On March 29th, sixteen members and friends of Sheridan will be travelled to El Salvador on March work with Habitat for Humanity  in the Santa Anna region.  The group is working to finish homes started during the Holy Week "blitz build" and are working alongside members from the Cristo Rey church.  The team is also distributed over 300 lbs of school supplies that were collected by team member Katie King.

 

Please continue to keep the El Salvador team in your prayers as they complete their trip to El Salvador and discern how to continue there ministry after returning to Lincoln.  If you would like more information on their trip, the team will be hosting an informational lunch on Sunday, April 20th in Room 111.  Please RSVP to Amanda Prokasky (smokeygirl79@neb.rr.com.

Worship at Mudio and Karansi is an amazing experience.    The Karansi Youth Choir singing was beautiful.  The faith of these people gives me confidence in my own Christian faith.   After church we participated in an auction that was part of their offering. I gave our auction item to Pastor Mathayo, as I shook his hand, our eyes met for a long moment and, without words, I knew what he was saying.  He said thank you for visiting, thank you for the gifts, thank you Sheridan Lutheran Church for all you have done for us.  But most of all, thank you for your encouragement and hope!

Some people are fearful when they hear that the Bridge Prison Ministry deals with people who have recently been released from prison.  I can assure you there is nothing to fear. I have been a volunteer for several years at the Bridge warehouse located at 1935 Q Street, working with volunteers from other Lutheran churches. Once a week I spend 3 hours at the warehouse sorting donations and assisting men selecting clothing and home furnishings that will help them get established in a new life after prison. The men are always very polite and appreciative of the help they receive. Lutheran Family Service is in charge of the program but it is the volunteers that make it work by providing a warm personal contact with the men.

 

Sheridan Lutheran is one of many churches providing used clothing, shoes, personal care items, towels, bedding, kitchen items and furniture for a first small apartment. The collection box at our church is located at the end of the office hallway, near the exterior door. Volunteers move donations from the box to the warehouse. Volunteers are needed to pick up furniture items on call. At the warehouse donations are sorted by volunteers and placed on shelves and rods, somewhat like a store where the men can 'shop' without money. Donations we cannot use are given to the City Mission. A volunteer repairs furniture. Another checks all electrical appliances. We try to be sure everything given is clean and in working condition.

 

This program was started by Pastor Bud Christianson, a former pastor at Sheridan, and his late wife, Muriel. Currently Mary and Gene Osborn, Jim Reiss and I are regular volunteers with the Bridge. The warehouse is open on Monday evenings from 3 to 6:30 and Wednesday mornings from 9 to noon. You are invited to stop in for a tour.  We would welcome your help as a volunteer in this rewarding work.

 

-Nancy Sutton

 

August 16-24: Bolivia
Travel with Pastor John to La Paz, Bolivia to work with The Bolivian Street Children Project.  On this trip you will spend time with the children living on the streets of La Paz as we build relationships with them.  We will also visit the homes and schools of the former street children living in the "Barnabas Center" and spend time getting to know each of these children and their foster parents.  This trip will provide an intense exposure to poverty in the third world.  Due to the intensity of this experience and the nature of relating with children living on the streets we require all participants to be over the age of 21.  One of the main focuses of the street outreach is medical attention and medical professionals are encouraged to apply for this trip.  For more information on this trip and the Bolivia Ministry please contact Pastor John.

 

October 10-18: Haiti
This trip is designed for anyone who wants to visit the different agencies, schools and orphanages that receive funding from the Haitian Timoun Foundation. You will meet with the staff and servant-leaders of these places and you will be nothing short of transformed and inspired for greater service to God's kingdom of love and mercy. This would be an opportunity to dream and envision how our faith communities, churches, and Nebraska Synod can build partnerships with the people of Haiti. Pastor Rhonda Bostrom will help lead this trip. We will team up with folks from the Haitian Timoun Foundation in Littleton, Colorado.

 

2009: Tanzania
Mudio Lutheran Parish is located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, where smiles and bananas abound.  Since our partnership began in 2005, members of Mudio and Sheridan have intentionally sought out ways to work with and support one another in ministry.  As part of Sheridan's 2009 Tanzania Mission Team, you will continue to deepen our relationship by working side-by-side on construction and/or farming projects, singing, dancing, praying, playing, and exchanging ideas.  You will also get to visit other ministry sites of the Northern Diocese, like schools and health clinics, as well as enjoy the beauty of the country on safari.