Resurrection Bell Ringer
August, 2004
In Our Prayers . . . .
Recovering from Hospitalization: Laura Salladay, Kathy Fandrei, Carol Neiman, Karen Belviy
In Sympathy: Ed Kistler, for the death of his mother; Kris Hornsby, for the death of her grandmother, Mildred Neilsen; Paige Huber, for the death of her grandfather, Harry Ertel; Todd Wiernicki, for the death of his aunt, Ruth McCoy; Linda Biltz, for the death of her aunt, Arnett Bair
In Celebration: Jason & Michelle Dew, for the birth of their daughter, Megan Rae; Chris & Michelle Dial, for the birth of their son, Ryan Jacob
Friends and Family of the Congregation in need of God’s presence and comfort: Lois Brammann; Larry (Lynn Noeske’s brother); Emerson Ropp; Jenni Corbin; Joe Harmon
Mark Your September Calendars Ahead . . . .
9/7 Crossways begins
9/11 RLC Golf Outing
9/18 “Lost & Found” Concert at University of Indianapolis
9/25-26 Olivet Retreat
S.S. Discipleship Open House
On Sunday, August 15th at 9:30am, join us for an Open House to “tour the ship” and check out the workshops for our new Resurrection Sunday School program.
You Won’t Want to Miss The Boat!
The S.S. Discipleship will set sail on Sunday, August 22 at 9:30am. Children will be receiving their “boarding passes” the first week of August. Prepare to sail through the Bible lessons!
The Parables of the Lost Sheep
and the Lost Coin
During the first 6-week rotation this fall, our youth will learn the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin at the following stations:
Peter’s Port (computers) God’s Gallery (cooking)
Resurrection Reef (games) Noah’s Art (art)
Seaside Cinema (movies) Jonah’s Whales-Tales (drama)
Your child (pre-K through 5th grade) will rotate weekly through each of these workshops. Come to the Safe Harbor (in front of the Youth Room) to see where your child will be stationed each week.
From the Staff . . . .
Dear Resurrection People:
Making Disciples
I just finished browsing through a CD-ROM with that title from Augsburg Fortress. It highlighted “Methods and Materials from Mission-Focused Congregations” in our ELCA. It was inspiring and encouraging to learn about grassroots methods of evangelism and discipleship, developed and field-tested by nine diverse congregations from across the country. It was also heartening to realize that, here at Resurrection, we are doing many of the same things.
Welcome, Grow, Send
Most of those congregations had very intentionally developed a mission statement that in some form or another said that they were all about welcoming people in, helping them grow in faith, and sending them out to care. They were all vibrant congregations with a clear sense of God’s calling. All said they were determined to make disciples, not just members. I hope that sounds familiar to you!!
August Beginnings
This newsletter brings details of our many programmatic “start-ups” this month: Choirs begin; Faith-Builders Confirmation Ministry for 6-8th graders starts Sunday, August 22 at 5:30 with a Parent/Student Learning Event; the “S.S. Discipleship” our exciting new rotation-model of Sunday School previews an open house on August 15th and “sets sail” on the 22nd (your kids will not want to miss it!); and Crossways! A Bible Survey previews on 9:30am Sunday mornings beginning on the 22nd. Even the consecration/installation of Julie Peralta as our new Director of Youth Discipleship on Saturday, August 14th, is a part of the mission-minded focus of Resurrection. And that’s no virtual reality CD-ROM – catch it live and in person here at RLC!!!
In Christ’s Service,
Everyone can be a
LIFESAVER . . . .
Donations and supplies needed for this new style of Sunday School are posted on lifesavers on the bulletin board outside the youth room. This list will be continuous and constantly changing as new rotations are developing. Please get in the habit of checking this periodically. Many times an item could be a “loan” for a certain rotation. Other items might be gently used. The items needed to start up our program range from computers to old costumes, bible era vases and costumes to nautical-theme items. It’s an interesting list so come down and check it out. Who knows what you might find lurking in your own basement that would make an awesome prop!
Let’s Decorate . . . .
We are having an all day decorating party at Resurrection to get everything ship-shape for Sunday School. All are invited to help on Tuesday, August 3rd from 2-10pm. All kinds of help is needed, including painting, decorating, and setting up computers. Creative ideas are welcome! Plus we will eat pizza at 6pm!
Help is Needed . . . .
We still need teachers for the next rotation of Sunday School. The Creation Rotation runs from Oct. 10-Nov. 21 and the Advent Rotation runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 19. As a teacher, you teach the same workshop for 6 weeks – only the age group of the kids will change each week. There is a sign-up sheet outside the youth room where you can sign-up for a tour of duty.
Fourth Grader’s
Bible Sunday . . . .
We will be recognizing the following Fourth Graders on Sunday, August 29th as we present each of them with The New Student Bible (NRSV):
Luke AndersenAmanda Dunn
Danielle BeedleHunter Hickman
Olivia BlakeJake Johnson
Chase BurtonErika Petersen
Kaitlin CraneyErika Smith
Max DoughtyBrittany Toney
We pray for their continued growth as students of God’s Word.
(Note: if your fourth grader is not on this list, please contact the Church Office at 881-7854).
Indians Game . . . .
Come join us for an Indianapolis Indians Game August 7th at 7pm at Victory Field! Group rate tickets are $7 (Reserved Seats). Purchase tickets in the narthex. Call Penny Welch with any questions (861-3948). Great family fun!
Fall Worship Schedule . . . .
Don’t forget, we return to our regular worship times on Sunday, August 22nd.
5:30pm Saturday Worship
8:00am Sunday Worship
9:30am Sunday School
10:45am Sunday Worship
Men’s Breakfast . . . .
The Men’s Breakfast will meet Saturday, August 14th with breakfast at 7:30am and the Bible Study from 8:00-9:00am. The series, Loving Your Wife – Strengthening Your Marriage in a Fallen World continues with a discussion entitled “Husbands Ought to Love Their Wives as Their Own Bodies.” There is no limit to who can come, and all you need bring is a bible and a willing heart. See you on August 14th at 7:30am.
Attention 6th, 7th & 8th Graders & Parents . . . .
We will have a FaithBuilders (RLC Confirmation) Overview Meeting and the first class on Sunday, August 22nd, at 5:30pm. Please do not miss this important meeting!
Tuesday Mornings . . . .
Tuesday Mornings is a new group at RLC for sharing some great fellowship time. We explore different places every Tuesday morning at 10:00am. Bring your lunch and your sense of adventure! Anyone is welcome. Bring a friend! August events:
8/3 Indianapolis Zoo
8/10 Garfield Park Conservatory
Jungle Tales Deluxe III,
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
8/17 Holiday Park
8/24 Indpls. Children’s Museum –
Dinosphere
8/31 Perry Park
RLC Golf Outing . . . .
The RLC Golf Outing, benefitting the Good Samaritan Fund, will be Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004 at Valle Vista Golf Course. We will play Florida Scramble with 4-man teams. Registration will be at 1:00pm. The registration fee is $85.00 which includes green fees, cart, dinner, one mulligan, entry into skins contest and entry into hole-in-one contest. $10,000 will be awarded for the first hole-in- one on hole #3. All other Par 3 holes will have special prizes. Register by Sept. 3 on-line at RLCIndy.org or pick up a registration form in the Narthex.
With praise and thanksgiving
to Almighty God,
you are cordially invited to attend
the Commissioning/Installation of
Julie Faye Schuessler Peralta
on Saturday, August 14th
during our 5:30 worship service.
Reception to follow
Welcome Julie and Andy!
As far as siblings . . . there is only my younger brother, Chad and I. Chad resides in Columbia, Missouri with his wife, Ashley. In 1989, I left Jackson, Missouri on an adventure to Waverly, Iowa to attend Wartburg College. In 1994 I received my BA in music with intense studies in music therapy/psychology. The summer of ’94 I was a Day Camp Director for a Lutheran camp in Wisconsin traveling between Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. August of that year I moved to Greenfield, Indiana to become the Director of Christian Education and Youth at St. James Lutheran Church. During this time in Indiana I met my husband, Andy. We were married in September of 1997 back in SE Missouri. In May 2003 I completed my MA in Christian Education and Youth at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
Andy was born in New York City, New York and he claims stake to it too! However when Andy was two years old (his father), Jose took a surgeon’s position in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Andy attended Ball State University in
Muncie, Indiana and received his BS degree in Architecture. You will discover Andy is a roller coaster “junkie.” One of his dreams is to design in that industry. However, recently he has become passionate about mass transit, i.e. buses, trains, rail systems in cities. Andy is the youngest with two sisters, Suzanne and Liz. Liz, her husband, Andy, and our two nephews, Nick & Ben reside in Evansville, Indiana. Suzanne is planning a September wedding and lives in the Indy area. Andy’s mother, Awilda, moved back to Indy after Jose’s passing in 2000; it is wonderful to be able to spend time with family.
Krissie, our 7 year old doggie, loves treats! She is our very spoiled spitz. Spitz dogs (also known as American Eskimos) are all white and fluffy with a curly tail. She believes she is the queen of our “roost.”
As a family we enjoy camping and visiting state parks along with taking walks. Julie & Andy enjoy traveling, visiting family and friends. Along with working on their 1921 historical home in Irvington.
We are very excited about our new church home and are looking forward to meeting each of you. Our prayers have been with you and will continue to be with you as we grow together in the ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Shalom and Blessings to y’all –
The Peralta’s
Julie – Andy – Krissie
3rd Grade and Up . . . .
A Children’s Handbell Choir will be starting at Resurrection. Practices will be on Wednesdays at 7pm starting Aug. 25. If interested, please call Joyce Schmelzer 887-6108.
All Choirs to begin
August 25th . . . .
All Choirs (Grace Notes, Children’s Choir, Cherub Choir, Senior Choir, and the new Children’s Handbell Choir) are scheduled to begin rehearsing on the evening of Wednesday, August 25. All are welcome!
♪ Grace Notes (Handbell Choir) - 6:00pm
♪ Children’s Choir - 6:15pm (3rd- 6th grade)
♪ Cherub Choir - 6:30pm (those who turned four by 7/1/04 thru 2nd grade)
♪ Senior Choir - 7:00pm (high school thru adult)
♪ Children’s Handbell Choir - 7:00pm (3rd grade and up)
Bible Survey Course to begin September 7
Tuesday afternoons and evenings . . . .
The Big Picture . . . .
Crossways walks through the entire narrative of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Participants can finally “put together” disconnected Bible stories and understand the context and background of the entire Bible.
Visual Tools . . . .
“A picture is worth 1,000 words.” Crossways contains 147 color illustrations that symbolize key events and themes -- making learning, remembering and sharing the Bible’s message much easier.
Sound Theology . . . .
Written by Lutheran scholar Harry Wendt, Crossways presents Jesus as the final Interpreter, and His mission as the final Interpretation, of all Scripture. It stresses grace as the key word, and Jesus’ call to servanthood as the response to grace.
Depth and Detail . . . .
Crossways is designed for adults and mature youth who want to work through the Scriptures in detail. Taught in six sections of 10 units each, the course is usually a two-year adventure.
Great Teaching Model . . . .
“Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Involve me, and I will understand.” Though Pr. Dave and Pr. Mitch will be the leaders, Crossways is not a lecture course. Each week, a study sheet helps students dig into the biblical text prior to each group section. Then, at the session, visual and oral presentations will lead a discussion of the text. A written summary of the biblical section will then be distributed. By the end of the course, each participant will have a bound reference book of nearly 1,000 pages, including a fold-out color time-line that places each book of the Bible into its historical context. Note the rhythm of the teaching: prepare by reading the Bible, engage the Bible with pictures and discussion with the teacher and others, and review the meaning of the Bible with the Crossways materials.
A Great Investment . . . .
The sessions will last an hour and a half, from September to late May, with several weeks off (holidays, etc.) Though the time commitment is not insignificant, the rewards are tremendous. Many people report that Crossways has changed their lives – because, of course, the Word of God is at the heart of this experience. Since the course was launched in 1979, it has been translated into more than 35 languages and used by all major Christian denominations in 60 countries. RLC will assist anyone who cannot afford the $30 per year ($60 total) fee for all the materials -- which will become a permanent part of each participant’s own library.
Crossways will be held Tuesdays at 12:30-2:00pm and 7:30-9:00pm. Please call Pr. Dave with any questions at 881-7854 or PrDave@RLCIndy.org.
Many Thanks from the Mikkelsons . . . .
Dear Resurrection Family, July 19, 2004
This letter comes belated but with much heartfelt thanks. We are still overwhelmed and amazed at the generosity that was shown to us at our farewell dinner. The pastoral gifts of the beautiful stoles, the leather bound and engraved books for worship, the communion set are just a continued affirmation of God’s call to ordained ministry. The book that Karen Oster so lovingly put together of all of your cards and letters has been very meaningful and will be something we will forever treasure. As will all of you. We will always be grateful for the time that we had at Resurrection Lutheran, for the friends that we made, for the ministry we shared, for the memories of our wonderful church family. Your love, support and encouragement have been an unbelievable blessing to all of us and we remain forever grateful.
Our family is adjusting to our new surroundings. Apartment life is a big change for all of us. We are “comfortably” settled into our home with Josiah, Marah, Dinah and Isaiah sharing one of the bedrooms (complete with a twin-over full bunkbed - a constant source of entertainment!) and Keturah is in her own room which converts to the playroom by day. Not much room to wrestle around! Our apartment is located on the second floor next to the elevator. For those of you who have spent any time “chasing” Isaiah, you will understand when I say that he has “joyfully” escaped out of the building several times. He thinks it’s funny – Mom does not!
There is a nice playground outside with a large field and a lot of parks near by as well as the Como Zoo. We have found a lake with a great sandy beach not far from us as well. We’ve already been to the Mall of America a couple of times and the kids think that Camp Snoopy is great. Scott took Josiah, Marah and Dinah to a Twins game one night and Josiah can hardly wait for the Vikings Training Camp to begin!
It has been wonderful to be closer to our family again. We have already spent a few weekends at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and the children and I just returned from spending a week there while Scott stayed behind for class.
Yes, Scott started class on June 7 (Hebrew - which he has really enjoyed) and is now in his last week. He began a new class just this week that will end in early August. Then he has a break until September when he begins a very full load of classes. So, we are enjoying time with daddy while we can!
Again, we want to thank you for all that you are and all that you have done for us. Our hearts swell up with love and we feel the ache of missing you. We look forward to seeing you again.
And remember that we LOVE visitors and you are always welcome if you are ever in the area.
In His love, Scott and Karen, Josiah, Marah, Dinah, Isaiah & Keturah
1570 Eustis St. #222; Lauderdale, MN 55108; (651) 917-3531; Scott - smikkels@luthersem.edu Karen - kdmikkelson@yahoo.com; Josiah - vikingsfanjosiah@yahoo.com
Marah - horsefanmarah@yahoo.com; Dinah - flowerpowerdinah@yahoo.com