WELCA

Thanks to everyone who attended and helped with the June birthday party at the Effingham County Nursing Home. We had a great group of helpers to attend and spread some “Zion cheer”!

Six ladies have signed up to attend this year’s Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA  convention at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA on September 14-16, 2012. The convention theme is “Rejoice in the Lord Always”. Attending convention is a wonderful way to meet and connect with other ladies from our synod, discover the amazing things we accomplish together as Women of the ELCA, and rejuvenate your soul and spirit.

Each year, our leaders select a special in-kind offering to be taken  at convention that benefits a program located near our convention site. This year’s recipient is Wellspring Living in Atlanta, GA. In 2001, Wellspring Living, a 501(c) (3) organization, formed to help  survivors of childhood sexual abuse overcome their broken pasts  and move towards hopeful futures. Their mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through advocacy,  education and treatment programs for girls and women. Their  programs are a refuge for women and girls who need a chance to  start over. Through therapy, education, life skills and spiritual  renewal, the Wellspring programs give participants recovery tools  for the body, soul and spirit.

Wellspring has requested donations of gift cards to purchase toilet paper, paper towels and household cleaning supplies. They welcome gift cards from Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, etc… If you would like to donate, please give gift cards to Dana Lee Smith. Anyone can make a donation – even if you are not attending convention!

Ladies, please check the Zionews calendar page and make plans to join in one of our Bible study opportunities. If you’re not sure which one fits your needs, you are invited to visit each group.

Women of the ELCA

Submitted by Dana Lee SmithGA. Come learn about what’s happening in our cluster, enjoy Bible study, be refreshed in worship and enjoy fellowship with others. There will be a group leaving from Zion at 7:00am. If you need more information or you would like to attend, please contact Cheryl Pannal (665-5315) or Dana Lee Smith (665-1377). Ladies, please check the Zionews calendar page and make plans to join in one of our Bible study opportunities. If you’re not sure which one fits your needs, you are invited to visit each group. We would love to have YOU involved!

WELCA Leadership Conference

Thanks to all who participated and made a donation at Zion’s Mardi Gras Festival. A total of $125.00 was collected for Lutheran World Relief kits. Thanks to your generosity, we can reach out to others by providing some basic necessities! The ladies of our cluster also enjoyed the leadership training event that Zion hosted. We thank WELCA synod board member Norma Reed for leading this event. Thanks to all who helped to provide snacks and lunch.

We need your used/cancelled stamps! Please don’t throw them away! We collect these stamps and send them to the Sons of Norway Lodge.This organization collects stamps from all across the world and sends them to the Tubfrim organization in Norway. Since its inception in1928, Tubfrim has been raising money to help children. Originally started to aid children afflicted by tuberculosis, the organization nowworks to improve the quality of life for disabled children and youth as well. Sons of Norway members have been an integral part of Tubfrim’s success since 1986. They clip and send used stamps to Tubfrim, which sells them to dealers and collectors. Just cut or tear the stamps off the envelopes, leaving a slight margin (approx. 1/2inch) to keep the perforation intact. Damaged stamps (damaged perforation, edges etc.) are worthless and are thrown away. So, save those stamps and place them in the collection box in the entrance ofthe fellowship hall.

Ladies, please check the Zionews calendar page and make plans to join in one of our Bible study opportunities. If you’re not sure which one fits your needs, you are invited to visit each group. We would love to have YOU involved! All Zion women are members of WELCA. We invite you to take part & get involved in your organization. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

Our regular quarterly meeting will be held immediately following worship on February 12th. All ladies are asked to join in this brief meeting to get anupdate on the work of your organization. Please planto attend! Zion will host a Leadership Training Workshop for all ladies in ourconference on Saturday, February 25th from 9:30am to 2:00pm. This workshop will be led by Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA board member, Norma Reed. All ladies are invited to take advantage of this opportunity. As host, we will provide morning snacks and lunch. Please RSVP to Dana Lee Smith at 728-3227 by Friday, February 17th if you would like to attend. Also, let her know if you are interested in helping with snacks and/or lunch.

Please check the Zionews calendar page and make plans to join in one of our Bible study opportunities. If you’re not sure which one fits your needs, you are invited to visit each group. We would love tohave YOU involved! All Zion women are members of WELCA. You are invited to take part & get involved in your organization. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

Thanks to all who made, packed, and delivered Christmas cookies. Because of you, 28 containers of homemade cookies were given to our 80+ years members and shut-ins for Christmas!

Another new year is hear! As you begin this new year, think about how you can get involved in all that WELCA has to offer. Remember, every female member of Zion is automatically a member. All ladies are encouraged to take part and become involved in one of our women’s groups at Zion. It’s a great way to get to know others and make a real difference. One way that you can make a difference is through our special Love Offering. All WELCA units from churches in the Southeastern Synod collect a special offering during the year. This year’s Love Offering will be collected to support Luther Ranch Retreat Center.

All women of Zion are members of WELCA. You are invited to take part and get involved in your organization. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

Get out your favorite cookie recipe! All ladies are invited to make cookies for packaging. These “cookie tins” will be distributed to those 80 and over and those who are ill in our
congregation. Bring your cookies to our packing night on Sunday, December 4th at 7:00pm. This is a great opportunity to spread some holiday cheer.

Our Angel Tree project is up and running. Please check out the display in the entrance of the fellowship hall. The money raised from this project will go to the ELCA Disaster Response to buy seed for replanting in flooded countries in Central America. There are many items for sale. This is a great way to help out others and complete your holiday shopping.

Newly elected officers:
President: Dana Lee Smith
Vice President: Melinda Heidt
Secretary: Cheryl Pannal
Treasurer: Emma Lee Dasher
Committee for Community: Mary Lou Thomas
Committee for Growth: Sherri Pittman
Committee for Action: Lida Peth

All women of Zion are members of WELCA. You are invited to take part and get involved in your organization. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

CALLING ALL WOMEN!!!!!

Our quarterly meeting will be held on Sunday, November 13th immediately following the 11am worship service. This will be a brief meeting as we make plans for the remainder of the year, receive project and circle updates, have elections, and plan for another year. We’ll also hear a brief convention report. If you currently are not involved in one of our Bible study groups, this would be a great opportunity to drop in and find out what Zion WELCA is all about. All women of Zion are members of WELCA. You are invited to take part and get involved in your organization. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

Click on the Photo to see more photos from the event.

Emma Lee Dasher, Melinda Heidt, Cheryl Pannal, Norma Ralph and Dana Lee Smith attended the Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA convention September 16th – 18th at Guntersville State Park in Alabama. We had a wonderful time experiencing our theme “Renew Your Heart”. We enjoyed attending workshops and engaging with other women from around our synod. Jean Minkin from Trinity Lutheran in Lilburn, GA was elected president and Norma Reed from Nativity Lutheran in Bethlehem, GA was elected vice president. Pat Cunningham from St. Paul’s Lutheran in Savannah, GA was re-elected to serve on the board. Thanks for all of your prayers for a safe and successful meeting!

Here at Zion, WELCA continues to carry on several ongoing projects. Please save your Campbell’s soup labels (any product from Campbell’s company) and your pop tabs. These items can be placed in the small cubby in the entrance of the fellowship hall. We are also collecting empty prescription bottles. There is a collection basket in the entrance of the fellowship hall. We also sponsor wedding showers and baby showers throughout the year. If you would like to donate towards gifts and refreshments for these events, please contact Melinda Heidt at 728-3288.

All women of Zion are members of WELCA. You are invited to take part and get involved in your organization. Please let me know how we can help to get you involved. Bible study meeting times and locations are listed in Zionews.

All ladies are invited to attend our next quarterly meeting immediately following worship on August 14th. This is a time for ladies from each of our Bible study groups to meet together, share information about our current projects and make plans for new ones. If you are not involved in one of our groups, this is a great opportunity to meet us!

WELCA Convention Logo

We have a group of ladies that will be attending the Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA Convention September 16th – 18th at Guntersville State Park in Alabama. The theme is “Renew Your Heart”. As part of convention, we will collect an “in-kind” offering for Mercy Children’s Clinic (MCC) in Franklin, TN. MCC provides healthcare for children and support for their families regardless of economic status. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

In support of this mission, we are collecting $10 gifts cards from Wal-Mart, Kroger and Publix to share with families to purchase items such as prescriptions, diapers, food or gas. If you would like to donate to this project, please give gift cards to Dana Lee.

Remember……all ladies of the congregation are members of WELCA. Everyone is encouraged to get involved. Check the monthly meeting schedules in Zionews.