TIME-2010-04

APRIL—JUNE 2010

HungerPlease Pass the Audacity

HaitiQuake Cannot Shake Foundations of Faith

How - To Turn the World Upside DownMission Possible Kids Get It Done

52316_apr10_mag:Layout 1 3/29/10 2:01 PM Page 1

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

ST. LUKE’S STAFF: Kathy Alexander, Administrative Team Assistant

Jason Barnes, Director of AV/MediaDawn Bick, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry,

ElementaryBetty Brandt, Director of Spiritual Life CenterKristi Chamberlain, Childcare CoordinatorTerri Coe, Director of Adult Ministries

Marsha Coyner, Director of Joyful RhythmsLori Crantford,

Director of Communications, Marketing & DevelopmentKevin Davis, Director of Youth Ministries

Jan Emmons, FinanceSylvia Forbes, Membership & Care

Bertie Gilster, ReceptionistMary Hach, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry,

Early ChildhoodAdolf Hansen, Theologian in Residence

Leslie Hazelwood, FacilitiesKathleen Headington,

Associate Director of Youth MinistriesMartha Heinrich, IT Manager

Carol Helmus, Special Event/Wedding CoordinatorSharon Holyoak, Oasis Bookstore ManagerJulia Johnson, Executive Director of MinistriesMike Keller, Director of Wesleyan Ringers

Faina Kleyner, FinanceBeth Lammers, Building Scheduler

Erica Lampe, Benefits/Development AssistantTujuianna Lockhart, Facilities

Bobbi Main-Jackson, Director of Weekday MinistriesCharles Manning,

Assistant Director of Music MinistriesLinda McGlothlin, Adult Ministries

Bonnie McMenamin, Music Ministries AssistantJanet Miller, Children’s Ministries

DeAnna Moran, Adult Ministries RegistrarRickie Murphy, Facilities

Debra Nethercott, Director of Children’s MusicSarah Nevin, Publications Design

Jan Nichols, Coordinator of World Missions ProjectsJulie O’Connor, Administration & Celebration Team

Rich Potterf, Building & Grounds MinistryBrian Schnitz, Facilities

Mary Katherine Schnitz, Director of Care MinistriesCara Scott, ReceptionistKelly Scott, Facilities

Winnie Sibotshiwe, FacilitiesMark Squire, Director of Music Ministries

Tara-Lynne Sinicki, Director of Children’s MinistriesBen Spillman, Facilities

Alison Strawmyer, Assistant Director & Registrar,Weekday Preschool & Parent’s Day Out Program

William Taylor, FacilitiesJayne Moynahan Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries

Chris Thornsberry, Associate Director of Adult MinistriesCheryl West, Director of New Song

Adra Wheeler, Director of Hospitality & VolunteersRich Wisman, Facilities

THE GARDEN CLERGY STAFF:

Linda McCoy, Stan Abell

THE GARDEN STAFF: Troye Kinnett, Director, The Good Earth BandSteve Whipkey, Director, Oak Hill BandJudy Tolley, Administrative Team LeaderBeth Fried, Communications & Worship

Larry Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Operations Matt Peyton, Media Ministry Specialist

st. luke’s identityWe 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.

in this issue | mission | staff together in ministry everyday

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

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION STAFF: Editorial: Lori Crantford; Design: Sarah NevinCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Kathy Alexander, Betty Brandt, Kathy Dalton, Sue Fields, Erika Gibson, Natalie Harris, Jenny Hawke, Carlie Jensen, Kathy Levine, Marion Miller, Dave Miner, DeShong Perry,Megan Peterson, Beau Scott, Tricia Tomson, David Williamson, Jamalyn Peigh Williamson. CIRCULATION MANAGER: Sylvia Forbes.

NEXT T.I.M.E. DEADLINE: June 1 for July—September 2010

IN THIS ISSUE:4 Haiti11 Interfaith Hunger Initiative12 Later@St. Luke’s14 His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visit /

Community Ministries15 UMW16 Troop Support17 Endowment / Summer Splash18 Youth Ministries20 Music Ministries22 Spiritual Life Center23 Welcome New Members24 Turn the World Upside Down

4 Haiti

14 HHDL / IHI

——


Friends:

During Lent we focused on both loving God and loving our neighbor.

For the past six weeks we engaged in SPIRITUAL SPRING TRAINING where we focused attention on practicing some of the Spiritual Disciplines as we all sought to walk closer with Godin our journey through life. But we also were actively engaged in reaching out and loving ourneighbors in need. Since the first of January, the generous people of St. Luke's:

1. Gave over $55,000 to Haiti Relief efforts through a special offering. Bob and Sharon Zehralso donated the food and facilities of Oak Hill Mansion for benefit fundraiser for Haiti relief, where over $30,000 was raised.

2. Co-sponsored a Black History Month Musical celebration with Barnes United MethodistChurch to support their Community Center, which is saving lives and decreasing crime in that part of town. The musical generated over $10,000 in gifts and pledges to helpBarnes support this outreach ministry.

3. Led a food drive to bring in groceries to support five different food pantries throughout ourcity during March. We thank our United Methodist Women for this semi-annual effort, andall those who responded so generously.

I thank God for the way the people of St. Luke's follow the Great Commandment of Jesus to loveGod with our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Our church-wide theme for the next quarter is TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

When Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica in Greece they proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah andcelebrated how God had been at work in his life. The religious leaders in Thessalonica opposedPaul and Silas publicly, saying: “These people who have been turning the world upside downhave come here also.” (ACTS 17:6)

When the followers of Jesus come into a community, God uses them to turn the world upside down.

The vision of St. Luke's is that we will be so transformed by God that God will use us to trans-form the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive and Christ-like community.

During this next quarter, we will not just be looking at the activities of our congregation but atthe results of these activities. How does what we do result in a better, more compassionate worldfor all of God's children?

It is a joy to journey beside you in this quest to be God's agents in "turning the world upside down."

Grace and Peace,

Kent Millard

APRIL—JUNE from the desk

——

Senator George McGovern Speaking at St. Luke’sSt. Luke’s welcomes Senator George McGovern to St. Luke’s on Sunday, June 6. He will be speakingat all three morning worship services.

Senator McGovern was appointed in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy as the worldwide director ofthe Food for Peace program, and he remained a longtime leader in ensuring nutrition and food secu-rity as a means to fight poverty and political instability. McGovern was appointed United Nations Am-bassador on World Hunger in 2001. In 2008, he and Senator Bob Dole were named the 2008 WorldFood Prize Laureates for their work to promote school-feeding programs globally. He will speak on thetopic of world hunger while at St. Luke’s. n


haiti together in ministry everyday

What I Learned on My Haitian Vacationby Lori Crantford

On Sunday, February , I left Indianapolis bound forPort-au-Prince, Haiti, for what will end up being the mostmemorable experience of my life, outside of childbirth.

Childbirth was easier.

Maybe you watched televised coverage of the earthquakethat struck Haiti on January and its aftermath so vigi-lantly that you felt like you were there... but nothing prepares you for actually being there. I cannot stress thisenough. It’s like the difference between watching NeilArmstrong walk on the moon, and walking on the moonyourself.

Going to post-earthquake Haiti feels like going to anotherplanet. First of all, they speak another language, as in notEnglish. I really should have taken this more seriously be-fore going. The only phrase I ever managed to hang ontowas Mwen pa pale Creole, which means “I don’t speak Cre-ole.” The irony of saying this in Creole is not lost on me.

The first thing you notice is government housing, whichin this case is a good thing. Military tents had been erectednear the airport, a comforting beige neighborhood of sta-bility and order. Like having The Supernanny move intoyour chaotic home.

The quality of tents rapidly declines, while the quantityincreases. As you move into and through Port-au-Prince,you are overwhelmed by a pandemic of tent communi-ties. The mobile home parks of Haiti. While they are notas well constructed as mobile homes—substitute sticksand sheets for pre-fabbed walls and ceilings, with the occasional tin siding upgrade—they are mobile homes inthe way a feather is mobile in the wind. A stiff breeze, ahard rain, and off they go.

So first, you see the tents. Then, bit by bit, as if your mindis slowly adding elements to your mental storyboard dis-play, more images begin to sink in.

There are people everywhere. People sifting through rub-ble. People trying to sell what they find in the rubble, orwhatever they can... but the sellers far outnumber the buyers. People sitting on sidewalks, in doorways. Peopleon bikes, on foot, careening down crowded streets in carsand trucks, horns blaring. People salvaging parts fromcrushed autos lying on the sides of roads as if tossed thereby a giant bored, destructive toddler. What were oncetreasures are now trash... and then suddenly you see thetrash, which to an outsider would appear to be the Hait-ian gross national product. As if trash farmers were paidsubsidies to plant and harvest more trash, but then the exporting dried up and now they have all this trash. (Ofcourse, as Americans, we really have no room to talk.We’re just better at hiding it.)

There are other images, of course—tap taps (colorful taxisjammed to the max with passengers), livestock, starvinganimals, and remnants of life before January —store-front signs with smiling girls offering cell phone service, acity bus with the words “bling bling” merrily painted onthe back, the place where a university once stood—now apile of broken bricks and crumpled dreams. While yourmind takes all this in, through the suffocating chaos oftents and people and trash, you start to be aware of whatis no longer there. Of how much is simply GONE. Haiti isa war zone of destruction. Perhaps the vastness of it is exaggerated by the lack of structures to block your vi-sion—the landscape isopen and raw, an ocean ofdust, waves of rubble,crests of still-standingwalls. The broken andjagged remnants of build-ings are like looking insidea hockey player’s mouth—something busted here,a big gap there.

Between the teeming humanity and the vastlandscape of destruction,

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Our baggage. Thank youto everyone who

donated much-neededtents, tarps and

health kits.

One of many "tent"communities in Port-au-Prince.

Dining area inside themakeshift orphanage.

The destroyed capitol issurreal to behold.

Israel (second adultfrom the left) and his family.

——


APRIL—JUNE

Reflections from Haitiby Rev. David Williamson

This past month, a movie called “2012” was released on DVD. It’s been calledthe “mother of all disaster movies”—it’s about the end of the world, and the clipsI’ve seen show all these floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis destroying civilizationas we know it (and somehow John Cusak is navigating his family through all these natural disasters). Apparently there’s this whole thing called “The 2012 Phenomenon”—I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered it has something to dowith the end of the Mayan calendar, which some take as a prediction of the endof the world. At any rate, the movie didn’t really fare that well in American the-aters—at least it didn’t make my “must-see” list—but it apparently made its wayto as remote a place as Fondwa, Haiti.

“Will you still be living in America in 2012?” The question came from my godson, a 16-year-old boy named Yves-Marie (pronounced “Eve”-Marie). At firstI didn’t understand what he was getting at. Yes, of course I plan on living theretwo years from now. Why?

His eyes look worried. He glances down to the side, as if studying the rocks. “Because I’ve seen the movie. I know what will happen. I will pray for you.” YvesMarie is old enough to know it’s just a movie. And yet he is genuinely concerned.

I look around at where we stand. Just above us is the APF center—the guesthousewhere I once lived. Besides the school, it’s easily the largest building in theFondwa valley. It was the center, the heartbeat, of that valley. It was where im-portant meetings were held and momentous occasions were celebrated. It waswhere people came when they were sick or in need (to the clinic on the first floor);it was where people received their daily news (from the radio station housed there).And yet, like the school, it collapsed on the day of the earthquake. As Yves Marieand I talked, about fifty strong Haitians were demolishing the building by hand.

Some were pounding on the walls with sledgehammers, others were throwingrocks down to the ground below, where still yet others were shoveling the rubbleinto the back of waiting trucks. All worked in this great cloud of dust and heat.

Just behind me, across the road, were three big piles of rock, each memorializ-ing a house which once stood there. One house had belonged to Yves Marie’saunt Jesula (whose husband, Boss, was working at the school at the time of theearthquake and barely survived); another belonged to his great-uncle Ciné (wholost a foot in the earthquake and now gets around on crutches); and the finalone belonged to Yves Marie’s older brother. This was where Yves Marie had sleptprior to the earthquake. They were once all nice homes—small perhaps, but builtin block, believed at the time to the most stable and durable form of housing. Nowall three were little more than piles of rock.

there are things to be learned and shared from this crip-pled country. Has this nation been knocked down hard,pinned against the ropes? Yes. Are they bruised and bat-tered, the Rocky underdog, lightweights in a global heavy-weight competition? Absolutely. But like Rocky, Haiti willnot quit. Like Rocky, the Haitian people have a fightingspirit, a heritage of pulling themselves up and facing heavychallenges. Like Rocky, they cry out—they cry out for God,not asking where God is, but praising God and puttingtheir faith, trust and lives into God’s loving hands.

Their faith is stronger than any earthquake. It is 10.0 Richter-scale faith. And it is really quite something to witness.

I’d like to share with you a few lessons I learned (or re-learned) on my recent Haitian “vacation.” Seven days spenttraveling with Rev. David Williamson, Rev. Stan Abell, Rev.Frank Van Allen (St. Paul UMC, Bloomington, IN) andDavid Priest (volunteer videographer at Later @ St. Luke’s).

Lesson #1: Never travel with three pastors and a Priest.I really don’t think I need to elaborate.

Lesson #2: Hospitality and grace have nothing to dowith abundance.

Because we knew it would be important not to leave ourfootprint, so to speak, on Haiti, we took our own food and

——


So back to Yves Marie. All this—the APF center, the houses, thescenery of dust and destruction—registered in a second, while his ex-pression of concern still lingered in the air. On the one hand, it feelsdeeply ironic, that this boy who has lost and endured so much shouldbe worried about me, an American who lives a life of relative ease. Butthere’s something also tragic about his concern, because it occurs tome that, post-earthquake, the idea of the world coming to an end doesn’t seem like such a strange possibility for this young man.

My wife, Jamalyn, had been in Haiti at the time of the earthquake.She’d been standing just above the orphanage when she felt the groundmoving beneath her “like someone had just grabbed the corner of theearth and was whipping it up and down like a sheet.” She watched asthe children ran out of the building below like they’d “been shot outof a cannon,” and she tried to herd them all up to safety on the roadabove. Every child, she remembers, was shouting, “Jezi! Jezi!” They

truly believed that Jesus had returned. When one child asked her pointblank if Jesus had returned, Jamalyn replied in half-seriousness: “Idon’t know if Jesus is here, but if he is, he can find us up on the road!”

When the dust settled, it turned out that Jesus hadn’t come, that theworld had not in fact come to an end. But I imagine it continues to feelthat way for the people of Fondwa. My visit was a full six weeks afterthe earthquake, and people still talked about everything that was lost.Look at our community center, they said. Look at the school. Look atour churches. Look at our homes. All these beautiful things, broken.That’s the word they use—kraze—as if their homes and churches werelike fine vases that someone took and shattered on the ground. Broken.

And now, in place of these beautiful things, the conditions they arenow living in are just plain ugly. That’s what struck me on the ride outto Fondwa from the airport. It wasn’t the trash, or the crowds, or eventhe broken-down buildings. The first two I’d experienced plenty on priortrips through Port-au-Prince, and the third I’d seen on TV plenty thepast month. It was the tent villages (and “tent” is a generous word in this instance) that got me. The military camps were neatly ordered—those who lived there were the lucky ones. But the further wegot out from the airport, the fewer and far-between those military campsbecame, and in their place we saw the saddest collection of tentsyou’ve ever seen. The “good” ones were pasted together with tin and

cardboard and scraps of plywood. The bad ones were nothing morethan a skeleton-frame made of sticks no wider than my forearms, withbed sheets stretched across from the corners. They looked more likeovergrown box kites than anything else, and you wondered what wouldhappen when a stiff breeze came along.

We drove by these “villages,” all teeming with people—older men sitting in the openings, children running up and down through the nar-row spaces between huts, women taking the laundry down to the nearbystream to wash in the muddy water—and we wondered what life waslike for them. Then we arrived in Fondwa and got a close-up look atwhat life was like in such a place.

Not that the conditions in Fondwa were quite as bad—not at all. Thesisters, as usual, were doing the very best they could with meager resources. In the week following the earthquake, the sisters had landed

upon a former tree nursery as their new living site. They chose this sitebecause of the existence of shade trees (which used to protect the treesaplings but now provide some measure of cover for the children) andbecause of the surrounding fence, which they feel gives them somemeasure of security in the evenings (when they seem to feel the mostvulnerable). They cleaned out the chicken coop below and used that tostore all the things which they’d salvaged from the fallen school andguesthouse. They attached tin to the chain link fence in order to make"walls" which do a surprisingly good job at blocking the winds. Andthey’ve paid local carpenters to build a giant structure over the rest ofthe nursery using traditional Haitian materials—stripped "dogwood"trees (different from our dogwood trees, but a very hard and durabletree that grows reasonably straight) and corrugated tin. At the time ofour visit they'd covered about half the nursery in this way, while theother half was still covered with a patchwork of tarps.

The sisters moved the entire orphanage up into this nursery, and theyalso took in the surrounding neighbors (like Yves Marie) whose homeswere destroyed. All in all you have about 80 people living in a prettytight area—I'd guess somewhere around 5,000-6,000 square feet, although I never officially paced it off. In the evening, they roll out car-pet they salvaged from the guesthouse so that the children don’t haveto sleep on the bare ground. Even still, the carpet is tough to keepclean, and most of the mats that the children are sleeping on havebeen ruined by the dirt and mud.


——


HAITIAN VACATION, cont’d from page 5

filters to pump and clean our own water. When you go to acountry like Haiti, even before the earthquake, you do notwant to impose yourself on people who have so little bycomparison. Also, there can be some attendant health risks(which is why I took to saying, “Why is it that when otherpeople get out their passports, they get to learn Italian, andevery time I get mine out, I get a typhoid shot?”). So wecame to Haiti with our little provisions of peanut butter andnuts, dried fruit and protein bars, Jolly Ranchers and freeze-dried Neopolitan ice cream (every bit as yummy as itsounds). We were self-sufficient, a burden to no one.

Turns out we didn’t get the hospitality memo. If we had, wewould have known that no one in Haiti was going to let ussimply feed ourselves. You see, we were their guests. It did

not matter to the sisters who run the orphanage in Fondwathat they were now living on dirt floors with tin siding formakeshift walls, sheets and tarps for flimsy ceilings. It wastheir home, for now, and they were our hosts. Breakfast andlunch (or if we were out visiting, then dinner) were preparedfor us every day. Rice and beans, of course, but also deliciousfried plantains, okra, vegetable soup, eggs, chicken, fresh-ripened bananas.

This hospitality extended throughout the community. People whose homes had been destroyed and were nowsometimes two and three families living together in onesmall house would invite us in for coffee (not at all likeAmerican coffee unless you happen to add maybe molassesand a quarter cup of sugar to yours), hot cocoa, yams, somekind of fried dough (which a very lucky kitten near my chairwas happy to take off my hands) and more chicken. I haveto tell you, as a vegetarian, if someone could have verifiedfor me that the chicken on the platter was the one crowingat , I would have eaten it and not had second thoughts.Just seconds.

We were even treated to coconuts, picked right off the treefor us. While the coconut “milk” did not rank high on ourlists (think watered-down pina colada without the kick orlittle umbrella), the delicacy of fresh coconut meat made my all-time list of good eats. Plus, when was the last time acoconut woke anyone up in the middle of the night?

In the midst of poverty and hard times, even by Haitianstandards, we were fed, welcomed, not seen as a burden butas honored guests. They didn’t give because it was easy. Theygave because their hearts were full. As Dave Duba (St. Luke’sWorld Missions chair) wrote to us when he learned of ourastonishment in the face of this unexpected generosity:“Welcome to Haiti.”

Lesson #3: Earthquakes crush buildings, not dreams.

For those who lost loved ones in the earthquake, many dreamswere also buried in the rubble. But the vast majority of people we met still have big hopes for their futures. Dreamsof obtaining a college education are on hold, not terminated.Schools and homes will be rebuilt. Jobs will return.

While their spirits and theirfaith were not broken likeso many of their bones, theyknow the road ahead is longand difficult. Israel, a friend of the Williamsons, is a well-spoken young man who was attending university in Port-au-Prince. He was at the home of his older brother whenthe earthquake came and, as he put it, “My brother’s housebroke.” Israel, his sister Claudina (who taught first grade inthe Fondwa school that was destroyed), his brother, sister-in-law and their children all now live in the small rural homeof their parents. It sits high up the mountainside, about a-minute leisurely uphill hike from Fondwa. As we walkedback down the mountain after our visit with this lovely fam-ily, we came upon children who had fashioned kites out ofplastic bags and sticks. The sight of these children laughingand their soaring kites reminded me to ask Israel a questionthat had been nagging me since our arrival. “The childrenseem so happy,” I said. “How are they able to be so happy?”Israel looked at me with serious eyes. “Because they arefree,” he replied, pointing to his head. “They are free in theirminds. I am not free in my mind.”

The weight of those fallen bricks and stones is with theHaitians, but it has not crushed them. They get up every dayand start again the work of clearing, hauling, finding a wayto rebuild their dreams.

——

APRIL—JUNE

LEFT TO RIGHT:

A street scene in Port-au-Prince.

The remnants of theAPF center.

Ciné oversees the demo-lition of the APF center.

Boss talks to Davidabout his experiencesduring and after theearthquake.

Taking barrels for waterup the mountain.

Market day in Tombe-Gateau.

Come back home and tryto find something to complain about. Eventuallyyou’ll start to complainagain, but never as much. It just doesn’t seem sportsmanlike any more.

~



REFLECTIONS, cont’d from page 6

There was a fierce storm the first night we were there. Not too muchrain, but an incredibly strong wind that lasted through the night. Mid-way through the night, I exited the tent just to see what it looked like.The wind would gust up, and the tents we were sleeping in would laydown flat. But as soon as the wind let up, they’d pop up again likemagic. I thanked God for good old American construction (but thenagain, maybe the tents were made in China). Either way, I was pleas-antly surprised that they made it through the night.

The tarps over the orphanage, though, didn’t. Some of the knots tyingthe tarps to the trees came loose and so the tarps whipped and wavedand crackled all night long. I wondered how any one of the children orneighbors could sleep underneath all that noise. Turns out they didn’t.Early in the night a particularly strong gust of wind ripped off part ofthe tin roof. Most of the children and adults stayed standing all nightlong. They were afraid to lie down and have something fall on them.Just for good measure, we experienced two small aftershocks in themiddle of the night, too. A strange feeling, to feel 1,000+ feet of rocktrembling beneath your sleeping body.

Then the morning came, and we emerged from our tents into the graylight which somehow brought the comfort that another day was start-ing, that life had not ended. We watched as some of the childrenstarted their chores—fetching water, cleaning dishes, etc—while thekitchen workers set up a make-shift kitchen (the tin enclosure they’dused the day before had blown away) and started making breakfast tofeed us and all the children. We entered the enclosure, and the sistershad cleared away the carpet in the front room and set up chairs for amini church service. The dining room table was now transformed into

an altar. A young man began playing a softbeat upon his drums, and the sisters fell inwith their singing. The children gathered offto the side. Mass was about to begin.

In a place like this, the very act of worship isin itself an act of resistance. The Haitiansknow their situation is dire, they’ve witnessedthe loss of everything they’ve built for thepast 20 years, and yet they refuse to havetheir spirits broken. They still praise God forlife, and they still understand (maybe nowmore than ever before) that they depend uponGod’s provision for daily living. When theHaitians say the Lord’s prayer—“Give us todayour daily bread”—the line has particularforce and meaning.

The Scripture reading for the day is an unusual one—from the Old Tes-tament, we read the story of Jonah, and then from the Gospels we readhow Jesus told his critics that no sign would be given to them exceptthe “sign of Jonah” (MATTHEW 12:38-42). Not exactly the kind of scrip-ture I would’ve chosen—it seems to talk about judgment more thanhope. But in Father Joseph’s hands, it turned out to be a wonderful se-lection. Certainly, he says, things look like we’re in the “belly of thewhale.” It’s dark, and you might think that we’re without hope. Butthere were still, Father Joseph insisted, “signs of life” all around.

That ultimately became my mantra for the week—looking for thosesigns of life. We saw it in worship, in the humble faith of those gath-ered to receive the Eucharist. In the children who played games withbroken-down wheelbarrows and made kites out of bits of string andplastic. In the neighbors who received us with open arms and alwaysoffered coconut or coffee or whatever they had. In the workers whowere clearing the way for the buildings to come. Or, perhaps my fa-vorite, in the birth of a new little child during our second night there.The mother had come to the clinic in the middle of the night, in themidst of a painful labor, and the sisters made special efforts to get herto a hospital. The next day, the mother and child returned to the en-campment, and they stayed with us until the sisters could help get herback on her feet. Every time I saw that new mother, tenderly watchingand holding her child, I was filled with hope.

Truly, life continues on. And as I witnessed those signs of life, I was re-minded that homes will be rebuilt, that schools will be reopened, thatthese children will have a future. And here’s the thing Father Josephsaid that hit home that morning: He told us Americans that for them,

we were also “signs of life”—a sign that the outside world still cares,that our aid will not stop until those homes are rebuilt and schools re-opened and “normal life reclaimed.” It’s a humbling thing, to becalled a sign of life. But Sister Carmelle echoed the sentiment:“When I see you,” she said, “I don’t see just you, but I see also thefamilies and churches that you represent. So when I say thank you,I’m speaking through you to them.”

So back to Yves Marie. Here’s this young boy, whose home and schoolhave been destroyed. And he’s saying—in full sincerity—that he willhold me in his prayers. Oh, that I might do the same, Yves Marie. Ifonly all of us would, and so become the “signs of life” that Christ callsus to be. n

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Wilkens recuperates athis parents' home.

Inside the temporary orphanage.

Haitian field prep.

Washing dishes.

Tin siding of the orphanage.

——

She watched as the childrenran out of the buildingbelow like they’d “been shotout of a cannon,” and shetried to herd them all up tosafety on the road above.



Lesson #4: Calling chickens is fun!

At Israel’s house, they taught me to call chickens. It was the most funI’ve had in ages. Look for me at the State Fair this summer.

Lesson #5: Complaining is overrated.

Try this: go live in an underdeveloped nation for a week. Leave everyoneyou love at home. Sleep on the ground while a radio plays Celine Dionor salsa music all night, and did I mention the chatty roosters? Have noaccess to any type of indoor plumbing. Dream of port-a-potties. Havea conversation with a smiling amputee. Sit in a -degree airport ter-minal with other people and only two coolers of water for everyonefor five hours. Come back home and try to find something to complainabout. Eventually you’ll start to complain again, but never as much. Itjust doesn’t seem sportsmanlike any more.

Lesson #6: Small people do big things.

Probably the most powerful story we heard while there came from thesoft-spoken Wilkens. A student who hopes to one day get his master’sin human resource development, Wilkens sat on the porch of his par-ents’ home in the mountains and quietly shared his story. He and ateacher were at the university in Port-au-Prince when the earthquakehit. They were immediately buried under the rubble; Wilkens’ rightankle was pinned, and heavy stone lay on top of him. They began to cryout for help. Within a few hours, someone was able to extract theteacher but they were unable to free Wilkens. They promised to return,but hours passed and no one came back. Wilkens spent all of Tuesday

night trapped—calling for help, crying, praying. On Wednesday, astranger appeared—“a thin woman” is how Wilkens described her. Shehad heard Wilkens crying and came to help. When he saw how thin andsmall she was—and a woman to boot—he did not think she would beable to free him. Determined, she worked to shift and move the heavy

pieces of stone imprisoning Wilkens, until finally, arms raised over hishead, she was able to pull him free. As he gathered himself and lookedup to thank her, she was gone. He does not know her name. He doesnot believe he will ever see her again. He believes that God sent an angelin the form of a small, thin woman to rescue him.

As we were preparing to leave Fondwa, I was carrying my backpack anda suitcase down the hill to the van when I realized that I was only car-rying my backpack. Remy, a precocious little imp from the orphanage,had come up beside me, slipped the suitcase out of my hand and wasnow marching next to me, the suitcase perched Haitian-style on top ofhis head. Remy is probably four feet tall. Maybe if you never tell anyonethey’re too little to do big things, it will never occur to them not to try.Maybe angels have dancing eyes and a killer hug like Remy, strong willsand a compassionate heart like Wilkens’ rescuer.

Lesson #7: Big problems have small solutions.

I won’t sugarcoat it here. It’s easy to feel hopeless in Haiti. You could geton a plane back to the States, shake your head and declare the situationto be—to use a highly technical term—toast.

While the situation in Haiti is heartbreaking, it is not hopeless. TheHaitian people understand their plight, and yet they have hope. Life hasnever been easy for most of them and while they have been struck amagnificent blow, they are not defeated. They are resourceful, resilientand proud. Their history has prepared them to fight for their country.But they do need help, and for a long time to come.

I started thinking of the situation in Haiti in terms of gettingmy sons to clean their room. Telling them to tackle a roomankle-deep in clean and dirty clothes, littered with pencils,candy wrappers, papers—a microscopic Haiti if you will, sansgoats—would only produce a deer-caught-in-the headlightsgaze on their faces. They were frozen, unable to comprehendwhat to do first. But if I guided them to start with their desk, orwork on this little corner here, then little by little they were ableto achieve the desired goal.

If you stand back and look at all of Haiti, it produces the samekind of paralysis. So much to do, so many problems, where to

start? The thing is, we each have to start small, and then big things willeventually happen as we all pull together. As a community, as a nation,as a world.

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APRIL—JUNE



I talked with the brother of a good friend the other day about the increasinglevel of hunger in this country and around the world. “When will we see theday,” I asked, “that everyone who is willing to work and work hard can feedtheir own family?” My companion expressed his belief that this has never hap-pened in the past and will never happen in the future.

As the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday approached, I was reminded of this quotefrom his Nobel Prize acceptance speech:

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a dayfor their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, andfreedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down,other-centered men can build up.

I responded to my companion’s sentiment with the observation that over thelast three decades we have had enough food to feed everyone. This is the firsttime in the history of the world that there is enough food to feed everyone.This was never the case before.

At Interfaith Hunger Initiative we are working together to see that all are fedfrom this bounty. We have the audacity to believe it can be done now and in our town.

Over the last two decades, two major economic powers of the world—Chinaand Brazil—among others, have made dramatic progress towards endinghunger in their countries. They set out very intentionally to do it. They hadthe audacity.

And once all are fed, maybe then we can also find ways that everyone can feedtheir own families. Will we have the audacity?

Having the Audacityby Dave Miner


My aunt Sue is years old and has lived in Haiti for years.For the past two years, she has lived on her own caring fororphans who are either pending adoption or who are un-adoptable (due to lack of birth certificates). We were ableto stay with my aunt on our last night in Haiti. Besides nowbeing my favorite relative due to her house having indoorplumbing, my aunt—like the sisters who run the orphan-age in Fondwa, like Dr. Marie Rene at the Haitian Academy (a long-time mission of St. Luke’s)—is changingher little corner of Haiti one child at a time.

Whether the work in Haiti speaks to you, or in Africa orHonduras, the Appalachian mountains or a food pantry inIndianapolis, the biggest lesson we all can learn is that ouractions matter. I think maybe every article Kay Walla (St.Luke’s World Missions volunteer extraordinaire) has everwritten about mission work includes that saying “To theworld you may be one person, but to one person you maybe the world.” It’s really true. Kay would never lie.

There’s a song on my iPod by Train entitled “Calling All Angels.” I’ve been listening to this song for years but when I heard it after I got back from Haiti, the words reallystruck me:

I need a sign to let me know you're hereAll of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphereI need to know that things are gonna look up'Cause I feel us drowning in a sea spilled from a cup

When there is no place safe and no safe place to put my headWhen you feel the world shake from the words that are said

And I'm calling all angelsI'm calling all you angels

I won't give up if you don’t give upI won’t give up if you don’t give up

I need a sign to let me know you're here'Cause my TV set just keeps it all from being clearI want a reason for the way things have to beI need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me

And I'm calling all angelsI'm calling all you angels

I won't give up if you don’t give upI won’t give up if you don’t give up

The people of Haiti are not giving up. And we shouldn’tgive up on them. We have a lot to teach each other.

And that’s what I learned on my Haitian vacation. n

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My Friends Went to Haiti and All I Got Was This Great T-Shirt...

Here’s one small, innovative way to helpHaiti. St. Luke’s member Mike Markerand his business partner Jeremy Chas-tain, owners of Bring the Hope, havecreated “Bring the Hope to Haiti” t-shirts—100% of the proceeds of eacht-shirt sold will be donated to the orphanage in Fondwa that the William-sons are affiliated with. Bring the Hopewas launched in March 2009 with onegoal in mind: to bring a little optimismto the world. They believe that if morepeople wear apparel with messages of

hope or optimism, that people will see it and think about it, and it maycause them to do something about it. So far they have supported causes likeKidsFirst Foundation, Folds of Honor Foundation and St. Jude Children’sResearch Hospital. n

For more information on Bring the Hope, visit their website atwww.bringthehope.com. You can order the Haiti shirts there

($15), as well as others.


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APRIL—JUNE feeding the hungry

2009 IHI Report CardIn the ‘busy-ness’ of our daily journey we can lose sight of the ground wehave covered. The following is a report on what generous congregationsand individuals have made happen in , the first year of operation ofthe Interfaith Hunger Initiative.

Awareness and Engagement—Raising awareness and engagement is key toending hunger. Attracting new congregations to IHI builds the movement.We had nine new congregations participate with us in —Christ theKing Catholic, First Baptist Cumberland, First Baptist North Indianapolis,Friedens UCC, Holy Cross, Indiana Buddhist Center, Islamic Society ofNorth America, St Mark’s in Plainfield, and Trinity Church. Welcome to all!

Our Un Lunch featured more than two dozen faith leaders repre-senting twenty widely varying congregations and attracted two televisionspots. Collections in multiple individual congregations raised over,. A joint St Luke’s/Beth El Zedeck production of “Fiddler on theRoof” raised . The five Thanksgiving services, including three newones around the city, connected us with lots of new folks. Collections atthe five services raised another .

Feeding the Hungry in Indianapolis—In coming together we are making abigger difference than we could alone. We are feeding the hungry. We arechanging the systems.

With IHI financial backing the number of Pantry Partners through Glean-ers grew from zero to seven during the year. These Pantry Partners providethe hungry more ready access to food. Our $55,000 helped these pantriesprocure a remarkable 450,000 lbs (225 tons !) of food in 2009.

Feeding the Hungry in Kenya—Partnering with Umoja’s interfaith efforts,over 2000 vulnerable children in Kenya received a life-giving lunch everyday in school. The gift to these children is so much more than a meal—many are AIDS orphans and from child-headed households and would not be able to attend school at all without the meal. Our , also sup-ported efforts to move the schools towards self sufficiency!

Changing the Systems—IHI was a key contributor to the startup of a new collaboration among the major food providers in our city—the Indianapolis Food Resource Network which held its inaugural event October 16, 2009 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

In the area of advocacy, six IHI congregations spoke up for the hungry viaa letter-writing campaign to our representatives and senators, an ‘Offer-ing of Letters’, asking them to improve the efficiency and effectiveness ofour development assistance.

It Takes a Community—In addition to the more than two dozen congrega-tions that have been engaged in IHI in various ways, several other organizations have been essential to our success. The obvious ones are ourpartners Gleaners and the Global Interfaith Partnership who run Umoja.

Less visible but equally important are the church Federation of GreaterIndianapolis who helped form IHI and provide ongoing support, PacersSports and Entertainment, Pearson Partners, Print Resources, ChurchWorld Service, the Indianapolis Archdiocese, the International InterfaithInitiative, and area Boy Scouts.

Final Thoughts—Over the past year I met many wonderful people from avariety of faiths and churches, including traditions about which I previ-ously knew little. From their different faiths they felt a common sense ofcall to feed the hungry. They are coming together to end hunger, andbuilding bridges of understanding across our diverse community in theprocess. Praise to the almighty. n

Dave MinerVolunteer Executive Director, Interfaith Hunger Initiative

Moments from last fall’s Un-Lunch Hour at Monument Circie


later@st. luke’s together in ministry everyday

Sunday evenings around Later@St. Luke’s is buzzing since we introduced achartered program to the Midwest called Mission Possible Kids (MP Kids).No doubt, they can turn the world upside down!

This program originated out of Plano, Texas at Christ United MethodistChurch in . Its goal was simple—to empower kids to change the worldthrough missions. Introduced to the program while living in Texas, CathyRobinson, daughter Kennedy and son Riley became deeplyinvolved. Upon relocating back to Indianapolis, they broughtwith them much enthusiasm and passion as a result of theirinvolvement. Looking for a “multicultural” church home,they found Later@St. Luke’s United MethodistChurch. A few weeks later the program waslaunched.

Since the launch in December , boys and girlsinvolved in the program have touched over

lives. According to Agent Coordinator Cathy Robin-son, she believes that by starting early in life andembracing the philosophy of caring for others,these MP Kids will lay down the foundation for a lifeof caring actions, and that the ripple effect canchange the world one small act at a time.

Every Sunday evening at -, the MP Kids listento spy music to hear the next “top secret mission”from Agent Coordinator Cathy Robinson.

Then, they're off. Their first top-secret mission was supporting the Chil-dren’s Ministry with the Mitten Tree mission project during Christmas.Then they made over Bandana Buddies for the Orphan Outreach inHonduras and Russia. Our kids made over Busy Bags for the childrenin Romania and Moldova and, locally, for the Julian Center and CoburnPlace. Next they made over Valentine Cards for vets in Iraq; and for theDay Springs Shelter, where they took their first mission field trip on Valen-tine’s Sunday. Over kids plus supporting parents were in attendance.

These little hands have also touched Iraq, Africa, South Dakota and Haitiwith Eye Glasses and Sweet Sleep Pillows. When the earthquake struck in

Haiti, they wanted to help even more. So these special agents accepted the“top secret mission” of making comfort blankets for their little Haiti sisters and brothers. Thanks to St. Luke’s World Missions who funded theproject, blankets are now on their way to keep little children in Haiti warm.Also for Haiti, they have engaged with World Missions and the ChangingFootprints Organization to collect clean, gently used or new shoes forHaiti. Covered collection bins have been made available in various hall-

ways around the church.

For them, it's all about creating that intangiblecalled PEACE, something it seems we adults have

a hard time grasping when everythingaround us is described as a fight. But, I am convinced that these kidsreally know what peace is: "Love andno violence.''

Cathy Robinson reports, "Everyonegets along, and everyone is happy.''And Agent Handler Peggy Meyer says, "Help people even if you don'tknow them.''

But is it really that simple?

It is for these kids, who meet once aweek thinking they can change the

world—they are actually turning the world upside down! These kids,Grades 1 through 5, experience the unique opportunity of learning howto do mission and ministry at an early age. Parents are saying this is themost exciting activity we have seen in decades for our children. The concept is brilliant!

Later@St. Luke’s continues to collaborate with World Missions, Children’sMinistry and the Indiana United Methodist Conference Mission and Advocacy Associate Director to make this program the best it can possi-bly be. As a result of this collaborative effort, we currently have over

kids registered. These special agents have relocated their group twice inthe building due to growth in size; and they are well on their way to a third

Mission Possible Kids: “Turn the World Upside Down”by Dr. Marion Miller

—1—


ABOVE AND LEFT: MP Kids having fun, makingblankets, and praying together

RIGHT: Participants in A Girl’s Gift, Inc.

APRIL—JUNE partnerships

It is easy to catch the excitement andanticipation between the partnership ofLater@St. Luke’s and A Girl’s Gift, Inc.

This awesome mentoring program focuses on girls in grades 5 through8. So many pre-teen girls grow upwithout giving success a chance. Theylook at the positive images of pol-ished, professional women on TV, butnever mentally see themselves in thepicture. This newly formed non-profit organization is dedicated to introducinggirls to positive female role models, and improving the quality of their lives.

There are currently over 35 girls in the program going through workshops thattarget topics ranging from study habits and self esteem to financial literacy, online safety and community service. These girls will be equipped with the tools,resources and mentors they need during this highly susceptible age. The goal is

for girls to feel confident about who they are and what they canachieve, and at the same time be able to look in the mirror ofsuccess and see their own faces smiling back!

A Girl’s Gift Inc. will provide positive female role models andstrong support structures to motivate pre-teen and teenage girlswho are ready to explore who they are and discover their com-munity at large. The mentors—all Indy-area professionalwomen—will share personal experiences and pearls of wisdom,as well as their many years of experience.

Through collaborations with supporting organizations like Later@St. Luke’s, theywill make great strides in reaching girls from all walks of life. We invite you to bea part of the village it takes to raise and save a child.

The program structure enhances self-esteem and build confidence and leadershipskills of pre-teen girls. The goal is to address these issues, while the girls are stillyoung, in order to avoid many of the pitfalls that teenage girls and young womenface. Later@St. Luke’s partnership will also provide three key workshop speakers:Nan Schulte Russell (Lily Scientist), LoriLee Andrews (Artist) and Meribeth Hoff-man (Knitting). n

If you are interested in being a part of this worthwhile program, please contactDeShong Perry-Smitherman ([email protected]) or Ericka Gibson ([email protected]) who are participants of the Later@St. Luke’s community. Also, feelfree to visit Girls Gift, Inc. at www.agirlsgift.org.

A Girl’s Gift, Inc.by DeShong Perry and Ericka Gibson, Executive Directors

campus location. Apparently, the need is great!

All you have to do is listen to the prayers of the little chil-dren as they pray over each finished project. All of thelaughing, giggling and cookie-grabbing kids of earlyevening, take on a serious look of pride on what they haveaccomplished. When they prayed over the completed proj-ects for Haiti and South Dakota, you heard these words,“Dear God, please bless these blankets for the children inHaiti that need them. When they sleep under them, letthem know that someone in Indianapolis cares.” And another child said, “Dear God, we worked hard on theseblankets. Please see that they get safely to those that need them.”

What I like most about this program is that the specialagent theme makes it all fun. And for each mission theycomplete, the children earn a star that they wear on theirbright lime green T-shirt. As theycollect stars, they rise in the agentsranks and get new titles. Promo-tional ceremonies are held at theLater@St. Luke’s worship servicesopen to the public. It isn’t all work,however. There are games includedin the program, like a form of“Simon Says” that involves secret-agent type actions, such as creeping,dropping, about face, etc., that can only be done when pre-ceded by “Headquarters Says...”

Our children have already touched so many lives. Can youimagine what that number will be in a year or two? We areso thankful for Cathy Robinson, her team of agent han-dlers and youth associates, as well as supporting parentswho help to round out a cohesive team. What an impactthey are having with our children as they touch livesaround the world.

Mission Possible Kids are always looking for top secretagents. Our program is on the same calendar year as theChildren’s Ministry program, so we only have a fewmonths left before summer break. So come join up withus as we find out our next “top secret mission.”

LaKisha Reed, Associate Director of Mission and Advocacy,is extremely interested in this program making its way intoother churches throughout the Indiana Conference. Youcan learn more about MPKids at the national websitewww.mpkids.org. Or, if you want to register your child inthis program, contact Cathy Robinson at [email protected]. Also available and supporting the efforts ofthis program are Jamalyn Williamson, Associate Pastor of Children’s Ministries; Jan Nichols, World Missions Coordinator; and Dr. Marion Miller, Pastor of Later@St. Luke’s. n

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Codi Perry and Diana Dewberry


turning the world upside down | partnerships together in ministry everyday

Rita Novak, a retired teacher from Batesville, IN, comes weekly to Fox HillElementary for a third grade Book Club. Mrs. Novak spends one lunchhour per week with several students from Mrs. Erin Cecil’s classroom.The students who participate have advanced reading levels, and benefitfrom the challenge of reading quality literature beyond grade-level text.Research shows that the best way for students to increase their vocabularyand reading level is by reading for pleasure and information.

All the children read The Enormous EGG by Oliver Butterworth. NateTwitchell is surprised when one of the hens on his family’s farm lays agiant egg. The mystery deepens when the egg hatches and it is a babytriceratops instead of a chick. The baby dinosaur is named Uncle Beazley.The news spreads and reporters arrive to see Uncle Beazley and interviewNate’s family. The family quickly realizes that they cannot care for UncleBeazley so with help from a scientist friend, Nate and the dinosaur headto the National Museum in Washington D.C. That is when the real trou-ble begins!!

The Enormous EGG was originally published in , and is a classic inchildren’s literature.

Besides reading and discussing this literature, Mrs. Novak is helping thechildren to write limericks about monsters. Each child chooses a letter ofthe alphabet and creates a monster with a name that starts with that let-ter; for example—Squeezy Steve sneezes on the silly Steelers. Mrs. Novakwill help the children create a prototype of his/her monster with everydayart supplies and materials. The children were also impressed with Mrs.Novak’s laptop on which she created a dictionary of all the new wordsthey encountered while reading The Enormous EGG.

The children love the lunchtime Book Club and are looking forward to thenext book, Charlotte’s Web. Here are some of their comments:

ROSEMARY:We get to eat with our friends, and we get to read a great book.

SHEREE:We read more difficult books. I enjoy being in a small group. Wefeel like grown-ups in the conference room.

JOAQUIN: It is peaceful in our group, and I am learning new words.

Lunchtime Book Club earns an A+! n

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Rita Novak is not a St. Luke’smember, but is the neighbor of Jayne Thorne, St.Luke’s Director of Outreach Ministries. Jayneshared with Rita about the St. Luke’s/Fox Hill partnership, and Rita excitedly asked if she couldparticipate—she loved the idea of a church/schoolpartnership. Obviously her participation is makinga big difference. It only takes one person to turn theworld upside down—if you would like to be one ofthose people at Fox Hill Elementary, see the Com-munion Monthly or visit www.stlukesumc.com(visit the school partnership page) to find out howyou can get involved.]

The Enormous EGG for LUNCHby Kathy Levine, Fox Hill Principal

On Friday, May 14 at 9:30AM, Indianapolis has the distinct honor to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a public talk at Conseco Fieldhouse. The program, expectedto draw an audience from around the globe, will be hosted by the Interfaith Hunger Ini-tiative (IHI), the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (TMBCC) of Bloomington,and the Indianapolis-based Indiana Buddhist Center (IBC), forging a new partnershipamong organizations whose mission of community outreach and service is universal. Thetitle of the talk, “Facing Challenges with Compassion and Wisdom,” reflects the coremission of these groups as well as speaking directly to issues central to today’s world.

Long-time friend, board member of the TMBCC and Bloomington resident Elaine Mel-lencamp serves as spokeswoman for the visit. “We are eager to welcome His Holiness toIndiana once again,’ she stated. “His prior visits have been a source of true inspirationfor so many people who will have another opportunity to hear him speak.”

Formed in Indianapolis in 2008, the Interfaith Hunger Initiative is comprised of Indi-anapolis-area congregations of many faiths. They come together to help end hunger forchildren and families by changing food-access systems and creating opportunities tofeed more people together than they could alone. Dr. Kent Millard serves as President ofIHI. “The Indianapolis Interfaith Hunger Initiative is honored to be one of the sponsor-

ing organizations of the Public Talk to be given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Conseco Fri-day, May 14,” Dr. Millard said. “His Holiness will speak about wisdom and compassion. Weexpress compassion when we feed the hungry around us and in other nations, and we express

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APRIL—JUNE umw

Every month, children at the United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon, Indiana have a reason to celebrate - the arrival of the monthly “party box” preparedby St. Luke’s United Methodist Women. The party boxes hold treats not typicallyavailable at the Home: books, movies, magazines, soft drinks, pizzas, chips andrewards for the children to help them celebrate positive behaviors and remindthem that others are thinking about them and praying for their success.

Mary Magdalene Circle stepped outside the box last fall and decided to hand craftindividual fabric bags, about the size of a Bible, for each child. Since Mary Mag-dalene Circle is traditionally known as the working women’s circle, with not awhole lot of time to devote to crafts, this was quite an undertaking! With the helpof a couple of our “craftier” members, who devoted numerous hours on the sewingmachines, the project was completed on time. The children loved their new hand-made, specially crafted bags (not to mention the popcorn and soda inside!). Theboys especially appreciated the “manly” fabrics carefully selected for them. Whenthey graduate from the Home, they can take this bag with them as a reminder ofthe love and concern St. Luke’s women have for them.

Mary Magdalene Circle was formed to fill the need for an evening circle for work-ing women. Over the years, it has evolved to include women of all ages & workingstatus. These ladies are involved annually in all UMW events, including the semi-

annual Rummage Sales, the Holiday Bazaar, Bake Day, retreats, food pantry col-lections, and Race for the Cure. MMC members hold several positions on the UMW Board.

You know the old saying, “If you need something done, ask a busy person.” Thisis where Mary Magdalene Circle steps in every time.

Join us at any time. Our monthly meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of each monthat 7PM in members’ homes. Watch the Communion Monthly for our meeting locations & topics. n

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Kathy Dalton and Gladys Thompson show off the finished product.

Mary Magdalene Circle members peeling apples for pies on Bake Day. Rita Burroughs, Kathie Clemenz & Paula Elam.

Elizabeth Keller, Kathy Dalton, and Lori Schick working on bags for children atthe United Methodist Children's Home.

LEFT: Fox Hill Lunchtime Book Club

Mary Magdalene Circle Gets Craftyby Kathy Dalton

wisdom when we work together across religious lines tomore effectively care for families and children in need.”

Tickets for the Indianapolis event are available at theConseco box office or at area Ticketmaster locations.General admission tickets are $25; student tickets are$15. Additional information may be obtained at www.interfaithhungerinitiative.org and www.consecofield-house.com.

Half of the proceeds of this event will go to the Inter-faith Hunger Initiative to help end hunger for childrenand families. n

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A Heartfelt Thank Youby Kathy Alexander and Sue Fields

On a typically “normal” day my phonerings, and I answer. It’s my son, Tony. “Hi,Mom, I’m being deployed.” My typically“normal” day turned into the beginningof a journey into worry, fear and pride.

Sue Fields received a similar phone callfrom her grandson. He was returning toIraq for the second time.

These phone calls happen daily all over the country; theonly difference is this time they had happened to us. Asthe two of us talked and shared our worries, we started tothink that as large as St. Luke’s is there have to be morefamilies affected by this than just us... and so we beganthe “Military Support” program.

Our idea was to have a display board for pictures of fam-ily members active in the military and “pray for ourtroops” bracelets. Then a call came from the USO askingif we would adopt a deployed unit for Christmas. MaryKatherine Schnitz, Director of Care Ministries, took thecall and true to form responded, “Of course we will.” Thethree of us crossed our fingers, said a prayer and embarked on the Christmas box project. Boxes were ordered, labels were made, supplies were gathered, andthen the call went out. A simple announcement in thebulletin. The crowds gathered at our table on that Sundaymorning. Once again the St. Luke’s congregation opened

their hearts to a cause:ninety-one names were givenout by noon that first day. Incredible! All the nameswere given out by the sec-ond Sunday. One hundredand sixty-one deployedmen and women wouldknow they were thoughtof and prayed for by St.Luke’s United MethodistChurch.

Not only were all the names distributed. but donationswere given, too. I emailed the captain of the unit, CaptainJohn Lubbe, letting him know multiple boxes would becoming. His reply was, “From myself and the soldiers ofmy unit, we greatly appreciate the generosity of your con-gregation. We’d like to thank you for the gifts, but mostimportantly for your appreciation and prayers.” We werealso able to purchase and send a pair of combat bootsocks for each soldier, and several phone cards for themto share.

Captain Lubbe wrote, “We received the socks today. Somesoldiers learn early that socks are one of the single mostimportant pieces of equipment for every soldier. Espe-cially those who spend a lot of time on their feet. We arealso happy to receive the phone cards, thank you.” Sincewe had extra money from donations, I asked him if therewas there anything else they could use or wanted. Severalof his soldiers were passing around a copy of Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages, and he ask ifpossible could we send some copies of that book. It wasour good fortune to contact the publisher the same timethat changes were made on the book, and they were morethan happy to sell us 161 copies of the “old” book at adiscounted price to send overseas to the military.

Not wanting our project to end, Sue and I decided to dosomething for this same unit for Valentine’s Day. Suemade cards, and once again we sat at a table on Sundaymorning... and once again St. Luke’s members signedthem with messages of love and support. Then the cards,candy and books were mailed off to “our” soldiers. 1SGRobert Hempstead was our contact person for the Valen-tine’s delivery. He emailed this to me, “The candy is greatbut these books are what the Soldiers need. I can’t thankyou enough for the thoughtful gift, and I know the Sol-diers really appreciate it.”

All of this could not have been accomplished without thelove and generosity of the people of St. Luke’s. Thank youso much for your support of our project and of the UnitedStates Armed Forces. n

supporting our troops together in ministry everyday

Mark Elkins & Tony Alexander

BELOW: Thank you letter anda typical care package

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When I was in the 3rd grade some neighborhoodfriends of mine and I started a club. This clubmet every few days at my friend Stephanie'shouse in her sister's bedroom closet. (It waslarger and therefore more conducive to threegirls.) We had special nametags we made andwere required to wear during the meetings. I amnot sure what our agenda was for each meeting, I just know that thingsreally came together for us when we finally had a name. We namedourselves the “Pink Ladies.” I think we were in a “Grease” stage andfelt that would be a cool name for our club. Anyway, it made us tighterto know we were official because we had a name. We dreamed of hav-ing special jackets (like the movie) and I am sure finding boyfriendswith cool bikes.

Names matter. They give us identities and help us feel more involved.The Children’s Ministry team is working hard to help create opportu-nities for the children in our church to feel like they have an identity

here. One way we have started this new journey isby giving the traditional Vacation Church Schoola more modern name—Summer Splash. Doesn’tthat just make you want to register your child andget involved yourself as a volunteer?!?

You’ll have a chance to do just that as we beginregistration for “Summer Splash: Hero Headquarters” 2010 on EasterSunday, April 4. Summer Splash will be June 21-25 from 9AM-Noon.All ages are welcome (volunteers too!) We will need “Crew Leaders” forall the activities. On Friday, June 25 we will conclude with a programin the sanctuary followed by a Summer Splash party outside – bathingsuits required! There will be water slides, water balloons and for the lit-tle ones, baby pools. Plus, we will celebrate an awesome week with acookout outside as well. Please plan to attend even if you do not havea child in Summer Splash so you can see what God is doing with andthrough our youngest members. n

Summer Splashby Jamalyn Peigh Williamson

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APRIL—JUNE endowment | children’s ministries

On Sunday, April 25, 2010, St. Luke’swill welcome Reverend William G. Enright, Ph.D. (pictured left) to the pulpit during all three morning servicesto deliver an inspiring message to ourcongregation. Dr. Enright is the Execu-tive Director of the Lake Institute onFaith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, and former Senior Pastor of SecondPresbyterian Church in Indianapolis.An expert on building church endow-ment support and renowned for his

research and insight into religious giving, Dr. Enright will share his insights and stories on the importance of building upon endowmentfunds to ensure the sustainability of the church’s programs and services.

Dr. Enright is a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois; FullerTheological Seminary in Pasadena, California; and McCormick Theolog-ical Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. His Ph.D. is from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He also holds two D.D. (honorary) degrees fromHanover College in Hanover, Indiana and Dubuque Theological Semi-nary in Dubuque, Iowa. His civic involvement in Indianapolis has included: serving as co-chair of the Mayor’s Taskforce on Racism; member of Envisioning Indianapolis; the Police Advisory Board; theBoard of Directors of the Central Indiana Council On Aging; the WishardHospital Foundation Board, and the St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Board.

In addition, Dr. Enright is currently a director of the Lilly Endowment,Inc. and a trustee of Hanover College. He is also currently a member of theBoard of Trustees of the Foundation of the YMCA of Greater Indianapo-lis. He has authored several books, the latest being Channel Markers, and

lectured at numerous colleges, universities and theological institutions,as well as for business associations such as The Young Presidents andWorld Presidents organizations.

St. Luke’s Endowment was founded over 20 years ago by members whohad the vision and passion for securing our church’s future for genera-tions to come. Over the years, the endowment has helped build and sustain programs such as: The Garden, Staff Parish Fund, Sowers Fund,Deaf Camp Fund, Carillon Fund, Christmas Fund, and the Jean BepkoChildren’s Resource Fund. In addition, the Christian Life ScholarshipFund has awarded thousands of dol-lars in college scholarship support toyouth members who have demon-strated a passion for their faith and their willingness to help make a difference in the lives of others.

Endowments allow congregations tolive through tough times and survivethrough those times with vitality.They are the catalyst for change andprovide sustainability, allowing con-gregations to continue programs andcreate new services to better the community. Endowments are about expressing passion and sharing that passion with future generations.

We hope you will join us Sunday morning, April 25, to hear Dr. Enrightdeliver an inspirational message about passion and hope for a better fu-ture. If you would like to learn more about the St. Luke’s Endowment andhow you can use your faith to create a legacy, stop by the Endowment ta-bles in the East and West Passages on April 25 to pick up some materialsand speak with a committee member. n

Endowment Sunday: Inspiring St. Luke’s Futureby Tricia Tomson


THIS PAGE: Megan Peterson at our 2009-10

annual Kickoff event.

Our group at the New York workcamp, hanging on the lawn.

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE:Natalie Harris on the Michigan workcamp.

(standing right)

Carlie Jensen in the Bahamas.(she is the one standing center)

A group of confirmation youth. (whom Beau helps lead in small groups)

Beau Scott on Senior High Lake Day.

Some of the most amazing parts of youth ministry are the opportunities for growthand faith development that we, as a church community, are able to provide for ourteens. While life is a journey, and there should be growth throughout, the teen yearsoffer a unique time in each of our lives where physical, mental and spiritual development are occurring simultaneously. The culmination of all these changes isa child becoming their own person. Just as each person is given unique gifts fromGod, we, as a ministry, intentionally offer a wide variety of ministry opportunitiesfor youth in grades 6-12—from small group discussions to large group worshiptime, from service days around the city to international work camps—in order to reach the wide variety of youth and families that make up the St. Luke's YouthMinistries family.

By the time our youth reach 12th grade, they've most likely been a part of a vari-ety of service projects, fellowship events and even national and international worktrips. For this issue of the magazine, we've asked four of our current seniors to

share some of their favorite youth ministry moments so you have the opportunity to see theseministry opportunities from the perspectives of the youth being served. Natalie Harris, BeauScott, Carlie Jensen and Megan Peterson attend different high schools, come from differentfamilies, participate in different sports, clubs and school-related activities and community projects, but despite all the differences in their lives, they have each found a home here at St.Luke's, and we encourage you to find out why.

Natalie HarrisFor me, faith has been an ever-changing, albeit ever-present, commodity in my life. I have spentmost of my high school career exploring places where I could be most in touch with my faith. Ihave to admit that the places and times when I felt closest to a God and a "Jesus high" havebeen on some of the retreats and mission trips at St. Luke's UMC. One of my favorite stories fromthese trips is from a mission trip I went on a few spring breaks ago (to D’lberville, MI). Obvi-ously, like most teenagers, I was not very ecstatic about the prospect of devoting my entirespring break to manual labor, rather than the expected sun bathing and lounging by a poolsomeplace in the warm southern states. I have always loved mission trips, but I still wanted tobe selfish and keep that week for me to relax and unwind.

However, I decided that I would go into the trip with an open mind and give it my all. This mind-set proved to be one of the most beneficial decisions I've made in my short life. Not only did Ihave a great time with the wonderful and energetic people on the trip, but I also ended up withthe best spring break I've ever had to date. As we helped refurbish homes in Biloxi, Mississippi,I felt as if the more I gave to these families the more I received in return. I can't gush enoughabout how great of a time I had, and it was all due to St. Luke's for giving me the opportunityand providing an amazing group of volunteers to learn from.

Beau ScottI didn't know what to expect after I volunteered to lead a small group of seventh graders goingthrough confirmation. I figured that, if nothing else, my friend that I was leading with and Iwould grow closer. However, while I was watching each child get confirmed about twelve weekslater, I reflected on an experience that truly was valuable. I discovered that, even though I amyoung, I DO have advice and knowledge to share with the younger youth. Leading a group al-lowed me to reflect on my experiences, and better identify God's role in them. Every week Iwould not only share a valuable lesson that I experienced that week, but I would hear a halfdozen others from the kids that were eager to share. It helped me realize my identity as a role

together in ministry everyday

Youth Ministry, First Personby youth staff and Natalie Harris, Beau Scott, Carlie Jensen and Megan Peterson

——

“For me, faith has been an ever-changing, albeit ever-present, commodity in my life.”


model for the younger youth in the community. I recognized that these kids really want to hearwhat I have to say and helped me work hard to be a positive influence in their lives.

Carlie JensenMy favorite experience with St. Luke’s Youth Ministries was going to the Bahamas for a missiontrip this past summer. The experience was truly humbling. My life was forever changed by therelationships that I built with the Bahamian people and other St. Luke’s Youth. While we werethere, we put on a vacation bible school for an orphanage of about 50 children. Although thechildren lived in cramped housing and had no families to love them, I was amazed how they always had a smile on their face and seemed to know that God had a plan for them. They werepossibly the happiest children I have ever seen in my life.

My experience in the Bahamas was incredible in many ways. Seeing the Bahamian childrengrow in their faith and building friendships with them was an awesome experience. We seemedto make a real difference in their lives and it was truly gratifying. Those children changed myperspective on life. I grew in my faith more that week than ever before. God was clearly workingthrough the orphans and St. Luke’s Youth that week. Our mission trip to the Bahamas was myfavorite experience with St. Luke’s Youth Ministries, and one of the best experiences of my life.

Megan PetersonSince I joined the St. Luke's youth group in seventh grade, I've gained so many memories andhad multiple life-changing moments. One youth group experience in particular that I will neverforget happened while we were on the New York workcamp two summers ago. In the middle ofthe week, we spent an evening with a group of homeless men from a nearby shelter. They cameover to the church where we were based, and we cooked a big spaghetti dinner for all of us toshare. As we ate, we talked, drew some pictures, and told jokes with the men. I was not ex-pecting conversation to flow as easily as it did. We talked for hours, and every man had so manyinteresting things to say. This may sound bad, but before that night, most of the youth (myselfincluded) did not necessarily view the homeless as regular people who have valuable stories andadvice to share. My whole view of the homeless and the importance of including themcompletely changed due to this experience. It helped me to better realize what being aChristian is all about.

These are just some of the experiences shared by the youth that St. Luke’s Live in TuneYouth Ministries are reaching. No matter what their gifts or passions may be, our prayer isfor youth to find a place to plug in at St. Luke’s in order to create their own memories forthe future. If you are interested in finding out more about what is going on in St. Luke’sLive in Tune Youth Ministries, please check out our Youth page on the website for up-to-date information on retreats, work camps, Sunday night themes and more! n

APRIL—JUNE youth ministries

——


There is a special group of St. Luke’s members where the age range is large, skill levels are varied, the focus on tasks in-tense, and the passion for synchronicity borders on obsessive. But the members of the Joyful Rhythms Handbell En-semble wouldn’t have it any other way. Each week they meet to rehearse, improve their abilities, encourage each other,

and enjoy the music-making experience. Director Marsha Coyner describes JoyfulRhythms as a “teaching choir” that gives individuals a chance to learn to play handbellsfor the first time or, for those with some past experience, to get back to playing again. Forothers whose skills are more advanced, there is still the opportunity to work on those“four in hand” ringing skills, where players hold two bells in each hand. All skill levels arewelcome, and the ensemble invites ringers as young as . The key is to keep it fun whileimproving basic ringing and music-reading skills.

“We grow together in our music,” she said. “The keys are to have some sense of music andtiming and a desire to learn.”

Kim Stewart joined Joyful Rhythms after enjoying her experience in previous years withanother church’s handbell choir. She also had played clarinet in high school but, like manya former band member, stopped playing after graduation. Joyful Rhythms provided a newmusical outlet.

“For me, this was a way to get back into music,” she said.

As anyone can tell from watching either Joyful Rhythms or the WesleyanRingers, St. Luke’s other handbell ensemble, handbell ringing has unique chal-lenges. First, it redefines the meaning of teamwork. Unlike an orchestra whereindividual players are responsible for their own long lines of melody or har-mony, handbell ringers play only select notes of lines. It works only when allplayers focus on sounding like one ringer.

“It takes a lot more teamwork than I thought,” said Ashley Williams, who wasrecruited to Joyful Rhythms three years ago by her sister, Brianne WilliamsKirkpatrick. Williams grew up with music, learning flute and piano and singingin choirs. “No one is more important than anyone else.”

Loving & Learning in Joyful Rhythmsby Jenny Hawke

——

together in ministry everyday

ABOVE: Brianne Williams Kirkpatrick recruitedher sister, Ashley Williams, to the handbell choir.

Joyful Rhythms in a Thursday evening rehearsal.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Joyful Rhythms played betweenservices during December. FRONT ROW: KentGuild, Ashley Williams, and Brianne Williams

Kirkpatrick; SECOND ROW: Marsha Coyner andAmie Schurig Pratt; THIRD ROW: Kim Stewart,Scott Pratt, Susan Campbell, Debbie Bushfield,

and Jim Bushfield.

Debbie Bushfield encouraged her husband, Jim,to join her for Thursday evening rehearsals.

ORCHESTRA: Bob Zehr directs the side-by-side orchestra. Young players and mentors.


——

APRIL—JUNE music ministries

That need for teamwork makes everyone’s contribution valuable. At age 15, KentGuild, the ensemble’s youngest ringer, is often asked for help by members stand-ing next to him, whether it’s deciphering a musical symbol or key signature. “Asin the kingdom of God, everyone has a place,” said Coyner. “You grow as an en-semble, you get to know each other, and you grow in patience when learningnew things.”

It takes everyone to succeed, but then everyone gets to celebrate together, especially during rehearsals. It makes individual achievements, such as master-ing new three-bell-ringing sequence, a moment for cheers all around. It makesthe ensemble’s successful transition in a piece to a new key worth a spontaneous“woo-hoo.”

Currently, Joyful Rhythms plays three to four times a year during Sunday serv-ices. This past December, the ensemble performed Christmas carols in the sec-ond-floor gallery between services. Players also “hit the road” during the holidayseason for a unique mission outreach activity. They packed up handbells and the silver hand chimes and tookthem to Marquette Manor. While there, they held a “side-by-side” concert, giving each resident a chime toplay while a handbell ringer sat next to him or her and ringing the corresponding handbell.“It was wonderful to watch,” said Coyner. “It goes to show that anyone can ring a handbell.” A combination of good fellowship and a love of music keeps this small band of players coming back everyweek—and, Coyner hopes, will encourage others to consider joining them.

“It’s a fun group to be part of—it’s great to make music together,” said Williams. “It’s an uplifting experi-ence—it gets your mood going.”

“I think a lot of people underestimate their ability in music,” said Coyner. Once they give themselves achance to try something new, they can surprise themselves, she added. n

Joyful Rhythms performs next on Sunday, April 18 at all three Sanctuary services.

Side by Side OrchestraThe ranks of the St. Luke's Orchestra swelled in February as 29 young players participated in the Side-By-Side rehearsal and performance during the February21 Sanctuary services. The students, ranging in agefrom 14 to 18, joined the adults in the fast-pacedpreparations, taking direction from two conductors, accompanying the Chancel Choir, and supporting thecongregation's hymn singing.

"This is the largest group of young players we've had forour side-by-side performances," said Bob Zehr, orches-tra conductor. "It's rewarding to see the students' interest and commitment—they represent the future ofthis orchestra." n


Speaking of Faith (SOF) is a new kind of conversation — and an evolving media space — about religion, spirituality, and large questions of meaning in every aspect of life.

Podcast and live radio show versions available at:http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org

After years of searching, I have found my “spiritual tribe.” These arefolks who understand what I mean when I talk about “original blessing”or “gender-free hymns.” These are folks who will walk in the AnnualGay Pride Parade and venture out in a downpour to hear the brothersHamilton (former Congressman Lee and Rev. Dick) talk about the in-tersection of religion and politics. Theywant to drive to Bloomington on a wintryday to experience writer and outspokenleader of Progressive Christianity, BishopJohn Shelby Spong. They’ll check their cal-endars to see about a road trip to EarlhamUniversity to hear Biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan. They lookforward to October 9, 2011 when Marcus Borg returns to St. Luke’s.

We found each other because we all thrive on the work of contempo-rary theologians, sociologists and spiritual leaders of all faith traditions.Some of us can no longer attend worship because of the theologyimbedded in traditional hymns and creeds. Some of us crave gender-free language. Some are more interested in practice than belief. Somegobble up theology books at the rate of one a week. We all seek lovenot hate; inclusiveness rather than exclusivity; opportunity not entitle-ment; and intelligent questioning of our faith rather than blind belief.

We look at ourselves and see that for many years we rested on what wehad learned as children in Sunday School. We developed physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally but we relied on professionalclergy to do our spiritual development work for us. No more! We areclaiming our responsibility to catch up with what scholars have been

discovering for the last 200 years aboutthe life of Jesus, the early church and2000 years of church history.

Even though those discoveries may under-mine what we learned as children, we

struggle on. We are living with uncertainty. We are living with ambi-guity. We think “doubt” is a holy word. We keep asking questions weekafter week not knowing when we might find an answer. We meet everySunday morning at 9:30AM in the Spiritual Life Center for “Speaking ofFaith,” and at 11AM in E105 for a DVD series and discussion.

If you think this might be your “spiritual tribe” too, you are welcometo join us. If this isn’t your tribe, keep on looking. You owe it to your-self and your relationship with God to find others who will share yourspiritual journey.

spiritual life center together in ministry everyday

——

Finding My “Spiritual Tribe!”by Betty Brandt


——

CONDOLENCES TO:

Ron Ernst on the death ofhis mother Audrey Ernst

Steve Pigecella on the deathof his father John Pigecella

Linda Oliver on the deathof her sister Carol Peterson

Friends and family ofFrieda Ellingwood

Jack, Tracy, Alanna, Connor and Erica Downeyon the death of mother and grandmother Phyllis Downey

Pam Fischer on the deathof her father Max Fischer

Wanda Thompson on thedeath of her motherBlanche Cotton

Mike Miller on the death ofhis brother Madison Miller

Rich Murphy on the death of his brother Michael Murphy

Gail Brandenburg on the death of her fatherCharles Brandenburg

Karen Fahle and NealeMoosey on the death of mother and sister Phyllis Nolan

Michael Condit on the death of his father Gordon Condit

Jill Overton on the death ofher son Eric Overton

Lynn Bereman on thedeath of her mother SallyCarbaugh

Paula Montgomery on thedeath of his grandmotherMargaret Montgomery

Bill Yoerger on the death ofhis father Robert Yoerger

Debra Peek on the death ofher father Ray Smith

Lauren Walawender on thedeath of her grandmotherEugenia Poynter

Mary Lou Edwards on the death of her husbandJerry Edwards

Nancy Hoffman on the death of her husbandBarry Hoffman

Dick & Marion Tewksburyon the death of son-in-lawErnie Moya

Cynthia Robertson on the death of her husbandEd Robertson

John & Connie Haimbaughon the death of their sonRobert Haimbaugh

Dennis and WandaThompson, Staci Hendrickson and Kelly Witte and family on the death of mother and grandmother Dorothy Thompson

Jennifer Evancich-Skinneron the death of her fatherEmil Evancich

Suzanne Gray on the death of her mother Louise Ackerman

Norma and Brenda Anderson on the death ofhusband and father John Anderson

Diana Cochran on the death of her father Charles Collins

Mary Beth Hinkle andfamily on the death of herfather Maurice Haag

Tana Moore and family on the death of husbandTom Moore

Suzanne Moffett on the death of her husbandPaul Moffett

Reyna Dodds on the death of her brotherLuis Miguel Reyes

Doug Mason on the deathof his mother Betty Mason

Friends and family of Faye Martin

Wendy Sommers and Julie Sommers Neuman onthe death of their motherSher Lee Sommers

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Ashley Brattain &Matthew Andryuk on their

wedding of January

Cris Schilk & Brian Giffinon their wedding of

January

Kacie Motsinger & Joel Kauffman on their wedding of January

Tim & Elizabeth Kinsingeron the birth of daughter

Madeline Claire

Dwight & Rebecca Toddand Dallas & Louise Toddon the birth of daughter

and granddaughter Audrey Claire

Stephanie Surgoth Winkel,Susan, Amy and

Steven Surgoth on the birth of daughter, grand-

daughter and niece Vivien Marie Winkel

Marcia Capron and Dan & Bonnie McMenamin

on the birth of great-granddaughter and granddaughter

Sophia Jeannette Tetour

Don & Anna Weiser on the birth of grandsonTyson Edward Weiser

WELCOME! new membersThe following persons completed the October, January and February membership classes.

January (bottom two photos)Jerry Bean, Kay Bean, David Browning, John Connell, Linda Connell, Mike Copher, Missy Copher, JamesFox, James Hamilton, Marilyn Hamilton, Pam Hursh, Mike LeTourneau, Jan Lindemann, Leslie Oleck,Cindy Parker, Eric Powell, Terry Smith, Pam Smith, Mittie Voorhest, Ashley Williams, Sandy Williams, ChrisZimmer, Mary Jo Zimmer, Kaitlyn Zimmer

February (top photo)Bianca Bair, Gary Bryant, Lynn Bryant, Maya Carraway, Justin Ogden, Bradd Evers, Courtney Linder, LindaGregory, Kristine Keech, Donna Martino, Jamie Reamsa, Trent Sandifur, Jill Sandifur, Naomi Uechi, BobWeaver, Kelly Weaver

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

All classes are 6:30-9PMThursday, April 15

Wednesday, May 26Wednesday, June 23

Contact Sylvia Forbes at 846-3404 or email

[email protected] to register.

APRIL—JUNE concerns & celebrations


NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE PAIDINDIANAPOLIS, INPERMIT NO. 1569

APRIL—JUNE 2010

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church • West Street • Indianapolis, Indiana

Address Service Requested

T.I.M.E. Series April 18 – May 30

Turn the World Upside DownWe are surrounded by many modern examples of prophets. Women and men, childrenand youth, who by words, actions, silent prayers and service, challenge systems of injustice and inequity. They have become, in a myriad of ways, the very voice, hands,and heart of God in our world.

During "Turn the World Upside Down” we’ll have the opportunity tolearn more stories of these change-agents, from the famous to the un-known, and consider ways that we, too, can personally step out in faithto makea real difference.

We all have opportunities to change our world. We’ve been in Spring Training, now’s the TIME to launch out and love our community with every possibility of grace, peace, and justice.


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