It's More Than a Story

I think I’m in love again! The kids that come to Brightwood Community Center are so eager to learn and interact with every adult tutor at Brightwood. Most of tutors know each of the children well through the many years of volunteering at Brightwood. The children are welcomed and attach themselves to their favorite tutor. DeMarcus attached to me because I was headed to the computer lab, and I had promised the previous week that he could join me in the lab. He did not forget. He worked for 45 minutes on educational math and word programs; then he was allowed to play computer games. There was quite a smile when I allowed him to play. Homework is done using the computers and printer. Some of the kids do not have homework, but they know that Brightwood is a safe place to be and that the adults will say “hello” and let them know they care.

The Brightwood Community Center Board is re-thinking Brightwood. The ministries are being reviewed. The Kids’ Club and Tutoring program is a great ministry to the Brightwood community. St. Paul-Brightwood United Methodist Church is connected to the center. Rita and Wilma made sloppy Joes Tuesday night. I watched the kids, and they were really sloppy! No one is giving up on the faith that we can raise the funds, raise the level of ministries to the community, raise the awareness to the churches in the Indiana Conference that the need is there just as they are in many other areas in Indiana.

Let’s come together …..making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Brightwood Kids Club

I had the opportunity to visit Brightwood Community Center during their first Kid’s Club this new school year. On Tuesdays, the kids arrive at the center just for fun. Some of the older kids have homework that they work on. The younger kids play games. I was able to work with Ethan and LiShawni on their math – subtraction flash cards. That was a lot of fun! When they got the questions right, they just smiled; so proud of themselves. Tonight, I worked in the computer room. There were four older youth that needed to use the internet and complete their homework on the computer. It is great to get to know them. They seem to enjoy telling me about themselves and put up with some of my “old stories” of when I was younger in school. There were several volunteers from St. Mark’s (Carmel) and Castleton United Methodist Churches to help with tutoring.

There is still a need at Brightwood to have volunteers tutor. Brightwood would like to have the Sharing Space (food pantry) open during the evenings. Can you volunteer putting together food bags for the needs in this community? Get in touch with me to get connected. We can volunteer together – you might like to hear a few more of my stories!

Lisa
lmorris@indymetroumc.org

University Heights UMW - BIBS Pantry

The United Methodist Women of University Heights United Methodist Church sponsors the BIBS Pantry in cooperation with Methodist Hospital’s HealthNet Better Indy Babies program. I met with a team of volunteers on August 11 to find out more about this program. I first learned of the program from Metro Auxiliary vice-president, Elizabeth Harmon. She said in her email, “I heard of this program through Peggy Richwine…didn’t really know the details…we are always looking for ways to show Christ’s love in our community.” It was not long after this email that Arch Hawkins, invited me to visit, after seeing stories from some of the recent exciting trips I have been making.

It is not a very big space, but a lot of good pantry items are enclosed here. All persons arriving at the BIBS pantry have been referred there by Methodist Hospital’s HealthNet program. There is a real need for the service that is being provided by University Heights UMW. The BIBS pantry clients are expectant mothers and their babies. They arrive from the southside Indianapolis community with a voucher for specific items: Bag of groceries; fresh-food vouchers; maternity clothes; hygiene kits; newborn layettes; diapers/wipes/clothing. Through years since 1991, the pantry has filled over 8,000 referrals. The mission of “making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” is seen in this ministry. The spirit of Christ in the volunteers provides food for the soul.

The University Heights congregation provides the food for the pantry. The newborn layettes; diapers/wipes/hygiene kits and fresh-food vouchers are provided through funding from individuals, sororities and church members. The budget for the extra stuff is $1,000 per month. How can you help? Do you have funds and a passion for little babies? If there are 50 people out of the 1.6 million people in Indianapolis that would provide just $50, the BIBS Pantry program would be set for another year. Does your church UMW circle need a project? Do you want the opportunity to have baby shower? Lists of items needed can be provided to your church, mission group, circles to have a baby shower. Cake, punch and presents for all to open and send down to University Heights United Methodist Church. I have the complete lists of BOTTLE KIT; HYGIENE KITS AND LAYETTE KITS – give me a call or an email, and I will CONNECT you with mission opportunities that will allow University Heights to continue their ministry on the southside.

Lisa
lmorris@indymetroumc.org or 317-924-4140.

More than 40 people celebrated at Vida Nueva Fiesta

The Metro Auxiliary hosted the celebration at Vida Nueva and Vida Nueva Centro Familiar Saturday, August 22. Following Metro Auxiliary business meeting, Stacy Penalva, family center director, told the story of Vida Nueva and what happens at the family center and church. More than 40 people celebrated together, visiting the family center and the newly renovated church building.

The Ballet Folklorieo Indianapolis entertained the guests. The beautiful costumes, dancers and dancing routines were fantastic. If you missed it, I have a power point presentation to come to your church to tell the story of Vida Nueva and Centro Familiar. This program that reaches out to the community on the west side of Indianapolis has been a part of the South Indiana Conference since 1981, and has been supported through your tithes and apportionments. I would love to share this story with your church. Please contact me at lmorris@indymetroumc.org or 317-924-4140 if you would like to make arrangements for me to come visit your congregation.

Being a visitor is intimidating!

Visiting churches can be intimidating. If you haven’t visited other churches recently, and your church is working on radical hospitality, I think that you will learn more than you can imagine.

This a new experience for me. I have found that there are many doors in a church. Which door do I enter? Will they make fun of me if I enter through the wrong door? What time do I enter? Where will I sit? Will I take someone’s pew? I really didn’t know that there were so many versions of the doxology. I figured more churches would have loud praise music but for now I haven’t found any of my visits to be the contemporary praise worship styles. Besides the times of worship being very different, the order of worship can be even more different. This is a good thing; it keeps you engaged -- at least it has for me.

I do like to have someone to greet me at the door. I’m not shy, so I tell them who I am and where I come from. I wish more people knew about Metro Ministries and what it is and how it relates to the districts – I hope to change this as soon as possible! The tone of the church is different in each church. This is a little confusing, but walking in I can feel something which isn’t always clear. I wonder how real strangers feel? I wonder how unchurched people feel? As a long time United Methodist, and someone that usually knows a few people in each church that I am attending, I still feel a little afraid when I visit a new church.

How do you think your church welcomes visitors? I wonder what kind of radical hospitality we could display if we put ourselves in "visitor" shoes?

Sunrise Summer Program

During their summer program, Sunrise (a worship center of Castleton UMC) children focused on mission. The summer grant provided by Metro Ministries gave them the opportunity to hire staff that focused on faith building with their children this summer. They were asked to bring school supplies for backpacks to be given to families in need. They made crafts to give to a local nursing care facility. As I visited the classrooms the children were getting ready to have fruit on toothpicks and ready to go outside for play. Our children are here for us to teach. Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is the United Methodist Church mission statement.

Building Community Through Football

I had a second opportunity to visit Lawrence United Methodist Church. In addition to the Youth Corps program, Lawrence also has an another summer youth camp. On the day I visited, the session for the week included sports and art. The boys and girls in the program were energetic coming back from a break. Ryan, the program director, told me that they would be learning about football and invited me to join them. I was surprised to see that each participant grabbed their notebooks and pencils. I soon learned why. Ryan and his co-worker were getting ready to tag team the group with details about defense and offense. With chalk in hand, descriptions of the offense and defense positions were described . A diagram of the field and where each position played was later added. Everyone took notes and answered the many challenging questions about football. Now I like football, but I really didn’t know as many details as I thought. Next we headed out to the field to put our knowledge to work. As we walked outside I visited with the kids. Many of the kids told me that they had been a part of the summer camp more than 5 years; others shared that it was their first year. Then they told me that Ryan, their director, was in his 12th year. As they were running routes outside, I could see how they had become a group caring for each other and cheering each other on as they learned to catch, run and throw the football. Why does Lawrence United Methodist Church provide these opportunities for kids? Keeping them safe? Teaching discipline and rules? Building community?

Brightwood Community Center News

Brightwood Community Center's Board has made some difficult decisions. If you have been reading the NEXUS articles and NewsFlashes, you have seen that Brightwood has closed for August except for the kid's club program and tutoring. The summer program was wonderful. More than 20 kids were provided with a fabulous learning experience at Brightwood Community Center. Their science, math, reading and computer skills have been re-enforced by the many learning opportunities. United Methodist Churches and other groups provided meals during lunch and snacks for breaks during the day. Grants were written and funds were provided from local churches and individuals throughout the summer. The purpose of closing the center and eliminating the position of administrative assistant is to help catch up with the budget -- hoping to save $4000 in August. The Brightwood Board is re-thinking the programs, and how they can be funded. Debra Grady, Executive Director, has been asked to recruit volunteers rather than hiring staff. We are asking those churches and individuals that have passion for children, youth, and senior citizens in the Brightwood-Martindale neighborhood to keep Brightwood Community Center in their prayers. Please consider supporting Brightwood Community Center in 2009 and 2010. If you have questions, please give me a call at 317-924-4140 or email at lmorris@indymetroumc.org.