Weekly Briefs – November 6, 2008

CLWR News Headlines

• Bolivian church gains female leadership

• Gifts from the Heart are coming

• Four Corners extended hours

Bolivian church gains female leadership

The Evangelical Bolivian Lutheran Church (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Boliviana – IELB) has for the first time elected a woman as its vice-president. Bertha Uturunco de Catunta will serve in this role for the church, which has about 11,000 members in about 110 congregations. A high proportion of church members are of Aymara ethnicity; the Aymara language is one of three official languages in Bolivia.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) works with communities in Bolivia that consist mainly of indigenous peoples, including Aymarans, and maintains a close relationship with the IELB. The national church participates in CLWR activities and learning workshops, which help to strengthen their leadership capacity.

“We do a lot of work with women in Bolivia in general—helping them integrate into community groups and take leadership roles,” says Wendy Kroeker, CLWR’s program manager for Latin America. “It was my pleasure to meet Bertha earlier this year, and she is an energetic, passionate person who will bring real life to the position.”

–        CLWR News Service

Gifts from the Heart are coming

The long-anticipated new edition of the Gifts from the Heart catalogue will be distributed soon by Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR). This annual catalogue features symbolic gifts that support the wide array of work that CLWR does around the world throughout the year. The new, 2008-09 edition includes many exciting gift options.

Congregations have already received posters introducing this year’s gifts and gifts are available to order online at www.clwr.org. You will be able to easily identify the new catalogue with its striking green cover. While the ever popular gift of goats has been carried over to this year’s edition, there are some interesting new options. How about a flock of chickens? That’s just one sneak peek at the quirky but always useful gifts that will be available this year.

Look for the new catalogue at your church or in your mailbox if you are on our mailing list. If you would like to join our regular mailing list and receive our free quarterly newsletter among other resources, please call 1.800.661.2597.

–        CLWR News Service

Extended hours at Four Corners

Four Corners, the alternative trade organization of CLWR, is making Christmas shopping a little easier this year with extended hours at its Winnipeg location. While regular hours throughout the year are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, Four Corners will be open on several weekends from now until Christmas.

“We are open on the last weekend of November as well as the first two Saturdays in December,” says Bruce Rose, program manager for Four Corners. “We also have extended hours from December 15 to 20, for some great last minute shopping deals.”

The Winnipeg location of Four Corners is

–        CLWR News Service

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Weekly Briefs are produced by Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and are distributed every Thursday. CLWR reports stories for the benefit and interest of its readers. News stories do not necessarily reflect CLWR policy or positions.

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