How are we doing so far? Check back for twice-a-month updates!

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

1 John 3:1a  "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God...."

  The adult Sunday School classes at Word of Life in Marysville, WA, are working our way through Timothy Keller's book The Prodigal God.  So often, we think of Jesus' parable in Luke 15 as a story of a wealthy man's younger son who demands his inheritance, squanders it, then comes to his senses, realizes his shame and decides to go back home and ask to work off his debt by becoming a hired man on his father's estate. We then see, as he approaches home, that his father has been watching for him to return, and joyfully RUNS to greet his wayward son!

  Often that has been where the story ends in some people's minds...the love of the father as he welcomes his son home. But...this younger son had an older brother who always did what was right, followed the rules, faithfully served the father, and was NOT happy about his brother's lavish reception upon his return home. His self-righteous attitude, and anger toward his brother and father for the literal high cost of forgiveness, kept him from being filled with the joy that overflowed in their father's heart. The father ran to his older son, too, asking him to come rejoice that his brother is now back in the family. But knowing that receiving his brother will eventually cost him part of his inheritance again, he would not bring himself to enter the festive celebration.

  Kellor points out that, at least in the beginning of the parable, neither son had truly loved their father just for who he was; each only desired what he could do for them.  

  Ouch. How often do we have the heart of a Pharisee, thinking our actions are what saves us, believing that our 'good' behavior makes us worthy of a reward from the Father?  (And how often in our hearts do we criticize others because they do not measure up to our standard of what we think loving the Father should be?)

  In the end, our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave freely of Himself...He sacrificially gave us His precious Son, Jesus, to carry the full weight of our sins, and the work is finished. It is enough. I cannot add to it. And the inheritance is full, too, for me and for you; the love you receive does not diminish what He lavishly pours out to me. 

  Love the Lord with all your heart; love your neighbor as yourself; share the love of Jesus freely, knowing there is a great celebration awaiting each of us at the end of this lifetime for all who are children of God!

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