The Fall of Joy As I write, my internet search engine is reminding me with a cute animation that it is the beginning of fall. It is official with the autumnal equinox occurring on September 22. The bright colors and crisp days are a welcome shift from the unrelenting heat and withering humidity of what was actually a fairly mild summer. Fall brings many blessings to us and to the church. On our way back from a theology conference this past weekend, Marie and I stopped at a lovely orchard north of Indianapolis. There for all to enjoy were the full-fledged fruit and knick-knack market, hayrides, apple picking, farm animals, and a farmhouse restaurant. Good home cooking and fresh apple cider comforted our spirits after a few hours on the road. It was poignant to taste the fruits of God’s good creation after having attended the workshop whose theme was “Rooted and Grounded,” dealing with biblical calls to live lightly on an increasingly fraught planet. Fall helps us become more focused on those chores that seemed too hard in summer heat. We’ll be painting the north side of our home over the next several weeks. There is weeding and pruning and mulching and harvesting to be done too. Persimmons are falling. Tomatoes continue to ripen. Corn, squash, carrots, beets, and onions are just about ready. Fall too brings us back to the delightful programs of Christian education here at St. Thomas. The Sunday School Kick-Off was delightful, filled with enthusiastic children, attentive parents, excited teachers, and fun for all. What a glorious day—and what a splendid set of classroom groups! There is no way to express how grateful I am to our teachers, to Kelli Skram (our coordinator), and Colleen Montgomery (our new Minister of Youth and Christian Nurture). Not to mention the many opportunities for adults, from Spiritual Growth Groups to Oktoberfest to Sunday forums and bible studies to Book of Faith. It is so rewarding to engage these blessings with you. And so, it seems to me that this fall is a fall into joy. The blessings of God surround, and the Spirit abides. “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) Grace and peace, Pastor Lyle St. Thomas Lutheran Church News October, 2014 XXVI, Issue No. 10
Transcript
The Fall of Joy
As I write, my internet search engine is reminding me with a cute animation that it is the beginning of fall. It is official with the autumnal equinox occurring on September 22. The bright colors and crisp days are a welcome shift from the unrelenting heat and withering humidity of what was actually a fairly mild summer. Fall brings many blessings to us and to the church. On our way back from a theology conference this past weekend, Marie and I stopped at a lovely orchard north of Indianapolis. There for all to enjoy were the full-fledged fruit and knick-knack market, hayrides, apple picking, farm animals, and a farmhouse restaurant. Good home cooking and fresh apple cider comforted our spirits after a few hours on the road. It was poignant to taste the fruits of God’s good creation after having attended the workshop whose theme was “Rooted and Grounded,” dealing with biblical calls to live lightly on an increasingly fraught planet. Fall helps us become more focused on those chores that seemed too hard in summer heat. We’ll be painting the north side of our home over the next several weeks. There is weeding and pruning and mulching and harvesting to be done too. Persimmons are falling. Tomatoes continue to ripen. Corn, squash, carrots, beets, and onions are just about ready. Fall too brings us back to the delightful programs of Christian education here at St. Thomas. The Sunday School Kick-Off was delightful, filled with enthusiastic children, attentive parents, excited teachers, and fun for all. What a glorious day—and what a splendid set of classroom groups! There is no way to express how grateful I am to our teachers, to Kelli Skram (our coordinator), and Colleen Montgomery (our new Minister of Youth and Christian Nurture). Not to mention the many opportunities for adults, from Spiritual Growth Groups to Oktoberfest to Sunday forums and bible studies to Book of Faith. It is so rewarding to engage these blessings with you. And so, it seems to me that this fall is a fall into joy. The blessings of God surround, and the Spirit abides. “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)
Grace and peace, Pastor Lyle
St. Thomas Lutheran Church News
October, 2014 XXVI, Issue No. 10
We Welcome Our New Organist, Mike Powell!
I am a church musician, recitalist, and composer of sacred music. I recently completed the Master of Music degree in organ performance and sacred music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and received my Bachelor of Music in 2010 from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. I’m also an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. I grew up in the Lutheran tradition and am excited to serve in such a vibrant community. I live in Bloomington with my wife, Susan (also a church musician by trade), and my two kids, Jacob and Meredith. When I’m not on the organ bench or hanging out with the kiddos, you might find me running the B-Line trail or working under the hood of a car.
From Our Minister of Youth and Christian Nurture
This month I’m really excited about a lot of things! I pray that some of my enthusiasm is contagious.
First Sarah Bessey is coming!
Sarah Bessey is the author of Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women. Many St. Thomas members and IU students gathered with me last winter to read this book and to tell stories about our faith, our God, and to name the women who have helped formed us.
Regardless of whether you came to the book study, I hope that you’ll come and hear Sarah speak on Friday, October 24 at First Presbyterian downtown. The conversation will focus on evangelism, gender issues, vocation and identity, as well as writing and living your story as proclamation.
Second, I’m really excited about faith nurture here at St. Thomas! We had an incredible start of the year with Amigos en Christo on September 7th. Thanks to everyone who helped make that gathering joyful, fun, and delicious. We are blessed to have faithful and energized teachers to lead our children of all ages in their weekly classes. The youth group has started gathering and are teaching me all of the best hiding spots for Sardines.
Opportunities for adults to engage their faith are abundant as well! Spiritual Growth Groups are meeting, including two new groups: Men’s Group and Pub Theology. Bible study happens on Sunday mornings and Monday afternoons. And the Book of Faith: John study has begun as well.
Third, I’m so looking forward acolyte training! Observing how children (and adults) serve in worship is truly an insight into their faith and spirituality. Some are joyful and almost skip when lighting the candles. Others take the task with the utmost seriousness and devotion. We’ll train a new batch of acolytes on October 12th.
I pray that you and your family will find a way to connect your faith at St. Thomas this month through worship, relationships, and learning. If you have any questions or ideas please be in touch! Peace, Colleen Montgomery
From Our Pastoral Intern Dear St. Thomas,
I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and kind hospitality extended to me my first Sunday here not to mention the basket brimming with goodies! A huge thank you to all of you for making me feel so welcomed into this community. I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to learn, serve, and grow in faith with you this coming year.
As a part of learning and adjusting to this new context I will be looking to have conversations with many of you in order to become more acquainted with St. Thomas, IU/Campus Ministry, and the community of Bloomington. If you would like to meet with me to share insights about any of those three categories please send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to engage in conversation with you (and get to know you better in the process).
Again, thank you for the friendly welcome, thank you for the ministry we will do together and thank you most of all for the impact you will make in my journey of pastoral formation.
Marissa Tweed
Giving Thanks for the Harvest
One of the worship services we have designed with children especially in mind will be offered again on Sunday, October 5. “Giving Thanks for of the Harvest” makes use of creation imagery and familiar hymns to draw us all into prayer and praise with a focus on God’s providence. Children will again provide leadership for some of the service. And it will be a blessing to folks of every age.
Commitment Sunday
Due to our capital campaign this fall, our stewardship program is being kept very simple. All members were mailed a set of materials in September, including a pledge card and a “Time & Talent” sheet for 2015. Please return those on Sunday, October 12th. Simply place them in the offering plate as it is passed at worship. Additional pledge cards and “Time & Talent” sheets are available on the Welcome Table in the narthex.
Please remember to wear your name tag for our new intern, our new members, new students and visitors
Photos from Amigos en Christo, Sunday, September 7, 2014 Celebrating Our Relationship with the Santo Domingo de Guzman Parish in Chichipate, Guatemala
Children having egg and spoon races, a favorite game of Guatemalan children
Suzanne Halverson shared stories about Guatemala and our amigos there. Enjoying some Guatemalan treats: fresh fruit and sesame cookies!
October Youth Group Activities:
x Sunday, October 5: Gather at St. Thomas, 5:30-7:30pm x Sunday, October 19: CROP Stop Hunger Walk. The walk kicks off at 3pm and is 4 miles long.
Walkers will coordinate for rides.
October Adult Forum Schedule
October 5, Culture of Conversation, Sanctuary: Join Pastor Lyle for an open conversation about the ministries and missions of St. Thomas. Feel free to bring questions about the capital campaign.
October 12, Spiritual Growth Group Meeting Time
October 19, Mission Committee Forum, Conference Room
October 26, Conversation about Caring Ministries, Conference Room: Come and learn about the caring ministries of St. Thomas.
New Members Class
Pastor McKee will lead a class for new members beginning on Sunday, October 12th following the 11:00 a.m. worship services (12:30 – 1:30 p.m.) in the Conference Room. The sessions will provide Lutheran perspectives on scripture, the sacraments, worship, and the Church, as well as offer information about opportunities to learn and serve at St. Thomas.
Acolyte Training
Acolyte training for all First Communicants and those who have not yet been trained will be on October 12th at 12:30. Serving as an acolyte during the worship is a very important duty for all 5th - 8th grade students. Please plan now to attend and also stop by the church office to pick up your copy of “Acolyte Training.” It is important that you read through the brochure prior to the training.
Capital Campaign Update
Come On In – There’s More To Share! Momentum is building as the Capital Campaign moves forward.
Some upcoming events: Ɣ�:DWFK�\RXU�PDLO���7KH�&DPSDLJQ�%URFKXUH�ZLOO�EH�DUULYLQJ�QHDU�WKH�beginning of October. Ɣ�0DUN�<RXU�&DOHQGDU�IRU�6XQGD\��1RYHPEHU��nd. We will be having a kick-off gathering for everyone to attend.
Ɣ Commitment Sunday will be Sunday, November 9th.
Peace, Dean Arnold Capital Campaign Chair
Please remember to wear your name tag for our new intern, our new members, new students and visitors
The youth of St. Thomas are leading the way in this year’s CROP Walk, a fundraiser for Church World Service. This worldwide organization works with individual communities to provide support, resources, and partnership in fighting hunger, malnutrition, thirst, and health issues. Funds are shared between international, national, and local communities. 25% of the money from this year’s walk will go to Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Community Kitchen, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Monroe County United Ministries, Shalom Center, and Backstreet
Mission. Please consider walking with our youth or making a donation. We have a goal of raising $700! You can join the team, sponsor an individual walker or donate to the whole team online at http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/goto/stlcbloomington. The walk is on October 19th, with registration beginning at 2pm. The walk kicks off at 3pm. We’ll gather at the Islamic Center at 1925 E. Atwater Ave. The full walk is 4 miles long, with short cuts for those who need them. Colleen Montgomery is this year’s team captain. Feel free to contact her with questions.
Two local congregations labeled as 'cool' Special to the H-T
In late July, Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) announced its first 20 certified cool congregations selected from its 40 state affiliates. In announcing the winners, IPL president, the Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, stated, these congregations are leading the way. They are putting their faith into action and bringing moral responsibility to the forefront of the movement to protect the climate.
Two of those 20 congregations to receive this national recognition are in Bloomington: the Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Thomas Lutheran. Members of both congregations are active in Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light, and in the Bloomington IPL affiliate, Earth Care. Together with members of Congregation Beth Shalom and Trinity Episcopal Church and two Indianapolis congregations, they had received a state office of energy development community conservation grant in 2012 that helped fund solar panels on each of their buildings. In exchange, each pledged to cut their carbon emissions by at least 25 percent, not including savings from their solar panels and to share the knowledge they gained with other congregations.
In the first year, as compared to a baseline year, these six congregations had cut their electricity use by an average of 29 percent and their natural gas use by an average of 36 percent. And factoring in the savings due to their solar panel production the Unitarian Universalist Church had cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and St. Thomas by 30 percent.
The Environmental Protection Agency 502’s Energy Star estimates that if all of America’s congregations cut energy use just 20 percent it would save nearly $630 million per year, and prevent more than 2.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent of eliminating emissions from 480,000 cars from the road.
For more information, and support for your congregation to reduce its energy use, come to the next Earth Care meeting, Aug. 20 at First United Church, 2420 E. Third St., or email [email protected].
All Saints Sunday On All Saints Sunday (November 2nd), we will remember in prayer those who have joined the Church Triumphant over the past year. Included among those to be remembered are: Matthew Allan Patton (1/22/1974 – 2/23/2014) Evan John Ringquist (8/6/1962 – 5/13/2014) Those in attendance at worship that day will have the opportunity to add the names of family and friends for inclusion in our prayers.
October Birthdays 10/4 Karol Anderson, Bailey Arnold, Gergely Hajos, Deborah O’Brien 10/5 Dan Rademacher 10/6 Walt Wood 10/8 Sarah Climis 10/9 Frank Nierzwicki 10/10 Charlene Braun, Rachel Ringquist 10/13 Katie Delap, Kathy Zellers 10/14 Bob Cutter, Ron Peters 10/16 Beth Berns 10/17 Ben Owens, Mary Sasse 10/18 Paul Leber 10/19 Marta Deibert 10/19 Lynn Weddle 10/21 Lynn Coyne 10/22 Robin Hershberger 10/24 Debbie Selk 10/26 Shirley Mingee, Christiana Redman, Jerry Smith 10/27 Karen Cline 10/28 Sharon Fawbush 10/29 Rachel Bourkland, Rey Kante,
Nina Ost 10/30 Tish Llewellyn, Robert Shetterly 10/31 Stephanie Hulett
October Anniversaries Shawn & Gwen Caudill 10/4 11 years
Rance & Sharon Fawbush 10/6 41 years
David & Debbie Nixon 10/14 25 years
Isaac & Megan Smith 10/20 2 years
Mike & Jaydene Laros 10/23 43 years
MCUM Food Pantry Needs x canned meats (salmon, beef stew,
October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 November 2 November 9 November 168:30 AM 8:30 AM 8:30 AM 8:30 AM 8:30 AM 8:30 AM 8:30 AM
DEACON David Rohlfing Gail Seegert Kathleen Boggess Marissa Tweed Kris Stewart Robin Hershberger Kris StewartLECTOR Barb Unger Dana Barron Gail Seegert Kris Stewart Dale Ludwig David Ellies Kent UngerACOLYTE Gretchen Wheeler Madelyn Shupe Joel Arnold Erica Goldsworthy Lily Rademacher Andrew Goldsworthy Gretchen WheelerSERVER ML Nierzwicki Jean Brown Kris Stewart Sarah Climis David Ellies Kent Unger Gene LaughmanUSHERS L/U Coyne J/M Doering D/D Nixon G/G Laughman F/ML Nierzwicki L/U Coyne J/M DoeringGREETERS R/J Brown Mary Sasse David Ellies L/U Coyne K/B Unger J/J Bush Bob CutterNURSERY Misty White Tiffany Shupe Susan Krieg Pauline Caldwell Misty White Tiffany Shupe Susan KriegCRUCIFER Sarah Climis David Ellies
FLOWERS F/ML Nierzwicki L/U Coyne Carol Seaman Ruth Rives J/R Steele E/P Smith Biehn/DalekeG/G Laughman Dennis Baurle Kaye Hill Debbie Selk
BREAD/WINE L/U Coyne Marie Briddell Robin Hershberger F/ML Nierzwicki Katie Anderson Kim Filiatrault Carol SeamanCOUNCIL CO John Bush S/M Eichmiller S/M Eichmiller John Bush Eichmillers
Susan Lehr Jean Brown Betty Smith Carole Kirsch SusanLehr Charlene Braun Betty Smith
October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 November 2 November 9 November 1611:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:00 AM
DEACON Sarah Climis Lyman Hitchcock Betty Smith Marissa Tweed Betty Smith Gary Ingersoll Robin HershbergerLECTOR Betty Smith Ashley Ahlbrand Jan Ellis Carol Seaman N Montgomery Charles Sweet Stephanie BiehnACOLYTE Zach May Katcha Papesh Nina Daleke M Bourkland Nick May R Bourkland Natalie SchachtSERVER M O'Connor Carol Seaman Stephanie Biehn Sarah Climis Dean Arnold Katie Anderson Deb MooreUSHERS McDonald/Ohslund D/S Arnold Baurle/Filiatrault Hill/Owens P/L May Owens/McDonald D/S ArnoldGREETER S/M Eichmiller Deb Moore Katie Anderson J/B Smith Dennis Baurle Marie Bridell Foley FamilyNURSERY Cindy Ohslund Haley Garl Jane Warner Lauren Wright Vicki Polansky Sydney Arnold Kim FiliatraultCRUCIFER Sarah Climis Dean Arnold
5 Give Thanks for the Harvest Worship @ 8:30 & 11:00 Education Hour 9:45 LCV Workshop 12:30 Youth Group meets at 5:30 p
6 Bible study 1p Book of Faith 7 p Community Band 7:00
7 U Club Yoga 10:00 Worship Co 6:30
8 LGG 5:30 pm
9 Finance Co 6:00 pm Adult Choir rehearses 7 pm
10 11
12 Commitment Sunday Worship @ 8:30 & 11:00 Children’s Choir rehearse 9 a Education Hour 9:45 Acolyte training 12:15 New Member Class 12:15 Congregation Council 12:30
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