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What You Need to Know About Saint John’s “Mission Guild”

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has “affirmed each woman’s identity as a child of God and her relationship with Jesus Christ.” Lutheran Women in Mission are encouraged and equipped to live out their lives in active mission ministries and to support missions around the world through their sacrificial gifts of Mite Box offerings and tireless service. Saint John’s Mission Guild is our congregation’s LWM group.

Our activities through the year include Bible studies, business meetings, a summer “picnic” in June, a “lunch out” in August, our special Fall event, Red Stocking donations, a Christmas party and a Secret Sisters program. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, except July, at 10:30 AM in Room 301. We learn and pray together with Bible studies and devotions.

Offerings are collected monthly through our Mite Boxes for the Rocky Mountain District and National mission grants, projects and program expenses. We also bring free-will offerings for Mission Guild’s outreach and expenses.

Workshops, rallies and conventions are held yearly through the Rocky Mountain District and National Lutheran Women in Mission organizations. We also subscribe to two LWM publications: “Lutheran Women’s Quarterly” and “Tidings”.

LWM Sunday is celebrated the second Sunday in October. Along with special references to our organization, a list of the Rocky Mountain District and National mission grants are included in the service folder.

This year LWM is celebrating eighty years of mission funding and service throughout the world. Since 1942, over 1,100 gifts and grants totaling over $125 million have been distributed through the Rocky Mountain District and National mission projects. That’s God’s power in action!

We welcome any women of the congregation to join our group, to “serve the Lord with gladness”. For more information on Mission Guild, please contact LeOra Spence or check out the bulletin board across from the office.

The Rocky Mountain district website is: lwmlrmd.org. The National LWM website is: lwml.org.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.

October LWM Mission Grant Story

This month we want to tell you more about “Bringing Inner-City Children to Camp”, a program of Lutheran Valley Retreat in Colorado, recipients of a $25,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2021–2023 biennium.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Lutheran Valley Retreat (LVR) shares God’s grace and glory through His creation in a year-round retreat facility surrounded by Pike National Forest in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. LVR hosts adult and family retreats, as well as summer camps for youth.

Each summer, the camp serves nearly one thousand campers, ages eight to seventeen. Approximately half of these campers are teenagers coming from states across the country to serve in various projects to maintain the facilities of LVR. The remainder of the summer campers come primarily from Colorado, including Denver and Colorado Springs.

Research shows that camp transforms the lives of young people in many ways. Taking a break from regular routines, responsibilities, technology and cell phones allows young people to truly be themselves. Campers at LVR have an opportunity to enjoy and explore nature, develop lifelong friendships and cultivate meaningful relationships with adults who become mentors.

Each day, campers play in God’s creation with activities like archery, rock climbing, fishing and crafts. They experience God’s Word through daily devotions, create and watch skits based on the Bible, learn praise songs and worship around a campfire. Through these fun activities, the Gospel is shared, showing God’s love to all His children.

The average cost of summer camp is $400 per camper. LVR has been blessed with generous donors to provide scholarships for children each year; however, not everyone is aware of this option. There are families in the Denver area that are unable to fully finance camp or provide transportation to LVR for their children. LVR will work with Lutheran churches in Denver over the next two summers to arrange registration and transportation for multicultural children of all socio-economic levels to attend summer camp. With this grant, LVR hopes to offer fifty full-scholarships to campers from inner-city Denver, using the remainder of the grant to provide transportation.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.

Alpha Center: “Jessica’s Story”

The Alpha Center is a nonprofit Christian Medical Clinic in the heart of Fort Collins and takes pride in providing compassionate, exceptional medical care to those in need of a pregnancy test, options education, STD screening, professional relationship counseling and sexual health education. The Alpha Center does not provide nor refer for abortions. All services are offered at no cost, thanks to the generous support of many individuals, businesses and churches in our community.

Each month, Alpha Center will share a (anonymized) client’s story with us so we can see the impact made by our support.

Jessica* came to us to learn more about her options and confirm her pregnancy. During her first visit, she shared that she was anxious and trying to decide between parenting and abortion. During her ultrasound, she was quiet but emotional when she heard the heartbeat and viability was confirmed. The father of the baby, Michael, was also very quiet during the ultrasound, and they declined to take an ultrasound picture with him.

During her repeat appointment the following week, Jessica shared that after the last appointment, she and Michael had talked for three hours and decided to parent. She had already applied for Medicaid and scheduled her first prenatal appointment. During that week's ultrasound, she smiled, looked at the fetal model, asked questions and accepted a photo to take home. We finished the appointment by sharing program information and sending her on, thankful that she had chosen life!

The Board of Human Needs finds opportunities for the members of Saint John’s to provide a Christian witness by helping people in the community struggling with daily necessities.

The “Jehovah Jireh Principle”: Trusting God’s Promise to Provide

Elijah said to the widow, “For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.1 Kings 17:14–16

Over and over in His Word, God reminds us that He is “Jehovah Jireh”, which means “God will provide.” This name is first seen in Genesis 22:14, when God provides a ram in the thicket in place of the sacrifice of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham called that place “Jehovahjireh”—“The Lord will provide.” Another example of God’s provision is how He cared for Elijah, sending ravens to feed him by the brook, then sending him to a widow in Zarephath who had only a handful of flour in a jar and little oil in a jug. She was preparing her “last loaf of bread” to feed herself and her son when Elijah asked for bread. How could she share with Elijah? But God promised He would provide and that the oil and flour would not run out, and it didn’t! He not only provided the oil and flour, He also answered Elijah’s prayer and brought her son back to life when he died.

Applying the “Jehovah Jireh Principle” to our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet

There have been many times when we’ve wondered “Is our oil and flour going to run out?” In our case, it’s cereal, sugar, tuna, money, etc.! The answer has always been “No. I promised I will provide.” Invariably, donations of particular items or cash will appear at just the right time. We have also been blessed by receiving food from the county food bank as well as some grants through Walmart and Thrivent. We are so very thankful for how God blesses this ministry through you, His people, and in turn for blessing the community through our food pantry and clothing closet.

Increasing Needs, Growing Numbers

At the beginning of 2022, we averaged approximately ten families per week. By June, our average was thirteen. In July we averaged fifteen, and in August our average has been twenty-plus families (approximately 75–100 individuals) per week. Our highest number on a single Tuesday has been 26 families, 119 individuals! Because of the increasing needs of families during this time of rapidly rising prices, we anticipate this number will increase as well, also increasing our needs.

The Food Bank of Larimer County has continued to provide many free food items and to waive the per-pound fee they normally charge. They anticipate resuming this charge in 2023. We purchase approximately 65% of the food and paper products we provide to clients, averaging $12–15 each client (per week). The combination of rising prices and rising numbers of clients each week means our expenses are increasing and our need for donations has also increased. We continue to apply for grant funds and have been blessed to receive $1,000 in Walmart grants and $250+ in Thrivent grants, plus private donations of food and cash. Our clients even bring in clothing closet donations in appreciation for what they receive.

Current pantry needs include tuna, bar soap, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal (both hot and cold), one- to two-pound bags of flour and sugar, corn or flour tortillas, family-sized cans of soup (especially chicken soups), baby wipes, shampoo and toothpaste. And cash donations are always welcomed.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers as our church reaches out to the community through our food pantry and clothing closet, sharing God’s blessings and His love. We continue to be reminded that God will provide all our needs. Just as Abraham, Elijah and the widow of Zarephath trusted God’s promise to provide, so can we. And we boldly proclaim Jehovah Jireh! The Lord Provides!

From 9:00 to 11:00 AM every Tuesday morning, the members of Saint John’s who operate our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet distribute non-perishable food and clean, gently-used clothing to those in need in our community.

September LWM Mission Grant Story

This month we want to tell you more about the “Caring for and Sharing Christ with Hurting People” program of Concordia Seminary St. Louis, recipients of a $100,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2021–2023 biennium.

Deaconesses are professional church workers trained to the share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through works of mercy, spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith. Equipped with God’s Word, deaconesses share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have not yet heard it. In reaching out to those in need, deaconesses continually point them toward the cross.

Deaconesses may serve in the parish, in institutions or in the mission field. Their specific ministries change depending on their call, but all deaconesses reach out and care for others as they share the love of Christ. They lovingly and selflessly provide much-needed care and works of mercy to people who are suffering and often marginalized. These include people who are sick, homeless, disabled, malnourished, homebound or hospitalized, enduring grief or loss, in hospice care or living in nursing homes or convalescent homes. They also may serve those who are mentally ill, troubled youth, teen mothers, children of divorce and those suffering from neglect or domestic violence.

Alexandria Shick is a third-year Concordia Seminary deaconess student serving her internship at St. Luke's Lutheran Church and School in Oviedo, Florida. She plans to serve in correctional chaplaincy after graduation.

Deaconesses serving in a parish may visit shut-ins or make hospital calls. They may manage the Sunday School program, lead women’s’ Bible studies and work with youth. Regardless of how they serve, they listen and grow to understand the needs of those they serve. Deaconesses may serve as hospital chaplains or work in institutions that are Recognized Service Organizations of the LCMS. They may serve as counselors at a center for troubled youth or minister to unwed mothers who learn to care for their child. Deaconesses who are recent immigrants to the United States use their languages skills and understanding of different cultures to help people assimilate into this country. They understand the struggles immigrants are facing and keep pointing them to the loving arms of Christ.

Jennifer Wientge is a 2020 Residential Deaconess Studies Program graduate currently serving as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs chaplain resident in St. Louis.

The deaconess certificate is awarded to women in various ways. Some women complete the three-year residential program at Concordia Seminary or the dual degree program while also studying at St. Louis University. Some women receive their training and certification by participating in a four-year distance course study through Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) or Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT). As of the spring of 2021, women can become certified as they study four years in their home area through the online deaconess studies program.

The money from this grant will help fund scholarships for the training of women to become certified deaconesses. It will also cover some of the costs of managing the deaconess training program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.

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