Sheridan's Memorial Labyrinth

The newest addition to Sheridan’s campus is the Memorial Labyrinth was added in early winter. Located west of the 70^th street parking lot entrance, this labyrinth has been made possible by memorial funds and special gifts.  Landscaping around the labyrinth will be completed later this spring. A labyrinth is a pathway that assists people in centering themselves, finding balance and wholeness and connecting to the Divine.  This ancient prayer tool is found in a variety of cultures as early as 2500 BC.  The walking path of a labyrinth moves forward by turning equally right and left creating multiple circuits that always lead to the center.  In this simple pattern, the labyrinth captures many aspects of life-journey, rhythm, search, discovery, change, trust and our movement inward to sacred space.  

This mini-pilgrimage commemorates and celebrates the mysteries of Christ’s life.  It symbolizes the true path to eternal life, a contemplative way of following Jesus who journeyed as we do through life and death to resurrection.  Brochures with more information on walking a labyrinth are available on the Welcome Center.

Click here to see the progress of the Labyrinth being built.

Plastic eggs carry more than just candy!

A sample of the Resurrection Eggs.

In the most recent unit, elementary children involved with Spirit Quest on Sundays have been learning all about how seemingly simple plastic eggs help to bring the Easter story to life.
"Last weekend my 2nd grader came home with a dozen plastic eggs in a carton, I asked her why she had so many eggs but she really didn't say much. Then later in the week she pulled out the carton and went through and told my husband and I the Easter story using all of the eggs, she remembered what each one symbolized. I was VERY impressed. We are going to have her take the carton to share the story with everyone Easter day. Please pass along to her teacher that day.
Thank you!
Lana Wood"
As we prepare this Holy Week to walk with Jesus to the Cross...think about how you can share the Easter story.

Building Hope

Grace and peace be with you during this season of Easter where we discover the promise of the resurrection. I am pleased to write you and announce that Sheridan, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity/Lincoln, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Lutheran congregations across Lincoln, are building a house in the parking lot of Sheridan. Upon completion, the house will be moved to its permanent home at near 69th and Leighton Ave. in Lincoln. You can read about the family on page 3 of the April Scroll.

With these same partnerships three years ago, we built a house on our parking lot and it was a wonderful opportunity for our congregation and community! Starting in mid-April we will begin working Saturdays, with some work scheduled on
Tuesday and Thursday days or evenings depending on availability of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please see the information below. We hope to see you at any and all of the build activities.

Safety Training (mandatory for all workers, except meal providers):
Sun., April 14 & 21 at 9:45am and 11am in Chapel as well as each day on the work site.
How you can help with the build--laborers are needed for:
Framing, drywall, painting, all aspects of construction
Don't think you are very handy? Come and learn anyway, or become one of the meal providers.
Want to get involved? Here’s how to sign up:
Email habitat@sheridanlutheran.org with the following information: Your name, preferred days to work, phone number, email and the aspects of the project that would best suit you. Or, sign-up at the Welcome Center in the Great Hall.
What to bring to the worksite with you (if you have them):

- Sturdy work shoes
- Work gloves
- Tool belt/nail apron
- Tape measure
- Pencil & sharpening device
- Small square
- Sun protection as appropriate
Please do not bring:
- Children under 16 years old
- Pets
- Glass containers
What you will take home:
- New construction skills
- A strong sense of community
- Pride in a job well done
- New friends
- Hope for the future of our families
We hope to see you there! Peace,
Dean Christensen, SLC Build Leader
Pastor Rhonda Bostrom, Missions and Outreach

Brothers in Christ by Jody Simeck

Josie Simeck with the twins, Antonio and Luis, 2007.

Antonio and Luis were about two years old in 2007 when I met them. I was with the mission team attending Cristo Rey Church and they were with their family. Their older brother, Oscar, and sister, Maricela, were keeping an eye on them while their mother and some of the other women of the church cooked dinner for us. While I only saw the twins a couple of times again as I attended Cristo Rey over the next six years, I nearly always saw their brother and sister. I was even privileged enough to be present at their confirmation into the church.

Last summer the Sheridan Mission Team started work on a Habitat house for my friend, Gladis with many of her friends and neighbors. One of the days the twins, Antonio and Luis, who live in the same neighborhood came to help as well. They worked very hard, carrying buckets of dirt. And, as many boys do, they made the amount of dirt and the number of buckets a competition. The big dirt pile also provided an opportunity for some fun. These boys brought laughter to our work site.

Jody Simeck with Antonio and Luis and neighborhood
children in Dec. 2012.

When I returned to El Salvador in December, I was surprised and excited to hear that we would be working on a Habitat House for Luis and Antonio and their family! This time the house was already underway. We simply needed to complete the walls, level the floors, and do outside cement work. The boys were usually gone with their mother in the mornings; but when they came home they were eager to help.

Antonio and Luis helping to shovel.

Like in previous years, the neighbors were there to help. The twins were very polite and would never ask for anything, but were appreciative of anything that came their way. If we were shoveling sand, they would come and stand there, staring at us with their big, brown, eyes; until we realized what they wanted--to shovel. They would grin and eagerly take the shovel and go at it. Sometimes you would hear their laughter as they played with the neighbor kids. They all had great fun playing a memory game and Uno with some of our team members.

Maricela, Antonio and Luis with their mother, Maria in July 2012.

These children, like all children, are such wonderful, precious gifts from God. And like all people from El Salvador that I have met, very graciously accept our intrusion into their lives, enjoy us and our presence, and are at peace with their world. I hope I’m able to visit Antonio and Luis when I return in July. The really great thing about being a part of the Cristo Rey Project is that we are building with families that we have come to know over the years by attending church and working together; and we know, also, that we’ll probably see them when we return.

Who Came to Visit?

This past Sunday, the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday school classes had a special guest to help act out our Bible story. Jesus! Twelve friends were honored to take part in Jesus’s special “Remember Meal” as we learned about the night of “The Last Supper.”

We imagined that we were in a special room with Jesus and his disciples. Jesus knew that this was his last night with his disciples before he would die on the cross. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to show them how much he loved them. Usually, washing someone’s feet was a servant’s job. Jesus did it to serve his disciples in love and told them they should also serve others in love.

We learned that one of Jesus’s friends betrayed him. Jesus told Judas to “go and do what you must do.” It was all part of God’s plan. Jesus then took the bread and the wine and told us how to use it to remember him. The bread reminds us of his body and how it was given for us. The wine will remind us of what Jesus would do to take away the sin of the world. It was a very special meal!

We learned that we still celebrate this special “Remember Meal” in big church during something called Communion. Communion helps us to remember what Jesus did for us. We remember that he loves us and that he gave his body and blood for us on the cross.

Jaymie Freye, Children's Ministry Associate

Sweet Moments

Last night I took the WAM Singers (Sheridan’s 1st-5th grade Wednesday night children’s choir) to the Martha House for a visit. We had last been to the Martha House in October and the kids were eager to go back. I had parents tell me, “We’re skipping dance class that night because she doesn’t want to miss any of it”; “I’ll get the (permission) form in because she wants to go.” The plan was to sing a few songs, read scripture together and decorate cookies while having conversations with the elders. We practiced faith talk questions in case they couldn’t think of things to say… questions like, “Where did you go to church?” and “What did your Christmas programs look like?”

Awesome parent volunteers agreed to drive half of the 23 children, and Tabitha sent a van to pick up the rest. The parent drivers headed out with their kiddos but unfortunately there was a mix-up with keys for the van driver who arrived 20 minutes late. When I later asked my daughter, who had ridden in a parent car, “What did you do while you were waiting for us??” She said, “Oh we did lots of stuff. The grandmas all wanted hugs and then we talked about stuff like our favorite colors. One grandma couldn’t remember what her favorite song was, so we listed off a bunch and then she said she liked “Amazing Grace.” A parent told me that while the kids were all coming in, one elder blurted out, “Are they letting the dogs out?” (As far as I know there are no pets at the Martha House.) That same woman gently fingered a prayer shawl that we had given to her.

On the way back to church, I asked the girls in the van how they thought the visit had went. Here are some responses: “I liked the cookies!” “That one lady was singing the wrong words with us.” “One grandma told me I could go home with her.” All those stories made me smile, but I think my favorite moment was watching a brown haired, 7-year old girl, perfectly decorate her cookie, and then walk over to one of the elders and shyly say something to her. The elder reached for the cookie, broke off a piece and grinned while she ate. Then the little one happily skipped back to the table to finish her cookie. Sweet moments…

As I was making my way to each of the elders to tell them good-bye, one grandma told me, “They are so good to watch.” Another let me know that “They are doing great things!” and wouldn’t let go of my arm until I promised to tell them. Then she said “But don’t tell them too many times.” My favorite nurse, Paul, shared with me that the 5 elders who gathered to visit with us are the ones that he has trouble finding enough things to stimulate them throughout the day. We agreed that they would sleep well that night!

As Sheridan and the Martha House look ahead to the summer months, we are wondering how we can continue to build more personal relationships. Do you, your family or your Sojourner group have the gifts to visit with people and write down their life-stories? Would you be willing to go on a "field trip" to the Sunken Gardens and push a wheel chair? Could you be a meal host by setting the table and gathering elders to the table? Would you be willing to help organize a garage sale from the items that have been accumulating at the house? Feel free to contact me for more information on how you can personally partner with the Martha House. I promise God will reward you with some sweet moments!

Julie Anderson, Children’s Music Coordinator

Sunday Post from Pastor Greg

Greetings everyone! I haven't been in contact for a few days because I have been spending time at Mudio, our original sister congregation. What a time I've had! The joke was made upon my arrival that I was now the new "Associate Pastor." I love it! That was perfect for me, for it gave me a chance to simply be with the people here at Mudio.
During my days I spent a great deal of time with Pastor Christosia Ngowi. We walked the countryside visiting many sick and shut-ins. We also were hosted in the homes of many "church elders." Each wanted to feed us, so I'm very glad we walked a lot! I've been so inspired by the deep faith of their members. Truly they have received me as one of their own. For that, I am humbled and grateful.
Worship this morning was about three and one half hours. They asked me to preach and Pastor Rhonda and I participated in eight baptisms. We also shared the Lord's Supper. We also shared and received their greetings.
We have seen the great progress of Mudio - the new sewing building renovation, the kindergarten, maize mill and overall growth in the ministry. I am so impressed by all that they have done! I cannot wait to tell you all, over the course of time, all that your support has empowered in this place. Know that you are making a difference here and they are also holding us in prayer. This truly is a spiritual partnership.
We will see you in a few days as tomorrow evening we depart.