Women's Ministries

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) is a network of Lutheran women committed to growth in faith, leadership development, education, advocacy and service. All female members of Shepherd of the Valley are part of WELCA and welcome to any of the groups.

Shepherd of the Valley Women of the ELCA Board 2006

President: Pat Stewart
Vice-President: Susan Kluksdal
Secretary: Kristen Nate
Treasurer: Karla Wold

Mission Growth: Susie Dietz
Mission Growth nurtures spiritual growth through enabling and encouraging women to share the good news as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. It also provides opportunities for each woman to identify her own gifts and leadership skills and makes available resources for Bible study and personal faith development.

Mission Action: Susan Johnstone
Mission Action is about being in direct servant roles. We act to ensure that all people have basic human needs, equality, justice and safety. The project for this year will be to gather disposable diapers for the City Light Home for Women and Children, a homeless shelter in Boise. Past projects have included gathering toilet paper, towels, washclothes and pillows for Community House, school supplies and tote bags for our sister synod in Tanzania, Africa, and school supplies, health kits, baby layettes and sewing kits for Lutheran World Relief.

Mission Community: Sharla Worthen
Mission Community is about relationships among women of faith. These relationships are disciple relationships, which include God, family, other persons of faith, the global community, Women of the ELCA units, and the un-churched.

Members @ Large: Mary Lou Isbell, Lillian Jenkins, Carol Suring

Bible Study and Women's Fellowship

Shepherd of the Valley has active women's circles and fellowship that meet each month for study, discussion and Christian growth. All women are invited to participate in any of these circles:

Anna Circle — Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Uses the study from Lutheran Woman Today magazine. Bring your Bible.
Contact: Martha Shimondle

LWR Quilters — Quilting group that makes quilts for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) which are sent to locations throughout the world each year. Meets every Wednesday at 9:00 am in the church narthex. No quilting experience needed!
Contact: Carol Suring

Naomi Circle — Studies the Gospel lessons for the month on the third Tuesday at 1:00 pm.
Contact: Donna Spencer

Ruth Circle — Meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. Studies various forms of literature having discussions from a Christian viewpoint.
Contact: Lillian Jenkins

Sisters — Meets on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm. Gathers for fellowship and service projects.
Contact: Jennifer Retana

Women's Bible Study — Meets on Thursdays at 10:00 am. Bible study of the Book of Acts.
Contact: Carol Jo Richter

Subscription information for "Lutheran Woman Today" can be obtained through the Church Office, any of the Circle contacts, or at www.lutheranwomantoday.org*.

Resources

WOMEN'S E-ZINE:

Café - Stirring the Spirit Within

What's in a name?

Café is an electronic magazine for young women who want to build Community, participate in Advocacy, strengthen Faith, and strive toward Enlightenment (CAFE!). It incorporates a Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or simply for any woman who is interested in how faith can relate to the issues that women face today.

Read. Connect. Grow.

The new URL, www.boldcafe.org*, is shorter and easier to remember. Women of the the ELCA, the women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, creates and publishes every issue of Café. Women of all ages - click on the link and receive your FREE email subscription today.

Café wins big. . . again!

In 2007, for the third consecutive year, Café received a "Best in Class" Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press in the Independent Web site or E-zine category. ACP honors excellence in religious journalism at its annual convention.