SE Zone Lutheran Women’s Rally
The rain paused as ladies from the South East gathered at Naracoorte recently for the annual SE Rally Day, with the theme ‘Loving our Neighbour’.
Naracoorte Guild President Ruth Pfitzner welcomed the ladies who hailed from Bordertown, Keith, Mt Gambier and Penola and invited Pastor Shaun Manning to give the opening devotion. Pastor Shaun expanded on the theme using thoughts from the book ‘Life Together’ by German theologian Dietrich Boenhoeffer.
Rally Committee President Sue Zwar thanked the Naracoorte ladies for hosting the day and Josie Hunt, president of LWSA/NT, brought greetings and news from the district committee.
Craig Heidenreich, Cross Cultural Ministry Facilitator for the LCA, was the first guest speaker. He was introduced by Kay Braendler from Naracoorte, who coincidentally had been Craig’s Sunday School Teacher many years ago. Craig’s message gave three simple but very important steps for establishing relationships: Listen to God and feel his heart, he loves all people; listen to people, they all have a story; remember what they say, it’s a sign you are listening.
After a warming lunch and lots of sharing between the ladies, a lively Ragtime piece played by Ruth brought us back into the church to hear from Chelsea Pietsch who spoke with love and passion about Lutherans for Life. She brought a set of models of the foetus depicting the various stages from conception to birth. This group was first established through the efforts of Dr Daniel Overduin in the 1960s, a time of great social change with the introduction of the contraceptive pill and efforts to legalise abortion and euthanasia. How should Christians react to these changes knowing that our God is there breathing life at our conception until the breath of life leaves at our dying? The Lutherans for Life Committee led by Pastor Josh Pfeiffer, advocate, educate and prepare materials to inform the wider church on these important matters.
Both our guest speakers received gifts and warm votes of thanks for their presentations.
A Vote of Thanks was given by Tracey Smith to all who prepared the day. We in turn prayed God’s blessings on her and Pastor Murray as they leave to take up his call in Papua New Guinea.
The day closed with devotion again led by Pastor Shaun who blessed the gifts for Lutheran Care and Hermansburg mission and installed the Rally Committee into their roles.
Funds raised were, Offering $390, Luncheon $305, Trading Table $220. $457.50 each was sent to the two projects Lutherans for Life and St Paul’s Shepparton Support for African Arrivals.
The next Zone Rally will be hosted by Millicent ladies.
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