Invite Your Community
For this Holiday Event
The Mary-Martha LWML Society of Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, MS, sponsored a successful Nativity Walk-Thru open to the community in December 2006. This coincided with the Pascagoula Downtown Christmas celebration sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce each year.
Members of the congregation loaned their nativities to display that evening along with a brief history of each set. There were over 30 nativities displayed. Along with the tree lights and greenery, the sanctuary was beautiful.
Cookies, coffee, and hot apple cider were served in the fellowship hall. With the positive comments received from visitors, the LWML looks forward to repeating this event as a community outreach activity.
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More ideas to come!
"It was really invigorating to lead the zone presidents' (ZP’s) session at the district board meeting in Sun Prairie recently," says Zone Consultant Christine Miller. "All the zone presidents were there and although the meeting was brief, the ZP's shared some great ideas for stimulating interest in zone activities." Chris plans to share them periodically on the website - so watch for more helps.
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Vicar Runs 'Miles for Mites'
Our vicar ran in the Milwaukee Marathon and congregation was encouraged to contribute to the 'Miles for Mites.' It was a huge success!!"
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Do Your Business Last!
At the recent Senior Retreat sponsored by the SWD, a woman shared with an LWMLer why she had never joined the LWML - after working all day in a responsible job, she didn't want to spend her evening at a meeting that focussed mostly on business (especially long debates on whether to buy a refrigerator for the kitchen or what should be done during the kitchen cleaning this year).
The LWMLer was from St. Paul's, Brown Deer. She then shared that their monthly society meeting begins with refreshments at 7 p.m., followed by the speaker or program at 7:30. The business meeting concludes the evening, and women who do not wish to remain for the business portion may leave after the program.
"If the LWML in my church did that, I'd join!" said the woman.
NOTE: Another option used by some societies is to empower the Executive Committee to make all but the most major decisions, thus eliminating the need for a business session at most meetings. Minutes and treasurer's reports can be printed and handed out, so they don't have to be read. If your church has mailboxes for each family, reports can be distributed via the mailboxes shortly after each regular and/or Executive committee meeting.
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Zone Rally Fun: Have a Picnic!
As Zone Consultant Christine Miller met with Linda Christensen of Zone 19 and her board in Muscoda, WI, they they came up with a great idea for their fall rally -- a picnic to be held at a local park in Platteville. The whole family will be invited! In addition to Bible study and music, there will be games for the children and a Servant Event, which will include collecting school supplies to be delivered to a local charity.
"Doesn’t that sound like fun? I can’t wait to hear how it turns out!" says Chris.
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Plan Big!
I drove across the state to attend the ABLAZE! Convocation in September 2005. My reason for going was not particularly inspired;I was looking for something to do while my husband was out of state n a trip.
But God intended it for good...In one of the keynote presentations, the speaker pointed out our tendency to plan overly carefully and conservatively, even in mission. He said that we should Plan Big! and set large goals--goals large enough that when they were accomplished it would be evident to all that God had done it. That one thought stayed with me.
The next week I attended our Society Board of Directors' meeting. We were discussing how we could support Pastor John Reinke's deaf ministry. A sum of money was suggested as a gift; this sum represented a reasonable estimate of the money we expected to collect with our next fund-raiser.
Suddenly I recalled the exhortation of the ABLAZE! speaker and issued his challenge. Our Society President, Kay Conzemius, caught the vision and promptly made a motion to double the amount of our gift to Pastor Reinke, without knowing if we could raise that amount anytime soon.
Our annual craft and bake sale took place recently. Soon afterward I received a telephone call from President Kay: "Did you hear how much money we took in?" I learned to my delight that we had taken in more than the doubled amount we sought for Pastor Reinke!
The Lord is so patient with us. He honors our baby steps of faith and wants us to be sure of the abundance of His love. We can be confident that He will give us what we need to serve Him.
Lisa Kerr
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Women
Onalaska - Zone 18 ____________________________________
Holiday Extravaganza
To Benefit Mites
A zone in the Atlantic District LWML is planning a Ladies Holiday Extravaganza at the beginning of November at one of its churches. This will be a day of "eating and shopping" – two enjoyable pastimes. They will have outside vendors for shopping and a hot catered lunch. Each society in the zone is encouraged to support itself by having a table to sell their home-made crafts, new items, old items, etc. All profits will go towards mites. Vendor registration is open to anyone in other zones in the District.
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