Marriages: Michael Pennington and Melissa Hampshire were united in marriage on May 12^th at RLC. Marni Johnson and Craig Steinfort were united in marriage on May 19^th at RLC. God’s blessings!

Come cheer-on our RLC Softball Team which plays in a Men’s Church Semi-Competitive League on Monday evenings at Craig Park B and C Diamonds. It’s great fun!

We will collect a noisy offering to help support our synod campus ministries. The offering will be taken to the opening Eucharist at the Synod Assembly the following weekend where an offering is being gathered in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Lutheran Campus Ministry. Be sure to bring your noisy – and not so noisy – offering on June 2^nd & 3^rd.

By the time you read this, our Life Together team will be assembled and will have begun working on the first phase of our Life Together: Thinking and Acting Strategically grant initiative. The grant proposal for this thinking strategically phase is due by June 21 to the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. In the proposal, we will lay out a six to nine month process for us to recall the past, assess the present, and discover the vision as we look ahead to the next five to ten years of our ministry.

As I met with a group of people who were being invited to serve on the Life Together team, one of them quite accurately pointed out that in order to do effective strategic planning, the team has to know what question is to be answered. He asked for the congregation council and staff to wrestle with that and provide some direction to the team so that they would not go off trying to answer a question nobody was asking.

In the last couple of weeks, then, the congregation council and staff have been wrestling with discerning what should be the overarching question(s) to be answered by our Life Together process. After considerable discussion, both groups arrived at a similar place when we worked together to boil everything down into a few overarching questions.

When it came down to it, we recognized that most of the questions we were asking focused in some way on our mission and vision statements. So, our primary overarching question starts there. How are we doing on our stated mission and vision? How effective are we at Welcoming, Nurturing, Equipping, and Serving – and how can we improve those areas over the course of the next five years? How are we doing at helping people to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ – and what steps can we take in the next five years to help people continue to grow as disciples?

This one is pretty obvious: what are we going to do about our ministry facilities? We know that our facilities are now having a negative impact on the continued growth of our ministry. During 2006, outside of the summer months, over half of the 10:45 worship services saw the sanctuary filled beyond the “comfortably full” threshold. During the Discipleship Hour, every room is used, and it becomes a logistical headache to try and add in one of the Faith Stepping Stones or even a second option for the adults. Fortunately, we have already begun work on trying to address this question through the efforts of the Future Facilities Ministry Team. They will continue their efforts under the broader umbrella of the Life Together grant initiative.

The first two questions capture an overwhelming majority of the discussion amongst the congregation council and staff. There was a third question, however, that did come up and we don’t want to totally ignore it. This question had to do with our congregation’s relationship with the surrounding community. This ranged from questions like what might we do to strengthen our relationship with our neighbors to how might God be calling RLC to serve in our surrounding area.

In listening to our congregation council and staff articulating these questions, it has struck me that Resurrection Lutheran Church is like a person about to graduate from college who is trying to figure out what they want to do for the next five years – and trying to figure out what kind of an impact they are going to have in the “real” world. RLC is maturing as a congregation and is learning how to function as the larger church that we now are. Do you know that based on our average worship attendance that we are larger than 93% of ELCA congregations? We have made changes in our structure and staffing in the past five years that are helping us live into this new reality. The Life Together grant initiative is going to help us answer the questions that will enable us to continue to grow in our mission and ministry in order to realize the vision that God has placed before us.

The Life Together and Future Facilities Ministry teams will have a special presentation and time of discussion during the Discipleship Hour on May 27. We will also have a more brief report during the June 3 Congregation Meeting. We look forward to that time of dialog, and welcome your questions and input.

P.S. It was at the June Congregation Meeting five years ago that I was welcomed to Resurrection. Time sure has flown by. It is great to be here and I am honored to be one of your pastors. Thank you for your partnership in ministry!

Even if you don’t go to the movies, it’s hard to miss the cultural impact of the multi-million dollar “summer blockbusters.” Are they merely escapist entertainment, to be gulped down without thought like a super-sized soda and a box of popcorn? Are they mind-numbing wastes of time at best, dangerous assaults on our values at worse? Or is it still possible to “look for God” in the themes and stories of these cultural gorillas, finding points of theological dialogue if we watch with wisdom and discernment?

Pr. Dave will lead this informal discussion using examples such as Spiderman 3, Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter, and more.

Would you like to sing some of your favorite hymns this summer? How about learning and playing the handbells? Come experience music and worship during the discipleship hour.

The Circle City Ringers will ring in our summer music experience on June 17th. They will be sharing their music during worship and the Discipleship Hour.

“Pray Daily” is the first of the “PoWeR SuRGe” marks of discipleship that we often speak of at Resurrection. Yet, nearly everyone confesses that their efforts at prayer often fall short of their hopes for a holy conversation with the Lord. Using the model of prayer that Jesus taught his disciples as a response to their question, we will practice the art of talking with God, rather than to God.

Pr. Dave will lead this discussion and practical workshop, which will include time for meditation and prayer.

There continues to be considerable interest in learning more about Islam. This four week series will explore the basic teachings of this major world religion in an effort to help us better understand our neighbors who are adherents of Islam.

As Pastor Dave will be leading another topic during this time, and Pastor Mitch will be on sabbatical, we are looking for someone interested in helping to lead or facilitate this series. We have some resources available. If you are interested in helping with this series, please contact Pastor Dave or Pastor Mitch.

Adult Discipleship Hour . . . . June 10^th

Karl Lutze Special Guest

Author, pastor, college professor, human relations and community organization leader Karl Lutze will be our guest on June 10^th, when our pastors will be at the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly in Fort Wayne. Pr. Lutze spent the first 15 years of his pastorates in African-American communities, first in Muskogee and later in Oklahoma. For several decades he held a dual post as theology professor at Valparaiso University and executive director of the Lutheran Human Relations Association of America, guiding dialogues between racial divides and also launching partnership ministries with Native American tribes. In his so-called “retirement” he also served as Director of the Association of Lutheran Older Adults (ALOHA).

Karl will be sharing readings from his new book at the 9:30 Discipleship Hour for adults, as well as sharing with our High School Oklahoma Mission Team stories and learnings from his many years of ministry in the inner cities and reservations of Oklahoma and Alabama.

Adult Discipleship Hour . . . . June 17^th

A special handbell concert by the Circle City Ringers!

The Circle City Ringers is an auditioned handbell ensemble from Indianapolis (and includes RLC’s Joyful Ringer director, Andy Peralta!) Under the direction of Mike Keller, they perform year-round for many events. Their variety of music will certainly appeal to everyone, as they share the musical art of English Handbell ringing with you. Please come to discover how musical these handbells can be!

Regular / Semi-Annual Meeting

of the Congregation of

Resurrection Evangelical

Lutheran Church

June 3, 2007 at 9:30am

1. Call to Order

2. Opening Devotions

3. Determination of Quorum

4. Acceptance of Minutes

a. December 2006 Semi-Annual Meeting

5. Treasurer’s Report

6. Congregation Council Elections

a. Two people for 3-year terms

b. One person to fill 1-year of unexpired term

c. Officers for 1-year terms

7. Life Together Grant Initiative

a. Life Together Team

b. Future Facilities Ministry Team

8. Steering Team Report

9. New Business

a. Pastor Mitch’s Sabbatical

10. Adjournment

Summer Worship Times

Beginning June 3^rd

Saturday Worship: 5:30pm

Sunday Worship: 8:15 & 10:45am

YG-OK Mission Trip . . . .

On Wednesday, June 13 from 6:00-8:00pm the YG-OK participants & parents will have their final huddle. Fifteen youth, five adults, Pr. Dave, and Julie will depart for Oklahoma on Friday, July 6 and return on Sunday, July 15. During the week we will be reflecting on Colossians 3:9-17, where Paul writes about leaving our old life and taking on a new life with Christ. Through repairing homes, building relationships, and digging deeper in our spiritual life we will explore this passage. We invite everyone to join us during the weekend of June 30/July 1 for our Sending Blessing during each of the worship services. Thank you to our family and friends of Resurrection Lutheran Church for your support in preparing for our trip. We ask your continued prayers upon our week.

YG-OK Summary . . . .

On Sunday, August 12 during the 9:30 Discipleship Hour come join the YG/OK participants in the sanctuary as they re-cap their summer Group Work Camp trip to Seminole, Oklahoma! All are welcome. The elementary children will be listening to the YG/OK youth and the nursery is available for children 5-years old and younger.

Since being commissioned on September 24, 2006, Resurrection’s eleven Stephen Ministers have provided Christian caring to a number of different members of our congregation. At the present time, all eleven are ministering to a care receiver. Stephen Ministry, as you will recall, is about walking beside a person in need, being a listening presence when times are overwhelming, difficult or sad. It is being the face of Christ to others.

While the well being of the care receiver is the focus of our ministry, the caring relationship inevitably has an impact on the individual Stephen Minister. This is what some of our Stephen Ministers have recently said about their experiences:

“A wonderful experience. I got so much out of it. I went thinking I would help her, and we actually ended up listening and helping each other.”

“What an unbelievable spiritual and faith-building journey! It has been such a blessing to be an instrument of God’s love – and so amazing how my care receiver has been a blessing to me as I hope I have been to her.”

In August, we will be starting a new class for Stephen Ministers. In the next few weeks, we will be telling you more about this ministry, the training, and how you might respond to God’s call to share each others’ burdens. Watch for our newsletters and announcements, and please consider being a part of this wonderful ministry.

There is still time to invest in “shares” of our Crew that is headed to Seminole, Oklahoma to take part in a Workcamp sponsored by Group. There will be fifteen youth, four adults, Pastor Dave, and Ms. Julie going as participants in the workcamp. RLC member Steve Rentz will be joining the Workcamp Staff for the week as a Troubleshooter. Each “share” is priced at just $5 so that everyone can afford to become a shareholder.

Here is a sampling of the privileges and benefits that would be yours as a shareholder in our Oklahoma Workcamp Crew:

• As a registered shareholder, you will receive an invitation to a shareholders-only dinner upon our return from Oklahoma. That dinner will be the first opportunity for people to see pictures and hear our stories from this mission trip.

• We plan to send daily E-mail updates (if possible) to those who provide us with an E-mall address.

• You will have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you are helping a group of youth take part in a once-in-a-lifetime, faith-growing, missional experience.

With all of these benefits, we hope that everyone will want to become a shareholder in the RLC Oklahoma Workcamp Crew. Shares cost only $5 and you may purchase as many shares as you like. Copies of the IPO letter and Application for Shares can be found on the bulletin board beside Julie Peralta’s office. Completed Applications for Shares along with cash or checks can be given to Julie Peralta, Pr. Dave, or placed in the offering.

Many ❝Thanks❞ . . . .

✿ Thank you for supporting the youth during their annual car wash in May!

✿ Thank you for serving on the S.S. Discipleship Crew during the Simon Peter rotation: Jodi Giorgianni, Holly Dorris, Trisha & Ashley Thompson, Jim & Jean Canter, Craig Welch, Connie Wiernicki, Sherry Richards, Bobbi Poore, Margie McCoy, Joanne Scheidelmeier, Kirsten Utley, and Michele Dew.

✿ Food For The Poor wishes to thank you for the welcome you extended to Pr. Starenko on his recent visit to RLC. On behalf of our less fortunate brothers and sisters of Latin America and the Caribbean, we thank you for having shared in their lives. They, and you, are blessed by your generosity. – The Food For The Poor

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

The summer Men’s Breakfasts will be Saturday June 9^th and Saturday July 14^th at 7:30am. We will review and discuss Chapters 7 & 8 in June and Chapters 9 & 10 in July. Please bring several Father’s Day cards to the June 9 breakfast. See you there! – Michael McCarty

Get to know your ELW!

The ELW includes

Luther's Small Catechism

Traveling this Summer?

Take Your Offering With You

. . . . And then mail it

back to RLC!

We know that folks from Resurrection will be traveling all over the country – and the world – this summer. We’d like to have an idea what sorts of places – both the interesting and the mundane – people are visiting this summer. We also know that sometimes people get behind in their offerings when they aren’t here on Sundays during the summer. So, we’d like you to take your offering with you on your summer travels, and then mail it back to church.

Enclosed with this edition of the Bell Ringer is a special envelope in which you can place your offering envelope and then drop in a mailbox wherever your journeys take you. We’ll attach the envelopes around the map so that we can see all of the postmarks and check out the stamps. There will be extra envelopes with the map in case you will have the opportunity to mail from more than one place.

Who will send an offering back from the furthest distance away? What will be the most unusual stamp used? Join in the fun and take your offering with you this summer to mail back to us at RLC!

RLC FaithBuilders and Youth Group . . . .

Faith Builders & Youth Group Annual Kings Island Trip

We will depart on Monday, June 4^th at 7:00am from the RLC parking lot for Cedar Fair Kings Island. The park closes at 8:00pm and we will stay until close! Your Kings Island admission includes the water park – plan accordingly. If you have not signed-up please contact Julie Peralta no later than Tuesday, May 29!

FB/YG

VBS Opportunity . . . .

Again this year, Lisa Doughty will be organizing afternoon outings during the week of Vacation Bible School (June 11-15). Come help with VBS in the morning (9:00-12:00) and then hang out with the youth on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. In the past we have gone swimming, to the movies, played football, and more! Please let Lisa know if you will be joining us for a fun-filled time hanging out, building relationships during the week of VBS!

Confirmation Camp

at Lake Luther . . . .

Nine FaithBuilders, Pr. Dave, & Ms. Julie will be traveling to Lake Luther near Angola, Indiana for a week of Confirmation Camp June 17-22. Confirmation Camp is awesome! It’s a special week set aside for two hours of study each morning with Pr. Dave & Ms. Julie while the rest of the programming is run by the college-aged camp staff that includes swimming, canoeing, hiking, arts & crafts, campfire, and evening activities.

Not only do we have nine FaithBuilders attending camp, but several of our elementary youth attending Pilgrim Camp, Pioneer Camp, and even Guitar Camp this summer! If you are interested in sending notes to any of the campers this summer the camp addresses and participants names are located on the bulletin board beside Julie Peralta’s office. I am certain they would love to hear from their RLC family.

FB/YG

Summer D.H. . . .

During the summer months FB/YG will have several opportunities to explore . . . assisting with the elementary kids during the 9:30am hour in the Fellowship Hall; Music, Worship & RLC with Sherry Andersen; Summer Movies with Pr. Dave; Islam; or Prayer & Spirituality with Pr. Dave. Summer sessions begin on June 10 and conclude on August 5. On August 12 the YG-OK participants will recap their Group Work Camp trip from July!

RLC Kids . . . .

Summer Discipleship Hour

>From June 10-July 8 the three-year-olds through 5^th graders will gather each week in the RLC Fellowship Hall traveling on Interstate For One Another! During our travels we will understand the importance of “Traveling through Life” with one another. Through a fun and educating way, the children will come aboard an “RV” with characters in a DVD series and observe their efforts of trying to get along with each other while traveling down the I-4: Interstate For One Another. We will encourage each other to build relationships with each other and have a deeper understanding that God created each of us to love and interact with other people. If you are interested in traveling on our RLC “RV” for one, two, or five weeks please sign-up at the Safe Harbor!

>From July 15 - August 5 the three-year-olds through 5^th graders will gather each week in the RLC Fellowship Hall traveling through the Gospel of Luke chapter 11 discussing prayer. Each week they will learn a different prayer through sign-language, arts & crafts, games, drama, or storytelling. If you are interested in traveling with the kids for one, two, or four weeks please sign-up at the Safe Harbor!

B2K Summer OutingThe B2K (Birth through Kindergarten) team has scheduled a summer picnic at Independence Park on Sunday, July 22 following the 10:45am worship service around 12:30pm. Families will meet at Independence park for fun and fellowship. Look for a table in the narthex prior to the 22^nd to select a food item to bring for the pitch-in. We will gather rain or shine – if the weather is wet please meet at RLC for a movie afternoon. Watch your church mailbox in early July for more information!

Playtime Port News . . . .

Remember we need many hands to play with our children in the nursery on Sunday mornings! NO diaper changing – we have a staff for that! Only playing with the children – reading books, coloring, building blocks, etc. Sign-up on the sheets on the bulletin boards across from the nursery!

Looking Ahead . . . .

Discipleship Hour Annual Bon Voyage Sunday will be August 19^th!

Become a Trained ChristCare Leader

Small groups are essential in a growing congregation. Two key reasons are that they provide a means for people to grow in discipleship and it strengthens the sense of community in a growing church. ChristCare is the primary – though not the only – model for small group ministry here at Resurrection. In order for this ministry to continue to grow, we need people to be trained as ChristCare Leaders. The training takes place over sixteen weeks, for a total of about forty hours. During training the participants form an actual ChristCare group and engage in the usual ChristCare activities of Community Building & Care, Prayer & Worship, Biblical Equipping, and Missional Service. In this way, even those who have never participated previously in a ChristCare group, finish the training feeling fully prepared to lead a group. The training topics cover everything from group dynamics to how to lead groups in the four essential ChristCare activities.

Pastor Mitch will lead a new ChristCare Leader training group beginning in late September, after he returns from sabbatical. If you are interested in ChristCare Leader training, or even if you simply would like some more information, please contact Pastor Mitch by June 17 at 881-7854 or PrMitch@RLCIndy.org.

S.A.M.’s Club

The S.A.M.’s Club (Senior Adult Ministry) had a wonderful tour of the Governor’s Mansion in May.

Our plans for June and July are in process but details are not finalized. Watch the weekly bulletins for announcements. Please join us for some interesting and fun activities. All adults are welcome!