Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

This symbol - with the cross, water and a white lily - identifies the women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as children of God: baptized, forgiven, adopted into God's family, full of grace and hope in eternal life.  It is a reminder of the growth, beauty and vitality that rise out of that life-giving baptismal water.  The symbol also reminds us of the mission of the Church to "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

OUR PURPOSE

As a community of women CREATED in the image of God, CALLED to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit, We commit ourselves to GROW in faith, AFFIRM our gifts, SUPPORT one another in our callings, ENGAGE in ministry and action, and PROMOTE healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall consist of those women who express their willingness to subscribe to the purpose of the Women of the ELCA.

MEETINGS

The Women of the ELCA Circle Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month, from September through June. The General Meetings are held three times a year. Visitors are most cordially invited to attend.

BIBLE STUDY & BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

The Bible study preparation, led by Anne Lee, begins at 7 p.m. on the last Monday of the month. When that day is directly before the first day of the month, then Bible study preparation is the previous Monday. With one exception, the March meeting will be held on the second to last Monday since most school districts will be on spring break the last week in March.

Board meetings convene at 8 p.m. following the Bible study preparation.

• August 28
• September 25
• October 30
• November 27
• January 29
• February 26
• March 19
• April 23

BOARD MEMBERS 2006- 07

PRESIDENT: Cindy Alworth alworth@sbcglobal.net

VICE-PRESIDENT:

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Debby Klapmeier eklapmeier@sbcglobal.net

BOARD ADVISOR: Pastor Jeff Fricke

CIRCLE LEADERS:

• ABIGAIL Cathy Paydon kidney00@worldnet.att.net and Cheryl Lippold
• ESTHER Shannon Bell shanpas@aol.com and Kara Brauer akbrauer1@netzero.com
• HANNAH Kathy Coyner kdcoyner@yahoo.com and Julie Brown juliebrn81@aol.com
• MIRIAM Janet Olson olsonthomas@sbcglobal.net and Jan Brothers rbroth7760@aol.com
• NAOMI Sharon Booth d-booth@sbcglobal.net and Olive Leckbee oleckbee@aol.com
• PRISCILLA Cindy Alworth alworth@sbcglobal.net and Jennifer Gill jagmarq91@sbcglobal.net
• RUTH Donna Beach

Women's Circle Information

Evening Circles

ABIGAIL EVENING

• Co-Leaders: Cheryl Lippold & Cathy Paydon
• Serving: Spring Brunch
• Responsibility: Prayer-based College Care.
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in members’ homes or at church at 6:30 p.m. for a light supper followed by Bible study beginning at 7:15 p.m.

ESTHER EVENING

• Co-Leaders: Shannon Bell & Kara Brauer
• Serving: Advent Buffet
• Responsibility: Nursery and Busy Bags
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in members’ homes at 7 p.m.; Bible study begins at 7:30 p.m.

HANNAH EVENING

• Co-Leaders: Kathy Coyner kdcoyner@yahoo.com and Julie Brown juliebrn81@aol.com
• Serving: Advent Buffet
• Responsibility: Fireside Lounge Kitchenette & Education Hall Kitchenette
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month at Church at 7:15 p.m.; Bible study begins at 7:30 p.m.

NAOMI EVENING

• Co-Leaders: Sharon Booth d-booth@sbcglobal.net and Olive Leckbee oleckbee@aol.com
• Serving: Winter Retreat
• Responsibility: Main Kitchen
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in members' homes or at church at 6:30 p.m.

Afternoon Circles

MIRIAM AFTERNOON

• Co-Leaders: Janet Olson olsonthomas@sbcglobal.net and Jan Brothers rbroth7760@aol.com
• Serving: Winter Retreat
• Responsibility: Bethel Share
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in Education Hall at 12:30 p.m. for a luncheon & Bible study.

Morning Circles

PRISCILLA MORNING

• Co-Leaders: Cindy Alworth alworth@sbcglobal.net and Jennifer Gill jagmarq91@sbcglobal.net
• Serving: Spring Brunch
• Responsibility: Nursery & Busy Bags for Young Children during Church Services
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in the Fireside Lounge/Library at 9:00 a.m. A babysitter is provided.

RUTH MORNING

• Leader: Donna Beach
• Responsibility: Lazarus House
• Meets: First Tuesday of the month in Education Hall at 10:00 a.m.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE 2006 – 07

December 5 - Advent Buffet hosted by Hannah and Esther Circle

February 24 - Winter Retreat hosted by Naomi and Miriam Circle

April 21 - Spring Brunch hosted by Priscilla and Abigail Circle

May 22 - Joint Board Picnic - Home of Cindy Alworth

HISTORY

1. A new women's organization was formed on March 1, 1959, as Augustana Lutheran Church Women.
2. On January 1, 1963, the Augustana Lutheran Church Women became Lutheran Church Women with the merger of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, Suomi Synod, United Lutheran Church and Augustana Lutheran Church to form the Lutheran Church in America.
3. On January 1, 1988, with the merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Church Women became the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or Women of the ELCA.

PAST PRESIDENTS

1959-1961 Genevieve Wilson
1961-1963 Jane Petersen
1963-1964 Hildegard Hildebrandt
1964-1966 Ruth Johnson
1966-1967 Betty Clauson
1967-1968 Margaret Peterson
1968-1969 Phyllis Turner
1969-1970 Jenny Beeh
1970-1971 Loretta Birtwistle
1971-1972 Lorraine Kautz
1972-1973 Carol Walberg
1973-1974 Charlotte Carlson
1974-1975 Carmen Briggs
1975-1976 Jan Faulkner
1976-1977 Jacqueline Upham
1977-1978 Genevieve Wilson
1978-1979 Susannah Hart
1979-1980 Betty Krusell
1980-1981 Marlene Pawlowski
1981-1982 Paula Nord
1982-1983 Marjorie Peterson
1983-1985 Nancy Schlefsky
1985-1986 Lynn Landberg
1986-1987 Lynette Niequist
1987-1988 Louise Von Hoff
1988-1989 Cheryl Weber
1989-1990 Ellen Chrisler
1990-1991 Trish Entyre-Zacher
1991-1992 Kirsten Snodgrass
1992-1993 Cathy Gross
1993-1994 Carole Phipps
1994-1995 Suzanne Heronemus
1995-1996 Mim Zeddies
1996-1997 Nancy Deppe
1997-1998 Ruth Rose
1998-1999 Erica Parnisari
1999-2000 Leslie Kling
2000-2001 Suzanne Heronemus
2001-2002 Amy Crosby
2002-2003 Andrea Lee-Harshbarger
2003-2004 Mary-Jo Martin
2004-2005 Julie Brown
2005-2006 Connie Seavey

BETHLEHEM CIRCLE NAMESAKE HISTORIES

ABIGAIL

Abigail was the best of David's wives, being very clever and steadfast. She first encountered David, who was traveling in the wilderness, while still married to Nabal. When Nabal refused to contribute anything to David and his escape of King Saul, Abigail wisely brought gifts to David on her own to save Nabal from being killed by David. When she eventually told Nabal what she had done, he suffered a heart attack and died 10 days later. David seized the opportunity to marry Abigail and flee to Gath. Later, Abigail was taken prisoner and rescued by David. This sharp, self-renouncing, sensible and brave woman bore David a son. We feel she offers something to all of us.

ESTHER

Esther was a beautiful Jewish woman and the cousin of Mordecai. Ahasuerus, the king of the Persians, took Esther as his queen, not knowing she was a Jew. Mordecai, one of the king’s officials, never would bow before him as the other officials would and he was seen as a troublemaker. Haman, the king’s evil minister, plotted to annihilate Mordecai and all Jews by issuing a decree of execution in the king’s name. Esther decided to intervene and invited both men to a banquet in order to reveal Haman’s plot to Ahasuerus and plead for the life of her people. The king was greatly angered and ordered Haman’s death. Because of Esther’s courage and intelligence, she saved her cousin and her people. This is known as the Banquet of Purim and is still celebrated by Jewish people today.

HANNAH

Hannah, who grieved deeply over being childless, prayed for children while on a pilgrimage. She was encouraged by the chief priest, Eli, that the Lord would, indeed, grant her prayer. Upon giving birth to her first son, she named him Samuel, which means "the Lord heard". When Samuel was old enough, Hannah left him with Eli to fulfill her original promise to God that she would give her first-born to Him. Hannah had five other children, but never forgot Samuel. She visited with him and brought him a special coat at every annual pilgrimage. The women of Hannah Circle, a wonderful mix of single and married women who work full- and part-time both inside and outside of the home, strive to follow Hannah’s example of loyal service to God and great love for her family.

MIRIAM

Miriam, the older sister of Moses and Aaron, watched over baby Moses as he floated down the river in a basket until he was found by the Pharaoh’s daughter. It was Miriam who arranged for her mother to serve as wetnurse for Moses. As Miriam grew older, she was given the gift of prophecy and held a high place in the temple of her people. When the Hebrews were saved at the Red Sea, she led the women in a ceremonial dance and song of gratitude. Unfortunately, Miriam, an intelligent and resourceful woman, turned against Moses because of her jealousy of his leadership and her anger over his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. This so angered the Lord that He gave Miriam leprosy and the Exodus was delayed until Moses interceded for her with God. She was cured and lived the rest of her days as a help to her people, dying an old woman the last year the Hebrews were in the desert. Her repentance and rededication to God and her people are an inspiration to women of all ages.

NAOMI

Naomi, with her husband and two sons, moved to Moab to escape the famine of Bethlehem and pursue a better life. When the famine had ended, and with her husband and sons dead, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Though she encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland, one of them, Ruth, chose to stay with Naomi. Once back in Bethlehem, Naomi watched over Ruth with love and encouraged her to work in the fields out of concern for Ruth's happiness and security. Her good advice to Ruth led to the young woman's marriage to the owner of the field. Later, Naomi cared for their son, Obed, grandfather of David. Our Circle members identify with these aspects of Naomi's story: that our relationship with each other is the "glue" binding our Circle together; that we serve as care-givers for each other - some of our members are Stephen Ministers; that we are planners - we enjoy serving our church family; and that we are in mid-life with most of us between 40 and 60 years old with our children primarily raised. Some of us, like Naomi, are without spouses. We appreciate Naomi's kindness, bravery, endurance, perseverance, assertiveness, common sense and goal orientation.

PRISCILLA

Priscilla, known throughout Christendom, was, perhaps, one of the most influential women in the early Christian Church. Like many women of her day, she managed a devout, peaceful home and worked with her husband, Aquila, as a tent-weaver. Yet, despite her commitment to these activities, Priscilla was still able to devote time to thoroughly study and willingly spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a close friend of Paul, serving alongside him and Timothy, she and Aquila established a congregation that met in their house in Ephesus. In addition, Priscilla taught Apollos, deepening his knowledge of the Christian faith. As a leader and evangelist of the early Church, Priscilla inspires us to commit ourselves to learn and spread the gospel and to balance this with the time we devote to our children, our husbands and our work. She guides us to create our homes as places where people can come to know and witness the faith. And she motivates us to use our talents as leaders of our Church.

RUTH

Ruth, a Moabite woman, was an ambitious, loyal, determined, caring and faith-filled person. She heard much about God from her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth learned to believe in God's loving kindness and had a strong desire to know more of Him. Her sense of duty led her to remain with Naomi and leave her own homeland, even though her husband had died. She was surely a helpful companion to Naomi as they made the possibly hazardous trip back to Bethlehem. When they arrived there, Ruth immediately went to work in the fields to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. The owner of the field, Boaz, a well-to-do relative of her late father-in-law, looked out for Ruth, gave her food and ensured her safety. On Naomi's advice, Ruth lay at Boaz's feet as he slept on the threshing floor after the winnowing of the barley. Boaz was so impressed by her virtue and dedication that he married her. Together, they carried on the family line, which later included David and Jesus. If Ruth lived here today, there would, no doubt, be many responsibilities at Bethlehem in which she'd be involved.