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.

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.
NIS WELCA 2021 Retreat
Welcome and Closing by Connie Seavey, NIS WELCA President Programs led by
Deb Quinn, NIS WELCA Discipleship Chairwomen. Book Review of “Among the
Maasai” written by Juliet Cutler.
Our Program this year will be a slide show and
discussion of our sisters in Tanzania. Deb Quinn, our WELCA NIS discipleship
chairwomen, will be leading us. Deb joined other synod members and our
Bishop Clements one year ago on a trip to Tanzania! She has taken many
photos and recorded music to share with us. This is such a wonderful
opportunity to really get to know where our Tanzanian sisters live and what
their daily lives look like.
Deb will also introduce us to a book written by
Juliet Cutler entitled “Among the Maasai”.
Click here to download and print the registration form to register for the
Retreat. Please note the deadline for registration is April 3,
2021. Include a check for $5, made payable to “NISWO” for your registration
fee.
Send this form and your check to Joan Soltwisch
16191 Hare Road, Minooka, Il 60447. The retreat will be held on a Zoom
format. It is required that you send your email address and/or phone number
to participate in the electronic retreat. The registration deadline is April
3, 2021 Due to the low registration fee this year, we are not offering a
scholarship. If you feel you will not be able to attend due to financial
reasons, please contact Connie Seavey at cjseavey50@gmail.com or phone/text
630- 947-4422. Registration forms are also available at the church.
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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