MICHIGAN DISTRICT LU THERAN WOMEN S MISSIONARY LEAGUE. LWML in Action. MI District LWML/MOST (Mission Opportunities Short Term) Goes to Poland

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1 MICHIGAN DISTRICT LU THERAN WOMEN S MISSIONARY LEAGUE LWML in Action VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 DECEMBER 2009 MI District LWML/MOST (Mission Opportunities Short Term) Goes to Poland MI District LWML/MOST Ministries Team 906 was invited to Wisla, Poland to teach English as a Second Language to sixty-two 8-14 year olds. Team members were able to show and tell the students and translators about the love of Jesus as they worked with them. The children were tested and three beginning, three intermediate, and three advanced classes were formed. The days began and ended with devotions. The mornings were for study and the afternoons for music, drama, and crafts. The mission trip required 29 hours of travel time from home to camp, which included three flights and a bus trip, but all that time spent getting there was well worth it. The mission team loved Poland and their ESL camp. The students certainly improved their English after being with Team 906 continuously for 10 days. Wisla is in the south of Poland right on the Czech Republic border in a tourist ski resort area. The scenery was very beautiful. In their free time the team members enjoyed walks and watching farmers do their haying. If your society or zone is interested in having one of the team members come to share stories and pictures, please contact Team Liaison, Barbara Hoffmeier bhoffmeier@comcast.net or Team Leader, Sandy Hardies, shardies@centurytel.net INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Cheri s Sharings 2 Convention Christian Growth 4 Zone & Society Activities 5 Mission Grants 6 Counselor s Corner 7 Calendar of Events 8 MOST/LWML Mission Trip to Panama for Eyeglass Clinics July 16-24, 2010 Contact Carol Stuhr, MOST/LWML Liaison at castuhr@glccomputers.com or call or go to webmaster@mi-lwml.org for more information or to register. MOST/LWML Mission Trip to Panama for Eyeglass Clinics July 16-24, 2010 Contact Carol Stuhr, MOST/LWML Liaison at castuhr@glccomputers.com or call or go to webmaster@mi-lwml.org for more information or to register. LWML In-state Mission Trip LATINO Mission, Detroit, MI July 24-30, 2010 Contact Willie Marie Henry Team Liaison at williemarie_henry@yahoo.com or call for more information or to register.

2 PAGE 2 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 Cheri s Sharings Rev. Matthew Harrison leads attendees in joyful song. WOW! Over 150 registrants attended the Women s Conference A Time to Lead with Care and Compassion on Saturday, November 7, Pastor Cullen, District Counselor, opened the conference with a Bible Study based on Matthew 9:25-38, Leading with Compassion and Care. Then Keynote Speaker, Rev. Mathew Harrison, spoke on the JOY of Leading with Care and Compassion. Not only does God guide us to lead with care and compassion, but also with JOY! We show God s love in all we do. The afternoon was filled with Leadership Sessions: A Time to Lead with leaders of zones and societies with Resources & Communication with Compassion & Mission Mindedness Session with Matthew Harrison We praise and thank God for this opportunity to have shared this information with the women of the Michigan District and our Pastors. Have you ever done something that is uncomfortable for you - where you ve extended yourself outside of your comfort zone? I had that experience in Detroit recently. Through some coordination with LWML, Lutheran City Ministries and the help of Willie Marie Henry, VP of Caring Ministries, I went with three LWML women from Texas to a church plant in Detroit called Family of God. Family of God is a ministry outreach to the homeless of southwest Detroit. It is in a storefront building in a not so good part of town. Under the ministry leadership of Rev. James Hill and lay worker, Sue Hatcher-Wilson, the needs of society s undesirables are met. The Detroit metro area churches and church members volunteer three days a week to provide meals that are brought down to Family of God and served to those who are invited to receive sustenance and spiritual feeding as well. Dinner is served and after dinner all are invited and encouraged to stay for devotions, singing, Bible study time and prayer two evenings a week. On Sundays, the day begins with worship followed by a prepared meal. I had the privilege of spending an evening there with about 40 people who definitely made me feel uncomfortable. I worried about my car, my safety and how I could even interact with these people. These children of God were dirty, drunk, unkempt, some homeless, drugged, etc. I ate dinner, sang, took part in Bible study, held hands and prayed with and for people with whom I would never normally associate. I was uncomfortable and definitely out of my comfort zones. Yet, these are as Christ put it, one of the least of these my brothers. They are included in Christ s command to go therefore and teach all nations. All nations in this context are right in our own backyard not in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa! While this might not be an area of ministry in which I feel comfortable working day to day, I am much more aware of the ministry needs that God has placed before us. Will I go down there again? I hope that I would have that opportunity to serve and support the ministry as God gives me the challenge. It is my prayer that we all extend ourselves out of our comfort zones in serving Him, who has suffered and died for ALL people! Being Beautiful Feet for the Lord with you, President Cheri leads a sectional for Zone Presidents and Co-Chairs President Cheri

3 LWML IN ACTION PAGE 3 Plan now to attend the July 9-11, 2010 Hyatt Regency Hotel Dearborn, MI Convention Information Available on the Web Michigan District s LWML web site has valuable information about the upcoming 2010 Convention. Go to: for information and forms for: Young Women s Representative Applications: Complete and return this form postmarked no later than January 15, 2010 to your Zone President Heart to Heart Sisters and Mentors: Mentor applications due: March 1, 2010; Heart to Heart Sister applications due: May 2, 2010 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation who say to Zion, Your God reigns! Highlights include: Rev. Carl Gnewuch, Proclaimer Ida Mall, Keynote Speaker Linda Reiser, Bible Study Leader Jan Struck, Interrupter & Entertainer You can also access forms for the Panama and Guatemala Mission Trips and the Mission Grant subsidy form for receiving financial assistance to attend these trips Keep checking the web site for more convention information as well as a lot of other items of interest. Gifts of Love are items collected by the ladies in each society and brought to the convention. For the 2010 convention, Gifts of Love will be given to: Lutheran Child and Family Services: diapers, body wipes and school supplies Westwood Nursing Home: socks, deodorant and lotion R.S.V.P. Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Wayne County wants socks to give to persons in shelters, so let s sock it to them! Disaster Response Kit (details at

4 PAGE 4 From the Christian Growth Committee: Gaining, Training and Maintaining LWML Members by Christine Steele How do we as an LWML society remain a nurturing organization for our present members and also interest others in sharing their talents and help them grow in faith? An article from the Lutheran Women s Quarterly (summer 1989) lists reasons why women join a service organization: To be needed To help others To make a difference (in society/ organization) To learn new skills or use skills already developed To belong to a caring community To feel accepted To grow in faith To share God given talents To support a cause believed in You can use reasons like these to involve the new and inactive women in your congregation. Try to get all the women in your congregation involved in Bible study. Offer it at all times of the day at least once a month to allow more women to fit their schedules around those times. Consider forming monthly Bible study circles which use the topics in the Quarterly. Encourage women to lead the studies after having reviewed them with your minister. Bible study will lead to Christian service. Personally invite new and inactive women to a meeting or a Bible study. Assign mentors from your LWML society so that no one feels uncomfortable attending a meeting for the first time. Assume every woman in the congregation wants to be involved in Christian service. Don t pre-judge interest or time available. Even working women or young mothers can make prayer chain phone calls or prepare simple meals for shut-ins although they may not be able to attend meetings. Plan a meeting once or twice a year with a special theme and at a different time than usual. Try a Saturday brunch with a Lenten prayer service, an evening picnic and vespers in the summer, or invite a special speaker to an evening meeting. Plan programs that will meet the needs of all the women in the congregation. Provide baby sitting services for meetings, VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 Bible studies and special events to encourage young mothers to attend. Be an example of service to the inactive women, just as Christ is our example. Wrap your arms around them and show your love for their Christian service. Offer meals, babysitting and housecleaning to the hospitalized and new mothers. Plan frequent receptions to welcome new women to your congregation. Informally share information about LWML and service opportunities. Leave time for visiting and use name tags to help newcomers become acquainted. Once the women in your congregation are interested in showing their faith through service, your society needs to help them identify their gifts and talents and put them to use. Hebrews 10:24 says: Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Incorporate your women in Christian service by conducting a talent survey of all women in the congregation. Don t assume that the women will automatically start to serve in the areas of interest they ve indicated. Personally invite them to take part. Help a newcomer learn a service by doing it with an experienced person. It s easier and more fun to learn by doing. Keep your women from losing interest by: Only asking for help when it is needed and important. Busy work without a purpose is a waste of time and a sure way to loose members. Spreading the workload over all the members instead of overburdening a few. If several women have been identified as having interest in the same service, ask different women each time. Recognize a job well done. We don t do Christian service for the praise it will bring, but as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, we are to encourage one another and build each other up. The talented and dedicated woman power of the church needs to be recognized and used to fulfill the mission of the church. Your LWML society can be a big help in getting every woman in the congregation involved in serving her Lord Jesus Christ with gladness. Adapted from ILWML MD Committee materials

5 LWML IN ACTION PAGE 5 Is 2010 the year for updating your society? Call an MMV gal and get her booked on your calendar. These women love to talk about Mission, Ministry and Visioning and will assist your society or zone in creating appealing programs that will reach out to more women in your congregations and communities. They are prepared for an hour's presentation or a full day's workshop. How can they help you? Barb Collins: , lwmlbarb@sbcglobal.net Sandy Hardies: , shardies@centurytel.net Barbara Hoffmeier: , bhoffmeier@comcast.net Sewers Needed for Mission Trip MOST Ministries has recently received a request from Pastor Vuthy for a sewing team to serve Bethel Church in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The goal of this team is to teach finish sewing techniques and embellishing to a group of women who want to start a business to support the expansion of the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) program in 13 communities. These ladies would like to sew high quality gift items to sell in the market places and to mission groups who come to serve in Cambodia. Also someone is needed who makes lye soap to teach that craft and how to make lye. Soap is a part of the hygiene program taught in the CHE program; they will use part of the soap for personal use and then sell the rest in the market. For more information please contact Debby Suchyta ext. 11 or dsuchyta@mostministries.org. Zone & Society Activities The Evergreen Zone Fall Prayer Day service was held at Immanuel, Macomb on October 17, The service was led by Pastor Lynn Witt. He installed a new Co-Chairperson, Marion Sandven along with Co- Secretary Marilyn Stricker and Zone Counselor, Pastor Greg Griffith. Pastor Griffith is replacing Pastor Lynn Witt who has served as Evergreen s Counselor for 6 years. Faith Lutheran Ladies Guild in Bridgeport has participated in a number of Lutheran World Relief Parish Projects such as Fair Trade coffee, chocolate and other products. They ve put together quilts, layettes, and sewing kits. Their recent project was School Kits. Congregational members contributed the items for the kits. One member, Charlene Bosquet, sewed all the bags. The Guild met and filled, tied, and packed over 100 bags for shipment in October. The ladies of the Saint Joseph Zone-LWML have been busy this year sewing over 500 quilts for Lutheran World Relief. On Saturday October 17, 2009 over 100 boxes with quilts, layettes, school kits, sewing kits and soap were packed and delivered for missions. Pictured are Caren Rossow and Sharon Applegate catching a quick break from packing the U-haul.

6 PAGE 6 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 Two District Mission Grants for Worship for Shut-Ins Increase Christian broadcasts for shut-ins $15,015 This grant supports Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc, based in Fort Wayne, as they expand their ministry through contracting with the TCT Christian station enabling them to be able to broadcast to a much larger viewing area. Scholarships for Michigan Men $25,000 In an effort to help fill the need for pastors in our synod s pulpits, this grant will provide financial assistance to Michigan men at our two LCMS seminaries. By providing these funds, we can help offset the increasing cost of a seminary educational and enable these men to complete their education. Filling Pulpits by Providing Scholarships to Michigan Men in the Seminary $25,000; Paid in full Scholarships for Female Students Pursuing Studies in Professional Church Work $14,000; Paid in full Support for the Heart to Heart Sisters & their Mentors 2010 Convention $6,000 A Time to Grow Expansion of Christian Special Education in Detroit $20,000; $15,000 pd Open Arms Institute $15,000; $7,500 pd Guinea Missionary Care $10,000; Paid in full Lutheran Assoc. of Missionaries & Pilots $20,000; $6,000 pd Trinity/HOPE $5,000; Paid in full Michigan Women in Mission Through MOST Ministries $20,000; $16,030 pd Interpreters for the Mission Field, MOST Ministries $15,000; $9,600 pd Food & Clothing Co-op for Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne...$15,000; Paid in full Arch Books for Indonesia $10,000; $7,000 pd Opening Two (2) New Outreach Centers in Flint & Ann Arbor, Michigan $10,000 Kingdom Literacy for Kingdom Children $10,500; $6,000 pd Worship for Shut-Ins Sharing Christ s Love to Michigan $15,015; Paid in full National Mite Goal $7,000; Paid in full Michigan District Mission Grant Goal for Biennium - $230,000 $230,000 $159,495 Distributed as of 10/31/2009 Michigan District Mission Grant Goal for Biennium $230,000

7 LWML IN ACTION PAGE 7 Counselor s Corner Greetings to my sisters in Christ, Want to read something pretty cool? And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Ever since the Garden of Eden when mankind fell into sin and God spoke that first Messianic prophecy, the people had been waiting a long time to hear this proclamation. We know that this good tidings of great joy meant more than just the birth of the Savior. On this side of the cross and resurrection, the good news of great joy is that our sin has been dealt with through the blood of that baby. That, my friends, is Good News! What is even cooler is that by faith we are witnesses of these things and that our Lord Himself gives us the command: Go! That command of Jesus is what the mission and ministry of the LWML is all about. Your prayers, hands-on mission activities, trips, in-gatherings, collection of Mites, Lydia s Legacy, and gifts of all kinds of love to the LWML comprise the good tidings of great joy which is being heralded all over the world. Like the shepherds, with haste, let us go ; let us be the Beautiful Feet for Jesus, Our Anchor. Blessings in the Name of Jesus, Pastor Lahrman Lydia s Legacy A gift to Lydia s Legacy is a beautiful way to recognize or pay tribute to someone who has made a difference in your life. For further information, contact Marlene Herzog, Special Gift Funds Coordinator, ; mherzog63@att.net. Michigan District LWML Elected & Appointed Officers President: Cheri Fish, ; lwmlfish@charter.net District Planner: Carol Bickel, ; kiddo.bicks@yahoo.com Archivist/Historian: Helene Meyer, ; helenelwml@netpenny.net Meeting Manager: Barb Collins, ; lwmlbarb@sbcglobal.net Parliamentarian: Deanna Sobocienski, ; deannas@raisinvalley.com MMV Liaison: Barbara Hoffmeier, , bhoffmeier@comcast.net Technology Specialist: Sarah Zahnow, ; sarah.fish@cuw.edu VP of Caring Ministry: Willie Marie Henry, ; williemarie_henry@yahoo.com Servant Opportunities Coordinator: Kathy Mundt, ; rmundt@stpeterhemlock.org Service Events Coordinator: Donna Povich, ; donna@derenzo.com VP of Christian Growth: Pat Morley, ; ronandpat@ejourney.com Christian Events Coordinator: Kay Kernstock, ; marielouiseus@yahoo.com Christian Materials Coordinator: Ivy Thompson, ; willie_mariehenry@yahoo.com Christian Growth Liaison: Carol Wenzel, ; rcwenzel23@yahoo.com VP of Communications: Lois Moslander, ; moslanderl@rawson.lib.mi.us LWML in Action Coordinator: Ruth Steele, ; resteele1@juno.com Michigan In Touch Coordinator: Judy Baarck, ; cjbaarck@charter.net Web Page Coordinator: Gen Abrams, ; gen@empoweredpathways.com VP of Mission Outreach: Linda Bruski, ; lbruski@jayssportinggoods.com Mission Awareness Coordinator: Marie Riley, , marril1948@comcast.net Gospel Outreach Coordinator: Cathy Hardy, ; ccdchardy@comcast.net VP of Organizational Resources: Susan Gruber, ; susgrub@att.net Growth & Development Coordinator: Vacant Leader Development Coordinator: Rebecca Bundenthal, ; gbundenthal@comcast.net Structure Coordinator: Karen Floyd, , k-floyd@att.net Special Gift Funds Coordinator: Marlene Herzog, ; mherzog63@att.net Financial Secretary: Mary Beth Heikkinen, ; jheikkinen7@comcast.net Recording Secretary: Karen Schmitt, ; kaschmitt44@aol.com Treasurer: Carol Stuhr, ; castuhr@glccomputers.com Counselors: Rev. D. Lee Cullen, stpaulspastor@prodigy.net Rev. William Lahrman, ; lahrmanw@chartermi.net

8 Michigan District Lutheran Women s Missionary League LWML in Action Ruth Steele, editor Phone: (H) Phone: (W) Fax: resteele1@juno.com Serve the Lord with gladness...psalm 100:2 We re on the Web! Questions or comments on LWML in Action should be directed to Ruth Steele, LWML in Action Coordinator at or resteele1@juno.com. Submissions to the next issue of LWML in Action may also be sent to the above address. Deadline for the March issue is Feb. 10, Calendar of Events for 2010 March 6, District Board Meeting, St. John Amelith, Bay City July 9-11, Michigan District LWML Convention, Hyatt Regency, Dearborn July 16-24, MOST/LWML Mission Trip to Panama for Eyeglass Clinics July 24-30, LWML Mission Trip to LATINO, Detroit, MI November 12-20, MOST/LWML Mission Trip to Guatemala for Women s & Children s Ministry Mix up a batch of this special tea at a society or zone meeting, and then share the recipe and the dry mix with new friends as you invite them to your next LWML event. All mite contributions should be sent to the Financial Secretary Mary Beth Heikkinen PO Box 5305 Warren, MI Mix together: ½ c. instant tea (powdered) 1 c. powdered lemonade mix 1 c. powdered orange drink (Tang) 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves To make one cup of tea: Place 2 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water. STIR AND ENJOY! Recipe makes 40 cups