OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
*
Tune Up Youth Ministries “Live in Tune”Shakes It Up
How Do You Take Your Church? Plugged or Unplugged? The Garden Serves Up Two New Ways to Worship
29 Days of Giving
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.
16
Youth Ministries
22
World Missions
4 5 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260 TELEPHONE: 317-846-3404 • FAX: 317-844-1034 •
IN THIS ISSUE: Letter from the Editor Annual Fund Servant Day Partnerships / Friendship Three Cups of Tea Habitat for Humanity Community Ministries Music Ministries / Grief Ministries Children’s Music Youth Ministries Bluevine Collective Garden Unplugged Men’s Ministry World Missions Later@St. Luke’s Singles Ministry Endowment Taizé UMW Holidays 2010 Spiritual Life Center / New Members Celebrations & Concerns Christmas Eve
Kent Millard, Linda McCoy, Marsha Hutchinson, Marion Miller, Stan Abell, David Williamson, Jamalyn Peigh Williamson, Adolf Hansen 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 Stephanie Eft, Associate Director of Youth Ministries Jan Emmons, Finance 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 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 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 Bonnie McMenamin, Music Ministries Assistant Janet Miller, Children’s Ministries DeAnna Moran, Adult Ministries Registrar Rickie Murphy, Facilities 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 Ben Spillman, Facilities 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
THE GARDEN CLERGY STAFF:
WEB: www.stlukesumc.com
Linda McCoy, Stan Abell
EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION STAFF:
THE GARDEN STAFF:
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Maria
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
Editorial: Lori Crantford; Design: Sarah Nevin Blake, Betty Brandt, Kevin Davis, Stephanie Eft, Betsy Fife, Jenny Hawke, Heather Hilbert, Marsha Hutchinson, Kathy Levine, Hillary McCarley, Ryan McGee, Kendall Millard, Chuck Miller, Marion Miller, Matt Peyton, Jacquie Reed, Kristen Rogers, Chris Thornsberry, Tricia Tomson, Kyle Walker, David Williamson. CIRCULATION MANAGER: Sylvia Forbes. NEXT T.I.M.E. DEADLINE: November 22 COVER ART COURTESY OF 29GIFTS.ORG
for January—March 2011
2
— —
from the desk
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Friends: Last winter the Council of Bishops appointed a 16-person steering committee called the Call to Action Team to determine what makes a vital United Methodist congregation and how can we increase the number of vital UM churches in the United States. The United Methodist Church in the United States has been declining in worship attendance and members overall for the past 40 years. In 1968 we had about 12 million members in the United States; today we have about 7.9 million members. World wide, the United Methodist Church is growing because of the rapid growth in congregations in Africa and Asia. There are about 14 million United Methodists globally , and that number is increasing every year because the growth in other nations outpaces the decline here. But how can we turn around the decline here? I was asked to be on the Call to Action T eam, and we did extensive research on all of the 33,000 United Methodist Churches in the United States. We discovered that there are about 5,000 highly vital United Methodist Congregations in the U.S. on the basis of growth in attendance, membership, and outreach over the five-year period of 2003-2008. St. Luke's is included in that highly vital group since we have had significant growth in attendance, membership and outreach giving over that period of time. However, about 48% of the United Methodist Churches had medium vitality, and 37% had low vitality on the basis of growth in attendance, membership and outreach. Our goal is to increase the number of high vitality congregations from 5,000 to 10,000 over the next few years. In doing further research on the high vitality congregations, we discovered that they all had four characteristics in common:
1.
INSPIRING WORSHIP SERVICES: The most vital United Methodist Congregations provided both inspiring traditional and inspiring contemporary worship services, since some people draw close to God in one and some in the other. I am so glad that St. Luke's has inspiring lively traditional worship in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings, and provides inspiring contemporary worship experiences at the Later service on Sunday evenings, led by Dr. Marion Miller, as well as our off-site Sunday morning services at the Garden at Beef and Boards and at Oak Hill Mansion led by Dr . Linda McCoy and Rev. Stan Abell. We will be starting another inspiring family worship service led by Rev. David Williamson and Rev. Jamalyn Peigh Williamson on October 10 in the Great Hall. Rev. Marsha Hutchinson leads our monthly Taize meditative service, which refreshes our spirits through music and meditation.
2. INSPIRING PREACHING AND PASTORAL LEADERSHIP: Vital United Methodist Churches have pastors who inspire in their preaching, help congregations envision a new future, have longer tenures in one congregation, and coach and empower lay leadership. All of the pastors at St. Luke's seek to grow in our ability to communicate the Good News through preaching, and lead through visioning and working with lay leaders.
3.
SMALL GROUPS FOR ALL AGES AND STAGES IN LIFE: Vital congregations have large numbers of small groups for study, mission outreach, music, fellowship and spiritual growth. It is particularly important to have many small groups for children and youth. In the past year, St. Luke's has increased our staff for children and youth leadership, and we are seeing the results in increased attendance in the numbers of children and youth participating.
4. EFFECTIVE LAY LEADERSHIP: St. Luke's is blessed to have a large cadre of highly effective and dedicated lay leaders empowered to lead and inspire in every area of our life and ministry . I am always impressed when I see how our lay leaders devote so much of their time, energy and love to leading all of the ministries of St. Luke's. It is one of the keys to the vitality of our congregation. I shared these insights with our Governing Board and at our Leadership Retreat recently. We are committed to increasing the growth and vitality of St. Luke's in these areas, and to mentoring and encouraging other congregations to grow in these area s as well so that God can reach more people with the Good News of Jesu s Christ through the people called United Methodists. Thank you for all you do to enable St. Luke's to be a vital and growing fellowship of faith which God can use to transform the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive and Christ-like community. Grace and Peace,
Dr. Kent Millard
3
— —
from the editor
together in ministry everyday
by Lori Crantford Hello friends. I'm your Vitameatavegamin girl. Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle. Vitameatavegamin. Yes, Vitameatavegamin contains Vitamins Meat Vegetables and Minerals. Yes, with Vitameatavegamin, you can spoon your way to health. All you do is take a great big tablespoonful after every meal. Mmmmmmm..... It's so tasty, too! Tastes just like candy! So why don't you join all the thousands of happy peppy people and get a great big bottle of Vitameatavegamin tomorrow! That's Vita-meata-vegamin! For those of you who are under 40, you may have no idea what you just read, but for the rest of you, you’ll recognize the words from the famous scene of the “I Love Lucy” show where Lucy is hired as a spokeswoman for Vitameatavegamin, a “health t onic” that contains vitamins, meat, vegetables and minerals . . . and, as it turns out, a liberal amount of highoctane alcohol. Not so healthy after all, as Lucy finds out. As Dr. Millard wrote in his column, there has been a lot of discussion in the United Methodist Church about what c onstitutes a v ital church. Achieving–and maintaining–a level of vitality in an organization has never been an easy task. There is no room for a “one size fits all” mentality when it comes to programming, worship, opportunities. Inevitably, when you try to squeeze not just round pegs but oblong, rectangular, triangular or any other siz e peg int o one squar e hole, something (or someone) is not going to fit. If it was easy to “spoon your way to health,” then there would be a lot more healthy organizations (and people!). In this issue of T.I.M.E., you’ll see some great examples of the potpourri of ministries and activities happening at St. Luke’s. And in reflecting on what has happened thus far in 2010 — amazing r esponse to the H aiti earthquake; visits by authors A. J. Jacobs and G reg Mortenson; another year of focusing on the issue of hunger with a visit by Senator George McGovern and suppor ting the v isit of the Dalai Lama, which r aised $65,000 for the Interfaith Hunger Initiative and was the largest int erfaith gathering in the cit y of Indianapolis; the launc hing of MPKids, where 1st-5th graders are becoming real agents of change; sending 350 people out from St. Luke’s on the second successful Servant Day to do service in the c ommunity; and so man y other thoug ht-provoking classes, moving concerts, meaningful work trips, inspiring worship, the sharing of laughter and tears and more — well, it’s pretty clear that St. Luke’s is a vital congregation. Maybe we’ll just rephrase the UMC slogan to say “St. Luke’s: the happy peppy people of the United Methodist Church. After you read the ar ticle on the Bl uevine Collection, I think you’ll be convinced. On behalf of the entire St. Luke’s staff, thank you for being together everyday in ministry with us. As Dr. Adolf Hansen, our Theolog ian-in-Residence has always said, you don’t have to be in the pulpit to be in ministry. (Dr. Hansen, by the way, will be leaving the St. Luke’s staff at the end of 2010 to pursue other exciting opportunities which include more time with his family and sailing, so make sure to wish the wind to be at his back in all his future endeavors. Thank y ou, Adolf, for the g race and w isdom you have brought t o St. Luke’s.) St. Luke’s is v ital because of the o pen hearts and minds of the peo ple who bring their gifts of time, talent and treasure through its open doors. Here’s to a continued wonderful, vital 2010. Peace to you and yours during the upcoming holidays. Try not to poop out at parties, but stay away from the Vitameatavegamin. n
4
— —
giving
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
I Can’t Stop Thinking About Myself, or Why Becoming a Giver is a Great Idea by Lori Crantford
My hamstring hurts. It has been causing me a decent amount of constant pain ever since I crossed the finish line of the Geist Half Marathon last May. I tried to rest it but it doesn’t seem to want to do anything but ache or send shooting pains down my leg. To make matters worse, I pinched a nerve in my lower back in June which was caused, apparently, by my having the nerve (so to speak) of growing one day older while still trying to act yesterday’s age. I’m just cheeky that way. The combination of these tedious maladies made it so that I could not train for a marathon t his f all. T his m akes me cranky. Really c r a n k y. Mothers with s mall children make the s ign o f t he cross when they see me. Strangers cross the street—without t rying t o avoid traffic—just to avoid the Black Cloud of Crankiness that moves with me like the ever-present dust at Pig Pen’s feet in the Charlie Brown cartoons. I’m so cranky that if you had the choice of taking Pig Pen home to meet your mother, or me, I am sure that your mother and Pig Pen will soon be sitting on her white couch having tea and making plans to attend the symphony together. Imagine, then, what level of discomfort a person with a real ailment would have on, say, Richter’s Ailment Scale (if such a thing existed). While my hamstring/pinched nerve would rate around, oh, the Put On Y our Big Girl Panties and Deal with It level, something like multiple sclerosis would register at the
We’ve Decided to Hire George Clooney as Your Personal Nurse point. Off. The. Charts. Pain. Imagine, next, that someone told you, when you c omplained a bout t his p ainful, l ifealtering disease for which there is no known cure, that you were perhaps focusing on yourself a tad too much and in order to feel better you should—get this!—start giving a gift to someone every day for 29 days! The thoughts that might cross one’s mind about that person and her suggestion are possibly not printable in a church publication. This is exactly what happened to Cami Walker. Cami, a young woman in her mid30s, was diagnosed with MS in 2006. After struggling with the chronic pain and subsequent addiction to pain medications, Cami’s health and spirits were plummeting. She decided to take the advice of a South African holistic healer—give a gift a day for 29 days. While the process did not heal her MS, it did have a startling effect on her ability to cope with it. She is more mobile, less dependent on medication, and scans show that her disease has stopped progressing. Cami documented her experience in her book 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. In it, she says “My first reaction was that I thought it was an insane idea. But it has given me a more positive outlook on life. It’s about stepping outside of your own story long enough to make a connection with someone else... Perhaps the biggest change is that today I feel spiritually in touch with a higher sense of power ,” she states. “I have begun
I asked some staff and friends of St. Luke’s to share with us a story of when a gift had a meaningful impact on their lives. Here are a few: We were hopelessly lost! The minutes were ticking by to return the rental car and catch our train from Rennes to Paris. Digging back to my high school French, I could say, ”Ou est la gare?” which means where is the train station? BUT I couldn’t understand the answer . In despera tion, we parked the car , I jumped out and stood on a busy street corner saying, “Do you speak English?” over and over again in a very loud voice. At last I heard, “I can help you.” A simple gift of kindness from one stranger to another. A timely gift that I have never forgotten! –BETTY BRANDT
5
— —
Cami Walker
“I have begun to see that everything belongs to the divine. God is in everything, including me.”
When my mother died after six weeks in the hospital I knew that my family would come back to my house after the funeral. It was a wreck since I had spent those weeks going to the hospital ever yday before work to make sure my dad had breakfast (he was staying at the hospital with my mom) and again each evening to visit with mom and "tuck" in my dad. I had no desire to clean my house and very little time before the funeral. Two of my girlfriends came to my house and cleaned it top to bottom. No thank you was needed and none could have been big enough. These two angels helped me through this difficult time. Although this gesture was wonderful their friendship is the greatest gift I could ever receive. –KATHY ALEXANDER
together in ministry everyday
You know the saying, “Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.” One summer I was stripping wallpaper and painting walls at my home. I was tired of doing this all by myself, and also bemoaning the fact that I had no one to travel with. A few days later, I received an email from my cousin in Florida, asking if I would like to fly with him and his wife to China for seventeen days. They travel there often, have “adopted” a local family, and helped fund a rural school. I was surprised and amazed—this was an offer I couldn’t refuse! After weeks of waiting for a visa, countless emails, an ever changing itinerary (often in Chinese characters) I drove to the airport one dark morning with purse and carry on bag. I had no idea what I was in for , and really had to “let go and let God.”
Book available at Oasis Bookstore & Giftshop
We went from luxury hotels to modest rooms and plumbing, from Beijing to the mountains in the south, to the west where Tibetan refugees attend the Hope School. I ate in a home sitting on a tiny wooden stool and shared a luxurious banquet at a huge car dealership! From cities to countryside, I saw what most visitors do not. I drank tea, ate with chopsticks. Best of all, I received a taste of how some families live, and learned that people all over the world love, care for, and worry about their families. This was truly a gift. –SYLVIA FORBES Even though I love my job at St. Luke’s, there are times when I get frustrated or annoyed or even downright mad. Fortunately it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I have a secret weapon to get me back on track. It’s called my “blue file” and in it are all the wonderful cards and notes from people who have been positively affected by a ministry at St. Luke’s or because I’ve personally touched their lives in some way. When I’m feeling blue, I grab that file and a cup of coffee and start reading. The best notes are short and very specific. When I’m feeling incompetent, I look at the one that the sender said he appreciated my vision and leadership. When I’m feeling overworked, I reread the one that talks about my tireless efforts to assist with some project. When I don’t know where to turn, I look at the one that talks about the power of prayer. Having been the recipient of these wonderful notes, I have written some myself. One was to a neighbor in my childhood that I always remembered for her kindness. When I saw her a few times before her death, she always thanked me again for writing those words and told me how much they meant to her. A gift from the heart doesn’t have to cost much more than a stamp, but can mean the difference in someone’s life forever. –JAYNE THORNE
GIFTS, cont’d from page 1
give back to God’s work through a pledge of time, talent and treasure to St. Luke’s 2011 Annual Fund and returning your Gratitude Card on that day. Of course, we will accept them beforehand as well!
to see that everything belongs to the divine. God is in everything, including me. When we give or receive, we are connecting to that force. I now see I am a small part of a much greater whole, rather than the self-contained, deserted island I felt like 29 days ago. Today I see my interdependence with other people and with God as a source of power in my life... In the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ The past 29 days have proven this to be true for me.”
Look for information in the mail, or on our website (www .stlukesumc.com). We hope that you and all members of your family will send us the 29 Days of Giving participation card so that we know how many people are out there experiencing daily generosity. A list of participants will be printed in the Sunday W orship Guides during the campaign. Join us on October 24 when Cami Walker will be our guest at all three morning worship services. Her book and other items are available in Oasis Bookstore and Gift Shop, and you can read all about this nowinternational effort at www.29gifts.org.
For the 2011 Annual Fund campaign, St. Luke’s is adopting the 29 Gifts philosophy. This month, an invitation will be mailed out to par ticipate in 29 Days of Giving, from October 24 to November 21. St. Luke’s has always been a congregation of generous people, motivated to give to others and to give back to God out of gratitude for the blessings in their lives. Here’s a wonderful chance to have a real impact as a congregation on the lives of thousands of people everyday.
Many people across the world have benefited from the generosity of the people of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church through your commitment of time, talent and treasure. The staff and lay leadership are looking forward to the energy and opportunities this campaign will bring to the church. Please plan to participate and get ready to give yourself the gift of giving. n
The gifts can be a phone call, a cup of coffee, an offer to babysit, an hour of your time to sit and listen to a cranky friend whine about her hamstring and pinched nerve. The 29 Days of Giving campaign will end on Consecration Sunday , when we will ask the congregation to consider how they have been blessed by this practice and prayerfully
6
— —
giving
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
I wanted to tell you about a gift I received. First I have received many blessings in my life and much appreciated financial assistance from many agencies. The most special gift I received was anonymous. A few years ago, I was very behind in paying my homeowners association month assessment. The amount was over $3500. Only a very few people knew about this delinquency . My generous benefactor paid the amount in full and went to great lengths to keep their donation confidential. I was only notified by the HOA management company later. It is not every day that someone receives help from such a wonderful person. May God bless them. –ANONYMOUS
My divorce began 3 days before I started graduate school. The timing of it came as a bit of a surprise. I had 30 days to pack my adult life and move from my house to a much smaller apartment, while also reading about 300 pages a week and writing some papers. Time was divided between staring off into space in shell shock and episodes of pure panic. One thing I knew was that I needed help. Many friends came to help me pack during the month, and then the day of the move arrived. I had schedul ed 3 friend s to be wit h me from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.—“just in case” for 2-3 hour shifts. Betty came early, smiling and reassuring me. She helped put stuff in my car and watched over the moving men. She helped keep an eye on my dog. Barbara came mid-day and stayed for the rest of the afternoon. She unpacked my entire kitchen and hung up all my clothes. Because of her amazing generosity I was able to eat and dress myself for the rest of the semester (no small feat.) Carol came in the afternoon—and actually we just talked for awhile on my front steps. It was good to have the break and think about something other than moving and my life situation.
To be honest with you, I thought it was something I ate, seriously . I love spicy hot food, and a whole lot of other foods that generally don't love you back. Being a typical male who doesn't ask directions and refuses to acknowledge something might actually be wrong, I didn't realize I was experiencing something potentially serious had I waited any l onger. A nyway, s o yes, I w as e xperiencing a ppendicitis. O nly through the wisdom of my wife did I get pushed out the door to the hospital where the offending organ was summarily removed.
It was such a miracle to have my friends pray for me, hold me in the light, talk, cry and laugh, and care for me through this process. Several years have passed since moving day. Yet it still stands out as a marker in my life of what it means to be in ministry with others. Whether the giver or receiver—it truly is our time and presence that often makes the greatest gifts. –SARAH NEVIN
One dehydrated return to the hospital later , I found myself at home, weak, on by back, and pretty helpless for a few days. About two days out, as I was watching I Love Lucy reruns, I hear a lawn mower fire up. Assuming it was one of my neighbors, I paid no heed. However, when the sound was right outside my window, I looked out to see that it was MY lawn being mowed by my friend Jerry Toomer and his wife Linda. To this day I still marvel at their authentic generosity in that act. They didn’t call and ask is there something they could do for me… they just did. I am so very grateful for their individual “gift” that day, and others like them whose nature it is to give just because. –STAN ABELL
Several years ago, Gary and I spent several months in Switzer land while he illustrated a medical bookfor a surgeon there. We walked to most places. One day as we were walking, a rain shower came up. Gary looked at me and jokingly said, “If God loved us, he would send us an umbrella.” Within seconds a moped came by, hit a bump in the street, and his umbrella fell at our feet. We looked at each other unbelieving what had just happened. We still laugh about it. –MARY KATHERINE SCHNITZ
you are a gift So, How Much Does It Cost to Run St. Luke’s? While we know that many people give out of gratitude, we also know there are others out there who would like to know just how much it costs to operate St. Luke’s annually. The following is an abbreviated version of our annual expenditures and income. For a complete picture, see the 2009 Annual Report available on www.stlukesumc.com (type in “2009 annual report” on the search function, or go digging around in the Resources/File Cabinet section where you can find all kinds of interesting stuff!).
Tithe to Indiana Annual Conference & District Support Trustees Building & Utilities Programming & Support Departments Clergy & Lay Staff Salaries & Benefits TOTAL
Mortgage Payments
(currently paid from Capital Campaign Funds through 12/11)
2010 Total Expenses 2010 Pledged Income*
*Other income is received throughout the year but because it is not pledged it cannot be counted in the yearly budgeting process.
2010 Budget $435,313 $429,480 $482,854 $2,405,049 $3,752,696.00 $324,000 $4,076,696 $2,945,098
7
— —
outreach
together in ministry everyday
Serving the Community/Sharing God’s Love by Betsy Fife and Maria Blake
The Second Annual St. Luke’s Servant Day was held Saturday, August 7. Three hundred and fift y participants of all ages, spor ting red t-shir ts, gathered in Great Hall at 8am to enjoy a great breakfast prepared by the United Methodist Men. It was a time for fun and fello wship, as well as a time to share plans for what w ould be d one at the r espective sites. An added plus was the perfectly beautiful sunny weather!
and wood puzzles to each location. The work done at each location made a huge difference in their ability to be ready for the fall sessions. The Thrifty Threads volunteers, many of whom w ere members of the Elderberries, tackled the donation room, and organized the Boutique and other ar eas of the store. P roceeds fr om Thr ifty Thr eads benefit the Julian Center.
Continuing last year’s theme of “In Our Own Backyard,” the majority of the 10 projects were held at organizations locat ed in close pr oximity to St. Luke’s. Thirty enthusiastic w orkers stayed at St. Luke’s for the da y, power washing Luke’s Lodge, cleaning windows, and wiping down tables and chairs.
Our newest project was The Caring Center. This small-but-mighty crew completely organized and restocked the g rocery aisle, transformed the office and pantry areas, and sorted all of the clothing racks and organized fall items that w ill soon be needed. Barb Schiedel, the Dir ector of the Center shared: “Thank you so much for all your help on Saturday. You all were a real blessing to us.”
Two elementary schools—Nora and Fox Hill—benefited from the work of volunteers who assisted teachers with getting ready for the first day of school, preparing supper sacks and sprucing up the playgrounds. Suzanne Zybert, Principal of Nora Elementar y School, said: “In my time as an educator and volunteer, it was truly one of my most rewarding and amazing experiences. So many lives have been touched and w ill continue to be impacted. The timing was just r ight, as it let us start the year in a fresh new lig ht... I would be honored if you would consider returning next year.”
Mark your calendars now for next year’s Servant Day—Saturday, August 6, 2011! Looking for an ongoing volunteer opportunity? Help is needed, and welcomed, at the following locations: • Glick Community Center • Thrifty Threads • Fox Hill Elementary School • Nora Elementary School • The Caring Center
All of the work at the Indiana School for the Blind was done outdoors, a continuation from last year’s project. Harold Hall, the team leader for this group, is already signing participants up for 2011! If you enjoy trimming, weeding and literally getting your hands dirty, this is the project for you! New to the project list this year was the opportunity to interact with members of the Burmese community. This community project had three components—an orientation to the situation of the Burmese refugees who now live in Indianapolis, a clean-up of the apartment complex, and a lunch together. According to Kristen Kennedy, one of the team leaders: “The chance to interact with some of the people we set out to serve was a key part of the project’s success. There was also an impromptu duck-duck-goose game with some of the kids before lunch.”
To get involved, contact Jayne Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries, at thornej@stlukesumc.com, or 317-846-3404. n
A small group returned to the St. Vincent Group Home where they worked on flower beds, lawn raking, and clearing weeds along shrubs and walkways. Other ambitious t eam members t rimmed dead t ree limbs and safely r emoved wasp nests. At the Jordan Y and the Glick Community Center, volunteers were engaged in general cleaning, and preparing preschool classrooms. A generous grant from the United Methodist Women allowed each group to take a supply of new books
8
— —
school partnership
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
St. Luke’s Receives Superintendent’s Service Award “In my time as an educator and volunteer, it was truly one of my most rewarding and amazing experiences. So many lives have been touched and will continue to be impacted. The timing was just right, as it let us start the year in a fresh new light....” —SUZANNE ZYBERT, Nora Elementary Principal
This past August at the township-wide back-to-school meeting of teachers and staff f or t he M etropolitan S chool D istrict o f Washington Township ( MSDWT), Superintendent James Mervilde gave a Superintendent’s Service A ward to St. Luke’s UMC in recognition of the partner ship the church undertook w ith F ox H ill Elementary School beginning with the 200910 school year. Jayne Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries, accepted the award on behalf of St. Luke’s. Dr. M ervilde stated, “As superin tendent, one of t he broad discretionary privileges I have is t o recognize employees and community members who have been especially important to the district over the past year but who may not have been recognized in other ways for the special work they have done. I bestow the Superintendent Service Awards this year to people and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to the district.” Dr. Mervilde went on to explain that “Every week, 75+ volunteers from St. Luke’s come through the Fox Hill front doors with one mission—to support the children and staff at Fox Hill. These amazing folks help during the school day and in After School Achievers. They engage in work such as: • 1:1 tutoring and mentoring • Working with small groups small groups of students to reinforce instruction • Chaperoning field trips • Conducting a lunch time novel group for more advanced learners • Providing clerical help in the office • Supplying treats for special events like our music programs and Personal Best celebration • Planting a community garden and engaging in clean up and mulching chores Dr. Millard and the entire Faith Community at St. Luke’s— Thank you for your generosity and investment in the Fox Hill Community!” PHOTOS: Servant Day 2010.
9
— —
school partnership | gift of friendship
together in ministry everyday
Learning for Life by Kathy Levine
Most of us have seen the Indianapolis Star’s awareness campaign, “Our City, Our Children.” Matthew Tully has chronicled daily life at Manual High School; this year , he will follow the progress of the kindergart ners at IPS #61. All these stories have been filled with sadness and many celebrations. On Sunday, August 15, Dennis Ryerson, editor and vice-president of the Indianapolis Star, spoke to the St. Luke’s congregation about the necessity and rewards of becoming involved with and supporting the children of our fine city. Dr. Millard mentioned the fantastic work that St. Luke’s does at Fox Hill, from Ser vant Day participation to the many hours of tutoring tha t occur on a weekly basis.
Being involved with “Learning for Life” is a win-win for everyone at Fox Hill – teachers and students. Each grade-level team has the opportunity to choose what topics/life lessons they feel will most benefit their students. “Learning for Life” facilitators visit each classroom twice a month for 30 minutes. The students can receive guidance in such topics as world cultures, being a good worker , how to respond when people lie, pet care, physical fitness and many other life lessons.
Every initiative has unsung heroes, and our Fox Hill/St. Luke’s partnership is no exception. There is a quiet per son who without fanfare has made a significant difference in the lives of all Fox Hill students. A private donor from the St. Luke’s membership sponsored the character development program, “Learning for Life – Reaching for Tomorrow,” at Fox Hill during the 2009-10 school year, and will continue the support this year.
Bambi Garrett, one of the facilitators, comments about her experience at Fox Hill. "Working with the students at Fox Hill Elementary is so inspiring. It is great to watch the students connect with the lessons as they begin to understand why and how character development benefits everyone - yourself, your classmates, your school, your home and your community. The Reaching for Tomorrow program truly gives the students a sense of importance, ownership and pride.”
“Learning for Life – Reaching for Tomorrow” is a curriculum developed by the Boy Scouts of America. The mission of “Learning for Life” is to enable young people to become responsible individuals by teaching positive character traits, leadership and life skills. The students are encouraged to make positive choices and achieve their full potential. The program promotes personal values such as self-confidence, motivation and self-esteem. “Learning for Life” emphasizes the importance of respect, responsibility, honesty, courage, caring and self-discipline, which are also the M.S.D. Washington Township character values.
Adam Cassady, the “Learning for Life” director says, “It is my job to make sure our programs are consistent and meet the needs of all of our schools involved. W e currently serve 8,200 students in 104 schools across central Indi ana. In “Learning for Li fe” classes, we saw a significant improvement in the behavior of students after the students had participated in the program lessons.” Isn’t Fox Hill lucky to be one of the chosen schools! This is just another example of the blessings that have come to Fox Hill through our St. Luke’s partnership. n
Kathy Levine is the principal of Fox Hill Elementary
Two Friends by Hillary McCarley
In August 2006, two boys entering first grade at College Wood Elementary found out they had a few things in common. Both boys were only children; eager to please; birthdays in April; smiles that made you like them immediately; loved to tell stories. Although Luke Broyles told his stories by writing them down in notebooks, Michael McCarley (not able to read or write yet) used his Disney knowledge and keen memory and listening skills to verbalize his stories. Luke was always thinking. Michael was always entertaining. Luke and Michael
Luke and Michael were always close in proximity in the classroom and the lunch room. Their mothers met during the first grade. Donna and I captured all of the moments of first grade with our cameras clicking away.
10—
—
Luke was the enabler. Michael was the recipient of his kindness and protection. Michael’s diagnoses of cerebral palsy, epilepsy and co rtical visual impairm ent always seemed to allow Luke to help him constantly— pick up his crutches, finish his art project, turn in his work, and gather items from his mailbox at the end of the day. Luke was always lessening Michael’s load and Michael was always letting him. A simple gift of a plastic sword, a shield and a helmet to a six-year-old Luke sparked a heartfelt passion: to make movies. After three months of telling his parents, they finally took seriously their first grader’s resolve to make a movie. With storyboards all drawn, the journey began for Luke. cont’d on page 12
making a difference
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Three Cups of Tea + Economics = Pennies for Peace by Jacquie Reed
Almost a year ago, Nora Elementary School teacher and St. Luke’s member Sally Ball r ead Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. She decided that the fourth and fifth graders in her classroom were old enough to read, understand and enjoy the young reader’s edition. Sally introduced the book to her class in January 2010. The children were astonished to discover that students in the mountain village of Korphe, Pakistan, went to school outside and did math pr oblems and practiced writing in the ground around them. The humanitarian nature displayed by Greg Mortenson captivated the children. Sally Ball
Sally enrolled in an economics class at IUPUI for licensing renewal while t eaching the book. When she needed t o complete a project for the class, she wanted to involve her students. Sally decided that raising mone y for a c harity would offer an o pportunity for the c hildren to lear n var ious economic processes such as goods, services, making a contract, choosing and manufacturing a product, and financing. Inspired by Three Cups of Tea, the class chose the Pennies for Peace pr ogram established thr ough G reg M ortenson’s Cent ral Asia I nstitute (www . penniesforpeace.org). The children learned that although a penny will buy nothing in the United States, a penny in Pakistan will buy a pencil, or even help build a school. Tyler Galbraith, now a fifth grader, described the project: “Our class raised money by putting school supplies in little boxes and selling them. We had people loan us money for the supplies and we paid them back pl us 10% interest. Our class also br ought in spar e change. We donated [raised] $300. I felt really good about raising money for Pennies for Peace because we had a lot of fun d oing our project. The biggest thing I lear ned was that not all kids have as much money as we do and we are really lucky to be able to help them.”
“Our class is like a family. We were brought closer together working on our project. We can help other people—it doesn’t matter who they are or where they live.”
A current sixth g rader, Mary Alexander commented: “I felt good about helping other people.I felt like it was fun because we got to DO economics, not just sit and read a book about it. The biggest thing I learned from the project is that it’s not easy to raise money. There are many steps to the process that you need to understand. I lear ned that onc e you understand and w ork hard to put all of the st eps together, it can be a lot of fun and rewarding.” Max Nguyen, now a fifth grader who attends St. Luke’s, adds: “Three Cups of Tea was interesting. It opened up my mind to figure out what it means to donate to a charity. I think I am a lot more fortunate and I sometimes think I am spoiled. I learned that being kind and generous pays off.” Sally noted that one of the students in her class was from Algeria. Throughout the school year, he was used to others in the class helping him understand and speak English. Although his native language was Arabic, he was familiar w ith Muslim religious words mentioned in the book. Now his background enabled him to pronounce, interpret and explain the meaning of these words to the class. She added that when the students realized the final total raised of $300, one optimistically said, “We’ve built a school!” while another observed, “Our class is like a family. We were brought closer together working on our project. We can help other people—it doesn’t matter who they are or where they live.” Sally’s economics professor was so impressed with her project that he brought it to the attention of the Indiana Council for Economic Education. Recently, Sally was named the 2010 Outstanding Economics Teacher in the Stat e of Indiana. She won $1,000 and received the Indiana Council for Economic Education’s Annual Award for Excellence on September 24 at the Indiana State House. n
—
11—
A video describing Sally’s “Pennies for Peace” project is available at the Washington Township website— www.msdwt.k12.in.us. Click on “Elementary Schools,” then the Nora link, then “Principal Welcome Video.”
gift of friendship
together in ministry everyday
TWO FRIENDS, cont’d from page 10
And for Michael, a simple trip to see “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway in Indianapolis sparked his heartfelt passion: to be an entertainer . My husband and I didn’t have much of an objection, as music had been in our families since birth. All of his physical issues and developmental d elays d idn’t s top h im f rom ca rrying around a microphone and singing to every kind of song imaginable. Second grade led to a new teacher for the boys—one who wanted Michael to increase his independence in the classroom. But Luke was always close, still lending a hand to Michael when needed. Luke started writing even more stories but really wanted to see them in action, through the lens of a camera. Michael became interested i n ac ting a nd t ried o ut f or a r ole i n t he Fisher’s Artist Studio production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Michael’s first experience on stage would be to audition for the role of a squirrel or bunny as his parents wanted him to “ease” into the world of acting to avoid disappointment. Michael had other ideas and came home with the role of “Prince” in Snow White and would sing his first solo for an audience. Our family added a new member on November 17 , 2007. Durban, Michael’s skilled companion dog from Canine Companions in Delaware, OH, joined us. Michael and Durban are inseparable (except for school days), and those at St. Luke’s are quick to smile and ask permission to meet him every Sunday. Luke was busy putting pen and paper to “Swords and Shields.” This story would eventually become Luke’s first film. Lu ke asked Michael to be in the film with his current classmates. It premiered at the Cinema Grill in Greenbrier, with small trophies being awarded to all the actors. Luke, wearing a tux and red bow tie, stood at the podium, microphone in hand, proudly announcing the names of the actors as they went forward to accept their award. TOP: Taking their film
career seriously MIDDLE: The McCarley family,
including Durban BOTTOM: Birthday fun!
“Swords and Shields II” was filmed the following year . Michael was deemed eligible to attend the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI). Luke continued at College W ood. Although both still thought about each other, the busy schedule for both boys—Luke with filming and karate and Michael with therapy four days a week and a member of the St. Luke’s Children’s Music Program—put a slight hiatus on the friendship. “Swords and Shields II” premiered at Clay Terrace in the summer,
—
12—
and Luke was off and running with his passion of writing, producing, filming and editing. Luke’s parents, Tim and Donna, became his “assistants.” “Swords and Shields III” led to another opportunity for Michael to be involved with moviemaking. Each film became more elaborate in costuming, special effects and storyline. The premier for “Swords & Shields III” took place for a packed audience at Orchard School. On the road to completing the third and final “Swords & Shields” movie, Luke met Jeffrey Sparks while attending hi s f irst He artland F ilm F estival i n I ndianapolis—a wealth of enthusiasm and encouragement. Luke welcomed Mr. Sparks’ challenge to try documentary and other filmmaking options. Luke decided on the three documentaries that would become his next projects. Picking his friend Michael McCarley was an easy choice for Luke. “Michael” is a 10-minute documentary that follows a typical day for Michael. Luke says he made the movie to show other kids that despite the unique challenges Michael faces, he is a kid just like them. Luke says, “Michael loves life, loves singing and dreams of Broadway.” Luke was permitted to film Michael immediately after his complicated bone surgery on December 11, 2009 at t he G illette C hildren’s H ospital i n S t. P aul, M N. ISBVI allowed Luke access to the school environment and interviewed those closest to him in therapies and during the long recuperation period. “Michael” the documentary will be screened in October at the Heartland Film Festival. In addition, Louisville’s International Festival of Film and the DocUtah Interna tional Documentary Film Festival are screening “Michael.” Now a fifth grader, Luke is currently working on “Bird Brothers” and “Squire,” has won numerous film awards, given newspaper and radio interviews, speaks to many area groups about his life, and above all has continued his love of making movies. You can follow Luke’s work on his blog at http://lukeproductionsllc.blogspot.com. Michael still keeps busy with four therapies a week (physical therapy, speech therapy and biofeedback). He has performed in three more Artists Studio productions, sings in the St. Luke’s UMC children’s choir , spends Saturdays at the Motor Activity Clinic a t IUPUI and loves to swim. Ever yone who knows Michael is so very proud of the tears and sweat that have pushed him to where he is today. As his parents, my husband, Kevin, and I have some big dreams for him. W e don’t believe there is anything that Michael won’t be able to do in the future—well, there is one exception. He will never be President of the United States because he was born in Scotland—there is a constitutiona l provision preventing him from holding that office. Two friends: Luke Broyles and Michael McCarley. The story will certainly be continued. n
community ministries
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Habitat for Humanity by Kristen Rogers
After years of regular (well, mostly) financial support for Habitat for Humanity, my daughter Sara and I chose one cold Saturday last November to work on an interfaith build and see just what Habitat looked like in action. With bright work lights for a little heat and the fellowship of a potpourri of volunteers Sara learned to spackle and I dusted off my caulking skills. The morning flew by and the next thing we knew, we were coordinating St. Luke's efforts to increase our participation in the good work of Habitat: lifting families out of poverty housing and into a home of their own. Did you buy a 2x4 board back in May? Did you decorate it with a special message? Curious as to the fate of your board? Well... it's finally time t o build! Construction of the three-bedroom home of the Wurota-Ghebremedhin family at 849 River Avenue in Indianapolis begins October 13 and should wrap around November 20, with the home dedication on December 4. St. Luke's volunteers will work side
by side with volunteers from other Central Indiana UMC congregations building friendships along with a simple, dec ent and affor dable home for this family of thr ee E thiopian r efugees and an immigrant from Eritrea. We have opportunities to work on all phases of construction and finishing; e xperience is not r equired. Most of o ur v olunteer needs ha ve been met, but if you have not been assigned a shift and would like to help on t his b uild o r o ne i n t he f uture, please contact me or Sar a at kr istinrogers@mac.com or 844-0304. n
NEAR RIGHT: Carla Taylor, the Homeowner, driving the first nail in her first home! MIDDLE RIGHT:
Sara driving nails. Manual labor for Labor Day! BOTTOM RIGHT: Kristin and Sara
waiting to raise some walls.
How are partner families selected?
(from www.habitat.org)
• Families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates. • The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan. • Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. • Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.
13—
—
music ministries | grief ministries
together in ministry everyday
Music Department Takes Ministry to Annual Conference by Jenny Hawke
As any music director will tell you, it takes a generous amount of organization, coordination, flexibility and good humor to mobilize any group, settle in a new space, and provide a great performance. But take that challenge, multiply it by four, and what do you get?
sound check. During the service, all four ensembles shared the stage with the clergy leading and participating in the service. While the service itself—with the induction and dedication of several deac ons and clerg y—is moving for man y par ticipants, the pr esence of the St. L uke’s musicians added a profound dimension to the e xperience. Several p eople a pproached c hoir members as they left the auditorium t o thank them for their ministry that day.
For the St. Luke’s Music Department, it added up to a t rip to the United Methodist Annual Conference on the campus of Ball State University in M uncie. The C hancel C hoir, St. Luke’s Or chestra, Wesleyan R ingers, and singers from the St. Luke’s children’s choirs— about 150 musicians in all—sang and pla yed for the closing service on Sunday, June 13. Charles Manning, who ser ved as organist for the conference in 2009, assumed the role this year as well.
“One pastor stopped me outside, and tears were streaming down her c heeks,” said Squir e. “She said, ‘You m ust t ell them that their music moved me deeply. The lay delegate from my church and I just sat and wept after “Here I Am, Lord.”’
“This was a wonderful honor and opportunity to shar e our m usical g ifts w ith our larger denominational family,” said Mark Squire, director of music ministries. “It also required a large commitment of time and energy from our singers, orchestra members, bell ringers and four directors.”
This special contribution to the ann ual conference involved more than the gift of music. Since this event was not built in to the church’s annual operating budget, most expenses were paid for by the music department through fundraisers and private donations.
Preparation for the service started weeks before, with directors Debra Nethercott, Bob Zehr, Mike Keller and Mark Squire coordinating selections for the ensembles. Weekly rehearsal time devoted to the pieces to be sung culminated in an int ensive pre-conference rehearsal the Th ursday evening before. Then, early Sunday morning, a convoy of school busses, vans and cars made the trek to Muncie, and musicians and instruments arrived at Emens Auditorium in time for a br ief warm-up session and
“It takes the generosity of many hearts to make ministry opportunities like this possible,” said Squire, “and we are blessed with many volunteers and contributors at St. Luke’s who support our musical mission.” n
Young Children Who Lose Parents: An Underestimated Toll by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson Educators, doctors and clergy get little or no training t o he lp t hem recognize the signs of depression in grieving children or in adults who lost their parents while they were still children. Y ears after the loss, many professionals don’t ask if there was ever a significant loss when individuals seek advice or consider medications for signs of depression. The assumption that “they have moved on” is dismissive of the life-long journey of living with loss.
Have you ever heard it said, “You know kids… they rebound… they have a way of coping,” or, “In time, they will be all right… it just takes time?” While we want these statements to be true, many adults who have lived through childhood without their parents have concluded it is a life-long struggle. According to a recent article in the The Wall Street Journal: • 1 in 9 adults in a survey funded by the New York Life Foundation said they lost a parent before they were 20 years old. • 40% recall frequently pretending to be OK so as not to upset their surviving parent. • 63% feared their surviving parent would also get sick and die. • Out of the survey of more than 1,000 respondents: • 73% believed their lives would be “much better” if their parents hadn’t died young. • 66% said that after their loss “they felt they weren’t a kid anymore.”
New research is finding it is time for all of us to pay closer attention to grief as it affects both children and adults. Down the road, many can benefit from looking at pictures, videos and albums; reliving memories of family times; writing in journals; or listening to favorite music. There also can be great comfort in being with those who have walked the same path.Especially during the holidays, the hardest time for grieving families, take time to call someone who might need support and friendship. n
In general, grief is one of society’s most misunderstood phenomena, but we are learning that childhood grief tops the list. Children learn that suffering in silence can be the path of least resistance. Their anger, tears or chaotic behavior are misunderstood and, in some situations, not even tolerated. Children who live lives as “little adults” pay a price for their stoic behavior…namely, their childhoods!
4
—1 —
children’s music ministries
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
The St. Luke’s Children’s Music Program sang the National Anthem for an Indiana Fever game
Frantic, Fabulous, Fun and Frenzied: Summer 2010 by Kyle Walker
The St. Luke’s Children’s Music Program refused to be beat by the heat in 2010’s frantic yet fabulous summer. From singing and ringing at a retirement home to performing at the St. Louis Basilica, the choir’s summer vacation was packed with fun and frenzy. It started out with a performance at the Stratford in the Village of West Clay by the choir, complete with kids on the bells. “It made me feel good to see all of the residents smiling,” said Elizabeth Johnson, an eighth-grader who has been involved with the music program since age 4 or 5.The children then sang at the State United Methodist Conference at Emens Auditorium at Ball State University on June 13, performing alongside the Chancel Choir, St. Luke’s Orchestra, and Wesleyn Bell Choir. Despite having to be at church at a whopping 6:30AM in the morning, the choristers enjoyed it. “It was a neat experience,” Johnson said. St. Luke’s Music Recognition Sunday took place after that on June 20, and then it was off to St. Louis, Missouri, for seven kids (Bryn Walker, Spencer Whitson, Joseph Schingel, Jayla Underbrink, Lauren Roop, Elizabeth Poole, and me) and Debra Nethercott, director of the Children’s Music Program. The 13th Annual Royal School of Music T raining Course took place July 5-11 with guest director Simon Lole, director at the BBC in London. The 50 or so boys, girls, men and women who attended the course sang a Mass at the St. Louis Basilica on the morning of the 11th, as well as a Choral Evensong Service at Grace Church in Kirkwood. The week was filled with intense rehearsal but also a lot of fun—the choristers who attended are sure to think of it as a memorable and enjoyable experience. “We were always doing something,” said fifth-grader and choir member Bryn Walker, who was attending the course for the first time and greatly looks forward to returning next year. With only two days of downtime, the choir was at it again by the 14th of July . Singers performed the National Anthem for the opening of the Roundtripper International Baseball Tournament, which was held in Westfield. The opening events were held at Clay Terrace on what will be remembered as one of the hottest days of the year. The kids sang the National Anthem again on August 22 for an Indiana Fever game. In addition to singing from center court prior to the game, the choir performed in the concourse, singing quite a bit of their rather large repertoire. “I wasn’t sure that it would go well, but once we got on stage and performed, it was better than I had previously thought,” Johnson said. As the summer of 2010 draws to a close, the choir is left with nothing to do but reminisce about the memorable moments of it -- and look forward to those that lie ahead. n
Kyle Walker, age 13, is a member of the St. Luke’s Children’s Music Program
15—
—
together in ministry everyday
Living in Tune by Ryan McGee, Stephanie Eft and Kevin Davis
The Live in Tune Youth ministry team is new and realizes that we have the opportunity to connect with families and connect youth to church! The kick off on August 22 was our initial way of saying hi, and welcome. Now our youth ministry is well into the school year and seeking wa ys to be inclusive. The following are the stories of our new associates in youth ministry.
community of Newport, Tennessee. During both mission trip experiences, students opened their hands t o the community and poured out love in the form of paint, sweat and lots of hugs with kids. As expected, I hit the ground with very busy feet. Once I returned to the offic e later in the summer , I began t o focus on what w e wanted our Jr. High ministry to look like. Overall, Sunday morning will look different from Sunday evening.
Ryan McGee: Associate Director My jour ney t o St. Luke’s has tak en many y ears t o c ome t o reality. I've applied for youth ministry positions in the past and after volunteering for several years, realized my passion is for working w ith students and families in the c hurch. After pursuing full-time minist ry for se veral years and some deadend jobs, I began t o step back and e valuate where God was leading me. With prayer and insig ht from close fr iends and family, I c onfidently sensed God still leading me t o pursue full-time ministry.
Sunday mornings will be more large-group oriented and will incl ude a time of m usic, t eaching and br eakout groups. We introduce the topic to students on S unday morning and nar row the focus in the e vening. Sunday evenings will focus around small groups, and will include a time of fun games, a w rap-up teaching, and reflective worship.
After hearing of Matt Peyton’s new position with The Garden, I raced to prepare my resume and send it off to St. Luke’s. One thing led to another and I’m here! After years of frustration, I finally feel like I’m exactly where God has prepared me to be and I’m so excited to begin ministry here. I began in early June with my first day in the “office” as a full day at King’s Island w ith Jr. H igh students, follo wed b y a w eek in N orth C arolina serving the community of Swan Quarter with High School students. Just a few weeks later, I led another mission trip with Jr. High students to the
Another focus I’m investing in is launching a youth band, one band for Jr. High students and one band for S r. High students. Having a plac e for students to get connected is important for their growth and to develop their leadership skills. Again, my feet are still busy running, and we hope to keep moving forward as we welcome all students and families into our ministry.
16—
—
youth ministries
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Stephanie Eft: Associate Director
of our Sr. High mission trips for the summer of 2011. Sunday NIGHTS are more of a big group, big activities, big music, big connecting time for Sr. High students. The evening consists of a welcoming/hang out time, worship and a shor t message, and br eakout discussion g roups based on interests (arts group, coffee and conversation group, sports group, game group, etc.) Hope to see you all on a Sunday soon!!
Hello St. Luke’s family! I look forward to getting to know more of you in the coming months, but in the meantime I thought I’d give you all a sneak peak of getting to know me. I come to St. Luke’s from St. John’s Presbyterian Church outside the cit y of brotherly love (and throwing snowballs at Santa Claus), Philadelphia. Following the call t o St. Luke’s brings me jo yfully back home t o the nor th side of Indy. I grew up in Fishers and graduated from Hamilton Southeastern. After high school, I mo ved to Philly t o attend Eastern University and stud y youth ministries. I am thrilled to be a part of St. Luke's youth ministries team, particularly because of the efforts being made in r elational minist ry and t o connect our youth to the adult c hurch community and the larger c ommunity around us. But enough about me, let me share a little more about our Sr. High youth ministry with you!
Kevin Davis: Director of Youth Ministry I am really excited about this year. It is great to have a team of staff and volunteers that are so excited about youth ministry and that help in so many ways. This year’s kick off, weekly meetings, fall retreats and the planning for ne xt summer mission t rips w ould not be possible without such a great team!
I could not be more excited about this fall and Live in Tune youth ministry. Sunday mornings are our small g roup time for S r. High students, with three options from 9:30-10:30am. Wake up at Starbucks is our coffee and discussion group that meets at the Star bucks across from Brebeuf High School off of 86th St. (rides are available from the Lodge around 9:15am). Wake up at the Lodge is our activity and discussion group that meets at the Lodge. The third option, Wake up at the B ig House, meets in the main church building in N103/104 and is for students interested in one or both
After being her e for just o ver a y ear, I am continuing to learn ways to ser ve you and your family. One of our highest priorities is to take time to listen to teens and to parents about their needs. It is our desire to serve in ways that are impactful for your family. The changes that we have made in youth ministry this year are due to listening to different needs and doing our best to respond. Because of these changes we are in need of more volunteers! There are plenty of ways to get involved. Check out our volunteer section on the website and get in tune with the resources section. If there is any way in which we can serve you and your family better, please let us know! n
17—
—
virtual church
together in ministry everyday
Introducing The Bluevine Collective by Matt Peyton
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is our honor here at T .I.M.E., the Together In Ministry Everyday magazine, to welcome guest interviewer Hairy King, who recently nailed an exclusive interview with our very own Matt Peyton about the new virtual church community The Bluevine Collective. The interview will run in full on some tv channel as soon as Hairy gets his own show (it turns out he’s got a face more suited for stone-tablet carved news, rather than broadcast.) In the meantime, below is a transcript of the interview.
M: Right. I mean, wait... What? Next question, please. HK: Sure, sure. Now there have been some rumors circulating about
The Bluevine Collective and I was wondering if we could address some of those. M: Rumors? From who? HK: Matt, you know I can’t divulge my sources. Anyway, word has been
HAIRY KING: Matt, welcome to the show. I want to first of all thank you
for joining us here on the Hairy King show. MATT: Yeah, ummm, about that. I’m pretty sure I was told this was the
Larry King show. HK: Ha! Classic Matt Peyton humor! Alright, first question, what exactly is The Bluevine Collective.
going around that The Bluevine Collective is a cult led by a maniacal dictator and that the site’s ultimate goal is to bring about the end of the pew manufacturing economy of the Midwest, creating a power vacuum that is ripe for takeover by outside forces. W ould you care to respond to this allegation? M: Hairy, I don’t have any idea what you are talking about. HK: Ah-ha! I see, so you are going to play hardball on this one!
M: The Bluevine Collective is a diverse community seeking to engage
in significant life and faith questions in order to foster transformative action. We are trying to take the feel of the wonderful offerings here at St. Luke’s and The Garden, and bring others into the conversation from all across the country and world. You can get there by visiting www.
M: No, Hairy, I literally have no idea what you are talking about. As far as the cult thing, nothing could be further from the truth. We received a grant from the United Methodist Church to start this online endeavor . And as far as pew manufacturing is concerned, we don’t want to stop people from going to whatever worship service they are currently attending. Instead, we want to foster further dialogue about a wide range of topics that supplement whatever is already taking place on their spiritual journey . If someone has never attended a worship service of any kind but finds growth t hrough o ur s ite, t hat’s w onderful. A lso, though, if someone who attends church every week without missing a Sunday enjoys and grows from our site, that’s the goal also. HK: I see. And in regards to the maniacal dictator? M: Well Stan Abell is the pastor in charge of the
project, so I can’t outright deny that one. HK: Well Matt, it seems like there are a lot of won-
derful things happening at The Bluevine Collective. M: Thanks Hairy , we’re really excited about the
possibilities, as well as the community already taking shape. thebluevinecollective.org, from the St. Luke’s website, or by searching Facebook.
HK: What are some things you’re doing to get people involved deeper
HK: That’s wonderful! So basically, if I had to boil it down, you are run-
M: Well, we have a lot of ideas, but I can tell you two things right now
ning a dating website for Christians.
that we have planned. First of all, each quarter The Bluevine Collective will have an outreach focus. The idea is to raise money and awareness to different causes that affect us all locally and globally . So in addition to sharing information and ways to help online, we will host events to bring people physically together to build community and raise funds for these issues.
M: No. No, that’s not right at all. W e are trying to foster conversation
with a new community built around the spirituality of a wide variety of topics such as music, eating locally grown foods, dealing with our pet peeves and other general things like that. HK: I see. Well that’s good because I wasn’t quite sure where you were getting the authority to give out dating advice.
—
than just reading a blog.
HK: That sounds pretty cool.
18—
the garden
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
M: Yeah. The other opportunity we have is that we are
partnering with The Village Experience, which is an organization here in Indianapolis, to lead a trip this summer to Guatemala. Our goal is to bring together people from all across the country who participate in our online community to meet face-to-face and have a life-changing experience together.
M: Right. Well. It will be absolutely in no way like that experience you had. HK: Good to know! W ell Matt, I want to thank you for
taking the time to sit down with me and shedding some light on The Bluevine Collective. M: It’s been my pleasure, Hairy.
HK: That kind of reminds me of this one time I met a girl
online, and we were going to meet up and then I found out she was really a llama. M: Wait, she looked like a llama?
This interview can be viewed absolutely nowhere, seeing as how Hairy’s wife, Mrs. Llama King, ate the DVD that it was stored on. For questions you can visit www.thebluevinecollective.org or e-mail Matt directly at Matt@thebluevinecollective.org. n
HK: No, she was literally a llama!
Garden Unplugged Offers a New Way to Experience God in Your Life Every Sunday Morning at Oak Hill by Matt Peyton
Something any gardener will tell you about gardens is that they need a lot of different things in order to thrive. One of those things is space. Without enough space plants will begin to crowd each other, pushing and pulling until soon they begin to choke each other as they desperately reach for the nutrients they crave in a murderous fight for survival in which only the strongest survive, eventually feeding on the decaying material of the plants they have mastered in their race for dominance in the face of the harsh realities of life! OK, sorry. We may have gotten a little carried away there. Clearly things haven’t gotten that bad at The Garden at Oak Hill (yet...), but the point is that as we began to look around the room on Sunday mornings, we noticed that the place was starting to be pretty packed. Heeding the advice of many leaders who quickly point out that organizations are always either growing or shrinking (never just staying level), we sat down and began to write down the pluses and minuses of all of our options. It seemed to us we had two clear choices. First, cancel The Garden at Oak Hill (plus: more free time to explore hobbies such as bird watching and learning Portuguese; minus: taking away a place where God works in peoples’ lives). Or second, we could add a new service at Oak Hill (plus: more space to invite new people and offer a more hospitable environment; minus: an inability to identify that stuck-up bird who always sits outside our window staring at us with those judgmental little eyes.) It soon became clear that an additional service was the way to go.
The Additional Service Out of these decisions was born the idea of Garden Unplugged. An additional service at Oak Hill every Sunday at 9AM that would be a new offering for people looking to experience God in their lives, wherever they are. In addition to Garden Unplugged, The Garden will still host the same, quality services at 10:15AM at Oak Hill, as well as the services at Beef and Boards at 8:15, 9:15 and 10:15AM. Rev. Stanley Abell, Pastor of Offsite Ministry , The Garden/St. Luke’s, and leader of the new service, is excited that the opportunity for a new service grew out of a strong Stan Abell leading The Garden Unplugged
19—
—
the garden
together in ministry everyday
GARDEN, cont’d from page 19
same. Soon, we’ll even have an option for you to be able to submit questions to the speaker through text, tweet or Facebook in real time.
passion from the Leadership team and committed volunteers. “Twelve of us got together and considered the objectives we’d needed to address with a new service, and all the ways we could accomplish them,” said Abell. “The consensus of the group was to create Garden Unplugged. The energy was around building on the unique, creative format of The Garden, and on continuing to push and explore how people can experience the unconditional love of God.”
However, not everyone’s mind processes information the same way , and hopefully you will continue to think about each week’s topic past the allotted time on Sunday morning. For this reason, Garden Unplugged offers a chance to continue the conversation all week long at The Bluevine Collective (for more information about The Bluevine Collective, please see previous article). Each week, Rev. Abell will post an article on the site that discusses some aspect of that week’s topic. This allows not only another way to engage with Garden Unplugged, but also a chance to continue the dialogue that began on Sunday morning.
If you are familiar with The Garden services, you will recognize many of the same elements taking place in Garden Unplugged. The service will still feature popular songs you may recognize from the radio and clips from some of your favorite movies, put together with a short message that will focus on bringing you hope and a positive outlook on life. What’s new , however, is that many of the songs will be pared down to an acoustic version and there will be a time of discussion both around your table and with Rev . Abell. (Also, there will be muffins, which are new and very tasty.) The idea behind these changes is that we hope to be able to reach and interact with people who are interested in wrestling a little more with some of the topics we discuss, while still being authentic and honest.
Simply comment on that post and check back throughout the week to participate in the emerging conversation. This also offers a great way to stay connected to Garden Unplugged if you can’t attend on a given week.
Continued Growth
“Everything we do at The Garden on Sunday morning is focused on fully developing an understanding of that morning’s theme,” explained Abell. “Perhaps you understand it best through music, but for someone else it clicks through a movie clip or a prayer. By adding the group’s conversation to the mix of the service, we are simply creating yet another way people can connect.”
We hope that these new connection points and the new time have peaked your interest. We invite you to come, bring a friend and enjoy a muffin and coffee as we all grow together and think about what it means to experience God wherever you might be. We’ll be here every Sunday morning at Oak Hill Mansion 9AM, and we hope to see you there.
Continue the Conversation after the Service
If you have any questions about the service or would like to get involved on one of our many volunteer teams, please don’t hesitate to contact Rev. Stan Abell at abells@stlukesumc.com.
One of the exciting new opportunities being offered at Garden Unplugged is the chance to interact with those seated around you, as well as the speaker that week. If you have a thought or question, you’ll have the chance to share that with others and learn as they do the
Thanks and God bless! n
UMM’s Second Annual Fish Fry
will be on Thursday, October 7 from 4:30-8PM in the Great Hall. Last year, we served over 600 people and raised $1,500 for the
Interfaith Hunger Initiative. And the feedback w e received was r esoundingly positive. In fact, many people asked us if we would organize another one for the spring! Not only did we feed a lot of people a lot of good food, and raise some money for a good cause in the process, we also had a terrific time as a group. The camaraderie was tangible, and everyone had a blast. Whether breading fish, working in the serving line, or walking amongst the crowd refilling drinks and plates, each of the men was able to experience the joy of serving others alongside other Christian men. Men, if you're interested in helping w ith this y ear's fish fr y, contact Matt Roop at ( 317) 548-5931 or mroop@capcityfence.com. For everyone else, come out for some great food on October 7! Proceeds this year will go towards post-earthquake rebuilding efforts in Fondwa, Haiti.
20—
—
united methodist men
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Brotherhood by Rev. David Williamson
A few months ago , I was ha ving breakfast with a leader I admire, and he shar ed with me one of the pr inciples that has guided him thus far. “No matter what organization you are leading,” he said, “you want to be known for one thing. But choose that one thing carefully...” Those words have been rattling around in my head for the past few months as we’ve been rethinking how we’re doing family and men’s minist ry here at St. Luke’s. If there was one thing that we are known for, what would that one thing be? And would it be the one thing that we were aiming for? I brought the question to a recent retreat of our Men’s Ministry leadership, and the responses I got were enlightening. One guy said: “I feel like we’re known around the church as the guys that do stuff—cook breakfast, set up Live Nativity, and so on. And that’s great—we want to serve. But are we known as guys who are helping each other grow spiritually?” Another piped in: “Yeah, we have a lot of programs that are focused on helping us be better fathers or better husbands, and that’s great. But we never get around to asking the question: How are you doing as a man?” As a result of these conversations, we decided to rewrite our mission statement. Going forward, the St. Luke’s United Methodist Men w ill seek t o be: “A br otherhood of men, sharpening one another, growing in faith, learning to serve.” So our “one thing” from now on will be brotherhood—men who are bonded to one another and supporting one another on their journeys. But at the risk of breaking the maxim my friend so kindly shared with me, we realized that “brotherhood” is perhaps too daunting a concept at first g lance, so we’ve broken it into three foundations we will emphasize. The first of these is fello wship. Fellowship can take many forms—it can be a group of guys playing softball, or it can be that same group of guys gathering at a bar to watch the game. It could be 30 men coming to church on Satur day morning for breakfast, or it could be a smaller group of guys gathering during the week for prayer and accountability. We
recognize that fellowship can take many different forms, but it is vital to a man’s soul to have other men to connect with. So one foundation of our organization is providing regular fellowship opportunities for men. Another key component of our vision statement is growth. We build fellowship with one another not just t o have fun, but in order to push each other and sharpen one another in our walks w ith Christ. There are lots of areas where men can grow—as fathers, as husbands, a s l eaders, as C hristians—and we’re seeking t o put into place programs that help men g row in eac h of those ar eas. We’ve alr eady had some success at this. One participant in our Raising a Modern Day Knight study remarked, “I look forward to our meetings, because it gives me one hour each week to step back and think strategically about how I’m leading my family.” That’s exactly the kind of growth we’re aiming for—that o pportunity for st rategic reflection is what all men need.
“A brotherhood of men, sharpening one another, growing in faith, learning to serve.” —UMM MISSION
And finally, we close with service because we understand that, bottom line, if we’re not ser ving our c hurch and our world, our neig hbors and our families—w ell, then, we’re missing the mark. But we also want to be specific about how we’re serving our world—by building better men, by building the kind of brotherhood where we sharpen one another in faith and push one another to grow. So coming up this month, you’ll get t o see the UMM in action, as we hold our second annual Fish Fry to benefit the work in Fondwa, Haiti. But make no mistake—this isn’t just a bunch of guys “doing stuff” around the church. This is a group of guys who enjoy being together, who care for one another, who are all trying to grow in their faith, and who are trying to make a difference in their world through service. We are a brotherhood. Come join us. n
21—
—
world missions
together in ministry everyday
Who Let the Men Out? by Kendall Millard
Fondwa, Haiti, is per haps the most beautiful place I have ever visited. Of course you have the majestic mountains as far as the eye can see in every direction, but even more striking is the beauty of the people. Beautiful smiles. Beautiful presence. Beautiful souls. Led by Rev. David Williamson, a group of St. Luke's United Methodist Men (Chris Bailey, Chris Bultinck, Brad Manbeck, Matt Roop, Bob Zehr and me), the K ids First F oundation ( Jeremy C hastain, Da wn Lockw ood, Mike Marker, Lisa Peterson, Mike Pitts), and three other new friends from other states, spent seven days (August 29-September 5) doing a work project at the top of the mountains in Fondwa valley. In just four work days, the team c ompleted four classr oom star ted b y a pr evious t eam, built four additional classrooms, and painted the two orphanage dorms and six other buildings in the ar ea. Yes, we achieved or exceeded our goals for building structures. But the real impact was in building relationships—impact that ran both ways.
ABOVE: Carolah with boy BELOW: Girl Team—Carolah, La La, and Yolanda (girls from the
orphanage) help us paint their new school! BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT:
SLUM Lords—St. Lukes' men (Brad Manbeck, Chris Bultinick,
There are more than 40 orphans living in two dorms that were built after the earthquake made their prior home structurally unsound, and upon our arrival we were greeted with squeals of joy and kisses from the kids. Over the week we held them, played soccer with them, sang w ith them, joked with them, and fell in lo ve with them. On Saturday, we loaded e veryone into a truck and two vans to go to the beach, which is a special treat since they rarely get t o go and some had ne ver been. I ha ve never seen suc h unadulterated joy. Together with the kids in the back of the truck (about 25 of us in all), we sang church songs and praises to God the entire two-anda-half hour journey! OK, one of the songs wasn’t exactly a church song... we taught the kids “W ho Let the Dogs Out?” The y embraced it very enthusiastically, chanting “Who who who who” with appropriate gusto.
Kendall Millard, Chris Bailey, David Williamson and Matt Roop) prepare for the final day of work. The kitchen and kids' recreation building stand in the background. Mission accomplished in just four days, eight classrooms, built and painted! The work crew on the way to the beach!
We were also the r ecipients of the fr iendships and goodwill generated by David and Jamalyn Williamson's years of service to this community. David seemed to know everyone, and despit e the modest y of their means (one family of seven lived in a 10’x10’ hut covered by hole-filled USAID tarps), they graciously invited us in to their abodes for coffee, treats and relationship. Again, the beauty of the people—not materially wealthy, but rich in what matters most. I am h umbled and a wed by the e xperience and am grateful that I was part of this group. Thanks to everyone back here at home who “let the men out” to have this eye-opening experience. n
22—
—
spirit & place event
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
The Orphan’s Feast by Dr. Marion Miller
Under the umbrella of this year’s Spirit and Place theme “Food for Thought,” The Orphan’s Feast is a sponsored event of Saving Orphans through Healthcare and Outreach (SOHO). This organization was formed in the United States in 2006, and has expanded its network to parts of the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand.
Here in the United States, we recognize food as family, fellowship and friendship—used typically to bring people together in celebration. Food, like love, conjures up definite images in the mind. Appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts, drinks and leftovers testify to the truth that there was enough. Feasting conjures up scenes of plenty, even of extravagance. To understand feasting within other contexts, we have to understand what food is, and what hunger is. What does it mean when someone says “I’m starved?” For some, it may simply mean skipping lunch or breakfast, or even the snack in between. The orphans and vulnerable children disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa feast and celebrate when there is enough food. The meal most often is white cornmeal with a little sugar or salt, whatever is available. When there is food, there is fellowship, joy and songs of thanksgiving. So in contrast, sometimes orphans and vulnerable children are brought together by a single common bond: hunger. At The Orphan’s Feast, participants will experience a new definition of food and feasting through film, photography and discussion. Preparing and partaking of a feast of orphan fare will indeed provide "food for thought." SOHO has partnered with Mission Possible Kids to aid in the preparation of this event. Special Agents will be decorating the handles of approximately
300 spoons with beads and wire. These spoons will be used for a fundraiser, and some will be sent to the children in Swaziland. The Spirit & Place event will take place on Sunday, November 7, 2-4PM in the Great Hall. Come and experience “feasting” through the eyes of sub-Saharan African orphans, showcased in a documentary film and photographs, as you partake in a typical meal of white cornmeal and water. SOHO President Cynthia Prime will moderate a discussion at this event on food as the key to safety, security, health and hope. Panelists will include two SOHO staff members: Sheila Viswanathan, a native southern African, and nutritionist Annie Elble. I will also be joining the panel. Attendees will share in twos or threes their most memorable hunger or feasting experience, and how this feast has helped them to see food through different eyes. Participants can create beaded cutlery and can either choose to donate the finished item to the SOHO Welcome Place in Swaziland, or take it home as a keepsake of this event. The call to action will enable participants to share our resources with the children where a single meal is a typical day. Participants will be asked to consider the needs in our community, becoming more sensitive to those needs of children and families around us as well as those in places like sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, please contact Abbue Elble, annieelble@ savingor phans.com, or call 317-471-3478. n
2010 Spirit & Place is 10 magical days from November 5-14! Food isn’t just what’s on the plate. It’s a necessity, a commodity, and sometimes a luxury. It influences our family , health, and faith. It shapes our culture, economy , and landscape. This year’s 40 festival events offer plenty of Food for Thought—and 78% are free of charge! Sample local craft beverages, try international cuisine, eat an orphan’s “feast,” and more. For a complete schedule, go to www.spiritandplace.org.
—
23—
later@st. luke’s | clergy
together in ministry everyday
Blessing of the Bikes by Chuck Miller
This past summer, Later@St. Luke’s conducted its first Blessing of the Bikes ceremony . There are several bikers who attend Later@St. Luke’s multicultural worship service, and they helped make the ceremony an overwhelming success. Many of you might be wondering, “What is a Blessing of the Bikes ceremony?” Since motorcycling is an activity involving risk, it is sometimes prudent to bless these machines and their riders before a group ride. Most Blessing of the Bikes are informal religious ceremonies conducted by a minister or other religious authorities. Based on the posi tive feedback Later has received, plans are already underway for next year. We expect it to be bigger and even better. The focus of the ev ent this year was to raise the a wareness of bike enthusiasts here at S t. Luke’s and in the community. All sizes and types of bikers were in attendance, and it proved to be a good way to meet new people. For this first event, we ended up with twice the number of motorcycles that we had originally anticipated. One of the three wheelers on display was a real dragster. This dragster races all
Indiana Clergy Peer Group Study Program by Dr. Marion Miller
This past year, I wrote a proposal and received a grant through the Peer Group Study Program (PGSP) of Christian Theological Seminary to study “multicultural worship” for the ne xt three years. The proposal will be funded by the Lily Endowment, up to a maximum of $55,000.
The range of topics selected for study will include areas such as int erfaith issues and r elations, the public r oles of congregations, and other such issues that address perplexing problems and needs in I ndiana congregations and communities. We will engage in w orkshops, reading and discussion sessions, preaching clinics, stud y/ travel seminars, designing and carrying out projects with congregations, and cr itiquing preaching and teaching skills in multicultural worship settings.
The process has been a long haul, because this stud y program holds up the principle of self-selection of pastors into peer g roups. It took over a y ear to seek out colleagues who wanted to study multicultural worship, and interact on a fairly intensive basis for three years. At the same time, it was extremely important to hold up the expectation that this peer group would be inclusive and diverse to include such factors as race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, denominational background, size of congregation, location of church and theology. This particular clergy peer g roup is called “Shades of Worship.” The focus pr imarily w ill be on leadership , worship and learning about the resources that establishes multicultural congregations. This g roup is comprised of the following clergy: • • • • • • •
uing education through its very nature and existence. We have already developed a plan that w ill improve leadership enhanc ements, deepen personal growth and development, and increase congregation growth.
The Shades of Worship Clergy Peer Group was formed to tast e, see and shar e the all-incl usive lo ve of God through sharing in and reflecting on the worship experiences of faith c ommunities whic h ar e g race-filled, spirit-led and multicultural. Shades of Worship’s mission parallels with St. Luke’s vision—to be transformed while helping others. It will require a t ransformation from each of us first, through growth and learning from others.
Helen Hempfling Enari, First Christian Church (DOC) Holly Hardsaw, Horizon of Faith UMC Joseph Johnson, Lawrence UMC Marion Miller, Later@St. Luke’s UMC LeKisha Reed, UMC - Indiana Conference L. Wayne Smith, Abundant Harvest UMC Brian Williams, North UMC
We will seek to learn from each other, challenge each other, and prayerfully support eac h other. We will use conferences, spiritual mentors, scholars, t eachers, personal stud y and g roup ac tivities t o st retch our minds, hearts and spirits. As we are being transformed, we believe we can then be more effective in t ransforming our homes, congregations and communities. n
I am very excited about this program. It is an opportunity to help stimulate the for ming of the m ulticultural worship experience at Lat er@St. Luke’s services. This study opportunity will also help to provide contin-
—
24—
singles ministry
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Bikes and participants, blessings and fun. over the Midwest, and he has had three crashes this year – even flipping his dragster over on its roof. The driver and his wife heard about the Blessing of the Bikes worship service, so they came and asked for a ble ssing on their dragster. Not only were they very happy to get their dragster blessed, but we picked up some new friends in the body of Christ. Along with the dragster and the motorcycles, there were bicycles and children’s toy motorcycles. One person even brought his favorite Hot Wheel car (in his pocket) to be blessed. Everyone there had a great time—next year we invite you to be a part. Bring your motorcycle, bicycle or anything with wheels, and receive an additional blessing from God who is always our guide and protector. n
Rebooting by Chris Thornsberry
For the last 25-30 years, St. Luke’s Singles has been an anchor ministry of S t. Luke’s UMC. W e’ve seen man y changes over those years, with lots of people connecting to other areas of ministry within St. Luke’s from our Singles Ministry. We’ve also seen people connect with that special someone or a small group community that has enabled them to find friendship, comfort, fellowship, love and support. 2010 has been no different when it comes to change. W e “rebooted” Singles Ministry by making some positive program changes, and also had some new leaders come on board. With many of our leaders stepping down after years of wonderful service, we were looking for some fantastic, innovative, fresh ideas. We weren’t disappointed. We kicked off this summer with the theme “Singles Summer under the Sun.” W e switched around our W ednesday night schedules and took some of our events off-site to local venues, such as restaurants, concerts, museums and sporting events. W e also continued to have three staple events that brought in lots of new faces to our Singles Ministry: the Summer Kick-off Dance Party, Strawberries and Jazz, and the Annual Block Party. We also started a new program that has been drawing in lots of people on the first and third Thursdays, the Singles Euchre Social. As we head into fall, many things will be changing and a few things will be sticking around. W e’ll be bringing some of our Wednesday night events back to St. Luke’s for the first and third Wednesdays. We’re calling this night Singles Café. Singles Café will start in October at 7PM in various locations around the building. We’ll be offering great coffee and tea and a special guest speaker . The other Wednesdays we’ll be meeting off-site at various local restaurants and venues. We also have a new partnership with CenterPoint Counseling of Indianapolis to provide Divorce Recovery and Care to our singles who are in need of care and comfort during this uncertain time
25—
—
Did you know that 48% of Americans 18 and older are single? That’s right, 48%. That means there’s a good chance that you or someone you know is single.
singles | endowment
together in ministry everyday
SINGLES, cont’d from page 25
of life. We’ll also be starting an onsite Personal Growth Group led by certified counselor Dawn Kozarian. This group is designed for anyone who’s found themselves stuck in a life rut. Whether it’s employment, finances, relationships or something else, this small group will give the individual the tools they need to pull themselves out of those ruts. Both of these groups are a part of our Living Well Small Groups. You can check out the other Living Well groups on the Singles Ministry page on the churches website. Another way that our singles are connecting is through the social network site Meetup.com. We currently have 350+ singles in the Indianapolis community who are checking into our ministry and events on a weekly basis. Many of them feel that it’s not enough just to connect socially online, so we have also established a partnership with the Later@St. Luke’s worship service to get our singles involved in not only attending worship, but also participating through prayer and service. All in all, we’ve had some fantastic changes around Singles Ministry , and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store. But before I end this article, I’d like to point something out to you. Did you know that 48% of Americans 18 and older are single? That’s right, 48%. That means there’s a good chance that you or someone you know is single. If that’s the case, we’d like you to share with your friend or friends about what’s happening at our Singles Ministry. Or, if you’re single, why not take a chance and join us for one of our awesome events? If you’d like to sign up for our weekly eNewsletter or if you’d like m ore information about opportunities for singles, please feel free to email me at thornsberryc@stlukesumc.com. Or check out our page on the St. Luke’s UMC website at www.stlukesumc.com. n
Building St. Luke’s Future Gift by Gift by Tricia Tomson
If you were to ask someone, “How was St. Luke’s United Methodist Church built?” o ne m ight reply, “Brick by brick.” Of course, technically, they would be right. From the outside, St. Luke’s is a building... a building constructed of bricks and mortar with steel structures holding it all together. But if you were to walk inside St. Luke’s on a Sunday morning, you would understand that the very foundation that sustains it is its people. When we talk about g rowing our Endowment and the impor tance of leaving and securing our church’s future, what are we really saying? If the bricks were to crumble and the st ructures were to sag, what would be left? Was St. Luke’s built brick by brick? Or was it built gift by gift? Earlier this spring, we welcomed Reverend William G. Enright, Ph.D., to the pulpit to deliver an inspir ing message about building a cathedr al for our soul. Dr. Enright addressed the importance of endowments and how they allow congregations to live through tough times and survive through those times with vitality. Endowments provide sustainability and allow for the creation of new programs and services to ensure a better future for our ministries. In the subsequent months, the Endowment Committee has been moving forward with some exciting developments and has witnessed new legacies being created. St. Luke’s future is being built—gift by gift. In June, the Endowment Committee, with approval from the Governing Board, hired long-time St. Luke’s member Linda P ratt as a par t-time consultant to help direct an endowment campaign. Since Linda’s involvement, we have sent informational letters and requests to 2,500 members of the c ongregation, which has gener ated 14 new Endowment Societ y members to date. On July 4, Phil and Betsy Roby hosted a brunch for 45
—
members of the c ongregation at their home on Lak e Wawasee. Dr. Kent Millard and Linda were in attendance to talk about the importance of the Endowment and how one might think about getting involved. In addition, two new funds have been established under the Endowment. The Orchestra Music Fund, established by Frank and Sharon Neese, will help provide funding to purchase m usic scores for the St. Luke’s Orchestra. Also, the Seminar ian Scholarship Fund was established b y Adolf and N aomi Hansen for St. Luke’s individuals attending seminary. These new designated funds will be added to the eight other existing funds of the Endowment. On Sunday, September 26, 2010, a celebration luncheon for cur rent and new Endowment Society members was host ed by Steve and M ag Cole Russell. The Endowment Committee would like to thank Steve and Mag for opening up their home for this appreciation event. Their leadership is helping to pave the way for g rowing our End owment, and their g ift is building a better and more sustainable future for St. Luke’s. Currently, the Endowment is valued at $2.68 million. We would like to see that grow to $7 million so that it w ould eventually generate $350,000 in future predictable annual income. For those that have indicated a gift towards our future—we thank you. For those interested in learning more about the various Endowment Funds, making a current contribution or establishing a planned gift, please feel free to contact St. Luke’s Endowment Chair Jim Price at grmagrpa1@aol.com or 466-0112. n
26—
taizé
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
What is the Taizé Worship Service? by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson
“Nothing is more conducive to communion to the Living God than a meditative common prayer with singing that never ends, but continues in the silence of one’s heart, when one is alone again.” —BROTHER ROGER SHULTZ On the thir d Sunday of every month at 5pm, St. Luke’s Music Director Mark Squire and I lead a meaning ful and contemplative worship service called Taizé. Some have said the Taizé service is like a “spiritual spa” because the music, chanting, prayer time, scripture and silence wash over body, mind and spirit with the warmth of God’s love. QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED:
1. When and where is the Taize worship held?
The Taize service is on the third Sunday of each month at 5pm by the baptismal font in the Sanctuary. Rows of chairs are placed in a semi-circle, and participants may enter in silence and take any available seat.
2. Do I have to sing? Not a requirement! The dedicated St. Luke’s Taize ensemble led by Mark Squire provides the beautiful music and choral chants; however, there are songbooks for those who would like to join in.
3. How long does the service last? Approximately 45 minutes. There is no sermon, but there are ten minutes of beautiful silence in which to pray or meditate.
4. Can I just sit and listen? Yes. This is a contemplative service designed to draw those gathered into a place of peace, healing, and worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You may use this time in whatever way is helpful.
5. What do people like about the Taize service? As people of faith, we hear that God loves us and wants the best for us, but sometimes we long to feel it in our very marrow. Taize offers Christians a non-threatening opportunity to lose ourselves in an attitude of worship. Its songs are an invitation to focus on God’s presence only.
We invite everyone to try the Taize worship experience to satisfy your spiritual hunger.
The remaining 2010 services will be held on Sundays, October 17, November 21 and December 19, all at 5PM.
FROM TAIZÉ PARTICIPANTS
“The Taize service is a time of deep peace for me. I come seeking quiet, reverent worship and harmony.” “The music penetrates to my core, thanks to the talented, spirit-filled musicians and worship leaders.”
We hope you will make this service your own monthly Spiritual Spa.
A Brief History of Taizé In 1940, when World War II began, a Swiss Protestant—the late Brother Roger, “a bear er of trust, reconciliation and peace”—founded the order of Taizé. Taizé is a tiny community just north of Cluny in the southeast ern part of France. Brother Roger and other P rotestant and Catholic brothers developed a monastic prayer cycle of silence, music, scripture and contemplation. Their desire was to create a community of hospitality and trust for people from all over the world, and particularly a place of refuge for those from Eastern Europe. Today, the Taizé Community in the French town is made up of more than one hundred brothers from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds and from more than 25 countries. Since the 1950s, young people have been visiting Taizé from all over the world in increasingly growing numbers. Some weeks there are as many as 7,000 gathered from 70 nations. Churches from many different denominations all over the world hold Taizé prayer services. n
27—
—
united methodist women
together in ministry everyday
Faith, Hope, Love in Action: The 2010 Assembly of United Methodist Women by Heather Hilbert The Assembly of United Methodist Women is a historic quadrennial event that attracts thousands. Since 1942, the event continues to be a gathering place celebrating and empowering women in mission for women, children and youth. In April, four women from St. Luke’s had the oppor tunity to attend Assembly 2010. Kathie Clemenz, Nancy Keller, Sue Stuart and I traveled to St. Louis for the gathering of United Methodist Women. We joined over 200 women from Indiana and over 6,500 women from across the g lobe, all shar ing one v ision: “Faith, Hope, Love in Action.” The Women’s Division of UMW in New York has adopted this as the new slogan for the organization as it embodies what United Methodist Women believe and support, based on COLOSSIANS 1:3-6: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when w e pray for you, because w e have heard of your faith in C hrist Jesus and of the lo ve you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.” Celebrating our long history in mission, women gathered in St. Louis to learn, to experience and serve God.
Faith A meaningful worship service featuring Lila Downs and CeCe Winans gave women the opportunity to lift their voices and their hearts to God in appreciation for all he is and all he provides for us, his children. Lila Downs, a talented songwriter and performer, writes her songs as though they are prayers, urging us to cry out to him in song, exposing our hearts and leaving ourselves vulnerable. CeCe Winans gave us the opportunity to celebrate our faith, our God, and our fellowship with other United Methodist Women united in the same purpose, “To know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.” God was among us that evening and you could feel his spirit moving among the cr owd, bringing tears of joy and sor row to those gather ed as w e prayed earnestly in His name. Not one who is too expressive in my worship, I was personally moved to tears by women nearby, who literally held one another up as the y raised their hands and hearts to him. In that place, God was not some far-away deity, but a real, tangible presence in that very room.
Hope United Methodist Women depend heavily on the hope they have in Christ, the hope that the world can be changed. We believe that the church can be the catalyst for that change across the nations. In St. Louis, Assembly visitors were able to attend sessions of interest to them. Education about issues like human trafficking, the climate crisis, world hunger and education were brought to the forefront. I attended a session with a woman from Liberia who has watched her country suffer under the cruel reign of former President Charles Taylor. She shared with us her story of abuse, terror, her family killed, her home bur ned, and her c ountry forever changed. We watched the film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” a documentary about a group of women who began a nonviolent movement to end the war in Liberia. Sitting and listening to her personal story of war, loss and ultimate triumph through faith, I began t o question how I may be able t o spread the message of hope t o others acr oss the w orld. Educating m yself about g lobal concerns and exploring what I may be able to do from my small space of influence is helping me embrace the hope I have in Christ. Assembly afforded me the oppor tunity to explore the question, “When I am confronted with the difficult burdens of this world, do I live out the hope I have in Christ?” I live it out in the mission work with United Methodist Women here at St. Luke’s, believing with my whole heart that each small task done in great love can and will make a difference in the lives of those we serve. ABOVE: Heather Hilbert,
Kathie Clemenz and Nancy Keller RIGHT: Sue Stuart and Kathie Clemenz
Love Nancy Keller shares what she found most meaningful about her experience. “This was the first Assembly I have attended and I found it to be enjoyable, meaningful and inspiring. I especially connected with the Rev. Anita Phillips, director of the United Methodist Native American Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Phillips focused on six words from COLOSSIANS 1:3, ‘We always thank God for you.’ She emphasized the inclusiveness of the Christian community, asking worshippers to turn in the four directions of the compass: north, south, east and west. She desig nated the four as: creatures and creation; the elements that sustain life, such as water and soil; those people who came before us—the ‘cloud of witnesses’; and the generations to come. She urged us to thank God for the great gifts he has bestowed upon us, including our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
28—
—
special events
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
Holidays
2010
Interfaith Thanksgiving Services You are invited to join diverse people of faith to give thanks for the harvest and help feed those who do not have the luxury of a bountiful Thanksgiving. Everyone is invited to attend any of these services, regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to an offering for the Interfaith Hunger Initiative, canned food donations will also be accepted. All services begin at 7PM
We celebrated those former leaders who helped to pave the way for us today in the organization. We expressed thanks for Mrs. William Butler and Mrs. Edwin Parker, wives of missionaries to India, who first began the quest t o support women in other parts of the world, using their meager r esources to send two female missionaries to educate girls and women in India. With two pennies and a pr ayer, United Methodist Women was born. We expressed thanks for women who marched for women’s voting rights, supported the civil rights movement, and prayed for a peaceful end to war. We gave thanks for women today, all across the globe, who are feeding the h ungry, nursing the sick, and providing education, some at the e xpense of their o wn safet y. Why, some ma y ask. The answ er is simple: Love.
In Action
On Thursday, April 29, 600 women participated in Ubuntu Day of Service around St. Louis. United Methodist Women descended on the cit y working on over 30 projects to help the community. They polished wood and cleaned the sanctuar y of Centenary United Methodist Church, worked in community gardens weeding and fertilizing the crops and flowers, and washing w indows for shut-ins, letting the “sun and the SON shine through.” An immigration rights rally was held in support of overturning the controversial law in Arizona, with over 2000 women gathering to voice their concerns about the state of immigrant inequality. Harriet Jane Olsen, Deputy Secretary of United Methodist Women, described the march in downtown St. Louis as “a v isible call t o care for ALL people in our midst, as Christ cared for us.” Women brought prayer shawls and baby blankets sewn with great care to the Experience Hall, as an offering of great love to the people in our midst. I prayed to God that he mig ht take our small offer ing and multiply it for someone who has nowhere to lay their head, who can’t care for her baby, and for those seeking healing . At one point dur ing the w eekend, I simply sat near the shawls, soaking in my great gratitude for United Methodist Women and the work we are doing out in the w orld. It was as if you could feel the pr ayers emanating from each loop and stitch as I imagined women sitting over their sewing project, praying that God would use it mightily. Over 800,000 United Methodist Women worldwide are taking their faith, their hope and their love and putting into action across the world. At Assembly, we were challenged to explore our faith, confront our fears about the stat e of the world today, show the love of Christ in everything we do, and step out onto the mission field helping others, whether that be r ight outside our o wn doorstep, or across the world. The gospel we represent is growing and bearing fruit, for which I am so grateful to be a part of each day. May we all continue to live out our faith, hope and love, and always remember to make the final and most important step, put it into action! n
Don’t miss the annual UMW Holiday Bazaar at St. Luke’s, November 13, 9AM-4PM. See the Communion Monthly or www.stlukesumc.com for details.
• Thursday, November 18 Islamic Society of North America 6555 S. 750 East, Plainfield • Sunday, November 21 Cumberland First Baptist Church 116 S. Muessing St., Indianapolis • Monday, November 22 Friedens United Church of Christ 8300 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis • Tuesday, November 23 SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral 1347 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis 6:30PM prelude featuring Indianapolis Children’s Choir
• Wednesday, November 24 Northminster Presbyterian Church 1660 Kessler Blvd., E. Dr., Indianapolis
Candlelight Christmas Concerts Friday, December 3, 7:30PM & Saturday, December 4, 4PM Sanctuary
Begin the Christmas season with the music and majesty of our many talented vocal and instrumental groups.
Live Nativity Sunday, December 12, 5 & 6:30PM, Sanctuary
The camels are back! Join us for this annual familyfriendly re-enactment of the birth of Jesus.
HOPE Candlelight Memorial Service Tuesday, December 14, 7PM, Spiritual Life Center
A brief yearly service to honor precious babies who will never be forgotten. Parents may light a candle, speak a name, or just listen to the beautiful flute and music of Carol Dennis. Rev. Marsha Hutchinson, pastor.
Christmas Candlelight Service Sunday, December 19, 6PM, Robertson Chapel
Later@St. Luke's, a special service with Dr. Marion Miller, pastor.
Longest Night Service Tuesday, December 21, 6PM, Robertson Chapel
A service on the longest night of the year(winter solstice) for those who find the holidays a difficult time of year . Led by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson.
Singles’ Open House Friday, December 24, 7-11PM, Parlor
Christmas Eve services listed on back page.
—
29—
spiritual life center
together in ministry everyday
Are All Families “Holy Families?” by Betty Brandt
I was in the presence of the holy when I held my youngest granddaughter earlier this year . Pure mystery, this little wrinkled being with brown hair and puckered mouth. A precious child born into a special family- my family. But is it a “holy family?”
During Advent, Dr. Millard will preach on THE HOLY FAMILY DECEMBER 5 The Holy Family: the unexpected holy family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus DECEMBER 12 Your Holy Family: today’s holy families that dwell together DECEMBER 19
Our Holy Family: our church family DECEMBER 24 God’s Holy Family: the holy family of all human beings created in the image of and cherished by God
My granddaughter’s family looks like the great American dream family—two parents, married to each other, living in a mortgaged house, two cats, a dog and two cars in the garage. This is the kind of family I was born into and the kind of family my children were born into. But what about the families where the parents aren’t married? Or where the single mother or dad has never been married? What about two old friends combining households to save money and push away loneliness? What about blended families where both parents divorced and remarried? Or interracial families or interfaith families or inter-generational families? Could all these families be holy? Between now and Christmas when we celebrate the Holy Family we imagine Jesus was born into, take time to celebrate the holiness of all families. Rent some recent movies—“Cyrus” or “The Kids are Alright” or “W inter’s Bone.” Here you will encounter a single mom and her adult son, a lesbian couple and their two children, and a 17-year -old head of household. You will see how much these families love each other , how much they struggle to be together and how much family means to each of them. Wonder if these characters would claim the title “holy family?” Would we be willing to give the title to them? Maybe you want to do something more than watch movies. Perhaps you would like to invite the unmarried couple next door over for dinner . Perhaps you would want to be sure that the never married single mom at work knows you are not judging her. Maybe you could stop and think about what the holidays might be like for interfaith families. Here’s the challenge for you and me: will we arrive at New Year’s Day, 2011 transformed? Will we have overcome old stereotypes and judgments and joyfully embraced all the families in our lives as HOL Y FAMILIES? Will we celebrate these families in January and March and May , 2011, no longer saving up our generosity and hospitality for the month of December? Can we let people outside our church family know that they are welcome among us no matter what their families look like? Can we let people know that we celebrate all families as HOLY FAMILIES all year round?
WELCOME!
new members The following persons completed the August membership classes. Trish Arbuckle, Mark Becher, Stephanie Becher, Leonard Crump, Carolyn Crump, Mark Dybala, Stacey Hissong, Mike Garland, Sandy Harlan, Tim Hayden, Rachel Hayden, Kipp Hostetter, Chris Irick, Erin Zgonc, Stephen Lewis, Don Livers, Tina Livers, Deborah Paulin, Eric Rawe, Jennifer Rawe, DeShong Perry-Smitherman, Keith Smitherman, Michael Stewart, Virginia Townsley, Tim Vermande, Sherrie Vermande, Joseph Washington, Valerie Hurd Washington
The next opportunities to join St. Luke’s are: •
Thursday, October 28, 6:30-9:00PM Wednesday, December 8, 6:30-9:00PM •
Contact Sylvia Forbes at 846-3404 or forbess@stlukesumc.com to register.
—
30—
concerns & celebrations
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010
CONDOLENCES TO: Tammy Elser and family on the death of her mother Wilma Simon Kelly Cheslyn and family on the death of her mother Beth Clayton John Schingel on the death of his father William Schingel Suzanne Oakes on the death of her stepsister Sally Conner Marlene McDaniel on the death of her husband Dale McDaniel Linda Kennedy on the death of her father Jesse Lewis Peter D’Amour, Alex, Katie and Ross on the death of wife and mother Pam D’Amour Friends and family of Larry Fox Bill Cochran on the death of his mother Alice Cochran Lois Madison on the death of her husband John Madison Jim Crafton on the death of his brother Bill Crafton Heather Stockdell on the death of her grandfather Karen Bailey on the death of her father Paul Drum Friends and family of Ned Boatright Bishop Michael Coyner, Bonnie Craig and Steve Coyner on the death of mother and grandmother Nina Coyner Betty and Steven Vickery on the death of son and brother George Vickery III Joe Porter on the death of his father Mark Porter
Jonathan & Beth Fried on the death of mother and mother-in-law Lucy Fried
Scott & Karen Bailey on the birth of son Preston Scott
Carolyn Nierman and Lynda Kemper on the death of mother Bonnie Turner
Brian & Heather Walborn on the birth of daughter Emily Claire
Jessica Campbell & Patrick Wade on their wedding of July 17
Hilary Shafer & Wes Herendeen on their wedding of August 28
Craig & Tracy Conley and Gale & Penny Conley on the birth of son and grandson Edward David
Kristen Kramer & Chris Thornsberry on their wedding of July 24
Elise Holcomb & John King on their wedding of September 4
Michelle McCoy & John Fitzpatrick on their wedding of July 25
Rachel Scarbeary & Dave Bowen on their wedding of September 10
Heather Thoompson & Christopher Mayhugh on their wedding of July 31
Stephanie Surgoth & Ryan Winkel on their wedding of September 18
Mary Fran Willis on the death of her husband Jerry Willis Carol Rowlison on the death of her husband Dell Rowlison Keith Bennett on the death of his wife Norma Bennett Judith Hoog, Sylvia Barr, Bruce Cox and Gary Cox on the death of their mother Laura Cox
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Chris & Katrina Reid and Tom & Paula Elam on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Eliana Violet Mike & Stephanie Wood and Jim & Ginnie Colter on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Kathleen Claire Wood Mike & Holly Garland and Hal & Jane Bennett on the birth of daughter and granddaughter Libby Grace
Angela & Johnny Adams and Ken & Pam Knowles on the birth son and grandson John Willard Adams V
Holly Sedlacek & Jason Bell on their wedding of July 16
Brooke McKinney & Benjamin Klinker on their wedding of July 3
Sarah Schiffli & Robert Archer on their wedding of July 31
Blair Buchanan & Rashad Barksdale on their wedding of July 10
Ashley Williams & Erica Powell on their wedding of August 7
Jennifer Swanson & Jeffrey Cohee on their wedding of May 8
Laura Langendorfer & Dan Schuster on their wedding of August 7
Anna Larson & Matthew Powers on their wedding of August 21
Shannon Grim & Jason McBride on their wedding of September 18
Bob & Judy Shive on their 50th wedding anniversary
iend oming a fr c e b y b C SLUM “News & touch with , click on in m o re o .c c m m n u cebook es Stay eve lick the Fa www.stluk c y, to tl o s a G L ! k o Search ations.” on Facebo en “Public Facebook? th n o d y n d a a ” e lr rs e in .A Calenda apostroph f the page o o (n m ” o h tt rc o u b odist Ch link at the nited Meth U s e k u L for “St. ! e you there Lukes). Se
Mike & Stephanie Wood on the birth of their daughter Kathleen Claire Wood Eric & Christina Williams and Rob & Sandy French on the birth of son and grandson Evan Elijah Mike LeTourneau & Pam Hursh LeTourneau on the birth of their twin grandchildren Oliver Matthew and Vivian Marie Hursh
31—
—
OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2010 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID INDIANAPOLIS, IN PERMIT NO. 1569
Address Service Requested St. Luke’s United Methodist Church • 100 West 86th Street • Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
ChristmasEve NEW!!
Christmas Eve Eve Service
Thursday, December 23, 7PM, Sanctuary A candlelight service for those who may need to leave town on Christmas Eve, or who may wish to avoid the larger crowds.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Friday, December 24 Sanctuary • Family Service: 3PM • Candlelight Services: 5, 7, 9 & 11PM AT ST. LUKE’S,
AT THE GARDEN
• Beef & Boards: 5 & 6:30PM • Oak Hill: 5:30PM For a full schedule of Thanksgiving & Christmas events, please see page 29.