St. John’s LWML/Ladies Aid New:

In July of 1942, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League or LWML was founded by 28 delegates from 15 districts in Chicago, Illinois. Today, over 80 years later, it is active in every district of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

In the fall of 2022, with thanksgiving for 80 years of the LWML, all societies were encouraged to reflect God’s love by blessing others with 80 of something.  The members of St. John’s Ladies Aid set a goal of collecting and donating at least 80 needed wish list items to the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester. For over 35 years, the Gift of Life Transplant House has provided a “home that helps and heals” to transplant patients and their caregivers. The home is always in need of donated items and monetary donations to help keep the costs of providing this wonderful service at a minimum for the families going through such serious medical situations.

At the October 2022 St. John’s Ladies Aid meeting, our Ladies Aid members brought in nearly twice the goal of 80 needed items for the Gift of Life Transplant House! Thanks to Ladies Aid members, Marlys Dodd and Kathe Schroeder for delivering them to the house. The back end of Marlys’s vehicle was certainly full!

We give thanks to the Lord for the 80 years of the LWML in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We praise His name and with His guidance plan to continue to follow our motto “Serve the Lord with gladness”!

THANK YOU to all those that donated to the 2024 “SOUPER” Bowl ‘PLUS’ soup and food collection for the Racine UMC Food Shelf and Bonner School Backpack Program organized by the Ladies Aid! It was once again truly a “SUPER” event this year! A total of 710 individual food items and cans of soup were collected. This is the highest amount ever collected! This year the “Who Cares” basket took first place honors with a total of 333 items. The Chiefs, the actual Super Bowl LVIII champs, placed second with a total of 230 items collected. Coming in third place this year were the 49ers bringing in 147 food and soup items. The “real winners” are the Racine UMC Food Shelf participants and the many Bonner School Backpack Program families who will benefit through this act of kindness. Romans 12:13 says: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.”

On Saturday, February 10, 2024, 43 people, both men and women, attended the Rochester LWML Zone Winter Retreat held here at St. John’s.

Rochester LWML Zone Pastoral Counselor, Rev. Jim Heining, presented a very informative and in-depth Bible study entitled “Mardi Gras and Cheap Grace”– What is this all about? based on Romans 3: 23-24 “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Retreat attendees had time for coffee and treats prior to heading upstairs to the sanctuary for the Bible study presentation. Following the presentation a delicious lunch was served by our Ladies Aid members in the fellowship hall.

We are so grateful to our Lord for once again giving us the opportunity to delve into His word and to share a time of Christian fellowship with our members of our Rochester LWML Zone congregations.

Celebrate the LORD of the Nations: Psalm 33:12-13 was the theme for the national LWML 40^th Biennial Convention held on June 22-25, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Five members of the St. John’s Ladies Aid were able to attend:  Charlotte Weichmann, Bev Feine, Kathy Boettcher, Kathy Tordsen, and Audrey Oehlke. The women enthusiastically shared their uplifting experiences from the convention with us at our July 2023 Ladies Aid Meeting. The 41st LWML Biennial Convention is scheduled to be held in June of 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska.

This year we are looking forward to the 2024 LWML MN South Semi-Annual Convention being held in Mankato, MN, June 20-22, 2024. The convention theme will be based on Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

There were nearly 80 people who attended the Mugs and Muffins event on Saturday, January 27th. It was a lot fun and a wonderful time of fellowship.

2023 Honorary Members – Joyce Gilbert, Käthe Schroeder, Ardis Copple, Marlys Dodd, and Audrey Oehlke.

Not pictured are Madelyn Betcher, Ardell DeBough, and Joan Thompson.

Photos from Pastor Nick and Hannah’s baby shower in September 2023

Photos from our Christmas Luncheon on December 1st, 2022

 A “SOUPER” Bowl soup collection for the Racine United Methodist Church Food Shelf, connected with Channel One, was organized by the Ladies Aid on February 13, 2022. A total of 329 cans were collected (32 more than last time!) with the final count as follows: Bengals–145, Rams–51, Who Cares–133. Although the Rams won the Super Bowl, the real winners are the many people who will have hot meals through this act of kindness. We thank Becky Fredricksen for counting the cans of soup; Kris Henke and Ray & Pam Waugh for delivering the donations to Racine UMC Food Shelf. They were very grateful for St. John’s generosity. Thank you to the Ladies Aid for organizing this collection!

LWML website: https://www.lwml.org/home

LWML Minnesota South District website: https://www.mnslwml.org/