A Blessed Advent and Joyous Christmas Season! From the Western Iowa Women s Synodical Board

Transcription

1 The Scribe Page 1 Western Iowa Synod Women of the ELCA Margaret Stangohr & Carolyn Johnson, Co-Editors December 2017 **************************************************************************************************************** Western Iowa Synodical Women s Organization Newsletter Published Four times a year ****************************************************************************************************************************** MESSAGE FROM YOUR WISWO PRESIDENT We are almost to the end of the year It has been a busy year for the WISWO board with spring and fall Cluster meetings, WISWO Convention, Triennial Convention and Gathering, our first WISWO Retreat, mailing out the leadership packets, ing the Scribe to all churches and business meetings held at the Synod office in Storm Lake. To all Clusters having meetings next spring, please let us know by March 1, 2018 when and where you will be having your event by calling or ing den09car@q.com. We are in the process of planning for our annual WISWO Convention to be held on June 23, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA. A special note, I want all units to be aware of the resolution that we passed at convention in 2017: "BE IT RESOLVED that The Western Iowa Synodical Women s Organization commit to raising $15,000 by 2020 for scholarships and student aid for seminary students from the Western Iowa Synod Lutheran community and that we encourage our congregations to also engage in commitments to fund seminary students. We invite the Holy Spirit to empower us with prayer and caring hearts in reaching these goals." This fund raising will be our main goal for the next three years. I ask all clusters and units to remember our seminarian students when sending in their offerings to our WISWO treasurer. But we will still be funding scholarships for the Tanzania Girls School, so those gifts are also welcome. I wish all of you a very joyous and blessed Advent and Christmas season! Happy Birthday to Jesus! Yours in Christ, Marlyce Hauge A Blessed Advent and Joyous Christmas Season! From the Western Iowa Women s Synodical Board Marlyce Hauge, Sue Bobbit, Margert Stangohr, Dixie Petersen, Judy Woods, Nancy Peters, Kim Campbell, Kathy Landgraf, Linda Clarke, Carolyn Johnson, Christy VanDeventer.

2 The Scribe Page 2 Calendar of Upcoming Events Western Iowa Women s ANNUAL Convention June 23, 2018 St. Paul Lutheran, Atlantic, IA October, 2019 Tri Synod Retreat Story City, IA NEWS FROM YOUR WISWO TREASURER Greetings Treasurers! When sending in your offerings to me please remember to fill out the remittance form A. Each check I receive has to have a form and it is so much easier for me if I receive it with the check. From the offerings at the convention held in June we were able to send $ each to Igumbillo Girls School and to the Seminarian Scholarship Fund. So we thank you and ask that you continue to support these important ministries of the WISWO. We thank you for your continued support of the Western Iowa Synodical Women s Board. Dixie Petersen 2409 Littlefield Drive Exira, IA Phone: NEWS FROM YOUR WISWO SECRETARY Yours in Christ, Dixie Petersen, Treasurer Thanks to all who returned the Unit Leaders form. If your unit did not receive a packet, contact Margaret Stangohr or marsta@iw.net. Some of you indicated you are inactive yet describe an active group. To be considered an active unit: Meet together for study, support and mission. You do not have to general meetings, just meet for Bible study and mission projects Participate in the ministry of Women of the ELCA beyond your congregation. If possible, attend a Cluster meeting, a synodical women s convention or a triennial convention and gathering. Support financially the total program of Women of the ELCA. Share your offering or fund raising proceeds with WISWO. (We in turn share 50% of your offerings with churchwide.) The amount is whatever you decide. Our main fund raising project this year is Seminary Scholarships but we are still raising funds for the Igumblio Girl s School in Tanzania. Designate leadership to communicate with synodical and churchwide women s organization. This can be as simple as a contact person. You do not need officers or a board. Margaret Stangohr, WISWO Secretary

3 The Scribe Page 3 PURPOSE STATEMENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world. DISCIPLESHIP Do you have your Gather magazine subscription up to date, or know of anyone who would be blessed by having a subscription? Gather is an award-winning magazine that offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge. Our next four-session Bible study appearing in the January 2018 through April 2018 issues is entitled Multiple Meanings: Learning from Other Interpretations. We will be exploring how and why Bible stories mean different things to different people. The writer is Mark Allan Powell who is a professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He has taught at seminaries in Estonia, Russia and Tanzania. He edited the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary and has written more than 100 articles and 25 books on the Bible and religion. Sounds like it should be a really interesting four-session Bible study! Kathy Landgraf and Kim Campbell, Discipleship Pre-register for 2020 Those attending the Tenth Triennial Gathering are eligible to pre-register for the Eleventh Triennial Gathering in Phoenix, Ariz. The gathering will be held July 16-19, 2020.

4 The Scribe Page 4 STEWARDSHIP REPORT OF STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS WOMEN OF THE WESTERN IOWA SYNOD ELCA FOR MAY 2017 TO MAY 2018 Please return to Judy Woods, chair of WISWO Mission Stewardship at judyw44@mchsi.com, phone , or mail 409 N. Elm Street, Creston, IA Collecting of information begins in late April 2018 through May We welcome reports from clusters, church units, circles, church groups or individuals however your contributions were accomplished. Every kit, every quilt or blanket, every project is valued, and we want to celebrate all gifts. Please print: Church Name of Stewardship Chair or person reporting Address List all your projects completed from May 2017 to May If your unit or group uses a different calendar, please report accordingly but also maintain that time period count year to year: (Indicate the number for each category). LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF PROJECTS Quilts School Kits Baby Care Kits Personal Care Kits Sewing Kits GLOBAL HEALTH MISSIONS PROJECTS Rolled Bandages Newborn Kits Aids/Hospice Kits Soap (lbs.) PROJECTS GIVEN LOCALLY TO OTHER MISSIONS: PLEASE IDENTIFY ALL MISSION PROJECTS COMPLETED LOCALLY AND GIVE THE NUMBER GIVEN FOR EACH: PLEASE LIST CHARITIES AND MISSIONS ETC. THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN MONEY WITH THE AMOUNTFOLLOWING: YOUR COMMENTS (on back) Continued on the next page

5 The Scribe Page 5 Thank you very much for submitting this information to us. It is always with joy that we receive this news of the generous giving and dedicated work that each of you do in you church. We combine all the numbers and from every corner of our synod and give a report at the WISWO Convention June 23, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran in Atlantic, Iowa. We celebrate your numbers and we celebrate you. Thank you for all that you do for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as we work together to do God s Work with Our Hands. Nancy Peters & Judy Woods, Stewardship JUSTICE Rachel s Day Did you know that every 30 minutes a child or teen dies or is injured from a gun? Take a look at our updated Rachel s Day resource that offers information on how you can work within your community and congregation to combat gun violence. Rachel s Day is observed by Women of the ELCA annually on the first Sunday in May, though it can be observed any time of the year. It is a time set aside to mourn the loss of our children and to renounce the forces of violence and fear. The 2015 Rachel s Day resource includes a litany for use in a special Rachel s Day Service Take action. Commit to pray for victims and their Families. Follow up with participants of the events you have hosted to keep the conversations alive and hopeful. When you are ready to take more advanced actions, connect with organizations doing work to combat violence. Attend local gatherings and events. Join a group. Volunteer at schools. Taking action will make a difference. Pray. Use A litany of lament and hope for Rachel s Day (see page 6) during Sunday worship, at the beginning of a Kitchen Table Talk, during a summit or even as your congregational unit meets and observes Rachel s Day. Regularly include petitions relating to these issues in your weekly worship. Invite individuals to keep these matters in their daily prayers. Share. We can encourage one another and acknowledge what we have done collectively by sharing our actions toward making a difference. The success and power of organizations and movements such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) comes from collective sharing. Visit womenoftheelca.org and leave a report of your work. Share your stories in social media: on Facebook (facebook.com/ womenoftheelca) and on Twitter (use #actboldlyhashtag Rachel s Day is a day of remembering the young lives lost, and it should also be a time to recommit to children everywhere. It is important to celebrate as well as mourn. It is in celebrating that the faith community is stirred to hope and can envision a better future. Beyond Rachel s Day Remember, Rachel s Day is to serve as a beginning, a place and time to move participants to action. Take time after Rachel s Day to gather a planning group that decides how your group/congregation will continue working on behalf of children. Create a plan for accomplishing and evaluating each task or activity by keeping a journal to share. Here are some suggested actions. 1. When your group is ready to expand its actions, designate an agency in your community that helps children (day care, aftercare program, family shelter). In consultation with the agency, determine what kind of in-kind offering (tangible items) your congregation can collect to support children at physical risk. It could be diapers, books, school supplies, art, and sports equipment, or something else. Don t guess or assume. Ask local agencies what they need. When you collect in-kind gifts, determine what you will do for the children in your congregation. Present as a part of the Sunday offering both the in-kind gifts and the actions your congregation will take for your children. This serves as a reminder of your commitment and the difference you are making. 2. Host an open house and community forum. Invite local officials (government, law enforcement, education, daycare and aftercare providers, and faith community) to present practices and plans for children s safety. This open house might also help build relationships within the community. Check the

6 The Scribe Page 6 Internet to see what other groups are doing across the country. (From Rachel s Day A resource from Women of the ELCA Linda Clarke, Carolyn Johnson, Christy Van Deventer Justice WESTERN IOWA SYNODICAL WOMEN S BOARD FALL RETREAT 2017 Hands to Work Hearts to God On October 7 th we met at Bethany Lutheran in Spencer for our first Fall Retreat. 38 women met to spend a day of renewal and relaxation. Pastor Jennifer Henry from Bethany led us in a Bible study about the gifts in our lives. Have you ever discovered within yourself a gift you didn t know that you had? From Ephesians 4 (The Message) Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. Consider what your gifts are and how do you share them with others. We put together 50 personal care kits, to be distributed to those in need. Nancy Raska from the Aroma Store and More spoke to us about the benefits of essential oils. She helped us make a sea salt scrub using oils that we chose; the room was full of wonderful aromas. Nancy Peters led us through the garden gate with a meditation, it was a wonderful way to relax and prepare for the communion service we shared to end the day. It was great to spend a day of fellowship with women from around the Synod, we shared, we laughed, we renewed. Thank you to everyone who spent the day with us. We are planning to make this an annual event in October, if you have any ideas or thoughts on what you would like please let any of the board members know. Sue Boblit, WISWO Vice President

7 The Scribe Page 7 Highlights from the Clusters Dorcas Cluster September 13, 2017, on a beautiful fall day, 75 ladies assembled at Twin Lakes Bible camp for their annual fall retreat. Churches from the Dorcas Cluster organizing the fall retreat were: St Peter, Pocahontas, St Paul, Palmer, Elfsborg, rural Pomeroy and St John, Pomeroy. We began the morning with a communion service. Pastor Tom Hagen, pastor of Prairie Faith Partners churches, conducted the service. Emphasis was centered on the Reformation 500 year celebration. Our Bible study leader was Karyn Brinkmeyer from Hubbard, Iowa. Her theme was Prescription for Joy with interaction from the ladies. The afternoon session centered on Joy in the Wilderness using Moses from the book of Exodus, comparing examples of his trials and joys and the relationship of trials and joys in our life. The offering for the day went ½ to WISWO and ½ to hurricane relief in Texas. An In Kind offering was given to Upper Des Moines at Pocahontas, IA. Deborah Cluster No meeting Esther Cluster The fall meeting of Esther Cluster was held on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at St. John Lutheran church in Cushing. There were 36 women attending, who enjoyed a salad luncheon at 12:00 followed by fellowship. At 1:00 PM Pastor Lorna Halaas from the synod office and Pastor Barb Spaulding from Trinity Lutheran in Moville presented their power point program, recapping their weekend at the Tenth Triennial Convention held in Minneapolis in July. We all took part in a quiz on Facts and Figures of Women of the ELCA with Lorna and Barb giving a prize to the woman who had the most answers correct. Much information was shared concerning on-going projects and our continued work in the global community, as well as here at home. An in-kind offering was collected for LSI, which was designated to Bremwood for backpacks. A second offering was collected for WISWO, with 1/2 of the amount going to the Seminary Student Scholarship Fund, and the other 1/2 going to the WISWO Treasury. An invitation was extended by Salem Lutheran of rural Correctionville to attend their spring 2018 meeting of Esther Cluster. Cheryl Todd, St. John WISWO president Hannah Cluster No Meeting Lydia Cluster No Meeting Mary Cluster Disbanded Martha Cluster Martha Cluster met on Saturday, November 11, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Thirty-four people were in attendance and enjoyed coffee and treats provided by the ladies of St. Mark. Pr. Lorna Halaas led our Devotion/Bible Study from Ecclesiastes. Dr. Dona Prince presented a very interesting program on plants of the Bible. Marlyce Hauge and Carolyn Johnson presented greetings from the WISWO board. Our offering was divided between WISWO and Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Ruth Cluster Fall meeting was the WISWO Retreat. Read report on page 6. Tabitha Cluster Disbanded Reported by Linda Clarke Note: Please send me your cluster reports so I can put in the Scribe. is den09car@q.com or mail them to me at 504 West Elm Ave., Pocahontas, IA Thank you Carolyn Johnson Please don t throw me away or stick me in a file! Instead, take me apart, copy me! Share me with the women of your church! Thank You!! Your Editors!!

8 The Scribe Page 8 Deborah Cluster: Albert City, Our Savior s Albert City, St. John Alta, Immanuel Alta, Trinity Cherokee, Bethlehem Craig, St. John s Linn Grove, Trinity Marathon, Grace Marcus, Faith Newell, Nain Rembrandt, Our Saviors Remsen, St. Paul Sioux Rapids, First Spencer, Bethany Spencer, Trinity Storm Lake, St. Mark Dorcas Cluster: Boxholm, Trinity Burnside, Immanuel Clarion, First Dayton, Emanuel Duncombe, Washington Eagle Grove, New Hope* Fort Dodge, Christ Fort Dodge, Ch. of Damascus Rd. Fort Dodge, Grace Fort Dodge, St. Olaf Gowrie, Zion Harcourt, Faith Humboldt, Our Savior s Lytton, Emanuel-St. John Manson, Augustana Evangelical Manson, St. Paul Evangelical Moorland, Fulton at Roelyn Ottosen, Trinity Palmer, St. Paul Pocahontas, St. Peter Pomeroy, Elfsborg Pomeroy, St. John Renwick, St. Paul Rockwell City, St. Paul s Rutland, Trinity Vincent, South Enes Webster City, Trinity Esther Cluster: Correctionville, Salem Cushing, St. John Holstein, St. Paul Evangelical Kiron, Bethel Moville, Trinity Cluster Churches Odebolt, Faith Soldier, Soldier Hannah Cluster Adair, Good Shepherd Atlantic, St. Paul s Audubon, Ebenezer Brayton, Brayton Carroll, St. John Coon Rapids, Ascension Exira, Exira Griswold, Faith Hamlin, Hamlin Jefferson, Christ Kimballton, Bethany Kimballton, Immanuel Lydia Cluster: Clarinda, Bethesda Creston, Salem Essex, St. John s Northboro, St. Paul Red Oak, Bethlehem Red Oak, Fremont (Nyman) Shenandoah, Emmanuel Stanton, Mamrelund Stanton, Tabor Villisca, Strand Mary Cluster: Disbanded Akron, Immanuel Akron, St. John Akron, Trinity Burnsville, St. Peter Craig, St. John s George, Immanuel Hawarden, American Le Mars, Christ Le Mars, St. John s Melvin, American Merrill, St. John Merrill, St. Paul Paullina, Siloam Primghar, Grace Rock Rapids, Immanuel Rock Valley, Our Savior s Sibley, Trinity Sioux Center, Hope Martha Cluster Sergeant Bluff, New Life Sioux City, Augustana Sioux City, First Sioux City, Immanuel Sioux City, Riverside Sioux City, St. John Sioux City, St. Luke Sioux City, St. Mark Sioux City, Trinity Ruth Cluster: Algona, First Armstrong, Nazareth Britt, First Buffalo Center, Bethlehem Corwith, St. John Cylinder, St. John Emmetsburg, Bethany Estherville, Estherville Estherville, Trinity Forest City, Immanuel Graettinger, Bethel Kanawha, Kanawha Lakota, St. Paul Milford, First Rake, Zion Ringsted, United Ruthven, Lost Island Spirit Lake, Grace Thompson, Bethany Titonka, Good Hope Titonka, Immanuel Wallingford, Wallingford Woden, St. John s Tabitha Cluster: Disbanded Council Bluffs, Emanuel Council Bluffs, Our Savior s Council Bluffs, St. John Council Bluffs, S. Sudanese Thanksgiving Dunlap, St. John Mineola, St. John Missouri Valley, St. Paul Moorhead, Bethesda Neola, St. Paul s Oakland, Living Faith* Treynor, St. Paul Underwood, Underwood *Synodically authorized Worshipping Community

9 P a g e 9 Western Iowa Synodical Women s Organization Directory PRESIDENT Marlyce Hauge PO Box 311 Manson, IA Home: Cell: den09car@q.com SECRETARY Margaret Stangohr 707 Highview Drive Storm Lake, IA Home: marsta@iw.net STEWARDSHIP Judy Woods 409 North Elm Creston, IA Home: judyw44@ mchsi.com DISCIPLESHIP Kim Campbell 1403 Broadway Emmetsburg IA Home: kcampbell@iowalakes.edu VICE PRESIDENT Sue Boblit 104 East First Street Spencer, IA Home: Cell sdboblit@gmail.com TREASURER Dixie Petersen 2409 Littlefield Drive Exira, IA Home: crpfarm@iowatelecom.net Nancy J. Peters th Street Sheldon, IA Home: or nancyp@nethtc.net Kathy Landgraf th Ave. Laurens IA Home: rkland@ncn nets WESTERN IOWA SYNOD OFFICE 318 E 5 th Street, Storm Lake, IA Synod Liaison: Pastor Lorna Halaas lorna.halaas.rev@wisynod.org Cell: Office: Office Coordinator: Lynn Egesdal lynn.egesdal@wisynod.org THE SCRIBE (Co-Editors) Margaret Stangohr 707 Highview Drive Storm Lake, IA Home: marsta@iw.net Carolyn Johnson 504 West Elm Ave Pocahontas, IA Cell: den09car@q.com JUSTICE Linda Clarke 909 S. Saint Mary s St Sioux City, IA Home: lsclarke52@gmail.com Carolyn Johnson 504 West Elm Ave Pocahontas, IA Home: den09car@q.com Christy VanDeventer 1804 Hwy 18 Algona, IA Home: / cdvandeven@gmail.com