Death: Received by our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal joy in heaven was Loren Mitchell. May the comfort and hope of Jesus’ resurrection sustain Christina and all who mourn his death.

Baptisms: Received in the joy of the Christian community through Holy Baptism was Lucy Elaine Richardson. Lucy was born on November 21, 2005 and is the daughter of Shaun & Melinda Richardson.

Recovering from Hospitalization: Gurry Milburn, Joyce Schmelzer, Jim Meyer, Andrew McCoy,

In Celebration: Brian & Marcy Hrankowsky, for the birth of their daughter, Hannah Elizabeth.

Friends & Family: Billy Berry, Jeff Brown, Darlene Riley, Vera Cutter, Betty Lutane, Deb McDonnell

Thanks to the Hubers for taking care of the church property during Dudley’s vacation. We really appreciate all that you did!

One of the things that keeps pastors awake at night is worrying about how to care for everyone in their congregation. It is an unrealistic expectation – regardless of congregation size – that the pastor(s) can provide care for everyone in the congregation. However, most pastors entered the ministry because they truly care about people, and it really bothers us when – for whatever reason – someone in the congregation does not receive the care they need.

Pastor Dave and I have discussed this reality on numerous occasions. It was his hope – and that of the congregation as a whole – that with the addition of a second pastor on staff, we would be able to provide more care to folks. It is still not enough. The congregation continues to grow, the needs are so many and varied, and there are demands and expectations from all of the other areas of ministry. We find ourselves still moving from crisis to crisis. Thankfully, we have a gifted congregation and many folks reach out to one another to help when needs are known. In smaller congregations, that kind of care seems to just happen. But as the congregation grows and not everyone knows everyone else, the overall level of care decreases. At that point, it is imperative that the congregation become more intentional about caring.

I don’t think anyone would quibble with the notion that God calls us to care for one another. The difficulty for many of us is that we simply are unsure of how to do that. We may not feel equipped to meet a need – or we may not know how to connect that person to someone who can help them. What we need to do is raise everyone’s comfort level in caring for others with some basic skills and knowledge. We will address this need in the coming weeks during the Discipleship Hour. And then we will augment this universal caring attitude with folks who are trained in some specialized caring roles: Stephen Ministers and ChristCare Leaders.

We started a series on February 19 during the Discipleship Hour based on this book by Kenneth Haugk, who is the founder of Stephen Ministries, a psychologist, and an ELCA pastor. Everyone is encouraged to join us on any Sunday that you are able during this series. Our goal is to help everyone feel more comfortable in reaching out to care for others when we see a need. Don’t know what to say to someone when they have experienced a death in their family or some other crisis? We’ll talk about what is helpful – and what is not – in that kind of caring conversation. Feel like you ought to do something for someone that you see in need, but aren’t sure what it would be? We’ll talk about basic things we can do to put caring into action, and how to connect people to other resources for care. Along the way, we’ll also talk a bit about the specialized caring ministries of Stephen Ministers and ChristCare Leaders.

Stephen Ministry is one-on-one caregiving that brings the face of Christ into people’s lives. The Stephen Minister comes alongside someone to journey with them during a season of their life where it would be helpful to have someone to talk to each week who will listen without judging, engage in caring conversation, and pray with them. Of course, times of crisis – a death, loss of a job, hospitalization, etc. – are the first things that come to mind when one considers circumstances where a Stephen Minister would be helpful. But there are so many other times in our lives where it would be helpful to have someone journey alongside us for a time: birth of the first child, a major promotion, retirement, just moved to the area, last kid off to college, etc. Stephen Ministers take part in fifty hours of training and twice-monthly peer supervision in order to fully equip them for this very special kind of caring ministry.

ChristCare is a system of small group ministry where four to twelve people gather together to grow in faith and discipleship as they care for and support one another. Each group is led by a trained ChristCare Leader who pays attention to the group process and guides the group through the four essential aspects of ChristCare: Community Building & Care, Prayer & Worship, Biblical Equipping, and Missional Service. The group provides care for one another – like an extended family – through the normal ups and downs of life. ChristCare Leaders take part in forty hours of training and monthly supervision to equip them for this kind of specialized caring ministry.

Pastor Dave and I are truly excited about our current Discipleship Hour series, and about getting Stephen Ministry up and running to complement our current ChristCare ministry. Consider what it will mean for our community of faith to have everyone thinking more intentionally about caring for one another . . . then add in people participating in ChristCare groups to care for one another in the regular ups and downs of life . . . and Stephen Ministers walking alongside people during particularly challenging and trying times . . . and pastors available to respond to crisis situations and provide the care for which they are specially trained. This will help us to live out God’s call to us to love and serve our neighbor, and it will bring us closer to living out our Vision Statement and being that “welcoming community of faith.” Please join us during the Discipleship Hour – and pray about whether God may be calling you to serve as a Stephen Minister or ChristCare Leader.

Lent is a traditional time in the church year for repentance and renewal, of intentional focus on the cross of Christ and its central place in our lives. Contemporary culture might be seen as an enemy of Lent, a temptation away from these central values in Christian life. A Lutheran understanding of the cross, however, would proclaim the truth that God is everywhere, even where we would least expect to find God. If God appears with redeeming love in the sin and horror of the cross, in the seeming despair of tragedy and death, might God also appear in the movies?

As a part of Pr. Dave’s sabbatical studies last year, our Lenten midweek worship series focused on “faith and film” as we looked at images of Christ in contemporary cinema. This year’s theme – “Sin, Grace, and Human Transformation” – will once again use clips from award-winning movies in the Wednesday evening sermons to illustrate the cruciform power of God’s grace that we focus on during Lent. For those wishing to dig a bit deeper and experience a film in its complete context, on the following Saturday evening, immediately after the 5:30 service, we will screen the entire film in the Fellowship Hall and conclude with a brief discussion.

This year’s lineup of truly excellent films – all of them multiple award-winners – include two classics from the 80's that are on every list of spiritually significant films, two delightful family-friendly films from this past year, and two challenging films that speak mightily to the theme of sin, grace, and human transformation.

A down-and-out singer’s struggle for fame is over. His fight for respect was just beginning.

A Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission among the Indians.

Can anyone be truly good? Five saints, two boys, and millions of British Pounds.

March 25, 6:30pm “Because of Winn-Dixie” (rated PG for brief mild language)

Discover what happens when you go looking for a miracle . . . and a miracle comes looking for you. A dog transforms a town.

Directed by Ryan Little, starring Corbin Allred, Alexander Polinsky, Larry Bagby

April 8, 6:30pm “Crash” (rated R for language, sexual content, some violence)

Published in the early 1950's, C. S. Lewis’ seven Chronicles of Narnia were proclaimed instant children’s classics and have been hailed in The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature as “the most sustained achievement in fantasy for children by a 20^th century author.” Last Fall we reviewed the book and film about The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, now it is time for another in the series – The Magician’s Nephew. Please join Lesley McDougal for an in-depth discussion on Monday, March 27 at 6:30pm.

The Library Team has been organizing the RLC Library and are seeking book-ends. If you have any slightly used or new book-ends you wish to donate to the RLC Library, please contact Joanne Scheidelmeier.

Calling all women on March 2^nd at 9:00am for Bible Study, followed by hands-on quilt making for Lutheran World Relief and/or crocheting bandages for world health missions.

Extra: Be part of the planning committee for a “Spring Fling” event for women and girls to be held the last week of April, 2006. Bring your ideas or all and share them with Pat Hamby, Lois Bowser or Florence Peterson.

Meet at Pat Hamby’s on Thursday, March 2 at 9am. Call Pat at 889-9218 or email her at Jimhamby14@aol.com for directions.

From time to time people ask us if we should clap in church. Both of us hesitate to offer an opinion, as we know some have strong feelings, and we also know neither of us wants to declare a “rule” about the practice at Resurrection. But both of us have mixed emotions at best about clapping in church. Here’s why:

On the one hand, spontaneous and joyful applause can be a genuine expression of thanksgiving and honor, a way of audibly communicating what we feel in our hearts. The Psalms even speak of David dancing and clapping before the Lord.

On the other hand, we are a little fearful of clapping because it can so easily become misdirected. Typically, when we clap in worship it is after someone, usually a musician or choir, finishes something. And, unless we’re extremely careful, our clapping then becomes a praise of the talent of the “performer” rather than a praise of the God who created and gifted the musician. That’s the danger of clapping, especially of clapping too much—it loses its meaning as an affirmation, as a praise, as an honoring of God. It creates a sense of applauding a performance, much like we’d do in a concert hall rather than an appreciation of the holy God whom we worship in a church. Even our children and cherub choir directors stress to the youngsters that what they are doing is not a performance . . . it is leading others in worship and prayer, it is an offering of praise to God.

Another danger of habitually clapping comes when choral pieces themselves are designed to evoke a sense of prayerful meditation. After the piece is finished, the listener is invited to continue “praying” the words and music of the anthem . . . when a single person begins to applaud, then what? Others half-heartedly join, not because of a half-hearted offering of music, but because they are still in a state of prayer, or because they don’t want to “not” be clapping if someone else is . . . and the result is awkward for all and even embarrassing to the choir.

Yet, we find it difficult to declare that any clapping – if it is a genuine act of praise to God – is out of bounds of what is good, holy, and edifying in worship.

So, as we have been asked about this from time to time, we offer these thoughts in this Bell Ringer with this suggestion and request from both of us: as we begin this Lent, let’s spend this season pulling back from this practice which has, especially over the last year or so, become a bit too common and expected. In this Lenten season of reflection, renewal, and prayer – when much of the hymns and anthems are of a much more reflective and contemplative nature – let’s refrain from automatic clapping and instead fill the silence with our collective prayer and focused thoughts on the true Receiver of our thanks and praise.

Even as we ask you to refrain from clapping during this season of Lent, we also welcome your response to these thoughts of ours. We are both glad to listen to your thoughts on this subject and happy as well to continue the conversation!

Sunday 9:30

Discipleship Hour for Adults

Christian Caregiving –

A Way of Life

Have you ever had a friend or neighbor who was hurting spiritually or emotionally? Have you wondered what to say or do? What makes the care that Christians offer different from that offered by everyone else? How can I share with another person the love and care I have received from someone else who seemed to do it so naturally?

Ever asked these questions? Kenneth Haugk did, and in the course of answering them he wrote a book entitled Christian Caregiving – A Way of Life. Dr. Haugk is the founder and Executive Director of the Stephen Series of lay caring ministry. Throughout March and April, we will gather in the sanctuary to study this book and get a “taste” of what Stephen Ministry is all about. Attend the sequence of classes or “drop in” as you can in order to grow in living your faith as a practicing, caring Christian. Taught by Pr. Dave and our Stephen Leaders, each session will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and practice of caring skills.

Topics will include:

■ Why care?

■ God as the Curegiver

■ Servanthood vs. Servitude

■ Listening Skills

■ Stephen Ministry and ChristCare –

what’s the difference? (See next column)

■ Tools of Your Trade: Their Use & Abuse

What Is Stephen Ministry?

What Do Stephen Ministers Do?

What Is the ChristCare Series?

What Do ChristCare Leaders Do?

Discipleship Hour on March 5^th

Come learn the answers to these questions as we shine the spotlight on these two examples of caring ministries during the Discipleship Hour series on Christian Caregiving at 9:30 on March 5^th in the sanctuary. A portion of that day’s topic will highlight both Stephen Ministry and ChristCare small group ministry, share information about how those leaders are trained, and explore our vision for how these ministries can work together at RLC.

Food Pantry Ministry . . . .

During March we will be collecting food donations or cash for Hunger, Inc., a food pantry located at 416 E. Epler Ave. in Perry Township. They serve 200-250 families a month. Those assisted are given enough food for several days. These families face unexpected medical bills, unemployment or a reduction in income. This pantry is supported solely by donations. Watch your mailbox for a list of most needed items.

Worship for Shut-ins . . . .

A 30 minute Lutheran worship service, produced by Lutherans for the homebound, and hospitalized is available on WHMB TV 40 (Comcast channel 9) on Sundays at 10:00am. This includes the Lessons, Gospel, Sermon and music by choirs, soloists and small groups. Also, Lutheran Vespers with Walt Wangerin is broadcast on Sundays at 7am on your radio at 98.7FM.

First Communion Class . . . .

Is your child desiring to come to the Lord’s table? Lent signals the beginning of our class preparing children for their First Communion. The class begins Sunday, March 4^th, immediately after the 10:45 worship. This fun and fast-paced half-hour is for both the child preparing and his/her parents. Most of the preparatory work is done at home. At the end of the six weeks of Lent, the Pastor, parent, and child will meet together to determine whether the child is ready to commune. Their First Communion will be Maundy Thursday, April 13^th.

All 4^th and 5^th graders who have not yet received communion are invited to participate. Children of other ages, at their parent’s discretion, are also welcome. Please call the church office to register your child.

Faith Stepping Stones:

Holy Communion

All youth in the 4^th & 5^th grades and their parents are invited to the Faith Stepping Stone Holy Communion Stone #5 for a three week session in the fellowship hall. We will meet Sunday, March 19 & 26, and April 2 from 9:15-10:15am. The Blessing service will be on Thursday, April 13 during the Maundy Thursday worship service. If you have any questions please contact Julie Peralta. This is NOT the same as Pr Dave’s First Communion Class during Lent on Sunday afternoons.

“Journey with Jesus”

Twenty-one youth and adults from RLC will be attending the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas this coming Summer – July 12-17. The theme is Cruzando: Journey with Jesus.

La Frontera -

Where Jesus Meets us

2006 Summer Camp Theme

Summer Church Camp is an awesome experience – meeting people, celebrating God, swimming, worshiping, and more! We encourage each of our young people to experience at least one summer of camp. Pick-up a 2006 Summer Program booklet located on the bulletin board beside Ms. Julie’s office. Please email julie@rlcindy.org or call the church office 881-7854x204 and let us know if your child will be attending camp this summer. Resurrection Lutheran Church contributes financially toward your child’s registration.

Pr. Mitch – Camp Pastor! During the shortened week at Lutheran Hills of July 5-8, Pastor Mitch will be serving as the camp pastor. This week is for children who will be entering 1st-3rd grades next school year. Be sure to get your registrations in early as the enrollment for this week is limited in order to keep a lower camper-to-counselor ratio for the younger children.

Attention!

High School Students . . . .

A Remarkable Opportunity for High School Youth: Be a Trinity Seminary Samplarian this Summer! High school Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors can participate in a 3 week-long experience on the campus of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, this summer. This coming summer, there will be two sessions: June 11-July 1 and July 9-29, 2006. Young people will explore opportunities in Christian vocation and call, as well as learn about different avenues in which to serve the community through the church.

Students will choose from courses such as, "Where is God in Current Events?" or "Making Decisions for Life: What Would Jesus Do?" There will also be opportunities to serve, such as helping with Habitat for Humanity and teaching inner-city Bible school.

To reserve a DVD about this program, contact Julie Peralta or for more

information visit: www.TrinityLutheranSeminary.edu.

Kids Club . . . .

Kids Club will meet Sunday, March 19 from 12:15-3:00pm for an afternoon of lunch and games! That’s right games – bring your favorite board or card game for an afternoon of fun. Please sign-up on the bulletin board across from Ms. Julie’s office or email: julie@rlcindy.org.

Holy Land Adventure - Bethlehem Village

will be the theme of Resurrection Lutheran Church’s 2006 Vacation Bible School. We will discover the extraordinary and everyday events in the Bible that really happened. Each tribe will explore what it was like to be in the city of Bethlehem . . . to live before God sent His Son. Then we’ll celebrate Jesus’ amazing birth. Come join us during the week of June 12-16, 2006.

Discipleship Hour . . . .

During Sunday morning 9:30 Discipleship Hour we will be learning about the Ten Commandments during the March rotation. If you are interested in being a Crew Leader or Shepherd please visit the Safe Harbor located outside the youth room.

Children’s Corner

God calls for worship that involves our whole being. The body, mind, spirit, and emotions. When we get totally involved, worship becomes a more enriched experience. How do we allow children to be completely involved with worship? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Visually – to be involved one needs to be able to see. One week try sitting closer to the front. This allows for one’s eyesight to perceive the physical characteristics, colors, shapes, sizes, and much more during the worship time.

2. Listening – When we sit closer to the front not only can we see more, but we can hear more clearly.

3. Touch – Before service allow the children to walk around and touch a variety of items in the Sanctuary, i.e. the baptismal font, the chairs, the railing, the altar.

When children (adults too) are able to use different senses during the worship time, they (we) will stay “tuned-in” more. Of course, we would not want you to forget the crayons and paper provided in the narthex for children.

Youth Group Yoga . . . .

will meet on Sunday, March 5 & 19 beginning at 4:00pm.

Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

The Men’s Breakfast will meet on March 11^th at 7:30am. Our theme remains . . . . being God’s man . . . . by pursuing friendships and session 8 (last session) is entitled “Stretching one another to greatness for God.” Key verse is 2 Timothy 1:6.

Goals for growth:

➀ Understand God’s true purpose for friendship among his men.

➁ Recognize the need to help one another discover our personal ministry and mission on earth.

➂ Commission one another to do the work God is calling us to do for him.

7:30-8:00 Breakfast; 8:00-9:00 Bible Study. See you there!

Men’s Softball . . . .

Baseball’s Spring Training has begun and so it is not too early to begin thinking about the Men’s Softball season. All men are invited to sign-up for the Resurrection team. Games will be played at Craig Park on Monday night. The season starts in May with 10 games plus play-offs. Please sign-up on the bulletin board outside the church office. Talk to Scott Andersen (881-4149) if you have questions.

“Faith Talk”

Dinner conversation for March:

➔ I experience family the most when . . .

➔ Three things I hope to pass on to people I love are . . .

➔ What do you and Jesus have in common?

➔ Where is your holy ground where you meet God?

S.A.M.’s Club . . . .

The March event for RLC Senior Adults will be a daytime presentation of the “History and Joy of the American Carrousel” by retired United Methodist Minister David Babb of Indianapolis. He has been making carrousel and other animal carvings for 25 years and will have some on display for us. Please join in this interesting morning session at 11:00am on March 20 in the Fellowship Hall. A light lunch will be served after Rev. Babb’s presentation.

Mark Your Calendars! . . . .

April 1-8. . . . . . Long Beach, MS Mission Trip

April 8/9. . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Sunday Worship

April 13. . . .Maundy Thursday Worship, 7pm

April 14. . . . . . . .Good Friday Worship, 7pm

April 15. . . . . . . . . . .Easter Vigil Service, 7pm

April 16. . . . . . .Easter Services, 8:00 & 10:00

June 12-16. . . . . . . . . . .Vacation Bible School

FINK Comin’ to Town! . . . .

Who? Faith Inkubators is coming to Resurrection Lutheran Church for a Why God? high school youth group weekend - April 7-9. Developed as an apologetics boot camp for young intellectual Christians, “Why God?” will explore the complexity of the universe and the reasonableness of faith in the God of the Bible.

The event begins Friday evening at 6:30pm and will conclude Sunday around noon. RLC youth please sign-up on the bulletin board across from Julie’s office no later than March 15^th.

Yoga: Devotion in Motion

Yoga at RLC meets Saturdays at 8:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Come explore the concept of “Peace” in this series through yoga and selected scriptures. Remaining schedule: 3/4, 3/18, 3/25. Tea and cookies served afterward! Questions? Call Chele Heid 865-9246.

RLC Staff Email . . . .

Pr. Dave. . . . . . . . .PrDave@RLCIndy.org

Pr. Mitch. . . . . . . . PrMitch@RLCIndy.org

Julie Peralta. . . . . . . . . Julie@RLCIndy.org

Sherry Andersen. . . .Music@RLCIndy.org

Ed Kistler. . . . . . . . . . . .Ed@RLCIndy.org

Susan Garten. . . . . . .Susan@RLCIndy.org

ChristCare

Groups

at RLC

Circles of care with Christ

at the center.

Listed below are the active ChristCare groups at Resurrection. You may contact any group leader or Pastor Mitch to learn more about ChristCare or to inquire about visiting a group.

Wendy Messer, 784-3215

1^st & 3^rd Thursday, 9:00-10:30am at church

Scott Poore, 885-8836

Ann & Scott Buie, 889-8060

1^st & 3^rd Sunday at 5:30pm at church

Tom Myers, 862-2543

Ed Kistler, 422-9906

1^st & 3^rd Monday at 7:15pm in homes

Karen Oster, 882-8963

1^st & 3^rd Sundays in people’s homes.

Mike & Chris Wise, 887-5975

2^nd & 4^th Sundays, 5:45-7:15pm in homes

Chad Frahm, 924-9516

Twice a month on Saturday, 6:30-8:00pm in homes of group members.

Barb Schlicher, 784-6895

1^st & 3^rd Sundays, 4:00-5:30pm at church

Jennifer & David Barrett, 786-1725

2^nd & 4^th Sunday, 6:00-7:30pm at church