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WELCA: Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
A network of nearly 500,000 women making a difference in the world because
God has made a difference in their lives.
WELCA meeting, Sept 9, 2008
MINUTES:
These minutes document WELCA's planning session for the church year 2008-2009. A Sunday meeting was held after church in one of the classrooms with lively conversation amongst its members. There were approximately 24 attendees to enjoy coffee, tea, and fresh muffins made by Robin Russell, Helga Codino and Sylvia Bruschi. Present were: Helga Codino, Christa Zago, Marion Krumlauf, Laura Atwell, Ingrid Turner, Edna Smith, Ann Marie Heidgerd, Linda Horner, Robin Russell, Gail Dietz, Grace Dietz, Harriet Sandberg, Cathy Oliveto, Heni Gullotta, Ann Dietz, Laurie Lewis, Paroo Streich, Barbara Misiano, Debbie Still, Cynthia Brosnan, Carol Evans, Lorna Lee, Jeanne Zipp and Enid Petriccione.
President Helga Codino began the breakfast by asking our chaplain, Robin Russell, to lead us in prayer; and then asked the secretary (Marion Krumlauf) for the minutes of the past year. They were reviewed and the treasurer’s report was given. As the church now takes care of WELCA’s money,
Marion
reported that there was $1,237.23 in the WELCA account (as reported to her by church treasurer, Marian Kelly).
After the minutes had been read, Helga began to proceed with plans for the new church year:
1. HERALD IN THE SEASON
First discussed was the “Herald in the Season” event (scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2008) when the church is decorated for Advent, the Christmas tree goes up, when personal and church wreaths are made, and when a light dinner is shared. Helga said she would ask the Sabanosh’s if they would consider running the wreath-making event again this year and that she (Helga) would buy the wreaths the week before. Cathy Oliveto agreed to get the sign up sheet made and Paroo Streich will send her pictures she can use for this. Heni Gullotta, with the help of Paroo, agreed to coordinate the food for the evening. Sylvia Bruschi and Carol Evans agreed to be on the cleanup committee. Heni also agreed to collect the money from those who sign up to buy wreaths. Christa Zago (with help from husband Harv,) agreed to make bows. Marion Krumlauf will organize the erection of the Christmas tree and will be asking Kevin Kelly to help. A sign up sheet will be available by November 9, all funds must be collected by November 30. Laurie Lewis mentioned a project wherein an “angel” is made out of an old hymnal. There was a good deal of interest in this and she will look into possibly having that as something we can add to the evening’s events.
2. DOVE TREE
Next we discussed the “Dove Tree” event. Ingrid Turner, with the help of Lorna Lee, has agreed to run this year's event. Cathy Oliveto will provide past years’ instructions. Linda Horner (head of LCR Outreach) asked if a note from the church could be inserted in each of the bags to the different families. She and her team have agreed to take care of this item. Ingrid said she was planning to have the gifts come back wrapped this year to avoid the last minute wrapping that has taken place in past years. Gail Dietz offered to buy a new tree (pre-lit) and foldable and have it in the lounge for Saturday November 29 in time for Sunday the 30th (lst Advent).
3. LENTEN PROJECT: GOD'S MATH
Moving into the new year, we discussed our Outreach focus for Lent. Linda Horner suggested a Lenten devotion called “God’s Math”. It is an ELCA World Hunger Campaign and involves following a calendar (that will be handed out at the beginning of Lent to all families interested) that runs for 40 days. Monies will be saved in a small box to be given out and when all is returned the monies will be sent to Thrivent, then returned to us with additional monies added from Thrivent, and then sent to ELCA World Hunger. The Sunday School students will be involved as well. Heni Gullotta and Enid Petriccione agreed to help Linda spearhead this program during Lent.
4. WOMEN'S RETREAT
Helga Codino spoke about our successful 2008 “Women’s Retreat” and informed us that it would be held again on March 20-22, 2009 at Our Lady of the Atonement Retreat House (the Franciscan Sisters of Atonement-Graymoor run that house). John Heidgerd is involved in getting a speaker and the price per person would be between $135 and $160. Sylvia Bruschi will prepare a sign up sheet by the beginning of October. Barbara Misiano agreed to collect the monies. If there is a problem with payment, interested women are to see Helga, as WELCA can provide scholarship for those who want to attend but cannot for financial reasons.
5. EASTER BASKETS
Next we discussed the Easter Basket Project. The baskets must be made on Sunday, March 29 after church in order for them to be ready by Friday of that week (before Palm Sunday). Cathy Oliveto will prepare flyers asking for candy and begin making the announcements around March 1. Christa Zago agreed to make the bag labels and will see that all materials are ready for making baskets on March 29. Ann Marie agreed to run the event that Sunday.
6. LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS
The next topic for discussion was the Lenten Soup Suppers beginning in February where families sign up for a Wednesday evening soup supper (for about 40 people) during the six weeks of Lent. Ann Dietz agreed to coordinate this.
7. FATHER'S DAY PICNIC
We discussed whether or not WELCA wanted to take on the Father’s Day picnic next June 21. Ann Marie said we should make up sign up sheets for next year's event so we can know how many to buy food for. As no one wanted to commit to helping at this point it was decided to bring this up at the next WELCA meeting to be held in the new year.
8. MIDNIGHT RUN
Paroo Streich asked if anyone would like to help with the Midnight Run scheduled for Friday, October 3. She requested help that Friday from
3-
5pm
packing bagged lunches to be handed out that night. Also, she asked if anyone would like to come along on the run. So far Linda Horner, Pat Cody and Paroo have been doing this. Paroo will have a sign-up sheet for food contributions on September 14. She also mentioned that the Emergency Shelter Partnership program (in which we house the homeless in our church) will take place November 17-23, 2008. She invited people to sign up to provide food and/or stay over night as church chaperones.
9. PRAYERS FOR JIMMY
Cathy Oliveto mentioned that she hoped we would all pray for her son, Jimmy, who leaves for
Iraq
on September 25. Helga Codino stated that this was the day the Confirmands are to meet at night and asked Sylvia Bruschi if she would facilitate prayers in the chapel for Jimmy and invite the Confirmands and others who wished to attend.
Marian Krumlauf reminded the group that we are still collecting eye glasses and cell phones for the Northern Westchester Shelter for Battered Women. There are baskets in the hall for these items (near the WELCA room).
As there was no more business, Helga Codino thanked those that contributed to the set up and food for the morning’s meeting, and then asked chaplain Robin Russell to close the meeting with a prayer. WELCA'S next meeting is to be scheduled in the new year.
Respectfully submitted by Marion Krumlauf, Secretary
What "WELCA" is:
To quote from guidelines that have been given to us from our national organization with the same name as ours, “As Women of the
Evangelical
Lutheran
Church
in America (WELCA), we share a three-fold mission: to nurture growth in faith, to build and support community, and to put witness into action through service to others.”
At Resurrection, we consider our mission to be one of support, as best we can, to those that need our care and love, whether it be with money or physically, both within our church and outside. We are spiritually supported by our Chaplain. Anyone is invited to join us. WELCA does not have a closed membership. It is open to all women of Resurrection.
At the beginning of each church year we offer a special brunch (usually in October) at which time we elect new officers and brainstorm for the Fall. We try not to get stuck in the way of having to hold the same events every year; we may or may not do them again. This gives us flexibility in our planning. We always welcome new ideas. In the past we have held tag sales, fashion shows, craft events, educational events, sponsored less fortunate families at Christmas (Dove Tree Project), made quilts for the institutions (as well as Easter baskets), and sewed for good causes. There are many other things we do (or have done) that can’t be listed here.
Each year in January or February, WELCA holds a brunch meeting to organize its spring events. Other meetings are called when we are organizing a specific event. We inform the congregation of upcoming events and needs through the Messenger and the weekly Happenings and eConnection publications. Women can participate for some events and not others, as they choose. It is very rewarding to have a direct hand in helping others.
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