As a new school year begins, the rhythm of life shifts again — early mornings, packed lunches, homework, and a flurry of new schedules. For many women in our congregations — mothers, grandmothers, teachers, mentors, and volunteers — this season brings both excitement and challenge.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by to-do lists and expectations. Thankfully, we do not walk into this season alone. Our faithful God walks with us. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

As Lutheran Women in Mission, we have a unique opportunity to support our sisters in Christ and many other women. Encourage one another. A kind word, a shared prayer, or a simple “you’ve got this” can be the lift someone needs to keep going. Create moments of connection — through a Bible study, a school prayer group, or even a quick text of encouragement.

This season is not only about pencils and planners — it’s about planting seeds of faith, grace, and love. As Lutheran Women in Mission, let’s step forward together with confidence trusting God to use our everyday efforts for His extraordinary purposes.

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

As Lutheran Women in Mission, we often refer to ourselves as Sisters in Christ. We are a family. And like any family, sometimes there are disagreements and squabbles. When disagreements happen, what should we do?

We can turn to God’s Word for guidance to help resolve conflicts and seek reconciliation.

• Use kind words. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).
• Address the conflict privately, with the goal of restoring the relationship. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother (Matthew 18:15).
• Confess your own part in the conflict, seek forgiveness, and be willing to forgive others. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31–32).
• Seek peace. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:19). 

Will it be easy? No. But, because we have been reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are called to reconcile with others. When we are reconciled, the conflict is gone, and we can enjoy peace and fellowship.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

Conflicts come up and they are always aggravating, especially when they come up in the least expected places, like church. What do we do when challenged with conflict? Might we not turn to the place with the very best of ways to address conflict, the Bible? And what does it say? Well, have you even tried to count the “one another” phrases? I counted at least 29. There is love one another, confess your sins to one another, rebuke one another, weep with one another, care for one another, rejoice with one another, serve one another, as a start. If one were to take just love one another and serve one another, one might forestall just about every conflict. Does not “love one another” mean that the other person comes first, no matter what it might cost us? Does not “serve one another” mean that one puts the other person’s needs ahead of one’s own? Has not God already taken care of everything for ourselves and can then use us for the good of the other? And is not this what being empowered by the Holy Spirit is all about? May God richly fill us so that we may serve and love those in our church — especially — and those others God brings into our lives.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (James 1:2).

Rev. Gary Piepkorn
Senior Pastoral Counselor

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Imagine what that would have been like! Creating something never seen before, made from scratch. God created everything! And it was good.

It is good to grow the Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) by inviting women of your congregation to join and become part of an LWML group. This may seem like a daunting task, especially trying to figure out where to start, but you do not have to start from scratch.

A new Welcome Packet has been developed as a tool to help new members and groups easily access resources and become familiar with LWML. The tool provides links to learn about LWML, to get ideas to grow an existing LWML group, to begin a new group, and to share LWML with others. This interactive tool provides links to the various resources on the LWML website.

The new Welcome Packet can help Lutheran Women in Mission groups, as well as individuals, find the resources they need in one, easy-to-use document. Enjoy exploring the many resources as you Grow your Group as Lutheran Women in Mission. 

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

My husband and I enjoy the challenge of jigsaw puzzles. We’ll spend an afternoon sorting and putting the pieces together to complete a beautiful picture. Occasionally, a piece is missing and the puzzle isn’t complete. It’s so frustrating to not have the whole puzzle come together.

Sometimes a Lutheran Women in Mission group is kind of like a puzzle with all the different pieces. You have someone who leads the meeting and someone who takes notes. You have faithful members who contribute their mite offerings and pray for the mission projects. Your service projects have been a blessing to many, but maybe you’re missing a piece or two. Do you need someone to send cards to shut-ins? How about someone to update the mission grant posters on the bulletin board? Maybe you need a team of three or four to manage the Mailbox Member program?

If your group isn’t complete, look to the women in your congregation to see if they can be the missing piece. They may have a skill that is just what you need or a desire to serve and just need to be asked. When you have all the pieces you need, your group of Lutheran Women in Mission is a beautiful thing.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12).

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

Recently, Lutheran Women in Mission in Bedford, Mass., were faced with a problem. Several of their older members don’t drive at night anymore and weren’t able to come to their long-standing second Tuesday of the month evening meeting. Rather than going with the “we’ve always done it that way” mindset, the group members decided it was time for a change. They revamped their traditional model of evening meetings and moved them all to Saturday mornings or Sundays after church. This change not only allowed those who don’t drive at night anymore to come but also made it possible for some working moms to come and others who lived farther away to stay and join the group after church. They tried out some new activities, too. Faith journalling was a big hit, as was a Zoom Bible study with a favorite leader, Donna Snow, who lives far away.

Change isn’t always easy, but sometimes it is needed.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV).

Our God is the God of new things. We are made new because of Jesus. As Lutheran Women in Mission, we have the joy and privilege of sharing this good news with others and trying new things!

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources

Today, we encourage you to share faith stories. You can build relationships among group members by sharing life story experiences.

Below are possible conversation starters:

• a memory from Sunday School
• a prayer answered — even better than you desired
• an unexpected blessing
• a time God’s direction was evident in your work

Hearing stories from both young and experienced generations helps to develop and build spiritual relationships and may lead to meaningful mentoring.

And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ (Philemon 1:6).

2023–2025 Group Development Committee
Julie Hatesohl,
Cinda Poppe,
Jennifer Gierke, Chairman
Arlene Naasz, Vice President of Organizational Resources