10th
Northwestern Ohio
Synodical Women’s Organization
Convention
July
18 & 19, 2003
French Quarter in Perrysburg, Ohio
Theme:
"Listen, God is Calling: Awaken, Accept, Act as
You are Gifted"
In Memoriam: We awakened to God's
Call, we acted boldly, but most especially we mourned the lose of our dear
president, Pat Hirschfeld, who died two days before the start of the
convention. She had battled several health problems for some time, but had
fought bravely on and was determined to be at the convention. I talked to
her about the workshop we were planning on our Tanzania trip last fall,
just the day before she landed in the hospital in a coma the week before
the convention. Because she had missed recent board meetings, our Vice
President Mary was pretty much on top of things for the convention, and
did a marvelous job, stepping up to the plate to lead our convention. Pat
had written her final convention report which you can read by clicking
here.
We all felt her presence as her report was read and those at the workshop
watched video excerpts taken when we were in Tanzania. She was a true
leader in her remarkable four years in office, hosting visitors
from Tanzania (who came at her invitation), the Hekima Project
in Dodoma Tanzania, initiated and supported by our women, and then our
trip to Dodoma, where she was truly the honored guest. We are missing
her greatly.
Kris Johnson, Web master
Our convention theme was based on the 2002 Triennial Gathering theme and has been further developed into three parts: Awaken, Accept and Act. When we listen to God’s call, He reveals himself to us and we are Awakened to the reality of his love. We recognize the gracious blessings he gives us daily, and we Accept what it means to be a child of God. We are drawn to His holy Son, Jesus Christ and we are called to be like Him, to love one another, reaching out to those in need. We Act out our faith by serving Him with joy.
Theme Verses:
Awaken: Ephesians 5:13b - 14 RSV
"…For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said ’Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.’ "
Accept: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 RSV
"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you Accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers."
Act: Roman 12 (verses 6 - 8) RSV
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophesy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortations; he who contributes, in his liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does Acts of mercy with cheerfulness."
Convention Goals:
1. To conduct the business of the Northwestern Ohio Synodical
Women's Organization;
2. To Awaken participants to the gracious love of Christ as He
reveals Himself to us;
3. To unveil to participants what it means to be a child of God,
enabling them to Accept the responsibilities associated with this holy
relationship.
4. To show participants how God has provided unique gifts to each
one of us, and in gratitude, how we are called to use them for Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior;
5. To encourage participants to Act out their faith by loving one
another, reaching out to those in need and serving Him in love with joy.
Convention Accomplishments:
Resolutions
Passed
*********************************
Pat Hirshfeld
