GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH WOMEN OF THE ELCA STATEMENT OF 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. Lutheran Women Today Bible Study September 2013-May 2014: In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women Transforming Life and Faith: Gather's 2014-2015 Bible study Our Mission: To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. WOMEN OF THE ELCA COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2014 First Co-Chair: Program Coord/Secretary: Treasurer: Bev Sheridan Ann Naslund Marty Steele
Cluster Representative: Bev Sheridan Mission: Community Carrie Solberg Rae Jean Rathje Judy Mikkelsen Ann Naslund Duties: * Nordic Fest Activities * World Day of Prayer & May Friendship Day * Soup Luncheon/Country Store Mission: Growth Judy Schoel Carol Hasvold Duties: * Program Covers, Bible Study Materials * Create/Maintain WELCA Bulletin Board * Assist Circles in Planning Programs for General Meetings * Prepare Announcements for Newsletters & Bulletins Mission: Action Kathy Buzza Barbara Butler Gail Judisch Duties: * Free Trade Coffee * Lutheran World Relief * Quilting Nominating Committee: TBD GOOD SHEPHERD WOMEN OF THE ELCA COMMITTEES NOMINATING COMMITTEE: This committee of at least three women presents nominees for first and second Co-chair and two at-large member positions. KITCHEN COMMITTEE: JoAnn Aulwes Donna Bahr Doris Barnaal Ann Naslund Glenda Wuest Oversees the church kitchen, assesses need for and condition of equipment, appliances and furnishings and arranges for purchase, repair and maintenance. WOMEN OF THE ELCA UPPER IOWA RIVER CLUSTER VIII OFFICERS 2014 President: Joan Jurs, Decorah, IA 52101 Vice President: Becky Pahl Secretary: Carol Burnikel, Cresco, IA Treasurer: Suzanne Matter, Decorah, IA 52101 Mission Action/Community: Shirley Steggall, Decorah, IA 52101 NORTHEAST IOWA SYNODICAL WOMEN S ORGANIZATION President: Gloria Tollefson, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Vice-President: Judy Kelly, Charles City, IA 50616 Secretary: Sue Ollman, Mason City, IA 50401 Treasurer: Nancy Poppe, Ionia, IA 50645 Board Members: Nancy Miller, Lime Springs, IA 52155 Carolyn Loftaas, Kensett, IA 50448 Vicky Jaeger, Decorah, IA 52101 Mary Jane Averhoff, Waterloo, IA
Sheryl Moeiler, Denver, IA 50662 Ruth Hilgerson, St. Olaf, IA 52072 Cynthia Pogge, Kanawha, IA 50447 Newsletter Editor: Jan Harbaugh, Belmond, IA 50421 Cluster VIII Shepherd Nancy Miller GOOD SHEPHERD WOMEN OF THE ELCA ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR 2014 March 7 World Day of Prayer at 1 St Congregational UCC April 26 Cluster 8 Spring Convention Orleans Lutheran Church, Ridgeway, IA May 2 May Friendship Day at St. Benedict s Parish 3 Lutheran World Relief Pickup Olson Explosives 21-22 W/ELCA Bible Study Seminar Dubuque Wartburg Seminary June 21 NE Iowa Synodical Convention at Wartburg College Gather for Faith & Action July 24-26 Nordic Fest Activities August TBA Mary Circle Retreat Shalom Retreat Center in Dubuque September TBA Cluster 8 Fall Gathering & Officer Training Location TBA Presented by Synod. 8:30 am-noon. Fall Cluster donations will be accepted that day. Please label envelope Cluster VIII Offering. November 1 Lutheran World Relief Pickup - Olson Explosives 9 Soup Luncheon/Country Store January 17, 2015 March 6, 2015 April 25, 2015 July 25-27, 2015 Winter Brunch Miriam Circle, Hostess World Day of Prayer First Lutheran Cluster VIII Spring Convention Triennial Gathering, Charlotte, NC **PLEASE NOTE: Refer to the church newsletter and Sunday bulletin for a detailed schedule of each month programs, activities and meetings, for updated information and changes. September 2013-May 2014 In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women Company s coming! Bible study author Kay Ward, a bishop in The Moravian Church, has invited nine women from the Old Testament, several from the New Testament, and a handful of women she knows to stop in for a visit. They will be companions with us each month, long enough for us to get to know them and to also get to know ourselves a bit better. Their stories will draw us into Bible study, worship with the Psalms, and opportunities to tell our own stories. Ward was elected to be a bishop in the Moravian Unity in 1998, the first woman to be chosen in its 550 years of history. She has served as a parish pastor, and in 2006 retired as professor and administrator of Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA. Kay has written three collections of essays and lives in a log cabin with her husband in central Wisconsin.
Transforming Life and Faith: Gather's 2014-2015 Bible study A new life partner, a new child, a new job, a new home: most of us recognize how our lives are changed by these experiences. In Transforming Life and Faith, we will consider how our lives and our faith journeys are transformed by the events we experience and the people we meet. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, and especially in Acts of the Apostles, we will read about people who have life-changing experiences: Paul on the road to Damascus, Moses in the wilderness of Midian, Lydia praying by a river in Macedonia, an Ethiopian man traveling from Jerusalem to Gaza. We will watch them turn to and with God as their minds, hearts, and daily lives are altered. And we will reflect on the ways we, too, have been and will be transformed and called by God to serve God's mission in the world. About the author: Carol Schersten LaHurd is a lifelong teacher: Red Cross swimming lessons, high school English, parish education, and, for the past 30 years, biblical studies, Islam, and interfaith relations in colleges, seminaries, the church, and the wider community. After earning degrees from Augustana College (Illinois) and the University of Chicago, she received a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She is author of Luke s Vision: The People of God, the 1998 Bible study for Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather). GOOD SHEPHERD WOMEN OF THE ELCA 2014 CIRCLE SCHEDULES MIRIAM / RUTH CIRCLES: Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. (Uses Bible Study from Gather Magazine) Hostess Bible Study Jan. 8 Janet Gall Carol Hasvold Feb. 12 Carrie Solberg Jaerdis Nesheim Mar. 12 Mary Fritz (at J. Gall s) Janet Gall Apr. 9 Carol Hasvold Jean Swiggum May 14 Jean Swiggum LaVerne Ramsey June 11 Beverly Nelson Mary Fritz Sept. 10 Maxine Swiggum Jean Swiggum Oct. 8 Janet Gall Carol Hasvold Nov. 12 Jaerdis Nesheim Donna Bahr Dec. 10 Donna Bahr Janet Gall Board Rep: Carrie Solberg LWR Kits: School Kits ANNA CIRCLE: Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Hostess Jan. 14 Helen Schweizer Feb. 11 Jane Borelli Mar. 11 Agnes Hjelle Apr. 8 Joanne Ylvisaker May 13 Doris Barnaal
June 10 Lillian Erickson Sept. 9 Corinne Nelson Oct. 14 Beth Jones Nov. 11 Haldis Kaasa Board Rep: Helen Schweizer LWR Kits: Personal Care Kits C.L.A. CIRCLE: Meets the 4 th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (Uses the Bible Study from Gather Magazine) Hostess Jan. 28 Kathy Buzza Feb. 25 Gail Judisch Mar. 25 Judy Schoel Apr. 23 Lindy Moeller at Church May 27 Barbara Berg June 24 Sharon Drew Aug. 26 Bev Sheridan Sept. 23 Jutta Anderson Oct. 28 Marie Freerking at Church Nov. 25 Ann Naslund Jan. 27, 2015 Lindy Moeller Board Rep.: Bev Sheridan LWR Kits: Baby Care Kits MARY CIRCLE Meets the first Tuesday of the month. For locations/times please watch the weekly bulletins. SPECIAL ECUMENICAL DAYS WORLD DAY of PRAYER 2014 Congregational UCC 2015 First Lutheran 2016 Decorah Lutheran 2017 Good Shepherd Lutheran 2018 St. Benedict Parish 2019 First United Methodist MAY FRIENDSHIP DAY 2014 St. Benedict Parish 2015 First United Methodist 2016 Congregational UCC 2017 Good Shepherd Lutheran 2018 Decorah Lutheran GSW FUNERAL SERVING POLICY: (adopted February, 1983) 1. A Committee of three be established to: A) Visit the family to determine their wishes regarding the food service.
B) Make phone calls for food and workers going through the list of women of the church C) The GSW makes necessary food purchases along with donated food. D) The family may donate for food costs. E) Donations received from the family or funeral director should be given to the Good Shepherd WELCA Treasurer. Funeral/Wedding Committee Members: LaVerne Ramsey Bev Sheridan Midge Kjome Marion Hanson GSW SERVING POLICY FOR WEDDINGS AND ANNIVERSARIES (adopted April, 1993) 1. A hostess is to be chosen by the family to coordinate the food service. 2. All food will be provided by the family. 3. The serving committee will phone for workers going through the list of women of the church, if the family wishes. Kit Materials Personal Care Kits People who must flee their homes quickly often do not have time to pack essential items. Personal Care kits can help refugees maintain personal hygiene while living in exile. Items may also contribute to a new start for those who can return home. Include the following items in each health kit: One light-weight bath-size towel (maximum 52 X 27 ), dark color recommended Two bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in original wrapping One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging* One sturdy comb, remove packaging One metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging *Toothbrush multi-packs may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a businesssize envelope; no plastic bags or wrap PROJECT COMFORT FUND NOTE: LWR s approximate cost to handle and ship one LWR Personal Care Kit overseas: $2.65. Do not add other items or leave out any of the items listed. All items should be new and in good condition. Wrap smaller items in the washcloth; wrap washcloth and remaining items in the towel and tie securely with ribbons or yarn. Do not enclose the kit or any of its contents in plastic bags. Soap A brand new bar of soap contributes to dignity and cleanliness. LWR accepts new bars of any
brand soap, in its original wrapping. All bar sizes are accepted; however, bath-size bars (4-5 oz.) are highly preferred. Fabric Kits Each year, Lutheran World Relief distributes thousands of fabric kits overseas. Many are used in vocational training programs to teach young men and women sewing skills that they can use to earn an income. Include the following items in each Fabric Kit: Two pieces of cotton or cotton-blend fabric (no knits or 100% polyester). Each piece should match one of the sizes below: o 2¼ yards of 60 wide fabric, or o 3 yards of 44 wide fabric, or o 4 yards of 36 wide fabric Two spools of neutral-colored, general purpose thread, 250-300 yards each Fabric should have no stains or holes. Pieces do not need to match in size or color/pattern. Fold thread and one piece of fabric inside second fabric piece and tie with yarn, sturdy string, ribbon or a strip of fabric. Do not enclose the Fabric Kit or any of its contents in a plastic bag. PROJECT COMFORT FUND NOTE: LWR s approximate cost to handle and ship one LWR Fabric Kit overseas: $1.00. Baby Care Kits Two lightweight cotton t-shirts; Two long- or short-sleeved gowns or sleepers (without feet) Two receiving blankets, medium-weight cotton or flannel, or crocheted or knitted with lightweight yarn, up to 52 square; Four cloth diapers, flat fold preferred; One jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood, or include a baby cap; Two pairs of socks, One hand towel, dark color recommended Two bath-size bars (4 to 5 oz.) of gentle soap, in original wrapping; Two diaper pins or large safety pins LWR s approximate cost to handle and ship one LWR Baby Kits overseas: $1.30.