SALEM CHIMES. Meet L.O.G.: pgs. 4-5 / Visit Our Booths: pgs. 6-7 / Photos! pgs. 9-15

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1 SALEM CHIMES 1 Volume 63 Issue 2 Sharing our plans for the autumn season & our fall festivals and celebrating the life of our congregation. Meet L.O.G.: pgs. 4-5 / Visit Our Booths: pgs. 6-7 / Photos! pgs Dear Friends, In my good old days schools ended before Memorial Day, the State Fair ran the last ten days in August, and schools started after Labor Day. Now schools end sometime in June, the State Fair runs the first twenty-one days in August, and some schools start as early as the last week in July! And regardless of what the liturgical calendar said, everyone knew that the Church year really began the first week in September! Sunday School kicked off the Sunday after Labor Day; choirs and youth groups started back after summer hiatus; Stewardship Programs rolled out; and it was time to get busy on the Children s Christmas Program. We live in a 24/7 world. The good old days are a thing of the past for both the world and the Church. As Church, we need to realize that there is no summer off for the mission and ministry of the Church. The Gospel needs to be proclaimed 24/7. The world is filled with needs every day. People who are homeless, sick, hungry, and poor do not get a long relaxing summer vacation. As you read about the events that will take place this fall, remember these are part of mission and ministry that needs to be a part of every Christian s daily walk with God and God s people. Prayerfully ask God to direct you in how you can participate fully in God s mission and ministry. Peace,

2 President s Page 2015 Stewardship Pledge Drive It s that time of year again when we must think and pray about how we are going to support the Salem ministries in the coming year. Every so often we hear our friends remark that everyone has to wear so many hats to keep our church doing the things we expect. Without your generous sacrifices of time, talent, and financial resources, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church would cease to exist. Thank you all so very much for your faith and dedication! As I told the Salem Congregation Council at our last meeting, since the start of 2014, our average monthly contributor offerings are only paying for 71.5% of our average monthly budget expenses. In other words, your gifts are covering slightly more than two-thirds of what we need to pay our bills. And we are doing all we can to keep expenses down. Total budget expense at the end of July was only 86.6% of our estimated budget expense for This is because we have been able to fund some of our expenses through special campaigns and grants. Other expenses have been saved through very generous sacrifices of our members. Everyone is doing their share and more. One way that our income shortfall can be overcome is by having more people worship with us every Sunday. Three of our contributors who made pledges of support for 2014 have left us this year. Despite this, thanks to the generosity of others, we were only 6.4% behind in pledges at the end of July. I urge you to do anything you can to bring more people to Salem, even if it s only saying a prayer. Each of us has different talents in the way we relate to others, and if we think and pray about bringing others to Salem, God will use us in the best way to accomplish this task. Recently the Salem Congregation elected a Call Committee, and at our August council meeting, Pastor Rudy Mueller, Assistant to the Bishop, explained in detail the next steps we need to take to call a new pastor. In August of last year, we voted to increase Pastor Bonnie s salary to see if during 2014 we could raise the income needed for a new pastor. On Sunday, September 28, and Sunday, October 5, commitment cards will be passed out to everyone in attendance at the morning worship service. On them, you will be asked to write the amount of your pledge to support the ministries of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church during Although you will be asked to fill out the commitment cards in church, you may take them home to fill out and return later. Salem members and contributors will also receive in the mail, a reminder about this stewardship event. As you prayerfully consider what God is asking you to contribute monetarily to help support the ministries of Salem Lutheran Church in the coming year, we ask that you please keep the following stewardship goals in your prayers: 2 Continued on next page.

3 Continued from previous page. Volunteers who can teach our ESL Classes; volunteers who can organize and sort the donations to our clothing bank; full support for our budget so that our income meets or exceeds monthly expenses to avoid borrowing from savings. If you are away on vacation or absent for a time, we would appreciate keeping your pledge current while you are gone, or catching up when you return. If, for any reason, you find that your financial situation has changed and you cannot maintain your pledge, please let us know immediately so that it can be changed. May God bless you and return your generosity many times over! Charles Rader Council President September 5 Reuben Gooderum September 9 Stephanie Kahuri September 15 Eunice Kahuri September 17 Bel Hedlund September 20 Barbara Agresti September 20 Tom & Nancy Alexander November 9 Jeff & Ellen Barraclough Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! September 22 Chenai Chibvongodze 3 September 24 Roseanne Herman October 3 Jim Warriner October 5 Anita Gooderum November 28 Rosemary Rader November 14 David & Rhunell Gruender November 20 Dan & June Bowden November 28 Charles & Rosemary Rader CHIMES September 1, 2014 Published Quarterly Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church 4700 W. 72nd Street Worship Schedule: Indianapolis, IN Sunday School (on break) (317) Sunday Worship 10:30 am pastor@salemelca.com office@salemelca.com Photo of our steeple bell taken by Pastor Bonnie in 2011.

4 Getting to know our neighbors at Lamb of God To: All of the Members and Friends from Salem Lutheran Church 4 From: Pastor James M. Capers I sincerely want to take this time to thank each and every one of you for coming to grace our sanctuary with your presence and praise. We at Lamb fo God Church were thankful that we could worship the Lord together in this way. As Pastor Bonnie has said on other occasions, we sort of created some various ways to work together and worship during the Holy week season. But it was so good to have these joint worship experiences on a regular Lords Day. I am hoping that we might do this again on some other occasions as a way of working jointly in this vineyard called Pike. Please keep us in your daily prayers and on Sunday mornings when you gather. May God continue to richly bless you as you move forward on your journey. Pastor James M. Capers Above: Lamb of God, our sister congregation in Pike Township, visited Salem on Sunday morning, August 10. Lamb of God is located at 5565 Moller Road, at the corner of Moller and West 56th Street. Lamb of God Church is a developing congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. They draw people from every walk of life and from many economic, racial and cultural backgrounds. Continued on next page.

5 Getting to know our neighbors 5 Above: Sharing the Peace with our brothers and sisters from Lamb of God. Right: Passing the plate, or bucket, for a special collection. The children gathered donations for the ELCA Global Barnyard efforts to purchase school supplies. By providing notebooks, pencils and paper, they open a world of opportunity for boys and girls around the world. The collection totaled $

6 Salem Lutheran Church will represent Lutheran denominations at the Festival of Faiths. The festival will provide opportunities to learn what is an important part of various faiths and denominations that coexist in harmony and peace in Indianapolis. We shall be talking about the ELCA s call to social justice and how we live out the call within the Indiana-Kentucky Synod and at Salem. 6

7 Pike Township Community Day September 13, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Remember Church to Go? Remember Church to Go? God created the seventh day for rest. Jesus was a great fan of getting away from God daily created life and the taking seventh a vacation. day for rest. Sometimes Jesus was he a went great by fan himself of getting (Matthew away 4:1-2); from daily sometimes life New and he taking Augusta took a vacation. Academy couple of Sometimes close friends he (Luke went North 9:28); by himself sometimes (Matthew he 4:1-2); took all sometimes of his friends he took (Mark a couple 6:30). of And close whether friends (Luke he was 9:28); alone sometimes or with friends, he Salem took will Jesus all of be always his one friends of 30+ organizations took (Mark time to 6:30). participating stop And and whether in Community pray to God. he was alone Day. or This with is friends, an opportunity Jesus always for Pike took Township time residents to stop and to learn pray about to God. the many services that are available in Pike. Salem will offer Corn Hole and a Duck Pond for the children Summers while parents is time learn for about folks to the away English from (ELS) daily Classes life and take Clothing a vacation. Bank Salem We Summers offers know the that is community. time many for of folks Stop you are to by away and going visit from on all vacation the daily booths. life or and get take away a vacation. for a long weekend. We know We that are many happy of you you are are going able to on do vacation so. We or also get do away not for want a long you weekend. to hide your We are heads happy in shame you are and able feel to as do if so. you We are also playing do not heathen, want you to as hide one your embarrassed heads in shame Council and Team feel member as if you said. are playing Instead, heathen, as one we are encouraging you embarrassed to take a Sunday Council off Team from Church member and said. be Instead, with others. we are And encouraging while you you are with to take them a Sunday take time off to from stop Church and pray and to be God with as others. Jesus did. And while you are with them take time to stop and pray to God as Jesus did. Church to Go is an easy to use, short worship booklet from Salem Lutheran Church Church to Go for is an you easy to take to use, with short you, worship share with booklet everyone from who Salem is with Lutheran and around Church you. for After you you to take are finished with you, using share Church with everyone to Go on who your is trip, with leave and around the worship you. booklet After you behind are finished so others using might Church know to of Go the on ministry your trip, of Salem leave Lutheran the worship Church. booklet behind so others might know of the ministry of Salem Lutheran Church. Church to Go will be available on the back table of the sanctuary, online at or call Church the church to Go office will be for available a copy. on the back table of the sanctuary, online at or call the church office for a copy. Wishing you safe traveling mercies! Wishing you safe traveling mercies! 7

8 8 The Walk Against Gun Violence has a two part goal. First, it is another grassroots movement to add to the awareness of the problem of gun violence in Indianapolis. The other goal is to raise money for a new foundation to provide funding for neighborhood programs. Pastor Bonnie is working on this board. This walk is a fundraiser. Those participating are looking for sponsors. Pastor Bonnie will not be participating in the walk. Instead she will be part of the group serving refreshments at the end of the walk. Please sign up to sponsor her for every inch she walks serving cookies and cupcakes. A signup sheet is on the bulletin board.

9 Recognizing our Ministry Salem s ministry of hospitality to immigrants is recognized at the annual assembly of Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the ELCA. 9 Rosemary and Charles Rader listen to Bishop Gafkjen talk about Salem during this year s synod assembly on June 6. He also sent along Salem s woo-hoo wishes to the assembly at the Thursday Worship event. We followed the tradition of sending greetings as his previous sermon stop the Sunday before.

10 Worshiping Together Bishop Bill Gafkjen visits Salem on Ascension Sunday. 10 Top center: The Bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the ELCA and his Crozier as he leads the blessing. Bishop Gafkjen visited on Ascension Sunday, June 1, Center row: The Bishop delivers the sermon. Fred Freeman serves as lector and reads the lessons. And Pastor Bonnie holds the bag as the Bishop reaches for the next inspiration during the Brown Bag Youth Sermon. On the right: Bishop Gafkjen serves Communion to the Alexanders and the Salem family. The Bishop stayed for a question and answer session. Photographer: Devoe Slisher.

11 Celebrating Peter, Paul, the Holy Trinity and LIRS. The day in the church year we honor the Apostles Peter and Paul fell on a Sunday. Salem wore red as we Worshipped on June 29. On the left: Pastor Bonnie sits on the steps for the Youth Sermon. 11 Salem recognized the 75th Anniversary of the Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Service on June 22. Also on that Sunday, the Gruenders communed with us before following the moving truck to Keene, New Hampshire. On the right, using the Chicago Folk Service on Trinity Sunday, June 15.

12 12 Together in Fellowship Salem kicked off the summer on May 25 with a Memorial Day weekend picnic after our Sunday Worship. Games, food, a fly-over or two of L-39 jets by the Black Diamond Jet Team (their main gig was down Georgetown Road at 16th), more food, a little race action on the radio, and some great desserts. In the image below, Tom Alexander shows Pastor Bonnie the restoration done to our rugged cross.

13 Together in Fellowship 13 Above: Our final monthly game night before making it a quarterly event. Bel H. and Nancy A. grab a plate for our game night buffet. Bowlers on June 21 included Devoe S., Richard B., Tom A. and Jan B. Watch the next newsletter to see our plans for New Year s Game Day. Below and right: A Patriotic Picnic on July 8 to wrap up the Independence Day holiday. Payton K. keeps the brats and hot dogs from burning (or very charred for those who like it that way). The Salem Park sign got a new coat of paint. And the always popular deviled eggs wave the red, white and blue. Thanks to all who contributed!

14 Outreach Ministry The ESL (English as a Second Language) Class wrapped up before summer break on June 26 with a class photo and a power point presentation on Senegal. Thanks to all helped this year! 14 Below: Pastor Bonnie and those from Salem who attended the Synod Assembly on June 7 joined the informational picket line at East Washington Street and Franklin Road. The group from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod were expressing the outrage of the loan shark like practices of payday lenders and urging for more legislative control over the excessive charges and fees. Photographer: Devoe Slisher

15 Cleaning Up the Yard Strong winds and lifeless trees keep Salem busy. 15 Above: June 24 storm damage. (see the bunny). Right: The barren parking lot tree on May 25. Then the view on Aug. 27 and the sawdust from the stump on Aug. 29, Not shown: Burt H. keeping the gutters up and Tom A. rewiring for new circuit breakers. Hosting our neighbors: The Pike Township Historical Society served up some cool treats on July 19 in the Fellowship Hall. The same evening the New Augusta Village Association held their annual picnic in Salem Park.

16 16SEPTEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sept. 13: John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, LABOR DAY (Office Closed) Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, Bishop & Renewer of the Church, 1872 Albert Schweitzer, Missioonary to Africa, Brown Bag Youth Sermon First Sunday Fellowship 1:00-5:00 pm Salem booth at Festival of Faiths Veteran s Memorial 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9 Peter Claver, Priest, Missionary to Colombia, am - 2 pm Salem booth at Community Day at New Augusta Academy North 14 Holy Cross Day Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr at Carthage, 258 Ninian, Bishop, Missionary to Scotland, circa Citizenship Day (Observed) Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, Renewer of the Church, Dag Hammarskjold, Peacemaker, Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690 National Talk Like a Pirate Day St. Matthew, The Apostle, The Evangelist Fall Begins Sergius of Radonezh, Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow, St. Michael and All Angels 30 Jerome, Translator and Teacher, Priest and Monk of Bethlehem, 420

17 17OCTOBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sunday, October 26: Philip Nicolai, 1608; Johann Hermann, 1647; Paul Gerhardt, 1676; Hymnwriters Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, ca Francis of Assisi, Friar, Renewer of the Church, Brown Bag Youth Sermon First Sunday Fellowship Frederike Fliedner, 1842; Theodor Fliedner, 1864; Karolin Fliedner, 1892; enewers of Society 6 William Tyndale, Priest, Translator, Martyr, Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, :00 am Walk Against Gun Violence 2420 Riverside Dr., Philip, Deacon and Evangelist 12 3:00 to 7:00 pm International Harvest Festival in Fellowship Hall 13 Columbus Day (Observed) Elizabeth Fry, Renewer of Society, Teresa of Avila, Renewer of the Church, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, ca St. Luke, Evangelist St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Martyr, ca Reformation Sunday WEAR RED! Reformation Day Halloween St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles

18 18NOVEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 All Saints Sunday Move your clocks back to EST. Brown Bag Youth Sermon Elizabeth and Zechariah, Parents of St. John the Baptist 6 William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, :00 to 8:00 pm Welcome for African Nationals and other Immigrants in the Fellowship Hall Willibrord, Archbishop of Utrecht, Missionary to Frisia, 8 9 Special Congregational Meeting (Tentative date. Time to be announced) 10 Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Martin, Bishop of Tours, Soren Aabye Kierkegaard, Theologian, Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth of Thuringia, Princess of Hungary, Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, Mechtild of Magdeburg, 1282; Mechtild of Hackeborn, Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr, Clive Staples Lewis, Apologist and Spiritual Writer, Christ the King Clement, Bishjop of Rome, ca Miguel Agustin Pro, Priest, Martyr, Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, THANKSGIVING DAY (Office is Closed) 28 (Office is Closed) First Sunday of Advent St. Andrew, Apostle November 1 All Saints Day Move your clocks back one hour Sunday morning. Daylight Saving Time ends.