LWML eNews Issue #161 – July 13, 2015
Historic Mission Goal Adopted by LWML
Delegates to the 36th Biennial Convention of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), held June 25-28, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa, adopted a historic $2 million mission goal for the 2015-2017 biennium. One convention attendee, Karen Lougheed, Fargo, North Dakota, smiled and stated, “This mission goal is huge, but we will reach it with God’s help. We’re the ladies in purple and we know God will provide!” The LWML, by the grace of God, will fund 19 mission grants on the national level in the next two years. Each of the 40 LWML Districts, as they met for their district conventions in 2014, also adopted a mission goal and chose mission grants to support for the 2014-2016 biennium. As LWML groups and individuals collect mites (offerings) they are sent to the District LWML Treasurers. The treasurers send 25% of those mission dollars to the national LWML. Those offerings, along with the contributions of other LWML supporters, will help meet this $2 million mission goal. You are invited to contribute as you have been blessed. You may donate online at www.lwml.org. Checks or money orders may be designated as missions and mailed to Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, P.O. Box 411993, St. Louis, MO 63141-1993.
*What are mites? Based on the Biblical account of the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-4), mites are monetary gifts placed in the Mite Box, sacrificially given by supporters of the LWML. These gifts are offerings above and beyond the support given to our congregations and the LCMS. You may read more about this at http://www.lwml.org/mites and order your own Mite Box here.
Convention Photos May Be Viewed and Purchased
Many photos from the 36th Biennial LWML Convention held June 25-28, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa, may be viewed (and downloaded to your computer!) from a link found on the LWML website at http://www.lwml.org/convention. Photos may also be viewed and prints purchased (mailed directly to the purchaser) from Bueltmann Photography (BBM Photography), the Convention Photographer, from his website, at www.bbmphoto.com/lutheranwomen. The District group photos, taken on Thursday afternoon are only available through Bueltmann Photography.
All Convention Attendees: LWML Wants Your Feedback!
The LWML values the opinion of all participants at the 36th Biennial LWML Convention in Des Moines, Iowa, June 25-28, 2015! The LWML Convention Programming Committee often refers to evaluation comments as they plan for future conventions. If you attended this convention, please fill out the online evaluation, found at www.lwml.org/convention, as soon as possible. This survey is short and should take you 5-10 minutes to complete. You will be asked to respond to several statements about the convention and answer four questions about yourself. In addition, you are given an opportunity at the end to provide some open-ended comments. Those attendees who complete the evaluation by July 31, 2015, will be given a one-year subscription to the eQuarterly, the official publication of the LWML. (Participants name and email must be included for the subscription to be delivered.) Thank you for your feedback!
LWML Sunday Materials Online
All resources for the 2015 Lutheran Women's Missionary League’s (LWML) Sunday are available on the LWML website. This year, sample materials have not been mailed to each congregation, saving mission dollars. Instead, a large postcard was mailed in late June reminding all churches and groups that bulletin shells are available for purchase, as in past years, and the sermon and all other resources may be downloaded from the LWML website for free. No waiting!
If anyone needs assistance with downloading these resources, they are welcome to call the LWML Office at 1-800-252-5965. Resources available for download include:
- Worship Bulletin Covers, Blank Inside, 8.5x11 or 8.5x14 (these are also available for purchase here.)
- Sermon Text and Children’s Message
- LWML Sunday Logo
- Banner Pattern and PowerPoint Template
- Bulletin Bytes
- Litany and Gifts From the Heart Dedication
- Photos of authors: LWML Counselors Rev. John Heckmann and Rev. Dr. Robert Roegner
- “Serve the Lord With Gladness” Song Text
A full worship service will not be offered this year, as many pastors prefer to tailor their services to their congregation’s needs, but the sermon, litany, and dedication may be inserted in any worship service wherever needed.
The LWML Sunday theme, “Seek First the Kingdom of God,” is based on Matthew 6:26, 32b, 33, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? … and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Celebrate the LWML! The Time is NOW to share how God has worked through this organization.
New LWML Executive Committee Meets
Newly elected LWML President Patti Ross, Tulsa, Oklahoma, will chair her first LWML Executive Committee (EC) meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, August 11-15, 2015. In addition to President Ross; newly elected officers Vice President of Organizational Resources Debbie Larson, Bismarck, North Dakota; Vice President of Special Focus Ministries Kaye Wolff, Southfield, Michigan; Treasurer Marilyn Schroeder, Boone, Iowa, and Junior Pastoral Counselor Rev. Robert L. Mundahl, Faribault, Minnesota; will join continuing members Vice President of Christian Life Eden Keefe, Aiken, South Carolina; Vice President of Communication Nancy Bogenhagen, White Lake, South Dakota; Vice President of Gospel Outreach Shelley Moeller, Rock Island, Illinois; Recording Secretary Joy Dougherty, Toledo, Ohio; and Senior Counselor Rev. Dr. Robert Roegner, Lake St. Louis, Missouri. Also joining the EC will be appointed members Meeting Manager Leslie Jaseph, Crownsville, Maryland; Public Relations Director Carol von Soosten, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Strategic Plan Facilitator Cheryl Mattil, Sherman, Texas.
Along with all regular business for this meeting, the EC will be prayerfully selecting committee and task force members. Prayers from the faithful are welcomed as the LWML begins a new biennium, serving the Lord with gladness.
