Fire-Storm!

Fire is a devastating but different storm of life. Dorothy Koschmann, Malvern, PA is the former President of the Eastern LWML District. She shares, Last fall when fires were raging in California, the members of Christ Memorial learned that the granddaughter/niece of a member had lost her home and all earthly possessions. Prayer support came first for the Nelson family who had a four-week old daughter and a two-year-old son. The entire congregation was asked to donate gift cards or monetary gifts. Also, in lieu of sending Christmas cards to our own members, we tie a greeting to our small tree and donate gifts of money that would have been spent on cards and postage to help those in need. We were overjoyed to send a generous monetary gift to the Nelsons in January. Dorothy reports that the family now resides in Georgia where they are rebuilding their lives and building a new house.

Use the idea of the "card tree" to collect monetary gifts. Another idea is to make a large card collection box and ask a group to disperse the cards to individual mailboxes at the church (not all churches have them). Ask for donations of money that would have been spent on postage to help those who are weathering a "storm of life."

Thanksgiving All Year!

Thanksgiving happens once a year, but the members of the St. John's LWML, Yankton, SD, make it last all year long. Susan Buxcel writes, Our Rachel Circle makes goodie packages for the members of our church who are in college and the military, usually around Thanksgiving time. We pack each person's box with our special goodies along with devotions, a short prayer and/or poem from our circle. We then remember these people throughout the year in our prayers and cards. The members express thanks to the students for their work in college and also to the men and women of the military who have the difficult job of keeping our world a safe place to live and worship. Susan adds, It is our hope that Thanksgiving goes on for our circle members as well as our college and military members throughout the year!

Does your congregation have a support program for college students and/or military personnel? One congregation has been collecting and sending phone cards. Perhaps this is something your group could do.

Storm Equipment-Prayer

Whatever the storm may be, prayer is the best equipment for getting through it. One idea was sent in by Verna McMichael, Trinity LWML in Dewey, AZ. She writes, Trinity has recently added an e-mail prayer group. The message is sent to everyone on the list at once and no one needs to pass it on. An advantage is that the message is given directly so the information about the prayer request is immediately given to all. This is also a convenient way to involve more pray-ers.

The LWML at Zion in Rockville, MO chose to pray for one of their dear members for a whole month when she faced surgery and possible treatment for cancer. Joyce Klepel shares: We photocopied a blank calendar for the "difficult month" and assigned each member of LWML a day to pray for our sister in Christ, phone her, send a card or call her and pray on the phone with her. All faithfully followed through. At the end of the month, she reported joy and comfort from the many calls, cards, food and prayers. The calendar kept our love and prayers current.

Both of these ideas are innovative and are excellent helps when storms of life come our way.

Celebrations and Storms

Anniversaries are usually happy occasions, but getting there is not always easy. Much work and dedication goes into an enduring and successful organization. Recently, two groups in Texas celebrated anniversaries.

Trinity Ladies Circle in Houston, TX joyfully celebrated its 85th anniversary. Ethelene Marshall, president, writes, In 1891 the ladies of Trinity were given permission by the Voters Assembly (men only) to form an organization which was called "Frauenverein." In 1906 a second group, the Ladies Helping Hands was organized. These two groups joined together in 1918 to form the present Ladies Circle. Through the years this group has served the Lord in their congregation and the church at large.

The members of Concordia LWML, San Antonio, TX celebrated 50 years of service. Carol Reineck writes, It was unknown to all but God that Betty Turner, who chaired the event, and Barbara Merkens, a charter member and co-guest speaker, would both enter their eternal rest with the Lord only a few months after the golden anniversary event. Carol included a chronology of steps in planning and an outline of sequence of the program. It was indeed a glorious celebration.

If your group/congregation has an approaching anniversary and would like some planning information, contact Carol at Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Rd. San Antonio, TX 78258.

Christmas Calm

Ask and the LWML will answer! When asked to bring nativity sets for the convention in-gathering, the women of the Southern Illinois District generously responded. Joyce Aukamp, vice-president of Servant Resources, SID reports, there were 690 nativity sets collected as well as $315.00 to buy more as needed. The international students who attend Southern Illinois University-Carbondale will take a nativity set home to remind them about Jesus who came to earth in Bethlehem for their salvation.

Do you have international students in your area? Check to see if this would be a workable project for your group.

We Want You!

Who are you? LWML members-young, young at heart, board members, committee members-any members who write. Do you write? Have you written devotions, sketches, litanies? If you have written something that has been used for an LWML event or know of someone who has, we want you!

Who are we? We are the Christian Resources Editors Committee. We know that you, the membership, are looking for new, interesting, useful, Spirit-filled resources to use for your LWML and congregation's events. If you have attended a convention or retreat where an original sketch, devotion or litany inspired you and touched your heart, send it to us!

We have a new brochure, "Wanted: Willing Writers." Have you seen it? If not, please contact your district president or the LWML office for a copy.

The brochure gives more information about the who, what and where we are searching for. We look forward to hearing from you!