Oregon Synod Grapevine Oregon Women of the ELCA

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1 Oregon Synod Grapevine Oregon Women of the ELCA January/February 2017 From the President Sisters in Christ; Sonja Hoffman I hope that this message finds you rested, at peace and grace filled. It is hard to believe that we are already a month into the New Year The snow, ice and cold that we have had this month have messed with my circadian rhythms and I am just now getting my routines and schedules back on track. The board met for our first meeting on Saturday, January 21 st at Our Saviors in Lebanon. We had the pleasure of attending an event hosted by the women from Our Saviors for the Emerald/Vineyard cluster. The program was a presentation by Elaine Fillmore, SWO exchange visitor to Poland in September She showed slides and shared memories about her trip. Afterwards, the board began planning for an exciting year and we hope that you will be able to join us and take part in the events and adventures we have planned. The Triennial Gathering is fast approaching. If you are registered already, would you me at queensonj@comcast.net and let me know that you will be attending. If you could include anyone else attending with you or from Oregon it would be helpful. We have not decided what our give away from Oregon will be. At the 2014 Triennial in North Carolina we gave away prayer squares. If you have any ideas, them to me. Hope to see you there. The 2017 Synodical Women s Convention will be held October th in Dallas, Oregon at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. If you have suggestions for workshops and/or speakers we would love to hear from you. We are always looking for volunteers to help before and during the convention. I will be attending the Churchwide Conference of Presidents, February 17 th -19 th in Chicago at the Lutheran Center. If you have, any information or recommendations that you would like me to take to Churchwide I would be happy to voice them for you. I will be presenting to the Region 1 Presidents, during our caucuses, that we will be hosting the 2019 Region 1Gathering in Hillsboro, OR. We are looking at dates in June of that year. In closing, I would like to thank Lori Loehr for the amazing job she did as our secretary in Lori had hoped to continue as secretary for one more year, but has had to resign. When one door closes another opens and Jean Pishaw, from Emmanuel Lutheran in Cornelius has agreed and been appointed to finish Lori s term. Your servant, Sonja Hoffman 1 P a g e

2 WELCA 101 an introductory course for women new to the organization Adopted from Eastern North Dakota Newsletter Connections Why an introductory course? Over the past thirty years, the make-up of Women of the ELCA has changed. When the Women of the ELCA formed, most of the population was in the year age range. Most of us already had an idea of what the predecessor organizations did and what the terminology was. We adapted to different names for the same committees and groups (by and large). Some group members still refer to ladies aid, women s convention, and other terms from the past. This has caused confusion for newer members who are with- out the previous background language. It became more evident as the older generation passed on. Younger women rejected some of the terminology and the composition of the group changed accordingly. In other words, they didn t want to be part of we ve always done it that way and wanted a purpose that fits their life s path. Hence the attempt to redefine the women s group and role in the structure of the congregations within our denomination. A glossary of terms has been developed for Oregon Synodical Women s Organization to assist those who are new to the organization or need a refresher on what s what and who s who. The Women of the ELCA is a nationwide organization with the stated goal To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith. Our purpose statement says: As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and pro- mote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world. We are challenged to live our faith through word and deed, following the example of Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. So women lead Bible Study (Mission Growth); make quilts and kits for those in need (Mission Action); work for justice (Today s Dream, Tomorrow s Reality) ; raise funds for scholarships that change lives and communities (Katie s Fund); give Thankofferings to help with programs of the Women of the ELCA; and the list goes on. An annual convention gives Oregon women the opportunity to hear dynamic speakers who challenge them to live out their lives of faith. With the busyness of today s women, it is hard to take time for meetings, gatherings, retreats, and such. An effort continues to be made to provide child care for young mothers, providing activities to encourage children to a life of faith. With each issue of The Grapevine, a short article about a segment of the Women of the ELCA goals and plans will be added. Hopefully, these insights will help new members understand who we are and what we do. It will provide added information to those who have been there from the beginning. 2 P a g e

3 Glossary of Terms Assembly used as the term for convention by the ELCA. Churchwide designation for one of the three expressions of the ELCA: congregations, synods, churchwide Cluster a division of a Synodical area, i.e., Oregon is divided into thirteen clusters---columbia Coast, Southern Coast, Sunset, Rose, Mt. Tabor, Mt Hood, Oregon Trail, Vineyard, Plum, Emerald, Crater Lake, Crater Lake, High Desert, Blue Mountain, Congregational Unit Local women s group, WELCA, Ladies Aid, Lutheran Church Women etc. Convention CWO Oregon SWO ELCA Gathering Region Participant Sponsorship SWO Synod Synodical Triennial A meeting where governing decisions are made for an organization by elected voting members (delegates) Churchwide Women s Organization, or the national ELCA Women s Organization Oregon Synodical Women s Organization Evangelical Lutheran Church in America a meeting for informational purposes an area comprised of a number of Synods or Synodicals, i.e., Oregon is part of Region 1. non-voting attendee at a convention, an observer funds from congregational units used to pay speakers, expenses for Cluster Gatherings and annual SWO convention Synodical Women s Organization designation for an area of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America designation for the Women s Group within an area Meeting held every third year, i.e., 2011, 2014, 2017, etc Voting Member preferred term for delegate WELCA Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 3 P a g e

4 Treasurer s End-of-year Report OREGON WOMEN OF THE ELCA FY2016 FINANCIAL REPORT Feb. 1, 2016 to Jan. 24, 2017 INCOME/RESOURCES EXPENSES 2015 income deposited in Prior year obligations paid Balance forward, checking Bank Fees Balance forward, savings Annual business license/state reg Unit offerings Offerings to CWO Cluster offering received Cluster offering to CWO Miscellaneous offerings Region 1 gathering Convention Registrations Board Expense Convention Offering Office Supplies Interest 0.88 Mailings/postage Silent Auction, for Polish fund Poland exchange, 2 trips Polish Fund donation Convention offering distribution Convention meals Convention rooms Convention other expense Total Income/Resources Total Expenses Current balance on hand Checking Savings Submitted by Judy Ann Johnson, SWO Treasurer My mailing and contact information is: Judy Ann Johnson SE 5 th Scappoose, OR Phone or cell Offering forms and other information can be found at Click on our work, then stewardship, then resources. 4 P a g e

5 Human Trafficking Update All traffickers ask is that we stay SILENT and they will continue to profit from the sale of innocent people, but we will not! You can become a Freedom Hero with us by joining our social media campaign. It takes less than two minutes. HT Happens in Every Zip Code, 365 Days A Year: For seven years we have done HT work surrounding the Super Bowl. Last year: We distributed 1250 Missing Kids Booklets and Freedom Stickers in convenience stores and 10 of the 38 children were recovered! Online surveillance resulted in our team sending 35 qualified leads directly to the FBI! How to Join Join our Thunderclap campaign TODAY to break the silence!( Thunderclap will post the following message on your account at 10am EST on Sunday, February 5th: Become an Anti-Human Trafficking HERO with me by sharing this video! Together we can #stopgivefreedom #inourbackyard Share today and any day on any of your social media as well! In Freedom, Nita Belles Executive Director In Our Backyard While there is an increase in trafficking surrounding major events such as the Super Bowl, HT happens 365 days a year in every zip code in America. In Our Backyard works year round to fight this atrocity. For more information go to: 5 P a g e

6 Poland Exchange Elaine Fillmore shares some of her experience and stories with the women at the Vineyard Cluster meeting on January 21, 2017 at Our Savior s Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Oregon. Elaine served as the Oregon Synodical Women s representative to our sister synod in Poland in If you would like to have Elaine speak at your unit gathering or cluster meeting, she may be contacted at Address: 101 Eaton St. Lebanon OR elainefillmore@gmail.com 6 P a g e

7 Oregon Synodical Women s Organization Board President: Vice-President: Sonja Hoffman 3925 N Longview Avenue Portland, OR Daytime Phone: Evening Phone: Cell Phone: Helen Koehler 1601 SW Reindeer Ave #105 Redmond, OR Phone: Cell Phone: Peace Lutheran Portland, OR Cluster: Plum queensonj@comcast.net Zion Lutheran Redmond, OR Cluster: High Desert kehelen46@gmail.com Secretary: Vacant apt d Treasurer: apt d Position 1: Position 2: Jean Pishaw 2707 Knox Ridge Terrace Forest Grove, OR Judy Ann Johnson SE 5th Scappose, OR Phone: Cell Phone: Peggy Jefferies Merry Burbank Mohawk River Rd. Marcola, OR Emanuel Lutheran Church Cornelius, OR Cluster: Sunset Pishaws4@comcast.net First Lutheran St. Helens, OR Cluster: Rose judyannj@centurytel.net St. Peter Lutheran Tillamook, OR Cluster: Columbia pegsjourney@gmail.com Emmaus Lutheran Eugene, OR Cluster: Emerald merryburbank@yahoo.com Position 3: Cathie M. Carlisle, Deacon 1740 SW 208 th Ave Aloha, OR Phone: Cell Phone: Calvary Lutheran Hillsboro, OR Cluster: Sunset cmcarli@yahoo.com 7 P a g e

8 Position 4: Marcia McClanahan SE Kehrli Dr. Milwaukie OR Milwaukie Lutheran Milwaukie, OR Cluster: Sunset Position 5: apt d Sally Miller sallymiller3@aol.com Trinity Lutheran Dallas, OR Cluster: Position 6: Stephanie Kistler SE Blackstone Ave Happy Valley, OR Phone: Trinity Lutheran Gresham, OR Cluster Mt. Hood smkistler@hotmail.com Save the Date 2017 Oregon SWO Convention Oct 13 15, 2017 Trinity Lutheran in Dallas, OR. 8 P a g e

9 "All Anew" is the theme for Women of the ELCA's Tenth Triennial Gathering. Read more about how the name was chosen. Select a Sunday to promote the Triennial Gathering Sunday Offering. Then write a check to Oregon SWO, earmarked for the Triennial Gathering Sunday Offering PV for Phebe effort and send it to Treasurer, Judy Ann Johnson. (address on page We'll gather at the Minneapolis Convention 4. She will credit your unit for Center where featured speakers and workshop these special funds and see that leaders will spark our conversations, drawing on the funds are sent with our their experiences, successes, failures and lessons voting members to present learned. We ll continue the conversations in our during the Sunday offering. central gathering place, the exhibit hall, where you can connect, shop, meet authors and speakers, gather Check out PV for Phebe effort resources and more. website for fundraising information. Sure, you ll get a lot out of this event, but you ll have opportunities to give, too. You can share with others in Minneapolis and around the world through in-kind gifts and service projects. Your Sunday offerings will support the PV for Phebe effort, bringing solar energy to Phebe Hospital in rural Liberia, and Cherish All Children, an ELCA-related social ministry organization equipping congregations to prevent sexual exploitation of children, along with the ongoing churchwide ministries of Women of the ELCA. 9 P a g e

10 GET INVOLVED Engage our gathering theme in new and different ways before you even leave home. Working alone or in groups, you can make a quilt, create a finger labyrinth, color the All Anew coloring sheet, worship with our free downloadable devotions or gather in-kind gifts. Make a finger labyrinth Fiber artists will unite in making finger labyrinths. Quilted, knitted, embroidered, felted or crocheted, there's a pattern for everyone. We're hoping to collect more than 5,000 finger labyrinths. Download patterns and instructions here. Participate in the quilt challenge Quilters of all abilities are invited to create a quilt interpreting the Tenth Triennial Gathering theme, All Anew theme in a black & white + one challenge. Entries will be judged by women from the Minnesota Quilters Guild. The challenge comes not only in interpreting the gathering theme but also in working within certain rules. Here s a downloadable fact sheet with all the details. Explore the All Anew theme Enjoy the meditative properties of coloring. Explore our Tenth Triennial Gathering theme with free downloadable devotionals. Find other coloring options as well. Gather in-kind gifts Giving in-kind gifts at the gathering is a tradition that positively impacts the host city. At the Ninth Triennial Gathering in 2014, you provided the greater Charlotte area with $17,765 in gift cards and more than 10,000 toiletry and clothing items. You will have a chance to meet the 2017 in-kind gift recipients in the exhibit hall where they will lead servant events. Check back here for a list of the in-kind gifts and ways you can start encouraging your unit to begin collecting them early. 10 P a g e

11 RELAX, UNWIND, COLOR! by Linda Post Bushkofsky Paul might have told the Corinthians that he d given up childish ways once he became an adult (1 Corinthians 13:11), but lucky for me, that adage doesn t apply to coloring books. That s right, I and a few hundred thousand other adults have reclaimed the childhood joy of coloring. Hopping on the adult coloring bandwagon, Women of the ELCA has created a coloring sheet based on our Tenth Triennial Gathering logo, All Anew. The sheet can be used in different ways depending upon the size of the group you re addressing. If you re meeting with a circle or small group (say, fewer than 20 women), you could have the sheet out for people as they arrive, invite them to start coloring, and once everyone is present, do a blessing over the coloring and the triennial, and let people continue to color while you talk. Participating in an inter-generational mother/daughter/friend event? This would be a wonderful activity for everyone. In a larger group you could include the coloring sheet as a take-home handout (with encouragement that they copy it and share with others in their congregation, for example). course, you could use the All Anew coloring sheet alone, too. What s the appeal of coloring for adults? By coloring, people can relax, unwind, reduce anxiety, and even practice mindfulness. One coloring enthusiast says it s a way to unplug and reset our brains. Coloring adds creativity and art to your life, especially for those who don t feel particularly artistic. Coloring can take on the nature of a spiritual discipline, especially if you combine it with prayer. Use the All Anew coloring sheet to pray for the planners and presenters at the triennial gathering. Pray for those who attend and those who make it possible for others to attend. Share it with your friends and invite them to come with you to the triennial gathering. 11 P a g e

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