Purpose of the Women of the ELCA

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.

2008 SUMMER BIBLE STUDY
Come to the Waters
The leader guide for use with this Bible study is available on the Lutheran Woman Today site.

A health kit for Haven House consists of a cup filled with small personal hygiene items. The school kits include school supplies for children in developing countries. In recent years, Lutheran World Relief has shipped school kits to Afganistan, China, Eritrea, Latvia, Sao Toma and Principe, and Sierra Leone.

Special projects for the Priscilla Circle include crocheting "preemie caps" for Leesburg Regional Medical Center, making the blue ribbons for Rachel's Day, donating paper products for Mother's Love Daycare, and collecting items to assist the other circles with their Lutheran World Relief kits.

Special projects for the Mary-Martha Circle are collecting canceled stamps for Habitat for Humanity and assisting the Lutheran World Relief Quilters with making quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

Habitat for Humanity packages and sells the stamps to collectors. Two Habitat homes in Lake County have been sponsored by funds raised through the Stamp Program!

In March 2008, Gloria Dei delivered 25 quilts to Lutheran World Relief. In 2007, Lutheran World Relief sent more than 450,000 quilts to Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Azerbaijan, Thailand, India, the Ukraine, Uganda, Niger, Jordan, and nine other countries.

School kits include school supplies in cloth bags. In March 2008, Gloria Dei delivered 104 school kits to Lutheran World Relief. In 2007, Lutheran World Relief sent 194,825 school kits to Uganda, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Guatamala, Tanzania, and ten other countries. Field workers in Afghanistan report that the school kits may actually encourage children to attend school.

Sewing kits include fabric, needles, thread, and buttons. In March 2008, Gloria Dei delivered 5 sewing kits to Lutheran World Relief. LWR sent 48,300 sewing kits to Mali, Zambia, and ten other countries in 2007.

Each health kit includes a washcloth, hand towel, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, nail file or clippers, and Band-Aids®. In March 2008, Gloria Dei delivered 110 health kits to Lutheran World Relief. In 2007, over 114,000 health kits were sent to Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Zambia, and ten other countries by Lutheran World Relief.