WELCA ladies enjoying icecream after working on the yard sale.
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.
Women of the ELCA is the women’s organization of the 4.8 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This network of nearly 500,000 participants in 64 geographical areas (called synods) in the United States and the Caribbean exists for mutual support and bold action on participants’ faith in Jesus Christ.
The organization builds on the strong history of women’s missionary movements, Bible study, and service in which our foremothers engaged. Some of us recall stories from our grandmothers of how they saved “egg money” (from the sale of eggs) so they would have money to donate for support of missionaries in other countries. You may have heard how our foremothers trudged through snow for hours to get to Bible study at another woman’s house, hung their stockings on the line to dry while they studied, and then trudged home again the same day. Or you may have heard about schools and orphanages built in various parts of the world with women’s Thankofferings. Of course, that’s only part of the history.
Today, women’s lives have changed. Women enjoy access to a wide variety of careers and have greater freedom and ability to contribute to the ministries they value. Women also now have the opportunity to respond to the call to ordained ministry as well as the call to teach Sunday school. Still, embracing the world as God’s gift and God’s people as sisters and brothers, being committed to growth in faith and action, standing for justice with the poor and oppressed — these remain
WELCA dates to remember February 8th - 6:30 pm at Holy Cross - Soup/Salad February 22nd - Applebee's after Ash Wednesday Service April 11th - 7 pm at Kathy DeLong's home April 21st - Spring Gathering at Peace Lutheran Church, Armheim April 25th - 7 pm at Ruth Ruder's home May 9th - 7 pm at Sherry Swanson's home May 23rd - 7 pm at Su Bowling's home May 27th - Noon, Ladies Luncheon at Holy Cross December 12th - Fruit Baskets for Shut-ins December 18th - Progressive Dinner
El Propósito En tanto que somos una comunidad de mujerescreadas a imagen de Dios, lllamadas a convertirnos en discípulas de Jesucristo, y fortalecidas por el Espíritu Santo, nos comprometemos a crecer en la fe, afirmar nuestros dones, apoyarnos las unas a las otras en nuestras respectivas vocaciones, involucrarnos en el ejercicio del ministerio y la acción, y promover la sanación y la integridad en la iglesia, la sociedad y el mundo.
Cincinnati Spring Gathering
Surviving the Season
Peace Lutheran - Arnheim Bible Study Led by Pr. June Fryman of Faith Wilmington
April 21st. Registration will begin at 8:45 Cost: $7.00 includes lunch
Ladies Luncheon
At Holy Cross after the morning service
All Ladies are invited!
July 28, 2010
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LADIES LUNCHEON 2009
On May 17th we had our Ladies Luncheon after church. Taylor Bowling gave an excellent and very informative presentation on her recent experience in China. She was one of the special chosen students to go on this trip. Great job Taylor!
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WELCA Christmas Party 2008
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Ladies Luncheon 2008
From your Cincinnati Conference Representative…Su Bowling
As you read your "Southern Breeze" in February, I hope our days of ice and snow are
behind us. I think we are all ready to spring ahead to see those early blossoms of the
crocus and the sunny days that are warm. Please plan to spend a day of your spring
at the Cincinnati Spring Gathering to be held at Augsburg Lutheran Church on April
25th. Our theme this year will be "Responding to God's Call". Our featured speakers
will be Mona Laughlin, Kathy Schnierle and Robin Kaelin who each will bring a special
message of their calling to serve WELCA in variety of positions these ladies have held. The Spring
Gathering is always a special day for fellowship with our Lutheran sisters. Details for the day and
directions will follow in a mailing to Cincinnati Conference congregations. If you are in need of details
please feel free to call (513) 858-1919. Hope to see you at the Gathering. Su Bowling
"Women of the Red Eyes" In the Serengeti, part of our East Lake Victoria Sister Synod, live the “women with the red eyes”. They acquire these eyes from long hours and years cooking over an open fire. The older they become, the redder their eyes become. At this time in that area an awful movement is underway by the witch doctors. They are telling people to kill “the women with the red eyes” as they are evil and if they lay their evil eyes on you, bad things will happen. Sometimes these “women with the red eyes” are in danger of death. In fact they are being killed regularly. Our bishop has felt a real calling to help these women. There is so much need that other agencies are not addressing this issue. The “women with the red eyes” have learned to trust their Lutheran friends, running to them to escape harm. We do what we can, but there are no funds to help them. Bishop is asking for our help. We collected “Pennies for Tanzania” to help buy transportation. Could we continue and change our focus now that a vehicle has been purchased? Your board overwhelming thought this was a wonderful ministry and that we would all support this. So please continue to collect your pennies, and possibly nickels, dimes or even dollars as well.
They should be honored and cherished for the lives of hard work they have lived. Instead they are fleeing for their lives. Helping these women is another way for us to walk in faith. May God bless us all in our walks of faith, including the women with the red eyes.
Here’s an Update…as of May 5, 2007 the Women of the Southern Ohio Synod have collected $21,500 to go to build a hospital and provide refuge. The safe haven camp for these women is operating and the hospital is built. We are still collecting pennies to help supply the hospital.
Thank you for your help to achieve this!
† Let’s reach out in Love Together †
If you're interested in exploring and deepening your faith, and seeing how it can make a difference in all parts of your life, Lutheran Woman Today is a magazine for you!
Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, offers an exciting mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions, and stories of comfort and challenge that lift up the mission of Women of the ELCA: to mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Each of the 10 issues per year will illuminate the path you travel as a person of faith and connect you to women both far and near who share a commitment to making God known.
In every issue of LWT, you'll find the award–winning Women of the ELCA Bible study. The featured study for Fall 2008 –2009 (September – May 2009) is The Hidden Hand of God: Wisdom Stories from Ruth, Daniel, and Esther. Log on to the discussion board to share tips and questions on the Bible study.
In addition to the feature articles centered on each issue's theme, you'll also enjoy our regular columns, including "Give Us This Day" (the wit and wisdom of Marj Leegard), and "Amen!" (prayerful reflections on the theme or season). You'll also find "Grace Notes," thoughts from the executive director of Women of the ELCA, as well as "Health Wise" (health issues that affect women profoundly). A new column, "Let Us Pray" written by author Debra Farrington will offer ideas and resources to enhance your prayer life.
Lutheran Woman Today is published in partnership with Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
What's in a name? Café is an electronic magazine for young women who want to build Community, participate in Advocacy, strengthen Faith, and strive toward Enlightenment (CAFE!). It incorporates a Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or simply for any woman who is interested in how faith can relate to the issues that women face today.
Read. Connect. Grow. Our new URL, www.boldcafe.org, is not only shorter and easier to remember it also reflects Women of the ELCA's mission statement. Women of the the ELCA, the women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, creates and publishes every issue of Café.
Café wins big. . . again for the fifth consecutive time For five consecutive years, Caféreceived a
“Best in Class” Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press in the Independent Web site or E-zine category. ACP honors excellence in religious journalism at its annual convention.
The judges said, "Relevant topics and a great variety of resources and exercises to enhance the discussion. Kudos for making this site multimedia with an audio podcast."
Café received this same award in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Then, the judges said Café “Provides a high quality product for its targeted audience. The magazine writing style is top notch and provides an intimate yet professional voice. The journalists use relevant and quality research and sources to create articles and podcasts that are meaningful to all women, no matter their religious beliefs or associations."
Café won an Award of excellence for Internet Communication from the Religion Communicators Council. In 2005, Café won the Award of Excellence and Best in Class from RCC.
In 2003, Emilie Rommel and Sarah Dreier accepted internships with Women of the ELCA. Many others within the Lutheran Center in Chicago, Illinois, provided guidance and support for Sarah and Emilie as they took the idea for Café and ran with it.
Although Café was developed to reach out to women between the ages 18 to 35, a group often falling between the youth and women's organizations in the church, women of every age visit Café.
This is the place to be for news on Women of the ELCA and women in the global community. Read about the activities of women’s groups in other church bodies in the United States and in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America companion churches throughout the world. Find out what our partners in ministry — such as Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response programs, to name some — are doing to meet the needs of people worldwide.
From here, you may also sign up for the WOUPDATE listserv— bringing Women of the ELCA updates on events, programs, and resources to your e-mailbox — and join in a variety of online discussions on the WebBoard.
Interested in what’s coming up in events for women in the ELCA? Check our events page periodically to see what's new for you..
