TIME-2011-10

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

“Innside” Job

Making Room This Christmas

Will Work for Knowledge Poverty 101 Fosters Understanding

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calendar

OCTOBER-DECEMBER

Highlights

together in ministry everyday

October (ALL MONTH): United Methodist Women Food Pantry Drive October (ALL MONTH): Youth Pumpkin Sales October 6: United Methodist Men’s Fish Fry October 9: Marcus Borg Luncheon October 12-15: United Methodist Women’s Rummage Sale October 15 & 16: Jesus Christ Superstar Concerts October 28: Children’s Ministries Trunk or Treat November 1: All Saints Day Service November 6: Bruce Neswick Organ Concert November 12: United Methodist Women Holiday Bazaar Advent & Christmas: See page 15 for details

MARCUS BORG

BRUCE NESWICK

Scan to go to www.stlukesumc.com

st. luke’s identity We are an open

community of Christians gathering to seek, celebrate, live and share the love of God for all creation. st. luke’s vision We envision being transformed

by God and transforming

the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive, Christ-like community.

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

Lori Crantford Sarah Nevin CIRCULATION MANAGER: Sylvia Forbes DESIGN:

NEXT T.I.M.E. DEADLINE:

November 21 for January—March 2012 Find us on Facebook “St. Lukes United Methodist Church”

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from the desk

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

A T.I.M.E. for Letting Go That title sounds like it could be a lyric from a song by The Birds. Instead, “Letting Go” is the theme of this year’s stewardship series. It’s a fitting way to begin wrapping up a year that began with our theme of “Trust God No Matter What.”

A huge part of trusting God involves letting go.

Picture a trapeze artist swinging high in the air.

Her hands clutch tight to the rope handle. You know the routine. The artist pushes away from a lofty perch and swings out in a sweeping arch.

The aim is to get to another perch some distance away. Between the two is solid ground far below.

In order to reach her destination, at some point she has to let go of the handle and be caught by another swinging from the opposite perch.

What is supposed to happen is no mystery. The question is whether the timing will be right, the rhythm in synch, and of course, whether she will let go. Staying safe will mean letting go. (Sure, you could say staying safe would mean never getting up there, but that’s another message for another time!)

Faith is an adventure. It’s not a spectator sport.

It’s not meant to be experienced from the security of a comfortable chair. It’s a life of trust where we seek to live in rhythm with God—a rhythm that brings joy and peace. Yet, to get there involves letting go in order to be caught by a loving God. The safety of faith and the dependability of God are learned through letting go. But letting go of what?

For some it is unhealthy emotions—bitterness, envy, anger. For others it is false security—possessions, control and all the things we hope will bring real, lasting happiness. Still others might

be challenged to let go of pride, ego or selfishness. Basically, faith challenges us to let go of anything that would limit our knowing God as a source of lasting contentment and joy. It’s hard to catch a trapeze artist who keeps one hand on the rope!

That’s the emphasis behind our stewardship series this year. If you thought stewardship is just church code language for “give money,” you’re in for a surprise. Stewardship, the biblical word for management, involves everything about our lives: resources, relationships, health, thoughts, time and our very souls. God entrusts all these things to us to manage well. Managing life well is the focus of holistic stewardship.

This is where the “Letting Go” idea comes in.

Much about this world teaches us that satisfaction is found in holding on—holding onto our stuff, our rights, our opinions, and even our energy. Save all we can for self and share what we don’t need…or want!

God shows us that it actually works the other way around. Real satisfaction comes from letting go first, and then discovering all that can be gained as a result. In other words, what is more important than what we hold is who holds us.

My prayer is that in this series we will grow deeper in our trust in the One who is faithful to reach out and take hold of us. From daily devotional practices, to inspiring worship services, to commitment opportunities, I believe this is going to be a powerful time ahead that rounds out a very significant year in the life of St. Luke’s.

I feel so blessed and fortunate to be a part of St. Luke’s and share in ministry with you. Thank you for this privilege. Now…Let’s Go!

Yours in Faith,

Rev. Rob Fuquay

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together in ministry everyday

No Room in the Inn

by Rev. David Williamson, Executive Pastor

“It is said in Jewish mystic tradition, that before Creation, God filled all areas of existence and there was no room for anything else but God. This is to be expected from a God who is infinite.

When God desired to create the universe for the sake of our world and for us, He had to deliberately withdraw some portion of His infinite being, to ‘humble’ a part of Himself, in order to make the room available for Creation. God made room for us.” —Author Unknown When Jamalyn and I walked through our first real home (a parsonage in Milroy), we were simply overwhelmed. We’d been living for two years in a “studio” apartment in Haiti (and that’s a generous description); we had put a little bit into storage while overseas but still owned relatively little as a couple. So as we walked through all the rooms in the house, we kept wondering what we were going to put in all that space.

Funny, it didn’t take us long to figure out that problem. In fact, before long we found that we had more than we knew what to do with. So we took the third bedroom and converted it into a “hobby room” (read: junk room). All our extra stuff got thrown in there, and soon you couldn’t get from one side of the room to the other. It looked like one of those “hoarding” homes you see on HGTV. We didn’t have the energy or time to clean or organize it, so we just shut the door and pretended it wasn’t there. It was like the Voldemort of our house: The Room Which Must Not Be Named.

But then we received the incredible news that we would be having a baby. And so we had to get in that room and transform it into a nursery.

It took a full week just to clean and haul everything out, not to mention the future weeks of

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painting and decorating to make the room just right for our little Margaret. A lot of work, yes, but we never doubted if it was worth it.

When something important comes along, we make space. In fact, important things demand that we make space for them, they cannot be squeezed into the crevices and cracks of our lives. Setting up Margaret’s nursery was just the beginning of our “making space” in our lives.

Once she was born, our whole schedule and lifestyle turned upside down.

Contrast Margaret’s arrival into the world with that of Jesus. Margaret was born in a hospital, she came home to a room that had been lovingly decorated, to a closetful of clothes and toys that had been donated by friends and family. Jesus?

He was born in a stable and wrapped in strips of cloth, because there was no room at the inn. He wasn’t even able to return home immediately, because there was a local ruler who didn’t want to make room for him either. Jesus’ family had to flee to Egypt in order to keep him safe.

It would become a theme of Jesus’ life. Most places he went, there was no room—the religious leaders of the day rejected him, the rich and powerful of society were threatened by his message. Ironically, Jesus found acceptance among those who had been themselves rejected by society, those who likewise found no room for themselves at the table. And Jesus told them the remarkable news that at God’s table, in God’s kingdom, there was room.

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

The world isn’t much different now than in Jesus’ day. There’s still not much room for Jesus.

As Jamalyn and I found out, it’s very easy to fill up our homes and our lives with stuff. And by “stuff ” I don’t just mean material things, but I’m also talking the countless activities and obligations that fill our calendars. Before we know it, we’re running around from one place to the next, no room to be had for others, no room to be found for Jesus, no room for peace, for awe, for worship.

work EGO me clothes fam stuff

advent

ilymore me f

vacations HOUSE riend

s t n e m n i a e n te r t STATUS imagestuff

me

DO YOU HAVE ROOM FOR JESUS?

“One who is full of himself fills all the space around him. There is no room left for anyone else. Therefore, he despises another person by virtue of the space that other person consumes. He may give reasons for his disdain, but the reasons are secondary.” —RABBI TZVI FREEMAN Rabbi Tzvi Freeman wrote: “One who is full of himself fills all the space around him. There is no room left for anyone else. Therefore, he despises another person by virtue of the space that other person consumes. He may give reasons for his disdain, but the reasons are secondary. This is called wanton hatred. It is the reason given for our exile. It is the core of all evil. It is balanced and cured only by wanton acts of love and kindness.”

That is a deep thought, one worth meditating on.

At the heart of “wanton acts of love and kindness” is the concept of leaving room in one’s life for others. And this is what God did for us. God is love, and therefore God “humbled a part of himself ” in order to make room for us.

For us Christians, we see this “humbling” nature of God most clearly on display in that Bethlehem stable. God put on human flesh, came to

us in the fragility of a tiny child, made himself vulnerable to our acceptance or rejection.

God made room for us, in order that we might respond in love.

This Advent season at St. Luke’s, we’ll talk about the concept of No Room in the Inn. How have you filled in the spaces around you? Is there a “No Vacancy” sign on your heart? Is there room for Jesus in the form of those strangers in need, friends you don’t have time for, family who take a back seat to work? Is your “inn” so full of stuff that you can’t even find yourself in it? I hope you’ll make room this coming holiday season to clear some space and let love in. n

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outreach ministries

together in ministry everyday

Why Should We Help Them?

Understanding the Poor

by Charlie Russell, St. Luke’s Member

Recently, I was listening to a show on NPR where they were discussing the crisis in the horn of Africa. Millions of people, mostly women and children, are fighting to survive in a severely drought- and famine-stricken region. Stories of mothers walking for weeks, carrying their children to reach crowded refugee relief centers are as common as the blank stares and emaciated faces of their babies. A caller, apologizing for the seeming insensitivity of his question, asked, “Why should we help them when they continue to bring children into the world where there is so much suffering?” The panelists gave wellinformed, academic answers about it being the moral thing to do, which of course it is. But they failed to help the caller understand the reason there were so many children suffering.

From a western point of view of the world, the caller’s question rings of reason. Why would people living in such dire circumstances have children in the numbers we see on the evening news? Who would deliberately bring a child into such suffering? To us it makes little sense. But in societies where there are no “social safety nets,” for the poor day-to-day life is about survival, and children are sometimes the aged’s Social Security System. Those children, the ones who survive and are loved dearly by their parents, will provide life-sustaining love, compassion and care to their parents when they are no longer able to care for themselves.

In my travels to South Africa and Kenya, I have seen poverty and strife that would bring tears to anyone with a compassionate heart. I have been made aware of the risks parents in great poverty would take in order to provide even minimal food for their children. For years I have been involved in programs and projects serving the poverty-stricken areas of Indianapolis.

What I’ve come to realize is the same survival mentality that I’ve seen in Africa exists here in our impoverished areas, whether urban or rural.

It manifests in different ways in the U.S., but every human being has the same basic needs and will to survive. No matter where in the world, people don’t just live in poverty, they survive poverty. And survival in poverty requires skills and decisions that are unfamiliar to many of us.

How many of us could move our entire household in half a day? Do you know which churches have the best rummage sales? Would you know how to live without a checking account or credit card? Do you know what day grocery stores discard their outdated perishables?

As a member of the middle class, I may wonder what I will eat today, but I’ll not wonder if

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world missions

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

Let’s Get at It in Memphis

by Al Dalton, St. Luke’s member I’ll eat today. It’s this disconnect between those of us blessed with a strong sense of our own security and those who see the very same world much differently that can lead good people to ask, “Why should we help them?” Our inability to understand how the poor see, interpret and interact with the world around them diminishes our enthusiasm to answer God’s call to “Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly…”

(Deuteronomy :0 NLT). Understanding is the basis of any healthy, productive ministry. There are many dimensions to poverty beyond monetary, and therefore many ways in which we can impact the lives of those below the poverty line.

Poverty can be a dearth of intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual resources.

This fall you will have the opportunity to begin to understand the survival mentality of the poor.

Tim Street, the Assistant Director of Shepherd Community Center, a near east-side urban ministry, will lead a seven-week course titled Poverty 101. The objective of the course is to prepare those interested in urban or third world missions to better understand and connect with those they serve. The course will look at how the bible addresses poverty, the many dimensions of poverty, examine some of its causes and why it is so difficult to escape. It promises to be an interesting and interactive course that will leave you better able to be in community with those whom we are called to minister. You can contact me at Charlie@crussellphoto.com, or Jayne Thorne at thornej@stlukesumc.com for more information. To register, go to the church website, www. stlukesumc.com, and click on the Outreach and Mission tab. Then click on the Social Justice link.

Without understanding, the seeds of best intentions can fall on rocky ground. n

Break time.

Kay Walla, Linda Marler, Al Dalton, Adele Hoskin BACK ROW: Ed Simpson, Ryan Foxworthy, Don Weiser, Dave Mitchell, David Cumbest, Pattie Cumbest and Gary Walla

FRONT ROW (L TO R):

As I drove into my driveway I noticed it was 12:21 AM. I was tired from the drive home from Memphis but was glad to be home. It had been a busy week.

From the start this trip, which took place July 10-16, 2011, was to be a rendezvous project with the Mississippians we have come to know through other mission projects. Our mission was to paint the interior of the Memphis Family Shelter, a not-for-profit organization that houses up to 24 homeless women and their children at any given time. Once again St Luke’s was going to help others help others, always a successful approach to a meaningful work trip.

We gathered as a group of nine at Covenant UMC in Cordova (East Memphis) on Sunday night. We had painters, masking tapers, window blind removers, furniture movers, furniture coverers, and cleaners all over the place. By day two our last volunteers arrived, and at the end of the day we had accomplished what I thought would take all week.

Short-handed as we were—not everyone who had signed up for the trip ended up coming—this project was actually going to be finished.

There was no way this was physically possible. No way! In addition, — —

together in ministry everyday

MEMPHIS, cont’d from page  the workmanship was excellent. We had a group picture taken in the lunch room, and other than lunch this was the only break in the action all week. These people took this project seriously.

Half a dozen or more of the team had expressed an interest in sightseeing and maybe a trip to Graceland, but more than once I heard “not if it

LEFT:

Linda Marler practicing safe ladder skills

RIGHT:

Bedroom prep

by Don Weiser and paint by Dave Mitchell

affects the project’s completion.” I had not given any pep talks or expressed a need to finish everything. The shelter had a part-time maintenance worker who could complete the project. These volunteers were driven, and without a doubt another perfect example of what St. Luke’s has to offer. Team players from the get go. I have seen it countless times before. St Luke’s is the best!

On Thursday morning I met with the shelter’s founder and director, Donna Fortson, to discuss our progress. I am not sure what she thought when Ken Hollis and I first met her back in November. But her comments July 14 were

“You folks really work hard, and I am so glad you found us.” Over that nine-month period, Donna had acquired a grant from Home Depot to buy paint. The grant stipulated the paint had to be applied using volunteer help. Eleven volunteers applied 35 gallons of free paint to 20 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms in four days.

As I sat in the truck in my driveway I thanked God for a wonderful week of hard-working days and humorous nights. I also thanked God for old and new friends. Many years ago a very dear friend of mine, Chet Nielsen, and I were discussing how to get a monumental task accomplished. Chet said, “Let’s get at it.” St Luke’s, you just “got at it.” What a difference you make in the world.

My friend Chet Nielsen died June 22, a week after his 89th birthday. I would like to dedicate this work trip to him. n For information on upcoming work projects, visit www.stlukesumc.com.

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world missions

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

Sierra Leoneans Say “Thank You, St. Luke’s””

by Dr. Don Griffith, World Missions Commission

Kissy UMC Hospital Staff and patients in Freetown, Sierra Leone, send a big thank you to St. Luke’s for two new, exciting programs—a Well Baby Clinic, and the BAMADO Antenatal Unit.

The Well Baby Clinic originated from a mission trip by pediatrician and St. Luke’s member Dr. Kellie Hughes. In Sierra Leone many parents wait until their child is seriously ill before seeking health care. It is not because they don’t love their children, but the concept of preventive health care for children is generally unknown except for inoculations. Families also do not have the money to get care or pay for drugs.

These conditions disturbed Dr. Hughes. She arranged to have Dr. Merilyn Palmer, the Kissy physician caring for children, come to Indiana in 2010 to train in preventive health care for infants and children, study the well baby clinic concept and learn how to set up a clinic. Since the concept of a well baby clinic is new to Africa, the team set a goal of serving 12 mothers and babies a session; the first clinic day, over 100 mothers brought their babies. Dr. Palmer and her staff have had to limit the number of

patients to 50 per clinic day. The Well Baby Clinic Team sends thanks to St. Luke’s, which provided funds for training Dr. Palmer, ongoing funding for the program, supplies and equipment to make this new life-saving program possible.

Another new program is continuing the success of Kissy in keeping mothers alive during childbirth. In Sierra Leone, one in eight mothers dies in childbirth. The maternity department at Kissy has had only one maternal death in the past three years, or one in about 1800.This is partly due to the fact that Kissy has an Antenatal (Prenatal) Program in which high risk pregnant women stay on the hospital campus until they deliver. If they were to stay at home out in the bush or even a few miles away, they could die before getting to the hospital.

TOP:

Waiting to get into the Well Baby Clinic ABOVE:

Dr. Kellie Hughes and Dr. Merilyn Palmer

The Antenatal Program was successful, but the space used at the hospital was small and provided few activities for the patients. Many of the girls are in their teens and lack literacy skills.

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world missions

together in ministry everyday SIERRA LEONE, cont’d from page  Some are hungry. In Africa hospitals do not provide patients meals and they depend on families for food. Many of the girls have little family support.

A larger building was remodeled last year, thanks to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Carmel UMC. A portion was turned over to the Antenatal Program. In February 2011, the new BAMADO Antenatal Program was started with the help of St. Luke’s.

It includes a patio for cooking and congregating where meals can be prepared. It also funds tutors to teach the girls life skills such as cooking, sewing, work skills, reading, writing and nutrition. The staff was asked to name the unit, preferably using a Mende word. Using their independence they chose: BA (Barbara Hale) MA (Marilyn and Don Griffith) DO. In Mende, it means “friendship.”

Patients in the new Antenatal Unit

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people, one RN per 46,000 residents, and one psychiatrist for the whole county. Infrastructure was destroyed with health care and schools especially targeted by combatants. Remaining medical personnel had been without training for 11 years. Health statistics were among the world’s worst—highest maternal death rate and infant mortality, much malnutrition, reduced life expectancy and lack of good water and sanitation. Rates of typhoid and malaria climbed.

St. Luke’s responded in 2007 by organizing the first team of medical professionals. In the years since, nine teams have gone. The people of Sierra Leone thank you so much for all you have done at Kissy UMC Hospital. Through your generosity, lives are saved and not only saved, but made better. You have given people you will never know a chance at life.

These two programs join the new Rehab Services (Physical Therapy) Department, expanded laboratory facilities, and the remodeled outpatient building funded earlier by St. Luke’s.

St. Luke’s channel of service is through the Sierra Leone Health Partners, part of the World Missions Commission. It is made up about 25 persons from several churches and concerned

Sierra Leone, the size of South Carolina, has about six million people. During a tragic 11-year civil war, many were maimed or killed. Professionals, including health care workers, fled the country. When the war ended in 2002 there was one surgeon and one dentist per million

groups who have interest in Sierra Leone. Teams are being organized for January 2012. For more information, please contact Don or Marilyn Griffith at 317-823-9390. n

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

spiritual life center

Who Are Judith and Robert Maas’Neighbors? (Luke 10:29)

by Betty Brandt, Director, Spiritual Life Center

Robert and Judith Maas moved back to Indianapolis from Texas a couple of years ago and found a beautiful home that fit their love of entertaining with room for all their children, nephews and grandchildren to visit and play. When they made their house decision, they didn’t pay attention to who lived next door.

In the past their neighbors were white, Anglo/Saxon Protestants just like them. To their surprise, their new neighbors were a generous and interesting Pakistani family. A path was worn between the two houses because food says “Welcome” in any culture. Lasting relationships were formed!

Not all of us are fortunate enough to live next door to someone from another culture—YET! But all of us can take advantage of opportunities to learn and experience the ways other people live and worship. One such opportunity was at St. Luke’s on July  when we welcomed the Pakistani/American Association. They brought us their music, their fashions, their history and their food. What a celebration!

SO I ASK YOU:

• • • •

Can you find Pakistan on a world map?

Do you know what their flag looks like?

Do you know the religion of most of the people in Pakistan?

Do you know how Pakistan came into being?

The next time you hear someone say something negative about all Pakistanis or all Muslims, remember Judith and Robert Maas. The food, the music, the customs, the warmth and hospitality of someone from another culture could bless you and enrich your life. Judith and Robert’s neighbors are your “neighbors” too. n

ABOVE: Mayor Ballard

and wife Winnie join in the July 16 Pakistani/ American celebration LEFT: Pakistani girls take part in mock wedding, and Pakistani boys show off their dancing skills

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membership

together in ministry everyday

Invitation to Membership

by Roger Frick, Chair, Membership Commission

Becoming a member of something carries different expectations. When you join a shopping club, you expect discounts and benefits of being a member when you pay a fee to join. When you join some social organizations, MEMBERSHIP COFFEES are held the second you enjoy the privilege of Sunday of each month at 11AM in N101. being a member and the Register online at www.stlukesumc.com, invitation to special or or contact Sylvia Forbes at forbess@ “member only” events. stlukesumc.com or 846-3404 x343.

Childcare is available through placing your child in our Sunday morning childcare or other worship/small group options.

At St. Luke’s, we pride ourselves in not having member benefits. You can participate in about any2011 DATES thing we have going and October 9 • November 13 • December 11 no one inquires whether you are a member or not.

There are no discounts or “member only” opportunities at St. Luke’s. We have many regular participants who have been active for a long time without being members.

Some have been members of our choir for more than ten years without becoming a member of the church.

We have been thinking about membership at St. Luke’s. It is time to renew and redesign our invitation to membership, and it caused us to consider what membership might be. We considered the benefits of membership in our church: what do we offer or what might we offer members? We considered if it should be easy or difficult to become a member. We looked at other large churches who have a long, involved process to become a member. We reviewed our own history of holding a half-day session.

Then we started thinking in terms of intangible benefits of membership. Have you ever observed the service and programs of an organization and been drawn to become a part of it? Have you participated in something that made you so — —

pleased that you couldn’t wait to share it with someone else?

That’s what we hope for membership at St. Luke’s. Membership here is in the joy of association—that desire to be a part of this church because of our open community and all it offers to everyone. We want membership to reflect that joy of association. People choose to become members because it is important to each one to be an engaged part of this faith community.

A new simple invitation to membership will be held regularly every second Sunday morning of each month. The 0-minute session will invite inquiring persons to experience our open community in an engaging way. We’ll ask you to look at our call to seek, celebrate, live and share in a rich way and choose to become a member.

Because public affirmation of those who choose to become members is important, we will continue to acknowledge and welcome those individuals in worship (but in a more informal manner than our past practice which may put the more bashful at ease). We also wish to recognize those adults who come to membership and baptism. It is our hope that many will want to celebrate baptism in worship service as well, allowing your church family to share in this meaningful event.

St. Luke’s values those who choose to worship regularly, participate in mission and education opportunities and feel welcome without being a member, and that will not change. However, while we will continue our tradition of not requiring membership, we invite everyone to associate through membership. It is our hope that we are an engaging, appealing faith community, drawing those who worship and learn here to take that step of saying “I’m a member of St. Luke’s.” n

adult education

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

Where Do We Go from Here?

by Rev. Stan Abell, Associate Pastor, The Garden

This summer my family took a daycation to Pittsburgh to see a concert. By the way, if you haven’t been to Pittsburgh lately, I highly recommend a long weekend. They have put a lot of work into making downtown a very accommodating destination for a getaway.

I digress. So, as we were bolting across Interstate 70, I spied this billboard just off the highway:

being bolstered by world events—war, famine, natural disaster and social unrest… what are we to think?

Every major religion has a notion of some sort regarding life after death. The Christian belief is clear-cut and ambiguous all at the same time. It is our faith in Christ that gives us hope for what happens after our mortal lives end. BUT, exactly what happens? AND, where do we go from here? Good and legitimate questions, especially with all the billboards, predictions and hearsay swirling around us.

These are exactly the questions we’ve been discussing at St. Luke’s in a six-part series on Heaven, Hell and Where Do We Go from Here?

Personally, I tend to dismiss such theological propaganda. Not necessarily the premise all-together, but the shock tactic of those who choose to live life based in fear.

Unfortunately though, fear language is insidiously woven into the fabric of our daily lives… economically, politically and theologically. It seems there is a perfect alignment of the stars for the theological agitators. You may recall Harold Camping, President of Family Radio, predicted the end times would occur on May 21, 2011. May 21 was a Saturday, and I must confess that left 250 of us at The Garden at Oak Hill on Sunday the 22nd awfully uneasy—apparently none of us had made it.

Thankfully, as it turns out, Mr. Camping was only mistaken. He has since noted that the real date is October 21. Then, of course, there is the question of the Mayan Calendar. The Maya’s “Long Count” calendar marks December 21, 2012 as the end of a 5,126-year era. With predictions of this sort

If you’d like to see what others are saying, you can visit these conversations and questions by visiting http://www.thebluevinecollective.org/hell. n

Intrigued by this topic but didn’t get to register for the class? St. Luke’s Director of Adult Ministries, Terri Coe, recommends these books, which are available for purchase in Oasis Bookstore: Love Wins by Rob Bell A Faith of Your Own by Ronald J. Allen The Life of Jesus for Today by Ronald J. Allen If you’d be interested in participating in a second round of this class, contact Terri at coet@stlukesumc.com or 317-846-3404. If enough interest is shown, a second class will be conducted.

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singles ministries

together in ministry everyday

Living and Celebrating

by Chris Thornsberry, Associate Director of Adult Ministries

When I first started here in 00, the Wednesday night singles the future. We cannot let our vision of the future become a program was the focus of our Singles Ministry. It was the golden calf we call the past. one night of the week where singles would gather together to mix, mingle, hear a great speaker, or just converse. As the So how are we doing that in Singles Ministry at St. Luke’s? culture began to change not only in our church, but also in I’m a big believer that relationships are key to connection the Universal Church, I began to and growth. We cannot solely rely on see a trend that was alarming to Facebook, social networking, digital me. Many people who once came media, or even print media to conon Wednesday nights were no nect with people. Connection works “I’m a big believer that longer attending. The number best when we help people realize their relationships are key to one reason that I heard was that passions and live them out every day. they were able to connect with So in Singles Ministry we have someconnection and growth. so many more people online and thing every night of the week based We cannot solely rely on no longer felt a need to be presupon the passions that people have in ent for a meeting to do that. I Facebook, social networking, and for their lives. From small groups, still hear people say, “I remember Bible studies, relationship workshops, digital media, or even print when we used to have 00-00 divorce recovery, worship experipeople attend our programs,” or media to connect with people. ences, sports, dancing, community “I remember when we did this events, dinners, pitch-in’s... you name Connection works best when it and we’re probably doing it. We are and it was a lot of fun.” taking the time to connect people to we help people realize Make no mistake, our singles one another based upon the things their passions and live them that they’re passionate about. ministry has been a place where many people have come to conout every day.” nect, met their “special” someThe vision and mission of our Singles one, have made the best of Ministry is to live and celebrate life to friends with a group of people, its fullest! We focus on the heart of a or learned something new. However—and I think Pastor Rob person in striving to be well-balanced, the mind by growing Bell of Mars Hill Church says it best—“How will there be any in knowledge of God’s love for us, the soul by journeying toroom for the future if we are still holding onto the past?” In my gether in spiritually uplifting conversations and acts of love, opinion, we honor the past by moving forward into the future. and through service to others, living out the love that God has given us by giving to others. St. Luke’s Singles is committed to Will Mancini says in his book Unique Church, “For every provide a variety of activities in an open, accepting, and nonleader (or person) that surfs the waves of cultural change, denominational environment. there are a hundred who are stuck in a whirlpool vortex— and they feel they can’t keep their head above water… the If you or someone you know might be interested in our changes around them outpace their energy and discipline for Singles Ministry, I would invite you to either contact us new learning. Rather than rolling up their sleeves to think or pass on this article to them. You can always reach me at about their culture, they just grow too tired for the task. What thornsberryc@stlukesumc.com or 846-3404 x332. Join us do they do to justify their position? They simply define their and discover how God has given you a passion to live the life vision in terms of glorifying and propagating the past.” you were destined to live. n Change is difficult, no matter who you are. However, I think Rob and Will have got it right. We have to make room for — —

holidays

OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

Christmas CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

“Lift Up Your Heads!

Open Wide the Doors!”

Friday, December 2, 7:30PM Saturday, December 3, 4PM Sanctuary

Begin the Christmas season with the music and majesty of our many talented vocal and instrumental groups.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Wednesday, December 7, 7PM ($5 admission) Saturday, December 10, 7PM ($10 admission, includes dessert) Fellowship Hall The “Way-Off Broadway” Players present their rendition of the Charles Dickens’ classic.

Sponsored by St. Luke’s Singles Ministry.

LIVE NATIVITY

Sunday, December 11, 5 & 6:30PM Sanctuary The camels are back! Join us for this annual family-friendly re-enactment of the birth of Jesus.

HOPE CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE

Tuesday, December 13, 7PM Spiritual Life Center A brief yearly service to honor precious babies who will never be forgotten. Parents may light a candle, speak a name, or just listen to the beautiful flute and music of Carol Dennis.

Rev. Marsha Hutchinson, pastor.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Saturday, December 24

AT ST. LUKE’S SANCTUARY FAMILY SERVICE: 3PM CANDLELIGHT SERVICES: 5, 7, 9 & 11PM

AT THE GARDEN BEEF & BOARDS: 5 & 6:30PM OAK HILL: 5:30PM

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE Sunday, December 25, TBD, Sanctuary St. Luke’s will hold one worship service on Christmas morning.

There will be NO services at The Garden on Christmas Day, or Later@St. Luke’s service that evening.

CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

CHRISTMAS EVE EVE SERVICE

Later@St. Luke’s Sunday, December 18, 6PM Robertson Chapel

Friday, December 23, 7PM Sanctuary

A special service with Dr. Marion Miller, pastor.

LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE

Wednesday, December 21, 7PM Robertson Chapel A service on the longest night of the year (winter solstice) for those who find the holidays a difficult time of year.

Led by Rev. Marsha Hutchinson.

A candlelight service for those who may need to leave town on Christmas Eve, or who may wish to avoid the larger crowds.

CHRISTMAS EVE SINGLES’ OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, December 24 7-11PM, Parlor In celebration of the Advent season this year, our Singles Ministry would like to invite any singles or singles ministry participants from the past to join us for our Christmas Eve Open House. Join us for food, fellowship and fun. There is no cost for this event.

Come celebrate the Holy Family with our Singles Family!

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OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2011

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church • 00 West th Street • Indianapolis, Indiana 0

together in ministry everyday NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID INDIANAPOLIS, IN PERMIT NO. 1569

Address Service Requested

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN 2012 This fall, the church’s stewardship campaign theme is “Letting Go.” The campaign kicks off on Sunday, October 16 and will conclude with the consecration of our gifts to God of time, talent and treasure on Sunday, November 13.

What do you need to let go of in order to live more fully? Do you cling to notions and things rather than letting go and trusting God no matter what? Join us as we explore these ideas as a faith community.

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