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Weekly Events
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WELCA
Women
of the ELCA
Purpose: Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America 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 God’s 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.
Monthly meetings: Fourth Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. in
the upstairs Education Wing.
Rummage Sale
Ice Cream Social
Fireside Christmas Show: Plan to
attend next year with us!
Major upcoming events:
New Project Fundraiser
2007 Sunday School wing upgrades
- Working closely with
the church’s Property Committee and with the approval of the Church
Council, Deerfield Lutheran’s Women of the ELCA Chapter (WELCA) has
embarked on a major upgrade of the basement Sunday School wing.
- In February, WELCA
hired a local painter to paint three Sunday School rooms, at a cost of
about $550. In March WELCA finalized a contract with Jefferson Ceramic
Tile Co. to install vinyl tile floor squares in those three rooms, at a
cost of about $2,500. WELCA’s total contribution will come to about
$3,100, all of which is in hand.
- Additionally, in
March, WELCA began a fund-raising campaign, asking the congregation to
contribute $2,500 for other needed work in the Sunday School wing. The
hope is to also be able to replace floor tile in the hallway and on a
small, upstairs landing; paint the hallway walls; replace ceiling tiles;
and buy at least one medium to large piece of remnant carpet for
children to sit on. Jefferson Tile Co. has also offered to donate a
stack of individual carpet sample squares for children to sit on.
- WELCA has also
pledged to give 10 percent of whatever is contributed by the
congregation to Deerfield Lutheran’s Biloxi Mission Team, which will
travel to Mississippi
in June. The maximum amount would be $250.
- The congregational
fund-raising deadline is April 30. If adequate funds can be raised by
then, the hallway and landing tile would be installed in May, at the
same time as the room tile. A display has been set up in the narthex
allowing congregation members to buy tile “squares” for $10 each.
Contribution envelopes marked “Sunday School Upgrades” are also
available in the narthex.
- Existing carpet and
hallway tile were installed in 1974 and are dirty and badly worn.
Bulletin boards and chalk boards, an old arm chair and papers and
assorted debris in the rooms have been discarded. Room dividers are
being removed and an effort is underway to sell, on-line, 50 folding
metal chairs with wooden desktops that have been stored in the rooms.
The hope is to ultimately equip each room with a large, modern
whiteboard. The hope is to make the rooms clean, functional and inviting
not only for children’s classes, but also for adult Bible studies,
meetings and other activities.
- WELCA considered
re-carpeting two of the three rooms. However, vinyl tile squares,
commonly used in schools, are less expensive than carpet and easier to
maintain. Remnant carpet can be laid down for children to sit on and
periodically replaced.
- This is a once- in-a-generation
project that will not have to be done again for 40 years, maybe longer.
Other activities: WELCA members serve
funeral luncheons, prepare food for Lenten Soup Suppers, meet for Bible
studies, donate to Lutheran World Relief, participate in the local World Cay
of Prayer service and contribute a significant amount of fund-raised money to
church improvements.
In the past year, the
group has spent its money on everything from new soup spoons to a remodeled
women’s bathroom. Upcoming projects include remodeling the men’s bathroom. We
are also working with the property committee and our woodworkers to build
more cabinetry for the upstairs education wing and to install new carpet and
tile in the downstairs Sunday School wing.
Early in 2007, we plan to paint the Sunday School rooms.
You already belong: Every
female member of Deerfield Lutheran belongs to one of four WELCA circles.
Your name is added o a circle when you join the congregation. A directory of
circle members is printed each year.
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