Update from EPES

An article in the May 2014 issue of The Lutheran highlights the recent work of our ELCA missionary Karen Anderson of Fundacion EPES (Educacion Popular en Salud / Popular Education in Health Foundation) in Santiago, Chile.  The organization, which began as a health-training project of the ELCA in Chile, sponsored a two-week training course in January 2014 for women from Kenya, Uganda and Chile. Karen said of the training course that, "it was 'probably the first time a Chilean and a Kenyan organization have worked so closely together to share strategies to empower women. The experience has been transformative for all of us.'” Read the full article here: Crossing Continents. To find out more about EPES, visit the EPES website here.

More recently, EPES has been responding to the recent terrible fires of April 13th, 2014 in Valparaiso, Chile, 70 miles west of Santiago. According to an article in the BBC, 10,000 people were evacuated, twelve people died, and many homes were lost. Please keep in your prayers Karen, the others at EPES who are helping the people in Valparaiso, and the displaced residents of Valparaiso.

With Gifts and Gratitude: Fulfilling our Mission

Part I: Accompaniment (continued)

Living Waters Accompaniment

Living Waters is just outside the town of Cherokee, North Carolina, within the Qualla Boundary, the homeland of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. The church is one of 30 native congregations that are a part of the ELCA American Indian and Alaska Native Ministries. Pastor Jack Russell and his wife Lisa serve a small congregation as well as hundreds of other people from the native community, especially through the parish’s food and clothing pantries. Seven members of St. Thomas have visited Living Waters in the summers of 2012 and 2013. We have been warmly welcomed and have been privileged to learn about the history and culture of the Cherokee people. We have also come away with a deep respect for all that the Russells and the members of Living Waters do within the Cherokee community.

To participate in our mission partnership with Living Waters:

1. Read a copy of the Living Waters monthly newsletter, which is available at the information table in the narthex. Find out more about their programs and how the parish works to help preserve and honor the Cherokee culture within the tradition of the Lutheran church.

2. Keep Pastor Jack and Lisa and the members of the congregation in your prayers. Pray for a person or a program that you have read about in the newsletter.

3. Learn about Cherokee history and culture from books and websites. Read some of the books in our church library for young readers with your family. At your local library, there are books for young and adult readers on the Trail of Tears, the forced removal of the Eastern Cherokee from their homelands and their long journey to Oklahoma. Also look at some websites about tribal life today and about Cherokee culture and crafts. See, for example, www.nc-cherokee.com, www.pbs.org/indiancountry/history/trail.html, and www.quallaartsandcrafts.com.

4. Consider going on a trip to North Carolina with other members of St. Thomas or helping to organize a visit from the Russells and members of their congregation to our church.

With Gifts and Gratitude: Fulfilling our Mission

Part I: Accompaniment

Accompaniment seems like a great place to begin to explore current mission work at St. Thomas, as well as ELCA efforts around the world and through synods. The 2013 ELCA Global Mission Gathering Document on Accompaniment (“Global Mission Document”) invites readers to consider accompaniment as a way to better understand the “why” and “how” of mission and to look at the subject in a new way.

Walking with other Christians, in solidarity, while sharing the love of God and doing God’s work together is one way the ELCA defines accompaniment. By studying the Global Mission Document, we learn that instead of showing up and talking to people, we talk with them and we listen a lot. We work toward justice rather than give charity and we offer compassion and empathy instead of pity. The Global Mission Document encourages us to strive to recognize interdependence in our relationships, value mutual decision making and autonomy and embrace local cultures. The idea is that working with and among others, we can rebuild relationships and correct imbalances that have developed over time. We can work toward sustainability for ourselves and our partners and we begin to understand that our stories are not in competition for God’s attention but that we are reconciled within God’s story with the help of grace.

St. Thomas is currently in two relationships that provide all of us the opportunity to experience accompaniment. We are linked with Sister Parish, Iglesia Santo Domingo de Guzman, Chichipate, Parish of San Pedro, El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala and we are partners in ministry with Lutheran Church of the Living Waters, Cherokee, North Carolina.

Sister Parish Accompaniment

St Thomas has maintained a Sister Parish relationship in Guatemala since the early 90’s. Sister Parish is an organization that links churches in the United States with faith-based communities in Central America. We travel as peacemakers, and find joy and hope in being one with Christ. This enhances our faith and expands our vision of relationship in the world. Together with the members of Iglesia Santo Domingo de Guaman in Chichipate, we have enjoyed both North/South and South/North visits. These experiences bless us with “direct person to person contact, with delegates living in each other’s homes and sharing each other’s realities”. To learn more about Sister Parish please go to their website, www.sisterparish.org.

The people in our Sister Parish in Chichipate, Guatemala live in a delicate balance with nature and a nearby Russian-owned mining company. The mining company has been brutal with our people in that they are forcing them off their land by burning homes and crops in the adjacent village.  The mining company wants the land in order to store large equipment, and the government is turning a blind eye. They violently displace families with no interest in helping them replace what they have lost. Our delegations have twice met with the Guatemalan American Embassy’s Human Rights Ambassador to discuss our concerns. Prior to our trip in 2010 there had been a massacre of people trying to attend a peace rally addressing the issue of displacement. When Lyle and Suzanne and our Sister Parish leaders met with the Ambassador, he visited the village within a couple of weeks, and at that time the aggression ceased.

During our last visit we learned that another displacement was planned the week of our visit. It did not happen. They of course knew that we were visiting, and our presence may have helped to deter the displacement. With our upcoming South/North delegation, there will be many opportunities for members of St. Thomas to participate. We our collecting money for their travel expenses and will be looking for hosts families and volunteers to help with programming when they are here. We all can participate by listening to their story. Our accompaniment and our prayers matter a great deal, and this is one important reason to continue our relationship with these beautiful people. 

Greetings from our friends in Chichipate

Our Sister Parish friends in Chichipate, Guatemala recently sent us the following video greetings recorded during a visit by Bryan Taylor, Sister Parish Guatemala Regional Coordinator.

Sunday School Fundraiser for el Sembrador

Pre-schoolers at el Sembrador celebrating Chile's independence day

The St. Thomas Sunday School kids this year are raising money for the pre-school "el Sembrador" outside of Santiago, Chile. In the Adult Forum this Sunday, September 19th, 2014, we'll talk about el Sembrador, the leaders and children involved, the community around the school, the history of Chile, and how we at St. Thomas can walk in solidarity with el Sembrador. We will also show pictures of recent travels to Chile and Argentina. We hope to see you there!

World Aids Day Prayers December 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.
 

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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.

Give by Phone
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.

St Thomas Mission Fair 2013

Youth Group is coordinating our Crop Walk involvement

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!

Sunday School's Offering Project to support our missionary and a local Preschool 

Beads from our friends at Living Waters

Interfaith Winter Shelter

Pamela's talking Bible!

Checking out all of the countries where St Thomas Lenders has made Kiva loans.

Beautiful bounty from the St Thomas Community Garden

ECHO and the St Thomas Community Garden table

St Thomas 4-6 graders completed a scavenger hunt with clues for each booth

Bread for the World booth

ELCA Anniversary Celebration at St. Thomas

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!!

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.

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.

Delegation to Living Waters

Welcome home to our second delegation from St. Thomas who went to visit our friends at Living Waters church in Cherokee, North Carolina! Thank you for helping us continue to build our relationship between our communities. Here are a few photos from their trip, thanks to Dean and Kathleen.

Here are our delegates, Dean, Sydney, Ruth, Pastor Jack, Kathleen and Pastor Jack and Lisa's daughter.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.