January 2020

Ring in the New Year by taking advantage of the Gathering 2020's early-bird registration
Give yourself an early treat this New Year! Register for the Gathering 2020, July 16-19, in Phoenix, Ariz., by Jan. 6 to receive a discount. Early-bird registration is $325. After Jan. 6, registration is $375. Day registration is $200.


Executive board meets Dec. 7 in specially called online meeting
In a special online meeting Dec. 7, Women of the ELCA’s executive board set a 2020 fiscal year budget and approved several proposed constitutional changes to be forwarded to the Eleventh Triennial Convention (2020) in July. Read the story.

When is New Year's Day, really?
Did you know that 2020 doesn’t really start until February 1? For Women of the ELCA, the fiscal year starts on February 1 every year. This means you can still send your gifts to Women of the ELCA and they will count toward 2019. But don’t wait too long! Please mail your offerings so that they arrive well before January 31—a wise mail date would be January 15.
Mail gifts and offerings to:
Women of the ELCA
ELCA Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1809
Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
Mail your gifts and offerings or donate online at welca.org/donate .
Bold Women's Day is Feb. 23
Women of the ELCA celebrates Bold Women's Day on the fourth Sunday of February every year, this year on Feb. 23.
On this day, congregational units honor or remember bold women from their community. To help you with your Bold Women’s Day planning, visit welca.org/bwd for resources, certificates, and other downloadable items.
You have the right to be unbalanced, Café writer says
"Maybe what modern women need most today is not balance at all, but rather permission to be occasionally unbalanced," writes Angela Decker in Bold Café.
"This New Year, the 20th anniversary of the New Millennium, in this article I want to give you that gift." Read "The grace of an unbalanced life."
Did you give everything you wanted for Christmas?
“I remember when school would start back up in January, my little friends and I would get together and eagerly ask each other, ‘Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?'” writes Audrey Novak Riley in January's monthly devotion. “And now I ask, ‘Did you give everything you wanted for Christmas?'” Read the devotion.
Do you subscribe to Gather ?
Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action. A print subscription comes with digital access. For more information, or to subscribe by phone, call 1-844-409-0576.
Academic scholarship application process closes Feb. 15
Women of the ELCA's scholarship applications and supporting documents for the 2020-21 academic year must be emailed or mailed by Feb. 15. Scholarships are offered in two categories: Lutheran laywomen and ordained ministry.
Visit welca.org/scholarships for criteria and descriptions of the scholarships available. Scholarships winners will be notified in late June.
Download winter 2020 issues of Interchange and Intercambio
The winter 2020 issues of Interchange and Intercambio are available for download. The quarterly newsletter is now digital-only. To sign up to receive a copy by email, complete the Stay in Touch form on our website. Visit welca.org/publications and scroll down to download the e-newsletters.
Have you signed up for a tour?
Learn more about Phoenix and surrounding areas through specially curated tours offered exclusively by Women of the ELCA.

Gathering 2020 is July 16-19 in Phoenix, Ariz. Don't miss sharing this life-changing event with other bold women of faith.
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