Object-ively Speaking: Reaching Out to Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

Looking for a resource to involve adults in group home settings or those who are a part of your LWML group? Looking to start a Bible class in your congregation for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Object-ively Speaking is a new, free, downloadable resource for these special children of God. In this resource, object lessons are applied to a Bible verse or Bible account to help people grasp and relate to important Bible truths.

Object-ively Speaking takes common objects including a calendar, a star, a candy cane, and items of clothing to help people understand the Triune God and His work in our lives. Each object lesson includes a coloring page for the focus Bible verse. These object lessons can also be adapted for use in children’s messages for children ages four–eight.

The first 10 lessons in Object-ively Speaking are currently in production. Watch for their availability in the coming months.

Diane Grebing

Christian Life Committee
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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“Growing in God’s Grace”

As promised in the Winter 2024 Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly, registration is now open for the 41st Biennial Convention. The convention insert found in the Winter 2024 issue is packed with the plans and information for this convention.

The LWML Convention Programming Committee is praying that you will come to Omaha, Nebraska, for encouragement and inspiration to grow in grace to serve our Lord and proclaim His glory!

Come and hear how God is at work, be inspired to dig deeper into God’s Word, be nurtured to share the love of Christ with enthusiasm, and be encouraged to support missions and our mission goal with joy! Learn more and register at lwml.org/convention.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

See you in Omaha!

Kathy Pavelock

Vice President of Communication
2025 Convention Programming Committee Chairman
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Scripture Journaling During Lent

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

Ash Wednesday, which signals the beginning of Lent, is this week. This time in the church year we concentrate on our Savior’s sacrifice for our sins and culminating in the joyous resurrection on Easter. As a child, I did not enjoy the solemness of this season. It seemed the music was always sad and slow. I have since grown to love the words that express God’s great act of love and sacrifice.

Wanting to grow in my faith, I have since tried different ways to study God’s Word. A helpful tool offered by LWML is a Lenten journal to help you weave through the Scriptures and gain a deeper understanding of Christ’s love for us.

lwml.org/posts/free-resources/lenten-bible-jounaling

May your faith grow during this Lenten season.

Cheryl Mattil

Strategic Plan Facilitator
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Plans to give you hope!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

Does one of God’s plans for you include attending the 41st Biennial LWML Convention in Omaha? The convention theme is “Growing in God’s Grace”. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 ESV).

Have you read about the convention plans?

• Bible Studies
• Worship Services
• Mission Grant Selection
• Mission Impact Luncheons
• Mites in Action Speakers
• Gifts from the Heart Ingathering
• Bi-State Mission Walk
• Servant Activities and Blood Drive
• Exhibits
• Tee Up 4 Mites Golf Outing
• Shopping at the LWML Shop

And we are blessed to do all this with our sisters in Christ! To read more about all the plans click here. Convention registration begins March 1.

I hope to see you there!

Leslie Colligan

Meeting Manager
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Beautiful in God's Eyes

He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

As I write this article, I am wearing a cast on my right foot. It is boring beige, not a pretty purple. And I don’t feel very attractive. Have you ever felt the same? A fun sketch you may enjoy doing at your next Lutheran Women in Mission meeting is A Time for Beauty. The sketch reminds us that even though we may feel unattractive on the outside, God sees us as His redeemed child that is holy in His eyes because of Jesus. We may have a few wrinkles, gray hair, and less energy than we once had and yet we are precious and beautiful in God’s eyes. What a gift God has given us — we are His. Remember every day that you have been made in the image of God and He has redeemed you from sin and death. When God finished His creation, He called it good and so you are!

Arlene Naasz

Vice President of Organizational Resources
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Present in Thy holy Word–Grace to imitate Thee now And be pure, as pure art Thou; That we might become like Thee At Thy great epiphany And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest. (LSB 394 v. 5)

As we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Epiphany, one of my favorite hymns is “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.” The final stanza reads, “God in man made manifest.” Manifest is defined as clear or obvious to the eye or mind. Verse five above encourages us to study God’s word to discern the meaning.

Check out the Bible studies on our website at lwml.org such as Resolutions or We Begin Anew to kick off your new year in God’s word. These and all the resources you will find there are available as free downloads. All are doctrinally reviewed and ready for you to use in your small group Bible studies or at your Lutheran Women in Mission group meeting.

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you (1 Peter 1:20).

Anita Werner

Treasurer
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Experience the Joy

After the flurry of activity and colorful decorations of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I find this time of year dull and dreary. What better way to shake off the winter gloom than to gather with your LWML sisters for Bible study. I am recommending to my local group that we start the year with the LWML study Experience the Joy—Then Share it! This 3-session Bible study is available as a free download from the LWML SHOP. Author Miriam Maassel Neumann writes in her introduction “Happiness is temporary and based on events that are happening at the time. Joy, however, is deeper and is based on God’s promises and presence with us.” We can experience joy even during a dull and dreary time in our lives.

I pray that you find peace and joy in the New Year in the presence of our loving Savior.

Debbie Yocky

Public Relations Director
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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