TIME-2009-10

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2009

enough Getting to the Core of Giving

The Church People Are Coming!

The Church People Are Coming!

Servant Day=Ministry on the Move

Ho Ho Ho, Green Giant St. Luke’s Green Ministry Recognized

olidays 2009

Thanksgiving, Christmas Concert Live Nativity and More . . .

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.

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Servant Day

4 6 8 9 10 12 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

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IN THIS ISSUE: Annual Fund Servant Day Interfaith Health Initiative Crop Walk Green Ministry Music Ministries Holidays at St. Luke’s Live Nativity Children’s Ministries Welcome New Staff / Web Site Youth Ministries World Missions Later@St. Luke’s The Garden Special Event Spiritual Life Center / Grief Ministries Membership / Spirit & Place Welcome New Members / Celebrations & Concerns

Holidays

Kent Millard, Linda McCoy, Marsha Hutchinson, Marion Miller, Stan Abell, 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 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 Kathleen Headington, Associate Director of Youth Ministries 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 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 Matt Peyton, Associate Director of Youth Ministries Rich Potterf, Building & Grounds Ministry Brian Schnitz, Facilities Mary Katherine Schnitz, Director of Care Ministries Cara Scott, Receptionist Kelly Scott, Facilities Winnie Sibotshiwe, Facilities Mark Squire, Director of Music Ministries Tara-Lynne Sinicki, Director of Children’s Ministries Alison Strawmyer, Assistant Director & Registrar, Weekday Preschool & Parent’s Day Out Program William Taylor, Facilities Jayne Moynahan Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries Chris Thornsberry, Associate Director of Adult Ministries Cheryl West, Director of New Song Adra Wheeler, Director of Hospitality & Volunteers Rich Wisman, Facilities THE GARDEN CLERGY STAFF:

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

Linda McCoy, Stan Abell THE GARDEN STAFF:

Editorial: Lori Crantford; Design: Sarah Nevin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Maria Blake, Betty Brandt, Michelle Martin Collins, Kevin Davis, Julie Dickson, Beth Fried, Adolf Hansen, Jenny Hawke, Kathleen Headington, Dr. Marion Miller, Lara Pastore, Matt Peyton, Mary Rudy, Mary Katherine Schnitz, Don Weiser.

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Sylvia Forbes.

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION STAFF:

NEXT T.I.M.E. DEADLINE:

December 1 for January—March 2010

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Troye Kinnett, Director, The Good Earth Band Steve Whipkey, Director, Oak Hill Band Judy Tolley, Administrative Team Leader Beth Fried, Communications & Worship Larry Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Operations

from the desk

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

Friends: How much is enough?

Unfortunately, we live in a society that leads us to believe that we never have enough material things. We are led to believe that if we just get the latest phone, Blackberry, electronic gadget, large-screen TV, expensive car, bigger house, latest fashions, etc. then we will be happy. But the truth is that no amount of material things can bring happiness into our lives. New material things may bring temporary happiness or excitement, but the newness soon wears thin and we are no better off than before.

One of the reasons for the current recession is that we as a nation were living beyond our means, buying more than we could afford on credit, and going deeper and deeper into debt in our frantic search for happiness. My hope is that out of this recession we might learn the value of frugality and simplicity in our lifestyles and discover that we already have more than enough to live on.

We also need to rediscover that deep and lasting joy comes through meaningful relationships with God, our families, and others and in sharing our abundance with those who are in need.

St. Paul once put it this way in his letter to the Philippians: I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty . . . I have learned to be content with whatever I have . . . I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We would all be happier people if we could learn to be content with what we have, whether it is little or plenty.

Our Stewardship Campaign this year is entitled “Enough” and is based on a book by Rev. Adam Hamilton from the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City entitled “Enough—Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.” The book is available at Oasis Bookstore, and I would encourage you to read it. The focus of this campaign is not on giving more to the church, but on how we use all of our resources in ways that bring joy and meaning in our lives and serve the needs of others.

I will be preaching on the Joy of Simplicity, The Joy of Gratitude, The Joy of Generosity, and The Joy of Contentment. My prayer is that this sermon series in November will help all of us discover more joy in our lives even in the midst of financial challenges. We will be thinking about financial principles which will help us live more fruitful, abundant and joyful lives.

During the Advent and Christmas season we celebrate the present and eternal Joy which comes to us in the gift of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a life of simplicity, gratitude, generosity and contentment and discovered joy, meaning, purpose and resurrection in his life. When we follow the way of Jesus we too will experience joy, meaning, purpose and resurrection in our lives.

enough

Our Quakers brothers and sisters have always tried to teach us to live more simply so that others might simply live. Here is one of their songs which we should relearn today: 'Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free, 'tis a gift to come down where we ought to be, and when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain’d, to bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d, to turn, turn will be our delight, till by turning, turning we come out right.

—ELDER JOSPEH BRACKETT, 1848

My prayer is that this fall we will all discover Joy through simplicity and generosity.

May God bless you,

Kent Millard

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annual fund

together in ministry everyday

Spiritual Push-Ups

by Lori Crantford

This past summer my sons starting doing weight training at high school. At first they thought is was going to be “dumb,” like most everything else in their life: homework, vegetables, sleep. They already knew how to pump iron, because they came with a Y chromosome which automatically means they’re a little bit Arnold Schwarzenegger and a little bit WWF just by virtue of drawing breath.

After their first day, however, they were much closer to looking terminated than Terminator. They didn’t say weights were dumb anymore, mostly because it hurt to talk. They were experiencing the pain phase of learning to really work out for the first time in their lives.

It wasn’t long, however, before the pain was forgotten and pleasure in the results of the birth of muscle tissue was the cause of much rejoicing and flexing. The boys were learning that something they at first dismissed, and then endured, was making them stronger and healthier. My 15-year-old now thinks people threw cash in a bucket simply for the sheer joy of seeing him stand shirtless on an 86th street median. I didn’t have the heart to tell him the cash was for the car wash, but the tip jar next to our weight bench is something I am really going to have to deal with soon.

Stephanie, Ric, Griffin and Graham Seaver

Sometimes we feel the same way about giving away our money—or perhaps more especially about tithing—that my sons (and most of us) feel about exercise. It doesn’t make sense or appeal to us. It’s something for other people to do. It’s too hard. It hurts.

Ric Seaver, St. Luke’s new Stewardship Commission chair, understands all this. While giving had always been a priority, tithing was . . . well, tithing might have been nice for other people, but it wasn’t for Ric. Until the day he was challenged by a prospective client, who looked him square in the eyes and said “Do you tithe?”

Ric is a financial advisor by profession. He works in the world of money, of return on investment, on being smart with your hard-earned dollars. A member of St. Luke’s since 1997 (with his wife Stephanie and children Griffin and Graham), Ric and his wife have

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been active as ushers, as caregivers and teachers in the East Wing, the Marriage Enrichment retreat and, for Ric, participation in the UMM’s Modern Day Knight class. He’d always believed in giving of your time, talent and treasure to the church, but after finding himself downsized a few years ago, Ric decided since he couldn’t give as much of his treasure, he would give more of his time. He started going down to Fletcher Place to cook and serve breakfast.

“Your church and God are there for you regardless of your circumstances, downsized or working,” Ric says. “The church has made a commitment to me . . . when I was down on my luck and couldn’t give much in terms of dollars but could serve people who were in worse shape than me, well, that was the least I could do.”

Things started to turn around when Ric got a new job, which led him to the fateful day and that point-blank question: “Do you tithe?” Ric remembers it all clearly: “My colleague nods and I’m thinking, ‘Is it hot in here or is it just me?’ So I hedge and finally acknowledge, ‘No, we don’t.’ The client looked at me and said ‘I would encourage you to just do it.’”

Just do it. Like those wacky folks at Nike who encourage you to push yourself physically, Ric and his wife were being encouraged to push themselves financially, and spiritually. Together they sat down, figured out how they could cut here, take from there, and sacrifice to increase their giving. It wasn’t easy, and it was even a little bit scary, but the Seavers decided to make the stretch and put their trust in God. “Somehow,” Ric shares, “we made it work. Then, in a make-or-break year for me professionally, my business doubled in the next 12 months. I’m not saying one is a direct result of the other,” he continues, “but Dr. Millard is always saying ‘a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.” (That is actually from the book of Luke, not the book of Millard, but he does say it a lot.)

While that was Ric’s personal experience, he does not advocate giving to get. He firmly believes that charitable giving must come from the heart. While we tend to think in these circumstances of the heart as a place of emotional connection, in truth our heart is about the most important muscle we have, and we need to work it for the good of others and ourselves (see Grinch, The: “two sizes too small”). Ric sees giving and tithing as “an outward exercise of spiritualness . . . a way of saying thank you. What’s the point of giving to something if it’s just a tax deduction?” he asks. “The relationship

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

“a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.”

of a donor is important to an organization. I tell people to figure out what means something to you, and get involved in it. Then the giving to an organization becomes easier and much more meaningful.”

The other advice Ric shares and lives is prioritizing what’s important to you. “I have my five ‘Fs’—Faith, Flag, Family, “F”ilanthropy and Friends.” That’s right— you don’t have to pass a spelling test to be chair of the Stewardship Commission, but you do have to have your heart in the right place. “If the farmer didn’t take care of the crops, where would he be next season?” Ric asks.

“You’ve got to take care of the church, your country, your family, and your friends.”

St. Luke’s 2010 Annual Fund campaign, “Enough,” will kick off on November 1 (see sidebar for more information). Ric and the Stewardship Commission will be bringing their enthusiasm about the importance of giving back a portion of our time, talent and treasure to God’s work through the church—even if it hurts a little bit at first. “I think God recognizes the sacrifice you make, even if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck. Do what you can, then do a little more, step by step. If you find nourishment from being at church, then make a commitment to give back. Do what you can. You will be blessed. Just do it.” n

THE 2010 ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN—“Enough”—kicks off with a

mailing in mid-October. To remind you of the blessings of the simple things in life and of God’s never-ending love for you, everyone will receive a “You are the apple of God’s eye” magnet in the mail. If you do not receive a magnet, you may pick one up at the church office.

Then on Sunday, November 1, Dr. Millard will begin a series of sermons around the theme of Enough. He will preach on: NOVEMBER 1:

The The NOVEMBER 15: The NOVEMBER 22: The NOVEMBER 8:

Joy Joy Joy Joy

of of of of

Simplicity Gratitude Generosity Contentment

Apples will be available at each service as another simple reminder that God loves you right down to your core!

We invite everyone to return their Gratitude Cards on or before Consecration Sunday, November 22. The Stewardship Commission will again provide a free brunch that Sunday morning as a way of showing the church’s thanks for your gifts of time, talent and treasure.

ST. LUKE’S RECENT STEWARDSHIP & BUDGET HISTORY:

2009 Gratitude Cards Returned 2008 Gratitude Cards Returned St. Luke’s 2009 Operational Budget St. Luke’s 2008 Operational Budget

You

are the apple of God’s eye. 

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1345 1420

$2,908,639 $3,221,225 $3,684,793 $3,914,205

Annual Mortgage & Capital Expenditures: $581,000 currently paid through Powerful Possibilities Campaign Funds

together in ministry everyday

Servant Day at St.

by Maria Blake

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On a beautiful, not-too-hot, not-too-steamy August Saturday morning, over 300 eager volunteers streamed through the doors of St. Luke’s to begin a day of service In Our Own Backyard. After picking up the bright red shirts provided by three generous donors, families, singles, young and old proceeded to the Great Hall where they enjoyed a wonderful breakfast provided by the Stephen Ministers.

Following a prayerful send-off and last-minute instructions, teams dispersed to locations across the north side of Indianapolis to participate in the following activities:

Fox Hill Elementary School—(#5) Over 100 vol-

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unteers worked on four outdoor areas of the school unpacked, assembled and delivered 120 student desks and chairs, assisted teachers with getting ready for the first day of school, assembled numerous packets, and went through at least 100 bottles of water!

Indiana School for the Blind—(#1) This group cleared debris, weeded, raked and mulched the shrub beds in from of the aquatic center. They filled two dumpsters during four hours of labor-intensive work.

Fay Biccard Glick Community Center— The need was great at this site, and the 30 volunteers energetically tackled outdoor work, table assembly, organizing and cleaning the food pantry, scrubbing walls and other surfaces in the children’s area, moving furniture, and even repairing fans and sweepers.

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Thrifty Threads—(#7) This family-oriented activity engaged volunteers in sorting and organizing donations, and keeping the merchandise on the sales floor attractively displayed.

Bosma Industries—The small but mighty group assigned to this site spent the day preparing newsletters for mailing, and packets to be sent to new donors.

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5

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St. Vincent Group Home— These volunteers truly opened their hearts to the eight emotionally and physically challenged adult residents of this home by doing yard work to beautify the residence prior to preparing a BBQ cookout luncheon. All reports are that the volunteers received the greater gift.

together in ministry everyday

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

Luke’s Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital—(#2) Well-planned games and crafts brought smiles to the faces of the children who were patients at the hospital.

Paws and Think, Inc.—(#4) Youth and adults assisted with the training and socialization of service dogs that are trained to enhance the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Arthur Jordan YMCA—At this location, volunteers cleaned up the camp and other areas, and assisted with office work.

Occupational Rehab: St. Vincent’s Hospital —Visiting with patients who were recovering from surgery was the focus for this team. The spiritual comfort provided to patients was most appreciated.

Community Outreach—Armed with bags filled with literature about St. Luke’s, as well as a small gift, volunteers dispersed throughout the neighborhoods closest to the church. Team Leader Jackie Reed reported, “We became better acquainted with other St. Luke’s participants and enjoyed that opportunity. The recipients of the bags seemed to appreciate our efforts, and it gave them the opportunity to see the personal outreach side of the physical church in their neighborhood.”

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Sprucing Up St. Luke’s—It was gratifying to see so many people engaged in washing windows, scrubbing down tables and chairs, and other projects designed to make St. Luke’s “sparkle.”

Servant Day, as well as the In Our Own Backyard T.I.M.E. theme, was inspired by a recommendation from the Inclusiveness Team, whose mission is to support St. Luke’s in its focus on inclusiveness by being intentional as a congregation to live in true community with people of various cultures, faiths and ethnic backgrounds as we together celebrate similarities and honor differences. All feedback indicates that Servant Day is destined to become a signature annual event for St. Luke’s.

photography skills; our Pastoral Team for believing this could happen and visiting every site to thank the volunteers; and all of the wonderful St. Luke’s people who showed up to make a difference In Our Own Backyard. n

There were several goals for Servant Day: to create a physical presence in (mostly) Washington Township, positioning St. Luke’s congregants as servants to this community; to encourage those who worship at St. Luke’s, The Garden and Later to come together for a common purpose; and to provide opportunities for volunteers to make a long-range commitment to the organizations that were included in this effort. We were successful in reaching every goal. There was also an unarticulated benefit. In the words of Stephanie Eckert, co-chair of Servant Day and the Inclusiveness Team, “I cannot think of a better way to get to know others than to work side by side with them on a worthwhile project.” This sentiment was expressed by every team leader.

VARIOUS: Teams working on Servant Day TOP: Servant Day fellowship breakfast—a great success!

MIDDLE LEFT: (#3) Inclusiveness Team—TOP L-R Bill Eckert,

Harold Hall, Jan Rowan, Ann Smith, Maria Blake, Bill Smith; BOTTOM L TO R Barbara Furlow, Gustanna Chaney Moss, Jayne Thorne, Stephanie Eckert

Nothing worthwhile is achieved in isolation. Special thanks go to the In Our Own Backyard committee for its enthusiasm and support; Jim and Sue Fields for marshalling the efforts of the Stephen Ministers; Gary Chambers and Lori Schick for their expert advice, writing and

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interfaith

together in ministry everyday

Interfaith Hunger Initiative The Lunch Shift: One Hour to End Hunger

by Lori Crantford On a beautiful late summer day in September, unsuspecting downtown Indianapolis passersby were treated to an unexpected lunchtime event put on by the Interfaith Hunger Initiative.

Like last year’s event on Monument Circle, this year’s event was held primarily to raise awareness of the very real—and very solvable—hunger issues that exist in our community and around the world. Held this year at Whistler Plaza at the City Market, even more individuals were reached as fantastic entertainment and moving stories were shared with the crowd.

Kevin Gregory, chief meteorologist for WRTV, was a masterful emcee. On hand to share stories of hunger were IPS Superintendent Dr. Eugene White, Butler men’s basketball coach Brad Stevens, and the Pacers first-round draft choice Tyler Hansbrough (along with the ever-entertaining Boomer). Close to 20 faith leaders again participated in the event, representing Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs. Several school choirs and performing groups participated, with the North Central Northernaires bringing the crowd to their feet, dancing along as the talented high school students belted out inspiring gospel music.

Back to class. I hope no one hears my belly rumble. Yea yea yea, Ms. Paris, whatever—when is lunch! Chicken nuggets today. Man, everybody like those so there won’t be leftovers. Wait a minute, Rhonda said she is fat and is going to go on a diet. Maybe I can stand next to her in line so when she doesn’t eat I can have hers. Man, this math is hard. Twenty minutes to lunch... Man, I am hungry.

Volunteers collected nearly $1000 from people who were simply out on their lunch hour and felt moved to help feed those who often go without lunch . . . and many other meals. In the past year, IHI through its partner congregations has raised over $120,000, which has been distributed between Gleaners Food Bank for its Pantry Partners program, and Umoja, which has been able to start lunch programs in 15 schools in an area in Kenya. Both programs are having a real impact on feeding children and families.

Presenters read real stories of hunger collected through interviews or shared in emails to Gleaners. One particularly meaningful story was written by an IPS teacher. She wrote it in the voice of a student who often goes hungry. While the story was created by the teacher, it is based on her observances and knowledge of a real student (the names have been changed):

Shoot, I got to get next to Rhonda… She is standing with the other girls. The guys will make fun of me for sitting with the girls, but they don’t eat as much. If I sit with them then I can have theirs.

Man, only five nuggets and salad! I can’t hide any of this for Momma later. I wonder if she is going to the pantry before school is out. I hope not, if us kids go we can help her carry the bags. Maybe they will give us more then. Last time they didn’t give us much cause the shelves were all empty and the lady kept apologizing. Wonder will Ms. Paris have snacks later?

Come on bus! I am so hungry. I hope I can get seconds today. Come on bus! If Marcus tries to take my cereal this morning I am going to punch him in the mouth! Oh good here is the bus.

Ok Ms. Jackson I will stay in line but can we hurry the line up! I am so hungry and it is a waffle day. The only thing I have had all weekend is the snack pack I got on Friday from school. Momma cried when we told her we were hungry so I quit telling her. She says tonight we are going to the pantry. I hope they have juice! I like the juice from the pantry. Man, maybe momma will make the tuna cakes tonight. We get stamps next week so we will have popsicles then! Man, these waffles are good. I wonder if I can get another one. I can put it in my bag if the teacher’s not looking—that way Momma will have something to eat when I get home.

At the close of the story, the audience was given this challenge: “This child is one of the many faces of hunger in the world. How can you help?”

With IHI embarking on its second full year, the movement is gaining momentum and slowly but surely effecting change for all the Marcuses of the world. Together, we are feeding bodies and souls. For more information on IHI, to sign up to receive their newsletter, or to find out how you can help, visit www.interfaithhungerinitiative.org. n

ABOVE: Participants at the Lunch Shift

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global health

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

BELOW: CROP Walkers

Crop Walk 

by Don Weiser

October  will be CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk Day. While hunger is usually the focus of this event, concurrent with the Interfaith Hunger Initiative, other social ills such as clearing land mines, installing systems for sanitary water sources and waste disposal, and encouraging forgiveness of undeveloped countries’ foreign debt (to allow that money to be used for food purchases) are addressed.

The global hunger issue is huge:  million people live malnourished lives;  million of these are children; % of the latter will die before age ; even in the USA,  million citizens do not have enough to eat.

The walk is a .- mile walk from CTS through the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. It is safe, secure, and handicap accessible. It is a gentle walk. Children and pets (accompanied by a parent/owner) are allowed.

Last year’s walk was our most successful yet, both in terms of money raised and number of walkers. You could help improve on those numbers by walking and raising pledges, supporting a walker with your pledge, or volunteering that day (registration, water stops, crossing guard).

Walkers are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the event. These items are divided between  local food pantries. Of the money (pledges) collected, one-fourth stays local (e.g.

Gleaners); the other three-fourths is allocated by church World Missions for foreign projects.

Sign up on Sunday mornings in the West Passage. n

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green ministry

TOP LEFT TWO PHOTOS:

Part of the St. Luke’s Shred-it team TOP RIGHT TWO PHOTOS:

Steve and Susan Tracey harvesting garlic & the Michaela Farm work crew

[On September 25, St. Luke’s Green Ministry was notified it was the recipient, along with La Plaza, of the Indiana Urban Forestry Council award in the Civic Organization category for the Neighborwood’s project.

Congratualtions on the recognition of the impact this ministry is having on the community.]

together in ministry everyday

Indianapolis Green Congregations Win Governor’s Award

by Betty Brandt

Two years ago representatives from area churches with Green Ministries (Second Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist of Indianapolis, Bethlehem Lutheran, Christ the King Catholic, Epworth UMC, Common Ground Christian Church, Interfaith Alliance Indianapolis Care for Creation Committee, Christian Theological Seminary and St. Luke’s UMC), came together to support each other and reach out to other congregations to encourage the creation of many more green ministries.

Each of us met with small groups from other churches and did speaking engagements at green educational seminars. We shared ideas and attended each others events. Then on January ,  we hosted a Green Congregations Conference at Second Presbyterian and invited all area congregations to attend. We had  attendees representing over  churches.

Our efforts have been rewarded with the  Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in Outreach/Education. On Thursday, September , Betty Brandt from St. Luke’s, Scott Burns from Second Presbyterian, Brady Hansel from Common Ground Christian, and Ed Cohen from Interfaith Alliance Indianapolis Care for Creation Committee received the award (see above photo) on behalf of the coalition from Indiana Department of Environmental Management

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Commissioner Thomas Easterly. We plan to pass the beautiful award around so that all our congregations can enjoy the honor. See our website www.ikecoalition.org/green_ sanctuary/green_sanctuary.htm.

For the past two years, the Green Congregations Task Force, along with the Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis Care for Creation Committee, has combined efforts to encourage faith communities to pursue green projects on their campuses. These organizations have assembled an interfaith steering committee which represents nine area congregations, the committee and several other organizations. The task force is also leading an effort in Central Indiana to encourage more sustainable living by congregation members. Activities conducted during 2007-2008 included workshops and presentations to individual congregations on sustainability topics, creative events such as art and fashion shows using recycled materials, several film series on environmental topics, implementation of energy efficiency, habitat/ gardening, recycling projects and more.

We are encouraged that so many Central Indiana faith communities are coming together to work towards environmental sustainability, and we believe that these efforts can make a real difference in the future of our planet.

We appreciate this recognition of all our work and we celebrate the ever-growing community we are creating. n

united methodist women

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

LEAH CIRCLE

Experiences Spiritual Rebirth!

by Rev. Dr. Mary Rudy

Leah Circle has long been a place for single women to belong and to feel spiritual and social connection in a world which seems set up for married people.

Led by humorous and inspirational Nancy Hopper, the circle may be the only single women’s circle in the United Methodist Church!

The rebirthday party theme came from Nancy in 2006 when she realized that she wanted some more at her own birthday celebration. She wanted a sense of spiritual rebirth! So, she decided to share her birthday with the circle and to use her own anniversary of birth as a gift. Everyone could get a lift along with her.

Dig, Shred, Learn = Change Old Habits

by Betty Brandt

The event has become an annual festivity. Cake, balloons, presents, music all combine to allow each woman to know that she is special. Each woman picks a balloon and writes on the balloon her new intention for her self. Amid excitement and much talk, the women carry their balloons outside, gathering at the cross by the Spiritual Life Center and, in faith, each one releases her balloon with a sense of connection with who she really is, and in faith that God is faithful.

Twelve city slickers set off on a rainy July day for the opportunity to dig garlic, pull weeds and organize mountains of muddy, torn agricultural fabric at the Sisters of St. Francis farm in Oldenburg, Indiana. Spending a day in the country was renewing for all of us. We made new friends, brought home some beefalo roasts (cross between a buffalo and a cow), laughed a lot and decided we didn’t want to change jobs with the hard working Sister Caroline who runs the farm. Maybe you can join us next summer!

The Men’s Ministry and the Green Ministry joined forces to sponsor St. Luke’s 1st Shred-It event on August  in the front parking lot. Dozens of people brought boxes and garbage bags of old documents. They left with a feeling of relief that their personal papers weren’t in a landfill or incinerator and that they were recycled in a safe way. We’ll offer this service again in .

What could be more fun for a kid than bugs and dirty water? They got both on Sunday, August  at the Green Ministry’s Water Fair in Great Hall. They got to meet Hoosier Environmental Council’s Rae Schnapp who had the kids pouring oil, fake cattle droppings, salt and chemicals on a landscape model to show what happens to our rivers and lakes every time it rains. Carmen and Jeff Ton from Confluence Dynamics taught the children about cleaning up the White River after people dump stuff like refrigerators, old tires, car parts and furniture into the river. Karol Bartlett from the Indianapolis Water Company did experiments with water to teach about clean drinking water and the problems with plastic single-use water bottles. Amy Barnes had lots of information about advocating for clean water. The Green Ministry sold reuseable safe plastic water bottles, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful offered rain barrels for sale, and Jean Allen talked about her adventures with making a rain barrel. The Green Ministry encourages you to learn all you can about providing clean water for people all around the world. You’ll hear more about water use and conservation in the fall of . n

Recently the leadership of the group began to feel a need for a new name after hearing afresh a line from St. Luke’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” In the play the teacher tells the young daughters the story of Rachel and Leah and says that Leah is the ugly sister. A growing sense of urgency that this circle needed a new identity, beyond being the unwanted one, began to grow. In their August meeting, they did it! They had a name rebirth! Now they claim “New Life” as their identity and the butterfly as their symbol.

“We grow together and we appreciate each other so much. We are a “home” together,” says Nancy Hopper, proud leader of “New Life Single Women’s Ministry.” Her co-leader Cathy Baker says, “Hocka Zooka!’’ “Hocka Zooka!” is the exclamation that her dad, Charles Baker, created for those times you just need to express true deep feelings. When Charles got really sick, the circle supported Cathy as she moved in to provide daily/nightly care. The circle ministered to her needs while she helped him complete his life journey. Cathy is proud to know that she has sisters to support her spiritual needs when times are tough. She already knows that it is a great place to celebrate and have fun.

New Life Single Women’s Circle, hocka zooka! Your cycle of growth has led you to cast off a cocoon and to reveal beauty of color, substance, and freedom through connection.

Thank you, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church! You have helped us to mature in this ministry and to grow into who we want to be. Thanks to each woman for the empowerment, encouragement, and your participation in creating something new. We are all in this together. n

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music ministries

together in ministry everyday

Changing the World through Song The Chancel Choir’s European Tour

by Jenny Hawke

A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing and coercion are fruitless.

We find that…we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. —John Steinbeck

In June,  members of the St. Luke’s Chancel Choir and a handful of accompanying spouses and friends banded together for the trip of a lifetime. Bound for Austria and the Czech Republic, the travelers looked forward to gathering picture-perfect memories in Vienna, Salzburg and Prague in the span of ten days.

ABOVE: The young-at-heart

choir poses in front of the gazebo featured in The Sound of Music.

BELOW CATHEDRALS (l-to-r):

The Chancel Choir sings their final tour concert at the Church of St. Ignatius in Prague.

Mondsee Cathedral stands in the center of a village outside of Salzburg. The choir gave a full-length concert for visitors and residents.

At its best, the magic of travel inspires a sense of awe and wonder and, for many choir members, this trip delivered over and over again. Some found it one evening at the Vienna Opera House or a music hall in Salzburg. Some found it in a coffee shop that “just happened” to be across from where the famed Lipizzan stallions were stabled.

One member met his pen pal of  years who came from Paris to meet him in Vienna.

Several travelers, taking in the sights of Prague, walked across the St. Charles Bridge to see the city and its ninth-century castle lit at night.

Many were captivated by the small villages along the Austrian highway, each a collection of terra cotta roofs surrounding the steeple of a church.

Yet for the Chancel Choir, this trip was about more than just playing a troupe of touring Americans. Toting their beige music folders usually reserved for Sunday mornings, choir members, on six occasions during their trip, lined up in formation in some of Europe’s most beautiful cathedrals and shared a message in song about the love and glory of God.

The choir sings an a cappella concert in St. Stephen’s (Stephansdom) Cathedral in Vienna while visitors tour the church.

FAR RIGHT BOTTOM:

The bunny hop on tour? Not exactly. The sopranos and altos line up for a cherished choir rehearsal ritual: mutual back rubs. Turns out, it helps during bus tours as well as Thursday evening practices.



—1 —

Sing & Rejoice The choir’s European tour presented the opportunity to extend the arms—and voices—of St. Luke’s to the eyes and ears of the faithful living an ocean and half a continent away. The cathedrals where the choir sang—from Vienna’s Stephansdom to the Church of St. Ignatius in Prague—had been built in the  or earlier and had served as places of worship for several generations of believers. Through their voices and faces, singers could share the beauty, love and grace of their faith with their audiences.

The choir’s repertoire featured all anthems by or arranged

by American composers, including three of four motets

by Aaron Copland, and three pieces from the Mack Wilberg “Requiem.” Concerts were free and open to the public and were publicized by the sponsoring venues.

While the singers had rehearsed and performed many of these pieces during the last year in preparation for the tour, little could prepare them for the experiences of singing these anthems in the European cathedrals.

“The highlight of the trip by far for me was being able to make such beautiful music in such beautiful places,” said Linda Claffey. “I had to pinch myself a couple of times to realize that I, an average singer, was able to join forces with our touring choir to create something so lovely and to provide a witness to our faith in places so far away.”

That sentiment was shared by several other choir members as well. The warmth of the choir’s reception, whether the performance was a full-length concert or a shorter presentation given while people toured the cathedrals, shone through audience applause, individuals’ comments shared with singers and, in some cases, by the tears of listeners truly moved by a particular selection.

OCTOBER-DECEMBER  RIGHT: This rowdy, back-of-the-bus group includes, in front, Zach Waymire,

showing off his newly purchased stein and "hi-tech" travel pillow.

BACK ROW (l-to-r), Debra Peek, Steven Peek, Mary Lucht, choir members, and Stacy Haney, our organist for this trip.

“After every performance, someone would come up to me and ask [about the choir].

Many said it was the finest concert they had ever heard,” said Alice Shooter.

“Singing in the cathedrals was a spiritual event for me,” said Dana Witmer, who also helped in coordinating the tour. “I was very surprised at the joy I felt about what we were doing there. So many people came to see us. We really felt the love of God between us.

You can be total strangers, but God’s love shines through.”

Sing Ye Praises to Our King The tour and the additional preparation leading up to it also afforded a time of significant growth for the choir. The acoustics of the cathedrals, with their high ceilings, multisecond reverberations and sheer size, presented a very different setting than the St. Luke’s contemporary sanctuary. And, without the support of a piano or organ on most anthems, singers needed to listen intently to each other and be as note-perfect as possible.

“My lasting impression of the tour was how well the group functioned,” said Jackie King.

“In the second concert, things seemed to come together…and that we all had a sense of managing the music instead of the music managing us.”

“I suspect there was truly no way for most singers to fully grasp the challenges the tour presented,” said Mark Squire, director of music ministries. “We were responsible for a mostly a cappella program—singing without accompaniment—with additional pieces sung with organ and flute. This stretched the group’s abilities and musicianship to new levels. What was of particular delight to me was when the choir seemed to recognize they had really achieved a new level of tuning, confidence and musicality.”

Itinerary JUNE 19

Flight to Munich, Germany

JUNE 20

Bus ride to Vienna, home of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. Singers and guests enjoy a brief city tour and dine at a restaurant that was once a private home visited

by Beethoven.

JUNE 21

The choir tours Shonbrunn Palace, the former home of the Austrian royal family, the Hapsburgs. It is considered Europe’s only architectural rival to Versailles. Choir has a one-hour afternoon rehearsal at Peterskirch (St. Peter’s), Vienna’s second oldest church. Choir sings during the 5PM Mass at Peterskirch and gives a 30-minute concert at 7PM, with organ and flute accompaniment.

JUNE 22

Free time in morning and afternoon in Vienna. At 1PM at Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s), Austria’s national church, the choir gives a 20-minute a cappella concert while hundreds of visitors tour the cathedral.

JUNE 23

Bus ride to Salzburg. Choir stops in Linz to tour the Abbey of St. Florian, an Augustinian monastery. St. Florian is the patron saint against fire and flood and, naturally, the patron saint of firefighters. Composer and organist Anton Bruckner is buried in the crypt under the church organ.

The choir sings a 20-minute a cappella concert in the church. Arriving in Salzburg, the choir tours the city on foot.

JUNE 24

Free morning in Salzburg, followed by a bus tour of the nearby lakes district. Choir arrives at Mondsee Basilica, just outside Salzburg, for a 4PM concert, a one-hour performance with organ and flute.

JUNE 25

Bus ride to the Czech Republic. Choir stops to tour the town of Cesky Krumlov. The city is a World Heritage Site, with 300 protected buildings and town center. The choir arrives in Prague late afternoon.

JUNE 26

Choir tours Hradcany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, which sits on a hill above Prague, the city of a hundred spires. Construction of the Gothic-style cathedral began in 1344 and was eventually completed in 1929. The choir sings three anthems a cappella in the cathedral for visiting tourists. After a free afternoon, the choir performs its last tour concert, a one-hour performance with flute and organ, at the Church of St. Ignatius. Built in the 1600s, the church is currently run by Jesuit monks.

JUNE 27

Bus ride to Munich. The choir stops to tour Karlstein Castle, founded in the 1300s as a place to keep the royal treasures of the Czech rulers. Arriving later that afternoon in Munich, the choir enjoys a farewell dinner at a restaurant near the city’s historic town square.

JUNE 28

Choir departs for home.

What Wondrous Love Dynamics of the musical persuasion are not the only kind to be tested on a trip like this.

Take a group of the most congenial individuals, throw in long bus rides, varying daily schedules, less-than-agreeable weather, and a itinerary full of stops and stressful moments, and it’s natural to expect some friction to occur.

Yet that is not what happened with this group. Even the several days of rain, collapsing umbrellas and soggy shoes (Austria and the Czech Republic experienced some of the worst flooding in 50 years while the choir was there) did little to dampen the spirits of the group.

Moods stayed upbeat. Singers shared laughs and stories about their individual adventures.

A group of altos and sopranos formed a shopping “sisterhood,” buying inexpensive, matching rings. Some adopted German first names for the length of the trip, and there was never a shortage of photos taken, shared and admired.

“I was especially grateful for the choir’s helpfulness and inclusiveness to us newcomers,” said Nancy Papas, who celebrated a birthday during the trip with a proper serenading by the choir.

“I so enjoyed the fellowship during the entire ten days,” said Ann Fallis. “I had an opportunity to share with good friends whom I have known for many years, and much to my

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holidays 2009

together in ministry everyday

Chancel Choir, cont’d pleasure, I shared times with others I didn’t know well. Now I do, and I treasure the time we spent together.”

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty An international trip like this tests the adaptability and patience of a performing group, said Squire. Yet the choir and friends met each day with grace, flexibility, patience and humor.

What’s more, the singers experienced firsthand a means of expanding the choir’s sense of mission and outreach.

“This was a remarkable opportunity for the Chancel Choir,” he said. “We found ourselves missing those singers not able to join us. Our ministry as a whole will be deepened by the experiences we have shared, as will our sense of community and fellowship, musical ability and spiritual sensitivity.” n

ABOVE: This poster announces the

choir's performance at St. Peter's Church in Vienna on Sunday (Sonntag) evening

Interfaith Thanksgiving Services

Candlelight Christmas Concerts

November 23-25

Friday, December 4, 7:30PM Saturday, December 5, 4PM

Islamic Society of North America

Sanctuary

Monday, November 23, 7PM

(see right for more details)

St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral Tuesday, November 24, 7PM

First Baptist North Indianapolis Wednesday, November 25, 7PM Give thanks for your blessings and take advantage of the opportunity to experience another house of worship in our community. Freewill offerings will be gratefully received for the Interfaith Hunger Initiative.

Live Nativity Sunday December 13, 5 & 6:30PM

Sanctuary (see page 16 for more details)

Later@St. Luke’s

Candlelight Christmas Service Sunday, December 20, 6PM

Robertson Chapel A special Later service with Dr. Marion Miller, pastor

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music ministries

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

2009 CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Sing for Joy! Friday, December 4, 7:30PM Saturday, December 5, 4PM What would you do if you came into a face-to-face encounter with an angelic emissary?

Through the Christmas story, we can be fairly certain such an encounter was met with fear—as shepherds, Joseph, and Mary all received the same divine greeting, “Fear not!” In the midst of a world dominated by fear, God’s love message is the source of powerful promise, peace and hope. Each of those Christmas story characters then made a courageous response to God’s news—to the angel’s greeting “Mary, do not be afraid; you have found God’s favor”, Jesus’ mother replied, “Let what you have said be done to me” and then followed in song: “My soul sings out the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my savior!” (Luke 1:46-47) This year, the musicians of the St. Luke’s community trace Mary’s song of joy and faith through a dynamic and moving concert presentation of seasonal music. From beloved carols to multi-cultural songs, from a taste of the choral masterwork Christmas Oratorio of J.S. Bach to contemporary stylings of Lindsay & Haun, the 2009 Candlelight Christmas Concerts moves through stirring themes of Rejoice! Blessed!

Mercy! Filled! and Forever! As thousands of audience members can attest, this annual tradition is a musical event not to miss, nor keep to ourselves! The free concerts are a perfect opportunity to share the musical life of St. Luke’s with friends, neighbors, co-workers, community members to hear the message of hope and joy.

Longest Night Service Monday, December 21, 7PM

Robertson Chapel A service on the longest night of the year (winter solstice) for those whose grief from loss of loved ones makes the holidays difficult. Led by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson.

Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24 AT ST. LUKE’S FAMILY SERVICE: 3PM,

Sanctuary

Program highlights will include rousing carol settings of “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella!”, “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” and “Carol to the King.” The St. Luke’s Chancel Choir will introduce audiences to brand-new music: “The Darkest Midnight in December” by Stephen Main and the rhythmically exuberant “Stani Nine Gospodine” (Bulgarian Christmas Song) by Bulgarian-born Adela Peeva. St. Luke’s women’s choir, New Song, will feature a thrilling setting of the “Magnificat” set by Z. Randall Stroope for choir, soloist and piano 4-hands. The St. Luke’s Orchestra will present arrangements by composer Dan Goeller, including his renowned “Appalacian Carol.” The Wesleyan Ringers will be highlighted in “A Ringing Christmas,” along with collaborations with several of the vocal choirs. And our wonderful children will sing the perennial favorite “Panis Angelicus” by Cesar Franck, and lead the musicians in closing the concert with “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain” by Carolyn Jennings.

CANDLELIGHT SERVICES:

5, 7, 9 & 11PM,

Sanctuary

Music Ministries Director Mark Squire says that’s just the beginning of the musical and artistic feast. The program also will include several artistic surprises which will be long remembered.

Singles’ Open House 7-11PM,

Parlor

The Singles of St. Luke's extend to you a special invitation to our annual Christmas Eve Open House. Join us for food, fellowship, socializing and fun. There is no cost for this event.

Free childcare is available for younger children during the concert. For more information, contact the Music Ministries Department. n

AT THE GARDEN

Beef & Boards: 5 & 6:30PM Oak Hill: 5:30PM

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fellowship

together in ministry everyday

On the Night Of Live Nativity

by Julie Dickson

And loads of volunteers helping with set up, costumes, singing, program distribution, Innkeepers, traffic direction, animal handling and pooper scooping.

ON THE NIGHT OF LIVE NATIVITY, Family Fellowship Ministries brought to St. Luke’s…

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ...

We guarantee to provide more stories like…

Dancing angels Humble shepherds Children singing Musicians rejoicing Songs in the night being sung by the choir Sheep baaing, goats bleating and chickens clucking Camels, alpacas and donkeys slowly chewing on hay Hundred lights twinkling and candles glowing Families sharing the story of the Birth of Jesus Great gifts brought to baby Jesus by wise men Mary and Joseph praising God And the manger where the Holy Child lay.

The year the donkey, who herself was expecting, was unable to carry Mary to Bethlehem. The donkey was very reluctant to walk into the Sanctuary, as she seemed embarrassed she could not perform her holy duty.

The addition of the chickens to the manger crew created quite the scene. They had contract issues as they were hired as back-up manger singers and not soloists. Rumor has it they did leave an egg behind as incentive to hire them back the next year.

The ramming sheep that were nicknamed “Itchy and Scratchy” got their horns interlocked as they demonstrated brotherly love.

One year the choir sang on the steps of the Sanctuary, directly in front of the camels. As the choir members stared eye-to-eye at the camels, they hoped they wouldn’t need to dodge camel spit.

Don’t miss Live Nativity on Sunday, December 13, 5 & 6:30PM in the Sanctuary.

Music is under the direction of Mark Squire. This peaceful evening of reliving the story of Jesus’ birth will leave with a warm feeling in your heart. What a way to start your Christmas season this year! n

CLOCKWISE (l to r):

Joseph and Mary The little angels Cast & crew of Live Nativity Chris Bultnick, Jim Dickson & Amelia Dickson Kent Millard & Lisa Stebbins Sloan & Jackson McCord

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children’s ministries

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

This Scheid Show Is a Main Act in the East Wing

by Lara Pastore

September  was an important day for third graders at St. Lukes. That Sunday, each third grader attending Sunday School received their Bibles on behalf of the St. Luke’s congregation. Third grade Sunday School teacher Donna Scheid has been part of this process for more than fifteen years.

“I like teaching third grade because they get their Bibles. We teach them how to use them and how to read the scripture.” Introducing children to the Bible is Donna’s passion. She feels teaching them how to navigate the Bible gives children a spiritual foundation for the rest of their lives.

The fourth grade class has its share of fun, but there is much more going on than games. “We feel like kids get their spiritual grounding at the elementary age,” Walt offers, “We want what they learn at this age to help carry them through times when they aren’t able to be in church (like college), and hopefully this teaching can get them back to the church once they have settled down.”

Donna and her husband, Walt, moved from Muncie to Indianapolis  years ago. After visiting many churches, they decided to make St. Luke’s their home. “We just fell in love with St. Luke’s. The music program really drew us in,” Donna revealed. Donna and Walt have been active members of the congregation since they first joined. When their children were young, teaching Sunday School seemed like a natural way to be involved. As their children grew beyond the elementary years, Donna and Walt remained active in Children’s Ministries.

Donna’s favorite time of the year in the classroom is Lent. “The kids really learn so much, and they have been in the class long enough where things really click with them. One year we had a special needs child. We weren’t sure if we were getting through to him, he didn’t talk much.

Toward the end of Lent he popped up and told us every color of Lent and its corresponding meaning.” It was a special time for Donna as a teacher.

“We weren’t sure if we were getting through to him, but he took it all in.”

Donna started teaching almost as soon as she became a member, starting out in Kindergarten, but eventually finding her place teaching third grade, where she has been teaching along with Lou McEwain for fifteen years.

Walt grew tired of attending worship on his own and followed in his wife’s footsteps, but the two have never shared a classroom. Walt has been teaching Sunday school for  years and has found his home teaching fourth graders along with Brian Adams and Randy Poulsen.

Donna and Walt encourage all members to teach. “Don’t be scared.”

Donna offers as advice. “I think some people are scared because they don’t feel confident in their own knowledge of the Bible. I’m learning as much as they are. It’s okay to not know the answers. If I don’t know the answer I will tell the kids that I will find out . . . and I will.”

Walt feels that learning about the Bible and God’s place in children’s lives is vital to the spiritual growth of our church community. “I think it (teaching Sunday school) is the right thing to do for the kids. This is the only place most kids get this type of Biblical information.”

Both Donna and Walt are passionate about not only creating faith memories for the children of St. Luke’s, but giving them a spiritual foundation that will last a lifetime. Donna also feels that teaching is as much a blessing to her as the children. “It is a life-changing thing to do. I’m glad I chose to do it.” n

Donna jokes, “We teach them everything they need to know in third grade and then they go on to fourth grade…” Walt adds, “We make it fun for the kids. We play all sorts of games and sometimes use a piece of candy or two as a motivator. Sometimes college kids have come back to the classroom to sit in. They want to see if we are still doing the same things, having as much fun.”

ABOVE PHOTOS: Dr. Marion Miller, Dawn Bick and Dr. Kent Millard

presenting the third grade class their bibles

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staff | www.stlukesumc.com

together in ministry everyday

Welcome Williamsons!

by Dr. Adolf Hansen

Jamalyn, David, Margaret and Nathan Williamson

On January 1. 2010, St. Luke’s welcomes David and Jamalyn Williamson to our staff. David will be a full-time associate pastor and will work primarily in the area of family ministries. A native of Brownsville, Tennessee, David received his BA from Davidson College and his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. He became an ordained elder in the South Indiana Conference of the UMC in 2008 and has been Pastor of Milroy UMC since July 2005. He was chosen as one of four Indiana United Methodist pastors to participate in the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Program, a twoyear program for pastoral leaders of the future.

Jamalyn, David’s wife, is a native of Terre Haute, Indiana. She received her BS degree from Purdue, and her Master of Divinity from

Duke Divinity School. She was also ordained as an elder in the South Indiana Conference of the UMC in 2008. Jamalyn was Associate Pastor at Greensburg UMC for three years before coming to Milroy in July of 2008 as Associate Pastor, with a focus in children’s ministry. Jamalyn will come onto the St. Luke’s staff on a one-quarter time basis.

Before coming to Indiana, the Williamsons served for two years as missionaries in Fondwa, Haiti.

They both speak Creole fluently. They also have two children, Margaret (AGE 3) and Nathan (AGE 1). Please join us in warmly welcoming our new St. Luke’s pastors. We are excited about the opportunities their experiences bring and look forward to seeing how God works through them as they begin their new journey with us. n

St. Luke’s UMC is pleased to announce the upcoming birth of its new website!

[Arriving soon to a computer near you.]

Watch the Communion Monthly for word on the actual arrival of our new “baby!” Feel free to shower us with questions, comments or compliments (“Isn’t he beautiful!” “Look at how alert she is!” “Why, he doesn’t look anything like your other website!”). We anticipate a few months of growing pains but believe you will find the newest member of our family very user friendly, informative and far more interactive. You’ll be able to register and pay for classes and special events on line, and much more.

www.stlukesumc .com

DATE OF BIRT H:

Fall 2009 Virtually noth ing HEIGHT: Gen erally 15”, dep ending on you r monitor WEIGHT:

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If you have any trouble with our new little darling, contact Martha Heinrich at heinrichm@stlukesumc.com or call 317-846-3404 x361.

youth ministries

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

Welcome. Empower. Transform.

Rob Bell, a pastor from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has created a series of short films that are clear, concise, and touch on important life issues. In his video “Rhythm,” Bell says, “The song is playing all around us all the time, the song is playing everywhere, it’s written on our hearts and everybody is playing the song. See, the question isn’t whether or not you’re playing a song, the question is, ‘Are you in tune?’”

St. Luke’s Live in Tune Youth Ministries is passionate about helping youth “get in tune” with God’s presence in their lives. The goal is for everyone affected by Live in Tune Youth Ministries to be educated about our mission statement, which is the foundation upon which every Youth Ministries weekly program, retreat and service experience is built.

Our mission: To welcome all youth and families into loving, Christ-centered relationships where they can get in tune with God’s amazing love and be empowered to transform the world.

From a distance, it may seem like a mouthful of a mission statement, but when you break it down to its core, it can be summed up in three words: Welcome. Empower. Transform. These three words serve as the essence of all we do. Read on to find out how…

Welcome

PHOTOS:

A sand prayer, and youth activities

by Kevin Davis, Director of Youth Ministries This part of our mission statement is the foundation of why we do youth ministry at St. Luke’s.

We have the love of Christ to offer families and teens. This love is full of grace and is open to the stories of others. We realize that with the mind of Christ, we can embrace others and encourage them in their faith journey. Without the love of Christ, we would exist primarily for programming, so our mission statement sets the context in which we minister. Christ has set the example of welcoming all into the faith. It is our goal to follow his example and welcome all into youth ministries here.

One of my favorite examples of how Jesus welcomes everyone is found in Mark :-. This is the story of the widow's offering and it goes something like this: Jesus was watching people come and give money to the temple offering. The rich people came and gave large amounts of money.

A poor widow gave two small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. Jesus called together the disciples and used this as a lesson. He said: "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Sometimes we feel we have little or nothing to contribute to the community, but Jesus taught us that everyone has something to contribute. Live in Tune Youth Ministries wants to welcome all youth and their families. One of the ways we do that each year is with our annual Youth Kick-off, and  was no exception. "Luke's Olympics" provided a welcoming environment full of high energy worship, interactive games, and informational meetings for parents.

Our youth ministry team is dedicated to do our part in creating a welcoming, accepting, inclusive environment in and outside the walls of St. Luke's throughout every ministry opportunity and beyond. We’re available to answer questions, share thoughts and ideas, or just hang out. We’re committed to attending school lunches, activities and sporting events within the community that involve teens from St. Luke's.

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youth ministries

together in ministry everyday

PHOTOS:

More youth having fun and making a difference

Transform

by Matt Peyton, Associate Director of Youth Ministries (Junior High) One of the things we want youth to know is that they have been blessed in order to be a blessing. That's why it isn’t enough to just empower the youth for the sake of empowering them. Instead, we want them to know that they are able, no matter how old they are or what their gifts are, to go out and make the world a better place.

As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

This past summer, we took youth on two different work camps to help be the change they wanted to see in the world. In June, a dozen high school juniors and seniors went to Nassau, Bahamas for a week with numerous other United Methodist churches from around the country. It was a powerful experience transitioning from the tourist areas to the impoverished neighborhoods that make up most of the island.

Empower

by Kathleen Headington,

Associate Director of Youth Ministries (Senior High) Proverbs :- reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.”

When youth and their families are welcomed into loving, Christ-centered relationships, they begin to feel empowered. Empowered to ask questions, they deepen their relationship with God and begin the process of sharing their faith with others. Live in Tune is dedicated to providing opportunities for youth to grow in their relationship with God, thus empowering them to truly claim their faith as the foundation for the rest of their lives.

Our main project was working at the Nazareth Children's Home with abused and neglected children. None of us (me included) really knew what to expect from these kids. However, amidst their suffering, they continued to be joyful and quickly welcomed us not only as visitors, but also as friends. We sang songs, played games, took hundreds of pictures, and left more than a little bit of ourselves behind at this amazing place as we learned that sharing God's love can be as simple as playing "Monster" on the playground or holding a sleeping baby.

Our twice yearly weekend retreats for both Junior and Senior High offer youth the opportunity to take a break from the stress and responsibilities of their everyday lives to “get in tune” with God. Through games, small group discussions, team-building activities and powerful worship, youth begin to feel empowered as part of an incredibly positive community.

Mid-July found us headed south with a group of both Junior and Senior High youth to Atlanta. After a great day of whitewater rafting, we walked around getting to know Atlanta and seeing for ourselves the prevalence of homelessness around the city. During the week, our work teams served at several community organizations – preparing meals for the homeless, volunteering at a day care center, and meeting mentally handicapped visitors at a church. These experiences resulted in widening our horizons and reinforcing the idea that no matter what our individual skills and talents are, each of us has the power to make a difference.

The highlights of my two-and-a-half years at St. Luke’s as Associate Director of Youth Ministries have been being part of a youth finally "getting" a faith concept, connecting with a volunteer based on a message he/she gave, or truly feeling God's presence after participating on a faith walk. Some of the best conversations have been held around a campfire or in the middle of a field, enjoying God's creation.

Last spring, St. Luke’s Senior High youth went on a weekend “Mystery Retreat.” We had devotions on the shore of Lake Michigan, and looked for God through photo scavenger hunts throughout the city of Chicago. The retreat closed with an affirmation service where each youth prayed over their individual vial of sand they collected from the dunes, followed by an affirmation of someone else from the group. Talk about empowerment! It's an incredible moment when youth realize the potential not only in themselves, but also in their peers, and they’re able to share words of encouragement and affirmation. The importance of empowering youth doesn't happen only on retreats, but also on work camps, in classes and discussions together, and in a variety of youth leadership positions.

We’re already pumped for next summer’s work camp trips! We’re partnering with YouthWorks, a national organization committed to creating a close-knit, safe place for teens to be teens and communities to be blessed.

June -, St. Luke’s Senior High youth and leaders will help restore coastal areas affected by hurricanes and unemployment in the Carolinas.

The following month (July 10-16), our Junior High youth and leaders will travel to Eastern Tennessee for a rural work project.

Transformation truly begins on the inside, and work camps are a unique opportunity for each of us to step outside of our comfort zones and really see the good we’re called to do as Christians.

As participants in Live in Tune Youth Minsitries grow, they seek to share their stories and experiences with others. Take a moment to ask a youth about their journey and YOU just might end up being the one who gets transformed.

"So may you come to see that the song is written on your heart. And as you live in tune with the song, in tune with the Creator of the universe, may you realize that you ARE in relationship with the living God." n

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world missions

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

Do You Know Where Alice Is?

by Michelle Martin Collins

That’s a question that you’ll hear many times while spending a week on a mission trip to Lotts Creek (Cordia), KY. Director Alice Whitaker oversees one of the last settlement schools in the eastern mountains of Kentucky (www.lottscreek.org). In addition to her many school duties, she also hosts groups of volunteers each week during the summer and many times throughout the school year to assist her in helping to provide a better life for the mountain youth. Providing an education to the children of Appalachia was a dream and passion of her aunt, Alice Slone, who started the Settlement School in a two-room log cabin in 1933.

Her phone is always ringing and the question is the same . . .

At the school building . . . “Is Alice there?” Current attendance of pre-school through twelfth grade is approximately 240 students. We found volunteers Judy and Joshua helping out a 2nd grade teacher: Judy listened to students read and assisted the teacher with next year’s lesson plans; Joshua helped with year-end clean up. Channing was found painting the restrooms in an effort to beautify the building prior to upcoming graduation.

At the Santa Claus House, tool shed, dormitory attic . . . “Is Alice there?” The phone rang, the question was asked, anywhere our volunteers cleaned and organized.

Century 21 Room . . . “Is Alice there?” Among other things, the Century 21 Room contained donations from various groups, with such things as toothbrushes, soaps, hair brushes, candies and so on. Our group delivered several boxes of new clothes and one volunteer gathered more than 3000 books. So, along with Alice, we came up with the idea to prepare “end-of-school” goodie bags for the children to include numerous donated items. Several of our group participated in the packing of the bags, which was expertly organized by Jan. Although beginning-of-school and Christmas bags had previously been organized, this was the first end-ofschool surprise. The completed bags were distributed on the last day of school by the group of volunteers arriving after us; each student, teacher, bus driver and school employee received one. In addition, each child was able to select several books to take home and call their own.

At the thrift store . . . “Is Alice there?” The thrift store provides needed clothing, coats and shoes to the children and their families. Clothes from the St. Luke’s rummage sale and other donations were organized by Debbie and Mary. The room was cleaned and made to look like a retail store, ready for the next shopper.

At the food pantry/family resource center . . . “Is Alice there?” Numerous families are provided staples on a regular basis from the food pantry. Staple donations were provided by our volunteers.

At the home worksite . . . “Is Alice there?” You could find John, Pete, Eric, Ken, Paul, Tad, Dave, and Ronnie expertly hanging drywall in a home being built in a nearby hollow for a deserving family. The family was so excited to see the progress of the work being done by our volunteers.

At the dormitory/kitchen . . . “Is Alice there?” Betty and Ruth could always be found busily creating fabulous meals for the group. Once one meal was complete, another was started. The cooks were frequently complimented.

At the school library . . . “Is Alice there?” We could find Adele in the library helping catalog books and even running the school book sale one afternoon in the absence of the school librarian. Adele’s library expertise is always welcomed each time she returns.

Although you could guess at certain times of the day where you might find Alice, she was always on the go. If not in her office or the dorm, she might be attending a rotary meeting, meeting with teachers and/or students, applying for grants, interviewing families for assistance, conducting fund raising, and on and on it goes. She is always on the move, trying to better the lives of the mountain children. She is respected and loved by all, including St. Luke’s volunteers. n

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THE 2009 VOLUNTEERS: Betty Brandt, Pete Burks, David Chesterfield, Michelle and Terry Collins, Tad Cooper, Ken Hollis, Adele Hoskin, Judy Martin, Paul McNeely, Ruth Morrison, Mary and Ronnie Murphy, Channing Myers, Joshua Myers, Jan Nichols, Debbie Smith, John Street and Eric VanSteenberg.

worship

together in ministry everyday

Family, Friends and Fun

by Dr. Marion Miller

A combination of good food among family and friends is a great recipe for a lot of fun. This was the recipe used for the Later on the Lawn event, and it proved to be a huge success . . . even though it was the hottest day of the year, which moved the crowd of approximately 250 people into Great Hall where the atmosphere was cool and welcoming.

Later on the Lawn was a part of the In Our Own Backyard kick-off weekend, which started that Saturday with a spectacular Servant Day. Sunday evening at Later on the Lawn, many gathered with friends and family to enjoy a delicious meal while listening to contemporary Christian, gospel and jazz music. It was an inclusive gathering of people from all ages, races and stations of life coming together for some enjoyment.

Another highlight of the event was the Blessing of the Backpacks. Even though children came and brought their backpacks to be blessed, many made it clear that they were NOT ready to go back to school! Following the blessing, each received a backpack nametag that said “Later@St. Luke’s Blessed My Backpack.”

What an awesome opportunity to ask God to bless our children, teachers and other school professionals for another school year. n

Later’s Ministry Support Team

by Dr. Marion Miller

Later@St. Luke’s has become quite the “teaching congregation” with another SCOFE Student, Myra Whitaker, from Christian Theological Seminary. The acronym for SCOFE stands for Supervised Concurrent Field Education. One of the requirements of this program is to have a Ministry Support Team that walks alongside the student during their field study. This program is not new to St. Luke’s; many students have used our organization as a learning experience.

contributes significantly to a student’s ability to learn and grow in the area of field ministry. I will serve as Myra’s Site Supervisor and meet with her on a weekly basis.

The team will meet monthly to provide Myra with guidance, affirmation and constructive feedback throughout the academic year. This feedback

Myra Whitaker joined Later@St. Luke’s as a Student Pastor in August.

She is currently in her third year at Christian Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Some of her activities here will include assisting with the weekly worship planning and implementation; attending scheduled ministry team meetings to provide inspiration and guidance; assisting with small group development; be a helpful and caring assistant that interfaces with the congregation for ministry expansion; and provide administrative support. Myra has also completed the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Clarian Health Network and loves ministering to persons in their time of need. After thirty years at Rolls-Royce Corporation, Myra entered a second vocation by answering the call to ministry. Please join me in welcoming Myra to our church family. n

LEFT (l to r): Hope Upchurch, Myra Whitaker (SCOFE Student), Susan Barakat (Chair) 2ND ROW: Clarence Matthew, Co-Chair, and Gustanna Moss Chaney.

NOT PICTURED: Pat Aikman and Saundra (Sonie) Finchum ABOVE (l to r): Later on the Lawn in the Great Hall—

The Later Band performing; Kent Millard with Marion Miller Blessing of the backpacks

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the garden

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

The Garden Finds a Four-Leafed Clover

by Beth Fried

The Garden has recently been awarded two grants, which will change the landscape of the alternative worship service. As the United Methodist Church begins its campaign to rethink church, The Garden is experiencing its own regeneration.

The Lilly Endowment has selected The Garden as one of  congregations in Indiana to participate in the  Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations. This grant will enable The Garden to explore and plan for the next era of The Garden. It also gives Lead Pastor Linda McCoy the opportunity to step back from full-time duties for three months to reflect on her ministry, renew her spirits and begin to visualize her own path ahead. She will take her Renewal Leave during the summer of .

The second grant award is from the Indianapolis Center for Congregations (ICC). A , matching technology grant will allow The Garden and St. Luke’s to implement the first stage of a long-held goal of creating a Virtual Church. The interactive experience will capture the innovative, exploring, casual, fresh approach to spirituality for which The Garden is known.

Linda will experience three levels of The Garden’s vision is that people will experirenewal during her leave. Beginning in ence God wherever they are. The Virtual Church Ireland and Scotland, Linda will pursue website will enable many more folks to her interest in Celtic Spirituality. After experience God in their own time and in their own way. The website will feature a means to exploring the Isles of Scotland, Linda will develop one’s own spiritual statement, and focus on her family, including her new opportunities to discuss it with other people. baby granddaughter, Madeline Grace Swike The Garden already has its own website, Faceborn April , . The family, including book page, and beta-test-site social network Linda, husband Mike, daughter Erin and called Endlessdeep.org. her husband Tim, and baby Madeline will Dr. Linda McCoy spend two weeks traveling the upper MidThe ICC grant is a matching grant, so The Garden is in the process of west, camping and enjoying time together. The third phase of Linda’s raising the funds needed to accept this grant. So far Gardeners have renewal leave will be spent in prayer, reflection and study, much of that contributed a little over half the funds necessary. If you would like to help taking place in Linda’s favorite sanctuary, the mountains of Colorado. with this project contact The Garden’s Administrative Leader, Judy Tolley at - .

Meanwhile, The Garden will be on a quest of its own. Going on  years old in , The Garden has appointed a lay team to begin envisioning the future for The Garden’s creative ministry. The Lilly grant provides fundTo experience The Garden, visit a service on Sunday morning at Beef & ing for consultants, as well as guest speakers to help guide the lay team Boards Dinner Theatre at :, : or :, or The Mansion at Oak Hill in Carmel at : and/or go to thegardenonline.org. n through strategic planning for the future.

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special event

together in ministry everyday

Medal of Honor Awarded in Moving Ceremony

by Lori Crantford TOP: Boy Scout Troop 56

color guard MIDDLE LEFT: Deputy Sidy

Diallo, Carver McGriff, and Senator Richard Lugar MIDDLE RIGHT: Kent

Millard, Richard Lugar, Carver McGriff, and Sidy Diallo BOTTOM: Ken Knowles

sings a crowd-pleasing medley of 1940s tunes

The Color Guard of Boy Scout Troop  entered the Sanctuary bearing three flags: the Indiana state flag, the American flag, and the French flag. Ken Knowles began to sing, in beautiful French, “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem, followed by “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Behind the podium sat Senator Richard G. Lugar, Sidy Diallo, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of France, Dr. Kent Millard and Dr. Carver McGriff. Lugar, Diallo and Millard were there to give remarks and make presentations. McGriff was there to become a knight.

As previously reported, Dr. McGriff (former St. Luke’s senior pastor) had been notified by the French government that he was selected to receive the Legion of Honor medal. August  was the day the medal was officially presented to him by Monsieur Diallo, representing the French government, and St. Luke’s member Senator Richard Lugar, representing the American government.

In his remarks, Monsieur Diallo said to Dr. McGriff, “You were  years old when you joined the U.S. Army in October . As a member of the “M” company in a machine gun squad in the  Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army  Infantry Division, you fought in Normandy and Northern France . . . as a mark of our eternal gratitude, the government of the French Republic has decided to award you

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the Legion of Honor. The Order of the Legion of Honor, established by Napoleon Bonaparte back in , is the highest decoration in France. The French President extends this honor to those who have carried out extraordinary achievements for France, to heroes like you, Dr. McGriff. Therefore, I am deeply honored to present you today with the medal of Knight of the Legion of Honor in the presence of Senator Lugar and your loved ones.”

With deep gratitude and heartfelt humility, Dr. McGriff stated “I can only seriously accept this medal by genuinely doing so on behalf of all the boys who fought in that war.”

He shared with the audience the touching recent experience he had in returning to the scene of the battle in Normandy where he was wounded and captured by the Germans. “As we prepared to leave the village, a small car pulled up and a large, pleasant-faced woman emerged. She informed us she is the mayor of the town and welcomed us warmly. I said to her that I should apologize for all the damage we did there during the war. She replied that ‘if you want to make an omelet you have to break some eggs’ and went on to thank me sincerely for all the men of my division who fought there. Many men of both nations died in that street and I was touched by the presence of fresh flowers and that those people remembered after all those years.”

At the end of the ceremony, Ken Knowles captivated the audience with a medley of  hits while a slideshow of WWII photographs played across the big screen. It was another remarkable day at St. Luke’s, with a special event that was created to honor one veteran but turned out just the way Dr. McGriff wanted—those present misty-eyed from the haunting notes of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” proud of their country and filled with gratitude for ALL those who serve, past and present. n

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

spiritual life center | grief ministries

Will I Ever Learn This Spiritual Lesson?

by Betty Brandt

I sit in the Spiritual Life Center many times every week. I see the north wall and all I usually take in is a blur of color . . . until recently when fabric artist Jo Locker returned to St. Luke’s to talk with me and my Covenant Group about the three vibrant pieces she completed in 2003. As we looked at each detail and talked about each Biblical story represented, the blur of color deepened into an experience of awe and gratitude. Not only was I reminded of Jo’s considerable talent and spiritual depth, I also found myself attending to all the little clues Jo drew onto the fabric.

There is the man with no shoes, covering his eyes. Surely that is Moses confronting the burning bush. There are eight people with flames coming out of their heads. Must be Pentecost. Then I noticed that Jesus is usually dressed in yellow. Did Jo want us to experience Him as warm and welcoming? Jo’s simple and vibrant figures bring the familiar Biblical stories to life in a new way. She has done her part. My part is to stop and pay close attention to the details of her art work and the rest of life. Here is a spiritual lesson I need to learn again and again.

Everything in my world from the back of my own hand to the ant hill in my garden to the art in the Spiritual Life Center is transformed from the ordinary to the sacred if only I spend some time paying attention and marveling at the intricacy of its creation and function. In this time of financial uncertainty, seeking more and more is foolishness. Treasuring what I have and acknowledging that it is enough is wisdom. n

Tuesday Mornings with the Dads

by Lori Crantford

talk to. With amazing candor and quiet strength, each father shares his journey of a place no parent ever wants to travel . . . and reveals that the destination is not the expected one of darkness, but a place of relative peace.

One Tuesday morning in 2004, three men met for a cup of coffee. They didn’t really know each other but had been brought together at the suggestion of Rev. Marsha Hutchinson. They weren’t there to discuss some business proposition or argue politics or rehash the latest Colts game. They were there to talk about one thing they all regretted they had in common. Every man there was a dad, and each of those dads had lost a child.

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who lost a son, penned the foreword to Tuesday Mornings. Dungy writes, “These dads were brought together by tragedy and together they have worked their way through it. While none of them would say they’re completely healed, they all feel that God has brought them together and allowed them to help each other. By writing this book, they will now help others—not only parents who’ve lost children but anybody who is facing unthinkable grief . . . I’m grateful to them for sharing their stories. I thank them for showing us that, no matte what the obstacles, with God’s help—and with each other—we can persevere through anything life throws at us.”

Five years later that group of three men has grown to nearly 20 fathers who “belong to the group no one wants to belong to.” They meet every Tuesday morning at 7AM in the café at the Indianapolis Hilton North hotel. Another group has just started meeting at the Bob Evans located near I-65 and Shadeland exit (Thursdays at 7AM). They have discovered through their mornings together what they could not discover on their own or in traditional grief group settings—men grieve differently, and only with the support of other fathers who have lost children could they begin to heal and have hope.

In order to share their message of healing and hope with others, they have written a book that was just published in September. Tuesday Mornings with the Dads: Stories by Fathers Who Have Lost a Son or a Daughter details the incomprehensible tragedy of losing one’s child unexpectedly, but of the surprising place where support, understanding, friendship and hope were found. Each of the fourteen chapters was written by a dad, who tells the story of his child (or children), of the nightmare days and months following their death, and of coming out of the nightmare through the simple act of finding other dads to

Tuesday Mornings with the Dads is available in Oasis Bookstore at St. Luke’s and online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and inkwaterpress.com. Dr. Adolf Hansen, St. Luke’s Theologian in Residence and one of the founding Dads, will be interviewed at all three Sunday morning services on November 1. For more information on the group and the legacies their children have left behind, visit their website at www.tuesdayswiththedads.org. Proceeds from sales of the book will benefit various charities. n

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membership | spirit & place

together in ministry everyday

Membership Has Its Rewards

by Mary Katherine Schnitz

Have you considered “officially” joining St. Luke’s United Methodist Church? It does have its rewards. It is true that you can join any group, attend any program, or participate in any committee, without membership. St. Luke’s prides itself in being open to anyone wanting to participate in any of our programs. However, the rewards of membership are great.

• You will have the pride of knowing that you no longer qualify for the “Visitors” parking space.

• We can delete the words, “visitor, non-member, or constituent” from beside your name in our database.

• Every time a person joins St. Luke’s, a bell rings and an angel gets its wings.

The following events are being held at St. Luke’s— OPENING EVENT:

“From Ordinary Space to Sacred Place” Friday, November 6, 7PM, Sanctuary

How do you join? It is easier than ever. We are planning many different opportunities for you. We will offer the class on different days, at different times. Hopefully, one of those dates will work for you. Classes are scheduled for:

PARTICIPANTS:

Carrie Newcomer Dewberry Business leader Michael S. Maurer Former Mayor of Indianapolis Bart Peterson Marion County Superior Court Judge David Shaheed Singer/songwriter

WISH-TV co-anchor Deanna

- Wednesday, October 14, 6:30-9PM - Saturday, November 7, 9AM-Noon - Sunday, December 6, 11AM-12:30PM (if you are already involved in the church or if you have attended for some time, this would be a great opportunity to become “official” during an abbreviated session.)

- Saturday, January 16, 9AM-Noon - Wednesday, February 10, 6:30-9PM - Sunday, March 7, 11AM-12:30PM - Saturday, April 10, 9AM-Noon - Wednesday, May 5, 6:30-9PM

People Make the Place Sunday, November 8, 2-4PM, N101/102 Sponsored by PFLAG and St. Luke’s UMC CLOSING EVENT:

Bill Hudnut & John Fetterman— A Public Conversation Sunday, November 15, 3:30-5:30PM, Sanctuary

Scott Russell Sanders

Moderating Concluding with a polychoral "surround sound" performance

Maybe you really don’t want to give up your membership at your home church. We respect that. We would encourage you to consider joining St. Luke’s as an associate member. You would hold membership in both churches.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is pleased to be a Signature Partner of this year’s Spirit and Place Festival

Perhaps you are terrified at the thought of going up front of the congregation on Sunday morning. Don’t. You do not have to go up front. Simply say the vow to yourself while seated in your own pew.

317.846.3404 | www.stlukesumc.com 100 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260

The clergy and staff here at St. Luke’s invite you to pray about this commitment. For information, contact Sylvia Forbes at 846-3404 x343 or forbess@stlukesumc.com. n

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OCTOBER-DECEMBER 

concerns & celebrations | new members

CONDOLENCES TO: Richard McBroom on the death of his brother Frederick McBroom Friends and family of Lilly Martyn Andy Spangler on the death of his wife Donna Spangler Brenta Clem on the death of her mother Margaret Vincent

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Harold Hall on the death of his sister Helen Juanita Hall Pat Magnuson on the death of her father Warren Magnuson Sandy Bailey on the death of her brother Larry Walden Ruth Houghton on the death of her husband John Houghton

Roger Frick on the death of his father Albert Frick

Myrtle Smith on the death of her husband Cliff Smith

Juanita Johnson on the death of her sister Harriett Rothkopf

Lee Vriesman on the death of her mother Judy Oden

Friends and family of Mary Jane Vaux Jeanne Meddock and JoAnn Mann on the death of husband and father Rev. William Meddock Judy Stahl on the death of her father Richard Paul Kim Amrhien on the death of her grandfather Robert Stultz Marsha Coyner on the death of her father Howard England Brenda Brayshaw on the death of her husband Keith Brayshaw Terri Brown on the death of her father Robert Treadwell Friends and family of Jim Valentine

William Taylor on the death of his niece Artina Hill Phil Roby on the death of his father Wilbur Roby Gary Chambers on the death of his daughter Jennifer Meyer Lorena Pittman and family on the death of Larry Pittman Becca Young and family on the death of her mother Joan Simmons Ron Britton on the death of his mother Pat Britton Caroline Belknap on the death of her father Jeremiah Belknap

Lesley, Rodney and Tyler Fields and Gary & Jackie Leitz on the birth of daughter, sister and granddaughter Audrey Morgan Fields Aaron & Heather DeBoer and Keith & Brenda Brayshaw on the birth of son and grandson Hunter Stanier Shelby & Karen Bishop and Phyllis Bishop on the birth of son and grandson Robert Shelby Bishop, Jr. Joe & Christine Cantwell on the birth of their daughter Grace Catherine James & Sarah Swanson on the birth of their son Blake Jeffrey Eric & Anne Gee and Joe & Ginnie Phillips on the birth of son and grandson Silas John Jay Forbes & Andrea Forte and Sylvia Forbes on the birth of son and grandson Ian Forte Forbes John & Leslie Babione on the birth of their daughter Blair Ann Jon & Kristi Tronc on the birth of their daughter Madeline Roe

Contact Sylvia Forbes at 846-3404 or forbess@stlukesumc.com to register.

Kathryn Hessman & Justin Roski on their wedding of September 

Angela Thompson & Basilios Dimitrelias on their wedding of July 

Stacy Plank & Nathaniel Shultz on their wedding of September 

Stephanie Correll & Josh Fuller on their wedding of July  Kera Stall & Matt Healy on their wedding of July  Pamela Cooke & Michael Hemmerly on their wedding of July  Morgan Price & Bryant Gonterman on their wedding of August 

Morris & Marjorie Conly on their  wedding anniversary Bob & Alice Luce on their  wedding anniversary North Central math teacher Joe Porter, named Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Washington Township

Amberly Henkle & Sean Clark on their wedding of August  Kristina Nall & Matthew Henderson on their wedding of September  Cindy Sauer & Tom Ashburn on their wedding of September  Emily Ehret & Kevin Cline on their wedding of September  Sheree Wampler & Craig Hendrix on their wedding of September  Tiffany Stochel & Matthew Whisner on their wedding of September 

Brent & Linda Hartman on the death of their son Ryan Hartman

WELCOME! The next opportunities to join St. Luke’s are October 14, November 7 & December 6.

Jaime Anderson & Craig Dietz on their wedding of June 

new members

The following persons completed the August & September membership classes.

August 2009

(far left) Sherry Clark, Lauren Dixon, Marcia Frazier, Jim Hague, Wanda Hague, Cynthia Hall, Harold Hall, Jenny Harford, Abby Hood, Tony Kester, Gary Larsen, James Leslie, Jeanetta Leslie, Clarence Matthews, Nancy Schalk, Kelly Snow, Philip Snow, Lynn Stickle, Jill Walker, Tom Walker, Cyndy Webb, Rick Webb

September 2009 (far right) Robb Day, Kate Johnson, Barth Fisher, Nancy Fisher, Jessica Fisher, Hannah Fisher, Martha Hockett, Larry Paxton, Louise Paxton, Justin Rich, Fatima Rich, Nancy Sinclair, Kim Stewart, Chris Thornsberry, Dorothy Upchurch, Brad Whitsitt, Carol Whitsitt

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OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2009 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID INDIANAPOLIS, IN PERMIT NO. 1569

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

A HYMN OF THANKSGIVING Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied; come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

—.  