During the school year, the women of CCC meet weekly for
Friday morning Bible study. We were blessed to begin 2005 with “Beloved
Disciple” by Beth Moore, as well as “Women Who Believed God” prior to our
summer break. Both studies through God’s Word showed us that even 2,000 years
later, His Word still applies in our lives and gives us the urge to seek Him
even more.
For the past three summers, to assist our moms and/or
childcare givers and their children, we have planned a “Summer Daze” calendar,
consisting of pool, park and beach days, as well as information on free movies
in the area. This pre-arranged summer calendar gives children and adults an
opportunity to stay connected with each other during the hot summer months.
In
There is so much more to say regarding the women of CCC but
so little space except Praise God for the women of
***
Want to offer a Bible
Study but can’t afford one?
As we seek to spur one another on to know Christ better, we
desire to also help one another acquire and share the resources that have
helped us. Women’s Ministries is establishing a “Resource Lending Library”. The
goal is to promote the sharing of our resources among local churches. Once the
Library has been established, a listing of those resources will be available to
choose from. If you see an item you would like to use for a Bible study, you
can contact the Librarian who will then put you in touch with the church which
owns the Resource. You may borrow the item from that church and when you are
finished you return it to the original owner, paying only postage costs.
Additional information about this new resource for women is posted on our
website www.wmclb.com under “Resources”.
If you have resources you’d like to share, whether books,
videos, or tapes, we’d like to hear from you. Let’s partner with each other to
reach more women for Him!
If you’d like to share your resources, include your church
name, address, telephone number, email, and a contact person. List the title,
author, publication date, and media type and any other important information
about the resource. Mail this information to Carol Andersen,
In the comfortable, cushioned, air-conditioned seating of
the Senum-Thompson auditorium on the Tuscarora Inn and
So what happened?
Suzi Kallam spoke with southern charm, rooted in a northern
upbringing, identifying well with her audience. The theme, “Lead me O Lord, in
your righteousness” (Psalm 5:8) was a fitting prelude to the CLBA convention
which would begin the following day, with the theme “Lead On.”
“I have nothing to say; He
has everything to say!” was Suzi Kallam’s emphasis in both her main session,
and her afternoon seminar. Using Biblical examples, she contrasted her own
stubbornness, and
Practical afternoon seminars continued to provide helpful tips
to local leaders, as well as bring welcome inspiration. Conflict Resolution by
Lillian Foss, Bible Study by Janet Spencer, Programming tips by
The long-awaited Women’s Ministries Handbook was talked about by many as a priceless tool. Offered free to every group who sent representatives to be trained, interested individuals also bought their own for $25. The free Annual Report booklet (given to each woman attending, and to each local group) was hole-punched this year, so it can be easily placed into our Handbooks providing current information about World Missionaries and Home Mission families and the current projects we support.
Business included the re-election of
Several missionaries, including Pam Helland and Bonita Nordaas shared in an interview format, the joys and challenges of mission work, how God can be seen at work preparing people’s hearts, even though they haven’t responded in faith yet, and the difficulties of living a Christian life in a non-Christian culture. Let’s continue to uphold each of our missionaries and their families in prayer.
A delicious buffet lunch in the spacious
Plans for the future are already being made. Join us next year,
Hello, my name is Tresa Myers. I am married to Richard
Myers, and we enjoy the blessing of three children: Dina, Lauren and Aaron. We
live in the
I have been involved in many ministries at
God has greatly expanded what I do in ministry over this
past year. I had the privilege of working with the Anne Graham Lotz (Billy
Graham’s daughter) ministry in bringing “Just Give Me Jesus” to the
What an awesome joy and privilege I have! In this short year
I have witnessed the love of Jesus though the mentors and many women of the
Church of the Lutheran Brethren as they guide and pray me through this
wonderful ministry. As I work with these women and go to other Lutheran
Brethren Churches, I have noticed that the love that I feel for my home church,
Blessings,
I am Rachel (Lynnes) Patterson and am married to
I had the awesome opportunity to be a part of the Lutheran
Brethren's first summer mission trip in 1996. I spent about a month in
I have been praying and pondering this western district
opportunity since last fall. I had pushed it to the side and now really see the
Lord directing me into this adventure with Christ and all of you! My husband is
100% behind me! I look forward to seeing you all in the near future!
As April arrives, and the last chance for us to give toward our WMCLB 2004-2005 projects, here are a couple of testimonials from recipients of two of our projects for this year. (check our website www.wmclb.com for descriptions of all of the current projects)
Pastor’s Wives
Refreshed at Retreat
"Lead me beside the water so still...
Let me catch my breath.
Let me drink my fill...
Let me lie in fields of green, where only gentle breezes
blow.
I'll reach out my empty hands for the cup that overflows.
Restore my soul, Restore my soul." (RESTORE by Sherri
Youngwood)
These lyrics reflect the spirit of a retreat shared by the Eastern District pastors' wives last summer. For years, Tuscarora has generously given the district pastors, and their families, a week to come away together…to be restored. This past August, the National WMCLB added a unique blessing to that week, a spiritual oasis designed specifically for the wives.
How often haven't our hearts cried out for the Lord's
filling, yet we don't sit still long enough to receive it? Kathy Wile quietly
helped us unwrap a special gift - a gift of time
– time to be alone with the Spirit, time to be filled with the Word, and
time together to pray for, and love each other. We were led to our Lord – who
gently filled our empty hands with His cup of hope and healing. Thanks to God,
who prompted the WMCLB to provide such a time to be restored!
-Ruth Christenson,
wife of Pastor Dan Christenson, Bunker Hill LBC,
Seminary Wives Take
Seminary Courses
Thank You! It was
so nice to be able to get out of the house (without the children) and study
God’s Word. I was able to take two classes, World Religion, and Spiritual Care.
I learned a lot of information that will help me at the present time and
future. Renee and Rebekah Henrickson were kind enough to babysit the children
while we were in class. They were also a blessing. Thank you for your continued
support and prayers for the seminary wives and our families. May God continue
to bless your ministry and you and your families. Thank you again!
-Love in Christ, Karen
Osborne, wife of seminarian Shawn Osborne
WMCLB Handbook
Complete, Distributed at Training Workshops
The long-awaited resource for women’s groups is now
available. Chloe Koslowsky, Director of Women’s Ministries and the National
Women’s Ministry Team were guests of the Pacific Southwest District Women’s
Workshop "Energize Your Ministry”
In the early 1990’s Sidney
Women’s Missionary Fellowship underwent an in-depth self-evaluation and
revamping. The following four objectives were seen as top priorities:
Over the next year or so the
whole face of WMF changed. Every woman was contacted and invited to join one of
four Caring and Sharing Groups. The
function of these groups was multifold. Each one was a Bible study group, a
service group, and a ministry group. Each one met on different days and time of
day as well as number of times during the month.
The function of these groups
has changed somewhat since then but they have evolved to meet the needs of
unique groups of women. One appeals to young women with small children and
meets weekly, one meets at the local assisted living complex twice a month as
an outreach Bible Study, one meets weekly during the noon hour, and one meets
monthly in the evenings.
Two years ago we established
Ministry groups that replaced our standing committees, some of which are
Missions, Grief, Sunshine, Special Events, Decorating, and Nursery. Women are
encouraged to be involved in one of these ministries and each group is
encouraged to develop the ministry with creativity and with the needs of our
women and families in mind. Almost everything SLBC women do is under the
umbrella of Women’s Ministries (WM). This seems to work very well. There are
challenges to overcome and readjustments to make as people and circumstances
change but we are blessed with very accommodating women. We seek to honor God
in all we do.
New this year is that our
executive board meets monthly, and all of the ministry leaders meet with the
executive board quarterly. We are trying to make those meetings educational as
well as inspirational. Fellowship time is also important at these events. The WM
chairman contacts the ministry leaders between quarterly meetings to encourage
and hear any concerns. We are also embracing the tool of e-mail to improve
communication. This tool has improved the time for corrections and approval of
minutes from a month to a week. This also keeps ministry leaders current. Hard copies
are still available to anyone who wants one. One thing we haven’t done well yet
is to replicate ourselves. We still have the same number of groups and almost
all of the same leaders.
To give you a feel for our
ministry here is an example of our last quarterly meeting. One of our young
women shared a Power Point presentation about her experiences serving on a
medical mission team as a pharmacist in