St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Bloomington IN (ELCA)

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Global Mission Committee meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Synod Lutheran Center Chapel

Hymn of the Day: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 362)

Sending Hymn: Oh, Praise the Gracious Power (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 651)

Sunday Church School from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Godly Play (preschool age) — next to the Nursery

Kindergarten through 6^th grade gather in the Education Wing.

Confirmation Class — Youth Room Confirmation class moves on with week 2 of "God Works in Mysterious Ways." I can't give much away without spoiling it, but I can tell you that it will involve blindfolds, donuts, and spit.

High Schoolers have a choice of Sunday School options. They can join the conifirmation class (worked well two weeks ago) or attend the monthly adult "culture of conversation" as usual. Up to you. Back to regular split classes next week.

Adult Bible Study — Room 11.

Culture of Conversation in the Sanctuary

Hymn of the Day: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 362)

Sending Hymn: Oh, Praise the Gracious Power (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 651)

We welcome through Holy Baptism, the children of Jason and Jennifer Mundy: Gretchen Margaret, Myles James, and Linus Edward.

St. Thomas Worship and the Arts Presents Spring Choir Concert Sunday May 3 at 4 o'clock in the Afternoon.

The St. Thomas Adult and Children's Choirs conclude the 2009 Worship and Arts Series with a concert featuring music from German, Czech, Brazilian, and American choral traditions. Featured composers include Mendelssohn, Brahms, Dvorak, Moses Hogan, and Keith Hampton.

Indianapolsi she said. Conference meeting from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Columbus IN.

We will compile the 1st annual Guiness Book of Youth Group Records. Be there, and come ready to show your stuff in some unusual competitions. Winners will be etched into St Thomas Youth Group history, setting records that future youth groups will compete against for years to come.

Approval copies of material for information packet due to Pastor Bill Gafkjen and Ted Miller, Synod Secretary

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Leadership Support meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Synod Lutheran Center Chapel

Join Lutheran World Relief in celebrating World Fair Trade Day 2009 by helping us break the record for the World's Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break! Place orders the week before or after May 9th for coffee, tea or chocolate through the church office — phone 332-5252 or kayehill@stlconline.org . Equal Exchange catalogs and order forms are in the narthex.

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Finance Team meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Synod Lutheran Center Chapel.

Entrance Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 504)

Communion Hymn: Thine the Amen,Thine the Praise (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 826)

Communion Hymn: We Know that Christ is Raised (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 449)

Sending Hymn: Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 367)

Sunday Church School from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Godly Play (preschool age) — next to the Nursery

Kindergarten through 6^th grade gather in the Education Wing.

Confirmation Class — Youth Room

High School Youth — Room 13

Adult Bible Study — Room 11.

New Member Classes begin May 10th: Pastor McKee will lead a class during the Sunday Education Hour (9:45 - 10:45 a.m.). The three sessions will provide Lutheran perspectives on scripture, the sacraments, worship, and the Church, as well as offer information about opportunities to learn and serve at St. Thomas. Classes will be held on May 10, 17, and 24. Members will be received on May 31.

Baptismal Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 504)

Communion Hymn: Thine the Amen,Thine the Praise (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 826)

Communion Hymn: We Know that Christ is Raised (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 449)

Sending Hymn: Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 367)

We welcome through holy baptism, Parker Jackson VanNasdale, son of Dean and Suzanne VanNasdale. He was born November 14, 2008. Parker's sponsors are Dan larrimore and maryanne VanNasdale.

The newly formed 50th Anniversary Task Force will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room. If you are interested in serving on this task force call the church office or come to the meeting.

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Interim Ministry Meeting from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the Synod Office Downstairs Conference Room.

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Bishop Transition Team meets at 2:00 p.m. in the Synod Lutheran Center Chapel.

Come see the video at St. Thomas on Wednesday, May 13th at 7 pm. Across the nation, people of faith are standing up for the environment. Evangelical Christians are fighting mountaintop removal, a coal mining process that is decimating Appalachia. Muslims are supporting sustainable farming. Jews are helping children experience the bond between nature and spirituality. Interfaith Power and Light is mobilizing people of all faiths in a religious response to global warming.

The Tour de Revs will stop in Indianapolis, IN a Another itineration of mission personnel is scheduled for this fall. Valle anticipates that the advocates will gather every other year. The group appointed a committee to continue work begun on a s exceeded the organizers' goal of 40 participants. She said the event was lan to stop in each synod, the 2009 Youth Gathering and the ChurchWide Assembly.

Hymn of the Day: Great God, Your Love Has Called Us (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 358)

Communion Hymn: Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 470)

Communion Hymn: Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 656)

Sending Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 836)

Sunday Church School from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Godly Play (preschool age) — next to the Nursery

Kindergarten through 6^th grade gather in the Education Wing.

Confirmation Class — Youth Room

High School Youth — Room 13

Adult Bible Study — Room 11.

St. Thomas Microfinance Interest Group: We will have a kick off meeting on May 17 between services to meet and discuss getting started with microlending. Chris Ogan will be leading the session and we would love as many people as possible to join us to help shape how the group would like to move ahead. Who knows, maybe we will also go ahead and make a loan "live" during the session? Come and find out!

Hymn of the Day: Great God, Your Love Has Called Us (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 358)

Communion Hymn: Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 470)

Communion Hymn: Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 656)

Sending Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 836)

SCS children assisting at 11:00 a.m. worship are: Joel Arnold (lector), Andrew Goldsworthy, Zach May and Erica Goldsworthy (usher assistants).

Council members for 2009-2010: Missy Eichmiller, president; Dean Arnold, vice-president; David Nixon, secretary; Darrell Bakken; Pauline Caldwell; Dennis Delap; Deborah O'Brien; Rita Pavolka; Dan Rademacher; Nancy Winningham; Walt Wood

Sunday Church School children receiving Bibles are: Joel Arnold, Erik Dahlberg, Izaiah Doering, Erica Goldsworthy, Sophia Lipe, Gretchen Wheeler, Zachary May, Hannah ringquist, Madelyn Shupe, Katie Delap, Andrew Goldsworthy, Alexi Krupinski, Katcha Papesh, Kelsey Potts

Today is the last day of Sunday Church School for this school year. Please express your thanks to the following teachers for volunteering their time and for their dedication toward youth education here at St. Thomas:

Godly Play (ages 3 years to Kindergarten): Sharon Fawbush, Debbie Nixon, Tish LLewellyn, Naomi Svehold

Please join us this summer for Vacation Bible School, July 12-16. Sign-up table is in the Narthex for kids and volunteers (storytellers, crafts, games, kitchen help for dinners, etc).

Plant Sale Fundraiser for ECHO(Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in narthex today.

Youth Group meets tonight at 5:30 pm for our annual senior send-off, worship, and a look back at the year that's ending.

St. Thomas Microfinance Interest Group: We will have a kick off meeting today between services to meet and discuss getting started with microlending. Chris Ogan will be leading the session and we would love as many people as possible to join us to help shape how the group would like to move ahead. Who knows, maybe we will also go ahead and make a loan "live" during the session? Come and find out!

Deadline for 700 copies of materials for information packet to congregation in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Entrance Hymn: Christ is Made the Sure Foundation (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 645)

Communion Hymn: Lord, Who the Night You Were Betrayed (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 463)

Adult Bible Study in Room 11

Entrance Hymn: Christ is Made the Sure Foundation (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 645)

Communion Hymn: Lord, Who the Night You Were Betrayed (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 463)

"Burning the Future: Coal in America" Come and watch as residents of West Virginia take us by the hand and ask us to live in their shoes for a day, and to think hard about the energy future we all share.

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Conference Deans' Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Synod Office Chapel

Offertory Anthem: Meditation on "Komm, Gott Schöpfer" — (arrangement John Leavitt)

Communion Hymn: Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 403)

Sending Hymn: God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 400)

Postlude: Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, BWV 631 — Johann Sebastian Bach

Offertory Anthem: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit — (arrangement William L. Dawson)

Communion Hymn: Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 403)

Sending Hymn: God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 400)

Postlude: Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, BWV 631 — Johann Sebastian Bach

All of the organ music today is based on the ancient Gregorian chant melody, "Veni, Creator Spiritus", or "Come, Holy Ghost". The melody dates from around the 9^th century and its authorship is attributed to the Frankish Benedictine monk, Rhabanus Maurus, who later became a German archbishop. Martin Luther included the German translation of the text (Komm, Gott Schöpfer) in his 1543 hymnbook, Geistliche Lieder. Both the chant and the metricized versions are included in the ELW, and can be found at numbers 577 and 578.

Tobias Christian Makana Westphal, son of Matthias and Wendy Westphal and brother to Marcus. Tobias was born August 6, 2008. His sponsors are Andy and Feather Graham of Portland, Oregon.

Isaiah David Dilger, son of Jonathan and Rebecca Dilger. He was born September 19, 2008. Isaiah's sponsors are Katie and Jeff Warren of Jasper, Indiana.

Stephanie Biehn and children Antonia and Truman Daleke (welcoming back a former member)

Jason and Jennifer Mundy and family (Gretchen, Myles, and Linus were baptized at St. Thomas recently)

St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church

3800 East Third Street

Bloomington, Indiana 47401

News & Events — May 2009