April 27, 2015 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements, Mission Updates, News, Press Releases
Last fall, St. Paul’s celebrated “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday by rolling up their yellow sleeves and digging in to help spruce up Third Street Park. Now we hope to build upon the ministry we have begun, and look for more ways to share the love of Jesus Christ with our neighbors. Leading up to this year’s return to Third Street park, we are looking for more ways to listen, care, go, and connect to God’s mission in this neighborhood. But it can only happen if people commit to being involved! Everyone is encouraged to break out their yellow shirts and participate in the following events:
Operation Spring Clean-up
Tuesday, May 5 from 5p-8p
What is it? A city-wide campaign to clean up the city
What should I expect? The city will be providing all the materials needed and a list of work that needs to be done. It will include pulling weeds, picking up trash, and painting the playground equipment.
Why be involved? This is an excellent opportunity to go into the neighborhood, connect with community-minded neighbors, and show that St. Paul’s cares about the well-being of this park and neighborhood.
How can I help? Put on your God’s Work. Our Hands. T-shirt and show up to the park! City park department workers and volunteers will be on hand to direct volunteers. If you don’t feel up to working, you could stop by with some waters and treats for the other volunteers!
Neighborhood Walk
June 24, 5p-7p
What is it? A walk through the neighborhood to invite people to the service & picnic in the park.
What should I expect? We’ll meet at Third Street Park for instructions and prayer. Then participants will be sent out into the neighborhood in pairs or triads to canvass the area.
Why be involved? Caring and helping begins with listening. We will listen to the community through observation and conversation with those who live there, and invite them to connect with St. Paul’s at worship in Third St Park the following Sunday.
How can I help? Help spread the word and encourage people to participate. Volunteers will also be needed to create invitations for worship and help coordinate the walk ahead of time. And then show up wearing yellow! We’ll gather at the park briefly at five, then gather together around 6:30pm for a short debriefing.
Worship & Picnic in 3rd St Park
June 28, 10:30 am, picnic to follow
What is it? Worship outdoors, followed by a picnic.
What should I expect? Service will begin at 10:30 and will follow the liturgy we have traditionally used in our park services, including communion. Afterwards, a picnic will be served.
Why be involved? Worship is central to our being as Christians. Through worship, we show care for and listen for God. Through Word & Sacrament, we are receive God’s care for us and the strength to go into the world, to live and serve God and neighbor.
How can I help? We will need several people to pitch in and provide food. The altar guild will also need help setting up for the service that morning. On the day of the event, show up, be bold, be kind. Engage one another and the community in conversation.
Preparations for God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday
Early August (date & time to be determined)
What is it? Planning for activities and assigning roles for “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday.
What should I expect? Assessing our work from the previous year, sharing what we have heard or learned over the summer, short time of brainstorming, and planning activities and publicity.
Why be involved? By tending to the work of preparation, we show we care and create ways for others to connect to God’s work. By working together, we learn to listen and connect to each other in faithful and productive ways.
How can I help? If you would like to be part of the planning team, please email the church office.
God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday
Sunday, Sept 13, 9a-2p
What is it? We will begin with a short morning prayer liturgy and communion. We will then break off into groups and assign the work to be done. Lunch will be provided.
What should I expect? To get dirty! We will begin with a short morning prayer liturgy and communion. We will then break off into groups and assign the work to be done. Lunch will be provided.
Why be involved? We are called by God to go and participate boldly in God’s reconciling work in the world. By caring for creation, we care for God and our neighbors, and connect with one another, the church, and the community through loving acts of service.
How can I help? Plan to attend service and stay to help out. Share the event with others, via Facebook, email and word of mouth. We will also hoping to provide activities after service for the children, and are currently accepting ideas. More specifics about tools, supplies, etc. will be available after the planning meeting.
January 23, 2015 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Mission Updates, Press Releases, Proclaiming
Press Release: Art of the Passion
For Immediate Release
Twenty-four Artists Featured in Art of the Passion Art Exhibit
Twenty-four award winning and notable artists will be featured in a four week religious art exhibit commemorating Holy Week and Easter through a collaborative depiction of the Stations of the Cross and the Stations of the Light.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Frankfort, Indiana, is host to the reflective and meditative gallery-walk March 22-April 18, 2015.
A juried exhibit, Art of the Passion commemorates Christ’s passion and resurrection.
The 2015 exhibit brings together the creative work of a variety of artists into a meditative gallery walk.
The exhibit features two sets of stations.
Leading up to Good Friday, Stations of the Cross invites visitors to a deeper experience of the story of Christ’s journey to the cross.
Then, on Easter Sunday, Stations of the Light will open and continue the story with the Resurrection, as it guides visitors along the disciples’ walk with Jesus to Pentecost.
Twenty four artists have been chosen to interpret an assigned station within their own interpretation and style. The result is a dynamic and contemplative experience for the visitor and artist alike.
Featured Artists for 2015
Stations of the Cross
March 22-April 3
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 4-8
Saturday: 10-4
Sunday: 12-3
Ann Dahman: Logansport, IN
Teresa Martin: Julian, PA
Brenda Buckingham Ehrmann: Frankfort, IN
He Qi: Minneapolis, MN
Barb Kinsler: Frankfort, IN
Von Biggs: Indianapolis, IN
Thea Wilder: Frankfort, IN
Kerry Jackson: Indianapolis, IN
Bridgid Manning Hamilton: Lafayette, IN
Daniel Driggs: Frankfort, IN
Ann Lahr: Corvalis, OR
Ed Selvidge: Camden, IN
Mirvia Eckert: Indianapolis, IN
Susan Fox: Pittsboro, IN
Stations of the Light
April 5-April 18
Monday-Friday: 4-8
Saturday: 10-4
Sunday: 12-3
Beth Crawford: Denver, CO
Elias Garza: Frankfort, IN
Trish Williams: Peoria, IL
Daniel Driggs: Frankfort, IN
Stephanie Robertson: Indianapolis, IN
Brenda Buckingham Ehrmann, Frankfort, IN
Laura Fox-Wallis: Rock Hill, SC
Dwayne Daehler: Lafayette, IN
Cheryl Kaldahl: Lafayette, IN
Wayne Schedler: Lexington, KY
Marge Burkholder: Plymouth, IN
Von Biggs: Indianapolis, IN
Moises Garcia: North Manchester, IN
He Qi: Minneapolis, MN
VENUE
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
2029 S State Road 39
Frankfort, IN 46041
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pastor Joshua Burkholder
pastor@stpauls39.org
765.654.5933
Carol Rodibaugh
carolrodibaugh@yahoo.com
765.586.5172
Group Tours: Mondays – Fridays available, by appointment only
Contact:
Marshall Smith
mpsmith900@sbcglobal.net
765.659.1615
September 25, 2014 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements, Mission Updates, Proclaiming, Sharing
Written by Carol Rodibaugh
Members and friends of St. Paul’s Lutheran church participated for the first time in service for “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday. We got our hands in the dirt of a local park in our town of Frankfort, Indiana; one that was well used but had passed its prime.
So we loaded up our trowels, hoses, weed-eaters, rakes, hoes, wheelbarrows, paints, flowers and plants, and spent the day, beginning with a short service, in freshening and beautifying certain areas of the park. The community, and especially the surrounding neighborhood were invited to join us through the use of flyers and a newspaper announcement. Our local Parks Department was delighted and helpful by providing their suggestions, picnic tables and trash cans.
There was plenty of opportunity for service in different areas, as we also provided two craft stations for children to paint and decorate flower pots to take home, make their hand prints into flowerpot picks, and participate in a brief lesson with coloring opportunities.
In another area of the park, chalk and space was available for chalk art. Others concentrated on providing a light lunch and drinks, offered just at the right time for a boost of energy. And, gratefully, the weather on September 7 was absolutely beautiful.
But, for me, the most touching part came at the very end of the day as I was loading up my car with the last of the art supplies. A young girl who had been with me most of the day saw me leaving and rushed up to stop me. She declared excitedly, “I have a statement to make!”. Smiling at her grown-up exclamation, I asked what her statement was. And she said ” I declare this day a success!” And then we warmly hugged.
I’m not sure I’ll see that little girl again, but that affirmation and hug, at the end of a wonderful (but tiring day), made my heart sing. And now, when I think of God’s work, Our Hands Sunday, two weeks past, it is the thing I think of first.
It took a lot of “hands” to make the day possible. “Thank you” to all the volunteers, especially,
- Carol Rodibaugh & David Rojas, for their careful & creative planning
- Max Rodibaugh & the City of Frankfort Parks Dept, for planning & organizing the landscaping
- Karen Reidenbach & Teresa Mudd, for providing lunch; (And to Frito Lay for providing the chips!)
- Erik Dircks & Linda Mooney, for the fantastic photos
- To all the neighbors, who pitched in a little labor and a lot of love
- and to all those who came out and got their hands a little dirty, doing God’s work.
January 12, 2014 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements, News, Press Releases, Sharing
The He Qi art display at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be open to the public during the following day & hours:
Sunday, January 12: The gallery will open following morning worship (which begins at 10:30 a.m.) and remain open through 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 14: The gallery will be open from 3 p.m. -6 p.m.
Friday, January 17: The gallery will open immediately following the presentation by artist He Qi (7:00 p.m./Doors open at 6:30 p.m.) and remain open during the following reception until 9 p.m.
A limited number of the newly published “Art of He Qi” and select posters of artwork will be available for purchase.
If you have a small group that would like to visit the exhibit or would like to visit at another specific time, please contact the church at office@stpauls39.org.
September 17, 2013 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements, Sharing
We all have a story to tell. But sharing our faith sometimes proves difficult. And yet, as we see in Scripture, our stories are the most powerful witness we have.
We just have to learn how to tell it.
Stories of Faith is an opportunity for Christians to discover, refine, & share their own story of faith.
In this series, participants will reflect together on the stories of people from the Bible and explore how these stories relate to their own faith story.
Participants will also receive practical tools and practice sharing their faith by having the opportunity to lead a session on a biblical person of their choosing and by working together on shaping and sharing their own faith stories.
The series will begin with two “introductory” sessions. The first session, “Stories of Faith,” will explore stories of faith in the Bible. The following week, “Storytelling as Evangelism” will discuss the elements of a good story and why storytelling is a vital part of our Christian life. A third introductory session may be held if needed.
Following the introduction, participants will work together to identify a Biblical person, reflect on how the biblical story reflects their own experience (or vice versa), and practice telling their story and inviting others to share their own stories by facilitating the discussion on the Biblical story they have chosen.
After each participant has the opportunity to share, participants will discuss and identify specific ways each of them will share their story with others.
All stories welcome. Come share your story!
Tuesday Night Bible Study meets every week from 6:30p-8:00p at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Get directions from Google.
Series Schedule
September 17: Stories of Faith
Key Text: Hebrews 11
September 24: Storytelling as Evangelism
Key Text: Matthew 28:16-20
October: Storytelling Groups
October – December Presentation of Faith Stories
December 10 or 17 Review
August 29, 2013 / by stplc / 1 Comment / Filed under Mission Updates, Sharing
Thank you to everyone who took a little time to sit down and share their stories during our Listening Campaign this past summer! Having been the first experience of a listening campaign as a congregation, I wanted to offer some of my observations and highlight some of the things the Listening Team identified as learnings in this process.
Background
As part of St. Paul’s continual mission discernment, each year three “priorities” are identified as focus areas of St. Paul’s Mission. These three priorities are used to shape the way our council, ministries and members are live out that mission together through ministry programs, worship, and events. This past year, the identified priorities were: Faithful in Worship, Growing as Stewards, and Continued Mission Discernment (Read more about these priorities here).
The second priority, Growing as Stewards, includes a special focus on building relationships. This emerged from a number of experiences over the past three years which highlighted that (1) active participants in St. Paul’s ministries do not know one another as well as we typically assume, and, (2) that our relationships are one of the most valuable things we steward as Christians.
This past summer, the focus on building relationships was lived out through St. Paul’s Listening Campaign. The campaign launched in March when members of St. Paul’s were trained in the art of one-to-one conversation and formed a “Listening Team.” Over the next several weeks, this team led the listening process by planning, executing, and debriefing conversations. A final report of this phase of listening was reported to the congregation on Pentecost.
Reflections on the process
The best part of the campaign for the Listening Team was the opportunity to become more familiar with other members of the congregation and hear their stories. It takes a certain amount of courage to even ask people to sit down together. But overall, the team found that people were excited and willing to talk and swap stories.
The goals of the listening campaign were fourfold:
- Establish or deepen relationships
- Learn what people value, who they really are, and how their life experiences have shaped them
- Find commonly held interests, goals or values
- Through attentiveness and inquiry, gain new clarity about one’s self and self-appreciation
There were times during the campaign that the team felt a lack of clarity around the goals. Early on, the team had decided not to “bring up” St. Paul’s unless the other person mentioned it first. As the campaign went on, members of the team expressed desire to apply a more focused questioning around a particular issue. This created a real tension for the team – how to discover the common pressures and passions of members without trying to lead the conversation to a particular end through a set of predetermined questions.
This tension was probably most felt when the team met to reflect on their experiences and what they heard in order to prepare for the report to the congregation. In preparing for the report to the congregation, the team expressed that they did not get a sense of closure from the first phase. There was still a lot to debrief and unpack, but the short amount of time for the turnaround did not allow for enough conversation.
The team desperately desired to come up with a report and recommendation that would convey the richness and depth of all that they had heard. Following the Pentecost report, the general consensus of the team was that the identified action steps did not seem to adequately address the pressures and passions that were uncovered in the conversations. Additionally, the action steps did not appear to contain any “risk,” which may have contributed to a lack of enthusiasm.
Going forward
When the team discussed how best to move forward, a key component was finding ways to create opportunities for people to share their stories and build relationships with others. The Table Talks will be helpful in this regard, but there will likely be more relational work to be done in the months ahead.
In identifying their own “next steps,” the Listening Team decided to focus on supporting the work of the grant team through one-on-one conversations with applicants/references and hosting “research meetings” to build relationship with others actively serving the community, learn what motivates them and they got to this point in their life, and discover where their goals and values overlap with St. Paul’s.
If you are curious about the listening campaign, wonder why St. Paul’s is doing this, or are interested in being a leader in the process, send a note to Pastor Joshua, who would love the opportunity to sit down together and discuss these things further.
February 17, 2013 / by stplc / 5 Comments / Filed under Mission Updates, News, Press Releases, Proclaiming, Uncategorized
In commemoration of Holy Week, Art of the Passion provides a way for visitors to reflect more deeply on the passion of God revealed in Christ. This unique exhibit brings together the work of several different artists and is hosted by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Frankfort, IN).
The Stations of the Cross was originally developed for those who made pilgrimage to the Holy Land to retrace the steps of Jesus. Particular places in the Holy Land were marked for prayer and meditation on a particular moment of Christ’s passion. This idea was eventually brought to Europe, where monastic communities created a series of images or objects as a way for those who could not travel to the Holy Land to experience walking through the story of Christ’s passion.
Art of the Passion continues in this tradition by inviting a variety of artists to express their own creative interpretations of these stations and bringing those pieces together to form a meditative gallery walk that tells the story of Christ’s journey to the cross.
New artwork is displayed each year and the exhibit is open to the public during the week preceding Easter. Visitors are provided the choice of a written devotional guide (provided in English and Spanish) or an audio recording of the readings and reflections.
The 2013 Art of the Passion will be open March 24th – 30th (exhibit hours listed below) and will feature the following artists:
Linda Witte Henke Mixed Media
Wayne Shedler Leather Work
Ed Selvidge Painting
Stephanie Robertson Fabric
Mirvia Rivera-Eckert Acrylic Painting
Ann Lahr Wood Fired Ceramic
Barbara Kinsler Block Print
Cheryl Kaldahl
Elias Garza Mixed Media/Block Printing
Lauren Ehrman Block Print
Daniel Driggs Acrylic Painting
Bill Dahman Sculpture
Ann Dahman Color Etching on Granite
Dwayne Daehler Photography
Marge Burkholder
You can read more about these artists and follow the event on the Art of the Passion Facebook page!
It is St. Paul’s prayer that the creative expression of these artists will allow you to enter into the experience of Holy Week in a new way and rediscover in greater depth God’s passionate love for you.
Exhibit Hours:
The exhibit will be on display at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Indiana from March 24th through March 30th, 2013 during the following hours:
Sunday 12p – 4p
Mon-Thurs 10a – 2p, 3p – 8p
Good Friday 10a -8p
Holy Saturday 12p -6p
December 3, 2012 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements
Advent is a time of watching & waiting – of preparation and devotion. But more often than not, the days leading up to the Christmas holiday are quickly filled with tasks, errands, and obligations. Expectations – both those placed on us by others and those we place on ourselves – replace moments of anticipation. Written devotionals, while helpful for some, only fill our minds with more words and worries. What we desire – what we need – is a call to quietude and permission to enter Advent with imagination, creativity, and wonder.
What if creating art could be a way to enter Advent? This weekly challenge is a way to allow yourself the space to create, share & inspire. Each week in Advent, you are invited to create space for yourself to enter Advent by creating art. Here’s how:
1. Log into Facebook and look up the theme for each week in Advent on the Art of the Passion fanpage. The current post is a bit late, but future posts will be up on the preceding Saturday.
2. Watch for a word or phrase, image or experience that speaks to you about a weekly theme on Advent. If you go attend a church, you may have heard or seen something. Maybe you use a devotional or peruse the appointed Scripture. Maybe it comes from somewhere else. Don’t be overwhelmed – choose something you already do, and watch for the Advent theme.
2. Starting from that focus point (or general idea)- sketch, draw, paint, sew, photograph, weave, or otherwise visually explore the theme. Limit yourself to no more than one hour. Of course, we won’t know you if you spend more than an hour, but don’t let it be a stressful experience – it’s OK to allow it to be incomplete if the time runs out.
3. Log back into Facebook and share your creative exploration on the Art of the Passion fanpage. Don’t worry about it being incomplete or imperfect – the whole season of Advent is a kind of “work in progress.”
Our hope is that by participating, you will find a space for your own creativity to be drawn into preparation and devotion; and that we all will be encouraged in our own watching & waiting.
November 29, 2012 / by stplc / Make A Comment / Filed under Announcements, Growing, Mission Updates, Proclaiming, Sharing
At its last meeting, the church council identified three “Mission Priorities” for St. Paul’s next year. These priorities (discussed below) have given shape to the 2013 budget proposal that will be discussed at the annual meeting on December 9th. An intentional focusing on building relationships, both new and old, underlies all three priorities. Through building relationships, we not only grow as faithful followers of Christ, but take part in building the kingdom of God a little closer to home.
Faithful in Worship
Since worship occupies a central place in our identity as a community of faith, council leaders discussed ways to encourage regular worship attendance among members, extending personal invitations to those without a church home, and building relationships with those who come to worship on Sunday morning.
Part of this includes continuing to make opportunities to serve in worship (as Assisting Minister, Reader, etc) more available and for those who regularly fill these roles to intentionally invite others to step into these roles. And this includes an emphasis on making worship more accessible to families by finding creative ways for children to actively participate in worship and providing more options for parents, like nursery care.
We will also proclaim God’s love through the Art of the Passion. Last year, the exhibit reached over 350 people, many of whom do not regularly attend church. In 2013, we hope to find ways to improve and expand the exhibit, so that the good news may be extended even further into the world.
Growing as Stewards
The second priority is that our members and regular attenders continue to grow as stewards of the gifts that God has given them. Our past stewardship campaigns and cottage meetings have laid a great foundation for understanding our role as stewards of God’s gifts. The particular ways our mission is lived out is shaped by the individual gifts of the people who recognize how God has blessed them and are eager (even if sometimes reluctant) to share it with the world. Throughout the year, we will be using the wholeness wheel to identify and encourage each other to grow as stewards of God’s gifts.
This process will begin early in the year, with an exciting chance for everyone to get involved through a congregational listening campaign. A handful of people will be trained in the art of one-to-one conversations and then will schedule times to interview other members in a mutual discovery of passions & gifts.
Continued Mission Discernment
The third priority identified is that St. Paul’s continues the process of mission discernment. In the past, churches have engaged in this kind of visioning once in a blue moon – and more often than not, it involved some kind of building campaign. However, mission is a ongoing process of discernment.
Building upon the discernment done in 2010, we’ll continue working with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod’s Latino Strategy Board and implementing the partnership objectives to discover ways that we can overcome cultural boundaries in our community and become a community that truly shares God’s love with all people.
A big part of discernment is listening. So once our congregational listening campaign is completed, we’ll turn it outwards, inviting more members to be trained and listening to those in the community who are not participants at St. Paul’s. All of this will come together at our Triennial Mission Discernment Retreat, where participants at St. Paul’s will have the opportunity to select and award a grant to a local agency with whom we would like to work together to make God’s love known in our community.
Through focusing time and resources on these priorities, St. Paul’s will continue to grow as vital ministry in our community. There is much to be excited about in the coming year and a lot of ways to be involved. No matter how young or old, near or far, quiet or boisterous you may be, there is a place for you. There will be a chance to discuss these priorities and share your ideas at the congregational meeting and weeks following.
In the meantime, keep watching announcements in church or on Facebook; talk about it with others and ask a lot of questions; share it with God in prayer; think about what part you a most interested or gifted for – and together we’ll continue to share and proclaim the love of God, while growing in faith as followers of Christ.
The 2012-2013 Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 9th following worship.
