THANK YOU to our 2024 FLCW BOLD WOMEN - Grace Arndt & Evie Nelson (Not Pictured - Joyce Pestal
Mission Statement - Women of the ELCA To Mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
Easter Greetings, Dear Girlfriends in Christ,
Hard to believe that we are already in the midst of the Easter season. Let us pray that the early Easter and an early spring go hand in hand. But, for the most part, we have nothing to complain about this winter. God has given us a beautiful winter which I particularly appreciate after the brutal season last year.
On Sunday, February 11th, we had the opportunity to celebrate our annual Thankoffering/Bold Women recognition. As I have done in the past, I have shared my remarks from that day in the March newsletter. So, here goes –
BOLDNESS is a call to action. As women of First Lutheran, we are claimed and called by God. We believe that a life lived BOLDLY is a faith-filled calling, as well as an investment in the world that we want for ourselves, and, in fact, for everyone. We are called “to mobilize women to act BOLDLY on their faith in Jesus Christ.”
BOLDNESS comes in many forms. We celebrate a range of gifts and voices, knowing that the avenues for BOLD self-expression are limitless.
So, with that in mind, we take time once a year in our congregation to celebrate the special gifts and BOLDNESS of our women here are Fist Lutheran.
2 Corinthians 3:4 – 6a, 12 says to us “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant…Since then, we have such a hope, we act with great BOLDNESS.”
That verse brings us to today’s theme of serving quietly and behind the scenes of modeling BOLDNESS.
I bring before you today three women in our congregation who have for a long time now been continually performing tasks that need to be done, what most of us take for granted because the task is always so faithfully done.
So, today, let us celebrate the BOLDNESS OF – GRACE ARNDT; JOYCE PESTAL; EVIE NELSON
GRACE is our lady who faithfully assembles all of our mission kits from our donations to each of those kits. A lot of time goes into that mission. Grace is also a faithful member of the Altar Guild, and in the summer, you are going to find her and Melvin keeping our grounds beautifully groomed and watered.
I call JOYCE the best cheerleader that any church could have. She never misses an opportunity to recognize the value of individual efforts among the members of our congregation, and follows that up with a personal communication. Her card and stamp bill must be enormous! She is always sending cards of get well and encouragement and thank you. You will also find this faithful servant a member of the quilting group, and an officer of the First Lutheran Church Women.
I doubt that any of us ever question how great our Fellowship Hall looks all of the time with the always clean, crisp, and pressed white tablecloths. Someone has to keep them that way, and that someone is EVIE. She has done that task for years. Pearl Swang was our BOLD lady who did this job before Evie volunteered to do it. Evie continues to stay busy in our church as a Group Leader, and is an officer for the First Lutheran Church Women.
These are three tireless BOLD women whom we can find doing God’s work with their hands in every crevice of our work as a church.
Thank you so much for the gifts that you all continue to offer to First Lutheran. May God continue to bless your BOLDNESS in all that you do for us.
It was indeed my honor and privilege to shed light on some of the very important missions that happen behind the scenes because of a dedication to doing God’s work.
FLCW UPDATE: • Once a year, in February, we offer up a THANKOFFERING to the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America for mission work that they do on a world scale on our behalf. We save our loose change all year in our THANKOFFERING jars to give toward this mission. THANK YOU to all of you who participated this year. If you have not had the opportunity to bring in your THANKOFFERING gift, it is never too late. Karla will take it in the office, and Evie Nelson, our Treasurer, will also be glad to take it any time that it works for you. So, that means that you can now start saving your loose change all over again. If you need a jar, Kathy Muscha can help you out with that. You can put a little fun into the mission by following a monthly suggestion as to how much you can offer.
February - .50 for every Valentine that you sent or received March - .10 for each of the 40 days of Lent Monthly suggestions will continue to appear in the newsletter.
• We kicked off Lent with the traditional ASH WEDNESDAY SOUP SUPPER, served by FLCW. We served 50. THANK YOU so much to the soup makers – SARA SCHINDLER, WENDY OPP, and KATHY MUSCHA. And, THANK YOU to the great crew in the kitchen that night. It all went very well.
• The BAKELESS BAKE yielded $885.00 this year. Those proceeds go toward many missions within our church and beyond. THANK YOU to everyone who responded to the call, and to the Group Chairman for making that personal appeal.
• March is PERSONAL CARE KIT Month. You will find the items needed for that kit listed in this newsletter and the March Sunday bulletins.
• THANK YOU to JOLEEN SWANG and GAIL WANGEN for agreeing to chair the Spring Rummage Sale. UFFDA! This just seems like a daunting task to me. I thank God that we have women who rise to the occasion and do a beautiful job of executing this project. Information on the specifics can be found in this newsletter and the Sunday bulletins.
• March 16th brings NATIONAL QUILTING DAY, which also reminds us of our awesome quilters, and the incredible amount of work that goes into what they produce every year. March 16th would be a great day to “Thank A Quilter” for their dedication to a mission that is literally worldwide.
• Planning ahead, the LONETREE SPRING GATHERING will be held in Mercer on April 13th. More details will surface as we get closer to the date.
• Our next GENERAL FLCW MEETING is March 3rd at 8:45 am, in the church lounge. I reiterate that ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME to participate.
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
In His Service, Kathy Muscha First Lutheran Church Women
First Lutheran Church Women's Officers 2023-2024 President: Kathy Muscha Vice-President: Heather Mayer Secretary: Joyce Pestal Treasurer: Evie Nelson
Bible Conversations - All women are welcome!
Bible Conversations will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12th. We will continue our book study. The book is, Hallelujah Anyway Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamont.
A YEAR OF THANKOFFERINGS (suggestions)
FEBRUARY - $.50 for every Valentine that you sent and/or received MARCH - $.10 for each of the 40 days of Lent APRIL - $2.00 for the first crocus or meadowlark that you see (to be continued next month)
The quilters are in need of sheets, sheet blankets, or lightweight blankets to use for liners in the quilts they make for Lutheran World Relief. They don’t need to be in really good shape. It’s all right if they have stains or small holes. If you have any to donate, please take them to the quilting room in the basement or leave them on the pew just inside the office door entrance. Thank you!
Sewers Needed – The quilters are looking for people to sew tops at home. Fabric that is already cut into squares or strips would be provided to you, and you could sew whenever you feel like doing so. There is no deadline. Anyone willing to do this should contact Norma Tureson at 218-340-9511.
CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE Coming Soon - April 27th 8-1 pm & 28th 11-1 pm
Time to collect good sellable items and bring them to the church for someone else to enjoy. Items can be brought to the church anytime and put on the bench inside the office door or taken down to the market place room. There will be a rummage site note on the door. Children's clothes size infant-size 12 (No adult clothing). Kitchen item's, toys, books, linens, furniture, home decor, holiday items, garage clean out - the list is endless. No TVs or computer type items, Entertainment centers or pianos.
Questions contact Joleen 324-4678, Gail 324-4248 or the church office 324-2548.
Proceeds from the sale will go to FLCW Missions
PERSONAL CARE KIT MONTH
• One light-weight bath size towel (20” X 40” to 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 (Toothbrush multipacks may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business size envelope; no plastic bags or wrap) • One sturdy comb (no picks or fine-toothed combs) • One metal nail clippers (attached file optional)
You may bring these items to the church to help fulfill the Personal Care Kit. There is a basket in the Narthex for you to put these items.
Thank you for your generosity in helping to provide items for this mission.