Zion Women of the E.L.C.A.

(Women of the E.L.C.A. web site)

"Serve one another with whatever gift each of
you has received"

1 Peter 4:10b
  

What's Next?

Next WELCA Meeting on March 18th - If you missed the January meeting, here are a few photos.


The Flower Committee is now responsible for flowers each month. Please call the church office (983-3368) if you know of Zion women who have been in the hospital.

Santa Lucia Luncheon was held December 11th. A special invitation was extended to all girls who have been Santa Lucia in previous years and seven were able to attend.  There are some photos of the luncheon here. And if you want to know more about the story of Lucia, click here.
Thank you to everyone that helped prepare food, decorate Centennial Hall, and served the Santa Lucia Luncheon. Also thanks to Mackenzie McCann for being this year’s Santa Lucia. The Luncheon served around 268 people and raised $1,942. The proceeds are going to the Milaca Food Pantry, Rev. John Lunn’s ministry in India, Rum River Interfaith Caregivers, the Marie Sandvik Center, Twin Ports Ministries, Lutheran Social Services, Lutheran World Relief, and Friends of the Library.

Meatball Supper & WELCA Bazaar Update - The meatball supper raised $2,269.72 plus $450 of supplementary funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans bringing the total to $2,719.72. 10% will be donated to the Rum River Interfaith Caregivers and the remainder will go to the Zion Youth. The Silent Auction made $490, the Craft & Bake Sale made $570.25, the Raffle made $549 (tablecloth $195 & quilt $354). bringing the WELCA Bazaar’s total funds raised to $1,609.25. Winner of the quilt was Linda Nelson and Jeanette Hanenburg won the tablecloth. Thank you to everyone for your efforts.

Zion's Dorcas Quilters made 77 quilts this past year. Some of them were on display for the Blessing of the Quilts on Sunday, May 31st. They will soon be on their way to Lutheran World Relief and then to the ends of the earth to spread our warmth and care. See some photos of the quilts.

Women of the ELCA Brunch - was held on Saturday, April 25th - see photos.

The 22nd Annual Women of the ELCA was held June 5-6 at the UMD Campus in Duluth. This year's theme - "Come to the Waters" - based on Rev. 22:17b, "Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift." The entire gathering was inspiring with great speakers, wonderful music and informative workshops. Attending for Zion were Mary Anderson, Jo Hamblin, Gloria Peterson, and Ardy Becklin. We would like to report what the women of our Synod have given this past year in their in-kind response to world need.
    4,691     Quilts to Lutheran World Relief
    2,327     Quilts to special projects
    1,690     School Kits
    981       Layettes
    682       Midwife Kits
    1,867     Health Kits
    181       Aids / Hospice Kits
    244       Sewing Kits
    556.5     Pounds of soap
    253       Pounds of rolled bandages
    3,535     Diapers to Honduras
    $500 plus caps, scarves, etc. to Seafarers
In addition to this, 708,674 pennies were collected for various projects such as crisis centers, food shelves, teen challenge and Honduras. Please notice Zion's penny jar and help as they do add up. Also, collected were Beanie Babies for Honduras and healthy snacks for Lutheran Social Services Street Outreach. They were too numerous to count! $11,019.29 was raised to help LWR and Global Health Ministries ship these items. Impressive! !


Recycle Your Cell Phones – Turn unwanted cell phones into money and practical support for women’s programs by recycling your old phones. It’s simple, just drop your old phone in the recycling box in the narthex. The Zion WELCA, through Good Deeds Foundation and The Women’s Funding Network, has started a cell phone recycling program that will generate much needed funding to:
1. Support programs that lift women and families out of poverty;
2. Help provide lasting solutions to climate change, a major contributor to property worldwide; and
3. Provide 911 emergency phones for senior citizens and people at risk.
How it works: roughly 60% of cell phones recycled through this initiative are in good working order and can be refurbished and resold. These cell phones  generate the greatest amount of revenue to help lift women and  families out of poverty and provide lasting solutions to climate change. Another portion of the recycled phones are programmed to dial only 911 and donated to domestic violence survivors, elders and low income people at risk for use in emergencies. The remaining cell phones are recycled according to EPA standards.
Why is this important? There are over 130 million cell phones retired every year in the U.S., and fewer than 26 million get recycled. Where are yours? Why should I recycle my old cell phones?
+   Each cell phone recycled helps prevent about 66 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. +    Recycling just one million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for one year.
+    Recycling all 100 million cell phones ready for end of life management would save enough energy to power more than 194,000 U.S. households with electricity for one year.

See what WELCA has done to serve the needs of the world.

Cookbooks are available for any and all gift giving occasions! If you've ever eaten at a Zion pot luck, you know there are good cooks in this church and you can have and give their best recipes for a mere $10 - an amazing bargain!


 
             January Meeting 1/21/10

                                              Dorothy read a story about
the birth of Jesus

                                                         Esther Circle served
a delicious dessert

                                                             which everyone
seemed to enjoy
November Meeting
 11/19/09

Ardy talked about her trip to Tunisia and showed pictures,
and then she led the business meeting.

Ruth Circle served

frosted pumpkin bars.
 
September Meeting
 9/17/09

Ruth Circle provided devotions
and the program.

Two young women from Pearl

Crisis Center spoke.

Eunice Circle served
a delicious lemon cake.

July Meeting
 7/16/09
The photographer left
She is
 her camera at home!
very sorry!
May Meeting
 5/21/09







Ardy led the business meeting and then Esther Circle's Carole showed us how and helped us make angels from roses. Ruth Circle served a delicious rhubarb dessert.
March Meeting
 3/19/09





Ruth Circle presented a Bible Study. Mavis lead the study and everyone participated.

Eunice Circle served a delicious dessert with cherries on the top.


The Zion Women of the E.L.C.A. meet every other month on the third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. Circles take turns providing an interesting program and coffee with something good to eat.

The Zion Women's Circles also take turns doing the monthly cleaning of the kitchen and bringing flowers to members who have been in the hospital.

The Zion Women use the proceeds from their activities as well as the offerings from meetings and from Circle meetings to support these things:
Rev. John Lunn's mission in India and Liberia
The Marie Sandvik Center in Minneapolis
Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers in Duluth
Friends of the Milaca Library
Lutheran World Relief
 ELCA Pennies for Women and Children in Poverty
Pastor Steve's Discretionary Fund