In addition to our continuing projects for 2011-2012 (see posters below) we want to focus on the appreciation and care of our local pastors' wives this year! Our goal:

• A Pastors' Wives Retreat in 5 Regions
• A monthly suggestion for each of us to practically care for our own pastor's wife.

January Hint:  Encourage your pastor's wife to go to your Region's Pastors' Wives Retreat! Help her clear her calendar to make it work!
December: Give a practical gift during this Christmas season - a gift card, an offer of child care, a home-cooked meal
November:  Take your pastor's wife out for coffee, or bring her her favorite beverage.
October: Take an interest in, and pray for the children & grandchildren of your pastor's wife.
September: Set aside a few dollars to give your pastor’s wife for gas or child care to help her attend the Pastors’ Wives Retreat in your Region.
August : Write your pastor's wife a note to tell her how she has positively impacted your life!
July: PRAY for your own local Pastor's Wife EVERY DAY this month! Tell her you're praying for her!

Central Region: October 14-16, 2011
Pacific Region North: February 24-26, 2012
Eastern Region:  March 9-11, 2012
Western Region:  March 30-April 1, 2012
Pacific Region South: April 17-19, 2012

Each year at our National Convention, the mission projects for the following year are presented. You can see the 2011-2012 projects in poster form for your information, or for display on your church bulletin board.

In 2005 a large binder was published with resources for LB church women. Sections of that are now available online!
  CHAPTER ONE
Vision, Values, and Strategy for Women's Ministries in your local church.

Our National Women's Conference 2011 was held June 25th at beautiful Tuscarora Inn, near Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania
    It was a GREAT EXPERIENCE! Friday's "Day of Grace" painting Brooklyn youth rooms; Saturday's amazing conference; and "Experience NYC" on Sunday and Monday!

 ( Click HERE for a summary of the events.)

We are now making the Annual Convention Report booklet available for our LB Church women to read online, and print if desired. View the table of contents HERE
 Entire booklet

Your contributions helped us complete our  projects!
View photos here

January 27-Feb. 2, 2012: NWMT meetings Fullerton, CA
February 24-26: Pastors' Wives Retreat (PWR) Pacific Region- North at Warm Beach Bible Camp
March 9-11: PWR in Eastern Region
April 12-13: Council of Directors, Fergus Falls
April 17-19: PWR in Pacific Ragion-South
April 20-22: Pacific Region-South Retreat
April 24-May 10: Japan trip
August 2-5: CLB and WMCLB Convention, Fergus Falls, MN

Womens’ Ministry Team Schedule:
January 27-Feb. 2, 2012: National WM Team Winter meeting Fullerton, CA
August 4: Annual Conference, Fergus Falls, MN

Convention 2011, 2010, 2009
For a summary of the day's events and photos click HERE

Ruth Vallevik, Director of  Women's Ministries
Janet Spencer, Chairman
Cheryl Olsen,  Information Coordinator

Happy New Year!

We have just celebrated our Savior’s birth in our advent season.  My favorite part this year was the series of sermons that our church was given on John 3:16.  A video that was played, has replayed in my mind over and over.

This is what it said:

For God                      The Greatest Good
So Loved                    The Greatest Action
The World                   The Greatest Need
That He Gave             The Greatest Example
His Only Son              The Greatest Sacrifice
For Whoever               The Greatest Invitation
Believes In Him           The Greatest Response
Shall Not Perish         The Greatest Horror
But Have Eternal Life  The Greatest Gift
John 3:16                     The Greatest Promise

As we have spent much time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ we now need to make a plan for the New Year.  Many times the gift that has been received loses its excitement and is laid on a shelf or buried under other gifts. If we value a gift, it is something we will wear often, play often and use often.  We let others use it, or in some cases if it is a kitchen gadget we prepare items to share with others.  God has given us this time to enjoy His gift.  Let us not forget that it is a gift that can be shared not just once for ourselves.  It is a gift that fits everyone.

Have you made a plan this year to share the Greatest Gift in all the world?  I would love to hear how you are sharing this gift.  Are people able to see this gift in your life? Because He loves us we can know how to love others. Because He died for us we can live for Him. Because He has promised us eternal life we have hope to give.

Our Women’s Ministry Team has made prayerful plans for this each year.  For the first time since I have been on the team we are experiencing a real need for our budget.  We have planned to give the Pastors' wives the gift of encouragement and time to share with fellow ministry wives.  The Pastor is giving out the gift of Jesus each day. The Pastor and his wife experience what each of us may experience; health issues, financial issues, trials, temptations.  They have an added responsibility to be a partner with the Pastor of your congregation. Many times this can add the joys, heartaches, trials, and celebrations, but can leave very little time for themselves.

Please join with us in sharing this gift.

Pacific Region-North Sept-Oct. Fall Retreat summary available here

Central Region June Annual Meeting photos and summary available here

Your church should now have two training DVDs from Women's Ministries! A DVD of our Leadership Training Conference I (LTC I) was distributed to each CLB women's group in 2008, and LTC2 in 2010. Each DVD contains:
1. An introduction to Women's Ministries (under 5 minutes) by our Director, Ruth Vallevik (different intros for each LTCI and LT2I)
2. All of the sessions from the Leadership Training Conference I on DVD 1; All of the sessions from the Leadership Training Conference 2 on DVD 2.
    You can hold a mini-training session of your own! Watch a couple of sessions on a Saturday morning with a few friends, some pastries, and your favorite beverage! They have been used in Adult Sunday School classes as well.
    Thanks to Micah Nordtvedt for taping and editing the live workshop sessions at Everett, Washington.   
    Download the hand-out materials which accompany the LTC I  and LTC II training sessions here