TIME-2011-01

JANUARY—MARCH 2011

Heart

Healthy METHODIST

e f il

Lent Comes to Life

Explore Jesuses You Have Known

Breathing Life into Ministry

Portrait of a Pastor's Sabbatical

LIFE Is Good

The Little Document That Could

in this issue | mission | staff

together in ministry everyday ST. LUKE’S CLERGY STAFF:

st. luke’s identity We are an open

community of Christians gathering to seek, celebrate, live and share the love of God for all creation.

st. luke’s vision We envision being transformed

by God

and transforming the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive,

Christ-like community.

6

The Church

4 6 9 11 12 14 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24

14

IN THIS ISSUE: T.I.M.E. The Church Greg Mortenson World Missions Youth Clergy Lent Open House / Sundays in the South / UMW Green Ministry Community Ministries Thanksgiving Service Project Endowment / New Members Celebrations & Concerns Lent

Clergy

Kent Millard, Linda McCoy, Marsha Hutchinson, Marion Miller, Stan Abell, David Williamson, Jamalyn Peigh Williamson ST. LUKE’S STAFF:

Kathy Alexander, Administrative Team Assistant Jason Barnes, Director of AV/Media Dawn Bick, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Elementary Betty Brandt, Director of Spiritual Life Center Kristi Chamberlain, Childcare Coordinator Terri Coe, Director of Adult Ministries Marsha Coyner, Director of Joyful Rhythms Lori Crantford, Director of Communications, Marketing & Development Kevin Davis, Director of Youth Ministries Mark Dybala, Facilities Sylvia Forbes, Membership & Care Bertie Gilster, Receptionist Mary Hach, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Early Childhood Adolf Hansen, Theologian in Residence Leslie Hazelwood, Facilities Martha Heinrich, IT Manager Carol Helmus, Special Event/Wedding Coordinator St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Sharon Holyoak, Oasis Bookstore Manager Julia Johnson, Executive Director of Ministries Mike Keller, Director of Wesleyan Ringers Faina Kleyner, Finance Beth Lammers, Building Scheduler Erica Lampe, Benefits/Development Assistant Tujuianna Lockhart, Facilities Robert Lisenby, Facilities Bobbi Main-Jackson, Director of Weekday Ministries Charles Manning, Assistant Director of Music Ministries Ryan McGee, Associate Director of Youth Ministries Linda McGlothlin, Adult Ministries Janet Miller, Children’s Ministries DeAnna Moran, Adult Ministries Registrar Debra Nethercott, Director of Children’s Music Sarah Nevin, Publications Design Jan Nichols, Coordinator of World Missions Projects Julie O’Connor, Administration & Celebration Team Rich Potterf, Building & Grounds Ministry Mary Katherine Schnitz, Director of Care Ministries Cara Scott, Receptionist Kelly Scott, Facilities Winnie Sibotshiwe, Facilities Mark Squire, Director of Music Ministries Tara-Lynne Sinicki, Director of Children’s Ministries Alison Strawmyer, Assistant Director & Registrar, Weekday Preschool & Parent’s Day Out Program William Taylor, Facilities Jayne Moynahan Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries Chris Thornsberry, Associate Director of Adult Ministries Cheryl West, Director of New Song Adra Wheeler, Director of Hospitality & Volunteers Rich Wisman, Facilities

magazine

THE GARDEN CLERGY STAFF:

Linda McCoy, Stan Abell 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260 TELEPHONE: 317-846-3404 • FAX: 317-844-1034 • WEB: www.stlukesumc.com

THE GARDEN STAFF:

Editorial: Lori Crantford; Design: Sarah Nevin Brandt, Kevin Davis, Marsha Hutchinson, Lynn Jackson, Nancy Jarosinski, Linda McCoy, Marion Miller, Nanci Patterson, Scott Semester, Chris Thornsberry, Jennifer Todd, Tricia Tomson, David Williamson, Jamalyn Peigh Williamson.

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Sylvia Forbes.

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION STAFF: CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Betty

NEXT T.I.M.E. DEADLINE:

February 21 for April—June 2011

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Troye Kinnett, Director, The Good Earth Band Steve Whipkey, Director, Oak Hill Band Judy Tolley, Administrative Team Leader Beth Fried, Communications & Worship Matt Peyton, Media Ministry Specialist

from the desk

JANUARY—MARCH 

Dear Friends: Happy New Year! As we begin 2011, I invite you to start thinking about what it means to Trust God... No Matter What. This concept will be our year-long Together In Ministry Everyday theme, and we will explore it in various ways throughout the course of the year.

What does it mean to trust God, no matter what? In thinking about this, I was reminded of an old story: A man lived near the ocean when a hurricane approached and everyone was encouraged to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations. The man refused to leave his home, saying that he believed God would save him from any danger.

Rescue workers came by in a jeep and begged the man to come with them to a safer location. However, the man refused to leave, saying that he knew God would save him.

The water around the man’s home got deeper and he fled to the second floor of his home. Rescue workers came by in a boat and begged him to come with them, but the man refused and told them that he was certain that God would save him.

Eventually the rising water filled the house and the man had to escape to the roof. Rescue workers in a helicopter came and offered to take him to safety, but again the man refused, saying his faith was in God and he knew God would save him.

Finally the house was washed away, the man drowned and arrived in heaven. He was angry with God and said: “Why didn’t you save me?”

God said: “I tried. I sent a jeep, a boat and a helicopter, but you refused my help.”

We can trust God to always be there to help us in our times of need, but the help may not come in the form we expected. When we trust God no matter what, we also need to be open to the wide variety of ways God may come to help us.

With Minnietta’s recent illness, we have discovered that God is exceedingly faithful and has come in many ways to help us. God has inspired people to pray for healing and to send us cards, gifts, e-mails and words of love and support, and it has all been received gratefully. God has provided people from our hands-on healing prayer ministry to lay hands on her and pray for her, and it has been a blessing.

God has blessed us with wonderful, compassionate doctors, nurses and medical technicians who have given their love, their skill and their wisdom in providing excellent treatment. Having these experiences with these medical personnel has reminded us to give thanks to God for everyone who works in the healing professions.

As we go into the future we trust God no matter what the future holds, because we know who holds the future and we know we are always in the loving hands of God. During Lent we will be talking about the Jesuses I Have Known. The Jesus who has inspired me the most is the Jesus who trusted God no matter what might happen in his life. Jesus trusted God so much he surrendered his life completely into the hands of God, regardless of the challenges and suffering he would experience.

The ultimate sign of trusting God no matter what is the cross where Jesus’ last words were “Father, into your hands I surrender my spirit.” Out of that act of trust, Jesus was raised and still lives among us to remind us to trust God no matter what. When we trust God no matter what, God brings new life out of crucifying experiences and brings good out of evil.

As we begin a new year, remember to Trust God No Matter What and discover a peace that passes understanding as we trust our lives, our loved ones and our future into the loving hands of God. Grace and Peace, Kent Millard

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together in ministry everyday

T.I.M.E. Turns F ve

by Nanci Patterson and Scott Semester

I’m in ministry everyday. I bet you are, too.

I mean, I’m not a capital-M Minister—you’re probably not, either. But both you and I—all of us, really, whether we’re at church or out in the world—are ministers everyday.

In the United Methodist Church, ordained ministers (our pastors) have very specific, very important roles. And we, as members of the church, also have a very important role—each of us is called by God to serve. One of God’s gifts to us is the opportunity to figure out how to serve in a way that feeds us and builds up others.

Not all of us are called to be ordained, and not all of us are called to speak from the pulpit—in fact, many of us would rather do anything at all than speak in front of a worship service with + people in attendance! But all Christians are called to show God’s love to others on an ongoing, intentional basis. ( :-) In fact, we at St. Luke’s believe that we’re all called, all the time, to serve God and serve others, whether we’re at work, at home, volunteering, at school, in the car, at the grocery store, or wherever.

That’s what T.I.M.E. —Together In Ministry Everyday—is all about.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”

— 

A Look Back in T.I.M.E. In various ways and in different expressions, the St. Luke’s congregation has embraced this call to serve God and others since our founding more than fifty years ago. This intentional approach to service, education and advocacy got organized under the T.I.M.E. banner in , when our clergy, staff and lay leaders convened to develop opportunities for us all to serve while exploring what it means that we’re all in ministry. And over time, the St. Luke’s congregation has devoted thousands of hours to serving the poor and the hungry and the oppressed, learning about those different from us and those in need in our own backyard and all over the world, and working to advocate for “the least of these” in central Indiana and beyond.

You might remember several T.I.M.E. Connection Expos that took place in the Narthex, when representatives of St. Luke’s ministries and community organizations offered opportunities to serve for  Minutes in  Days. Your family may have participated in one of the T.I.M.E. Mystery Trips to Fletcher Place in downtown Indy, or the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Maybe you made a special commitment during the most recent Lenten season to participate in new disciplines during “Spiritual Spring Training.” All of these opportunities—and so many more—have been developed under the T.I.M.E. programming umbrella.

A T.I.M.E. to Look Ahead Each year since we started this approach, we’ve organized several “cycles” of six to twelve weeks in length, when we focused on a certain topic or ministry area. This year, we’re hoping to focus on all the great things that have happened over the past five years of T.I.M.E. efforts.

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together in ministry everyday

JANUARY—MARCH 

LEFT:

One of the original Mystery Trips BELOW (L TO R):

T.I.M.E. for balloons!

Servant Day brunch Connection Expo in the Narthex

In big and small ways throughout the year, we’ll acknowledge and thank God for the many, many great things that are happening because of our members who serve in ministry as volunteers, who serve in ministry as great moms and dads and uncles and aunts, who serve in ministry as teachers and doctors and soldiers, who serve in ministry as accountants and construction foremen and administrative assistants, who serve in ministry wherever they are, whenever they can. Later this year, we’ll a big, splashy celebration event to give thanks for the continued success of the T.I.M.E. initiative. But the biggest celebration of what T.I.M.E. is about will happen when we continue to claim our call to ministry everyday.

T.I.M.E. 2006-NOW St. Luke's has utilized a thematic approach to invite the congregation to focus on a particular issue of human struggle and social concern, extending a compelling call to everyday individuals to become everyday ministers, involved in opportunities of learning, service, and advocacy. A wide variety of structured activities were made available, or individuals were free to become engaged on their own in efforts of their choosing. Dozens of not-for-profit organizations were invited into the church to educate the congregation to their work and the ways men, women and children could volunteer. For many individuals, by dipping their toe into a new pool of volunteerism and ministry, they became passionately committed to new causes in the community.

The following Themes have been areas of focus since January 2006.

• Poverty & Socio-Economic Concerns • Peace & Reconciliation • Education & Literacy • Health, Hunger & Wholeness

When we realize that the way we drive can show Jesus to the world... When we realize that how we speak to our spouse or kids can show Jesus to the world... When we realize that how we listen to a coworker can show Jesus to the world... When we realize that how we stand in line at the grocery store can show Jesus to the world… When we do all these things with a heart for God, for Christ, and for our neighbor (whoever he or she may be at the time)… it’s THEN that we celebrate what it means to be Together In Ministry Everyday.

So, in this year of celebrating T.I.M.E., let’s remember that God doesn’t call us to pat ourselves on the back.

(Our bodies would probably be designed differently if that’s what God wanted us to do.) It’s not about awards or recognition, and it’s not about declaring that we’ve reached the finish line. Rather, the best affirmation of St. Luke’s T.I.M.E. and the truest expression of our gratitude for God’s call will be when we continue to recognize—and act on—the knowledge that we are Together In Ministry Everyday. n

• Caring for Creation • Bridging the Generations • Our Health, Our World, Our People • Creating Community • Love, Serve & Care for One Another... Everyday...

• Experiencing Our Inner Soul • Interfaith Connections • In Our Own Backyard • Now Is the TIME • Spiritual Spring Training • Turn the World Upside Down • Summer T.I.M.E.: Time for Recreation & Re-Creation • Back to Basics: Love God, Love Your Neighbor 2011:

Trust God, No Matter What

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the church

together in ministry everyday

To LIFE!

by Jennifer Todd and Lori Crantford

There is a very popular piece of paper floating around behind the scenes at meetings and retreats at St. Luke’s. It’s called the LIFE document, and while you may not have ever seen it, it is quietly having an impact on the life of our church home.

So what does this magical mystery document say, one might ask. And where did it come from? And just exactly how is it making a difference around St. Luke’s? Those of us who have been working with this document decided maybe we needed to bring it to light, introduce it around, give it a little coming-out party. It is called LIFE after all.

You know. LIFE of the party. But, seriously...

community). We believe that these statements get to the DNA of St. Luke's—they help define who we are and what makes us different as a church.

This subcommittee put together a "Request for Information" document which solicited input from church staff and members with the following questions: () What do you envision for St. Luke's in three-five years? () What role will it play in the lives of its members, in the surrounding community, in Indianapolis and in the global community? () What ministries will it provide? () What people will it reach? This was intended to be a dreaming document. The results of this survey were "bucketed" into categories that paralleled the priorities of the UMC— worship, discipleship, evangelism, ministry, mission and fellowship, and were further broken down into affected populations—elderly, adults, young adults, youth and children.

The response to this RFI ultimately helped to shape and focus the planning for the March  Governing Board retreat. At that retreat, the board entered into an exercise called a SWOT analysis—(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats—both inside and outside the institution).

Board members were asked to attack each of these areas with their analysis of St. Luke's. The results of the SWOT analysis were then categorized, and from those categories, certain themes emerged. Through the discussion, these categories fell into certain defined areas—Leadership, Engagement, Outreach and Foundation. If you look at Outreach as Impact in the community, city, state and world... suddenly you had a very apropos acronym—LIFE.

The genesis of the LIFE document grew out of a St. Luke’s Governing Board retreat in March of —with much planning and discussion leading into that strategic planning retreat. Prior to that time (in  and ), there was a subcommittee of the board that met numerous times and worked up quite a bit of documentation related to strategic priorities for the church. During this process, there was continual affirmation of our Mission Statement—particularly the IDENTITY (St. Luke's is an open community gathering to seek, celebrate, live and share the love of God for all creation), and the VISION STATEMENT (We envision being transformed by God and transforming the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive, Christ-like

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Shortly after the retreat, the Governing Board requested that the Executive Team (as the Vision casters of the church - and the ones who would do the ultimate heavy lifting of putting LIFE into action) put priorities within the LIFE document. They did this with input from the Lead Team and from the Program Team. With that input from senior staff, who carry the role of implementing the tenets of the LIFE document, along with input and support of the Governing Board, the document was ready to make the leap from big ideas to big results. It establishes our current goals and priorities, but is open-ended to be workable into the future.

So, without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to the LIFE document, and give an example in each category of how life is being breathed into the words on the page. It is a little document that can—full of energy, ready for action, and able to provide inspiration for even bigger and better things down the road. n Jennifer Todd is the St. Luke’s Lay Leader and Chair of the Governing Board.

JANUARY—MARCH 

•

CELEBRATING the life and work of our graduating Senior Pastor

•

FINDING a new Senior Pastor who has the faith, gifts, and creative abilities to successfully lead the congregation into the next chapter of its life and ministry

•

DESIGNING & IMPLEMENTING the criteria and process by which a new and creative Lead Pastor of the Garden will be chosen to lead the congregation into the next chapter of its life and ministry.

•

CULTIVATING creative, entrepreneurial lay leaders who have the faith, gifts, and abilities to successfully lead the congregation into the next chapter of its life and ministry

St. Luke's is an open community gathering to seek, celebrate, live and share the love of God for all creation.

Dr. Kent Millard at the May 2010 Dalai Lama event

•

DEVELOPING key leadership that is diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity

After Dr. Adolf Hansen made the decision to retire from his part-time position on St. Luke's staff on December , , our Executive Team and Staff Parish Relations Committee decided to ask Rev. David

Williamson to serve as our Executive Pastor and assume the leadership responsibilities previously held by Dr. Hansen. David will serve on the Executive Team (with Kent Millard, Linda McCoy and Julia Johnson), will chair the Clergy Team, and will co-chair (with Julia Johnson) the Lead Team. He will also continue his work with Family Ministries, with the United Methodist Men, leading mission teams to Haiti, along with other pastoral duties.

“Rev. David Williamson is a gifted, faithful and compassionate young pastoral leader,” says Dr. Kent Millard, Rev. David Williamson “and we are blessed to have him serve St. Luke's as our Executive Pastor while at the same time serving as the pastoral liaison to our Men's and Family ministries programs.”

In addition to clergy and staff, identifying and recruiting qualified individuals into lay leadership positions is a priority outlined in the LIFE document. This includes the creation of the new Nominating Form that was used last year, which seeks input from the congregation in nominating potential leaders. The Lay Leadership Committee will begin asking for that important input at the beginning of  for those who are interested in exploring a more active leadership role at St. Luke’s.

•

BEING OPEN to God to bring about personal transformation in and through the lives of those who are a part of our church and those in our community with spiritual need.

•

PARTICIPATING with God in making a significant, positive, transforming influence in the lives of people throughout our community, state, nation, and world

•

BEING A LEADING CHURCH in Indianapolis—and beyond—responsive to needs such as poverty, disease, hunger, education, and injustice

• •

ACTIVELY ENGAGING in building bridges among all faith communities INCREASING OUR PRESENCE and brand in a variety of evangelical ways throughout the world

For the past two years, St. Luke’s has been in partnership with the Interfaith Hunger Initiative, which is having a true impact on hunger in Indianapolis and for  school children in Kenya.

By being open to an interfaith partnership, we are building strong relationships with communities of other faiths in Indianapolis while working together to fulfill the mission of helping end hunger for children and families. The shining moment of this partnership was the May  visit to Indianapolis by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who applauded the interfaith movement. Over $, was raised for hunger that day through the largest interfaith event ever held in Indianapolis. The St. Luke’s congregation continues to be supportive of IHI in little and big ways all through the year. Interfaith friendships have been formed, strengthening our community, while more importantly, people who need food are receiving it, along with much compassion and unconditional love.

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the church

together in ministry everyday

(L TO R): Family Fuel, Garden Unplugged, Bluevine Collective

•

PROVIDING abundant funding each year for staffing, program, facilities, and outreach

•

PAYING OFF our capital indebtedness and increasing our endowment

•

HAVING IN PLACE creative, forward-thinking and dedicated staff persons to lead the congregation(s) into and through the second decade of the 21st century, including those called to virtual ministry

•

UPDATING our physical facilities to keep them current and welcoming

•

HAVING STATE OF THE ART technological capabilities for information and ministry

 saw a flurry of new, innovative worship services. At The Garden, a new service was started by Rev. Stan Abell called Garden Unplugged. It offers a more interactive version of The Garden’s worship experience, with time for small group sharing and feedback. The topic is tied to that of The Garden’s services that day, and if that wasn’t all enough for you, now you can continue the conversation online at The Bluevine Collective. This new virtual church site also connects thematically to Garden Unplugged and The Garden, and is a place for people across the country to engage in conversation, exchange ideas, and form community. As a way to engage children and their families together in worship, this fall a new worship experience, Family Fuel, kicked off on --. Led by Rev. Jamalyn Peigh Williamson and a cast of recurring characters, Family Fuel offers a setting that children enjoy while managing to give a biblical/spiritual lesson that speaks to kids and their parents alike. Since the service is meant for families to experience together, they can continue the conversation on the way home in the mini van. After they load up on donuts, of course. You can always lead into the future in new ways, but we rather doubt that you can ever leave the donuts behind.

•

INVITING people in creative ways to join in the life of the congregation

•

HELPING people discern their passions and ways to utilize them, through participation and growth in worship, education, fellowship, care and service

•

CREATING a culture in which every participant considers themselves “in ministry”

•

DEVELOPING additional worship experiences that will reach new persons

•

FOSTERING significant spiritual growth through all possible avenues

Take a look at some of what was offered at St. Luke’s during a week last December. Can we engage, or can we engage? Nine different opportunities to worship on Sunday with four different types of services. Children’s choirs. Adult education classes. Youth groups on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Singles lunch out after church. Later@ St. Luke’s band practice. Mission Possible Kids. Daytime Bible and book studies. Nighttime classes, care and support groups. Learn to meditate. Fellowship and spiritual growth opportunities for men. Fellowship and spiritual growth opportunities for women. Yoga, anyone? Basketball and volleyball. Stephen Ministry. Green Ministry. Music Ministry. Become a church member.

Cook breakfast down at Fletcher Place. Buy nuts for Brightwood. Donate mittens. Have breakfast with Santa for a good cause. Yoga, anyone? Garden employment connections. Walk the labyrinth. Enjoy a candlelight Christmas concert. Participate in a women’s Advent luncheon and study. Go on a one-day retreat with the senior pastor. Volunteer at Fox Hill Elementary.

Have a birthday party for Jesus! Donate a gift to someone in need through the Whose Birthday Is It? campaign (hint: it’s Jesus’ birthday!). Play euchre with the Elderberries. Yikes, there’s a live camel in the Sanctuary!

Yoga, anyone?

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special event

JANUARY—MARCH 

Greg Mortenson’s Visit to Indianapolis

by Lynn Jackson and Nancy Jarosinski

Greg Mortenson’s visit to St. Luke’s had an enormous impact on our community and communities throughout the country. As co-chairs of the event, we would like to share our story of his visit and the ongoing blessings.

in the back of our minds. This humanitarian works for neither fame nor money, but because it is the right thing to do. His message urges people everywhere to make a difference.”

Who is Greg Mortenson?

While the school presentation was broadcast to five counties via cable (thanks to Bright House Networks), there were no limitations to the possible viewing via the web.

We expected viewers throughout Central Indiana, and were surprised when we received comments from Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Maryland.

All in all, about , students were reported to have viewed the program via web stream.

Seventeen years ago this remarkable man figured out a way to fulfill a promise made to children in a remote area of Pakistan to build them a school. Since then, he has built 169 more in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. More than 68,000 students—including , girls—have been educated, maternal healthcare programs have been started, and adult women are learning to read. Overseas operations and management are being turned over to local elders and communities. Mortenson has written two best selling books about his life work, Three Cups of Tea and Stones Into Schools. He was invited to Indianapolis for two presentations on Monday, September , .

Evening Presentation That evening the same magical energy filled the , people in the Sanctuary and Robertson Chapel. The evening brought an extraordinarily diverse audience. People from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Nepal, India, Iraq, Iran, Senegal, England, Lebanon and Korea were there that evening, joining their hands in friendship and their hearts in love.

Several universities were able to watch the evening presentation via web stream. These included several of IU’s campuses, Butler University, Ball State University, Anderson University and Berea College in Kentucky. Berea’s student government president is a Muslim student from Afghanistan. The  or so international students at Berea must be in the bottom quintile of their country’s income level and must intend to return to their home countries to make their contribution to a better world. They are young women and men like the students in Greg Mortenson's schools, and many have had their earlier educations interrupted by war.

ABOVE: Kent Millard with

soldiers from Camp Atterbury

Afternoon Presentation The excitement began at  at Shortridge Magnet School with a presentation to , students from the Muslim School of Knowledge, the Hebrew Academy, the School for the Deaf, the International School, Orchard School, Washington Township, Lawrence Township, IPS and others. Greg Mortenson’s charisma immediately captured the students. Teddy Root, a  grader at St. Richards School, wrote to the editor of The Indianapolis Star: “Greg Mortenson's recent visit to Shortridge High School helped me appreciate the importance of education. Kids in oppressed countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan have to worry about being kidnapped or stepping on land mines on their way home from school, if they even have a school. They have to worry about things that aren't even

Approximately  volunteers participated in the afternoon and evening events. Soldiers from Camp Atterbury, where counterinsurgency tactics are taught to soldiers, offered support by directing traffic and providing security to Mr. Mortenson that evening. A Perry Township school displayed one of  quilts its students had made relating to Mortenson’s work. Asrar Burney, a Pakistani photographer, offered his photos for sale, with proceeds going to Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute (CAI).

The committee chairs who worked so diligently to perfect the event—Barbara Furlow, Judith Maas, Sue Gilfoy, Lynne Hurlbut, Shari Lipp-Levine, Carrie Sanders and Betty Brandt—were praised, thanked and hugged by a group of people who have deeply touched our souls, the Pakistanis. We will be forever blessed by the friendships that have been formed. cont’d on next page

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special event

LEFT: Nancy Jarosinski and

Lynn Jackson with Bibi Bahrami of AWAKEN RIGHT: Mortenson graciously

sat down for an interview with Rev. Stan Abell for the Bluevine Collective BOTTOM: Mortenson reflects on the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.

together in ministry everyday

MORTENSON, cont’d from page 

Bill Jarosinski, Nancy’s husband, works with Adil Ashary, who was born in Pakistan. A phone call to Adil early in the event planning process was the start of this friendship between the planning committee and the Pakistan American Friendship Association (PAFA). Adil rounded up about  Pakistan American volunteers who worked the evening of the event welcoming people, handing out programs and collecting donations. Most importantly, they made an incredible interfaith statement by sitting together dressed in traditional Pakistani clothing in the choir loft of a Christian church.

These generous people led book studies prior to September  and decorated the stage areas of both St. Luke’s and Shortridge. And PAFA made the single largest contribution to CAI of over ,. Asif Ansari, the current president of PAFA, has a news media program that broadcasts in Pakistan with the following goal: “To promote the true spirit of Islam, which is to create peace, love and harmony among nations by building bridging between communities and nations, through interfaith harmony and dialogue.” His wife, Faiza, had this to say of the evening: “I have experienced love and peace like never before, and it makes me realize how much love God has for all his creation, and I have seen a portion of it in comparison to totality.”

Camp Atterbury The Thursday following his appearance in Indianapolis, Mr. Mortenson made a visit to Camp Atterbury where he engaged in conversation with several military commanders who would soon be deploying with their troops to Afghanistan. He talked about the Afghani people who for centuries have been in tribal wars or other wars and know war as a way of life. He shared with the commanders that while the villagers might not agree with our military views, the American soldiers had one huge

—

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advantage with these people - they are honored and respected as "warriors."

He mentioned the word “kitab.” It is an Arabic word and literally means “book.” Like many other words, it is a shared word in Urdu, Persian, Turkish and other dialects.

In the context of the Quran, “people of the book (Ahl al-Kitab)” are those religions that had a religious scripture before the Quran. Some scholars limit this to Christianity and Judaism; others have a wider interpretation. Mr. Mortenson believes that if you tell someone you are a Christian, it means nothing. But if you identify yourself as Ahl al-Kitab, you are given great reverence.

The Future The Indianapolis community generously donated ,  —Mortenson's honorarium and travel (,), other event expenses (,) and a donation of , to CAI. In addition, the Pedal for Peace event on October ,  at the Velodrome raised over ,, with half of the proceeds going to CAI (the other half went to Afghan Women’s and Kids’ Education & Necessities, or AWAKEN, which has one school in Afghanistan). Furthermore, many schools participated in Mortenson’s Pennies for Peace program in anticipation of his appearance. Washington Township schools alone raised over , worth of pennies, which will go directly to building schools. All of this will create a future of “books not bombs” for the children of rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.

We are joining Betsy Fife, Betty Brandt and the St. Luke’s Social Justice Commission to begin a follow-up project to the Mortenson event. The goal will be to pay for the educational and living expenses of women high school graduates in Afghanistan and Pakistan who wish to be trained as midwives, teachers, health care technicians and dietitians. If you would like to be a part of this exciting new project, contact Betsy Fife (BFIFE@iupui.edu). n

world missions

JANUARY—MARCH 

Haiti, One Year Later

by Rev. Jamalyn Peigh Williamson

In November, I returned to Haiti for a second time since the earthquake rocked the small Caribbean country on January 12, 2010. I was there that day, along with a team of eight other people from St. Luke’s and Milroy UMC. During my first visit back to Haiti in May 2010, I found that sitting with my neighbors and hearing their stories and sharing mine healed the deepest part of my sorrow. I needed to sit with them and mourn our losses. It was a different kind of mourning I yearned for than what I experienced with the American team with me on that January day. With the Americans, we felt deep sadness on a different level.

It was a sadness that involved statements like “Why can’t they just catch a break?” or “What will happen to them?” These were the questions we pondered as we left the country four days later on Air Force Cargo jets. We were freed from the seeing the sorrow every day. Instead, we had the memories that haunted us.

For my neighbors in Fondwa, they were left to live with the sadness as it stood before them each day in rubble and unanswered prayers about the whereabouts of loved ones. In May I finally had a chance to sit with my dear friends -- the people I lived with for two years [Jamalyn and her husband, St. Luke’s associate pas tor Rev. David Williamson, lived in Fondwa from 2003-2005]—and asked the questions I needed answers to. These questions were not rooted in us vs. them— but simply just us. January 12 is a date that is branded in my memory and is something we all went through together. As I sat with Bós, Jesula and Cine I heard hope for a new life—a new way. This told me that if their lives were able to move on, then it was time for me to do so too.

Part of moving on meant leading another trip in November 2010. Prior to the trip I began to have bouts of anxiety when I thought of leading a team out to Fondwa.

What if my sense of healing was a farce? What if I got down there and went straight for the fetal position because the memories were too painful? Or worse, what if I got to Fondwa and just felt nothing. What I found out was that I was fine. Going back was like returning home after a long voyage. I saw my friends—shouted my bonjous as I walked down the mountain into the valley. People continue to be amazed that I come back. They also continue to be shocked that other people want to come too!

TOP: New orphanage kitchen

and depot construction BOTTOM: Children crowd into

classrooms eager to learn

Fondwa is a hub of constant activity right now. There were construction projects being done in a number of places. A new clinic is set up with meds and even a weekly visit from a doctor. A new depot and kitchen was being finished for the orphanage. After nearly a year, the cooks can come out from under their tarp and camp-out like conditions. One of the families who had lost their home in the earthquake already had a newly built home with a beautiful front porch. At the school, I was shocked to find that the census was nearly back to the original number of 600 students before the earthquake. Students were sitting two to a chair under tarps or shaded trees, straining to see the chalkboard—propped up against a tree—at the front of the “classroom.” The learning environment is less than favorable, yet they come. They understand that education is the key to getting out of their current situation. So they come and take notes and don’t complain.

Along for ride on this trip were Denise Jean-Claude and her son, Danny Chin. Both are St. Luke’s members who have recently moved from Indianapolis, and they were also on the trip with me in January. They came seeking healing and discovery. Danny was one of the few men at the school after it collapsed, trying to find the masonry workers lost in the rubble. He located Bós and was able to help carry him up the mountain (in the dark) to the area of the road where his family was waiting. During our November visit, Bós and his wife Jesula invited the team to their home for coffee. While we were visiting, Bós realized that Danny was the one who helped save his life. It was a goosebump moment of healing, restoration and wholeness when Bós embraced Danny. Bós said, “You gave me and my

cont’d on next page

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world missions | youth ministries

together in ministry everyday

Mission Trips Chan

by Kevin Davis

Last year I had the privilege of sitting next to Butler University’s Coach Brad Stevens at a membership dinner here at St. Luke’s. He was asking about youth ministry and the activities that we had planned. I was telling him about our fun activities, our service opportunities and our mission trips. When I said mission trips he became very interested. Coach Stevens said that mission trips were the highlight of his church experience growing up and truly shaped his life.

Today mission trips are still shaping the lives of teens and adults. Here are a few stories from students from this past summer and their mission trip experience.

TOP: Classroom construction BOTTOM: A day at school in Fondwa

HAITI, cont’d from page 

family a blessing that day. Thank you.” As they embraced we were standing on holy ground and experiencing God’s grace in that moment.

With all that is been shown on television lately, people are starting to worry about going to Haiti. But it is the most peaceful place I know. TV crews will go down and fish for a story to make it look like the Haitian people are violent and we would be risking our lives to even step foot in the country. Each team I take always has the same reaction when we get to Fondwa: “This is not the Haiti we saw on CNN.” As Christians I believe we are called to continue stretching ourselves in the journey we take with God and with each other. A year ago I thought my journey with Fondwa had come to close. What I have figured out this year is I am only getting started. n In addition to the work being done in Fondwa, St. Luke’s has worked with and supported the Haitian Medical Academy in Port au Prince, as well as a school and agricultural project in Jeremie, Haiti, for several years. Improvements in all these areas continue on a slow but steady pace, and help is always needed. For more information on the work being done in Haiti, contact Jan Nichols, World Missions Coordinator, at nicholsj@stlukesumc.com.

Brooke Hosfeld –  grade, Carmel Middle School When I found out I was going on a week-long mission trip to Eastern Tennessee with my church group, I was extremely excited. Spending time with friends, hanging out, and helping others… what could be better? And then I went on the trip. It was definitely better than I expected and had hoped for. While I was on the work camp, there were about  people from different churches and states. At the beginning of the week, the leaders of the Youth Works program separated all of the youth and adults into work groups. Every day, these work groups went to a different location to help someone new. For two days, each group was assigned to work with a group of kids for a couple hours each day. When I worked with these kids, I realized that my attitude about everything I had needed to change. These kids had so little, but they were extremely happy all the time. As I worked and played with those kids, I thought about how lucky I am to have everything that I do, and I realized that I need to appreciate what I have more. There are so many people that have so much, but they are never satisfied with what they have; they always want more. I try to remember how blessed I am all the time, but I also try to think of how blessed those kids are, too. They may not have a lot of money, or they may not have a very good situation at home, but they have learned to be happy with the little things in life. The things that I may look over and take for granted, they use and love with all their hearts. I was really able to learn a few lessons from those kids, and I am extremely glad that I was lucky enough to experience their love while I was in Eastern Tennessee.

Allie Wineland —  grade, Northview Middle School Last summer, our junior high youth group went to Newport, Tennessee for a mission trip. It was my first one. At first, I was really nervous because I thought we would be working the whole time and then going straight to bed. But I soon realized it was far more than that.

Our long drive was broken up by a hotel stay, a dip in the pool, and some canoeing. We finally reached the school where were staying and met other people from Florida, Maine, Georgia and Missouri. We would spend the rest of the week with these

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JANUARY—MARCH 

nge Lives

THANK YOU for your continued support of our teens and youth ministry. Because of your support this was a record year for pumpkin sales. We raised , of profit in three weeks!

This money goes to the students to help them on their trips. You can continue to support teens through fundraisers, staying informed of what youth ministry has to offer, encouraging involvement, and praying for teens and youth ministry!

BELOW (L TO R):

Three summer Live in Tune Youth Ministry mission trips:

Sr. High group, Swan Quarter North Carolina Michael Wood prepping to paint in very hot conditions!

Jr. High mission team, Eastern Tennessee Allie Wineland and a group of teens leading kids in music

• Jr. High trip to Newport, TN, June 19-24 - Cost $440 • Sr. High trip to Lincoln County, WV, June 26-July 1 - Cost $450 • Sr. High trip to Fondwa, Haiti, July 9-16

groups. Soon, we were all running through the halls together, hugging and having a great time with these kids we had just met. We were like a family.

On the first day there, we split into groups. My group went to Kid’s Club where we prepared different things for the kids to do while they were with us. We literally picked these kids up off the streets and near their homes to bring them to Kid’s Club. When they got there, we sang songs, did crafts, read to them, and had snacks. They were about six to twelve years old. Our group did this for the first two days.

On the other days, my group went to a woman’s home and we scraped all the lead paint off the front of her house (the other group had finished the other sides) and repainted her house. You could just see the joy on her face when we were finished. It felt great to make someone so happy.

Every night after dinner, we would have “club” where we would sing and do skits. We were all crammed into a classroom but we were having so much fun that it didn’t matter. We also had some quiet time, too, where we could just pray and thank God for bringing us on this journey.

By going on this mission trip, I realized how good my life is. I always have food on the table and clothes on my back, without worrying about when my next meal will be or that I won’t have a good education. I would encourage everyone that is able to go on a mission trip sometime in their lives. It really makes you see God’s grace and all the great things He has given us and how we can make this world a better place.

influence on the incoming generation of church members. Mission trips have helped me deepen my faith in God, too. On these trips I have discovered new beliefs within myself and have learned more about being a Christian. For example, I have become inspired to be a more outgoing Christian in places like school. Mission trips are something that I look forward to every summer, as I have already been on three (soon to be four) trips. They are perfect for youth in how they are fun and spiritual at the same time. While I will continue to go on these trips every summer, I hope to see new faces, meet new friends, and spread the love and care of St. Luke's throughout the world.

Jeff Adams — Adult volunteer

Michael Wood — Freshman, North Central

I volunteered to go on a work camp trip with my seventh grade daughter to Newport, TN last summer. I will admit after spending the first night sleeping on a school floor with about  early teenage boys, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. That all changed after that first night.

Youth Works is the organization that puts on the camp, and they organize everything for us. They plan a very full day made up of meals, work, devotions, worship, social time and entertainment. There were about  youth and  adults from four or five other churches from other states. Each group is made up of youth and adults from other churches.

Our group had the task of painting a local mission that served adults in need and running a day camp for kids in the community. It was very rewarding to see our youth engage with the locals and offer their kindness and help. Though I tried not to be my daughter’s dad that week, it was wonderful to see her get so much out of serving others.

My job as an adult leader was to help guide and direct our youth, and once and awhile provide damage control. One benefit of the trip is I gained friends from other churches that share similar values. This is definitely an experience I would do again. Number 1 parent accessory: earplugs! n

In my time here at St. Luke's, youth mission trips have to be one of the greatest experiences that I have been a part of. Not only have I been able to have fun and make new friends, but I have also been able to grow in my faith. On these trips I've met many other youth and have really gotten to know some of them very well. I have been able to surround myself with quality individuals of my age in situations where we can be a positive

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together in ministry everyday

Looking Through the Generativity Lense

by Linda McCoy

especially with our granddaughter, who was yet to be born when the grant was submitted. (Madeline Grace Swike was born to our daughter Erin and her husband Tim on April 6, 2009.) The third segment of my time away was to be spent in some personal time of reflection and preparation, thinking about how my life could become generative when my time of active ministry comes to an end at some time in the future.

At the same time that I was deepening my understanding of generativity on a personal level, The Garden proposed that it do the very same thing by looking toward the next five-ten years of its future to see how it might prepare itself to move into a new day.

Gen-er-a-tiv-i-ty (noun), the ability or power to generate or produce something, a concern for others developed during middle age, esp. a need to nurture and guide younger people and contribute to the next generation.

At a meeting of clergy and congregational representatives interested in applying for a clergy renewal grant, Lilly Endowment leaders asked “What will make your heart sing?” The word that came to my mind almost immediately was the word “generativity,” first made known by Erik Ericson in his description of the stages of psychosocial development. This term also came to life for me because of a book I had read shortly before, Second Journey by author Joan Anderson, who has written several books for and about women and their life journeys. Anderson was about the same age upon writing the book that I was upon reading it, and I was intrigued by the similarities between her life experiences and what I was going through personally, and the reading plus my own experiences—along with the stage of The Garden’s life— helped shaped what was to become our request for funding for a clergy renewal leave.

It was exciting to receive the notification in the early summer of 2009 that we had received the grant, and plans began almost immediately to implement it. A Renewal Leave Team, under the leadership of Andy Spangler, was formed to chart the path for The Garden’s activities during my time away, including who would speak during Sunday Garden services, and the kind of work that would be done by Gardeners to envision a new future. The team secured Julia Johnson’s capable leadership to facilitate and guide two “Gatherings of the Gardeners” in June of 2010, which began to identify the needs that had to be addressed in order to move forward, as well as clarifying The Garden’s mission and vision.

Several of us worked on preparing the grant application that had numerous components focused around the theme of generativity. For my portion of the leave time, I proposed spending the first month of my time away in Ireland and Scotland to explore a newfound interest in Celtic Spirituality. The second block of time would be spent in literal generative time, focusing on quality time with my family, and

Departure day for the first part of my journey came on April 30, 2010, as Erin and I left to spend the first week together in the Connemara region of western Ireland. We spent our time exploring the ruins of

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clergy

JANUARY—MARCH 

Iona was a powerful experience, and to my surprise, it wasn’t the abbey on the tiny island, or the ruins of the old nunnery that set my soul afire; it was the beauty and majesty of the island itself.

11th and 12th century churches, wandering bogs and sheep pastures for historic remnants and cairns, and experiencing the food and culture of the Irish people. My husband, Mike, joined me for a second week in Ireland, this time on the Dingle Peninsula, site of numerous bee hive huts, the Gallarus Oratory, and other well-known Celtic relics, as well as spectacular scenery. The last part of my first month was spent in Scotland, in an area around Oban, with the highlight being several days spent on Iona, long known for its deep roots in Celtic Spirituality.

The second segment was time with family, especially with little Maddie. We went to the zoo, Children’s Museum, playgrounds and parks. We went out to lunch, and took walks, and enjoyed the leisure time that a grandmother who works full time does not typically have. For two weeks during this time, our family rented an RV and worked our way around Lake Michigan, reliving earlier experiences of “camping,” and discovering that times are far different today. Month three was spent in the mountains of Colorado, where I thought about and began preliminary planning for what my days beyond active ministry might be.

The impact of this time away? The Garden’s leadership team is beginning to process all that was gathered during the summer and create a plan and a strategy for moving The Garden into a new day, even beyond my time of leadership. Thanks to Julia for her superb work with Gardeners, the Leave Team, and The Garden’s Leadership Team for facilitating this movement.

As for me—I’m still trying to process all of it, but let me begin by saying that it was extremely important for my spiritual well-being. The tenets of Celtic Spirituality resonated with my soul in a way that I cannot even begin to articulate, and being in that land was very meaningful. Iona was a powerful experience, and to my surprise, it wasn’t the abbey on the tiny island, or the ruins of the old nunnery that set my soul afire; it was the beauty and majesty of the island itself. Like my experiences in the Holy Land, it is not the legendary sites of this happening or that one, but the land itself that holds a mystery and creates a mystical experience.

The time of literal generativity with my family was invaluable. Nothing’s better than hearing a grandchild call my name first thing in the morning! The joy of watching her grow and develop into her own person is a joy that others talk about and I can now fully affirm. Knowing that her grandfather and I are going to have some impact on her life and her future gives us a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.

LEFT: Reflection atop Dun I on the Isle of

Iona in Scotland TOP: Dingle Peninsula in Ireland BOTTOM LEFT: Taking a lunch break on the

RV trip As for my future, I’ve narrowed the field of possibilities somewhat by revisiting what interests me the most, where my skills lie, and some arenas in which I would like to have some influence in the church in the future. I can tell you that with my deepening faith and increased trust in God, it’s no longer a dilemma for me. As I reflect on my life, I realize there’s no way I could have intentionally planned to arrive where I am now, and so I find myself committed to being open to where God will lead when the inevitable day of leaving The Garden comes to pass.

Meanwhile, I can only assure the wonderfully supportive staff and members of St. Luke’s and The Garden that this time apart will reap an incredible harvest for The Garden and for me in the years to come. Thank you, Lilly Endowment, for making this leave possible! n

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BOTTOM RIGHT: Maddie and Meme at the

pumpkin patch

lent

together in ministry everyday

The Jesuses I Have Known

by Rev. David Williamson

Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” ( :) “Me, I like to picture Jesus in one of those tuxedo T-shirts, you know? Like on the one hand, it says, ‘I’m classy,’ but on the other hand, it says, ‘I’m ready to party.’” —Cal Noughton, “Talledega Nights” The quote above comes from a classic scene in the movie “Talledega Nights,” when the family of legendary race-car driver Ricky Bobby is gathering around for their evening meal. The conversation starts when Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) offers the blessing for the meal.

Instead of praying to a generic “Lord,” Ricky likes to pray specifically to “Baby Jesus.” Over the course of the scene, his supplications to “Baby Jesus” get more and more elaborate: “Dear little eight pound, six-ounce Jesus, lying in your little golden crib, looking at your baby Einstein mobile, learning your shapes and colors...” Eventually his wife can no longer take it, and she interrupts: You know that Jesus grew into a man, don’t you? But Ricky Bobby defends his prayer: “Look, when it’s your turn to pray, you can pray to whatever Jesus you want. But I like to think of Jesus as a baby, so that’s how I’m going to pray.”

In his book Generous Orthodoxy, Brian McLaren titles one chapter as “The Seven Jesuses I Have Known.” I like that title, because it resonates in some ways my own faith journey. As a child I knew Jesus as a comforter, kind of like a big security blanket; as a teenager I “asked him into my heart,” and I knew Jesus as a personal friend; in seminary I discovered the “historical” Jesus—my eyes were opened to the political and social challenges of his day, and I was inspired by his concern for the outcast and downtrodden; as a pastor I keep coming back to the depths of his healing and grace. And the truth is, I don’t think I’m done “discovering Jesus”—I’m confident that I’ll look back on my present level of understanding some day and think, “Wow, I didn’t know the half of who Jesus was!”

So I simply ask you: What “Jesuses” have you known in your life? How has your conception of Jesus evolved over time? What new aspects of his character or identity have you recently discovered? Are you still searching to know Jesus better? During the season of Lent, we’ll be exploring different perspectives on Jesus—Jesus as a healer, Jesus as a teacher, Jesus as a prophet, Jesus as the Messiah. I am convinced that how we see Jesus says something about how we view the needs of our world, how we view God, and how we view salvation. Our hope is that you will not only hear your own experience of Jesus named and affirmed in this series, but that you’ll encounter a new perspective that you haven’t considered before, one that will stretch your understanding of what it means to proclaim him as “Lord” and what it means to be “saved.” Our hope is that when that question is raised for you—“Who do you say that Jesus is?”—you’ll have a more full and complete answer.

What ensues is a hilarious discussion of all the ways that the family members picture Jesus. One little boy likes to picture Jesus as a vampire, while his brother prefers to think of Jesus as a wrestler, jumping off the top rope, complete with spandex tights. And, as noted above, Ricky’s best friend Cal likes to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-shirt, ready to party.

Of course, the scene is over-the-top silly. But I find that the scene also makes a pretty smart theological observation (one that I’m not sure Will Ferrell intended). Namely, the scene speaks to the truth that we all have this tendency to “remake” Jesus into our own image—maybe not so that he looks just like us, but so that he fits our needs and desires.

Now this is understandable and to some degree unavoidable, but if we’re not careful we end up with a caricature of Jesus, instead of the real thing. As John Eldridge notes, we often remake Jesus to look like “Mr. Rogers,” the ultimate nice guy whose mission was to soothe as many feathers as possible. (And there would be those who would levy the same argument against Eldridge’s characterization of Jesus as a “warrior.”) The point isn’t to say that any one perspective of Jesus is wrong, as much as to say that they’re all incomplete.

I don’t think Jesus ever wore a tuxedo T-shirt, but he did hang out with the partiers from time to time. And I can’t picture Jesus as a wrestler, but he was hit across the back with something far worse than an aluminum chair. And I’d like to do something with the vampire image, too, but all I can come up with is something about Jesus giving up his own blood, and that just seems too corny, so I’ll stop there with the “Talledega Nights” images. Point is, as Ricky Bobby’s wife reminded him, Jesus did grow up, and if we want to grow with him—if we want to arrive at a mature and full faith—we need to be willing to set aside our narrow categories and comfortable conceptions in order to look at the full picture of who Jesus is. And hopefully then, we’ll be able to grow into the kind of disciples that he has called us to be. n

So if we want to answer Jesus’ question well— “Who do you say that I am?”—we need to sort through our own experiences of Jesus while at the same time acknowledging others’ experience as well. We need to wrestle with different perspectives on Jesus’ identity while we work to define our own perspective. We need to read not only the passages which confirm our belief in Jesus, but also those stories that challenge and stretch our conception of him.

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JANUARY—MARCH 

sundays in the south | open house | umw

Sundays in the South Once again, St. Luke’s members and friends can attend their home church away from home, in the sunny climate of southwest Florida. Come worship at North Naples United Methodist

Church in Naples, Florida on four Sundays at 11AM with other St. Luke’s folks.

Many thanks to the staff and congregation of North Naples UMC for extending this hospitality to us year after year.

THIS YEAR’S DATES ARE: JANUARY 16 with Dr. Kent Millard

Bob Zehr, music & Habitat Singers, special music JANUARY 23 with Rev. Marsha Hutchinson

Mark Squire, music & Ken Knowles, special music

ST. LUKE’S

Open House

January 9, 2011 is the date for the next St. Luke’s Open House.

Plan to tour the building and learn more about the ministries and programs offered here. There will be gifts and prizes awarded throughout the day.

JANUARY 30

with Rev. Jamalyn Peigh Williamson Bob Zehr, music & Pat Bacon, special music

Ministry representatives will be available from 9AM-1PM to answer your questions. Take advantage of this fun and educational opportunity to know more about St. Luke’s!

FEBRUARY 6 with Dr. Linda McCoy, music TBD

Our Sarah Circle — Angels Unaware

by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson

With aprons in hand and trays of yummy sandwiches, casseroles, pies and cakes, the United Methodist Women from Sarah Circle can often be seen on the front lines of ministry following funeral and memorial services at St. Luke’s. There is little doubt that the comfort of food and a smile of kindness can be like a “balm of Gilead” to those whose lives have been turned upside down following the loss of a family member. Because few homes can accommodate the number of funeral attendees who want to spend time with the family, the St. Luke’s Parlor or Great Hall make a warm and open space for the reception of funeral guests, and the Sarah Circle women make sure the offering of hospitality and good food is graciously extended.

When a funeral luncheon or dinner needs to be planned, it is usually scheduled in two or three days. The luxury of planning ahead is not possible, but that doesn’t bother those flexible Sarah Circle ladies who come to the aid of our congregation.

Like firefighters, they are ready and willing to jump into their “boots” to cook, serve, and clean up at a moment’s notice.

Sarah Circle members serving a funeral lunch

Sarah Circle is in need of other caring groups or compassionate individuals who would be willing and eager to help this cause now and then. They are hoping to share this ministry with people whose schedules may not permit a weekly volunteer position but who would enjoy helping out by cooking, baking or serving whenever possible.

We thank the women of Sarah Circle for their continuing dedication to families in grief, and hope there are others in our church who would like to volunteer in helping with this important endeavor. Sarah Circle also appreciates financial donations for the purchase of food to be made and served. If interested, call Pat Amrhien at --. n

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green ministry

together in ministry everyday

If They Can Do It, I Can Too!!!!

by Betty Brandt

Stories of people who seem to be just like me encourage me to look at my habits and make important lifestyle changes. After reading the surrounding personal stories from members of the St. Luke’s community, hopefully you too will be able to add new habits in 2011 to your expanding “green lifestyle.”

Kelly Fritz

Amy Barnes I am an avid organic gardener, growing eggplant, Swiss chard, spinach, peppers and, of course, tomatoes. I have taken the “Plastic Bag Pledge” to use no more plastic bags.

I bring my own bags to the store instead. I am active on the Conference Indiana Creation Cares, a network to assist all the UMC churches in Indiana to develop Green Teams.

My focus on environmental sustainability and social justice has inspired me to become both a facilitator and trainer for several environmental and social justice programs. “Hope and Action” is a program developed by the United Methodist Church on poverty, the environment and war. I have facilitated this class at St. Luke’s and want to train others to facilitate (interested?). I am also a presenter for “Awakening the Dreamer,” an international organization with a mission to develop an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on earth. Lastly, I am a facilitator for Joanna Macy’s “The Work that Reconnects” which allows individuals to move from a place of despair and numbness to a deeper sense of clarity and compassion and empowerment in the healing of the planet.

Marion Tewksberry I have changed most of my light bulbs. I pull out plugs when not in use. I turn off my computer when finished instead of letting it run.

I use a reusable bottle with filtered water from the fridge instead of bottled water. I carry reusable bags into the grocery store, and I recycle newspapers, mail, bottles and cans.

I lower the thermostat at night and raise the temp during the day. I have also exchanged three toilets for the low-flush kind. My next project is a rain barrel to water flowers and grass. I consider these minimal things that everyone could do, if only we realized how necessary it is to do so.

Pete Fritz I decided to have a healthy mid-life crisis several years ago. Instead of buying a little red sports car, I became a bicyclist. Commuting by bike to work in Downtown Indianapolis from our home near Castleton several days a week resulted in my logging around 2000 bicycle miles per year. Not only has my riding kept me healthy, but it has also saved lots of wear and tear on our cars, saved us money we would have spent on gas and parking, and helped reduce all the automobilerelated pollution that Central Indiana suffers from.

I have made lots of bicycle buddies over the years. This support group and my biking hobby helped keep me positive during 18 months of recent unemployment. The good news is that I am back to work now. After being a bicycle advocate for years, I now am following my passion by working at the Indiana State Department of Health as their Healthy Communities Planner, where I help local communities promote a healthier lifestyle, including more bicycling. And yes, I am still riding my bicycle to work!

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I was voted best dressed in my graduating class at NCHS in 2009. My favorite places to shop are St Luke's Rummage Sale and Goodwill! Just goes to show that you don't have to spend a lot of money to look like a million bucks. Buying used can only be topped by trading and borrowing your clothes from your friends and sisters (a practice my Aunt Monica and my mom still engage in).

JANUARY—MARCH 

Jim Mellowitz I organized a Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIBI) planting of 20 trees at Washington Township Northview Middle School, in partnership with the PTO and administrators there.

We got a club to volunteer to take care of watering and had 50 kids and 10 parents and teachers out one school morning planting trees in front of the school. A lot of these kids had never held a shovel. It was good! Jerome, the KIBI guy, talked about how these trees will be standing 50 and 100 years from now and these kids can tell their kids which trees they planted.

Julie Towle I spend a few minutes on Sunday mornings providing good old-fashioned coffee mugs for your morning java in Fellowship Hall. Cleaning up mugs after morning coffee or tea eliminates the expense of disposable cups and landfill space taken by plastic, paper or styrofoam. Taken one step further, it is a visible reminder that each of us can make a difference conserving our natural resources each time we choose to reuse! Thanks for using those mugs!! You could even bring your own mug when you come for a meeting.

Gary Larsen Many people don’t like to think about planting trees in the fall when faced with cleaning up the season’s leaves. Yet autumn is a great time for planting. Trees provide so many benefits such as cleaning the air we breathe, moderating summer heat, adding value to property, giving habitat for wildlife, and sequestering carbon. Our planet’s CO2 level is are now over 390 ppm, and scientists have determined 350 ppm is the maximum level for sustaining our climate. So as part of St. Luke’s 350.org celebration on 10/10/10, I planted four Common Ninebarks at the east end of our daylily labyrinth. A small tree native to Indiana, Ninebarks come by their name because of their shreddy, peeling bark. Slow to leaf out in the spring, they seem dead, but soon are covered with two-inch blooms, as if they have nine lives. I hope these trees will bring an added appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation for those who enjoy the labyrinth this spring.

K.K. Fritz I am a coffee snob, so I was torn when my husband's sister gifted us with a fabulous Krueg coffee maker. It makes fantastic coffee in an instant (I am so not a morning person), but there is a lot of packaging involved, with the individual "cups" you brew from. I've been able to appease my guilt by using organic "Fair Trade" K-cups and then tearing our cups apart when I'm done. The grounds go into our composter, while the foil seal and plastic cup are recycled.

Bobbi Main-Jackson In April 2010 my husband Tom, daughter Jocelin and I started a raw food business called Raw Gourmet Delights. We prepare fresh, whole, organic raw items for purchase, and we are vendors at farmers’ markets. We made a commitment to use local, seasonal produce when possible and create as little waste as possible. We compost all peelings, trimmings, etc. (we juice 35 lemons per week!) and use recyclable packaging for our products. Our goal is to not only provide a healthy alternative and promote the benefits of raw foods, but also to be environmentally responsible.

Tom and I are strict vegetarian “foodies” and choose to not eat fast food. When we travel by car it can be quite a challenge, so we usually solve it by taking food with us. If the weather is nice we can stop at a rest stop and have a picnic. It reminds me of when I was a child and when we traveled we always took a meal with us (there were no fast food restaurants back then anyway!). We take foods we enjoy, plates, utensils, cloth napkins and reusable beverage bottles. We can rinse everything off and put it back in the bag to take home for thorough cleaning. We leave no footprint behind!

Sharon Chambers Have you noticed the black recycling bins around the church? The Green Ministry has been recycling around the church campus for over a year. Twice a week the six bins located around the church are emptied by me, my husband Mike, and Bobbi and Tom Jackson. Have you ever thought about what happens to all the donuts boxes? How about the pizza boxes and drink cans generated by Brooke’s Place? Then there are the two-liter bottles and plastic cookie containers generated by practically every meeting held at St Luke’s. All of these items find their way to our recycle bins (they are for internal building use only). As you plan/go to meetings at church, won’t you join our recycling efforts?

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community ministries

together in ministry everyday

Fox Hill Elementary School St. Luke’s and Fox Hill have been in partnership since the fall of . This October ,  article about Fox Hill is reprinted with the permission of the Indianapolis Star.

Parents' English Lessons Help Children Students in Washington Township speak  different languages.

English as a Second Language orientation coordinator. State and federal grants fund the classes.

With a diverse student population, also comes a melting pot of parents.

The Far-Northside district, like many in Indianapolis, has a growing population of families who don't speak English as their first language.

They come from countries around the globe for various reasons—work, family or to escape life-threatening situations. Schools have programs for children to integrate into their new society, but adults can be left behind.

“It's a free program for any adult who wants to learn English,” Cuevas said. “No student is too low, but some test too high. We focus on life skills and preparing for work.”

While the adults are in class, a grant pays for child care for the Fox Hill parents, Neuman said.

Crispina Maya is one of those parents who started at Fox Hill and now goes to the adult education classes. She understands basic English to hear or read it but is working on her confidence to speak.

“I am learning the words that I need to help the children with their school work and to read their books,” she said through Cuevas who acted as an interpreter. “Now I understand enough to make an appointment or go to the hospital, but sometimes if you go without an interpreter, it's a long wait.”

Maya got a  percent on a quiz last week and was the only one in the class with a perfect score. Even though she doesn't have a driver's license, Maya has perfect attendance thanks to Nancy Lange. Lange volunteers at Fox Hill through the church partnership and took Maya and her four children under her wing.

“Last year over winter break, I wrote the boys a letter asking if they wanted to continue working on their math,” Lange said.

Since then, she's taken them to the Children's Museum, a Purdue football game stopping to look at farms along the way and drives Maya to class two nights a week. Lange even bought car seats for her vehicle for Maya's children.

Mariano and Victor Maya receive tutoring, support and friendship from the Langes

After difficulty communicating with their peers, Fox Hill elementary parents established English for Families in . Targeting those who speak Spanish, it's a program for adults to learn basic English vocabulary, so they could navigate the school, said Julie Sommers Neuman, a parent who helped establish the six-week instruction.

“I began to see this family as a unit,” Lange said. “She's improved on writing and can listen but is still hesitant to speak. It's easy to integrate them into what you're already doing.”

A grant funds the program, which will start up again next semester.

Families come as a unit for dinner. Then parents go to class while adult volunteers from Fox Hill or their partners at St. Luke's United Methodist Church help students with homework, play games or read.

Learning English will help Maya get involved in her children's schoolwork and help her just to be able to read a book to them in English, Lange said.

In the car, Lange, Maya and the kids play word games, such as finding things that start with the letter M, rhyming words or naming fruits.

Six adults have "graduated" from the Fox Hill program and have enrolled in English class in the district's adult education division, which is housed at Northview Middle School. They took a placement test last school year and started the more difficult English classes in July, said Elaine Cuevas,

Once students successfully complete all of the English courses, they are encouraged to take the General Educational Development test. n

Kathy Levine, Fox Hill principal, expresses her thanks to St. Luke's for the contribution of treasure to support these programs, and to Julie SommersNeuman, Tom Lange and Nancy Lange for contributing their time and talents.

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community service

JANUARY—MARCH 

TOP: Chef David Mitchell

briefs the servers before the crowd hits BOTTOM LEFT: Workers prep

over 300 dinner for delivery BOTTOM RIGHT: Dad and sons

heading out to deliver meals

Thanksgiving Service Project

by Chris Thornsberry

the kids at Mission Possible Kids, led by Cathy Robinson, took the time to design and decorate placemats for those eating at the shelter, and greeting cards for those who were receiving to-go meals. Once all of these things came together, our Singles Ministry organized a caravan to take all the food and supplies down to the kitchen the Wednesday night before.

Every year, starting in September, David Mitchell and I begin the discussion of St. Luke’s annual Thanksgiving service project at the Cathedral Kitchen in downtown Indianapolis at 14th and Pennsylvania.

However, this year was a little different. In years past, this project was sponsored only by our Singles Ministry. This year, not only did the Singles Ministry sponsor this project, but they worked in conjunction with the multi-cultural/ethnic Sunday evening worship service, Later@St. Luke’s, and Mission Possible Kids. The three ministries began meeting mid-September to discuss their plans on feeding close to 1,000 people on Thanksgiving Day. As the end of October came and went, it was time to gather the masses to ask for volunteers, food, and financial donations. By the time the week of Thanksgiving rolled around, we had gathered around 120 volunteers, received 96 turkeys (our goal was 80), many food donations, and close to $4,000 in financial donations. The turkeys, food and much of the financial donations went toward feeding the homeless of Indianapolis and taking meals to those who could not make it out. Part of the financial contributions went to our benevolence fund to continue to feed those who are hungry for the rest of the year.

Early on Thanksgiving morning, Chef Dave and I, along with numerous volunteers, rolled up our sleeves and started prepping containers of traditional Thanksgiving chow, making sure that everyone had more than enough food to eat that morning. At 10AM the doors opened to the dining hall for everyone to come and eat. Volunteers packed the serving lines, the kitchen, greeted those coming in from the cold to eat, and sat at tables talking and praying with those who were dining. Meanwhile, a volunteer crew was busily working in the back room preparing 300 to-go meals for those who were unable to come eat at the shelter.

The next thing you know we were greeted by Mayor Ballard, who graciously came to pay us a visit, shake some hands, and thank those who were serving.

After everything was collected, Linda McGlothlin, Assistant to Adult Ministries, and I went to work organizing all of the volunteers and making sure everyone knew where they were going and what they were doing. The volunteers began to show up during the Thanksgiving week to help Chef Dave cook and carve the turkeys. The agents, as they call

At the end of the meal we had fed 832 people at the shelter, and many more through our to-go meals. Everyone walked away thankful for the opportunity to serve and be served. It was a great expression of what can happen when we give of our time, talent and treasure. Thank you to everyone who made this project possible this year by giving of your time, donating food, making a financial contribution, and praying for us. n

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endowment

together in ministry everyday

Gifts for a Future Generation

by Tricia Tomson

As we start another new year, fresh off the holidays, we can’t help but still be mindful of the spirit of giving that surrounds the holiday season. Generosity is seen as people donate last year’s coat to a homeless shelter, drop spare change into the Salvation Army bell ringer’s red bucket, and purchase a toy for the Toys for Tots program. Many of us also make year-end contributions to our favorite charities, as well as commit to philanthropic pledges for the coming year. We would like to thank you for your generosity and commitment as a congregation to St. Luke’s and for your continued support.

Endowments allow congregations to live through tough times and survive through those times with vitality. They are the catalyst for change and provide sustainability, allowing congregations to continue programs and create new services to better the community. Endowments are about expressing passion and sharing that passion with future generations. Gifts to the Endowment can be directed through a variety of financial vehicles, including estate planning and cash gifts.

While some may consider establishing a new fund at St. Luke’s, gifts to an existing area do not have to be large and can be designated to the fund of your choice. It does not take a large contribution to leave a legacy and help shape the future. Any and all gifts are welcomed, and undesignated gifts will be allocated to the General Fund. We would like to invite you to join the Endowment Society by making a gift... a gift for a future generation.

Your annual contributions to the church are vital in helping sustain everyday operations and programming. We would also like to invite you to consider making an additional gift to the Endowment. St. Luke’s Endowment was founded over 20 years ago by members who had the vision and passion for securing our church’s future for generations to come. Over the years, the Endowment has helped build and sustain programs such as: • • • • • • • • • •

If you are interested in making a contribution to an existing fund or establishing a new fund, or would simply like to learn more about how you can leverage change and leave your legacy at St. Luke’s, please contact Jim Price, St. Luke‘s Endowment Committee Chair, at jim.price@wfadvisors.com, 2083726 (office) or 466-0112 (home). n

The Garden Staff and Parish Fund Sowers Fund Deaf Camp Fund Carillon Fund Christmas Fund Jean Bepko Children’s Resource Fund Christian Life Scholarship Fund Orchestra Music Fund Seminarian Scholarship Fund

WELCOME!

new members The next opportunities to join St. Luke’s are:

Thursday, January 27, 6:30-9PM • Wednesday, February 23, 6:30-9PM • Thursday, March 17, 6:30-9PM Contact Sylvia Forbes at 846-3404 or forbess@stlukesumc.com to register.

The following persons completed the OCTOBER & DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP CLASSES

Kevin Davis, Todd Davis, Stephanie Eft, Alex Egan, Rachel Egan, Julie Graham, Richard Lethander, Barbara Lethander, Chad Lothamer, Melissa Manson, Ryan McGee, Megan McGee, Jeff Olson, Karlon Olson, Alice Roff, Jay Strauch, Laura Strauch, Sherree Strauch, Jennifer Strauch, Julie Strauch, Brooke Winings Timothy Craig, Natalie Craig, Matt Hernley, Chelsea Anderson, Robert Holden, Miriam Holden, Rick Lighty, Robert Long, Renee Atwood Long, Rob Neal, Cathy Bonser-Neal, Matthew Neal, Meagan Neal, Marsha Orlando, Craig Overmyer, Becky Overmyer, Lou Sellars, Brett Sizemore, Kate Sizemore, Raymond Smith, Becca Smith, Jennifer Stewart, Bruce Watson, Barbara Watson

PHOTO CREDIT:

Gary Schnitz

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concerns & celebrations

JANUARY—MARCH 

CONDOLENCES TO: Jon & Carolyn Hodgin on the death of their son Mark Hodgin Eric Kouka on the death of his father John Kouka Jim Winner on the death of his father James Winner Cora and Arlene Nunn, Brooke Nelson and Debra Nethercott on the death of daughter, sister and friend Linda Nunn Cheryl Carden on the death of her mother Wynona A. Carden Jo Zehr and Bob Zehr and family on the death of husband and father Bud Zehr Chuck Jennings on the death of his mother Beatrice Antrim Debbie Shook on the death of her son Ryan Shook Miriam Woodcock on the death of her brother August Atchley Bridget Eaton Flannagan on the death of her husband Michael Flannagan

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Family and friends of Tom Schinbeckler

Friends and family of Grayce Andersen

Bob Lyon on the death of his mother Mary Kepler

Mary Campbell on the death of her brother Charles Crowe

Bruce Causey on the death of his granddaughter Lindsay Stout Chris Black on the death of his grandfather Lowell Black Melissa Smurdon on the death of her stepfather Jim Everroad Betsy Clark on the death of her mother Shirley Robbins Bob Stephenson and Rehea Harlan on the death of wife and mother Barbara Stephenson Mary Clifford on the death of her husband Bud Clifford Bobbi Main-Jackson on the death of her father Robert Elliott Helen Stahl on the death of her husband Arnold Stahl Jeff Slipher on the death of his wife Sara Slipher Friends and family of Karen Slabaugh

Alan Moberly on the death of his wife Bonnie Moberly Friends and family of Bill Ertel Pat Harris on the death of her father James D. Harris Ron Downey on the death of his mother Christine Downey Dale Eastin on the death of his mother Anne Eastin Friends and family of Joni Dalton Julie Artman and Nancy Wolgemuth on the death of mother Ruth Artman Families of Michael Dugan, Jim Dugan and Anne Skiles on the death of father John Dugan Linda Etherton on the death of her brother Harry Cooper Martha and Beth Hippensteel on the death of husband and father David Hippensteel

Charles & Stacey Yeo, Brenda Richmond, Robert & Paula Richmond and Thomas Yeo on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Vivian Grace Nick & Alex Stark, Doug Stark and Suzanne Stark on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Annalise JJ & Beth Semester and Jim, Barb and Scott Semester on the birth of daughter, granddaughter and niece Ellie Marie Bradley & Megan Husted and Ken & Peggy Williams on the birth of their son and grandson William Chase Husted Chris & Brenda Pickett and Dr. Robert Pickett on the birth of son and greatgrandson Samuel Doyle Denton Jacobs & Melissa Daniel and Steve & Susan Jacobs on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Francesca Elise David & LeeAnn Gustin and Joe & Sue Gustin on the birth of son and grandson William George

Vicki Nunery & Max Hittle on their wedding of October  Erin Zgonc & Chris Irick on their wedding of October  Erin Chase & Dan Yohe on their wedding of October  Arielle Pechette & Bob Markley on their wedding of October  Stacey Hissong & Mark Dybala on their wedding of October  Erin Park & Brian Hayes on their wedding of October  Tara Smith & John Michels on their wedding of October  Jennifer Zehr & Christopher Beth on their wedding of October  Tara Driskell & Jonathan Thompson on their wedding of October  Abby Kenline & Ryan Mooney on their wedding of November  Debbie Allen & Joseph Wagner on their wedding of November 

Stella Brickel & Thomas Hardy on their wedding of September  Courtney Linder & Bradd Evers on their wedding of October  Grace Copas & Ryan McMenamin on their wedding of October 

Lacy Holloway & Casey Crafton on their wedding of November  Kari Muller & Todd Morarity on their wedding of November  Carla Liebrich & Charlie Crouse on their wedding of December  Danielle Paul & Gregory Bulin on their wedding of December 

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JANUARY—MARCH  NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID INDIANAPOLIS, IN PERMIT NO. 1569

Address Service Requested St. Luke’s United Methodist Church •  West  Street • Indianapolis, Indiana 

Lent begins in March!

KICK OFF WITH THE ANNUAL

Fat Tuesday Pancakes & Jazz Tuesday, March 8, 6-8PM in the Great Hall Great pancakes, sausage & jazz music for that New Orleans experience!

THEN START YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY

Ash Wednesday service Wednesday, March 9 at 7PM Robertson Chapel