Stitching Hope & Comfort

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Creating handmade items to bring warmth, support, and care to those in need, both locally and beyond.

Knitting is an ancient craft dating back to Biblical times. Proverbs 31:19 explains the spinning staff and spindle were used to make thread that was twisted into yarn.

Knitters for Peace originated in January, 2000. Over the years, the group has made various knitted and crocheted items for a variety of organizations. Our current outreach focuses are hats and scarves for MUST; baby hats and blankets for Northside Hospital’s NICU; baby hats and octopi for Kennestone Hospital’s NICU; as well as potholders, dish cloths and scrubbies for Special Needs Cobb homes and octopi for the residents of those homes.

The Prayer Shawl ministry also started in 2000 for our congregational family who are hospitalized, homebound with an illness, or other situations and need some comfort. In the summer of 2019, Pocket Prayer Crosses, a mini version of a prayer shawl, started to have a portable source of comfort someone could keep in their pocket. These have been added to Blessing Bags for MUST, sent to Guatamala for our ministry there, as well as given out by Shepherd’s Staff when they make visits. We often have people ask for one to give or send to a family member or friend in need.

The Knitters for Peace ministry group meets twice a month in the evening (1st and 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm in the LCR library). All knitters and crocheters are welcome. If you don’t know how to knit or crochet, we can help you learn.

We are a casual small group where we come together to enjoy fellowship and crafting. If you are not able to make the meetings but want to knit or crochet at home, no problem. We can provide you yarn and instructions.

For more information or to get involved contact:

Lyn Ruswinkle at laruswinkle@comcast.net or Sandy O’Donnell at sodonnell317@aol.com

 

Hurricane Helene Relief

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As pictures and videos of the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene continue to pour in from Florida, through Georgia, and into the Carolinas and Tennessee, we want you to be aware of a few ways you can help right now from our synod disaster coordinator, Pr. Morgan Gordy:

Pray –

Pray for the safety of those awaiting rescue, for those injured by the storm, for those who grieve, for those who anxiously wait for loved ones unaccounted for, for those who come to help – first responders and firefighters, law enforcement, utility workers and chain saw and heavy equipment crews who put their lives in danger to save others.  Pray for this response that hearts will open and volunteers will come and help the survivors restore their communities and homes. Pray for the safety of all that come to help. Pray.

Give –

Donations are specific to each area impacted as needs for resources change after a disaster. The best way to help at this time is to provide funds for items that are needed that then can be purchased and sent directly to the sites as their needs are identified.  Please give generously. Our disaster ministry team is working with the state and local organizations including our congregations in the impacted areas to determine needs as they arise and get funds out to them as quickly as possible. All funds donated via Lutheran Disaster Response go directly to relief work on the ground. Donate today.

Volunteer –

  • Crisis Clean up Call Line – This is an important volunteer task!  By helping with the Crisis Clean Up Call Line you talk directly with survivors and help them get their information on the board to be picked up by groups that can help with their need. You can do this from your home with a computer and a phone. Contact Beth Smith to volunteer and get more information: bethrand@comcast.net
  • Inspiritus has some volunteer opportunities if you want to give in that way. Learn more.
  • Join the Synod Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care team to provide support in the affected areas. Contact Pastor Morgan at pmgordy@elca-ses.org.

Stay informed –

On Disaster Recovery efforts of the Southeastern Synod (our regional church organization) and other organizations by visiting this website.

 

We are thankful for the incredible work of these partners and pray for their work and all who have been affected by this storm.

Our Walk with ILAG – Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatemala

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By: Suzanne Demosthenes

To understand our partnership in this ministry one needs to come to know our partners. ILAG’s focus has always been to minister to those on the fringe of society, the forgotten, the discounted. At the end of the 16 year civil war in Guatemala those who had fled largely to Mexico but also beyond returned to their homeland. However these refugees were not allowed to reclaim their homes, but rather were deposited in rural regions that were unfamiliar and undeveloped with no infrastructure or resources. Essentially they were left to make their own existence. These were the individuals that ILAG chose to minister to and this was the nidus of the rural communities that now comprise the eighteen congregations of ILAG. They span the various regions of Guatemala. From the outset ILAG recognized that to teach and embody the love of Christ and the saving grace of the Gospel encompassed addressing the quality of the people’s daily lives: their health, education, nutrition, and livelihood and so the ministry of this church has struggled to do.

In 2012 LCR began its walk alongside ILAG. Pastor Bob Bear was among the first…“I have always been amazed as to the effect global missions have, not only on those we serve and visit, but also on the lives of those who participate. Because of the personal relationships shaped over many years in our partnership with ILAG, our ministry in Guatemala has been especially meaningful and will always remain so to me, locked in my heart.”

And the memories impact us still:

Mike Mynhier: “On one of our trips to the village of La Israel we helped families install efficient and vented wood cooking stoves in their homes to replace the open fire cooking rings they were using. These new stoves used less wood, eliminated burn hazards to the young children, and reduced health issues of smoke inhalation to the women. For a couple of nights I was a guest of one of the families who had just received a new stove. The last night, before going to bed I went outside to wash in the rain barrel at the back of their house. I will never forget seeing the young mother of the house, alone in the cooking area, lightly patting her new stove with one hand as she slowly walked all the way around it with a contented smile on her face. Yes, what we do for Guatemala has a great impact and is worth it!”

Jill Gadebusch: “We traveled with 8 members of LCR to ILAG in February 2012. (Pr. Bob Bear, Mike Mynhier, Betty Didicher, John Didicher, Karl Sidor, Kirk Gadebusch, Jill Gadebusch and Adele Dengel (Jill’s mother). The theme of the mission trip was Puedo Ayudarles? (May I help you). During our time at ILAG Betty, John, Bob and Mike prepared meals for the leader’s conference, while the rest of the group painted, reinstalled a tile floor and repaired the water system. A satisfying part of serving was watching the participants in their studies intently learning more about Christ and the church. The participants were warm, compassionate and very dedicated to the ministry God had given them. They were clearly appreciative of what little we were able to do for them.”

Betsy Olson: “As far as memories go nothing will replace ‘my early to bed to read’ only to be serenaded by the heavenly sounds and voices from the girls in choir practice just upstairs from our room. God was in that place and still is.”

Marge Mynhier: “When I visited one of the villages on a mission trip to Guatemala, I stayed with one of the midwives, Anna, who we brought delivery kits to for their use. She and her granddaughter Katerina shared their home with Jenn and I during our stay. To my surprise Katerina was one of the Milagro girls that we met on our next visit. It was such a joy to see that she was  being given a chance to escape the cycle of early marriage and motherhood that is so common in the villages.”

John Mellott has been instrumental in advising Pastor Karen of ILAG over the past decade:
“I remember sitting with Pastora Karen, with tears in her eyes, listening to her describe the lives of young women in rural Guatemala. I remember her saying how we needed to find a way to help them…..  If you have doubts that God remains active in our world – you need only visit Milagro.”

Karen Bear: “Hearing the Milagro’s girls sing hymns enthusiastically and beautifully, is music that transcends all language, and fills my heart with joy.”

Suzy Mellott: “When Milagro first started, Bob Bear asked me to paint quick watercolor portraits of each participant and their teacher. These were made into notecards and each student wrote her story for the backs of the cards. As I painted each participant and read her story, I could feel her joy and gratitude for the Milagro program.”

Suzanne Demosthenes: “I recall on one visit to Milagro hearing the girls each speak of  their dreams …mirroring those stories Suzy spoke of. They spoke confidently and eagerly…

Sonia: “I see myself as a teacher in a school but also a teacher for my village, giving new skills to my people and making a better living.”

Karen: “My dream is to finish high school, to help my family develop all together, to be a leader in my church. I want to create a new environment to live peacefully and equally regardless of gender.”

Paulina: “I want to be a lawyer, a leader, a helper in my church, and with a good job to help my family. I’m going to be able to change my future and also the future of my church and family.”

Violeta: “In my future I see myself getting a lot of experience and becoming a leader in my community, an agent of change. My dream is to become a nurse, to give that benefit to my village, and to create my own clinic to help people who are sick or hurt.”

Brenda: “I am in the Milagro house because I want to learn new things, be a brave woman, and good leader. My dream is to start my own business, to become a chef.”

Johana: “My dream is to share my new skills with the girls and boys in my community, to reproduce that knowledge. I have a new vision.”

And we have seen many of these young women realize their dreams, becoming teachers, lawyers, nurses, bakers, accountants. And they are each very brave women and good leaders. We thank you Pastora Karen and the staff of ILAG for your vision and perseverance that shaped this ministry that you so willingly shared with us at LCR.”

We invite you to join us in this ministry, expect to see this miracle for yourself.

Take a moment to listen to these young women as they tell their stories on video.

Gala Gathering
Carpool with us Saturday evening September 14th to the gala gathering at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Suwannee.
Visit our online calendar for the link to carpool.

Hear Pastor Karen preach
Sunday morning September 15th at LCR

 

 

Caring for Our Church Family: Extending Christ’s Love Through Shepherd Staff

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Shepherd Staff is a group of people caring for our church family through activities such as

  • sending cards, making phone calls, making in home visits
  • sending Journeying Through Grief booklets to those who have suffered a recent close loss
  • making and delivering Easter and Christmas care packages
  • preparing and delivering meals on a short term basis for those who need a little extra help
  • delivering donated altar flower arrangements to members or nearby facilities
  • welcoming new babies into the church family through a gift and a meal

It is one way of showing God’s love and compassion to each other and to be the hands and feet of Christ to each other and to the community. From the many cards and notes we get from recipients, we know it is very meaningful to them to be cared for and thought of, but it is also a great blessing to those who do this work. So we are blessed in both receiving and in giving!

For God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday, we have two activities planned: One is to make some LCR ornaments to go with our Christmas care packages. Both kids and adults are welcome to join us in crafting!

The second is that we are asking for help with the making of some meals for us to have on hand in the church freezer. These can then be brought to those who could use a meal following surgery, for example, or during an illness, during some type of crisis, for someone who is homebound, and for a variety of other reasons. There are times it is difficult for Shepherd Staff to get a meal made on short notice, so we would like to have some available at church to bring to folks.

On GWOH Sunday, we will have containers for soup/chili that you can bring home, fill, and bring back to church for us to put in the freezer, as well as some 8 x 8 foil containers for casseroles. And of course cookies to freeze are always welcome! There will be sign ups by month, so that we do not get overloaded with meals at any one time, so for example, if you chose January, you could pick up a container now, we’ll label it, and you can bring it back to us filled in January.

Look forward to seeing you September 8th!

Blessing Brumby

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It was a joy to join Data Delete Recycling to present a check to Brumby Elementary for $6,211.45. These funds were raised through our February community electronics recycling event! Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event possible.

Help Build a Home for a Deserving Family

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On March 16, LCR volunteers will begin building another Habitat for Humanity house with the Lutheran Coalition for Habitat. The house will be built in Marietta for a deserving family that has completed an extensive qualifications process.

Workdays will be Saturdays from 7:45 am – 4:00 pm
March 16 – Exterior Walls: build and raise exterior walls
March 23 – Interior Walls: build and raise interior walls
April 6 – Siding & Insulation: install the siding and insulation
April 20 – Exterior Paint: paint the exterior walls, trim, shutters
April 27 – Interior Paint Prep: prepare the walls for paint
May 4 – Interior Paint: first coat of paint
May 11 – Interior Paint & Trim: second coat of paint
May 18- Complete the House: hardware and final touches
June 1 – Landscaping: lay sod, plant shrubs, install mailbox

Register here. (password: LUTHERAN)

Questions? Contact John Osberg (678) 687-3232

Crafted with Love: A profile of the LCR Blanketeers and Knitters for Peace

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On November 19 we blessed over 200 hand made blankets and knitted items from two amazing ministries at LCR: the LCR Blanketeers and the Knitters for Peace.

The Blanketeers have been hard at work since 2000 making countless fleece, crocheted and knit blankets. The 112 blankets that were blessed November 19 were sized for children with kid friendly designs and will be shared with the MUST Ministries Toy Shop. Many in the congregation beyond the Blanketeers have played a role in making the fleece blankets – on God’s Work Our Hands Sunday and throughout the year in various Bible Study groups. GWOHs Sunday along with Bible Study groups throughout the year.

The Knitters for Peace have also been busy since 2000, meeting twice a month to knit together and also working on their own. They make baby hats and blankets for Northside Hospital’s NICU, as well as hats and scarves for MUST Ministries to distribute to clients in colder weather, and crocheted octopi to occupy premature babies and keep them from pulling cords and tubes while they are in the NICU at Kennestone Hospital. Just since our last blessing over the summer, the knitters have crafted 26 baby blanket and hat sets for the Northside NICU, 13 hats and 16 scarves for MUST, and 27 octopi and 10 baby hats for Kennestone Hospital.

New members are always welcome to join these groups or you can donate money or physical supplies (washable yarn that is soft and not fuzzy, and washed fleece – 2 yards, rinsed twice, no fabric softner). Contact Marge Mynhier (LCR Blanketeers) or Sandy O’Donnell or Lyn Ruswinkle (Knitters for Peace).

Children’s Sunday School Begins By Serving Others

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As we celebrated God’s Work. Our Hands. (GWOH) and Rally Day Sunday we had children & youth take part in our “Blessing Bags of Kindness”

The children and youth entered a room full of music, color and welcoming faces. They colored GWOH coloring books that they were able to take home, while listening to classic Sunday school music. Down the hall there were 17 baskets of items the children/youth collected to assemble their Blessing Bags of Kindness.

We had a good time together and looking forward to a year of fun and sharing.