First Lutheran Church Women - FLCW

​ Mission Statement - Women of the ELCA
​
                 To Mobilize women to act boldly on their
​                                 faith in Jesus Christ.
February Greetings, Dear Girlfriends in Christ,
 
February holds the title of the “LOVE” month.  I would offer the thought that the best way for us to LOVE unconditionally in all aspects of our life, is to first LOVE ourselves.  So, this month I offer some tidbits of advice that I have collected and tried to practice over time to first LOVE myself so that I am more able to LOVE and give in the many roles that each of us play every day.
 
⸎ Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
⸎ Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
⸎ Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.
⸎ Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
⸎ Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
⸎ Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side as long as you are true to the best that is in you.
 
 STORIES WITH LOTS OF MEANING
 
• Once all villagers decided to pray for rain.  On the day of the prayer, all of the people gathered, but only one boy came an umbrella.  THAT IS FAITH.
• Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarm to wake up.  THAT IS HOPE.
• We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.  THAT IS CONFIDENCE.
• We see the world suffering, but still, we get married and have children.  THAT IS LOVE.
• On an old man’s shirt was written the sentence “I am not 80 years old; I am 16 with 64 years of experience.”  THAT IS ATTITUDE.
 
A POSITIVE MINDSET IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CULTIVATE AND SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE WHOM YOU LOVE THE MOST.
 
FLCW UPDATE:
 
We did not meet in January, so the update will be brief:
 
√ February is BABY CARE Kit Month.  March is PERSONAL CARE Month.  Contents for both of these mission projects are in this newsletter, and will also be published in the Sunday bulletins.  There is a collection box in the Narthex.  Your generosity toward these mission projects is appreciated more than we could possibly know, throughout the world.
√ February 19th – BOLD WOMEN/THANKOFFERING SUNDAY – This our annual celebration of all of the BOLD WOMEN in our congregation, and offering up our coins from our THANKOFFERING jars.  There will be a large container in the Narthex closer to the date to collect your loose change that you have been working on for the past year.  Our THANKOFFERING goes to churchwide to support the many missions of the global church.
√ February 22nd – ASH WEDNESDAY SOUP SUPPER – will be served before worship by FLCW.
√ CHRISTMAS SPIRIT – to be held sometime in October, but we are taking your donations for this project now.  Any indoor/outdoor Christmas décor, snowmen, winter decorations that you would like to donate toward this endeavor may be brought to the church anytime (Market Place room), and will be stored until the October event.  THANK YOU for all of the donations that we have received up to this point.  It is fun to anticipate doing something new and different.  Please share with your friends and family, as we are seeking donations from anyone who would wish to give.
√ ELEVATOR UPDATE – The FLCW gift of $1,000.00 toward the repair of the elevator helped toward the church reaching the repair bill goal very quickly.  FLCW serves as an arm of First Lutheran Church in the many missions and needs of the church.  THANK YOU for your continued gifts and support of the of FLCW.
√ Bakeless Bake Sale – has yielded $535.00 as of the first part of December.  Your gift toward this is always welcome, and may be given to you Group Chairman or Karla in the church office.
√ February 5th – FLCW General Meeting at 8:45, held in the church lounge.  Every woman is a member of FLCW and encouraged to participate in any capacity.  FLCW continues to serve as an excellent example of “DOING GOD’S WORK WITH OUR HANDS.”  It would be wonderful to see new faces and get new ideas of how we can better serve in our church and our community.
 
“See how very much our Father LOVES us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!  But the people who belong to the world do not recognize that we are God’s children because they do not know him.”  1 John 3:1
 
In His Service,
Kathy Muscha
FLCW President 

First Lutheran Church Women's Officers 2022-2023
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. in the church lounge on Wednesday, February 8th. The four session winter/spring Bible study will be on the 10 Commandments and is written by Christa von Zychlin, an ELCA pastor. She will help us see how these commandments are more that they may appear at first glance. For January—Dancing the Decalogue, Commandments 1 & 2. For February—Rhythms and Respect, Commandments 3 & 4.
 
“gather@elca.org” is the internet site listing upcoming lessons and other information on devotions, books, etc.  In past months various leaders have led lessons on the internet. 
 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.
4 cloth diapers, flat fold preferred
1 jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood, or include a baby cap
2 pairs of socks
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. 
PERSONAL CARE KIT MONTH (March)
 
•  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. 
JUST A REMINDER -
PLEASE KEEP FILLING YOUR THANKOFFERING JARS.
 
If you need a jar, please contact Kathy Muscha, or Karla in the church office.
 
We will be doing the annual Thankoffering in February.  
 
Our gift is sent onto churchwide Women of the ELCA for many and varied missions throughout the world. 
Congratulations to our BOLD WOMEN for 2022 - The Quilting Mission Team compromised of Pearl Swang, Norma Toreson, Grace Erickson,
Grace Arndt, and Joyce Pestal. They are our FABULOUS FIVE who produce about 200 quilts a year for missions throughout the world, including our local community. We are so proud of the impact that you make in so many lives, and THANK YOU for your powerful presence with this mission. You Ladies are ROCK STARS! 
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. 

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!
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