Entries for August 2009

Summer issue of Christian Life News is available for download in Publications.  "Kick Start Your Outreach," by Barb Kaun, "Friends," by Pastor Totsky, "Personal Highlights from Portland" and more -- it's all there. 

LWML Sunday Materials Available to Download On-line.  October is traditionally the month when churches across the country celebrate the work of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Orders for LWML Sunday materials are still being received for shipment at the LWML Office.

The LWML Web site, www.lwml.org, now has several of the items that were included in the LWML Sunday packets available to download. These packets were sent to each LWML society several weeks ago. The order form may be downloaded, completed and sent to the LWML office by fax or mail, or scanned to send by e-mail. Orders may also be placed by phone.

The on-line materials that are available for free download include the 2009 convention sermon crafted by Dr. Warren Schumacher, President of the Northwest District LCMS from 1994-2009, that has been adapted for use in the congregation. There is also a Power Point presentation for use with the sermon. With a click of the mouse the copyright information for the service may now be accessed.

Suggestions for ways to observe LWML Sunday, the banner design, and the children’s message are available also for free downloading. Items to enhance the celebration are listed on the order form as well. To ensure delivery for October events, orders should be received by September 1, 2009.

Have you been waiting and praying for your opportunity to be a "go-er?" MOST Ministries is organizing a SWD-LWML trip to Costa Rica January 15-23, 2010 and they have room for you! The focus of the mission trip will be to teach English as a second language ("ESL"). There is no "teaching" experience necessary, however. The lessons are taught by speaking English to people who are learning the language. The holy scriptures are used as lesson materials.

There will be opportunities to lead craft activities or sporting activities in addition to leading the ESL classes.

There is only room for 12 of us on the trip, so investigate this opportunity and sign up soon! The deadline is October 15, 2009. For more information, e-mail Bonnie Grossenbach. Information from MOST Ministries regarding this trip available here. Flyer regarding future LWML Mission Trips.

Hark, the voice of Jesus crying, "Who will go and work today?" Fields are white and harvest waiting; who will bear the sheaves away?

Free to Serve.  Rev. Totsky's Bible Study for Fall Rally, Free to Serve, is available now in Publications! 

Lutheran Hispanics thank the LWML for Convention Offering.  LCMS Pacific Southwest District President Larry Stoterau expressed a warm thank you to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for the gift of over $23,000 to the Lutheran Hispanic Lay Training Program during the third National Convention of Lutheran Hispanics in Orlando, Florida. The funds were gathered in the second offering of the LWML Convention which was held in Portland last month.

In greeting the 225 attendees and some of their children, LWML President Janice Wendorf cited the Mission Statement of the LWML, which is “… to assist each woman of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship to the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the world.” Lutheran Women in Mission continues to provide resources to their Hispanic sisters – beginning with the first translation of LWML materials in 1982. Leaguers were urged to invite Spanish-speaking friends to the convention in1995 as all business sessions were offered simultaneously in Spanish and English, and since the Spring 2004 issue, the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly has published a Spanish translation of one Bible study in each issue. President Wendorf shared that Bible studies from past issues are archived and accessible through the LWML Web site, www.lwml.org, where additional Spanish resources also are available to order on-line or through the LWML catalog.

President Wendorf stated that in 2001 the LWML recognized the need for the organization to reflect the diversity in the church and began a long term investment by developing the Heart to Heart Sisters program. Since the first program was offered at the 2003 LWML Convention, more than 100 ethnic women have participated, about one-third of whom are Hispanic.

“We celebrate the leadership of these talented women. Indeed we have much to learn from each other. More than 12 of the Heart to Heart Sisters have been appointed to committees to serve on the national level of the LWML,” affirmed President Wendorf. Inviting those gathered, the LWML President shared the vision and plans for the LWML through a workshop held on Thursday afternoon at the convention.

There are more than 44.7 million Hispanics in the United States, but only about 10,000 are members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Hispanic ministries, acknowledging its unity in the LCMS through its convention theme – One Mission, One Message, One People— joins with others in seeking God’s grace to work toward adding to those numbers.

This comes from Judy Paulson, our VP of Servant Resources: 

Greetings to all SWD LWML ladies and pastors!

Are we rested up yet?? And back down from the mountain-top?? Maybe?

Some of you heard Diane's report at the caucus meeting in Portland saying that we're doing fairly well with having people consent to serve as nominees at our convention next year. We have willing candidates for Financial Secretary, VP Gospel Outreach, and Recording Secretary (only 1). However, we have none for VP Servant Resources and Pastoral Counselor.

The purpose of this memo is to ask each of you to seriously review in your mind the people in your part of the district. If you can think of someone who might be well suited to any of the offices (we would like to have several to choose from), please send a note to Diane Pielsnik, Nominating Committee Chairman. She will definitely need to have a name and address; if you can, include a telephone number or e-mail as that will be helpful in the future.

Remember:

• It isn't necessary for you to talk with the person before you send in his/her name. The purpose of the first contact from the committee is to send out job descriptions for the position, the EC and the BOD with a request for the person to consider becoming a candidate.
• It isn't necessary for you to evaluate whether or not the person has the time to do the job. That can be placed in the Lord's hands as people pray about accepting a nomination or pray about voting for nominees.
• It isn't even necessary for you to assess the person's skill level; 'God will equip the called'. (And then there's that prayer thing and that having lots of people to choose from thing and that voting thing!) But if you know someone with particular skills, please let us know about him/her. And if you're not sure, still let us know. Nominees fill out a form listing experiences and skills, and those forms give us lots of information.
• It IS necessary for you to let the committee know about people who reside in your area of the district...I believe many people who are willing workers have just never been asked.

Thanks for giving this some serious thought and prayer. I know the people we need are out there. Help us find them.

 
Send names to Diane Pielsnik or use the Nomination Form.  Nominations will be accepted through December 1, 2009.

Serving the Lord with Gladness,
Judy Paulson
Vice President - Servant Resources
Ps. 150

Check out our Human Care Ministry page for ideas that your Zone or Society can use to spread the love of Christ to those in need.  The latest addition is information regarding collecting unused greeting and note cards for use by women inmates at Taycheedah.