Southeastern Iowa Women of ELCA

The Advent season begins on Sunday, but not everyone enjoys the holidays. "For some of us, this time of year dredges up fresh waves of grief over our loved ones who are no longer with us. Some worry about pulling off a picture-perfect celebration or the effect seasonal shopping marathons have on their finances. The pressure to participate in the excesses that have come to define modern holidays is relentless…” Read more about surviving the holiday hype in this article from the November/December 2023 issue of Gather. https://www.gathermagazine.org/category/family/

Are you scrambling to find the perfect holiday gift for a Lutheran woman, young or old? Here’s the perfect recommendation: a pre-registration to attend the 2026 triennial gathering in Des Moines, Iowa. Whether a gift you give yourself, a friend or a loved one, a pre-registration is both a bargain and a gateway to faith development. Pre-registration is $315 until the end of the year.

Pre-register here! https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=763420&

Pre-register now!

Today we celebrate the anniversary of Lutheran women’s ordination! On Nov. 22, 1970, the Rev. Elizabeth Platz was ordained by the Lutheran Church in America, one of the ELCA's predecessor church bodies. A month later the Rev. Barbara Andrews was ordained by the American Lutheran Church, another ELCA predecessor. We give thanks for the leadership, ministry and gifts of women who have served the church throughout history, and for those women who endured the hardships and work leading to the ordination of women. For all the faithful women, we give God thanks and praise!

Today is Veterans Day. Let us pray. “Almighty and ever-living God, we give you thanks for all who have served and defended our country and the values of freedom and justice we hold so dear. Help us be mindful of the sacrifices they made and the hardship endured by their families and friends, so that we never take for granted the privileges they have secured for us. Hear us, we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen” (Prayer Book for the Armed Services, p. 66).

Prayers for both Bishops.

For all the saints - Women of the ELCA It was my first trimester of college, and I sang soprano in the chapel choir. That normally meant weekly rehearsalsRead More

Today is All Saints Day. Who do you remember today? We invite you to share names and pictures of those beloved saints who have gone before us to eternal life, where suffering and death are no more.

We give thanks for all the saints who have influenced our lives, faith and vocational decisions. We pray for all those grieving the loss of someone significant in their lives, that they will be comforted by God and know that they are not alone in their grief.

Today is Reformation Day. Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. (Sundays and Seasons)

Thankofferings - Women of the ELCA Women of the ELCA offers free, downloadable program resources—in English and Spanish—to help you grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.

In this time of great lament, suffering, and fear, we turn to God in a joint plea to end the violence and destruction of Palestinian and Israeli lives. In this urgent situation, we ask that you join us in prayer. ---> https://cmep.org/lord-have-mercy-prayers-to-end-violence/

Go in peace. God is at work in you. ❤️

2023 Triennial Gathering focuses on “Just Love” - Women of the ELCA by Cindy Novak and Liz Hunter Nearly 800 women from across the country converged on the Phoenix Convention Center toRead More

How does your Christian faith inform your voting practices? Explore this and more in the free, downloadable resource “Called to be political.” It’s available athttps://www.womenoftheelca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Calledtobepolitical.pdf

Part 1 of this five-part series happens this Saturday, with Jenny Norris Peterson presenting on "Living out our faith through our use of money." Register now at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApceiprj4sGNbq5a1aG1RxDNnNxPSK9TC6 #/registration



Jenny Norris Peterson is a women’s philanthropy speaker, writer, and consultant working with not-for-profits and families through her business, Norris Peterson Consulting. She speaks nationally, empowering women in their use of money and inspiring women to change the world through their giving.

She currently is writing a book featuring stories of more than 30 astoundingly generous women.

Jenny formerly was a Philanthropic Advisor for Lutheran World Relief and for Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to that, while serving Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, she co-created the Dare to Dream conference and statewide educational focus on women’s philanthropy.

A graduate of St. Olaf College, Jenny recently served on the national steering committee for the ELCA’s successful $200 million comprehensive campaign.

❤Hey Boldcafe readers! ❤

We are celebrating three years of meeting monthly for Boldcafe Monthly Dinner (BYOD) via Zoom! Join the Rev. Emily Carson as she leads our time together, Thursday, October 5 at 7 pm (CDT)!

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

We are excited to share our SEIA Synod with the Women of the ELCA in July 2026.

"Sometimes I get stuck worrying about the future, while rehashing the past. But God is quietly calling me to live in the moment."

-- Elizabeth Hunter, "Love in the now," Daily Grace app, August 5, 2023

https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/daily-grace/love-in-the-now



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Beginning October 7 and continuing for five weeks, Women of the ELCA offers a free, online educational series entitled God’s Gift of Money: Stewarding Money Wisely as a component of the 2122: Growing Katie’s Fund for the next 100 years campaign. In the 75-minute sessions, participants will explore basic financial concepts, methods of charitable giving, biblical foundations for giving, retirement strategies and much more. A team of experts guide the explorations and invite participants into discussion. Advance registration is required. All sessions will be recorded and made available for subsequent viewing.

To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApceiprj4sGNbq5a1aG1RxDNnNxPSK9TC6 #/registration

Hi Everyone:

Have you heard the Triennial news? The 2026 Women of the ELCA Triennial Convention and Gathering will be in Des Moines!!

Get Excited!!

Stay tuned for details!

SEIA WELCA Communications Team

Please congratulate the new Women of the ELCA churchwide executive board for the 2023-2026 triennium!

Pictured from left: Myrna Wells-Ulland, Phoenix, Arizona (2D), president; Lorie Garcia, Corpus Cristi, Texas (4E), vice president; Gwen Edwards, Bellevue, Nebraska (4A), secretary; and Jennifer Armstrong-Schaefer, Latrobe, Pennsylvania (8B), treasurer.

Churchwide executive board members:

Jean Pishaw, Forest Grove, Oregon (1E); Maria Lokensgard, St. Peter Minnesota (3F); Jennifer Ackerman, Elyria, Ohio (6E); Julia Sabella, Hillsborough Township, New Jersey (7A); Sheena Foster, Silver Spring, Maryland, (8G); Anna Jetson, Spring Grove, Minnesota (5F); Tracy Williams, Long Beach, California (2B); Yma Mulero, Carolina, Puerto Rico (9F); Ginger Cutrell, Manchester, Tennessee (9D); Joyce Brooks, Detroit, Michigan (6A); Merrily Burmeister, Bemidji, Minnesota (3B).

Riding against hunger - Living Lutheran In the 50th year of the Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, three Iowa ELCA bishops participated to raise funds for ELCA World Hunger.

Presiding ELCA Bishop The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton brings greetings to the voting members of the Twelfth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFe7aoVGnAU

A completely new synod website has launched. Check out the new seiasynod.org today. New resources library, better search feature, updated event listings, and more...

Gracious and loving God, in response to your call, voting members are participating in the Twelfth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA. Grant all participants traveling mercies, that they might arrive safely and return home rejoicing in your work. Amen.