Women of the ELCA

"We are called to be stewards of God’s creation, which means giving of our time, talent and treasure to support and uplift the communities we call home." Read this month's stewardship devotion written by the Rev. Ralen M. Robinson.

✨https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/devotions/the-in-between-time

"No matter what the future may hold, pointing others toward God’s grace and sharing the ministry of forgiveness, love and acceptance, is our calling."

--SommerAnn McCullough, "Extending grace," Daily Grace App, July 6, 2020.

🎉👏😎 Join us for our next Boldcafe Monthly Dinner, Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7pm (cdt) hosted by the Rev. Meredith Harber! She will lead our conversation on the topic of starting over.

✅ REGISTER: https://boldcafe.org/dinner 😎👏🎉

Interim Executive Director, Jennifer Hockenbery, answers the question
"What kind of WELCA woman am I?"

I am an academic WELCA woman. I love reading, writing, teaching, and having conversations with friends about books we have read and ideas we have. One of my best friends, philosopher, Sydney Keough, and I are pictured here discussing the relationship of anger, forgiveness, and the desire for empathy. I love that there are so many opportunities for learning at WELCA: the BOLD cafe, the retreats, Gather magazine, the Daily Grace, and right here on Facebook.

Are you looking for a resource for your next retreat, convention or educational session? Women of the ELCA offers free, downloadable program resources—all in English and many in Spanish—to help you grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
https://www.womenoftheelca.org/resources

"Women tend to put themselves last when it comes to caregiving, and it's time to change that." Eva Yeo, director for membership, writes in today's blog about making space in her schedule for "me time" before summer ends. She also shares a list of free WELCA resources that you can use to do the same. Enjoy! ☀

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/me-time-2

Grab some 'me time' before summer ends - Women of the ELCA Each day seems to pass too quickly as I try to fit so much into my schedule. But it’s time to take time for me. I’ll spend several days this summer with my family on a trip where I hope to relax.

"Jesus tells us in the parable of the Good Samaritan who our neighbor is and how we love them: Our neighbor is the person who needs help. And we love our neighbor by stepping up and helping." ❤

--Audrey Riley, "How do we just love our neighbor?" Daily Grace App, January 1, 2020

Have you or someone you cared for experienced reproductive loss? What resources have you needed from the church during such a difficult time?

ELCA Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment is planning to create resources to support those who have experienced reproductive loss. Reproductive loss includes, but is not limited to, experiencing a miscarriage, a stillbirth, infant loss, and/or infertility. If you or a loved one have experienced such a loss, or if you regularly minister to those who have experienced such a loss, we want to hear about what resources you need.

Please answer the survey at the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/elca_survey_resourcesforreproductiveloss

"The disciples did not recognize Jesus, even though he was with them the whole time. Likewise, Jesus has been alongside us every moment. Yet, at times, we struggle to recognize Jesus in our midst. . . . Thankfully, Jesus keeps showing up when and where we least expect to encounter him." ✨

Adapted from, "Faith reflections: Feels like Good Friday," by the Rev. Angela T. Khabeb, boldcafe.org June 2020

https://www.boldcafe.org/faith-reflections-feels-like-good-friday/

WELCA CWO Board Member answers the question: What kind of WELCA woman am I?

I am Merrily Burmeister and I am a WELCA flower gal! My husband and I love to grow plants and flowers! Whether we are at our home or at the cabin, our flowers help to beautify God’s creation! Our flowers are as limitless as one’s friends that fill the pages of one’s life!

Do you have a Sacred Space? Use this resource as a helpful guide to creating a personal sacred space that enriches and supports your practice of regular worship within a community of faith. Learn how to select and create a sacred space, whether that space is a whole room, a quiet corner of a room, or your garden. Share a photo of your space.

Today’s blog by Jennifer Hockenbery, WELCA interim executive director, asks what WELCA has in common with Barbie and the messages women and girls receive about what it means to be feminine and feminist.

She writes, “Sometimes, I worry that WELCA runs into the same impossible paradox as Barbie. We want to be pro-woman, but what does that mean? We want to welcome young women but retain respect for older women. We need more money to do our work well, but it isn’t nice to ask for money all the time. Who are we, who do we want to be?”

✨Every Thursday on Facebook, Jennifer posts stories and photos of WELCA women who answer the question, “What kind of WELCA woman are you?” Do you want to answer this question? Please leave a comment!✨

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/what-kind-of-welca-woman-are-you

"When we ask God to move a mountain, God may respond by handing us a shovel. Fortunately, God works through us as a community of believers."

--Laura Brix Newbury, "Give us this day: Lessons from the forge," Daily Grace, January 20, 2020

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/daily-grace/the-power-of-gods-love

In the August issue of Boldcafe, the Rev. Minna Bothwell shares her story of the grief and trauma she continues to experience two years after the death of her brother to su***de. She writes, "Trauma has a way of undermining everything you thought you knew about others, the world, and God."

https://www.boldcafe.org/post-traumatic-living-after-su***de/

Post-traumatic living after su***de - Bold Café Content warning: Su***de is mentioned in this issue. If you or someone you know is in crisis or at risk for su***de, call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distre...

Board Member Maria Lokensgard answers:
WHAT KIND OF WELCA WOMAN ARE YOU?

Hello, I am Maria Lokensgard, from rural Minnesota.

As my unit was preparing for our summer Barbie Brunch last month, we started talking about how many different Barbies are available in our world today. The tables were filled with dolls of every kind, from every nation, and highlighting many jobs.

Our program centered around how God has made each of us with unique characteristics and backgrounds. We are all gifted with our own talents and passions, and I realized I am a proud “Cookie Baker” WELCA woman!

I have enjoyed baking since I was young, standing next to my mom learning how to measure out the flour, add the eggs, and roll out the dough. Today I love providing treats for any occasion - serving after church, going to a potluck, or visiting friends.

Thank you, God, for giving me the gift of generosity, and the stamina to spend many hours in the kitchen. All for your glory, Amen.

Help us dream together. This is a transitional year! There is an interim Executive Director, we are going to hit our goal for fundraising for Katie’s Fund (aspiration!), and we are all wondering about the next steps. Please share this form as we gather ideas about what WELCA is and can be! This is a time to reflect and dream and prepare together. Complete the strategic planning questions here https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ZXoOHfqAD0yJTmzA98teQ5HqBYO8q4hElcN3dqcoA8VUQldCMU1GWUNXM1UzTUU0TzVPR082OTc1Ry4u

Today, we remember Clara Maass, an American nurse who died as a result of participating in a Yellow Fever experiment. Maass’ fortitude and courage gave her brief life enduring significance for millions. Each August 13, the church commemorates her life as a “renewer of society” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 16).

Learn more about the life of Clara Maass in this JulyAugust 2016 article from Gather.

Called to heal: The journey of Clara Maass - Gather Magazine Late-nineteenth century New Jersey could be a difficult place for […]

"I have moved far enough that I’ve had to change pretty much every detail of daily life. Whenever that happens, I search for two places I can use for sacred space—one indoors, one outdoors." Kathryn Haueisen wrote about finding intentional sacred space in this article that first appeared in Gather magazine.

What is your go-to sacred space? ✨

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/go-to-places-for-sacred-spaces

"We all need to be forgiving. This isn’t need in the sense of ought or should; rather it is need in the sense of basic requirement for whole and healthy living."

--E. Louise Williams, "Forgiveness is for you," Daily Grace app, January 11, 2023

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/daily-grace/forgiveness-is-for-you

"There is peace in letting go."

--The Rev. Jennifer Hackbarth, "The spiritual work of transition," Boldcafe.org August 2023

https://www.boldcafe.org/the-spiritual-work-of-transition/

Remember last summer when the Barbie movie came out?
All those different Barbies! Trying to model to girls that they could be anything they wanted! Yes, I know that those dolls also set impossible standards. (Read my Blog in Bold Café at the end of the month for more on that.) But despite our feminist love-hate relationship with Barbie, the movie led to lots of women dressing in hot pink and creating memes with the phrase "What kind of Barbie are you?"

There was a kind of sisterhood that emerged. We know we aren’t all the same; we all have different bodies, different dreams, and different ways of being women.
And we can celebrate all of that.

So, on Thursdays we are starting a new WELCA facebook trend. What kind of WomanELCA are you? We are not all the same and we all have different ways of being women. But we are a sisterhood. Let’s celebrate that. Come back each Thursday to meet a unique WomanELCA! (And consider sending me your picture to post too!)

Try Daily Grace and encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/daily-grace/headlines-got-you-down

"We are all created to stand boldly in our bodies, embracing our rough edges and smooth surfaces. . . You are enough. You are created in the image of God." Read this month's stewardship devotion written by the Rev. Ralen M. Robinson.

🌸https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/devotions/the-strength-in-embracing-yourself

The strength in embracing yourself - Women of the ELCA By Ralen M. Robinson Read Psalm 139: 13-14 “For you formed my inward parts: you knitted me together in myRead More

"It is God's spirit working in and through our faith that makes all things possible--not how much faith we have."

--Cheryl M. Peterson, "Enough faith?" Daily Grace App, July 30, 2023.

"We may be seeds planted in someone else’s life that God will grow for a purpose we cannot even imagine. Or God may need us to sit with a grieving neighbor and observe the changes the earth is producing with them."

Read the current issue of Boldcafe.org written by the Rev. Amy Waelchli.

https://www.boldcafe.org/god-works-through-us/

God works through us - Bold Café by Amy Waelchli One night, I quietly struggled to make it all fit in the small cupboard. On my hands and knees, matching each lid with the corresponding container, I marveled at the amount of reusable plastic butter containers, etc. I saved. Arranging them to be organized and accessible, I huffed an...

Join us tonight for community via Zoom at our next Boldcafe Monthly Dinner, Thursday, August 1, at 7 pm (CDT). Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery will lead our conversation on compassionate dialogue and we'll create a civility toolbox.

We look forward to seeing you! ❤

💻REGISTER: https://boldcafe.org/dinner