Iona Peace and Justice

These photos were taken in the Iona Abbey and reflect a small portion of how Iona embraces and integrates peace and justice into the island, along with the weekly service of prayers for justice and peace.

Here is the Iona creed we said in church today, reflecting this week's theme of justice and peace in our Lenten journey at St. Thomas:

We believe in a God
whose love is the source of all life
and the desire of our lives,
whose love was given a human face
in Jesus of Nazareth,
whose love was crucified by the evil that waits to enslave us all
and whose love, defeating even death,
is our glorious promise of freedom.
Therefore, though we are sometimes fearful
and full of doubt,
in God we trust;
and, in the name of Jesus Christ,
we commit ourselves, in the service of others,
to seek justice and to live in peace
to care for the earth
and to share the commonwealth
of God's goodness,
to live in the freedom of forgiveness
and the power of the spirit of love,
and in the company of the faithful
so to be the church,
for the glory of God. Amen.

ELCA and Japan Earthquake Relief

March 11, 2011

Earthquake Relief 2011: Japan

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

On Friday an 8.9-magnitude earthquake caused severe damage and led to a tsunami that overwhelmed cities and farmland in Japan. Tsunami warnings have been raised around the Pacific Rim. ELCA Disaster Response is monitoring the situation and preparing this church's response, both internationally and domestically as needed.

All 22 ELCA missionaries in Japan have reported that they and their families are safe and well.

The ELCA and its predecessor church bodies have a long history in Japan, dating back to 1892. The Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church has a rich tradition of education and service to those who are in need, and we will continue to walk alongside our companions in ministry as they respond to the disaster.

Please continue to pray for those affected by this disaster.

Contributions can be made to ELCA International Disaster Response for the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami Response. Your gifts will be used to assist those whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by this disaster in Japan and other affected islands.

Thank you for your gifts. Your prayers and partnership are needed.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

Ways to Give

Check or money orders sent to:

ELCA Disaster Response
39330 Treasury Center
Chicago, IL 60694-9300

Write "Pacific Earthquake & Tsunami" on your check's memo line.

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Give by phone at 800-638-3522 or online at http://www.elca.org/japanearthquake

Lenten Journey with Iona Prayers

We will be observing Lent at St. Thomas this year with Iona liturgy, prayers, songs and practices. The photos here link with Pastor Lyle's sermon for Ash Wednesday where he mentioned arriving via ferry, the Abbey, the crosses on Iona, and the sculpture in the courtyard. Here is an Iona prayer to set the tone for our pilgrimage through Lent together:

Lead us on our journey

God, our God,
you have called us to be a people
on the move;
travelling light,
dying to live,
ready to lose ourselves for the sake of the world.
You have called us to be a people
with a purpose;
travelling without a map,
travelling to where we are led,
sustained by your Spirit,
committed to the gospel for the hope of the world.

Move us on our journey
from where we are to where you want us to go.
Open our eyes on the way
to the people of different cultures, continents and countries,
who can bring color to our lives.
Take us on our journey
from where we are to what you want us to be;
so that we become a community
where all are welcomed and no one is excluded,
all are valued and no one is made to feel inadequate,
all are forgiven and no one is ashamed to belong,
all are encouraged and no one is too hurt to come among us.

Lead us on our journey
from who we are to who you want us to be;
so that patience is built into us,
kindness is assumed in us,
gentleness is part of us,
compassion flows from us,
truth is second nature to us,
and the commitment of love is part of us.

Let us go gladly on the journey towards Easter –
the journey towards death and resurrection.
Let us journey in the peace and power of the Spirit.

~ by Ruth Harvey/Iona

Inspiring Hoosiers to Care for Creation

Hoosiers of all faiths will gather at noon on Saturday, March 5, to celebrate God’s creation and issue a call to reduce energy use in our homes and congregations.

You are invited to join Lutherans and other people of faith on Saturday March 5 (Noon – 3:10 p.m.) at First Baptist Church, 8600 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, for the first statewide gathering of Indiana clergy and lay people committed to acting as more responsible stewards of God’s Earth. This event will launch Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light (H-IPL). Pastor McKee represents the Indiana-Kentucky Synod on the H-IPL Board of Directors.

The program will include:
• an interfaith worship service
• choral music celebrating the beauty and wonder of creation (all singers are invited to participate)
• presentations on three programs that equip congregations to inspire and enable their members to significantly reduce energy use
• breakout sessions for clergy and lay leaders interested in beginning faith-based energy conservation initiatives in their communities and denominations

To register, go to www.HoosierIPL.org or call the church office (332-5252). Those interested in joining the choir are asked to indicate this on the registration form and arrive by 11 a.m. to practice.

Websites to Help our Light Grow

During this winter season which we refer to as the season of growing light, I have found many websites useful in keeping my internal flame going and growing. I thought I would share them here for others, in case you might find some useful too. Some are Lutheran and others are ecumenical. Enjoy and may your light glow and grow!

Lutheran:
A blog of blogs and videos produced by the ELCA:
http://www.livinglutheran.com
A blog of top Lutheran blogs:
http://theologydegreesonline.com/the-top-50-lutheran-blogs
A website targeted for young adult women:
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Women-of-the-ELCA/Cafe-Stirring-the-Spirit-Within.aspx

Ecumenical:
By the authors of Spiritual Literacy, a site packed with tons of prayers, music, video and more:
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com
Another site packed with prayers, art, music, meditation and more:
http://www.explorefaith.org/Index.php
A site that focuses on cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Look for the light a candle link on the side:
http://www.gratefulness.org/index.htm
A site developed by and for female clergy who share prayers with each other:
http://revgalprayerpals.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=10
Downloadable audio prayers for MP3 players or on your computer:
http://www.pray-as-you-go.org
Links to different types of prayers:
http://slu.edu/prayerbook/find-a-prayer
Daily meditation/prayer from Ireland:
http://sacredspace.ie

February Prayers Near and Far

Living God,
Be with those without electricity and warmth,
Help others reach out in community,
To help keep them safe and warm.
Be with those providing care and support;
Wrap all involved in your love and light.
Amen.


God of All People,
Shine your light and wisdom on Egypt,
Comfort those who have lost loved ones,
Guide all parties to seek peaceful solutions,
Quicken the process to preserve lives and provide stability,
For the people in the region and the world.
Amen.

by Shari Rogge-Fidler

Native American Indian Event at St. Thomas

Come join us on Sunday, February 20 for a very special event at church after the second service! We will gather for lunch and to watch the video, "Native Nations: Standing Together for Civil Rights." Liz Gaskins will be hosting this event with the support of the Mission Committee. The Mission Committee is hoping that we can learn more about Native American Indians together during this and some potential future events. Please bring a brown bag lunch and/or some food to share - Liz will be bringing some of her very own special native dishes from her tribe to share with us!

Native Nations: Standing Together for Civil Rights
Native Nations, hosted by Peter Coyote, chronicles the American Indians’ struggle for civil rights, and the creation of the National Indian Lutheran Board to raise funds and awareness for that struggle. From the controversy surrounding the 1862 trial when 38 Dakota Sioux were executed in the largest single-day mass hanging in United States history, to the confrontation of the 1960s when many Indian tribes joined together to speak out with a unified voice, Native Nations tells the story of standing together for sovereignty, justice and civil rights. ~ summary from ELCA website