WHO ARE WE? The following 18 churches make up the Northern Conference of the La Crosse Synod: Bells Coulee Mindoro Blair Lutheran Blair Christ Lutheran Arcadia Fagerness Lutheran Blair French Creek Ettrick Halfway Creek Holmen Hardies Creek Ettrick Holmen Lutheran Holmen Journey Lutheran Onalaska Lewis Valley Holmen Living Hope Ettrick Mindoro Lutheran Mindoro Mt. Calvary Trempealeau North Beaver Creek Ettrick South Beaver Creek Ettrick St. John s Lutheran Alma Tamarack Arcadia Zion Lutheran - Galesville NORTH CONFERENCE NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Issue 14, October 2017 LaCrosse Area Synod W-ELCA Fall Renewal ReCap All Anew Eyes Wide Open was the theme of the annual fall renewal on October 21, 2017, hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of LaCrosse. Eyes of all participants were opened to the threat of human trafficking here where we live. Pastor Diane House of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin and Deputy Nate Cibulka of the LaCrosse County Sheriff s Department shared information of how this modern form of slavery is around us, how and why it happens, and what is being done to confront it. Pastor Harald Bringsjord led the group in devotions. President Kathleen Sumrall called the session to order followed by a welcome by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church WELCA President Sara Wrobel. We also heard of ministries from Sugar Creek Bible Camp by Sheila Champion and Sherry
Taylor of the Women s Clothes Closet. Pastor Ben Morris also updated us on what is happening at the UW LaCrosse Campus. After break outs and conference meetings, the assembly voted to split the $617 collected offering between the Campus Ministry and St. Francis Franciscan Nuns as both work to assist in the eradicating of sex trafficking and to foster healthy relationships. A huge thank you to the Good Shepherd WELCA for a wonderful assortment of coffee treats and a nice luncheon! Finally everyone is reminded of the Spring Convention April 21, 2018, at Living Hope Lutheran in Ettrick. Did You Know this about Human Trafficking in Wisconsin? WI Deer Hunting Season means more sex trafficking as girls are sent to dance in bars. If someone is not impoverished before being trafficked, there is a good chance that individual will be after they are trafficked. Trafficking is invisible to most people because the internet is the main medium that traffickers use. Many different industries are used by traffickers to mask the sex trade including bars/clubs, massage parlors, hotels, truck stops, and residential homes. Traffickers tend to mainly traffic people who are in the same racial group. As awareness of sex trafficking increases, professionals are recognizing more youth who are victims of trafficking. In Wisconsin most trafficked people are from within Wisconsin. The average age of sex trafficked youth is 13 years old. Trafficking has been found in every county of our state. The combination of high demand, low risk and high returns in the human trafficking enterprise helps the business to thrive. Anyone can be vulnerable of traffickers regardless of socioeconomic background, race, and age. Often times, victims have a history of being neglected or experiencing violence, sexual abuse, or other types of trauma. Ways to be vulnerable include being undocumented, homeless, or in trouble financially. Victims often don t seek help because they are afraid. They have been told that they will be harmed, as well as their families and anyone they care about.
How to Identify a Youth Victim of Trafficking Hotline to Report Suspected Trafficking 1-888-373-7888 General signs to look for: Avoiding eye contact and social interaction Low self-esteem Signs of physical abuse Multiple cell phones Checking into hotels with older men Living with employer Inability to talk one-on-one with anyone Answers seem to be scripted and/or rehearsed Submissive or fearful Anxious when discussing law enforcement Lacks health care Appears malnourished Has few or no personal possessions Inability to specify address of residence or visitation No sense of time In relationships with significantly older people Under 18 and performing commercial sex acts Displays a limited wardrobe usually consisting of clothes of the sexual nature Entering or leaving vehicles of unknown adults Less interest in age appropriate activities Works excessively long/unusual hours Has no control over their money, financial records, or bank account Substance abuse Unable to travel freely Secretive Has unexplained money and/or presents Associating with older people (out of normal social network) Often gone missing
Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 LOPPW is a state public policy office that is a ministry of the ELCA in partnership with ELCA World Hunger and the six synods with congregations in Wisconsin. We advocate for policies that diminish hunger and poverty and the exploitation that can lead to arise out of poverty..our Lutheran theology includes living our lives as public church by.martin Luther often went to court advocating for people who were in need and/or being exploited. Today, we speak from our baptismal calling to work for justice and peace. Via LOPPW s ministry we focus on legislation, knowing one policy change can impact 100 s, 1,000 s, and sometimes millions of lives. As a network of ELCA members, LOPPW has impacted legislation and has been able to change hearts and minds. We worked successfully to and for four year old pass legislation penalizing human trafficking in Wisconsin, to protect funding for school meals and for four year old Kindergarten programs, and to enact legislation regulating payday lending. Your voice made a difference in protecting breakfast and lunch programs in our schools. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write. Martin Luther If you are interested in learning more about LOPPW or would like us speak to your congregation, please call 608-270-0201, ext. 109, or e-mail at cindyc@loppw.org. Also visit the LOPPW website for resources, upcoming events, ore information, or to sign up for action alerts: www.loppw.org Find out who represents you in Wisconsin by going to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ Find your U.S. Representatives and Senators http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ http://www.senate.gov/
Thank you to all who contributed mission items to our call for things we do regarding mission in our individual units. What follows is our listing: LWR WELCA s La Crosse Synod s North Conference s MISSION Quilts Personal Care Kits School Kits Baby Layettes Sewing Kits Soap LOCAL Quilts for: Fundraisers, First Responders, Salvation Army, New Horizons, Western Dairyland, Fire Victims, High School Graduates, Baptisms, Family & Children Center in La Crosse, Local Emergencies Monetary gifts for: Local Food Pantries, First Responders, Nursing Homes, TTC TV, Come to Supper, Salvation Army, Western Dairyland, Bible Camps, Western Dairyland, New Horizons, Trempealeau County Halfway Houses, Mission Trips, Ambulance Services, Post Prom Parties, School Bags, Flood Relief, LSS Human Trafficking, LSS, Homeless Haven, Lutheran Disaster Hurricane Relief, Women s Clothes Closet Gifts given to: Shut-ins at Christmas, Nursing home residents, County Healthcare residents, New Horizon clients, Western Dairyland clients Coordinate / Serve / Provide: Mission Fest Dinners, Meals for warming centers, Cookies for campus ministry, Community Fall Festivals, Spring Plant / Bake Sales, Come to Supper, Fish Fries, Bazaars, Rummage Sales, Advent Luncheons, Christmas Child Boxes, Blankets for Hospitals, Hungry Jar, Cash for Class, Norwegian Lunches, Alumni
Confirmation Receptions, Lefsa making Instructions to Confirmation classes, Funerals ECUMENICAL PROJECTS / EVENTS Ecumenical Worship Providing Crisis Baskets & Gift Cards for those in need Community Dinner & Neighbor Night Come to Supper Apple Affair Pies Two-day Quilting Bee Community School Summer Lunch Program Community Thanksgiving Bloodmobile Information Requested Please let us know what regular a) service project, b) fundraisers, and c) learning opportunities your unit does over the year. We d like to share these with each other through this newsletter. Please send a list of your activities to cmsveen@hotmail.com 10 Ways to Invite and Attract New Members to WELCA (Source women.elca@elca.org) 1. Host an open house. 2. Organize a service project that reaches out to local community. 3. Invite women to attend a retreat or special event. 4. Give prospective members a subscription to Gather. 5. Invite women to a Bible study. 6. Share experiences of WELCA with women over coffee. 7. Invite new members to a collaboration event to share new ideas. 8. Share Café. 9. Meet at a different location. 10. Share a WELCA resource and identity item.
Dates and Reminders - Lutefisk Dinner & Supper Blair Lutheran Church Nov. 4 th - Holiday Fair French Creek Lutheran Nov. 4 th - Women s Clothes Closet Annual Fashion Cornucopia Sat. Nov.5th - Holiday Marketplace Bazaar- Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, LaCrosse- Nov.11 th - Mission Sunday (Dinner & Bake Sale) - Fagernes Lutheran Nov. 12th - Christmas Brunch Mindoro Lutheran Church Sat. Dec. 2 nd - Advent Luncheon Living Hope Lutheran Mon. Dec. 4 th - WELCA Spring Convention Living Hope Lutheran April 21, 2018 Q: WHAT IF YOU WANT TO USTTE DIFFER Need Ideas and Resources? Check out women.elca@elca.org find out how to make global connections, leadership development, plan local events, etc. Does your unit have any ideas it can share with the other WELCA groups of the North Conference? Please share them here!
LEADERS OF THE NORTH CONFERENCE Our Purpose: 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. The North Conference Board Member is Jackie Joanis. She represents our conference at all Synodical WELCA Board Meetings. Her address is W21676 Red Fox Ln., Trempealeau, WI 54661. Jackie s phone number is 608-534-6728, and her e- mail address is jjoanis@centurytel.net. The North Conference Coordinator is Deb Sveen. Deb helps coordinate all WELCA activities of the North units. Her address is N24431 Lunde Coulee, Ettrick, WI 54627. Deb s land phone is 608-525-3000, and her e-mail is cmsveen@hotmail.com. Be sure to contact Jackie if you have concerns that need the attention of the Synodical Board. Contact Deb with any invitations for North Conference WELCA events and/or activities that othera churches need to be made aware of. It is the goal of this newsletter that the 18 churches of the North Conference of the La Crosse Synod use this for WELCA ministry. The intentions are to have this newsletter come out four times a year: January, April, July, and October. All items for inclusion are requested by the first of these respective months: December, March, June, and September. All items are to be sent to Deb Sveen, NC Coordinator, N24431 Lunde Coulee, Ettrick, WI 54627. Phone number is 608-525-3000. E-mail: cmsveen@hotmail.com