Grace Lutheran WOMEN OF THE ELCA (WELCA)

Grace Circle

The women of Grace Lutheran Church are members of the larger Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) who gather together for service, study, and fellowship. We serve our congregation by preparing and serving food for funerals. It is an honor to help our families at this time. The funeral home will contact our group and assist the family in making plans for the food the family would like to serve. We provide camperships for students to attend Bible camp. Following our annual bazaar, we make donations to a list of organizations. Grace WELCA frequently makes purchases for our church kitchen and supports our quilting and prayer shawl group by paying for supplies. We also support Lutheran World Relief by purchasing materials and assembling School kit, Baby Kits, personal care kits, soap and quilts. WELCA meets as Grace Circle the 3rd Wednesday afternoon of the month in the church basement for study (except for February, March, and December). Pastor Linda leads our Bible study using the devotional magazine Gather. Following the Bible study we have a time of fellowship, with members taking turns as hostess. December our Grace Circle members go out for a festive holiday lunch. This page includes photos from our December 2012 Christmas party at Teluwut in Lake Mills.

Grace WELCA raises funds for our service projects with our annual Norwegian Heritage Bazaar and Brunch, held the 3rd Saturday of October. Starting in September, you will find our members in the kitchen making our famous lefse, which is sold at the bazaar. Time together peeling potatoes, rolling lefse, and working at the bazaar provides many opportunities for fellowship.

Donna Hagen is WELCA president, Jean Michaelis is Grace Circle leader, and Muriel Bergan is the WELCA treasurer. Marilyn Niemi serves as the Bazaar Chairman. Diane Garnas and Sandra Scholbrock head up the bazaar brunch. Kathie Gayther and Sandra Scholbrock serve as a call committee for funerals.
Personal Care kits assembled by Sunday school

Quilting

Tied in Faith. Sent in Hope. Wrapped in Love.

Making quilts for Lutheran World Relief has been a tradition at Grace for many years. On Saturday mornings at 9:30 in the winter months, you will find our quilters busy layering old blankets and large pieces of fabric to make cozy quilts that are donated to the LWR quilt campaign. The hems are pinned and stitched, and the layers are tied together with yarn. The coffee is on, and we always take a break for treats.

We gratefully accept donations of old curtains, tablecloths, duvet covers, and other large pieces of fabric. Whenever we enter our quilting closet, we find treasures that have been left for us. We have been given wonderful vintage quilt tops that need to be finished into a quilt. We make a quilt each year for the Riverside Quilt Auction, the Grace Heritage Bazaar held in October, and for the Lutheran Retirement Home fall fundraiser. We welcome new babies into our congregation with a new baby quilt, usually on the first Sunday the baby is brought to worship.

Members work at home by sewing together fabric squares into quilt tops. Kits are available in our quilting closet located in the basement of our church. Members of our group make diapers and blankets for Baby Care Kits. WELCA supports our group by paying for supplies, but almost all our materials are donated.

We welcome new members. If you can pin a hem, tie a knot, or press a piece of fabric your help is needed. Our meeting times vary, so please check the Hope United Parish calendar, newsletter, and bulletin. We find the fellowship just as important as the service we provide. Marilyn Niemi heads up our group. Bob and Jean Michaelis pack up and deliver our quilts to Bethlehem to be put on the LWR truck. Willing hands include Marilynn Colby, Donna Kennedy, Muriel Bergan, Gladys Field, Suzzanne Rye, Mavis Olson and others. Please Come!!