Southern Illinois District Lutheran Women in Mission SID Missionette Volume 63 No. 3 March 2013 LWML Calendar. April 18-Board Meeting June 1-www.serve Event June 27-30-National Convention July 18-Board Meeting September 28-Fall Retreat October 17-Board Meeting In This Issue: President s Page 2 Counselor s Message 3 Gospel Outreach 4 Special Focus Ministries 5 Communication 6 Christian Life 7 District Directory 9 Loving Gifts 9 Mission Statement: The Mission of the Southern Illinois District of the Lutheran Women s Missionary League is to encourage each woman in the district to grow spiritually and to use her God given gifts to praise God and serve people. Scholarships are available The Southern Illinois District of the LWML is offering scholarships to students from our district that are preparing for full time service in the church. Students who hold membership in an LCMS Southern Illinois District congregation may apply for one of the following scholarships: Seminary Scholarships. One of the LWML Mission Grants for the 2012 2014 biennium is for seminary scholarships to become pastors. Student Assistance Fund Scholarships. These scholarships are given, as funds are available, to support undergraduate students in professional church worker programs in our synodical colleges and church workers taking graduate courses through one of our synodical schools. Application forms for all scholarships are available on the web site www.sidlwml.org. The forms can also be obtained by email or regular mail. Send email requests for applications to norma@netwitz.net. For regular mail, please send requests with a self addressed envelope to: Norma Tucker 287 N. Center Street Hoyleton, IL 62803 To be considered, the completed application must be returned by May 1, 2013. The Southern Illinois District LWML is now on facebook. Check it out!
2 From Helen... President Helen Mayer The purpose of the president is to provide Christ centered leadership, using His wisdom and provision to seek opportunities in helping our LWML sisters use their gifts in service to the Lord. There is a time for everything, Ecclesiastes 3:1a. How many of you find hope and comfort in these words when your to do list is more like a book; when the days go by at super speed ; when everyone seems to need you at the same time; and when you cannot stay awake one minute longer? These words are a comfort to me, and bring me back to reality when I need a big pick me up. Our Lord and Savior found time for everything He needed to do, from being born in a dirty stable, to dying on a dirty cross to save us from our dirty sins! Since He found time for all that and so much more, we need to begin the New Year by making sure that we give Him our time in service. In our national convention in Peoria in 2011, a mission goal was set for the biennium. The time for sending in the mites for that mite goal is getting close to being past, and yet we are far from reaching that mite goal set in Peoria, with only a few months to go. Is this the time for you to give a little extra to help meet our mission grant goals? In our SID district, it is close to the time when we have our spring rally. Exciting things are planned for us do you have the time to be a part of this special event? In our SID zones, spring rallies are being planned. Once again, they will be times of learning, caring and sharing with your fellow LWML members close to home. Do you have the time to be at the one in your zone? In our national LWML, our 2013 convention is right around the corner. Wonderful speakers, dynamic presentations, and unforgettable fellowship are waiting for you there. Do you have the time to be part of it all? There is a time for everything, Ec. 3:1a. Looking forward to spending time with you at some of the up-coming LWML events, as we use our time to WEBSITES TO VISIT: www.sidlwml.org (Southern Illinois site) www.lwml.org (National site) www.sidlcms.org (So. Ill. Dist LCMS site) www.lcms.org (Synod site) MISSIONETTE Editor: Jane Lucht Email addresses and changes to: Pat Hoffmeier 101-year-old LWMLer called to her heavenly home Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2: 29-32 This text was used Jan. 8, 2013 at the funeral of Ethel Wegener, age 101, at Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville. She attended the LWML convention this past September at Metro East Lutheran High School.. She was a spiritual and inspirational mentor to me, said Mickey Roth, her smile was very special. Jane Lucht said, I stayed at her house overnight when the LWML district convention was held at Zion in 1982. She was a gracious host. SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS
Counselor s Corner Rev. Mark Nebel 3 Quenched by the Waters In a few months, the ladies of the Lutheran Women s Missionary League will gather in Pittsburgh for our bi-annual convention. Having been there as a delegate to our synodical convention in 1992, I know that this is an excellent location to gather. You are in for a special treat! The theme for this convention, Quenched by the Waters should remind us of the many abundant blessings of our God to us. In our area over the past six months or so, we have been in serious need of moisture. We are behind in rain. We have not seen much snow this winter. Our creeks and rivers are historically low. Every time I cross the JB bridge on I-255 going into South County I am amazed at how low the Mississippi River is and how much of the eastern shore sandbar is exposed. Items that have been covered by water for decades are now uncovered and seeing the light of day. This lack of water is causing problems for farmers whose corn crop was seriously damaged last summer. This lack of water is causing problems for barge operators who are having to adjust to lighter loads to keep their vessels floating in shallow water. This lack of water is causing problems for anyone who ships items by barge. We pray that snow melt and spring rains will be blessings from God to improve this situation in time for the planting season. Thankfully there is no lack of water when it comes to our new lives in the name of our Lord Jesus. He promises us, Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14). Again He offers us, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-38). John tells us that Jesus here is speaking of the Holy Spirit, whom believers in Jesus receive. This life-giving Spirit of God comes to us through Holy Baptism in the name of our Triune God. Once again, water is the visible element in this gift. Jesus disciple Peter reminds us of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought to safety through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (1 Peter 3:20-21). When you are Quenched by the Waters at the convention in Pittsburgh this June, it will be a celebration of God s goodness, grace and mercy to us in His Son, our Savior Jesus, by the gift of the faith-creating Holy Spirit and through the means of the water and word of our Holy Baptism. To God alone be all the glory! Letter of Thanks Dear LWML, We would like to thank you for your support during the 2012 Christmas season. Please know that your thoughtfulness and abundance of Christmas Stockings, stoking stuffers and monetary donations helped many of our clients. Again, thank you from the staff and clients of LCFS. May God forever bless you! Wanda Rollins Office Supervisor Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois TELL THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS
4 Vice President of Gospel Outreach Norma Tucker Over the next number of issues, I would like to share with you some up to date information received from some of our Mission Grant recipients. I have selected three recipients for this article... the three who received the first of our Mite monies for this biennium. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Food Bank The Food Bank has grown this year with 263 students and their families signed up to use the Food Bank. The break down includes 83 single students, 180 married couples and 173 children for a grand total of 616 people. Students are allowed to shop at the Food Bank once per month; however, they can earn an extra shopping day by volunteering at the Food Bank or Re-Sell It Shop for five hours. Each time a student shops, they are allowed to get a certain number of items based on their fam- 2012-14 Goal $56,000 $48,000 $43,000 $38,000 $33,000 $28,000 ily size. The Food Bank receives both monetary donations and food items. They use those funds received to purchase items from a local grocery store. The purchase of those items allows them to offer a well-rounded assortment of food so the students can have a well-balanced diet. Students are grateful for the items they are given each month and are happy to give back by donating their time. The Food Bank not only provides food, it provides a sense of community to the Seminary. The students don t think of the Food Bank as a hand out but as a way that people are supporting future pastors. Operation Barnabas The task of Operation Barnabas is to equip churches so they can provide care and support to veterans and their families. While much of the focus is on current veterans, they do include all who have served, from World War II to today. In order to equipment churches, Operation Barnabas: LWML MISSION GRANTS 2012-2014 BIENNIUM Total Mite Goal: $56,000.00 Grant Name Grant Goal Disbursed To be Paid American & International Ministry $5,000 $2,500 $2,500 SIU Carbondale Camp Wartburg s Shepherding Sheep $4,000 $4,000 Camp for People With Disabilities Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School $5,000 $5,000 Centralia-Tuition Assistance Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School $5,000 $5,000 Evansville Financial Aid Assistance Concordia Seminary, St. Louis $2,500 $1,250 $1,250 Food Bank Lutheran Braille Workers Center $4,000 $2,000 $2,000 At Baldwin Metro-East Lutheran High School $5,000 $5,000 Partnership Program with Unity School Operation Barnabas--Ministry to the $3,500 $1,750 $1,750 Armed Forces Prison Ministry with $7,000 $7,000 The Southern Illinois District Seminary Student Scholarships $8,000 $8,000 In the Southern Illinois District SIU Edwardsville Lutheran Campus $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 Ministry-Room Rental Unity Lutheran Christian Elementary $5,000 $5,000 School East St. Louis Belong to Jesus Scholarship Fund Totals $56,000 $8,500 $47,500 PRAY FOR MISSION GRANTS Turn to Page 5
Vice President of Special Focus Ministries Deb Albers 5 in Southern Illinois and through out the world! Serving God, serving others, and serving together. That is the motto for the Mission Servants, by the way, that is each one of you. You are God s Mission Servants. You take Christ to people who need Him. How is this possible? Taking Christ to those who need Him is very simple. Maybe you listened to a young mother who is just overwhelmed by all that needs to be done, as her children continue to add to her to-do list for the day. Maybe you gave her a helping hand by picking up her child from school while she was able to finish her casserole for supper. Perhaps you held the hand of one of the elderly residents at the local nursing home. That gentle touch brought the person some joy, peace and comfort as they make the transition from the comfort of their own home to the new home there. What if you helped provide a meal for the new family that moved in down the street? It is hard to find neighbors that have the time to care for each other. I m sure that you have done one or all of these things and then some. Ladies, God gave us Mission hearts, hands and feet to share Christ with everyone. Continue to look for ways to serve God, serve others, and do it with a group! The district is planning a servant event day. June 1 st is declared SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS DAY! Each zone is asked to plan a special servant event day in your zone. Take pictures and send them to Jane, our editor, let the district know what your group did to serve the Lord with Gladness on June 1! Mission Grants Trains congregations providing personal consultation with local congregations Trains Pastors and other church workers giving presentations to pastor conferences, deaconesses and teachers on topics such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, sexual violence in the military and effects of multiple deployments on children, etc. Develops Curriculum currently working on a third version of a training manual that provides step-by-step instruction for congregations. Because some congregations see a Barnabas Chapter as a big step, Barnabas Congregations and Barnabas Partners were created. These provide entry level points. Currently there are 18 Barnabas Chapters throughout the nation and six Barnabas Congregations, with another 25 in development. Pray that God continues to offer hope and healing to our veterans who suffer from wounds... seen and unseen. Braille Center Baldwin The Sight Center in Baldwin began in January, 2011. As they begin their third year of operation, they have produced 4,200 Bibles with the help of the many faithful ladies from five different LWML groups who volunteer on a monthly basis. They are thankful for the volunteers and the grant monies received to help them in their ministry to the visually impaired. Thank you to these groups for providing their updates. Their organizations, their staffs, and their volunteers are certainly providing important services to God s people. We can be important to their efforts through our Mites during this biennium. We can also be an important part of their services by remembering them in our prayers. We ask that God bless their work. May God enrich our personal prayer lives and the continuing study of His Word which equip us in personal witness to the Joy we have in Our Savior. KEEP MISSIONS IN PRAYER
6 Vice President of Communication Michele Hill I seek you with all my heart; so not let me stray from your commands. Psalm 119:10 The word seek implies intentional pursuit. So often in our busy lives we take time to only look at the surface of things, a few quickly read Bible verses, or only a few moments spent on our prayer list. God promises to give us what we truly seek. In fact, in some mysterious and wonderful way, He joins us in the search and rejoices when what we seek is found! Are you a seeker? If you would like to go in search of or dig a little deeper about what is going on in our district here are several places you can go: You can seek the Southern Illinois District LWML website. It currently has a message from our District President, scholarship information, updates on our Mission Grants, upcoming events in the district as well as zone events. There is a page for information from the national office; you can even download the current and several archived editions of the SID Missionette in PDF format. The address for the website is www.sidlwml. org A new way to seek information is Facebook! Search for LWML Southern Illinois District. I hope you will Like us. This is just another way we can spread the word about all the things that are happening in our district. Please feel free to post pictures or pass along information as to what is going on in your zones and societies. The address for the Facebook page is www. facebook.com/sidlwml The YWR s also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sid-ywr Both of these resources currently have dates and times for events such as the Spring Retreat that will be held at the Seminary on April 6, the Servant Event that will be held at Camp Wartburg on June 1 and several other upcoming events! If these resources do not answer any question you may have, or you would like to pass along information or pictures, please email me at sidlwml@gmail.com I hope you will continue to seek and Spread the Word! LWML offers early discount registration for 2013 Registration for the 35th Biennial LWML Convention to be held in Pittsburgh, PS June 27-30 opened Feb. 1. For the first time, early discounted registration is offered for registration entered online, or postmarked by March 14. The LWML Convention is centered on the theme, Quenched! By the Water, and is based on the Scripture passage, (Jesus said:)...but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14) Register today for this exciting experience! Go to www.lwml.org/conventions where all the details are available at Convention Central) including the latest convention news and instructions on how to register for the convention online. All the registration information is also available in the Winter 2012 issue of the Lutheran Woman s Quarterly on the convention insert pages. To send your registration by mail, simply fill out the required information, enclose your check or credit card number and mail to the address indicated. PRAISE GOD EVERYDAY
Vice President of Christian Life Diane Grebing 7 Sharing God s Strength For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:14 17b, ESV) When the Apostle Paul prayed these words for the people of the church at Ephesus, he knew they needed God s strength to deal with life s challenges. We have the same need. When we reflect on the incidents of unfathomable violence which have occurred over the past months, it is only through the unfathomable love, strength, and power of our Triune God that we can find comfort. When we are confronted with the sadness, hopelessness, and sinfulness of events which occur in our world, we can feel unbearably burdened. On our own and with our own understanding, we have no answers. In times such as these, we have opportunities to recall and share what we do know about our great God s strength. God reminds us in Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. When we and those around us are struggling and reeling in hurt and pain, God helps us remember His strength as emphasized throughout all of Holy Scripture. In these truths are contained the sure and certain hope of deliverance from all evil through faith in our living Lord and Savior Jesus. In the Bible, we find proof upon proof of God s power over all things. As we trust in these truths of God s ultimate strength and love for His people, He pours on us His comfort, care, and salvation. He empowers us so we can share these truths with those in need around us. Here s a small sampler of God s strength: Genesis 3:15 God promises a Savior. Exodus 3:14 God is I AM, our dependable and faithful God. Deuteronomy 3:22 God Himself fights for us. Deuteronomy 4:31 God is merciful and will not abandon or destroy us. Deuteronomy 31:6 God is always with us. Job 11:7 9 God s wisdom is greater than anything we can fathom. Job 37:23 God is Almighty and just. Psalm 9:9 God is our refuge and stronghold. Psalm 18:28 29 God does the impossible for us. Psalm 34:17 20 God cares, saves, and delivers us. Psalm 37:23 24 God upholds us. Psalm 56:9 God is for us. Psalm 68:19 20 God bears our burdens. God saves us. Psalm 91 God s protection is great. Psalm 94:19 God consoles. Jeremiah 29:11 14 God has great plans for us. Jeremiah 31:34b God forgives our sins. Luke 12:22 34 God meets our needs. Romans 8:31 39 God will not let anything separate us from Him. The Apostle Paul ends his prayer for the people of the church at Ephesus with these words: Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20 21, ESV). May God bless you with His strength and enable you to share it with others. SAVE THE DATE Be informed about: THE AGENDA OF MUSLIMS FOR NORTH AMERICA What is the role of the church and our country to combat the challenge of Islam? Speaker: Cynthia Khan from People of the Book Lutheran Outreach Tuesday, April 23, 2013 7 p.m. Zion Lutheran Church 1810 McClintock, Belleville PROCLAIM CHRIST BOLDLY
Troy LWML holds annual dinner with entertainment 9 Waterloo ladies hold own retreat at Camp Wartburg St. Paul's LWML in Troy hosted its fourth annual Mother, Daughter, Friend Salad Dinner last fall with 133 adults and 11 children attending. Grace Cottingham, chairman, and Mary Ann Miller, mistress of ceremonies, along with committee members Adeline Amen, Mary Ann Bonneville, and Ruth Schmitt provided another memorable evening! Along with the ladies bringing a salad to share, the "Helping Hands" organization furnished cake for dessert. The men of the congregation served the ladies attending and then helped with clean-up! For entertainment, along with Olympic games and medals, there was the "Synchronized Swimming" event! The swimmers were Grace Fincham, Ruth Schmitt, Penny Schuessler, Kathy Nehrt, Bonnie Levo, Valerie Meyer, and last minute substitute Pastor Mitchel Schuessler! Mary Ann Bonneville and Adeline Amen held the "water!" The event brought a night of happy and unforgettable memories! The Women s Christian Ministry of Immanuel Lutheran, Waterloo hosted its fourth woman s retreat at Camp Wartburg for the women of their congregation in January. The theme this year was Always Changing, Always the Same. Though our lives continually change, just as the seasons change, God never changes. Psalm 121 was used throughout the retreat, and the women were given many other scripture verses to refer to when they are in the midst of changes in their lives. Friday evening was mostly a getto-know each other time where they played games, watched movies and visited with each other. Saturday consisted of devotionals, workshop sessions, a prayer walk, sing-a-longs, and a service project. This year the service project was making booklets for the students at Unity Lutheran School in East St. Louis. GROW IN GRACE
10 Serving You Are: President Helen Mayer Vice President of Gospel Outreach Norma Tucker Vice President of Christian Life Diane Grebing Vice President of Servant Resources Pat Wernsing Vice President of Special Focus Ministries Deb Albers Vice President of Communication Michele Hill Recording Secretary Mickey Roth Corresponding Secretary Pat Hoffmeier Financial Secretary Kathleen (Kathy) Bohnet Treasurer Ruth Ann Arbeiter Counselor Rev. Mitchel Schuessler Counselor Rev. Mark Nebel Editor Jane Lucht Archivist/Historian Peggy Sachtleben Christian Resource Editor Joyce Aukamp Young Women Representatives Elizabeth Barnes and April Rottmann Public Relations Director Ruth Ann Mize Quarterly/Missionette Coordinator Pat Hoffmeier Memorials Wib Eggemeyer Vera Rommelmann Lester Tuitken Carol Wittenbrink Birthday Hilda Roethe (90) In Honor of Esther Boehne Board Notes: A request was received from national LWML to promote special mite giving to help meet the mission grant goal by the end of March. The board approved a special gift of $1,000 from the operating fund as a thank you gift. Zones are also encouraged to promote special or designated gifts directly to national. Preliminary plans were made for the 2014 convention to be held at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Sept. 12 and 13. Pat Wernsing will serve as convention chairman and Ruth Ann Arbeiter will be the vice chairman. Norma Tucker gave a brief report on the PING event that they attended in St. Louis. Helen Mayer also attended the inspiring national LWML event. Learn more about PING by going to lwml.org and click on PING. Spring Retreat April 6 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Ingathering non-perishable food or monetary Watch for letter and on the website. Registration fee is $25 Loving Gifts Individual Mite Gifts Anne Ebers Violet Feldmann Vernon & Helen Mayer Bernice Thompson James Thompson Ordination Gift Fund Alice Hollmann HE IS RISEN INDEED!! *Denotes Student Assistance Fund SEND YOUR NEWS TO THE EDITOR