Ladies of the Winnitoba Zone (Central District LWMLC) gathered on December 4 for a mini Advent retreat at Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. What a blessing to be able to come together to study God’s word and enjoy each other’s company!
We started our morning with Bible study. Pastor Beinert’s study invited us to consider how the Advent themes of Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy were not so much our own creations but active gifts of God that come to us in and through the Christ-child. Rather than approaching these feelings from the perspective of our busy Advent schedules, he encouraged us to practise resting in these gifts by meditating on the Advent message as a present reality of faith.
After a break for coffee and goodies Annette Borchardt taught us to make star ornaments out of recycled Christmas cards. How lovely to have a new ornament to put on our Christmas trees this year!
An ingathering of soap was collected for Light House Mission in Winnipeg. A free-will offering was taken for Central District MITES.
Three ladies each won a copy of one of the new devotion books available from the LWMLC Resource Centre.
In our opening devotion, Let’s Celebrate: God Has Kept His Promises! (LWMLC Christian Growth December devotion) we are reminded that Advent and Christmas are a time to reflect on how God has kept His promises. We have the gift God promised of Jesus who came to us as an infant long ago, who comes to us today through Word and Sacrament, and who will come again to raise us up to live with Him. We have much to celebrate!
Iris Barta, President, St. James LWMLC
