Reflections. A Message from Synodical Women s Organization President. A Newsletter of the Women of the ELCA + Northern Great Lakes Synod

Transcription

1 Reflections A Newsletter of the Women of the ELCA + Northern Great Lakes Synod Greetings! A Message from Synodical Women s Organization President Melzee Jacobson This will be my first report as President and I definitely have some big shoes to fill that my predecessor left. For those who may not know me, I live in Ironwood, Michigan with my husband, Pr. Bill Jacobson, who serves both All Saints Lutheran Church in Wakefield and Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer. We came to the Upper Peninsula on our first call and were at Faith Lutheran Church in Rock and Bethany Lutheran Church in Perkins from 2001 to We then moved to Zion Lutheran of Metropolitan and were there from 2003 to 2010 when we were called to All Saints Lutheran. Two years ago All Saints and Sharon joined together and are now under the umbrella of PSALM Ministry. We have three grown children, Faye (East Moline, IL), Veronica (Plymouth, MN) and Jeremiah (Iron Mountain, MI). We are the proud grandparents of Rhonda, Donovan, Shawn, Timothy, Jesse and Patricia and the great-grandparents of Emma, Savannah, Jazlyn, Zayden, Michael, Aurora, Logan, Jace and Kya with two more great grandsons joining us in November and February. I was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa. Bill was born and raised in Canby, Minnesota. We met in Brooklyn, Iowa and were married in June We spent 20 years in East Moline, IL prior to Bill entering Seminary at Wartburg, IA in My current part-time job is as a Medical Transcriptionist from home. I became the matriarch of my family at the age of 40 and have three nephews and three nieces and their families. My father was from a family of 12 siblings while my mother had one stepbrother. My mother and her mother were born in Canada and kept their Canadian citizenship. I am very honored to have been selected as your new President and am looking forward to getting to know as many of you as I can. Our new Synodical Women s Organization (SWO) Board held our first Board Meeting on October 24 and we are beginning work on developing materials for better communications with the clusters and the units. Our goal is to be a center point where units and clusters can bring questions, share information on activities within their units, and seek help in raising awareness of the Women of the ELCA within their congregations. We are asking that each and every one come together to make us a thriving community that will serve our congregations, our Synod, our Churchwide organization and the world. We are also working on updating our information on the Synod website. If there is anything that you would like to share in the Reflections newsletter, the 2017 deadlines are February 15, April 15 and August 15 and they can be ed to Pr. Mary Beth Kovanen (mbkovanen@yahoo.com). Also I encourage you to share any information from this

2 newsletter that you think your congregation would be interested in reading in your own church newsletter and church bulletins. Last year at our 2015 convention our In-Kind Project was making pillowcase dresses. We have provided 125 dresses so far that have traveled to Tanzania and Ecuador. We still have plenty of dresses ready to be sent out. In fact, some have asked if they can still make dresses and the answer is yes and if materials are needed we still have plenty to share. This year 2016 our In-Kind Project is making sleeping mats for the homeless out of recycled plastic bags. This is a project that all can participate in. It is not necessary to be able to knit or crochet, as the bags first need to be folded and cut, then strung together into balls of plastic bags for those that are doing the knitting and crocheting. As you may know we have supported the Mkuza Girls School in Tanzania over the past three years raising funds to purchase lab equipment and books. We received a letter recently that the school is in need of funds to ensure that they have clean water and a vehicle for transportation, therefore, the SWO Board voted to continue to raise funds earmarked for these two needs. The estimated cost for these projects will be $9, US funds. If you, your congregation or your cluster would like to help with these projects please send any funds to our SWO treasurer Kris Carlson (304 Lake St, Ironwood, MI 49938). We have set the date for the 2017 Convention and Retreat. It will be September at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp. As usual, the Convention will be Friday September 15 from 9-3 with the retreat starting Friday night and running through Sunday noon. Watch for the May Newsletter for all the pertinent information and forms. A group from Delta Cluster, joined by the ladies of Shepherd of the Lakes in Sayner, WI will be hosting the Retreat - a BIG Thank you to all of them. Perhaps your group would prayerfully consider being the host for the 2018 Retreat. The Churchwide Women of the ELCA will be hosting a Triennial in Minneapolis, Minnesota this July. Ladies, this is probably the closest that this event will be for us. Please consider joining as a group and traveling over for the gathering. If you would like to attend the convention there is no cost to sit in and follow along. The only cost would be for your transportation and housing. Check with your Cluster liaison or Connie Schmidt (retiredcurves@hotmail.com, ) who offered to be our contact for this event, if you have any questions about the cost and housing arrangements and registration. To receive a discounted price all registrations must be submitted no later than January 1, Your SWO has three scholarships available, based on need, for those attending the Gathering. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is December 23, 2016 (scholarship form is in this newsletter). I also had the pleasure of attending almost all of the Fall Cluster Meetings, with the exception of two. Luckily I had been able to visit one of those last fall and plan on attending the other one when they hold their Spring 2017 Cluster Meeting. This year Sue Hill and Joanne Pierce will be joining me in communicating and visiting with units in Cluster 5 and Cluster 7, to see what we can do to help them with building up their groups again. Please continue to pray for us and the ladies in those clusters as we move forward with this venture. Again, I thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your President for the next two years and I am grateful and very much appreciate your support for not only me, but the all of the SWO Board members. If you have any questions or ideas that you would like to share with me, you may contact me at imlizrd@yahoo.com or God s Peace for all, Melzee Jacobson

3 Greetings from Gladstone! I was just elected to serve this coming year as your SWO Vice President. I am trying to catch on as fast as I can. I am sure this will be a year of learning what all my responsibilities are for this position. I look forward to serving on the SWO Board and working with some wonderful women! A little about myself: I am married to Ray (for 44 years) and we have been blessed with 5 children and 10 grandchildren. I recently retired from the Gladstone Area Schools as a secretary and library assistant. I am ready to venture out into new paths and what better path than with the SWO Board, where it is truly a blessing to belong to a community of women of faith. Together we support each other and grow in our personal faith. That is what being a part of the Women of the ELCA is about. Next spring I will be the liaison for Cluster 8. I look forward to meeting those ladies just north from me. I pray your next year of 2017 brings health and happiness. I m Kris Carlson, the newly elected treasurer for the Synodical Women s Organization and Board liaison to Cluster 4-Four Rivers. I was elected in 2015 as a first time Board member, appointed in August 2016 as interim treasurer and elected as SWO treasurer at the convention in September As SWO treasurer, I m the person who should receive any offerings that you are passing along to churchwide and the synod. My address is 304 Lake Street, Ironwood, MI You can call me at (please leave a message if I m not there) or you can me kriskarin@sbcglobsl.net. I m also looking forward to being with the ladies from Four Rivers-Cluster 4. I m a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran in Ironwood--one of the four churches of Christ Lutheran Parish. I have been council secretary at Salem, and am currently the treasurer of our WELCA group, head of the altar guild and in charge of our quilting group. I ve lived in Ironwood my entire life--a true Yooper. I retired in 2006 after 31 ½ years as the library secretary at Gogebic Community College. Yours in Christ, Kris Carlson A Message from SWO Vice President Pam Chouinard A Message from SWO Treasurer Kris Carlson A Message from SWO Board Member Sue Hill Hi from Susan Hill (Sue or Susie preferred). I am one of your new SWO Board members for I am a member of Sharon Lutheran Church, Bessemer, MI. My interest has mainly been working with the kids through our Wednesday Kids' Klub and VBS. One day I said to our President Melzee Jacobson that I should maybe start doing something with adult people. It didn't take her long to ask me if I would like to serve on the SWO Board. After a lot of prayer and conversation with my family I said yes. I was surprised to be voted in as I have not been very active in this part of church life for a number of years. I thank you for this opportunity to serve. My want to learn more about the Bible and the ELCA has led me to complete the Lay School for Mission program and Transformational Ministry studies. This opportunity to work with more women who have a positive attitude toward what women can do and their role in the world is something I am looking forward to. I look forward to being a support for you and the support we, as your SWO Board, will be able to share with you. May the peace of the Lord be with all of us. Sue Hill

4 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Northern Great Lakes Synodical Woman s Organization You must be a member of an NGLS/ELCA Congregation. Complete this form, mail by deadline. Amount Deadlines Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering $300 each Dec 23, 2016 (Please remit the required $25 with each application; this will be refunded after you attend the event and may not be used as part of your registration monies. If you do not receive a scholarship, it will be refunded after the participants have been chosen.) Name Address City, State, Zip Telephone: Home ( ) Work/Cell ( ) Church Name and City Please state your involvement with Women of the ELCA as well as other church activities. What are your reasons for requesting scholarship support? Why is attending this event important to you? Your age group: Are you participating in this event for the first time? Yes No If no, have you ever received a SWO Scholarship for this event before? Yes No If yes, when? How will you use this experience when you return home? Signature of Applicant Date Mail this application to: Kris Carlson, 304 Lake Street, Ironwood, MI 49938

5 Synod Women s Organization Cluster Leaders Cluster 1 Cluster 2 Cathy Sanborn Betty Ann Pyhtila S Paynesville Rd Nordstrom Bruce Crossing, MI L Anse, MI hpyhita@up.net Cluster 3 Cluster 4 Karen Carter Pat Losey Sarah Sleeter 1415 Delta Dawn Court W7210 Cty Z th Street St. Germaine, WI Pembine, WI IronMountain, MI carter@annex.net patlosey@gmail.com ssleter@upnorthcable.com Cluster 5 Cluster 6 No Cluster Leader at this time. Connie Schmidt Nora Smith Contact: 209 S 12 th St 8605 M.5 Road Melzee Jacobson, SWO Board Liaison Escanaba, MI Gladstone, MI E Margaret St Ironwood, MI retiredcurves@hotmail.com ncsmith@chartermi.net imlizrd@yahoo.com Cluster 7 Cluster 8 Gail Knight Jeanne Sanstrom 5917 S Scenic Drive 1125 Keewaydin Sault Ste. Marie, MI Negaunee, MI gailknight1@charter.net rjonkeewaydin@hotmail.com This book was a selection from the Happy Rock Readers from Gladstone. Based on a true story, Dreams of My Mothers is written by Joel Peterson and is his story about the two women he called mom. Born in South Korea he and his birth mother struggle daily to survive. Through her desperation and love for her son, she gives him up for adoption to an American family. And that is where his story continues. A Korean boy being raised by a Swedish mother in Minnesota. According to the author, this story tells how a young man searches for and finds his mother, an identity, a future, and discovers a love he could not have imagined from two extraordinary women. This story will take you on an unforgettable, inspirational journey beyond all expectations and experiences.

6 Sleeping Mats Mission Project - Instructions Supplies: Scissors or rotary cutter with used blades. 8 mm or any large crochet hook Q hook size is preferable. Clean plastic shopping bags ( per mat) Directions: (finished size 36 x 60 inches) Flatten bag. Fold in half lengthwise, and then fold in half again lengthwise. Cut off handles and bottom seam of bags, recycle these. If using regular supermarket bags, cut guide strips inches in width. For thicker bags cut guide strips inches in width. For thinner bags, like dry cleaner bags, cut guide strips inches in width. Strips used should be strong enough for crochet knot and not so thick to be bulky. Cut guide strips long enough to fit across the folded bag. Using guides cut folded bag into strips. Using a rotary cutter with old blades will be easier on hands than scissors. Tie rings of plastic into yarn. 1. Pick up two rings. 2. Loop one end through the other. 3. Loop end of the second ring through itself. 4. Pull until tight. 5. Repeat steps adding on to this first string. 6. Roll completed strips into a large ball. Crochet Instructions: Make little loops to form a chain that is inches long. Crochet loose rings with generous space between loops. Make one extra turning chain at the end of the mat. Go back into 3 rd loop to make the next row (single crochet). Continue this way until you have made a 6 foot length mat. Crochet from front to back. Problems that may occur: Side seam is bumpy, not straight. It could be caused by using plastic yarn that is too thick or by adding/leaving out a stitch. It s not too important how it looks as long as the mat is useable. Strip to tie around mat: Crochet 2 rows of single loops to make an 80 inch strip. Weave 2 ends together with scraps to form a circle. Knitting instructions: Use #17-#20 Knitting needles. Cast on enough stitches to make the width 36 inches. Knit every row (Garter stitch) until length is 60 inches. Donate to groups who minister among the homeless. Mats will keep moisture away from the body, create heat and be soft to sleep on. Information and suggestions for the mats: Pray over your mat as you make it. It takes bags for a mat. It takes 5-6 volleyball size balls to make a mat. It takes approximately 20 hours to crochet a mat. Be creative in making your mats make different colors make with bags from Walmart, Kroger, Super One, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, etc. Have fun and be creative!

7 Pillowcase Dresses Delivered to Tanzania + Deloris Langseth During the Synod s spring assembly in Marquette a request was made for anyone going to our Companion Synod in Tanzania to deliver some pillowcase dresses. Thankfully a group from the Mtoni Congregation in Tanzania was visiting the companion congregation, Prince of Peace in Harvey and they took some back. Folks from Zion, Manistique were planning a trip in the summer and I joined them. All of us took pillowcase dresses in our suitcases. They spent their three weeks at their companion congregation while I went to the Kisarawe Secondary School. One afternoon we all met at the Mtoni School for those with developmental challenges. When the headmaster asked four models to come forward to see the dresses, we experienced a miracle. He showed the dresses to the group and gave three of them one he thought would fit them. As he reached into the bag for more the 4 th girl became very excited about a pretty pink one. All of a sudden she called out, I WANT THAT ONE! What s the miracle in that? Well, the girl was autistic and nobody had ever her make a sound much less speak a sentence. Praise the Lord! The headmaster asked to take the dresses back so their names could be sewn in them. But the little pink dress was just clutched tighter in her arms. She would not let it go. It was only while she was asleep that they could apply the label. We never know how our talents will be used by the Lord. The important thing is to thank Him for our talents and make use of them. Bwana asifiwe! Praise the Lord for the opportunities to share and the experience of witnessing this marvelous response. Calendar 2017 July 11-13, th Triennial CONVENTION of the Women of the ELCA, Minneapolis, MN Convention Center; where the business of the Women of the ELCA is conducted. [Tuesday to Thursday]. July 13-16, th Triennial GATHERING of the Women of the ELCA, Minneapolis, MN Convention Center; the theme for this Gathering is All Anew. [Thursday to Sunday]. Because the Tenth Triennial Gathering falls during the observance of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, the theme All Anew resonates with reformation and transformation images. At the gathering, participants will explore ways in which the Holy Spirit changes us, acknowledging that reformation and transformation have happened and continue to happen within the community of women known as Women of the ELCA. One theme verse, Psalm 104:30: Lord, send forth your spirit and renew the face of the earth calls on God to send the Holy Spirit to renew not just God s people, not just God s church but all God s earth, the creation that God called good. Registration is open! More info:

8 Suggested Readings on Race and Racial Justice Inez Torres from Churchwide has provided us with a list of suggested readings. In recent years, there has been a publication explosion among books on race and racial justice. The best of these include both power analysis and historical context. A book without an analysis of privilege or cultural power or the historical racial framework of privilege is of lesser value. Your SWO Board has chosen to provide a portion of these suggested readings in each of our newsletters this year. The Accidental American: Immigration and Citizenship in the Age of Globalization by Rinku Sen Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White by Tim Wise America s Original Sin by Jim Wallis Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama by Tim Wise Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Birth of a White Nation: The Invention of White People and Its Relevance Today by Jacqueline Battalora Black Prophetic Fire by Cornel West Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations by Charles Wilkinson Bonhoeffer s Black Jesus by Reggie L. Willams Breaking Ice: An Anthology of Contemporary African-American Fiction, Terry McMillan, editor The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed: Developing a Multicultural Community Through Dialogue and Liturgy by Eric H. F. Law The Color of Faith: Building Community in a Multiracial Society by Fumitaka Matsuoka The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride Desmond Tutu: Rabble-Rouser for Peace: The Authorized Biography by John Allen A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki Difficult Conversations by Katie Day Books for children (K-2) Swimmy by Leo Lionni It s Mine by Leo Lionni Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Gwenn Straus For older children (grades 5-9) any books by Mildred D. Taylor For young adults (high school) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Ellen Fornay Inez Torres Davis is Director for Justice for Women of the ELCA. She is an Indigenous Latina (Chiricahua Apache, Mayan, Aztec and Spanish) who came to the Women of the ELCA in January of 1997 after nine years of urban parish ministry as a rostered Word & Service lay professional of the ELCA and three years of directing a Chicago-wide non-profit organization. Inez is the Women of the ELCA s core racial justice trainer. She currently serves on the World Day of Prayer USA Board, is an Illinois State Commissioner for Guardianship & Advocacy, and she sits on the ELCA s Theological Discernment table. Inez is also a blog writer (for WELCA and her own blog page), a spiritual director, a wife, mother, grandmother, gardener, writer, and painter. Inez is also a Reiki master and creator of sacred spaces.

9 Northern Great Lakes Synodical Women s Organization Board Melzee Jacobson, President ( ) Pam Chouinard ( ) 527 E. Margaret Street 8530 Weswood 0.6 Dr Ironwood, MI Gladstone, MI (906) (906) Cell (906) Cell (906) imlizrd@yahoo.com pam@chouinards.com Cluster 8 Superior Central - Board Liaison Barbara Rice, Secretary ( ) Kristine Carlson ( ) 725 Hamilton Avenue 304 Lake Street Kingsford, MI Ironwood, MI (906) (906) Cell (906) kriskarin@sbcglobal.net barb.strong.rice@gmail.com Cluster 4 Four Rivers - Board Liaison Cluster 1 IGO - Board Liaison BOARD MEMBERS Jeannette Kuziej, ( ) Janet Penhale ( ) P.O. Box Cherry St Conover, WI Ishpeming, MI (715) (906) Cell (906) jjpenhale@charter.net jenniemarie@up.net Cluster 6 Delta - Board Liaison Cluster 2 Copper Country - Board Liaison Virginia Heczko, ( ) Sue Hill ( ) 603 E Margaret Street 609 N Chicago Mine Road Ironwood, MI Wakefield, MI (906) (906) vheczko@charter.net news@wnbpa.net Cluster 3 Headwaters - Board Liaison Cluster 7 Three Lakes - Board Liaison Joanne Pierce ( ) 7501 Highland Lane St Germain, WI Cell (414) jcpfoundlake@gmail.com Cluster 5 Menominee - Board Liaison

10 Cluster Corner News from Women of the ELCA Clusters throughout our Synod Cluster 1 Fall Meeting Report Thank you, ladies of the IGO Cluster, for your hospitality at your Fall Cluster Gathering! November 13 was a great day to be visiting Zion Lutheran in Ironwood! It was exciting to see all the outreach ministries going on in the IGO. From the Project Comfort projects School Kits, Personal Care Kits, and LWR Quilts to the pillow case dresses, the women of the western end of the NGLS are reaching out to help the Children of God throughout the world. Offerings designated to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul also support outreach in their community. Melzee Jacobson brought another opportunity for outreach, plastic bag sleeping mats for the homeless, to the attention of the 24 women who were present at this event. The group is blessed to have Pr. Mary Beth Kovanen in its midst. Her bible study was uplifting and insightful. Members of the various member churches contributed to worship and provided refreshments. The group also introduced new officers: Cathy Sanborn is the new Cluster Leader and Mary Beth Dubonis is the new secretary. Cluster 2 Fall Meeting Report Cluster 2 held their fall meeting at Siloa Lutheran Church in Ontonagon on Saturday morning, September 24. There were 20+ ladies present. Jeannette Kuziej is the Cluster liaison for this group. She was also the presenter for the day and shared information that she gathered from the Conference she attended in August on Justice. The In-Kind project for SWO of the plastic bag sleeping mats was presented along with the pattern. It was explained that everyone can participate in this year s sleeping mat by folding and cutting bags, assembling them together and/or knitting or crocheting the finished product. Other Synod informational flyers were made available during the luncheon that followed the meeting. There was one member there that works with a group that is still making pillowcase dresses and took the supplies that had been brought to the meeting to make more. There will be a Spring Cluster Meeting at Holy Cross in Baraga to be announced in the February Reflections. Cluster 4 Fall Meeting Report SWO President Melzee Jacobson and Kris Carlson attended the Four Rivers Cluster Meeting October 15rth at grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pembine, WI with the theme Women with Influence. After registration and lovely treats to tide us over to lunch, everybody introduced themselves/ There were a total of 41 in attendance. Melzee shared information form the SWO Board and Kris shared some information about her role as new Board liaison and as the New SWO treasurer. There were displays of the pillowcase dresses, Lutheran World Relief projects, and the sleeping mats for the homeless. Our guest speaker Erin Nausin presented a PowerPoint program Women with Influence. She began by sharing her experiences working for a year in Honduras at a home for abandoned children. Her program centered on how our sphere of influence is great right where we are! Whether it s hospitality, or stewardship, or relationships, or being peacemakers, or working for justice. She challenged us to think about the coffee industry and the clothing industry think about the other end of what we consume consider ethical clothing and fair trade coffee. We can t do it all, but God is with us right where we are. We gathered for communion worship in the beautiful sanctuary at Grace. The offering is being split between the SWO and Karen s Food Pantry in Niagara, WI. Spring Meeting in April 2017 will be held at First Lutheran in Iron River.

11 Cluster Corner, continued News from Women of the ELCA Clusters throughout our Synod Cluster 8 Fall Meeting Report Pam Chouinard is the new liaison for Cluster 8, but she was unable to fit the Cluster Meeting into her schedule as it was held Sunday, September 25 at Faith Lutheran of Atlantic Mine in Ishpeming, Michigan so I filled in for her. There were 41 ladies present for the day. We had a speaker on raising Honey Bees which was very informative. We had singers (three generations of one family) sing and they were awesome! We had a very good time of conversation regarding the past and present In-Kind Projects for SWO. There were informational flyers provided of upcoming Synod events, Triennial and patterns for the pillowcase dresses and the plastic bag sleeping mats made available. The ladies provided a very nice soup and salad luncheon afterwards. They chose to give a portion of the collection gathered to the Care Clinic located in Marquette, MI. This cluster will be holding a Spring Cluster Meeting in watch upcoming newsletter information on the time and date Five gifts of discipleship Living Our Baptism Gracious God, Send your Holy Spirit. Awaken in me the gifts of discipleship: -to live among God s faithful people; -to hear the word of God and share in the Lord s Supper; -to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; -to serve all people, following the example of Jesus; -to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Amen. Upcoming Events Winter Wonderland Retreat Jan , 2017 Spring JR/SR High School Retreat: AGAPE! February 17-19, 2017 Church Council Retreat February 24-25, 2017 Upper Elementary Retreat March 17-18, 2017 Adoptive Family Retreat April 28-30, 2017 The theme of our Women of the ELCA Fall Retreat at Fortune Lake Camp was I AM. I am - News from Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp A mother a teacher a planner a singer a writer loved Loyal- loving caring - Blessed from our Father above. A friend a pray-er kindhearted Fearfully and wonderfully made - Creative - a writer and caring With Blessings that never fade. Written by Karen Marie Mokszycke September 17, 2016 Brown Prairie Bread 4 cups whole wheat flour 1 and 1/3 cups white flour 2 cups brown sugar 4 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 quart of buttermilk Mix all ingredients together, place in 3 loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes to 1 hour.

12 NORTHERN GREAT LAKES SYNOD NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WOMEN OF THE ELCA U.S. POSTAGE PAID C/O CHRIST LUTHERAN PARISH IRONWOOD, MI E Aurora St PERMIT NO. 5 Ironwood, MI Reflections Newsletter + December 2016 If this box has an X in it your subscription time is up! Please help support the Women of the ELCA by renewing your subscription today! Our Purpose 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. Our Mission To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.