Programs and activities of Women of the ELCA are organized around three mission areas. Most programs and activities represent more than one mission and constitute a balanced effort. Together, these mission areas provide a holistic approach to living the gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s world; they provide opportunities for women to grow in faith and mission.
MISSION COMMUNITY
Christian Women of the ELCA are bound together by their faith and are called by God to reach out and share their faith experience with their immediate community and the global community. Here are some ideas, and some other ideas.
Affirm Women's Gifts
Promote Community
Christmas Events
Encourage Cross-Cultural Programming
Plan Ecumenical Programming
Communicate In Your Local Unit
Spread Stewardship Ideas
Support Thankofferings
Post Volunteer Opportunities
Be part of Worship
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In Your Local Unit
- Be a Communications Person -- take responsibility for regularly updating your women’s bulletin board or their displays. Also, get notices for events in the newsletter or Sunday bulletin.
Ecumenical Programming
- WORLD DAY OF PRAYER is an international event that bonds Christian women of many denominations and faiths in a simultaneously observed day of prayer for peace and justice. Held the first Friday in March. If you cannot get a group together in your church do this as a family or just by yourself. Set a quiet time of prayer where each member prays for those in need for peace and other concerns. Jot down ahead of time your thoughts and things you will pray about.
- CHURCH WOMEN UNITED is a national ecumenical movement that brings
Protestant, Roman Catholic Orthodox and other Christian women together
into one community of prayer advocacy and service. Our women of the ELCA
support it financially. Church Women United has a 5 year commitment to
use their resources to eliminate the root causes of poverty of women and
children.
For general information on CWU or to identify a local coordinator contact: CHURCH WOMEN UNITED, 475 Riverside Dr. Room 812, New York, NY 10115 or 1-212-870-2347
- Unite with other churches in your area for a program to prepare yourself for Christmas. Have a salad/dessert and tea sandwiches before program of singing, skit, etc. on the birth of Christ. Offerings from this event could go to your area Christmas project for the needy.
- What better way to get to see faith in action than to have a Sunday where groups of women visit other churches in the area and have others visit your congregation. Getting to know these people better and doing community projects together can make for a better and more closely knit community.
Cross-Cultural Programming
- Have speaker of other Ethnic groups than your own, speak at your women’s events. Offering from any of this type of program could go to support the area they work with.
- Participate in "Anti-Racism" training. Although we don't like to think racism is a problem for us, with increased awareness we realize how pervasive racism is in our society and take action to counteract it and demonstrate God's love.
- At the beginning of the year tell your women about Thankofferings. This is one way to involve all women of your congregation. As Christian women we do have many things to be thankful for. Encourage all women to set aside even a small amount as good things happen to them. These offerings will help to bring happiness to those less fortunate than we are. Let your women know how these offerings will be distributed.
- At this time invite inactive women to one of your next unit meetings. TAKE one to your meeting.
- If possible have the women’s unit plan and conduct the service at which these Thankofferings are received. Resources for planning your Thankoffering service can be found in the Stewardship Resource packet.
Celebrate and affirm women’s gifts. "The Gift Series" from Augsburg Fortress would be an excellent series to provide opportunities for group reflection and growth.
- Gifted in Stability
- Gifted to Listen
- Gifted to Love
- Gifted with Tears and Laughter
- Gifted with Friendship
We are called to be good stewards of everything that God has given us, ourselves, our families, friends, our church, community, and the entire environment.
Some ideas for doing this:
- Take care of your health, share your talents, grow in faith.
- Share relationships with family & friends (write a note, take flowers to a shut-in, make a call to someone not able to drive or get out).
- Share ideas with others.
- Recycle in your home, church, community. If money is available from recycling use the money for community projects or mission projects of the church.
- Use less paper. Purchase recycled paper products.
- Use regular dishes and wash then rather than using disposable dishes.
- Purchase items designed to have little leftover trash.
- Do more with less.
- Learn to compost. Use the compost in your garden
- Pray daily for conservation of our earth.
- Does your church have a group to support those who lost a loved one?
- Make Quilts for Lutheran World Relief.
- Have birthday parties for those confined to a church, county, or private nursing home.
- Support kitchens for the poor.
- Drive elderly to services.
- Plant and care for flowers for elderly in their home.
- Read the newspapers to those with failing eyesight.
- Have a plate of cookies or a loaf of homemade bread of some kind for visitors at your services.
- Pick up a few groceries for those who fear driving in wintry weather or are unable to go out in the heat of summer.
- Can you come up with more? YES ! ! !
- Re-examine gifts you have. Are you using them to the full extent God expects?
Stewardship Resource Packet
Next year's Stewardship Resource Packet is sent to your church office in September
or October of this year. Tell your church secretary to be on the lookout for it and give it to your
unit president. If you did not receive your packet, call Women of the ELCA,
800/638-3522, ext. 2730, to ask for a new packet. Many of these
materials, including the Thankoffering Service, are available at the Women
of ELCA Website at http://www.womenoftheelca.org/resources/topical.html
** If you have other suggestions or know of things you are doing in your church you would like to tell us about please contact us through our e-mail address NWOSWO