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.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Missionaries Kate and David Visit Dec. 13
Our missionaries, David Wunsch and Kate Lawler, will be with us at both services on Sunday, December 13th. David will be giving the sermon that day. David's parents hope to attend too along with Kate and David's kids (Emily and Matthew) so that they can see the Christmas program. Please help us welcome them into our community and say hello to them!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Guatemalan Return and Reflections
Pastor Lyle and Suzanne H. returned from participating on our behalf in the Solidarity Delegation with the Sister Parish organization in Guatemala. They met with some of our friends from Chichipate and traveled to several different communities. Please watch for more information on ways in which you can share in this experience:
1) Pastor Lyle's Advent Series will include reflections on this experience: "Advent Hope and Prayer for Chichipate."
2) Look for the St. Thomas Sister Parish Advent Devotions book that includes photos from their trip.
3) Come visit the "Sharing the Dream" tables in the narthex with items from artists in Guatemala. Proceeds support our Sister Parish relationship.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Lyle and Suzanne Back Home Again in Indiana
We received word that Lyle and Suzanne are safely home again and are healthy so far!! The discussion at the US embassy regarding the situation in Chichipate was a fitting ending to their experience. Thank you for the prayers of support during their trip. Continued prayers of guidance are appreciated as we seek ways for them to share their experiences and how our community may respond.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Update from Suzanne and Lyle 10/29
We are finally back in computer land today, after an intense and unspeakably meaningful trip to three Sister Parish Sites. The best news is that our friends Teresa, Martin, Enrique, and Vincente, from Chichipate travelled with us to the second site, and we had some deep and meaningful conversations with them, as well as precious time shared.
Our delegation has been warmly welcomed at each site and the stories and photos will say alot when we get home. Upavim was our first site, and that is an inner city cooperative and resulting community that was started by Lydia Spehr´s Brother and sister in law, Richard and Barbara Fenske. At Tierra Nueve 2 we were treated with a moving presentation of dance, song, and Mayan tradition by the youth of the community, and a Mass that was standing room only where were were warmly recognized. There was also a presentation by the Women´s group showing us their crafts and telling us their stories of sisterhood. In San Andres Itzapa we had the privilege of participating in a Mayan Ceremony at the Ruins in Mixco, along with a visit to a local farm, and a Sister Parish funded school. All of the congregations have let us know how vital it is to their congregations to have a Sister Parish, and that has been an important message for us to hear and experience.
It is late and there is so much more but we are safe and well with full hearts and many stories to process and share. Tommorow our delegation is going to the US Embassy to meet with the Human Rights spokesperson to discuss the situation in El Estor-Chichipate, and other Sister Parish issues.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In good faith,
Suzanne
Our delegation has been warmly welcomed at each site and the stories and photos will say alot when we get home. Upavim was our first site, and that is an inner city cooperative and resulting community that was started by Lydia Spehr´s Brother and sister in law, Richard and Barbara Fenske. At Tierra Nueve 2 we were treated with a moving presentation of dance, song, and Mayan tradition by the youth of the community, and a Mass that was standing room only where were were warmly recognized. There was also a presentation by the Women´s group showing us their crafts and telling us their stories of sisterhood. In San Andres Itzapa we had the privilege of participating in a Mayan Ceremony at the Ruins in Mixco, along with a visit to a local farm, and a Sister Parish funded school. All of the congregations have let us know how vital it is to their congregations to have a Sister Parish, and that has been an important message for us to hear and experience.
It is late and there is so much more but we are safe and well with full hearts and many stories to process and share. Tommorow our delegation is going to the US Embassy to meet with the Human Rights spokesperson to discuss the situation in El Estor-Chichipate, and other Sister Parish issues.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In good faith,
Suzanne
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Solidarity Delegation Sunday Update 10/25
Here is the update from Ashley from Sister Parish regarding Lyle and Suzanne:
Because we were not able to travel to Chichipate, 4 representatives
from the community came into the capital are with Lyle and Suzanne
visiting Tierra Nueva 2. I am afraid that names are escaping me, but
three of the representatives that came today have traveled to
Bloomington (Teresa, Teresa's Husband, and another gentleman), and
also Enrique, who is a younger gentleman.
They spent most of today together in Tierra Nueva 2. They will worship
with the community in Tierra Nueva 2 early Sunday, and then return to
SPC. Suzanne and Lyle in particular will have a chance to sit down and
talk with the representatives from Chichipate as well. The delegation
will be heading to the third community we are visiting, San Andres
Itzapa, on Sunday afternoon.
We spent all day Friday and Friday night in UPAVIM--one of the first
Sister Parish communities. All of the women in UPAVIM send many
greetings to everyone at St. Thomas--because, they say, even though we
may not have had a chance to meet, we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ.
Take care,
Ashley
Because we were not able to travel to Chichipate, 4 representatives
from the community came into the capital are with Lyle and Suzanne
visiting Tierra Nueva 2. I am afraid that names are escaping me, but
three of the representatives that came today have traveled to
Bloomington (Teresa, Teresa's Husband, and another gentleman), and
also Enrique, who is a younger gentleman.
They spent most of today together in Tierra Nueva 2. They will worship
with the community in Tierra Nueva 2 early Sunday, and then return to
SPC. Suzanne and Lyle in particular will have a chance to sit down and
talk with the representatives from Chichipate as well. The delegation
will be heading to the third community we are visiting, San Andres
Itzapa, on Sunday afternoon.
We spent all day Friday and Friday night in UPAVIM--one of the first
Sister Parish communities. All of the women in UPAVIM send many
greetings to everyone at St. Thomas--because, they say, even though we
may not have had a chance to meet, we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ.
Take care,
Ashley
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