Good News. Thank God for the People in Your Life

Transcription

1 Indiana District July 2015 Good News Thank God for the People in Your Life Let s face it, when we hear, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6) we think of our own trials in life. With thanksgiving... in everything? We tend to remember the last hardship we endured rather than all the blessings present in our lives. Many of you have just returned from the 36 th LWML Biennial Convention and many of you are working hard in preparation for the upcoming Treatshop on August 22 as well as the 2016 district convention. In all of these events there is a constant. That constant is the opportunity to work with fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. One of our heroes of faith is St. Paul. A common thread that runs through all our remembrances of St. Paul s life is his perseverance in the face of hardship and persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Yet his writings reveal the heart of this most dedicated missionary. There are 13 New Testament books attributed to his pen and in eight of them his message begins with a certain thanksgiving. Amid his litany of hardships he begins by thanking God for those to whom he writes (Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4; Phil. 1:3; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:3; Philemon 1:4). He thanks his heavenly Father for those he is blessed to serve. We would all readily admit that it is so easy to take people for granted. It s so easy to complain and become angry because they don t meet our every wish. But, as we follow the example of St. Paul, we need to give thanks for those around us - our spouses, our children, our relatives, our friends, our LWML sisters in faith. I once received a letter from a woman who began by telling me how fortunate she was to have a kind, considerate husband. She then used four pages to list all his faults! How many relationships grow cold and eventually are shattered because of the sin of ingratitude? Do you let others know that you appreciate them and are thankful for them? The Christians in Corinth were far from perfect, but Paul began his first letter to them by saying, I give thanks to my God always for you (1 Corinthians 1:4, ESV). We read that when a group of believers, whom in fact Paul had never met, came out to greet him as he approached Rome, that on seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage (Acts 28:15, ESV). Thank God for those who touch your life. God, in His infinite wisdom and His abiding and unconditional love and forgiveness has brought these opportunities to you. Thank God for your brothers and sisters in faith who stand with you and by you. Prayerfully take advantage of the worship and service opportunities that your LWML provides for you and remember that a sorrow shared is half a sorrow, a joy shared is twice a joy. God bless you. I look forward to seeing you as we together share the joys of service in God s kingdom through our LWML! In His Service, --Pastor Mark Moog In this issue President s Page 2 Heart to Heart Sisters 3 Mission Grants 4 LWML Gift Planning 4 Mission Trip News 5 Treatshop Invitation 6 Treatshop Registration 7-8 Treatshop Ingathering 9 Treatshop Agenda 9 Retreat Ingathering Results 9 District Officers 10 Additional Items 11

2 PRESIDENT S PAGE The Time Is Now to Make a Date EMILY ROGERS Today I went to visit my friend Luella Ropers, from Aurora, Indiana. Luella is 105 years young and a charter member of the LWML. It is always a joy to spend time with her. Luella has had some health issues this spring and I have been trying to schedule a date for several of us to go and visit her. It just didn t work. This week, I decided to make a date and go. Is it time for you to make a date and do something with someone? For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other s faith, both yours and mine (Romans 1:11-12). Emily Rogers LWML Indiana District President Make a date to visit the shut-ins in your congregation. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Make a date with a friend to attend the LWML Indiana District Treatshop on August 22. Explain the activities and committees of the organization. Registration information is in this Good News Newsletter. Make a date to invite several women to fill your car and attend your LWML fall zone rally. Make a date to do something special for the women in your congregation for Christmas. Involve others in your plans. Create a Thrivent Action Team to help with expenses. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Make a date to promote the 2016 LWML Indiana District Convention, Who s Your Lord, with the women in your congregation. Start inviting others to attend with you including the young women in your congregation. Make a date to volunteer at the local food panty or thrift shop. Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Make a date with the women of your church to share your pictures and information about the LWML convention or other LWML activities. We spent a wonderful afternoon with Luella, sharing stories about past LWML gatherings and talking about the future of our organization. When I left her, I was ready to make a date to visit her this fall. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). Emily Rogers LWML Indiana District President Past Aurora Zone Presidents Maria Smith and Lorraine Ramsey; LWML Indiana District President Emily Rogers; and Luella Ropers (sitting) LWML Indiana District is pleased to announce that Lexington, Kentucky was selected as the host city for the 39 th Biennial LMWL Convention, June 24-27, May God be with our district as we prepare for this honor of welcoming Lutheran women from all over the nation to our district. 2

3 A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE BECKY THIBODEAU After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:1-2). The Transfiguration. Can you imagine being on a mountaintop with Jesus as He changes in appearance from human to heavenly? I wonder how the disciples might have tried to explain that one. We call this kind of experience a mountaintop experience. It s an experience where we feel the presence of God. It s awesome; it s life-changing; it s joyful. When one tries to explain it, one gives up saying, Well, you just had to be there, I guess. That s how I feel about the 36 th LWML Biennial Convention in Des Moines, Iowa. I can only attempt to explain why. At this convention, I was blessed to be a part of the Heart to Heart Sisters Training. I was chosen for this training because as a district, we wanted to have more people in tune to the mission of Heart to Heart, and as Vice President Missions, I especially needed to be a champion for the cause. The Heart to Heart Sisters program is designed to motivate, equip, and ensure opportunities for women of diverse ethnic groups to serve the church, participate in LWML, witness to the world, and grow in relationships as sisters in Christ. It is focused on helping our LWML become more diverse, reaching out to women of all cultures. Naturally, there were many women of many ethnicities in the training. I was one of the few of European descent. As I looked across the room at all of the different shades of skin color and heard all of the accents, initially I felt that I did not belong. I m not diverse! I am of the majority! I felt a bit awkward. I had just a taste of how people from other backgrounds must feel in our congregations. For me, this feeling of awkwardness did not last long. These sisters embraced me with open arms, making me feel welcome. As the convention went on, we all became friends. I now have friends from all over the country, in fact, all over the world. Being a part of this special group of people gave me a foretaste of heaven as we focused on what we had in common, our one King who loves us all. The purpose of the Heart to Heart Sisters program is to mutually encourage one another, support each other, and work together, living out the beautiful diversity that is the body of Christ. This can apply to all kinds of differences: ethnic, experiential, educational, economic, and chronologic. We are all important in the Body of Christ. I pray that we can abandon our preconceived notions and accept one another with the love of our Lord Jesus. There are ladies in your midst who are longing to be accepted and invited. Be the bridge to bring more of these ladies to be active in our LWML. There will be many mountaintop experiences to come as we serve together. Those mountaintop moments will be that foretaste of things to come, when all of us will worship God together. We can be a people who follow the words in Micah 4:1-2: In the last days the mountain of the LORD s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths For more information about Heart to Heart Sisters, contact our district leader, Karen Blank at karen.blank@southwestlutheran.org. 3

4 MISSION GRANTS LWML Indiana District Biennium Grant Paid Engaging the Field LWML Indiana District Outreach $ 6,000 Support for encouraging mission and ministry within our district through hands-on servant events and mission trips (This is an automatic biennial grant.) 1. Papua New Guinea Mission Society $12,000 $12, Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries, Inc. $12,000 Pending 3. Chinese Outreach $12,000 Pending in Bloomington and Columbus, Indiana 4. Orphan Grain Train $12,000 $10, Concordia Theological Seminary, $12,000 $6,000 Fort Wayne, Food and Clothing Co-op 6. Bible Women: Women Mentoring Women $12,000 $12, Calvary India Mission $10,000 $4, Worship for Shut-ins $ 2,000 Pending Total Mission Grants: $90,000 MISSION GRANT PROPOSALS The time is now! Do you know of a ministry in need of funding to help reach out with the love of Christ? Forward our Mission Grant Application to them. Be sure to note some interesting changes in our proposal. For our next biennium, there are two categories of grants: small ($5,000 and under) and large ($5,001 to $10,000). These will be on separate ballots. The deadline for proposals is January 15, The grant application can be accessed at lwmlindiana.org under the Forms and Applications tab on the left. Questions? Becky Thibodeau at bthibs@att.net. LWML GIFT PLANNING PAT BILOW Why Charitable Christian Gift Planning? Does Proverbs 13:22 relate to you? A wise person leaves an inheritance to their children s children. Spiritual stewardship guidance is available to learn about ways to bless your family with an inheritance as well as remember the Lord s work. For more information, contact Pat Bilow, LWML Gift Planning Counselor for the LWML IN, OH and MI districts, at or patbilow.lwml@gmail.com. 4

5 MISSION TRIP NEWS KAREN KUEHNERT Nicaragua, June 10-18, 2016, Here We Come! We are in the recruiting phase for a mission trip to Nicaragua. The team will be conducting an eyeglass clinic where we will test vision and distribute eyeglasses to those in need. The testing system is quite simple and was created specifically for MOST Ministries, our host mission trip organization. To learn more about MOST Ministries, go to I participated in an eyeglass clinic this past March in El Salvador through MOST Ministries. What a joy it was to experience young and old putting on glasses and actually seeing clearly for the first time! The expression on their faces was priceless! In order to minister to the spiritual needs of patients, each clinic includes a witnessing station. At the station, the Gospel message and information about the home church is shared by local missionaries, national pastor or lay ministers. Team members are welcome to work at the witness station, or as I did, share Christ s love with the patients as they come through the clinic. Not only did we bring them the gift of sight, we shared the Gospel using salvation bracelets and finger puppets! Men, women, and young adults are able to participate in this trip. We are hoping to build a team of at least 12 people. The cost is estimated at $2200 depending on airfare. NEVER LET THE COST OF THE TRIP DETER YOU FROM CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING. There are a number of ways to raise funds for this trip! LWML Indiana District has funds for short-term mission trips that women are able to request to defer some of this cost. Up to $500 per participant can be requested, with a maximum of $2000 available for the trip. Once the team is formed, we will organize team meetings for team building, do a pre-trip Bible study, work on fundraising strategies and plan the trip! Please pray about going on this trip. You can find a trip flier on the LWML Indiana District website, for more information. If you have questions or wish to receive a more detailed information packet about this trip, contact Karen Kuehnert at or her at kuehnertkaren@gmail.com. A $100 deposit is needed by September 30 to join the team. What a way to impact the world for Jesus Christ! District Wide Eyeglass Collection September 1, 2015 June 1, 2016 Materials are needed for this mission trip! Each eyeglass team is asked to collect 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses to help replenish the inventory of eyeglasses that are sent with the team. We are asking zones and societies to begin collecting used eyeglasses. Please collect: Adult Glasses Children s Glasses Non-prescription Sunglasses Over-the-counter Reading Glasses Spread the word that eyeglasses are needed! Set up a collection box in your church, local coffee shop, school and office. Start collecting now! Once the mission team is in place, there will be more specifics on rounding up the donations. Contact Karen Kuehnert at or kuehnertkaren@gmail.com if you have questions. 5

6 INVITATION TO TREATSHOP SARAH RIPPY You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:34). Treat is defined as to give, or bear the expense of, a treat; to provide food, entertainment, gifts, etc., at one s own expense; to act or behave toward (a person) in some specified way. As I have been pondering the word Treatshop, I discovered these entries in my most trusted resources: The Holy Bible and Dictionary.com. When we hear of someone sharing treats, we trust that it will be a delightfully good gift. We often forget these small gifts in our busy daily lives. We also forget how these small gifts can make or break someone s day. Reflect on your response to small kindnesses that you have received. Isn t there just a wonderful feeling of joy and thankfulness when we receive them? When we give these treats, we also benefit. We feel the joy of GIVING! Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the most ULTIMATE Gift For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). We have been treated as royalty who can deserve such a Gift? But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Our Spiritual Resource Department committees have been working very diligently to prepare some very special treats for all the women of the LWML IN District! You will be fed with God s Word and food. You will share with other women of the district in response to topics on grief, prayer, thanksgiving, and peace. You will have an opportunity to meet and chat with LWML IN District President Emily Rogers and others on the Board of Directors, or discover the stories of some of the women in Heart to Heart Sisters. Come to the 2015 Treatshop at Carmel Lutheran Church (registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and we will complete the program by 4:15 p.m. these times have been changed to accommodate travel and time zones). Come share the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. See the website for registration information and more details about our Ingathering. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:5b-7). Please prayerfully consider participation in your Treatshop. Please keep our committees and your sisters in Christ in your prayers as you support our mission in the LWML to assist each woman of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world (LWML Mission Statement). 6

7 LWML TREATSHOP 2015 Pray Con nually, Receive Thankfully Phil. 4:5b-7 Saturday, August 22, 2015 Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. (EST) 4:15 p.m. (EST) Carmel Lutheran Church Join us for further insight into how to Pray Continually, Receive Thankfully. You will obtain program ideas, program helps and lots of encouragement. The district SRD committees are prepared to help you create and develop ideas to use with events in your zones and societies. You may register for two informative sessions. One in the morning and one more in the afternoon. Sessions are being repeated. So be sure to choose two different sessions. Be sure to invite others from your congregation in addition to your society, zone officers and committee chairmen. Your society and congregation will benefit from the information, materials presented, ideas and networking with your sisters in Christ from all over our district. A registration fee of $10.00 will cover a light breakfast, lunch and the materials distributed at the Treatshop. Make your check payable to LWML INDIANA DISTRICT. Registration will be confirmed by . If you would prefer to receive your confirmation by USPS mail, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your registration form to: Barb Cole 4525 French St. P.O. Box 87 Tyner, IN bacole@embarqmail.com *Registration deadline is August 8, Ingathering information will be included in your confirmation letter. Recipients will be SonRise Camp in Anderson, IN and The Sharing Place in Indianapolis, IN. 7

8 TREATSHOP REGISTRATION *Complete and mail this form, your check and stamped self-addressed envelope if not confirming by . Pray Continually, Receive Thankfully TREATSHOP REGISTRATION FORM (Please print) Name Address City State Zip Phone Church City Zone Check for $ is enclosed SESSION A (10:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m.) (CHOOSE ONE): Christian Life The Lord Is at Hand At this session, we will discuss how the Lord is at hand during times of grief and sorrow in our lives, and how we can receive thankfully and pray continually even through such difficult times. We will share materials you may find useful in your own journey and as you minister to those who are hurting. Human Care With Thanksgiving God calls us to pray and we pray about many things. In the Human Care session, discover ways to expand your prayer life and turn your blessings into serving God, serving others, and serving together. Christian Outreach Everything by Prayer Prayer Walk: God tells us we should handle everything in prayer. Join us for a prayer walk to spend some quality time talking with our Father. Leader Development Do Not Be Anxious. Are you anxious about serving and being a leader? Leader Development has some ideas and resources to help you serve and lead others to be leaders. SESSION B (1:45 3:15 p.m.) (CHOOSE ONE): (See descriptions above) Christian Life The Lord Is at Hand Human Care With Thanksgiving Christian Outreach Everything by Prayer Leader Development Do Not Be Anxious YWR The Peace of God Focused on Philippians 4:7, The Peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ. The YWR committee will teach you about the Peace of God through: Understanding, Receiving Thankfully, and Leading with a Heart of Christ. After our session, which includes great conversations and crafts, you ll have some ideas to bring back to your society on how to better accept young women into your society and keep them there! Heart to Heart Sisters We will present short biographies on two of our members and share significant moments in their lives. Come learn about the journeys of these women of LWML. President s Session Presidents: Tag, You re It! Have you ever felt like you were playing tag? Find out how to share the responsibilities of leading with others. Special information for treasurers. Learn more about the changes for Mission Grants. YWR The Peace of God Heart to Heart Sisters President s Session Presidents: Tag, You re It! List any Special Needs that you might have (i.e., food; handicap accessibility): 8

9 TREATSHOP INGATHERING SUE FRISCHIE Two organizations have been chosen to receive donations from our Treatshop Ingathering: *SonRise Camps and Retreats, Anderson *The Sharing Place, Indianapolis SonRise Summer Camp ( is a Bethesda Lutheran Communities Ministry with 5-day 4-night Bible programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Craft items are needed: pony beads; permanent and washable markers, any kind, any size; craft-grade acrylic paint in 2 or 8 oz. bottles, all colors; paint brushes 1/2 or less for woodworking projects. New or gently used items for Bingo prizes, $2.00 or less: men-billfolds, flashlights, small games, card games; women-lotion, jewelry, stuffed animals, games. NO FOOD. A program of The Sharing Place ( is Ready, Set, Learn, which provides school uniforms for the year-old girls and boys at Lutherwood Residential Treatment Center. A $50 donation purchases 2 navy polo shirts and 2 pair of khaki pants for an elementary girl or boy. A $65 donation purchases the same for a middle/high school girl or boy. A donation of any amount toward uniforms will be a help. Please write check payable to LWML Indiana District with uniforms, Lutherwood, misc. in the memo line. Questions, contact Sue Frischie, Human Care Chairman, , frischie@embarqmail.com. TREATSHOP AGENDA AUGUST 22, :00-9:30 a.m. Registration and light refreshments 9:45-10:30 a.m. Welcome and devotion in the sanctuary 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Morning session 12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:45 3:15 p.m. Afternoon session 3:30 4:15 p.m. Ingathering Dedication, Upcoming Events and Info, Thank Yous, Closing Prayer 4:15 p.m. Dismissal DISTRICT RETREAT INGATHERING DONATIONS Sharing God s Love with the People of Haiti Retreat Ingathering Thank you for your most generous donations toward the needs of the New Lutheran School in Leogane, Haiti, as follows: Pastor and teacher salaries: $631 Benches, desks, supplies: $245 Adopt-a-Student Tuition: $2417 Most pressing need: $ TOTAL: $6, This is an average of $26/person attending the retreat at Clifty Falls in April. God is so good! This note was received following the retreat: Dear Mrs. Frischie, April 28, 2015 We want to thank you for your group s recent offering for Heart-4-Haiti mission. Your efforts will go a long way toward our goal of keeping the schools and churches funded. We thank you for having the vision to keep these children in the forefronts of our congregations and church groups. Thank you for the work that you do in your role as LWML Human Care Chairman. Pastor Bernard and his charges are very much appreciative of your kindness. God s Blessings, Heart-4-Haiti Committee 9

10 INDIANA DISTRICT OFFICERS President Emily Rogers, , Vice President - Spiritual Resource Department Sarah Rippy, , rippyd@mchsi.com Vice President - Missions Becky Thibodeau, , bthibs@att.net Vice President-Conventions and Communications Peg Brettin, , pjbrettin@yahoo.com Recording Secretary Jill Pruss, , tpruss@seidata.com Financial Secretary Barb Hamm, , barbhamm@frontier.com Treasurer Iris Wittman, , mariawit35@gmail.com Counselors Rev. Bill Mueller, , billm@deeplyrootedtogrow.org Rev. Mark Moog, , mamoog52@gmail.com Appointed Officers Christian Life Chairman Sara Korte, , sjkorte2@yahoo.com Christian Outreach Chairman Melanie Johnson, , johnsonm@trinitycp.org Human Care Chairman Sue Frischie, , frischie@embarqmail.com Leader Development Chairman Kathy McKinney, , klmcki04@gmail.com Ruth Armel Scholarship Chairman Sue Pflughoeft, , pflughoeft6266@netnitco.net Structure Chairman Pat Potratz, , rp-potratz@sbcglobal.net Young Woman Representative Chairman April Freeman, , april.freeman@hotmail.com Archivist-Historian Shirley Gut, , slcp@att.net Circulation Manager Trish Letterman, , trisha@tldarm.org Crisis Management Coordinator Judy Kluemper, , frogjk@gmail.com Editor Bev McIntosh, , lwmleditor@comcast.net Meeting Manager Christine Wittman, , wittmanc@ameritech.net Parliamentarian Marge Gruber, , gruberml@frontier.com Public Relations Director Jo Anne Furniss, , bef90jaf@sbcglobal.net Communications Coordinator Penny Letterman, , lwmlcommunicator@gmail.com Webservant Karen Fiechtner, , lwml_stpsb@comcast.net Nominating Chairman Alice Farley, , dbfarley4222@sbcglobal.net Retreat Chairman Mary Gibble, , mgibble@givehcgrowhc.org Mission Trip Coordinator Karen Kuehnert, , kuehnertkaren@gmail.com Convention-Co-Chairs Sammy Keller, , sammysuekeller@yahoo.com Ruth Thomas, , laruthomas@yahoo.com LWML Consultant Emily Rogers, , RogersRabbits@aol.com Scholarship Chairman Linda Schulenburg, , lcspremier@att.net Heart to Heart District Leader Karen Blank, karen.blank@southwestlutheran.org 10

11 IMPORTANT INFORMATON Send all money collected for mites, Quarterly, scholarship and all donations to the Financial Secretary: Barb Hamm 1016 Orlando Dr. Fort Wayne IN UPCOMING EVENTS... MARK YOUR CALENDARS August 22, 2015 LWML Indiana District Treatshop Carmel Lutheran Church, Carmel, IN June 24-26, 2016 LWML Indiana District Convention Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center, Bloomington, Indiana Make checks payable to LWML Indiana District. Serve the Lord with Gladness (Psalm 100:2) PLEASE send your district and/or zone minutes and programs! I really need documents prior to Many zones have not sent 2014 items. Send via , U.S. Mail or bring them to any district event. Shirley Gut, Archivist-Historian 21 Fleet Parkway, Culver, IN slcp@att.net LWML Indiana District Penny Letterman, Communications Coordinator PO Box 607 Boonville IN