LWML e-News #38 This is a busy time for God's church and especially for LWML women, but as someone once said, "To walk with God, we must make it a practice to talk with God." The LWML has made prayer a priority as we pause every Monday at noon to pray as Lutheran Women in Mission. Join with us! Evening and morning and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17 (NKJV) Heavenly Father, thank You for having Your door of prayer always open for me. You invite me to come in and share everything You have to offer. I thank You that You promise to hear me when I pray. Today I remember all mothers as this month we celebrate their special day. Thank You, Lord, for Christian mothers who teach their children to love and serve You. I remember those believers who have walked through Your open door to eternity. Grant me faith to follow in their footsteps. And, dear Lord, I ask that You shower Your blessings on the recipients of our LWML mission grants. May each one continue to demonstrate Your love to those they serve. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen. CONVENTIONS So far this year, hundreds of LWML sisters have prayed and praised together at 13 district conventions. They were: Atlantic: An upbeat convention with the theme "Christ Behind Me, Beside Me, Before Me." Maureen Consiglio was elected for a full four-year term after completing the term of Joan McHugh, who died in office. CNH: Thank you, President Kathie Lindquist and welcome to new President Sandra Haugner. Treasurer Louise Rickey inspired and encouraged the YWRs, and a history making decision was made to have biennial conventions starting in 2008! English: Thank you, Deaconess Sylvia Johnson for your services as DP and welcome new President Connie Johnson. Mission speaker Ricky Jacobs, Jan Struck and Bible study leader Rev. David Bernthal blessed the convention. Gulf States: Thank you, DP Judith Lessmann and welcome to new President Bea Dailey. The Rev. Dr. Jotham Johann Jhang was the keynoter and Dr. Eric Lessmann (Judy's son) gave his testimony of recovery from a terrible car accident four years ago. Kansas: One hundred of the 503 attendees were first-timers, two new societies received charters at convention, 22 YWRs attended and Judy Carlson chaired a great weekend in the Sunflower State at Salina! LA-MS: President Marcia Wittenburg hoped to have 70 attend and they had 105! The following story tells how this Conference of Joy was truly a healing and special gathering for these women: In attendance was a spouse whose home had become unlivable due to Hurricane Katrina. He kept Mite Boxes on his dresser and filled them. After the hurricane, there were his coins from the Mite Boxes. The boxes were gone, but the coins were there. Someone on the clean-up crew got his coins and gave them to him. He knew that he had to bring those coins, which amounted to a goodly sum, to the convention and give them to the district since they were meant for the work of the LWML. Montana: DP Pam Kercher and the other district officers put Plan B into motion when the keynote speaker and banquet speaker couldn't attend; other speakers/officers stepped in to make this a memorable convention. There were many first-timers in the largest attendance ever. New England: DP Dorothy Pettit Weise chaired her first convention with a record attendance of 151! Rev. Barry Keurulainen spoke and his brother, District President James Keurulainen had a Bible Study which was excellent as well. New Jersey: A convention highlight was the presentation of a new society charter to an African Immigrant group from Liberia. Great mission speakers and teen group possibilities added joy and excitement to the convention. Oklahoma: Celebrating a record attendance of 358, they voted to send $10,000 for national mites, as they had exceeded their own goal. They had teens, YWRs and Hispanic sisters in attendance as well as 26 pastors! Patti Ross did a wonderful job as chair. SELC: President Ann Bajus' health did not permit her to attend and VP Dorien Mattle stepped in on short notice. Convention was held at the Lutheran Haven Retirement Center in Oveida, Fla. On May 18, DP Ann Havir Bajus was called by the Lord to her eternal rest. We praise the Lord for His grace and goodness in her life, His promise of the Resurrection and her wonderful service to the LWML. South Dakota: With 234 in attendance and 48 first-timers, Dianne Diekmann had the opportunity to create enthusiasm for workers for the 2007 LWML convention in Sioux Falls. They also had 15 YWRs and added a financial secretary through a bylaw change. Utah-Idaho: Thank you DP Sherrie Prien and welcome new president, Melody Rosenwinkel. Utah-Idaho had a possible record number in attendance at 167, 32 first-timers and 11 YWRs. The district added a financial secretary through bylaw changes. CONGRATS! Deaconess Betty Knapp was presented the Master Educator Award on May 6 at commencement services at Concordia Seward. Betty is currently chairman of the Mustard Seeds Task Force and has given years of service to LWML in other areas. This award is presented to teachers, DCEs and school administrators who have distinguished themselves through prolonged service in educational ministry and who typify the many superior educators in our congregations. We thank God for blessing Betty with a heart for service, a love for her Lord and sharing her many gifts and talents with the church and each of us in the LWML! CALLS In addition to learning of their vicarage and pastoral calls this spring at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, seminarians received encouragement and warm wishes from the LWML. Before hosting a reception, LWML President Linda Reiser and Public Relations Director Bev England attended a chapel service, where President Linda assured the group of the prayers that would be with them in the days and months ahead. The seminarians showed their appreciation of the help they have received through scholarships and prayers from local and district LWML groups. MISSION GOAL UPDATE Mites received for the first half of the 2005-2007 biennium (March 31, 2006) were $769,340.86 or 47 percent of the mission goal of $1,625,000. The monthly average amount needed for the same 12 months is $812,500. Monthly receipts since the last update are: December 31, 2005: $48,812.33 January 31, 2006: $91,559.22 February 28, 2006: $171,963.08 March 31, 2006: $56,466.13 Visit http://www.lwml.org/mission/index_mission.html for more information. THE LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), with a membership of over 250,000, is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The LWML focuses on affirming each woman in her relationship with Christ to enable her to be in ministry among the people of the world. For over 60 years the LWML has been encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to financially support global mission. The first issues of LWML e-News are available as text documents; click here: http://www.lwml.org/e_news.html. To subscribe, click the link below and follow instructions to add your email to the LWML subscription list under "Mission and Ministry." "Full Text Version" will include LWML graphics and logo. The "Weekly Summary" version comes on Friday in a weekly abbreviated version with links to the entire text without graphics. 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