August 2015 - Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA Home

Our geographic area covers the southwest corner of the
United States including all of
Arizona, Southern Nevada
and St. George, Utah
Musings from
President Laura
Volume XXVIII Issue 4
AUGUST 2015
Inside This Issue
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Greeting my Sisters in Christ:
GC Synod Women Fall Retreat
Page 2
Sex Trafficking Article
Page 3
Get to know your Board
Pages 3-4
Daily Grace
Page 5
Money, Money, Money
Page 5
Sex Trafficking Forum in Mesa
Pages 6-7
Discipleship, Justice, Stewardship
Page 8
Happenings Around Our Synod
Pages 9-10
Mount Zion’s BOLD Women
Page 11
One of our Scholarship Women
Page 12
Bible Trivia
Page 12
Upcoming Events
Page 13
Fall Retreat Registration Form
Page 14
WELCA References
Pages 15-17
The 2015 three part Fall session has been written
by Liv Larson Andrews, pastor of
Salem Lutheran Church in Spokane, WA, who
brings us a study on speed and slowness,
examining how the Kingdom of God moves slowly,
yet we are asked to move with ever greater speed.
Overview of the Fall Session
Slow Faith
Session 1 Sabbath Keeping
Session 2 Make Haste O Lord
Session 3 Tempo Giusto
Subscribe nowsubscriptions@augsburgfortress.org
Canyon Echoes August 2015
It is mid-August and even though temperatures are still in
the 100+ ranges for many of us, summer is mostly behind us.
Schools are starting up again, congregations are planning Fall
activities and our sisters who summered in cooler climates
are thinking about dates to return. I hope all of you found
time to be still and be with God.
The Grand Canyon Synodical Board has been busy over
the summer months listening to where God is calling us as an
organization. We have been in prayer and study of His Word
and we have been listening to you.
This issue of Canyon Echoes is full of information for
you and your women’s group. I hope you will consider
attending as many of the events as you can.
Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA is committed to
having an impact on ending Sex Trafficking in our synod.
We are planning several informational forums around the
synod. The next forum will be October 3rd in Mesa. Plans
are being made for forums in West Phoenix, Tucson and Las
Vegas areas in 2016. Come learn how you can help to fight
Sex Trafficking in your community.
Come and join us at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
for a Garden Getaway, Where Women Walk with God. It will
be a great time of fellowship, spiritual renewal, rest and
relaxation! Come walk with us in God’s Garden Getaway!
So much is happening in Grand Canyon Synod Women
of the ELCA. Read on and listen to how God is calling you!
Enjoy the last few days of summer and join us this Fall as we
dive into God’s mission for each of us! Contact me if you
have any questions or suggestions.
Your humble sister in Christ,
Laura Krueger
grandcan-
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GC Synod Women’s Fall Retreat
Garden Getaway:
Where Women Walk With God
October 23-24, 2015
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
7415 E Elbow Bend Rd, Carefree AZ
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Join us for a relaxing overnight retreat at our beautiful Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center before the rush of
the holidays sets in. Activities begin at 7 pm Friday and conclude by 4 pm on Saturday. Our theme is from
Ecclesiastes 3 and focuses on the seasons of our life. Our time together will include fellowship, food, fun,
friends, music, quiet time and Bible application. Overnight housing is available for those who don’t commute.
Worship & Music Leader is Cyndy Warnier. Session leaders are our BOLD women from GC Synod. Dress is
casual, retreat-style. Bring comfortable shoes for short outdoor walking activities.
Our service project is fleece blanket tying for Lutheran World Relief. Bring one or two pieces of fleece, 5859” x 80”; no religious, patriotic or camouflage designs per LWR. Visit www.lwr.org/quilts for more information.
Our offering will be split between Native American Urban Ministries and the GC Synod Women. Make check
payable to GC Synod WELCA.
Registration deadline is October 9. See page 14 of this issue for the registration form.
GC Synod Women Spiritual Fall Retreat Important Information
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Housing check-in begins at 4 pm in Estrem
Building on Friday, October 23.
Friday dinner is on your own. There are
several fun, casual restaurants nearby in
Carefree or NE Scottsdale (on Tom Darlington/
Scottsdale Rd) or in Cave Creek (on Cave
Creek Rd).
Retreat registration begins at 6 pm in
Ravenscroft Chapel.
Retreat activities from 7-8:30 Friday and 9:30-4
pm Saturday, concluding with a Communion
service, all in Ravenscroft Chapel.
Saturday breakfast at 8 am; lunch at noon.
Canyon Echoes August 2015
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All meals in the Dining Hall.
All rooms are double occupancy. No elevator
in 2-story housing unit.
All linens, towels, shower/body soap and hand
soap included, bring your own shampoo/
conditioner.
10 hairdryers available.
Refrigerators in every room space.
Handicapped parking in front of the Estrem
building. Addt’l parking behind Ravenscroft
Chapel building.
Coffee concierge station in Estrem.
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Sex Trafficking: Protecting our Children
Recent sex trafficking research by Shared Hope International, revealed that Arizona is
“Getting It Right” by focusing on the buyer of the sex trafficking relationship. In Arizona,
and 36 other states, child victims of sex trafficking can be charged with prostitution, but
the buyers walk free. Arizona is tackling trafficking by focusing on the buyers.
President and Founder of Shared Hope International, Linda Smith, said in a May 21, 2015
news release, "We want buyers to be terrified to shop for sex in Arizona and I believe the
coordinated teams in Arizona can make that possible if they remain relentless in their
pursuit of that goal.” Our Grand Canyon WELCA is a member of this team, as we get the
word out about sex trafficking through informational forums within our Lutheran
communities.
Patty Gee, GC
Synod WELCA
Justice Committee
Chair
The Arizona Dept. of Economic Security Administration estimates that there are over 5,000 homeless
children Arizona. These children and other young adults are extremely vulnerable to becoming a victim of
trafficking in Arizona. As Christian women, we can unite in prayer. And as we become more aware of this
issue, it can lead to the protection of Arizona’s vulnerable children.
Our next WELCA Informational Forum on Human and Sexual Trafficking is on October 3 at Love of
Christ in Mesa. See page 6 for our flyer and page 7 for the registration form. The forum contact is Pat Shaw
at Love of Christ: pattomshaw@cox.net. Registration contact is pattyjgee@gmail.com. Share this
information.
Get to Know Your Board
Wanda Frenchman-Takacs, Board Member
Native American Urban Ministry, Phoenix (Capital)
Wanda Frenchman Takacs was born one in a set of twins, in Maryvale, AZ but spent formative years growing up in
South Dakota and Montana. She is a member of the Oglala Lakota (South Dakota) and Delaware (Oklahoma) Tribes.
Keeping her Native American culture alive is very important to her so she frequently attends Native American singing
and dancing events across the country.
She and her husband Rob are members at Grace Lutheran Church, where they were married. Currently they attend
regular services with the new Native American Urban Ministry held at Grace Lutheran. She volunteers with the Native
American Urban Ministry and updates their web page and designs flyers and brochures as needed. She also volunteers
as part of Grace Lutheran’s WELCA group and assists with planning the annual Capital conference gathering.
Her career background is in administrative office support, having spent 15 years with a local civil engineering firm.
The last two years were spent in Human Resources and developing a good knowledge of HR practices. She recently
took on a new challenge as the Office & Communications Manager at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe.
She and Rob are avid billiard players and sports fans. They spend many hours practicing their skills in pool and also
compete in local and regional tournaments. When not busy with pool or church, they can be found watching any of their
favorite baseball, football or basketball teams compete.
Wanda’s education and passion is actually in graphic design so she has spent time developing her computer design
skills. She hopes to be able to combine her creativity with her technical skills to spread the word about the Native
Ministry and also the Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA.
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Get to Know Your Board, cont.
Randi VenHuizen, Board Member
Spirit of Joy, Gilbert (Rio Salado)
I was born into a Lutheran family in Grand Forks, ND. My mother and maternal grandmother raised me after my
father was killed by a drunk driver when I was 1 1/2 years old. Both of these women were strong in their faith and
influential in mine. I was almost seven when we moved to Tucson, AZ. After graduating high school in 1968, I had
become dissatisfied with 'the establishment' and decided to skip college and move to California where I took a detour
from my faith. I simply refused to acknowledge God in any way.
Every day, for many weeks, I passed a Lutheran church. One day I asked my five-year old daughter if she would
like to go on Sunday. She immediately said 'Yes!'. I will never forget that day; it was a sermon preached just for me.
God asked me to come back to Him, and I accepted His invitation. I believe this was the day that 'my faith' became 'MY
faith'. I have been worshipping and serving Him ever since.
After giving birth to three children, my husband decided to leave the family and I became a single Mom. I had my
children, my job in the judicial system, and my church family. I became involved with Church Women United, a local
Soup Kitchen (which is still in operation), the choir and served as a Commissioned Lay Minister of Worship and
Outreach. In addition, the children were involved with scouts, sports, etc. I was very busy and had no time for anything
or anyone new in my life. God had other plans. He sent the most wonderful man to the church where I had been
worshipping. After dating for two years, we married.
Because of a job transfer, Brad and I moved from California to Omaha in 2004. We loved living in the Midwest. We
joined a Lutheran Church and immediately became involved. I served in our congregational women's unit as Treasurer
and a Board Member at Large, on church council, worship planning, choir and trained to be a Stephen Minister. I was
elected to the Nebraska Synodical Women's Organization as their Secretary and served for a two year term.
When Brad retired in 2013 we decided to move to Mesa, AZ where my brother, niece, nephew and their families live.
My three children live in NYC and Brad has a son who lives in Seattle, WA. We like Mesa. We did some 'church
shopping' and found Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Gilbert. Again, we became involved immediately and feel this is
where God wants us, I love reading, entertaining and traveling with my husband. This is my first term on the WELCA
Grand Canyon Synod Board, and I am excited to be a part of this team!
Helpful Websites
www.elca.org
This will access the ELCA’s national churchwide office
www.womenoftheelca.org
Churchwide website of Women of the ELCA; resources for your
congregational unit as well as Café, an e-magazine for young women
www.grandcanyonwomen.org
Website for the Grand Canyon synod women
www.gathermagazine.org
Website for Gather magazine
www.boldcafe.org
Online magazine for Lutheran women
www.lwr.org
Website for Lutheran World Relief
www.bread.org
Bread for the World—find out how to write congress, donate and order your copy
of bread, find out what’s happening, request email updates
www.elca.org/hunger
ELCA World Hunger—hunger facts, resources, stories, how to give
Grand Canyon Women of the ELCA
Women of the ELCA
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Women of the ELCA
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Reflect, pray and prepare for the day
Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day.
Provided from our churchwide office, Daily Grace’s brief writings will help you encounter
God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace! You will be comforted, challenged,
inspired, consoled and confronted. The daily reflection will stir you to live out your baptismal
calling. Daily Grace is available from the I-Tunes App Store or Google Play for your smart
phone or tablet.
Read the
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Daily readings, reflections, prayers
daily message
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Connections to the church’s liturgical calendar and to the secular
calendar
or choose
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Connections to Facebook, Twitter and Women of the ELCA
Random Grace
Money, Money, Money....
Or, sign up to receive Daily Grace by email
See more at: Women of the ELCA Resources
From your GC Synod Treasurer, Marlene Haller
What is a Unit Offering? This is the offering that your women collect throughout the year when they
meet for unit events, such as Bible studies, gatherings, unit meetings. The unit keeps a portion of the
Regular Offering and sends a portion to your GC Synod Women’s Treasurer on a regular basis. Make your
checks payable to GC Synod WELCA. Don’t wait until the end of the calendar year!
What is a LOVE Offering? This is a special offering or designation of available funds that your unit
contributes to support the ongoing expenses of the GC Synod Women’s organization. Typically, your unit
collects and submits this offering once or twice a year, made payable to GC Synod WELCA, and is sent on
to your GC Synod Women’s Treasurer or brought to a synod gathering such as the biennial convention or
synod retreat.
How to submit Unit and LOVE Offerings? Complete what’s called “Form A” (see page 15 for a copy)
and mail the check to your GC Synod Women’s Treasurer, Marlene Haller
324 W Culver St, #9, Phoenix AZ 85003
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What is a Thankoffering? This is a special offering that your women typically collect once a year in
thanksgiving for all of the blessings they have received throughout the year. Some units collect their
Thankoffering around the Thanksgiving season and invite all women from the congregation to participate in
the Thankoffering Service. The Thankoffering supports the work of our entire churchwide organization
and is an undesignated gift to our churchwide Women of the ELCA. Make checks payable to Women of
the ELCA. See below for how to submit Thankofferings.
What is a Designated Gift or Special Offering? These are special offerings that your women collect
and designate for specific programs or ministries of our church, such as Katie’s Fund, ELCA ministries
( World Hunger, ELCA Disaster Relief, “Where Needed Most”, etc.). These gifts and special offerings are
also sent on to churchwide Women of the ELCA. Make checks payable to Women of the ELCA. See
below for how to submit Designated/Special Offerings.
How to submit Thankofferings and Designated Gifts or Special Offerings? Complete what’s
called “Form B” (see page 15 for a copy) and send directly to Women of the ELCA, ELCA Processing
Center, PO Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009. Be sure to include your congregation number on the
form. These offerings are no longer sent to the Women of the ELCA office in Chicago.
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Discipleship
CPC’s (Conference Planning Committee). Have your past Gatherings been poorly attended? Organization lacking? Women leave
after lunch? Programs and business meetings boring? Help is on the way. Your Discipleship Committee has been busy developing
some ideas that will change the future of your Conference Gatherings. For smooth organization, a new planning form has been
developed (you will find it on our web site at grandcanyonwomen.org) When this is filled out, with ALL contact information,
each committee member will have an easy reference to the schedule. Job descriptions for each ‘church obligation’ have also been
developed and are available for your use.
Conferences are adding FUN to the Gatherings! Donated raffle items, with proceeds going to various charities (i.e. Scholarships,
Katie’s Fund, WELCA Synod, Youth Gathering, LWR, etc) have increased excitement. Sunrise/Santa Cruz is offering a fully paid
registration to the 2016 WELCA Synod Convention being held in Las Vegas, NV next November (winner will be announced
AFTER Gathering Worship and you must be present to win)! So, with a little adjusting, changing the schedule and a little ingenuity
(get your business meeting out of the way early in the day), your future Gatherings will be well attended and enjoyed by all,
including the Committee who put in all of the hard work! For more ideas on holding an exciting, successful Gathering, contact Suki
Kisling, sukingrnvly@live.com.
Justice
One of our Synod’s WELCA justice issues is the needs of the Native American ministry in Phoenix. During the 70’s and 80’s the
Lutheran Church worked closely with the Native peoples and organizations serving the Native population in Phoenix. As
leadership changed, the ministry lay dormant. The Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix is a new ministry created to meet
the needs of the Urban Native American in the Greater Phoenix Area. It is a ministry of the ELCA and sponsored by the Grand
Canyon Synod.
Today this ministry is intent upon rebuilding that relationship and making it known in the community through worship, outreach,
social justice and other ministries that are needed to serve the community of over 100,000 Native people. Their theme is “Christ and
Culture, Hand in Hand.” Their mission is to provide a ministry to Native Americans who worship God and believe in their own
culture and spirituality, to introduce Christianity to Native Americans who may be curious about it, to provide healing to Native
Americans who may have been hurt by Christianity in the past, to promote healing and wellness from intergenerational grief and
trauma from boarding school experiences and forced removal of our ancestors. The Seventh generation will be the healing
generation. Native American Urban Ministry currently rents space at Grace Lutheran in downtown Phoenix and services are held
on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
We will be splitting our worship offering at our Fall Retreat 50/50 with Native American Urban Ministry. You can learn more
about their important ministry needs from their website: www.nativeamericanurbanministry.com.
Stewardship
Now is the time to continue—or begin—working on your quilts, fleece blankets and kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Did
you know that LWR will have an Inkind Gathering truck in Phoenix at Rally in the Valley in February, 2016 and the President and
CEO of LWR, Daniel Speckhard, is one of the featured speakers at Prince of Peace? Women, this is an awesome opportunity to
WOW Mr. Speckhard, Presiding ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and nearly 500 Rally in the Valley attendees with the work of our
hands that support international communities’ ability to recover from emergencies.
LWR is especially in need of Personal Care Kits and School Kits. Summer is a great time to stock up on supplies for LWR’s kits
and quilts. Watch for the sales and stretch your buying power! Schedule intergenerational events in your congregation to spread
the work and spread the word about LWR’s Quilt and Kit Ministry. We will be tying fleece blankets at our October GC Synod
Women’s Fall Retreat.
Involvement with LWR’s Quilt and Kits is engaging in ministry and action and a way we can promote healing and wholeness in the
world, just one aspect of our being good stewards in living out our Mission and Purpose Statement as Women of the ELCA.
You can find information about LWR’s Quilt and Kit ministry from their website: www.lwr.org
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Happenings Around Our GC Synod
The WELCA group at Gloria De Cristo Lutheran in
Yuma has reorganized under the direction of Michelle
Cegon. They’ve learned about how to help the elderly and
disabled in their community through Helping Hands and
from Yuma County Interfaith, Other presentations have
included avoiding computer scams and a church woman’s
experience visiting churches in Africa with an ELCA group.
They’ve gifted ten homemade quilts and their February
Love Offering to Amerly’s Place to help victims of abuse in
the Yuma community. They’ve also sponsored the annual
Easter breakfast and a new adult Bible study in addition to
the monthly gather study.
Women from Mount Cross Lutheran in Payson continue
to be busy with monthly Bible studies and funeral serving,
as well as quilting and knitting hats for their Rock Point
outreach mission. Several groups have visited the mission
and worked on updating and provided needed repairs to
buildings. Cabins are being updated, one at a time. Two
fire safety doors have been installed in the school. They
have plans for the clinic to be staffed as a result of a grant.
In their words, “the best part of mission is the overall joy
you feel as the people who live there are becoming more
closely involved with the mission.” They continue to raise
funds for the heating at the mission and will kick off the fund
raising with a chili cook-off.
Women from Sierra Evangelical
Lutheran in Sierra Vista are studying
stewardship from the summer issues of the
gather magazine at the historic San Pedro
House on Rte 90 by the San Pedro River on
Saturday, August 15 at 9 am. It’s a
wonderful setting to be a witness to others
who are hiking or birding. All are welcome.
They’ve also distributed blessed backpacks
to students on July 26 and applied for
Thrivent Action team funds to include a
teacher supply drive and support for
Peaches Pantry, a kid friendly food bank
run by the school district there for low risk
children.
Desert Hills Lutheran in Green Valley
held a “sewing bee” and with the help of
teens from Flowing Wells High School,
constructed charity quilts.
They look forward to hosting next spring’s High Country
Conference at Rock Point.
Teens from Flowing Wells High School
Camp Aloma, a Christian camp in the Bradshaw Mountains 15 minutes from Prescott is offering two
upcoming Free Family Week-ends: Disconnect to Reconnect on September 5-7 and December 4-6. You
can find more information on these family camping opportunities from their website at www.campaloma.com
Our GC Synod Women’s “Fashionista” t-shirts will be available at
our October events on October 3 and October 23-24:
$12 for medium and large
$15 for XL, XXL and XXL
Plan to purchase one or more. They are of great quality, wash up
nicely, and promote our “Embraced by Grace” theme of our GC
Synod Women. Make check payable to GC Synod Women of
ELCA. Be a “fashionista” and promote our synod women!
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More Happenings Around Our GC Synod
Rachel Circle from Spirit of Grace, Surprise AZ recently met and
tied this fleece blanket for LWR. Through some planning and early
preparation, the 11 women were able to complete the blanket in a
short time at their Circle gathering. The women also collected
additional money for additional blankets, which will be completed and
brought to Rally in the Valley in February. Thank you!
Rachel Circle Members
Sponsored by the Justice Committee of the
WELCA Grand Canyon Synod, the first Human
and Sexual Trafficking Informational Forum was
held at Living Christ Lutheran in Flagstaff on May
23. Organized by Patty Gee, WELCA Board
Member, the day was filled with information from
Deacon Jayne Baker, appointed by Bishop
Talmage and the Synod Council as Coordinator for
Human Sex Trafficking for the Grand Canyon
Synod (and her capable assistant, Snow).
Participants watched videos, gleaned vital
informational handouts and were provided the
opportunity to ask questions—of which there were
many! Watch for the next forum at Love of Christ
in Mesa on October 3.
Human and Sexual Trafficking Informational Forum
An update from the GC Synod Assembly on June 12-13: 95 churches from the GC synod met for their
annual meeting/assembly at Love of Christ Lutheran in Mesa. The theme, “Seeing Jesus,” was connected to
everything one experienced.
Your GC Synod Women had a table in the synod partners area and
encouraged women to attend our October Fall Retreat, participate in our October Human Trafficking event,
purchase one of our “Fashionista” t-shirts, subscribe to gather, and sign up for our Canyon Echoes
newsletter. One of the resolutions adopted in the business session was support for the PV for Phebe (Solar
Energy for Phebe Hospital) in Monrovia, Liberia. The keynote speaker was the Executive Director of ELCA
Global Mission, Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla. He emphasized that God’s mission is to restore community, to
make Christ known in order to see Jesus in what we say and what we do. We also heard from Rev. Chad
and Natalie Rimmer, ELCA Missionaries to our sister synod in Senegal. Three young women who were
previous Young Adults in Global Mission shared their year-long experience as YAGM’s. Next year’s
assembly will be at Community Lutheran, June 16-17, 2016, in Las Vegas.
Bold Connections is a free monthly e-newsletter of Women of the ELCA. Whether you
participate a lot or a little in Women of the ELCA in your congregation, you’ll find helpful
news and information on our programs and activities, and stories of how together we live
out our purpose and mission. It is delivered via e-mail toward the end of the month.
To sign up for Bold Connections, go to www.womenoftheelca.org and look under
Publications.
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An Amazing Example from Mount Zion’s BOLD Women
Learn how Mount Zion’s women in Tucson paid off their building project for a new storage/chapel in less
than 14 months at a cost of $72,000!
It all started with a vision and prayer and a presentation to their pastors and church council. Like many
other congregations, they struggle to keep their heads above water periodically, especially when the
snowbirds head north. Paula Randall, Mount Zion WELCA Treasurer relates that she personally felt God
said this was the time.
The women had $10,000 in their savings account and paid that money up front, trusting that God would
see them through to the end of the project. What started as a $30-40,000 project resulted in additional costs
for an increased footprint, fire walls, changing water lines and electrical connections to be within code. Who
knew, they said? But they remained committed to the project and continued in faith, praying constantly.
How did they do it? They sold raffle tickets on donated quilts, a bicycle built for two, and even a
surround sound system. Their craft bazaar was a big success. They held dances to raise funds, and even
threw people in a jail cell until they could make bail. Memorial money was donated. One family made a
significant donation of $2,500 if others would match it, and they did! They used Thrivent grants for matching
funds. They picked up donations of furniture and “general stuff” all year long for their rummage sales. Paula
kept a list of people looking for various items and when those items were donated, they sold it to them first.
Smaller items were kept on a shelf in their fellowship hall and were sold on a weekly basis through a donation
box on the honor system whenever that room was used for events.
They communicated their progress with a chart in the narthex. They wanted to keep everyone exited
about the project to support their growing church home. The excitement grew and reaching the goal became
contagious. As the unfinished building progressed, people could see the vision!
The grace of God and the Holy Spirit working within all the people were instrumental in accomplishing
this feat. The women thank God every day for their loving and caring church family who shared in their
adventure. The storage/chapel addition was dedicated on April 26, 2015.
In their new storage/chapel addition
Mt Zion WELCA women
Interchange/Intercambio is published four times a year by Women of
the ELCA, in spring, summer, fall and winter. It is sent without charge
to each congregational unit of Women of the ELCA and to elected
leadership in synodical women’s organizations and conferences. You
can download the English or Spanish version free anytime by clicking
Interchange/Intercambio.
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Young Adults in Global Mission
Heidi Gerrish – Uruguay
This August, I will be embarking on the biggest adventure of my life so
far. I will be spending a year in South America as a volunteer missionary with
the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program. At this point, I
still don’t know where exactly I’ll be living (somewhere in Argentina or
Uruguay) or what I’ll be doing (working with a Lutheran church and some sort of
non-profit service organization). All I can be sure of is that it’ll be a year of selfdiscovery and growing in my relationships with God and the world around me.
I have been involved in the ELCA for my whole life. My family is part
of the congregation of Esperanza Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and has
been since before I was born. My brother, sister, and I were raised in the church,
always involved in Sunday School, the choir, praise band, and anything we could
get our hands on. When I left to start college at the University of Arizona in
2010, I was not looking forward to leaving my church family. Thankfully, I was
able to find the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM), and have loved growing and
learning with this enriching group of people.
Over the past five years, LCM has helped me to expand my view of the
world through trips, service, and discussions with amazing people locally and
globally. I am so thankful to this group for helping me to become the person I am
today. Through my involvement with LCM, I have been able to connect with
many of the members from surrounding churches who are involved with the
Women of the ELCA. We have laughed, learned, and been inspired by each
other, and I hope to keep in touch with you all as I spend the next year in South
America! I would appreciate any prayers and support that you are willing to
share with me. It is so comforting to know that I have such a loving church
family here in Arizona. Thank you for letting me share my journey with you all!
Blog link: sehacecaminoYAGM.wordpress.com
Editor’s note: Heidi was one of our 2014 Scholarship Women at our GC Synod
Women’s Convention in Flagstaff. She is now off for her year with YAGM in
Uruguay.
Heidi Gerrish, 2015 U of A Graduate
has been accepted by ELCA Young
Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) for
a year long mission trip.
Young Adults in
Global Mission
The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission
program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29
into a transformative, year-long journey in
international service. As they offer themselves in
service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the
witness of our global neighbors. They share in the
journeys of companion churches and organizations
in one of nine countries around the world. - See
more at: Young Adults in Global Mission
Bible Trivia: Center of the Bible
What is the shortest chapter in the bible? Psalms 117
What is the longest chapter in the bible? Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the bible? Psalms 118
FACT: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118.
There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add 594+594 and you get 1188.
What is the center verse in the bible? Psalms 118.8
Does this verse say something significant about God’s perfect will for our lives? The next time someone
says they would like to find God’s perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of his
will, just send them to the center of His word!
Psalms 118:8 (NRSV)
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to put confidence in mortals.”
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Upcoming Events for Women in Our GC Synod
GC Synod Women’s Human and Sexual Trafficking
Informational Forum
October 3, 2015
Love of Christ, Mesa AZ
Forum Contact: Pat Shaw pattomshaw@cox.net
Registration Contact: Patty Gee pattyjgee@gmail.com
GC Synod Women’s Fall Retreat
“Garden Getaway: Where Women Walk With God”
October 23-24, 2015
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Carefree AZ
Contact: Myrna Wells-Ulland myrna.ulland@gmail.com
Community Lutheran (LV) Women’s Retreat
“We See Through Eyes of Faith”
January 28-31, 2016
Lake Havasu City AZ
Contact: Shirley Lizotte shirleylizotte@gmail.com
Our GC Synod Conferences
Desert Hills Lutheran Mini Retreat
“Celebrate Grace”
February 6, 2016
Green Valley AZ
Contact: Mira Jane Johnson johnson.mirajane@gmail.com
Rally in the Valley
“Go Into the World”
February 15-16, 2016
Prince of Peace Lutheran, Phoenix AZ
www.rallyinthevalleyaz.org
Contact: Tanya Cockram jtcockram@q.com
Sunrise/Santa Cruz Conference Gathering
“Altered at the Altar”
March 5, 2016
Abounding Grace, Tucson AZ
Contact: jgunson@cox.net rcrller2@cox.net
Cactus Conference Spring Gathering
March 12, 2016
Spirit of Grace, Surprise
Contact: Margaret Yurecko mmyurecko@aol.com
Colorado River Conference
Saturday, April 23, 2016
New Song, Henderson, NV
Contact: Debbie Romboletti rombogp@cox.net
27th WELCA GC Synod Convention
November 20-13, 2016
Alexis Park Resort and Hotel
Las Vegas, NV
Contact: Suki Kisling sukingrnvly@live.com
Tenth Triennial Convention and Gathering of Women of the ELCA
“All Anew”
Convention is July 11-13, 2017; Gathering is July 13-16, 2017
Minneapolis, MN
Mark your calendars NOW and begin planning to attend
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