Last year marked the 50th Lutheran Women of NSW (LWNSW) Retreat, which brought back memories of retreats in the past. Since the NSW District Warrambui Retreat and Conference Centre added motel style accommodation in 2008, we no longer had retreats in the Dome. In the new village, it was exciting to be in a room with an ensuite with only four women. The Dome is a round building with dormitory rooms with six bunk beds …
I asked Jesus, “How much do you love me?” “This much,” he answered. Then he stretched out his arms and died. – Unknown In this short and simple quote, we see the beauty of Jesus’ love captured in amazing imagery of the cross. This is God’s love in full and, if I was the only person in existence, Jesus still would have done all that, just for me. Through his grace and mercy, he did …
When I was a child, I remember putting my head on my mother’s pregnant belly and waiting for the baby to move. It was mysterious and magical. When my next sibling was born, my sister and I were woken in the wee hours of the morning and taken to the hospital. There we greeted our newest brother before the world even knew he existed. It felt secret, almost sacred. Looking back, I realise what a …
Grace heaped upon Grace John 1:14-17 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we …
He Cares for you. September is always the beginning of spring for me, where there is the promise of new growth, new beginnings, new life, and freshness after the winter rains have washed away some of the dirt of accumulated sins. This is another time where we can come before our Saviour Jesus Christ and ask to be made new again; to seek him and ask for forgiveness. When the Holy Spirit is at work …
It all began when Lutheran Women of South Australia-Northern Territory had a germ of an idea to take a group to attend the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) Convention in Parramatta, NSW (in the east), last year. It had been done before, so why not do it again. Word soon got around, and in the end more than forty intrepid women (and a few brave men) experienced a wide variety of travel and sight-seeing experiences, …
Women from all over the state gathered for the 53rd LWSA-NT Convention looking for a different hope. They were Radiant with Hope – Hope in the Risen Lord and hope for the future. Associate Pastor Rolly Stahl, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista, warmly welcomed all delegates, and it wasn’t long before hearts and voices rang out with the opening hymn Praise to the Lord! It was a joyous start. Pastor Stahl read the theme for …
Around 120 women/men/ministers/Bishops/visitors attended the 50th LWWA Jubilee Convention at Bethlehem Morley Lutheran Church on 4 May 2019. Above: LWWA Executive (LtoR) Debbie Dreckow, Wendy Habel (LWA President), Ronda Hahn, Karen Crouch, Tracey Adams, Pirkko Snare, Angela Ziersch The theme was Women in Faith through the generations Ephesians 3:20-21 It turned into a beautiful day, weather wise, after an early shower. Everyone was greeted by the committee with a little golden pack containing a golden biro, and …
What a blessing to be able to give this report of our 53rdConvention. Above: LWV Executive L to R Pastor Adrian Kramer, Julie Hedt, Jenny Gellert, Val Tischler, Bishop Lester Priebbenow, Kerry Nolte, Anne Hill and Judy Wiebusch It was a great day with nearly 100 members of LWV gathered at St Philip’s Lutheran Church, Tarneit for the convention. Attendees sat at tables arranged in an attractive Cafe style. There were prayer pockets on each …
The LWNSW 53rd Convention was held on 27 April at St Paul’s, Henty. The theme for the day was The Lightkeepers, based on Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. After Elaine, President of Henty Guild, welcomed everyone, Pastor Kees delivered his opening devotion based on the theme. He stressed that we are the light of Christ in this world. We …
Above: Introduction to new ALC students in 2018. From left: Principal Pastor James Winderlich, the then LWA president Tuula Contarino, the three new students, Joan Zilm, ALC lecturer Dr Stephen Pietsch.It has been my privilege to act as coordinator between the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) and the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) Pastoral Ministry Students Assistance Fund over the last two years. This role resulted from enquiries as to where the fund monies were being …
The Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia (LNAA) was established in 1991 as an auxiliary of the Lutheran Church of Australia, and as a support group for Lutheran nurses.
It has members throughout Australia. It was the ‘brainchild’ of the late Pastor Doug Tscharke, who was chaplain at the Lutheran Homes complex (LHI) in Glynde in suburban Adelaide at the time. He was concerned that, while the pastors of the church have their national and District pastors conferences and zone meetings, and the church’s teachers have their regular conferences, there was no comparable structure to provide support for the growing number of Lutheran nurses serving both in the church and in society at large.