W/ELCA meets the second Thursday of even numbered months, beginning in February. If you are a member of Lyster Church, you are a member of the W/ELCA. Everyone is in a work group. The work groups are asked to serve at funerals and other events during the year. Currently, there are four Circle groups, Bethany, Faith, Lydia, and Rebecca. The Circles are also responsible for Alter and Welcoming duties and the Ladies Aid Program for their months assigned. Many of the circles also participate in mission projects throughout the year as well as donating to other causes.
CURRENT OFFICERS: Kathleen Rieck, President; Joyce Bauer, Vice President; Myrna Johnson, Secretary; Sandra Reinhardt, Treasurer; Lucille Baader and Gloria Brantner, Discipleship; Anita Mock and Kathleen Rieck, Justice; Diane S. Mikelson, Librarian; Alberta Breitung, Usher; Diane S. Mikelson and Ann Rustad, Auditing Committee; Sandra Reinhardt and Myrna Johnson, Purchasing Committee; Marilyn Weisenbeck and Carol Quarberg, Nominating Committee
W/ELCA HISTORY
Unfortunately, there are no records of the work of the women in the early days. We do know, however, that Ladies Aid Societies were organized by Pastor Moller and Pastor Wik in their respective parishes, and that the women performed a heroic task in furthering the Kingdom Cause. To them, we owe a lasting debt of gratitude for their labors of love and for their interest in the work of the church both at home and abroad.
In scanning through the “Kvinde Forening” or Ladies Aid records, we find that in 1938, Mrs. Louis Hagen, the wife of Pastor Hagen, ordered books for the Ladies Aid. It was decided to keep the books for the library, and the sum of $5.00 was sent to the Augsburg Publishing House in Minneapolis. That summer, the Aid sent money to Mrs. Hagen to attend the Women’s Missionary Fellowship meeting in Chicago. She later organized all of the Aids in the Mondovi Circuit into WMF. From this period on, the women’s organization has regularly sponsored special projects. For instance, in 1948, the Mondovi Circuit bought a station wagon for missionaries in Zululand.
In 1931, the Ladies Aids records show the income for the annual lutefisk dinner was $46.05, and the expenses were $8.00 leaving a profit of $38.05. In 1933, the Ladies Aid income for the entire year was $385.14, but with annual expenses of $381.61, that left a net balance at the end of the year of only $3.53. In 1934, the book balance amounted to $42.45. Unfortunately, that year the Modena State Bank was closed due to Depression Era financial difficulties. The amount of lost by the calamity was $35.67, which left a balance of just $6.70.
Since the merger of the three synods in 1960, the Ladies Aid has been known as the ALCW-The American Lutheran Church Women. In 1988, it changed to W/ELCA-Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Dairyland Conference. Our synod office is in Chetek.
A tradition of the W/ELCA has been the annual bazaar held each fall. In the past, it has been held on a Wednesday evening. In 2015, it was held on Sunday School Rally Day after a fellowship dinner.
INTERESTING TIDBITS . . .
The Lyster W/ELCA has created cookbooks in 1966 (100th anniversary), 1983, 1996, and 2007.
The Prayer Chain was created by Myrtle Larson in 1984. Gloria Brantner is now coordinator of the Prayer Chain.
In 1986, the W/ELCA created a new constitution.
In 1991, an old-fashioned style show was held along with the salad luncheon commemorating the 125th anniversary of Lyster.
In 1992, the church constitution was revised which allows the current president of the W/ELCA to be a voting member of the Church Council.
On August 10, 1995, an antique show was held in connection with the salad luncheon. Wilma Synstad, Gertrude Quarberg, and Gary Schlosstein served as emcees.
Lyster Lutheran Church 