News + Notes

One of the guest speakers at the C/SIS 2003 Women of the ELCA Biennial Convention was a short, vibrant, engaging woman from Madagascar by the name of Toromare Mananato.

February 10, 2018 was the first meeting of our new C/SIS Board. We had a balance of $9,276.47 per Lynn Smith, Treasurer. We voted to send $2250.00 to our sister in Christ in Madagascar, Toromare. She reported to our Mission Chair, Mike, that she has many needs and this money will help with purchasing a camera and recorder to be used with the women’s magazine, computer needs, and repairs to her car so she can reach out to others in her ministry. We have supported Toromare in the past with other needs and especially toward building a home that will be used as a bed and breakfast to help raise money. She reports they still need $4000 to complete the home, money to support women students and donations for a workshop to promote gender equality as women are not currently allowed to serve as pastors in Madagascar.

We enjoyed the C/SIS WELCA 2017 Biennial Convention at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville October 20 and 21 celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. We had fun on a hayride and eating s'mores, listening to “Katie Luther”, Bible study with Pastor Maggie Falenschek and enjoying fellowship with other women from the Central Southern Synod. We are beginning to plan the fall gathering for October 19-20, 2018 which hopefully will be held in Champaign. The theme will be bold women of the Bible and current times. Please look for more information by late summer.