News You Can Use
by Linda Bailey

When people freely give of their God-given gifts of time and talents, they always make a difference. The following are just a few examples of serving the Lord with gladness through the LWML.

I'll Never Forget! Expressions of gratitude will linger in the hearts and minds of the Quilters of Trinity LWML in Elmore, MN. This group of ladies has given quilts to individuals at nursing homes, boys and girls at the Elmore Academy, LWR, Ronald McDonald House and King's Aid. Their most recent recipients are women at the Veronica House, Community Council for the Homeless of Friendship Place in the Palisades Community in Washington DC. Margaret Johnson writes, I knew of Veronica House because my daughter works as a fund-raiser for CCH, organizing walking marathons, church basement and yard sales. I'll never forget the expressions of the ladies who live at Veronica House!

Bethlehem Quilts The Quilters of Bethlehem Lutheran Church have been making a difference for many years in our faith family and our community, says Marla Johnson, Parish Nurse, Bethlehem in Carson City, NE. She adds, The quilts they have met weekly to make have been used to provide comfort to new mothers and babies at the Community Pregnancy Center, affirming their choice of life rather than abortion. The larger quilts have been sold to use the proceeds for remodeling the kitchen in the church and building the new kitchen in the school. These dedicated servants have truly made a big difference for their fellow members as well as the community.

Nothing Stops the Quilters Come weal or woe, ice or snow (or flooding) nothing can stop the devoted quilters. Barbara Purcell, St. John, Spokane, WA explains: A torrential rainstorm in May 2004 flooded the entire lower level of our church, including the quilters' domain. Although repair work has been maddeningly delayed, the quilting must go on! First all the material and equipment was hauled to the home of one of the quilters, where the work continued. Later everything was hauled back to the church, where we work in the cramped quarters of the church balcony behind the choir loft in three different rooms plus a hallway. Since other church groups are also deprived of their normal spaces and use these same areas, it means each work day we must set up, take down and store our stuff out of the way somewhere. But we are determined to carry on our quilts of love. Most of the quilts go to Lutheran World Relief, but quite a few find their way into the hands of needy families or people served by local shelters. Quilts are welcomed by many organizations in your local community. Contact various agencies for specific needs.

No Coincidence! There are no coincidences in God's plan. He brings people together to "make a difference' for His purpose. Ann Jedele, Winfield, KS, is a member of a teaching team through the volunteer mission programs of LCMS. She shares her experience: Our teaching team in Huaian, China went shopping attempting to purchase mint candies. We were having difficulty communicating to the clerk that we wanted "mint" flavor. A lovely young Chinese woman came up and asked if she could assist us. She did and we had our candy quickly. Seeing the cross I was wearing, she asked, "Are you Christians?" We quickly answered that we were! Juling had heard of Jesus and His love for all people and she wanted to know more. She attended Bible class, also went to church where she met the pastor and a young man who had become a Christian through the ESL program. Ann continues, We know that God's love does make a difference in the lives of so many people. My husband and I have completed four volunteer mission trips and have been blessed by the experiences-they have made a difference in our lives, too! If you are interested in a volunteer mission opportunity, contact the LCMS for information.

California Chrismons Are you looking for innovative Chrismon ideas and patterns? Gayle Tarr, Good Shepherd in Inglewood, CA was and she found just exactly that. During the PSW District Convention, Ida Mae Neuhart of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, CA displayed her beautiful handiwork. Gayle shares, Ida graciously opened her home to four members of Good Shepherd to join her in a class teaching us to make her beautiful Chrismons. It is hard to describe the rewarding and awesome experience each of us gained from our overnight stay with this amazing and talented Christian woman. She made samples of her beaded works of art and had packages for us to prepare our own individual ornaments. Ida, in her mid eighties, was the highlight of our stay. She delighted us with stories of her early childhood, her very interesting life as a wife of 62 years, her love of God and her ministry to women of the Lutheran Church. Many churches create and maintain Chrismons. If your church doesn't have a Chrismon Tree, now might be a good time to begin making or repairing Chrismons for next year's tree.

60 Years-Young America Young America, Minnesota, that is! St. John's LWML of Young America, MN celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a special service on LWML Sunday. Carolyn Durbin tells us: Thirty-five members are involved in quilting, volunteering at the local nursing homes and raising funds for mission projects. There are still two charter members who attend the meetings regularly. One of the women in the photo is wearing a green hat with flowers that her mother wore many years ago when she was an LWMLer. Celebrate the wonderful women of your congregation. Check out "Bouquet of Blessings." This is a short and different way to give recognition in which flowers are used to say thank you. Available in the LWML Catalog, #5429.