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Women of the ELCA
Mission Statement
To mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
Purpose Statement
As a community of women, created in the image of God, called to discipleship by Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, to affirm our gifts, support each other in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world.
History of WELCA at Christ the King
The ladies started a Women’s Guild shortly after Christ the King (CtK) was organized in 1968. This was the beginning of WELCA at CtK as we know it today. Right from the beginning up to the present the ladies supported Christ the King programs along with outreach of their own into the community and the world through Lutheran World Relief. Meetings were held in homes and Trash & Treasure Sales were held in front of Kroger and
Super–X which were right across the street from Runyon School where we first held church services.
The move into our new church building brought the beginning of the Mary Martha Circle, Rachel Circle, the first Advent Brunch and a place to hold the Trash & Treasures Sales. We always have considered this Sale to be a service to our community as well as a way to make money. – Sonia Cox
Ladies, we would like to invite you to attend our WELCA Board Meetings. We’re always happy to have new people informed and involved. So many churches no longer have an active “ladies group” in their congregations. We are very fortunate to have WELCA alive and well!
Benevolences
- Outside our walls...
- Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center, Richmond, IN
- Osterlen Services for Youth, Inc. , Springfield, OH
- Lutheran World Relief
- Monetary gifts
- Quilts (Mary Martha Circle)
- School kits (Rachel Circle)
- Inside our walls...
- Love Fund
- YES youth group
- LOGOS
- 5th grade Bibles
- Yearly donation toward CtK landscaping – done by Barb McQuillen
- Call to Ministry Fund – available to person(s) from CtK seeking further education as a call to ministry (i.e. deaconess, deacon or pastor)
- Help provide meals for special events such as funerals and receptions
- WELCA annual sponsored events...
- Spring General meeting – soup, salad supper with some kind of program or craft event
- Trash & Treasure Sale – 1st Friday in May
- Brunch between services held in July
- Fall General meeting – soup, salad supper with program or craft event
- Advent Brunch – 1st Saturday in December, harpist Linda Grieser and other great talents!
- WELCA units from Ascension and Resurrection Lutheran churches are invited.
- Hand-crafted angel ornaments are given to each woman attending.
- Mary Martha Circle's past service projects...
- 70 quilts were made by the Mary Martha Circle. Most quilts were sent to Lutheran World Relief (LWR), however, some were also given to a local, inner city shelter.
- School bags were sent to LWR.
- 6 layettes were sent to LWR.
- Annually Mary Martha Circle sponsors a needy family at Christmas and supports the Roselawn Food Pantry.
- Rachel Circle's past service projects...
- Sending items to overseas troops
- Providing pajamas for women & children in a shelter
- Preparing Easter Baskets for the Wilmington Shelter
- Providing books for underprivileged children
- Gathering health and grooming kits for the Wilmington Shelter
- Donating items for the Fair Trade coffee baskets
- Making monetary donations for synod projects.
- Each Christmas, Rachel Circle adopts a family from SELF in Hamilton. The family receives many gifts of warm coats, clothing, shoes, household items, toys, etc…
More information about WELCA, the Mary Martha Circle, and the Rachel Circle is available from the Ministries page by clicking on the “WELCA” tab.