The group met on April 7. They began the meeting with a devotional from Grace Lutheran’s Lenten Devotional led by Paula Buendorf. They worked through the agenda and ended in the Lord’s Prayer.

Meeting Highlights

Buendorf, president, showed the website for Christie and Eric Nelson’s blog “jojo” http://ericandchristie.blogspot.com/. Christie Nelson was the speaker at the women’s retreat on April 9. The group encourages people to check out their amazing journey on bike to South America. A thank you card was also read from Lorraine Nagel thanking WELCA for donating money towards her trip to the triennial convention.

March minutes were approved by the secretary. The treasurer’s report was approved. A donation to the MS foundation was given to Christie Nelson as a thank you for being the guest speaker at the retreat.

Committee Reports:

Caring/Sharing: The food was well organized for the April 9 retreat. The Good Friday luncheon and Daughters of Grace are upcoming events to keep an eye out for upcoming notices. There was one funeral in March.

Stewardship: This month will be a time to focus on personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief. In May, the focus will be on the shipping cost. Giving is down this year and so the Rev. Todd Walsh did a children’s sermon about the kits and giving. Thank you to Lorraine Nagel, who offered to take the donated pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. Stamps were donated to Thorne Crest and the Lakeview Elementary School art program. Eighteen bags of school kits have been made to go to the convention.

Quilting: There were nine quilts made and two donated blankets that were packed in March. May 8 (Mother’s Day) will be the blessing of the quilts before they are sent on the LWR truck.

Program: Center pieces for the retreat were done. The committee is working on a program and speaker for Daughters of Grace Banquet in May.

Education/Historian: No new business. Nancy will be attending the retreat to take pictures.

Circles: No reports

New business/Upcoming events

Daughter’s of Grace: This event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7. All are welcomed including mothers, daughters, granddaughters and grandmothers.

Dishwasher: Walsh reported that the cost of a dishwasher will be purchased pending approval from property and finance. WELCA has money designated for a new dishwasher in the WELCA appliance fund. The retreat offering will also go to the appliance funds for a new dishwasher.

Ongoing business:

April was kitchen cleaning month. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex and notes have been in the bulletin and in Grace Notes.

A food sign-up was sent around for the retreat. The committee got together after the board meeting to finalize plans for the retreat.

Calendar items

May 8: Blessing of the quilts

May 10: Church Council at 8 p.m.

Meeting was adjourned by holding hands and praying The Lord’s Prayer.

More about WELCA meetings

Monthly meetings are open to all women of the church including the young, the old and every age in between. The group provides so much support to the church and to each other. To those active members, thank you for your time and talents. To new members, we look forward to your arrival and future participation.