Women's retreats have been held in ELCUSFE every year since 2006, and each of them has brought spiritual renewal, strengthening faith and bringing significant practical help to those who are serving Christ's church. This year's theme (explored on May 2-7) was “Created in God's image.” This theme was touched on again and again in Bible studies by the coordinator of women's ministry in ELCUSFE, Tatyana Serebrova, among others. The main idea could be summed up in the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer - “God loves us so much not because we are valuable, but we are valuable because God loves us so much.” During fellowship and worship sisters in faith came to feel that they are really members of one big family.
The women's seminar for ELCER in Krasniy Yar (near Samara) was split into two parts; the first (for those serving in the area of women's ministries) was held on April 29 to May 3 with representatives of 7 congregations attending; also attending was a participant from Lvov, Ukraine, an important sign of the unity and solidarity of our church. Guests from Stuttgart, Pastor Gotfriend Stein and his wife Erika, acquainted participants with a catechetical program for congregational use, “Steps of Life," the text of which was translated by Ruth Stubenitsky at the Theological Seminary. It is planned that the text will be published and used at future seminars. The second part of the program was the annual women's seminar held from May 5-9; Erika Stein led lessons for women from various congregations of ELCER. These seminars provide not only knowledge and rest, but also important fellowship and a sense of unity.
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