AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Serving the Unborn

byJaniceGerzevske,LWMLNIDPresident

ServinghasbeentheNorthernIllinoisDistrictthemefor2019—Nu-

merousexamplesofservinghavebeendisplayedatourLentenInspi-

raPonandwillbepartoftheFallGatheringatHolyCrossinCaryon

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LWML NID

A COMMUNICATION FOR WOMEN OF THE

NORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT OF LUTHERAN

WOMEN IN MISSION

CONTENTS Presidents’s msg p 1 - 2 Pastor Howell p 2 Convention News p 3 - 7 Grant Info and Updates p 8 - 9 Locations WANTED p 10 Calendar & Announcements pg 11

www.LWMLNID.org

NID-Bits

See more on Young Women Retreat page 4

Featured Grant:

Voice of Care AdultandYouthtrainingprogramsforthosewhoare“differently-abled.”

SeeStorypage6.

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

September28,2019.

Oneofthewaysto

serveothersisto

servethosewho

havenotyetbeen

bornorarenew-

borns.StJohn,

Wheatonsupports

CaringNetwork

whichisthefirst

stepforwomenfac-

inganunplanned

pregnancy.They

welcomewomen

withuncondiPonal

love,counsel,andresourcesthatofferthelightoftruth—

changingheartsandsavinglives.OverPmetheirteamhas

honeditsskills,sothattheybringtheverybesttoolsinto

thecrisisofanunplannedpregnancy—thelatestinultra-

soundtechnologyandcounselorsskilledinintervenPon,

addressingthecomplexissuesthatcompelamotherto

seekaborPonasheranswer.Inalmostfourdecades,Car-

ingNetworkhasbeenusedbyGodtosavemanythou-

sandsoflives!

Toassistthosewhohavemadethechoicetohavetheir

baby,theLWMLgroupheldababyshowerforCaringNet-

work.Thosewhocouldnota_endtheeventduetoa

scheduleconflict,broughtgiastothechurchbeforetheshower.The

eveningoffellowshipandeducaPonwasenjoyedbynearly50ladies.

Followingtheevent,itwasesPmatedthatapproximately$1800

worthofitemsweregiven.IfyourLWMLhasheldaneventtoserve

theleastofthese,pleaseshareyourstoryandpictureswiththeladies

ofourdistrictinfutureissuesoftheNID-Bits.Picturesandshortde-

scripPonscanbesenttoTeenaDorn,vpcommunicaPons@LWML-

NID.orgbeforetheOctober19,2019Nid-Bitsdeadline.Pleasebesure

tosendyourchurchandZonenumber.

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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Christ Cares! Ma_hew25:40

Ihadthewonderfulopportunitytomeetwithahomelesscoupleacouple

ofweeksagoasourchurchwalkedthestreetsofourcommunity.Iwasdeeplytouchedbytheirstrong,posiPveaitudetowardlifeandbeliefinChrist.Now,thesewerepeopleinneedofasecondchance,inneedofhelpandprayer,forgo_enbymanyofuswhoa_endworshipeachSunday.Thesetwohadnochurchhomebecausetheyfeltunwelcomedinthechurchestheyvisited.“AllwewanttodoisworshipandgivethankstoourLord,”themansaid.TheybothagreedtheywerenotwelcomedbecauseoftheirpresentsituaPon.Theywantednopity,theyjustwantedtoworshipandpraiseGodforlife.Wow!WhereistheloveofGoddisplayedto“theleastofthese?”Howcanwe,whoclaimtohavearelaPonshipwithGod,turnourbacksonanyoneinneed?

WhileJesuswantsustobecompassionateandcaringtoallpeople,thispas-sageisabouthowwetreatthosetheworldseemstothinkaretheleast,butwhomJesusvaluesasHisdisciples.Theleast,thelast,andtheleaoutbe-cometheprimaryoneswhocometoJesusandfindlife,love,andlasPnghope.

Jesus'promiseisthatHewouldcareforusandHeis!HeisaskingustocareforthoseinHiscommunity,noma_ertheircircumstance!ThisiswhatChristdoes,HecaresforHisdisciples!

Convention : Mobile in Brief byDonnaGutzler

ThespireoftheMobile,AlabamaconvenPoncenterglowedpurple,themarqueeproclaimedahuge“WELCOME”,andthefriendlysmilesoftheconvenPonvolun-teersinsidewereaswarmasthetemperatureoutside.That’showover3,400LWMLsistersandguestsweregreetedatthe38thbiennialconvenPonfromJune20-23.Thetheme:“InPraisetotheLORD!”

•TherewasaBiblestudyledbyDonnaPyleontheArkoftheCovenantbeingre-turnedtoJerusalemduringtheReignofDavid.Thechallenge:DowelongaaerGodanddesiretobewhereHeis?•The544voPngmemberssetanewmissiongoalof$2,100,000forthe2019-2021

biennium,choosing21missiongrantstoreceivefundingincludevariousministriesandmissioninAfrica,Asia,GuatemalaandtheU.S.Seethecompletelistat:lwml.org/mission-grants.

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Rev.JeffreyP.HowellPastorofSt.PaulLutheranChurch-GrandCrossing,Chicago,IL

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

• VoterselectedaPastoralCounselor,newofficers,andanominaPngcommi_ee:President-DebbieLarson(RockyMountainDistrict),VPofOrganizaPonalResources-MarieChow(WA-AK),VPSpecialFocusMinistries-Be4yKnapp(NorthWI),Treasurer-KarlaKoehler(NENorth),Counselor-Rev.BrianNoack(AtlanPc).ThenominaPngcommi_eeiscomprisedoffivewomen,chairedbyBrianneStahlecker(NESouth).

• KeynoteSpeakerRev.BrentSmith,MissionDevelopmentCounseloratMissionCentralbroughtusareportonhowmitemonieshavebeenspentinplaceslikeSriLanka,Thailand,HongKongandtheSyrianRefugeesinGermany.AlsonoPngthemajorityofChrisPansliveintheglobalSouth(AfricaandSouthAmerica)!

• ForamorecompletereporPngoftheconvenPon,SeeDonna’sarPcleinOurNorthernIllinoisDistrict.

Young Women at Convention! bySherrieSmith,YoungWomen’sCoordinator

LWMLNID’sYoungWomenRepresentaPvesCaitlin,HannahandEkatrinajoined78otheryoungwomenfromacrosstheUnitedStatestoexperiencetheLWMLconvenPoninaveryencouraging,refreshingandenlighteningway.

ItisexciPngtothinkaboutthefarreachoftheingatheringitemsandservantacPvityprojects.Themitegrantsvotedinbythedelegateswillreachevenfar-

ther.Readingaboutgrantrecipi-entsisonething,butactuallyhearingtheirtesPmoniesissome-thingelseenPrely.Seeingaroomfullofcountries’flagsdrovehomehowfartheLWMLreaches.Theexhibithallprovidedavisualim-ageofhowmanyorganizaPonsoperateundertheLCMSumbrel-la.

SeeingtheseaofpeopleintheconvenPonhallwasajoyfulexpe-rience.BeinginaroomfullofbrothersandsistersinChristthatlovetheLordandwanttoserve-Himlitafireintheyoungwomentoserveothers.Whatfunitwastoraisetheirvoicesinpraisewithover3,000fellowLutherans

TheconvenPonrefreshedtheirspiritsandenlightenedtheirunderstandinginawayperhapsonlypossibleatagatheringofsuchscale.TheireyeswereopenedtoseehowlargeandpowerfultheLWMLis.

OurYWR’ssteppedoutoftheircomfortzonesanddidnewthings.Theysloweddownfromtheirbusylivesandtookstockofwhatisimportant.Thisexperiencewillblessthemforyearstocome.

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Hannah,Caitlin,PresidentJanGandEkatrinaatthe2019LWMLconventioninMobile,Alabama.

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Caitlin,HannahandEkatrinaarehonoredtorepresenttheNIDonsuchajoyfuloccasion.TheyarethankfulforLWMLNID’sgenerosityandcare.TheLWMLconvenPonenergizedthemtoshareLWML’sjoyandexcitement.TheypraythatGodconPnuestomovethemtosupportthemissionsandserveasdevoutlyastheamazingwomenthathavepavedthewaybeforethem.Caitlin,HannahandEkatrinawanttolivetheirlivesinpraisetotheLord!

SeeeachYoungWoman’sstoryisfoundfollowingthisarPcle.

EkaterinaEkaterinaGrassmick,LWMLNIDYoungWomanRepresentaPvefromTrinityLutheranChurchTinleyPark,IL

Isteppedintothesouthernsummerheatandinstantlywiltedali_le.Myglassescompletelyfoggedover.IcrossedtheskybridgeandenteredtheconvenPoncen-ter.Aah,muchbe_er.Iperkedup,andmyvisioncom-pletelycleared.TheconvenPoncenteraircondiPoningwasmuchliketheconvenPonitself:refreshinganden-lightening.

Refreshed:ThepackedpewsonChristmasandEasterarealwaysali_lebi_ersweet;itiswonderfultowor-shipwithsomanypeople,butIwishsuchcrowdsat-tendedeveryweekend.ThepackedconvenPonhallchairsweresimplysweet.LookingattheseaofpeopleintheconvenPonhallwasajoyfulexperience;every-onetherechosetotakethePmetotraveltoMobileandspendfourdayscelebraPngandworkingtospreadoursharedfaith.ItisexciPngtothinkabouthowfartheingatheringitemsandservantacPvityprojectswillreach;evengreatershallbethereachoftheMitesgrantsthedelegatesvotedtofundinthecomingbiennium.AndasforthecelebraPng,whatfunitwastoraisemyvoiceinhymnsofpraisewithover3,000fellowLutherans.

Enlightened:LiketheaircondiPoningclearingmyglasses,theconvenPonhelpedmeseefartherafield.WhileIknowmostofwhatmychurch’sLWMLdoes,myknowledgeofnaPonalacPviPeswasmorelimited.Readingaboutgrantrecipientsisonething,buthearingabouttheministriesfromthoserunningthemissomethingelseenPrely.Inthesamevein,seeingaroomfullofcountries’flagsreallydrovehomejusthowfartheLWMLreaches.ThebriefPmeIwasabletospendintheexhibithallprovidedavisualimageofhowmanyorganizaPonsoperateundertheumbrellaoftheLCMS;hearingorreadingaboutoneataPmedoesnotdojusPcetothescopeoftheSynod’sministries.

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LWMLNIDYoungWomen’sRepresentativeEkatrinaandLWMLNIDPresidentJanGatthe2019NationalConventioninAlabama.

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Allinall,theconvenPonrefreshedmyspiritandenlightenedmyunderstandinginawayperhapsonlypossibleatagatheringofsuchscale,andIwashonoredtohelprepresenttheNIDonsuchajoyfuloccasioninMobile,Alabama.

HannahHannahSolyomLWMLNIDYoungWomenRepresentaPvefromTrinityLutheranChurch–Lom-bard,IL

AsabrandnewLWMLYoungWomenRepresentaPvea_endingthe2019Na-PonalConvenPon,Iwasunsureofwhattoexpect.MyexperienceupunPlthatpointwiththeLWMLwassomeinvolvementthroughthewomen’sgroupatmychurchandthelastdistrictconvenPonin2018(whichmygrandmavolun-

teeredmetoa_end).Clearly,IdidnotknowawholelotaboutwhattheLWMLwasaboutoralltheamazingmissionstheyleadandprovidefor.ThenIa_endedtheconvenPonandmyeyeswereopenedtohowlargeandpowerfulthisorganizaPonis.

Learningaboutalltheservice,missions,andgivingthattakesplacebecauseoftheLWML’seffortswassomethingthatI,alongwithothera_endeesandYWRs,gottolearnandbeexcitedabout.Themissionsraisedandtheservicedonetrulyamazedme!Ineverknewhowfarthosemiteboxeswent.HavingfellowshipwiththebrothersandsistersinChrist-especiallytheyoungwomenrepresenta-Pves-withasynchronizedobjecPvetoserveandloveGodandHispeoplewasanamazingexperi-ence.GeingtoknowmanyoftheyoungwomenwhoshareaChrisPanfaithandhaveapassionforservingotherswasablessingthatIhopeconPnuesforyearstocome.ItwassoinspiringandmoP-vaPngtohearaboutsomeofthewomenwhohavebeeninvolvedforseveralyearsandarenowinrolesofleadershipintheLWML.IpraythatGodconPnuestomovemetosupportandworkwiththemissionsasdevoutlyastheamazingwomenthathavepavedthewaybeforeme.

Aaera_endingtheconvenPoninthebeauPfulanduniqueMobile,Alabama,Iameagertobringthejoyandexcitementhometomychurchandsociety,andtosharetheloveofservicewiththosearoundme.IalsowouldliketothanktheNorthernIllinoisDistrictforthegenerositythatallowedmetoa_endthe2019LWMLConvenPon,alongwiththewonderfulJanGerzevskeandSherrieSmithwhowereespeciallycaringfortheirYWRs.

CaitlinEscobedoLWMLNIDYoungWomenRepresentaPvefromSt.John’s,LaGrange,IL

DrivingintoMobile,AlabamaforthefirstPmewasinteresPng.Comingfromthefast-pacedcityofChicagoIjustimaginedthatthiswouldbethesame.Peoplerunningeverywhere,tallbuildings,trafficformiles,butIwaspleasant-

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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

lysurprisedbytheslownessofthisbeauPfulcity.Thepeopletheremoveataslowandrelaxingpace,stoppingtoenjoythesmallthings.Theyaren’tworriedaboutthePmeandknowthattheywillgettotheirdesPnaPonwhentheyaremeantto.Whenpeoplegreetyouitiswithasmileandaslowmo-lasses-likeaccentsaying“Ma’am”or“Sir.”Therewashardlyanytrafficandthedriverswerekindenoughtoletyouintotheirlaneifyouneeded.ItwaslikenothingIhadexperiencedandIimmedi-atelyfellinlovewiththiswayoflifeinthesouth.

IhadnoexpectaPonsfortheNaPonalLWMLConferencebecauseIhadnoideawhattoexpect.Inaway,itwasgoodbecauseIwouldhavetostepoutofmycomfortzoneanddothingsthatIhadn’tdonebefore.ThehighlightformewasbeingabletoexplorethecityofMobilewithotherYWR’sandfriendsfromourlocalNID.IlovedbeinginaroomwithwomenwholovetheLordandwanttoservehimthroughmissionandthisreallyhelpedconPnuetolightthefireofservicetootherswithinme.AnyonewhoknowsmeknowsthatIamaverybusyperson,butbeinginMobileandbeingattheconvenPonhelpedmetoslowdownandtakestockinwhatismostimportanttome.TheconvenPonenergizedmetocomehomeandfocusonservicetoothersthroughmyworkandgetmoreinvolvedwiththeYoungWomenintheNID.

IamsothankfulthatIhadthechancetogotothisconvenPonandslowdown,evenifjustforaweekend.

Say Yes!LaurenOlsen,NominaSngCommiTeeChairmannominaPngcommchair@lwmlnid.org

LWMLNIDConvenPon2020willbeherebeforeyouknowit!

WearesPlllookingforcandidatesforthefollowingposiPons:VicePresidentofChrisPanLife,VicePresidentof

CommunicaPons,VicePresidentofSpecialFocusMinistries,RecordingSecretary,FinancialSecretary,Conven-

PonChairman,andNominaPngCommi_eefromNorth,South,East,andWestRegions.Pleasefeelfreeto

readthedescripPonsofeachposiPoninourbylawsh_ps://www.lwmlnid.org/wp-content/uploads/LWML-

NID-bylaws.pdf.

IfaaerprayerfulconsideraPonyouwouldliketobeconsideredforoneoftheseposiPons,pleasefilloutthe

NominaPonFormath_ps://forms.gle/QgkJ4XdyuHPimNxbA.Ifyouprefertohaveapaperformmailedto

you,pleasecontactmeat815-353-9414andIwillbegladtosendyouaform.

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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Voice of Care

VoiceofCareisaministryhelpingthechurchprovidespiritualcaretopeoplewith

disabiliPesandthosewhocareforthem.Thisoutreachmissionwasestablishedin

1976andincorporatedin2003asVoiceofCare.ArecognizedserviceorganizaPonof

theLutheranChurchMissouriSynod,VoiceofCaretrainschurchworkersandlay

volunteerstoserveinfivetypesofdisabilityministries:CongregaPonalLife,Disabili-

tyAwareness,FacilityMinistry,OutdoorMinistry,andRespiteEducaPonandSup-

portTools(REST).Because90%ofpeoplewithdisabiliPesarenotconnectedtoa

churchhome,thereisagreatneedtolearnhowtoserveandevangelizethosewho

are“differently-abled.”

VoiceofCare,inpartnershipwithREST,offersavolunteerrespitecaregiver

trainingprogramforadultsandteenagers.Thisuniqueserviceenablesvolun-

teerstoprovidetemporaryrelieftofamilycaregiversinplannedseingsand

emergencysituaPons.RESTtrainingpreparesvolunteerstobuildcaringrela-

Ponships,handlecrises,andovercomecommunicaPonobstacles.RESTparPc-

ipantswilllearnsafetypracPces,acquireanoverviewofdisabiliPes,anddiscoverhowtocreatea

posiPveatmosphereinrespitesituaPons.VoiceofCarecanbringRESTtrainingandresourcemateri-

alstointerestedchurchesandministrygroups.RESTtrainingpavesthewaytoshareGod’slove

throughthegiaofPmeandservice.ThroughtheLWMLNID,VoiceofCarecantailortheRESTpro-

gramforLutherantraining,providepersonalizeddatareporPngandmanuals,andcustomizetraining

feeswithintheNorthernIllinoisdistrict.

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DianaMaanum,LWMLNIDVicePresidentofGospelOutreach

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

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2018-2020GrantsUpdateJuly24,2019

Mitesdesignatedformissiongrants-$120,000AmountPaidRemaining

1.EquippingtheChurchtoReachPeoplewithDisabiliPes$17,4745,468.5612,005.44*

2.LifeforSt.Ma_hew,SavingaHistoricHouseofWorship$18,000018,000.00

3.HaiPanFeedingProgram,Trinity/HOPE$2,500 2500.00 0

4.PostAborPonCrisisHotlineExpansion$10,000 010,000.00

5.GraceLutheranSchool,GraceChrisPanAcademy,Chicago$18,000 018,000.00

6.Food&ClothingCo-op,

ConcordiaTheologicalSeminaryFortWayne$10,000 10,000.00 0

7.ExteriorCabinRenovaPons,Walcamp$14,562.3511,213.79 3,348.56

8.NaPveAmericanYouthProgram,

Washington’sOlympicPeninsula,LutheranIndianMinistries$18,00013,566.914,433.09

9.ReachingVisuallyImpairedInmateswithGod’sLove, LutheranBrailleWorkers$8,000 0 8,000.00

10.HaiPLutheranMissionSociety(parPalfunding)$3,463.65 0 3463.65

TOTAL$120,000PAID$42,749.26

Remaining $77,250.74

Amount available for funding 9,528.65

*Highlightedinthisissueonpage5.

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

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L o c a t i o n s

W A N T E D

LocaPontohosttheFebruary15,

2020BoardofDirectors

MeeVng(HostedinWestRegionin201

9)

Location to host the Lenten Inspiration sometime in Feb-

ruary/March 2020 (Hosted in the South Region in 2019)

Location to host the July 18, 2020 Board of Directors Meet-

ing (Hosted in East Region in 2019)

Location to host the September/October Fall Gathering

2021 (Hosted in the North Region in 2019)

Contact President Jan Gerzevske (president@LWMLNID.org).

Prefer to have meetings in a different region than the previous

meeting, ie North, South, East and West

Suggestion is to have a zone in the region host an event.

AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS

Calendar

• Sept28th(Saturday)—LWMLNIDFallGatheringatHolyCrossinCary-SAVEthedate!

• January17-19—YoungWomenandYoungatHeartRetreat,Walcamp

• LWMLNIDLentenInspiraCon2020—Lookingforavenue/date!

• Sept11-12,2020—LWMLNIDConvenConatHolidayInn/Gurnee-DailyLedbytheSpirit

• June24–27,2021—LWMLConvenConinLexington,Kentucky

Announcements• ZonescansendmeeSngannouncementstobepostedonInstagramandFacebooktoTeenaDornat

vpcommunicaSons@LWMLNID.orgfordistribuSon.

• MakesureyouaresignedupandencourageyourZonestosignupforFacebookandInstagramaccountssotheymayreceivethesenoScesandthelatesthappeningsinthedistrict!Instagram:LWMLNID,Facebook:

www.facebook.com/LWMLNID/ORyoucanreachtheLWMLNIDfacebookpagethroughtheicononthewww.LWMLNID.orgwebsite.

• NOTICE-IfyouhaveconvenSonpicturestoshare,sendthemtowebmaster@LWMLNID.orgtheywillbearchivedintheFlickr2019AlabamaConvenSonfolder.

AKached:

• FallGatheringRegistraCon

• GFTHFallGathering

• Retreatflyer2020savethedate

• LWMLNIDConvenCon2020SavetheDate

YoucanreachNID-BitsEditor,TeenaDornatVPCommunicaSons@LWMLNID.org

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Fall Gathering

Registration and coffee: 8:30 am Gathering: 9 am

Closing service ends at 3 pm

Registration Fee: $25.00 (payable to LWML NID, includes a light breakfast and lunch) Register on line at www.LWMLNID.org (go to ‘Register for an Event) or return form and payment to: Loretta Platter 7602 Bristol Lane Unit E Hanover Park IL 60133

Bible Study Leaders: Pastors Swanson and Howard

Keynote Speaker: Annette Budzban - Christian author, speaker, life coach Bible Teacher and nurse. Her column Inspirations is featured weekly in the Lake and Cook Daily Herald newspapers. Her writings appear in the New York Times Best Seller, Chicken Soup for The Soul books, Guideposts books and magazine, as well as various other magazines and devotional guides. During a troubling illness, her strong faith in Jesus Christ led her to search for answers and she discovered a hidden talent and new purpose and direction for her life. She enjoys speaking to others on how to live with passion and purpose and the importance to dream BIG and believe God has a dream for their lives.

Gifts from the Heart: Bethesda Thrift Shop, Crystal Lake, Il

Registration deadline: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name Dietary Needs

Please circle all applicable Address Gluten Free

City St Zip Lactose Free

Email Phone Vegan/Vegetarian

Congregation Zone

Saturday, September 28, 2019 Holy Cross Lutheran Church

2107 Three Oaks Road Cary IL 60013

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of

the least of these brothers and sisters of

mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 NIV

GIFTS FROM THE HEART for The Fall Gathering

Saturday September 28, 2019 9:00 AM

Holy Cross Lutheran Church 2107 Three Oaks Rd. Cary, Il

Bethesda Thrift Shop

Please bring your gently used clothing and clothing accessories

Must be clean and in good condition (no holes, etc.)

Volunteer

Volunteers of all ages are needed to fill our cashier, sorting and general retail

positions. Other opportunities include light carpentry, building maintenance and

general cleaning tasks. Volunteers may select from daily, weekly or monthly time

commitments.

To inquire about volunteer opportunities, call Bethesda Thrift Shop at

815-455-2325 to speak with a store manager.

2020 LWML NID CONVENTION