First Lutheran Church Women - FLCW
Mission Statement - Women of the ELCA
To Mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR – Dear Girlfriends in Christ,
 
A PRAYER (and intriguing thought) FOR THE NEW YEAR
 
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches in His holy people.”  Ephesians 1:18
 
Most of us probably spend some time every year at this time making New Year’s Resolutions, only to abandon our goals by the end of January.  Focusing on a word, phrase, or Bible verse for the year can stop the cycle of setting unrealistic expectations, and release us from shame and guilt.  As we approach the turning of a new year, let us be inspired by Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, with its rich instruction and focus for Christians on its truths and reminders.
 
In Ephesians 1: 15-23, Paul is thanking the Lord for the believers in Ephesus and offers a prayer on their behalf.  Paul prays not only for spiritual wisdom, but also for their hearts to be enlightened to remember what God had already done, and for their faith to be strengthened as they prepare for what God will do in their lives.
 
Often, we struggle to see God at work in our lives, but we can stand firmly in faith by looking back at all of the ways He has kept His promises.  Paul urges us to cling to God’s promise to Adam and Eve in Genesis.  Sin entered the world, thus separating us from God, but He will provide a way for us to be reconciled.  That way was through sending his son, Jesus, as a lowly baby, his death, and RESURRECTION, so that those who believe in Him will have eternal life.  Our hope is not in our present circumstances.  Instead, it is in the promise that we will be with our Lord and Savior one day for all eternity.
 
(adapted from an article by author Laura Bailey)
 
INSTEAD OF NEW YEAR’S GOALS, MAYBE WE CAN USE THIS GUIDED VERSE TO REMIND OURSELVES OF ALL OF THE BLESSINGS IN CHRIST THIS YEAR.
 
FLCW UPDATE:
 
▪ February is BABY CARE MONTH, so we will give ourselves a couple of months to work on this mission.  The items that go into this kit are published elsewhere in this newsletter, and you can also have it handy in each of the Sunday bulletins for the next couple of months.  This is a very valuable mission, and definitely a needed mission.

▪ THANKOFFERING JARS/THANKOFFERING/BOLD WOMEN SUNDAY –
- We will collect your Thankoffering gift on Sunday, February 8th, and we will also recognize the actions of some BOLD individuals in our congregation that day.  Monthly Thankoffering suggestions have been published several times as a guide for your gift to this mission of parent organization, the Women of the ELCA.

▪ BAKELESS BAKE SALE – We are still in the mode of asking you for your participation in the Bakeless Bake Sale project.  We have done this for several years now, in lieu of having a Bake Sale booth at the Junior Class Craft Fair.  It has traditionally been a very successful project and enabled us to carry out several of our mission projects.  Your Group Chairman will be calling you, but if you do not receive a call, you may give your gift to Karla or to Gail Wangen, our treasurer.

▪ Our gifts for the JAMESTOWN STATE HOSPITAL were delivered early in December.  OH MY – how generous all of you were!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  We were able to delivery a beautiful variety of gifts for this cause, including 3 quilts from our quilters.  They were more than appreciative, and so thankful for congregations like ours who give so generously to this mission.
 
▪ We served a light snack for the CENTENNIAL’S and NOTES OF JOY Christmas concert. THANK YOU to Gail and Steve Wangen, Norma Tureson, Beth Huseth, and Joleen Swang for all of their work making this happen.  These things don’t just happen by themselves.  And, thank you to those of you who contributed “goodies” for the event.  The Fellowship Hall was full with happy noise.  I am glad that we are able to continue to do these kinds of events, putting our FIRST LUTHERAN HOSPITALITY front and center.  But it takes our members to help make that happen.

▪ FLCW serves our Church Council a dessert once a year, showing our appreciation for all of their hard work and dedication to managing the business of the church.  THANK YOU to Jacey Fandrich for offering to provide that dessert this year.

CHURCH CLEANING – If you are looking for something to do, there is always cleaning that can be done at the church.  A list of things needing to be done is posted on the refrigerator in the kitchen.
There will be no FLCW General meeting in January.  The Executive Committee will meet if need be.  We will resume our monthly meeting on Sunday, February 1st.

2026 – FIND WAYS TO SERVE OTHERS
READ THE BIBLE MORE
BE HOSPITABLE
PRAY EVERYDAY
START A GRATEFULNESS JOURNAL

In His Service,
Kathy Muscha, President
First Lutheran Church Women                                                                                                                                                        
 
DID YOU KNOW - Every woman who is a member of First Lutheran Church is also automatically a member of FLCW (First Lutheran Church Women. That is why you are assigned to a serving group and asked to  participate in the various missions of the women of the church.  And, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO  ATTEND THE MONTHLY MEETINGS of the FLCW, held the first Sunday of every month (except January, June, and July), at 8:45 am in the church lounge.

FLCW (First Lutheran Church Women)
Your officers are:  President - Kathy Muscha
                                Secretary - Joyce Pestal
                                Treasurer - Gail Wangen
Bible Conversations - All women are welcome!   
 
Bible Conversations/Circle will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14th at the home of Peggy White. We will study the December lesson from the Gather Magazine. All women are welcome!
THANKOFFERING SUNDAY is coming up on February 8th.
 
THANKOFFERING (Suggestions) -
February - $ .50 for every Valentine that you sent/received.
March - $ .10 for each of the 40 days of Lent.
April - $2.00 for the first crocus or meadowlark that you see.
May - $5.00 in honor of your mother.
June - $1.00 for every wedding that you are invited to this month.
July - $ .25 for each American Flag that you see displayed in your neighborhood or rural road.
August - $ .50 for every child, grandchild, great grandchild or niece or nephew starting school this month.
September - $3.00 in thanks for all the jobs available for workers honored on Labor Day.
October - $ .10 for every Trick or Treater who comes to your house.
November - $ .25 for every pound of your Thanksgiving turkey.
December - $5.00 in thanks for the GREATEST GIFT that God gives us at Christmas.
January - $1.00 for every day in January the high temperature is above 20°.
BABY CARE KITS
 
2 lightweight cotton T-shirts (no onesies)
2 long-or-short-sleeved gowns or sleepers (without feet)
2 receiving blankets, medium-weight, cotton or flannel, or crocheted or
   knitted with lightweight yarn, up to 52” square  ***MOST NEEDED
4 cloth diapers, flat fold preferred
1 jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood, or include a baby cap
2 pairs of socks  ***MOST NEEDED
1 hand towel (dark color recommended)
2 bath size bars of gentle soap (4-5 oz.) in original wrapping
2 diaper pins or large safety pins
       
You may bring these items to the church to help fulfill the Baby 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. 
Sheets Needed
The quilters are in need of sheets for the backs of quilts and also for liners. Ones for backs should be in good condition, but ones for liners may have stains. Any size can be used. Cotton or cotton/polyester is preferred. They can also use sheet blankets, flannel sheets, and mattress pads. If you have any items to donate, please leave them on the bench by the “office” door or take them to the quilting room in the basement. Thank you!
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THANK YOU to our 2025 FLCW BOLD WOMAN - Sheena Schneibel