Women
of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
Started in 1988, WELCA had it’s beginnings in Ladies’ Aid, Women’s Missionary
Society, quilting groups, clothing drives, food drives, groups that made cancer
dressings, and hundreds of other causes, that were just part of their daily
lives. Just as women were part of the first followers of Jesus, their
involvement in church life has always been there.

Visit the Women of the ELCA Web Site.
Click here.
WELCA Mission Statement
To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
The women of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are a “church unit” of the ELCA. We
have a Circle in our “unit” that meets monthly. The main
emphasis of circle meetings is fellowship and sharing the Word and Love of God.
Hannah Circle meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:00am (except
January, February, July and August). This circle usually meets in the fellowship hall, but some members
like to meet in their home when they are the hostess. This information is posted
monthly in the newsletter and in the bulletin.
Our Bible study uses the “Gather Magazine – Gathered by God”, the magazine of Women
of the ELCA.
In addition to Circle meetings, we host other events:
Women’s Mother/Daughter Spring Supper
Usually held in May
Meeting/Fall
Funeral lunches when held at Good Shepherd, are coordinated by our
members
All women of the church and their guests are always welcome at all our meeting
and functions.
In addition to events at Good Shepherd, we meet with the women from our
Northwest Conference for events at their churches, and also for retreats,
conventions and leadership gatherings with all the women of our Northern
Illinois Synod – Women’s Organization.
WELCA Purpose Statement
As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in
Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to grow in
faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry
and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and
the world.
Contact
Contact the church for more information about programs and opportunities for
women, 815-369-5552 or
goodshepherdlc@mediacombb.net.
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All Women Welcome
All women of the church and their guests are welcome to attend all circle
functions. Please Contact the church office for more information about our
Circle Groups, Women of the ELCA, and/or our Bible Study material.
WELCA Spring 2023
The Spring Gathering for our conference was recently held with approximately
40 in attendance. Nearly 90 attended the NIS WELCA Spring Retreat. It is
truly a blessing to be in the company of women.
There are more opportunities to gather as women coming up this fall. The
Northern Illinois Synod Women’s’ Organization Convention will be held
October 7 at St. John’s in Peru. The Twelfth Triennial WELCA Convention is
currently scheduled for September 19-21 with the 2023 WELCA Gathering
currently scheduled for September 21-24 both in Phoenix, Arizona.
Our very own Good Shepherd Piece Corp women faithfully gather every
Wednesday. They work on the quilts both at home and in Fellowship Hall. They
are certainly an example of ministry and action!
Northern Highlights is a quarterly publication with WELCA news for our
synod. It includes reports from the Executive Committee, the other
conferences as well as articles from our Discipleship, Justice and
Stewardship advocates. The emailed version is free and the hardcopy version
is $10 per year. Subscription forms are available on the WELCA bulletin
board or from Sheila.
Gather is the magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. Several months ago, Good Shepherd WELCA received a generous
donation so that we would be able to order subscriptions. There are copies
available in the magazine rack near the church office. Future monetary
donations for the subscriptions can be given to Rene’ or Sheila.
Sheila K. Keene

Giving Thanks to God: All Day, Every
Day
The Women of GSLC will collect Thankofferings during November and December.
The daily practice of giving thanks to God for blessings received is
at the heart of our lives as women of faith. Even the ordinary blessings of
daily life call us to gratitude.
Lutheran women have a time-honored way to practice giving
thanks—Thanksofferings. Some women keep the practice of setting aside daily
Thankofferings throughout the year, and then joining all those daily
offerings into one with those of other women in the community. Well, it is
powerful.
In ordinary times—and some of us may be able to hold Thankoffering
services just as we always have in ordinary times—our treasurer gathers up
all the offerings given at the Thankoffering service and forwards the total
amount to the churchwide expression of Women of the ELCA. (See the WELCA
2020-2021 Thankoffering service at welca.org/thankofferings)
But things are different this year, so many among us will be making
our Thankofferings differently. Many of us will pray in private and make our
Thankofferings in private, too (Jesus told us that God hears us when we pray
privately: Matthew 6:6). Others of us will pray together on the phone or via
internet and make our Thankofferings that way (Jesus told us that where two
or three are gathered in his name, he is there among us: Matthew 18:20. he
did not rule our phones or the internet!)
You can learn more about Thankofferings and their long history at
welca.org/thankofferings.
Hannah Circle
Hannah Circle Typically meets the first
Thursday of the month.
Circle Information
If you would like information about our Circle, Women of the ELCA,
and/or our Bible Study material please contact René Johnson (815) 369-2818.
All Women of the church and their
guests are welcome to attend all circle functions.
Gather Magazine for Women of the ELCA
Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of
articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and
challenge that help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
Gather is published 10 times a year with combined issues in
January/February and July/August. A print subscription is $19.95 a year.
Digital access (computer, iPad, Android) is free to print
subscribers.
All women of the church and their guests
are welcome to attend all circle functions.
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