WELCA

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.

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.