Lutheran Reflection

There’s No Greater Act of Faith Than Sleep

Are you a lark or an owl? I’m an owl. Definitely don’t function well before 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning. My most productive time of the day is 3:30 pm until midnight. My favorite shift as a nurse was 3-11. I happen to be writing this at 11:55 p.m.

I wore a Holter monitor as part of a science experiment one of my sons was doing in middle school and sure enough, my heart rate was slowest at rest between 6:30-8:00 a.m. when I was deepest asleep. I guess you would call that my biorhythm.

Where am I going with this besides letting you know not to expect much out of me early in the morning? On the subject of sleep, at the LCMS Black Ministry Convocation, Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez gave one of the keynote addresses. Most of it was way over my head but he said that there was no greater act of faith than sleep. God is solely in control during that time.
My mother always said you slept well if you had a clear conscience. Maybe it’s sort of the same thing?

Speaking of sleep …
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper.
(Psalm 121:1-5a)

Pleasant dreams, sleep well!
Love, Patti

Lutheran Resources

Peter from Fisherman to Fisher of Men

I am very excited about the new Bible study LWML has to offer, “Peter from Fisherman to Fisher of Men” by Donna Pyle. I have invited Donna Pyle to share a snippet of the Bible study with you here:

After Jesus’ Resurrection, imagine the flurry of new activity in the synagogue as men congregated to carefully scan the scrolls. The news on the street? The Messiah had been among them, was put to death, and had actually risen from the dead.

You can almost hear their questions as he re-read the scrolls:
When did God say the Messiah would actually show up?

Will God save even the uncircumcised Gentiles outside of the Law?

Are we still required to offer traditional sacrifices and offerings to God?

What does all of this mean for our gatherings and worship?

If we missed it, is it too late for us?

The teachings of Jesus caused holy turmoil in the synagogues. His disciples were preaching about salvation only through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They rightfully turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Even though Peter denied Jesus at the most crucial time in history and tried to return to what was familiar, Jesus redeemed Peter and placed a life-changing mantle of leadership on Peter’s shoulders: “Feed my sheep” (John 21).

No longer scared and running, we see a very different Peter in the book of Acts. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter has been transformed from fearful denier to brave proclaimer.
The vital importance of Peter’s Pentecost sermon cannot be emphasized enough. God, through the Holy Spirit, set the stage and made all the preparations for this first sermon with a Gospel dispensation.
God had gathered precisely those who He wanted to receive the message that day. He grabbed their attention by enabling the disciples to tell of His mighty acts in their own languages.
The Spirit had been released.

Peter stood up.

Immediately, Peter reassured those gathered that those who were speaking in tongues were not drunk — it was only 9:00 a.m. Peter quoted from the prophet Joel to remind those devout Jews that God foretold the day of Pentecost. Those learned men would have immediately recognized the text that Peter recited and connected their present situation.

Peter did not mince words. Are we surprised? He gets straight to the heart of the matter and reminds these men that they themselves were the ones who crucified and killed the Messiah (Acts 2:23).
Peter reminds them that the heart of the matter is Jesus, because we only come to know God as He is through Christ.

Remember, Peter was not preaching about an incident that happened years or even decades before. Pentecost occurred only seven weeks after Jesus was crucified, so it is very likely that some of the people in Peter’s audience had actually been present.

The young carpenter who claimed to be God’s Son would certainly have been the talk of the town. These men would have known exactly who Peter was talking about. Perhaps they had even heard Jesus preach.

Peter was not just being intentionally mean by reminding the people that they had crucified and killed Jesus. God was using Peter to convict the people of their sin. Because when God convicts us of our sin, we realize just how much we need a Savior.

Peter continued his first Gospel sermon to let them know that all was not lost – that they are not lost. He quoted David from Psalm 16:8-11, that God made known to me the path of life.

And just like those men on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our desperate state, God invites us to confess our sins and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus through the waters of Baptism. And three thousand were baptized on that very day.

Can you imagine three thousand baptisms at your church on one day? What a glorious, beautiful day!

When Pentecost concluded, all of those newly-baptized, devout Jews traveled back to their home towns with the saving message of Christ on their lips.

Is it any wonder that God’s message has survived the millennia?

What is the significance of Pentecost for us today? We who have been baptized are beneficiaries of God’s goodness, grace, and mercy.

We are to be His witnesses and tell people what we have seen, heard, and touched.

Just like Peter did.

Donna Pyle posing with her new Bible study!

To learn how you can order this Bible study visit here http://www.lwml.org/bible-studies

LWML Convention

Young Woman Representatives

2017 Convention LogoWe were privileged to welcome 81 Young Woman Representatives to the Albuquerque Convention. I’d like to share a message written by one of those young women following her return from convention. Lisa Rhonemus attended her second LWML convention (her first was when she was 12 in Tampa, Florida). She cites the joy her grandmother had working in LWML and attending conventions as motivation for attending.
Enjoy!
Patti

My sisters in Christ, I was extremely blessed to be able to represent our district as one of the Young Woman Representatives (YWRs) at the National LWML Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was there that I got to serve the Lord with gladness alongside other young women from across the country as we collected and sorted the plethora of ingathering items. I got to hear the testimonies of former and current LWML grant recipients and hear how our “Mighty Mites” have helped build schools, provide tutoring to at-risk kids, provide for the physical and spiritual needs of refugees in Lebanon, train pastors, and oh so much more. More importantly, I got to watch as we voted to fund 22 national mission grants which will impact so many lives during the next biennium.

As I have returned to the real world and reflected on my experience; I was surprised by how long it took me to really adjust and grasp what we have done for 75 years and what we do as an organization. I think there are others who struggle with explaining who we are and what we have done as well. In the same way that the Church is made up of people who have been touched by the love of Jesus, the women of the LWML have been touched as well. As Lutheran Women in Mission we are active in the Mission of the Church in reaching the lost and the erring.

By ourselves we are women who deal with the ups and downs of our various situations and try to make a difference in the world. By ourselves we deal with grief and heartbreak while trying to pull up those who have woes much greater. By ourselves we donate a few dollars each month, maybe just two pennies. By ourselves we can cook a meal, give a hug, teach a child, and make a blanket. By ourselves we might be a hand, or a foot, or an eye, accomplishing one task alone. But together?

Together we are Lutheran Women in Mission. Together we can walk to the ends of the world, seeing the needs of God’s people, and reach out with a loving hand (or hug). Together we can raise $1,582,250 for mission grants and together we can change the world by spreading the love of Christ. Together, by the guiding of the Spirit and with God’s grace, we can serve Jesus Christ above all. Together we are the LWML.

Lisa Rhonemus

Pictured, Young Woman Representatives at the 37th Biennial LWML Convention in Albuquerque

LWML Convention

A shout-out to senior LWML sisters from a convention-goer

I met several women in their 80’s and 90’s at the LWML 37th Biennial Convention last week in Albuquerque. Apparently, they are appreciated by others as much as they are appreciated by me! Serving in many different ways, big and small, they are saluted in this Facebook posting by Liz Russell of Kuna, Idaho. Enjoy!

Little Old Lutheran Ladies: some timid and proper, some out-spoken and opinionated, most of them grandmothers, many of them widows. This is what used to be the extent of what came to mind when I thought of this particular demographic. I ought to be familiar with the subject, as the church I attend has many in its congregation. After attending a bi-annual convention for an organization made up mostly of little old Lutheran women, I’ve been reflecting on the true identity of these exceptional women:
1. The many Sunday school teachers I had as a child that gave me a solid foundation for my faith.
2. The 80-year old woman from my church that sends me a card on every holiday and has remembered my birthday every year I’ve been alive.
3. The various ladies that lean over in the pew just a bit when I go up to communion to see which ridiculous pair of shoes I’m wearing that week. “I was hoping you were wearing my favorite pair – those heels with the polka dots!”
4. The 90 year old woman that really isn’t supposed to be driving, but made a trip from Meridian to the farm almost in New Plymouth by herself to visit my Mom after Dad died. “I wasn’t sure I remembered how to get there, but I passed the old Cloverleaf restaurant and figured I was heading in the right direction, so I just kept driving!” Mom said she opened the door and couldn’t have been more surprised to see her standing there.
5. The ladies in their pant suits or jacket/skirt combinations that love and compliment my crazy outfits instead of expressing disapproval.
6. The many widows of our congregation that make a special effort to check in with my Mom every week, and never shied away from the hard conversations and progressive bad news from her the past years.
7. The committee of women that provided and organized countless funeral dinners for families of the church with my Mom, free of charge.
8. The group of Lutheran women that formed a women’s missionary league during World War II, a time when being charitable and spreading the gospel surely seemed of little importance to many.
9. That same group of Lutheran women who still give millions of dollars every two years to support many mission projects throughout the world.
10. The women who traveled to Albuquerque, NM this past week, despite many of them being poor in health, limited in their mobility, or facing tragedy and heartbreak in their home lives, to give yet more of their time to this group. I attended this convention, largely due to the suggestion of my sister. I was running through all the reasons I should be at home in Idaho instead of where I was when the event was starting. As the days progressed, I got the same lovely compliments and encouragement in my faith, but this time from Little Old Lutheran Ladies from all over the world.
These women are to be admired and respected, not pitied or dismissed. I’ve realized through family discussion that my grandmother on my Mom’s side (that I never met) fit this bill. I am watching as my Mom and her sisters become them. What an honor it would be to be one day included in the Little Old Lutheran Ladies Club.

What a blessing to hear stories like this. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Joyfully serving with you,
Patti

LWML Convention

LWML Convention Is Close!

Bags are packed, cats are scheduled at the kennel, meeting agendas are printed off, clothes are clean — guess I’m ready to go to convention in Albuquerque. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there! It’s so nice that today’s media offers you the chance to watch the convention happenings on your computer at home, either live or recorded for later. I hope those of you who can’t attend will watch and perhaps plan to attend in person when we go to Mobile, Alabama in 2019!

Convention is mainly to accomplish the business of the organization. Over the years we have added many events to enhance the convention experience for those attending. At convention our activities reflect the objects of our organization — mission inspiration, mission service, mission education and gathering of funds for mission grants.

There are three women who have been at the head of planning for this convention. Lois Anderson, LWML Treasurer 2011-2015, from the LWML Utah-Idaho District, is the Host Committee Chairman. Nancy Bogenhagen, Vice President of Communication, from the LWML South Dakota District is the Convention Programming Committee Chairman. Marguerite Christman, from the LWML Oklahoma District is the Convention Manager. These women have worked tirelessly over the past two years to bring this convention into being. Much appreciation goes out to them.

As of Friday, June 16, our registration total was 3,427. There are 83 Young Woman Representatives attending this convention. The Mission Pledge Walk has 1,106 registered to participate. The choir has 252 singers signed up. We will have five Mission in Action speakers telling about their ministries, 66 exhibitors in the Above All Exhibit Hall and programs for children attending with their parents.

This convention is dedicated to proclaiming Jesus Christ above all. Our prayer is that after attending, either in person or through the media, LWML women will be renewed in enthusiasm to do just that!
Gotta run print off my airplane ticket and see if I got “TSA Precheck”! See you soon!

Love, Patti
2017 Convention Logo

 

 

 

 

 

More LWML convention news can be found here www.lwml.org/2017-convention

LWML Convention

Unity

Our LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission convention this next week is a celebration of many things. First and foremost a celebration of Jesus Christ who is above all. Secondly, we are celebrating 75 years as an organization of women in the LCMS. And with that celebration there runs a common theme: Unity.

Lutheran Women in Mission are united in many things and in many ways. Maybe you can add more than I will mention here:
United in the Christian faith … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
United in our worship of the one true God.
United in service to all people.
United in study of Holy Scripture.
United in sisterhood and women’s fellowship.
United in missionary efforts.
United in moving our organization and its work forward into the future.

All of these things which unite us will be happening at convention in Albuquerque June 22-25. Please join us there or via Livestream from your home or workplace as we unite to proclaim Jesus Christ Above All.

In him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Ephesians 1:7-10).

United in purpose with you!
Patti

LWML Convention

Gifts From the Heart

Tomorrow my LWML group will be boxing up 93 quilts to take to the Albuquerque Convention! Sunday we prayed in church for the recipients of these quilts with all our members. They are one of the Gifts From the Heart donations brought to convention by convention goers. I’m not sure historically, when LWML conventions first started having people bring items to convention for distribution to local and national agencies. If someone knows, please write to me. I do know that like our mite offerings, where an individual’s small but Spirit-led contribution is added with those of others to bring about a tremendous offering, so, too, these gifts will combine for a huge “gift” at the convention center!

Organizations receiving our shared material blessings are Albuquerque Christian Children, a privately funded foster care that emphasizes Christianity; Care Net, a pro-life group working with unplanned pregnancies; Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a Lutheran organization focusing on international disaster relief and sustainable development; and Ysleta Lutheran Mission, providing ministry and human care in the El Paso/Juarez border area.

Our quilts will go on one of two trucks that LWR is bringing. Other items such as new baby kits, school kits, health kits, sheet sets, children’s underwear and, of course, gift cards will make a definite impact in caring for God’s children in need in the immediate Albuquerque area and worldwide. This is so much a part of the heart of LWML! Women who identify needs and work to fulfill those needs. They take to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Buses, cars, suitcases and purses will be carrying Gifts From the Heart—an apt name for gifts given with heartfelt gratitude for the blessings received from our gracious God. If you’d like to add yours, find someone going to convention and send it along with them!

What to bring or send? Click here http://books.cph.org/lwml-gifts-from-the-heart

Gotta run get my gift cards purchased!
Love, Patti

Pictured is Patti and baled quilts at LWR warehouse. 35 quilts per bale.

LWML Convention

LWML Makeover Part II

Last week we talked about LWML receiving a makeover and compared it to a popular TV show called, “What Not to Wear”. After receiving a new “look”, the person with the new look often commented on how much more self-confident they felt. They frequently said that they felt better and had a happier outlook on life and themselves.

LWML is set to reveal a visual makeover at our 75th Anniversary Convention in Albuquerque this June 22-25, 2017. To back it up we look forward to providing more and better ways to enable women in the LCMS to use their God-given gifts in service to their Lord and the world. With resources, education and leadership help, just like the people who receive a makeover, we will have tools to go forward with confidence.

This new look will reflect the confidence we have in God’s continued blessings going forward for the next 75 years. His makeover of us through Jesus Christ is the basis for our confidence. Because of what Jesus has done for us we are moved by the Spirit to want others, who do not know Him as Savior, to be “made over” by Him as well. That is why LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission works to make people aware of those missions and support them financially through our mission offerings.

I pray your work in LWML and your association with your sisters in our wonderful organization will encourage you to face the future with confidence and joy! I’ll leave you with words from one of my favorite hymns:

Jesus lives! For me He died, Hence will I, to Jesus living, Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to Him and glory giving. All I need God will dispense; This shall be my confidence. LSB 490

Here’s a look at some of our NEW resources. You can find them at www.lwml.org/store :
Dear Mother Book Cover
Text Messages from God coverTogether Is Better cover

LWML Convention

LWML Makeover

I used to love watching the show, “What Not to Wear”! The premise of that show was for people to nominate someone to receive a total makeover – clothing, hair, and makeup. Whether that was an honor for the person selected or not is debatable. That person would receive a gift card to go shopping in New York City after receiving ideas from hosts Stacy and Clinton on what style or “look” she should go for. She would then come back with a completely new wardrobe. Following the shopping trip she would get a totally new hairdo and makeup. Et voila’! She returns home to a party where she excitedly reveals her new look to the friends who nominated her in the first place.

Our LWML organization is about to undergo a makeover. Just like the show, the change has been recommended through friends of LWML, surveys and strategic planning. And just like the show, LWML will receive a new look. In place of Stacy and Clinton we have had James and Audra from Husbandman agency helping with the makeover. Now, after receiving their help, along with input from others, we are ready to reveal the new look!

Our party for the reveal will be our 75th Anniversary Convention in Albuquerque on June 22-25, 2017. We hope you will be part of the party and celebrate with all your sisters in LWML our new look! Along with the new look we will be celebrating the One who has made us new through His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. The One whose name is above all names — Jesus Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2017 Convention Logo

Lutheran Resources

LWML History Books

While researching for an article I wrote last week, I was deep into the LWML history books:

  • Women on a Mission by Ruth Fritz Meyer, 1967
  • Women IN God’s Service, WINGS by Marlys Taege, 1991
  • Women In League With the Lord by Marlys Taege Moberg, 2005

LWML History Books

The first two listed are now out of print. If you have extras of these lying around the house would you consider sending them to the LWML Office, please? Also, if you are cleaning up a house of a past LWML member who might be downsizing or has gone to her heavenly home, would you consider mailing them in? It’s a great resource for those who are called on to write about our history.

Carolyn Blum

Carolyn Blum

Carolyn Blum, former LWML South Wisconsin District President, former Associate Editor and News Editor for the Lutheran Women’s Quarterly, past LWML Vice President of Organizational Resources, and 75th Anniversary Committee member has taken the job of writing the next history book.

Our LWML history is filled with changes. Even our beginning as an organization was influenced by the changing role of women in society. They were looking outside the sphere of the home and family to become more involved in the work of their church. Missions, foreign and domestic, held their interest. Caring and loving outreach were the interests of others. Still others, gifted as writers, ventured into writing Bible studies and devotions. Pooling resources and focusing on certain joint ventures enhanced the effectiveness of women’s outreach in their church body. Coming together as a national organization gave strength to these initiatives.

As our 75th year anniversary approaches, we must embrace changes within our organization to respond to changes in our church, family life, culture and soccer. (Yes, soccer games on Sunday is one of my bugaboos!) (I’ll probably get some angry emails for saying that!) (I don’t do Twitter!)

Where am I going with this? Oh yes! We have some big changes coming up in LWML. Be prepared, as we step out of our comfort zone and change something.

Through it all Lutheran Women in Mission will continue to represent the church in mission, the all-inclusive mission of serving their fellowman though the preaching of the Gospel and the practical application of that Gospel. May all be done to God’s Glory!

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