Women's Ministry and CirclesCircles of women have gathered throughout the ages. They gather to offer support, care for children, tend to the sick, educate or empower one another, and co-create community. Elim has a long history of women's circles for many purposes and they meet on a monthly basis in various locations. They also sponsor several events during the year, such as the Aebleskiver Breakfast and our Biannual Bazaar.
Check the church calendar for dates and places or contact one of the women below: Women's Board Doris Widger, President Kathy Matt, Vice President Mercedes Cooke, Secretary open, Treasurer Jan Moffitt, Esther Circle coordinator (not currently meeting) Shirley Bunce, Grace Friendship Circle coordinator (not currently meeting) Doris Widger, Elizabeth Circle coordinator -- meets once a month The Board of the Women’s Ministry usually meets the first Sunday of each month after the first service in the Fireside Room (office). Watch for more information in the Elim Express, Sunday bulletins, and the Elim’s online calendar. We are part of the WELCA What is WELCA? It’s an easy way to say Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Our organization includes Lutheran women who gather in more than 7,000 locations in the U.S. and the Caribbean, for service, study, advocacy, fellowship and more! WELCA embraces all kinds of ministries that support our mission of mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Learn more at: www.womenoftheelca.org Programs and Activities
Let us know what you are interested in and we will help you get connected. (Call the church office or watch the bulletin for who to contact.) The ELCW supports the following programs with the funds we raise at our events:
Circles Elim’s women’s ministry is run by a board that includes representatives from the three circles. You are welcome to join a circle. They meet monthly and include fellowship and Bible Study (and usually some food is involved!) Call the circle chairperson to find out when the next meeting will be held and the location. You may wish to try out a few of the circles to find out the one that is right for you. All women are also invited to participate in any of our events and activities without joining a circle. We also have a few non-circle groups at Elim. See below for more details about the Crafters Group and the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Grace Friendship Circle Grace Friendship Circle is inactive at the moment. Esther Circle Esther Circle is inactive at the moment. Elizabeth Circle Elizabeth Circle meets monthly and is open to all women. Check the church calendar or Elim Express for details. Elizabeth Circle is currently using an ELCA magazine, “Gather” for our monthly Bible Study. To subscribe to this magazine, call: (toll-free) 844-409-0576 or visit their website at: gathermagazine.org. Coordinator: Doris Widger. Other groups that are not officially part of the ELCW but you might be interested in:Elim Crafters Leader: Becky Wyrick We meet most Saturdays (10 am – 1 pm) to work on crafts to sell at pop-up sales on Sunday mornings during the year. The money raised goes to various Elim and community projects and programs. Contact Becky Wyrick to get on the email list to see when we are meeting. Prayer Shawl Ministry A prayer shawl is a symbol of love, crafted to give comfort and warmth to those who receive it. For over 12 years Elim’s Prayer Shawl Ministry has knitted and crocheted at least 275 prayer shawls to give to people experiencing hardships so that they may know that they are embraced by God and Elim during these difficult times. As we create the shawl we say a prayer for the often unknown recipient and before we send them we gather to bless them using this prayer: “May God's grace be upon this shawl... warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing. May this mantle be a safe haven... a sacred place of security and well-being... sustaining and embracing in good times as well as difficult ones. May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope, kept in joy, graced with peace, and wrapped in love. Blessed Be!” (prayer by Janet Bristow) We send a shawl with our Ministry Teams that go to Mexico and New Orleans, as well as people at Elim who are healing or grieving. You may have seen us at work during the worship services. We also knit and crochet at home. We don’t meet regularly but if you would like to join our group and get directions on how to make a shawl, feel free to talk to one of us: Nancy Clarke, Suzy Sellai, Andrea Nortz, Doris Widger, Robin Butts, Lana Reuter, Mary Wyrick and Susan Rodkin. |
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