord of hope, use us to heal your world. With our sisters and brothers in Africa, standing ready to serve; Lord of hope, use us to heal your world. Lord, you teach us to love; Not in word or speech, but in truth and action And so, in truth and action Let us share your love. Amen

Mail your gifts to the ELCA Malaria Campaign at P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. Be sure to include "World Malaria Day" in the memo line. Source: ELCA website

Sister Parish Event on May 6

These photos are of the dance the youth did to welcome our Sister Parish delegation in Chichipate, as mentioned in Pastor Lyle's sermon. You can also see a photo of their church and fellowship hall. Last is a photo of one of the first community meals shared, which is at the heart of the word "accompaniment" and of our relationship with our friends in Chichipate. The delegation is planning the worship services at St. Thomas on May 6 followed by a lunch to share this "accompaniment" with us, so come join us then to learn more about their experiences!

Going to Church in Chichipate, Guatemala

These photos are of our delegates and their friends in Chichipate going to church together. Watch for upcoming details about an event the delegates are planning to share more of their experiences with us!

Wow - Glocal Mission Event PLUS Synod Assembly!

Attend the ELCA Glocal Mission Event before coming to Synod Assembly

If you plan on attending the I-K Synod Assembly June 7-9, add an extra day and night and attend the ELCA Glocal Mission Event in the Cincinnati area. The special I-K Synod Assembly hotel discount rate will still apply if you wish to come a day early and attend the event!

The ELCA Glocal Mission Event takes place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kenwood, Ohio and costs only $35. This is a fun family event and participants and volunteers of all ages from any congregation and denomination are welcome.

For details on Glocal Event workshops, speakers and on-line registration, visit http://www.elca.org/glocal

For information about volunteering or questions, please contact Glocal Coordinator, Pastor Shelley Nelson-Bridger, pastorshelleynb@gmail.com or 513.922.5590.

Welcome Home to our Sister Parish Delegation!

We welcome home with thanks our Sister Parish Delegation, grateful for their safe journey back to the US and for the blessing that the trip was and that it will become within our community as they share the experience with us.

From our liturgy today, "In this season of Lent, we ask God to break open our hearts and our spirits for the blessings God offers, especially those connected to our Sister Parish, Santo Domingo de Guzman in Chichipate, Guatemala. Lord of compassion and deepest love, break open our hearts and our spirits this Lent. The Q'eqchi' greeting of our Sister Parish is "Ma sa ah chol." Literally, this means, "How is it with your heart?" How is it with our hearts and our spirits this Lent? Fill our broken hearts and spirits withyour love that embraces all persons and places; all hopes and dreams. Break us open, Lord. Guard and guide us into deeper relationships with our Sister Parish partner in Chichipate, with one another, and to you. Fill us with your love. "
Amen

Sister Parish Delegation News

Our delegation has arrived safely back in Guatemala City after staying several days in Chichipate. They have sent messages of gratitude for the warmth, love and hospitality they experienced there. In Guatemala City they are meeting with someone in human rights from the US Embassy. They then go to UPAVIM for lunch and in the afternoon will explore the city. Saturday they are having a talk about mining from a man who is part of an NGO working on this issue, and then pack to go home. They continue to be grateful for our prayers and support as they complete this journey on our behalf.

Delegation Arrived Safely

The St. Thomas Sister Parish delegation made it safely to Guatemala City! So did their luggage! They are having orientation today and will travel tomorrow to Chichipate. Prayers for traveling mercies for their journey and a fruitful time among our friends there.

Indiana-Kentucky Tornado Disaster Relief

The area within the Indiana-Kentucky Mission Territory that was damaged by severe storms, including tornadoes of historic proportions, is large. Ranging from southwestern to southeastern Indiana and from west central to eastern Kentucky, the loss of life, livelihood, and property is great.

As of the morning of Monday March 5, information that we have received suggests that few ELCA congregations or members were directly affected by the storms. Their neighbors, friends and family members were, of course, and are now sifting through the rubble in search of resurrection and new life. Many of our congregations in the area have begun to gather resources of various sorts and to reach out into their neighborhoods and surrounding communities with the compassionate care of Christ.

What Can You Do?

Pray. To know that folks are praying for them and standing with them in this time of trauma gives those in the affected areas hope and comfort, both victims and responders alike.

Donate to Lutheran Disaster Response/ELCA Disaster Response with the designation "Spring Storms 2012": http://www.elca.org/disaster or http://www.ldr.org. All disaster responders recommend sending money as the most helpful thing persons or churches can do in the immediate aftermath of such disasters. Many times donations of materials move too slowly or end up in the wrong place.

As other needs and opportunities to address them continue to emerge, Indiana-Kentucky Synod staff will do their best to communicate this information to leaders and congregations of the synod.

~from the IK Synod newsletter

Meet our St. Thomas Sister Parish Delegation

Pictured above is the delegation that will be representing our community and relationship with our Sister Parish in Chichipate, Guatemala. From left to right are Kris, Zach, Pastor Lyle, Alonso, Jon and Suzanne. They will be traveling to Guatemala over spring break in March. They will arrive in Guatemala City for orientation, then will depart for a full day's journey to Chichipate where our brothers and sisters in Christ will open their homes to them for several days.

Please support our delegation, the Sister Parish staff, and our friends in Chichipate in your prayers, as they prepare for this experience together. Look for further announcements over the coming weeks for additional ways you can support them and learn more about this relationship.

SERRV items for Valentine's Day and More!

This Sunday, February 12th, in between services and after the second service (while supplies last), we will offer Fair Trade items from SERRV including chocolates, coffee/tea, and gift items. Proceeds will help support the Sister Parish delegation. Come check it out!

St. Vincent dePaul Society and St. Thomas

Several members of St. Thomas volunteer with the St. Vincent dePaul Society in Bloomington. As part of the Mission of St. Thomas,
St. Vincent dePaul provides temporary financial assistance to needy individuals or families for utilities, rent, gas for auto, medical expenses or groceries. SVdP also provides furniture and appliances to needy individuals or families, free of charge. Financial donations are made by churches and individuals to support the financial assistance. Furniture and appliances are donated by Monroe County residents and taken to a warehouse where those in need that have a voucher and can select any five items, again all free. Deliveries to a residence are provided by volunteers with trucks for a $5.00 donation to St. Vincent dePaul.

How can St. Thomas help?
* Pray for those in need.
* Donate furniture or appliances, purchase food or gas cards or make a financial contribution.

Check the newsletter for contact information or call the church office.

Cameras for UPAVIM

The Sister Parish delegation to Guatemala is asking for donations of used digital cameras to take to UPAVIM. UPAVIM is a cooperative that was begun in Guatemala City by Lydia Spehr’s brother and his wife, Richard and Barbara Fenske. When Suzanne Halvorson stayed with a family there, she learned that there was a need for a camera for a young man who had a fine talent in photography that was sparked by a program called Fotokids Guatemala. She sent a camera not to him directly but to UPAVIM, and he began a class for children with that one camera. Last year she took down 5 cameras from St. Thomas, and the result is a class of 18 students, and that young man now works for Fotokids. We are looking for used cameras with new batteries and new photo cards. Rechargeable batteries are the best, but any new battery will do. Cameras can be dropped off at the church office. Gracias!

Learn to Weave with Suzanne and Ruth for our Sister Parish Delegation

Suzanne Halvorson and Ruth Rives will be teaching a class on rigid heddle weaving on Saturday, March 3 as a fundraiser for the upcoming Sister Parish delegation. Rigid heddle looms are portable and easy to use, and in one 6- hour class you will be able to complete a handwoven scarf. Space is limited to fife participants. The cost for the class is $50. The time will be 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Yarn, instruction, a soup and bread lunch, and use of our looms are included. To sign up please call the St. Thomas office at 332 -5252. This opportunity is first come first serve, so don’t wait to sign up.

Interfaith Shelter Volunteers Needed

The mission of the Interfaith Winter Shelter is to provide a warm, safe place to sleep, from 9:00 pm - 7:00 am, November 1 to March 31. St Thomas volunteers help staff the First United Church site on Mondays and Tuesdays. Charlene Braun is the new St Thomas liaison to the shelter. Please check with Charlene to see how you might be able to help - there are a variety of ways!

St. Thomas Delegation to Chichipate in March

St. Thomas is sending a delegation to Guatemala from March 9 -18th! We have six delegates traveling together. They will arrive in Guatemala City and travel together to stay in homes in Chichipate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please keep the delegates, the Sister Parish staff and our friends in Chichipate in your prayers as they make the many preparations for this experience together. Watch for news here, in the St. Thomas newsletter and weekly announcements for ways you can support and participate in this experience. Gracias!