SNOW. A Word From Our President. Northwest Minnesota Synod Women of the ELCA Summer 2010

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1 SNOW Northwest Minnesota Synod Women of the ELCA Summer 2010 A Word From Our President On June 11 th and 12 th at Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, we elected a vice president, secretary, three board members, three members of a nominating committee and eleven delegates to the Triennial Convention. The 2011 Triennial theme is Renew, Respond, Rejoice. Background scripture is Philippians 4:4-9, with the theme verse Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. In February, I went to Chicago for the Conference of Presidents. Last September, I had the opportunity to be part of the planning committee for the 2010 Conference of Presidents. What a delightful crew to work with. This is a time where we get to know the presidents from the other synods. We normally break into regions. I was a part of region 3 which included all presidents from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. It is always a fun time to visit with other presidents whom we may already know and get acquainted with new ones. There are two new resources which are free and downloadable at the ELCA website, Check out Hospitality: More Than Warm and Friendly. This resource looks at hospitality as a transforming way of life that opens our hearts to seeing Christ in others and being available to those in need. It is designed for individual study but can also be used in a group setting. It takes about 60 minutes. Another is Shared Wisdom: An Effective Style of Leadership which teaches a decision-making process that includes hearing the thoughts and concerns of everyone who will be affected by the decision. Try this process in your efforts to get more women involved. Other useful tools at this website include: Tools for Synodical Leaders Tools for Congregation Leaders Worship and Prayer Resources Triennial Convention and Gathering Information Sisters in Christ, Elaine Scheer Women of the ELCA: Mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. 1

2 How Does Your Garden Grow? there s a nice amount of moisture in the ground. To top it off, there was no wind when I was planting so it was easy to get those tiny seeds carefully planted in my furrow. I m enthusiastic and very hopeful that growing conditions will make for a better garden this season. Sharing with you about my gardening experiences has me thinking about our convention theme Grow and Go. Just as growing conditions are important in producing quality garden produce, they are even more important in developing and growing Christians. Grow in grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen! (II Peter 3:18) Last year I did not have a garden worth bragging about. For starters, the spring was so cold and late that I didn t get it planted until almost June. Those seeds just didn t want to poke their noses through the dirt! When my peas finally did come up very sporadically I rejoiced. My rejoicing was squelched two days later when I discovered ALL my pea plants completely eaten off. I couldn t even find the row! Due to the late start with planting, replanting was out of the question. My pepper plants didn t have enough time to produce good sized peppers and the cucumbers just never came. The pumpkins were green instead of orange when I had to pick them in. While I had some success in my garden, overall it was a disappointment. My garden start was different this year. We were blessed with an early spring and I was in the garden by the end of April! The tiller worked the soil up nicely this year with very few lumps, the fertilizer is mixed in, and There are many ways you can cultivate, fertilize, and warm your Christian life so it will grow strong and healthy. Consistently and daily feed on God s word. Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps.119:105) Worship on a regular basis. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! (Ps. 122:1) Pray often to build your relationship with God, making it close and intimate. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Col. 4:2) Take time to fellowship with other Christians. Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb.10:24-25) Seek out and reach out to the lonely, the widowed, the grieving, 2

3 the unwanted. Show kindness and mercy each to his brother; do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor. (Zech. 7:9b-10a) Our growth in faith may sometimes be slow and take time to emerge, like some seeds in our gardens. There will be setbacks, times when we feel cut off and left to die because of how we are treated or ignored, or due to sin in our life. Rather than letting our faith stagnate or die, we must replant and fertilize anew seeds of Christian growth Scripture, worship, prayer, fellowship, outreach. Yes, replant and grow in faith, even if that growth is still underground and unseen for awhile, because faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1) Be patient; be persistent in faith, for eventually those growing seeds will emerge! Remember, too, that you will grow as you go, so boldly and confidently leave the garden and grace the table of hungry people in this world, feeding them with the satisfying, life-sustaining good news of Jesus Christ. You need not grow weary or afraid, for the Gardener goes with you! Unlike the produce grown in my garden, your produce gleaned from growing in Christ will never run out or grow old or stale as long as you continue to cultivate, fertilize, and fill your life with seeds of Christian growth. Your faith in Jesus Christ will sustain you and bring hope to all those with whom you share it forever! Now,--GROW and GO! Rachel Ronnevik Join more than 2,000 Lutheran women for a weekend of learning, inspiring preaching, fellowship and celebration! Jane Redmont, an educator, spiritual director and popular blogger, is well-known for her book When in Doubt, Sing: Prayer in Daily Life. She will offer workshops on prayer and will lead evening prayer on Friday. We're busy lining up more great speakers and workshop leaders and will have much more to unveil next month! Is there a topic you would like to see explored in a workshop at the Gathering? Drop us a line: women.elca@elca.org Raising up Healthy Women and Girls Did you know? one teaspoon of salt contains about 2,300 mg of sodium? about 77% of the sodium that Americans consume comes from processed or prepared foods, not the salt shaker at the kitchen table?... a preference for salty foods is acquired? Lowering sodium can improve or prevent high blood pressure. Learn more at 3

4 THOUGHTS FROM A BOARD MEMBER By Diane Nord, Secretary At our April board meeting, I had volunteered to do coffee and devotions. I struggle with finding the right devotion but I was in the midst of sending out the second mailing for the convention and our theme, Grow and Go, kept popping up and so did spring. My husband and son are preparing fields, getting machinery ready and have started planting. I love the smell of fresh dug dirt and watching to see the first signs of growth in the fields. I always hear the joy in my husband s voice as he points out the first signs of growth and notices how well they have started. He fully understands God s hand in this, but realizes his responsibility. As the season progresses, sometimes there is more concern on how the fields are looking. I find myself noticing trees blooming and shoots from perennials starting and remembering as a kid that this was not something that usually caught my eye. I now look at my 9 month old granddaughter and see how she changes every time I see her how much stronger she is, the more things she notices and I see what a wonderful job her parents are doing. Our theme for the convention, Grow and Go, says to me that God is telling us to grow in our faith and spread his Word, but also to see the beauty in the spring and blooming of trees, flowers, grains and children and the wonders of his world around us. My term is up and a new secretary will be elected at the convention in June. I have really enjoyed my four years on the board, the last two as secretary. My favorite part is meeting women from all over our synod and getting new ideas on how my local unit might do something. We are such good resources. Father, we want to thank you for spring and all that it brings to us rebirth, warmth and growth and to see in your Son s death on the cross that we are to grow in our faith and go tell others about your abundant love for us. Book Review By Rhoda Anderson Habedank Mountains Beyond Mountains (The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World) written by Tracy Kidder This is a book I started reading after Christmas, just weeks before the tragedy in Haiti. I was still reading it after the earthquake and felt somehow a little closer to the people in crisis on that island. The story of how Paul Farmer started his great work and understanding of the people in Haiti is a riveting one. Kidder does a great job of sharing background on Farmer, giving an overview of the country of Haiti and explaining the dire need for health care and compassion for human beings who happen to live on different pieces of land than us on this planet. The story moves from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba and Russia, focusing on people who need help, and how Farmer affects the politics of disease control and health care. 4

5 Opportunity for Spiritual Growth. Synodical Officers Looking for spiritual refreshment? Elaine Scheer, President / Cluster 7 ecsheer@msn.com Mavis Werner, Vice President / Cluster 4 God Pause devotions are short, meaningful reflections on the following Sunday's lessons and gospel delivered directly to your box. By Sunday, you'll be ready for an extra meaningful worship experience. Sign up today at to receive your daily devotion. Invite others to sign up, as well! Sample: John 13: (provided in ) "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." How many people know we are disciples of Jesus? How obvious do we make it? I often challenge myself by asking the old question, "If you were put on trial for being a disciple of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Give me love, dear God, that others may see your good works in me. Help me to live my life in such a way that others will see Jesus and be drawn to him. Amen. Ron Hovick St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Chula Vista, Calif. Master of Divinity, 1994 Devotion writers are Luther Seminary alumni/ae. Their reflections are a gift to you and to the church. EMT9164@gvtel.com Diane Nord, Secretary / Cluster 9 Diane_nord@yahoo.com Georjean Johnson, Treasurer / Cluster 8 ggjohns@charter.net Board Members: Arlene Teigen / Cluster 5 victeigen@gmail.com Rachel Ronnevik / Cluster 10 hrronnevik@bradcowisp.com Rhoda Habedank / Cluster 2 habba@tvutel.com Almina Beyer / Cluster 3 hwbamb@paulbunyan.net Virginia Anderson / Cluster 1 andytwo@mncable.net Janet Lindberg / Cluster 6 janetlindberg@gmail.com Do you have an idea to share? We would like to hear about what our local units are up to, and share this information in the SNOW. Please contact Janet Lindberg if you have an idea or article to share! 5

C LUSTER NEWS Cluster 1 : The Cluster 1 Spring Gathering was held at First Lutheran Church in Karlstad, MN. Registration and coffee was at 9:00 AM with our meeting starting at 9:30 AM.

6 C LUSTER NEWS Cluster 1 : The Cluster 1 Spring Gathering was held at First Lutheran Church in Karlstad, MN. Registration and coffee was at 9:00 AM with our meeting starting at 9:30 AM. Morning coffee was served by Bethel Lutheran in Karlstad with the luncheon being served by First Lutheran. Beverly Slevin was our guest speaker and our theme was Yesterday, Today, Forever. Our theme verse was Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ in the same yesterday, today, and forever. Beverly talked about how things change in our life but yet remain very much the same. God is always there. Special music was provided by Meredith Walton. Cluster 3: Apron Memories was the theme for the Spring Gathering of Cluster 3 hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church of Beltrami, MN. Our theme verse was from 1 Peter 5:5, Put on the Apron of humility, to serve one another. Linda Stromstad gave devotions wearing an apron she had sewed for a 4-H fashion show. The guest speaker was Myra Johnson from Hendrom, MN. She modeled many aprons from years past and present, along with explaining the purposes an apron can actually have. Ladies from the audience also shared their memories of special aprons they had brought along to show. The ladies of Trinity served a delicious salad luncheon and the church was decorated with aprons. Everyone whom attended certainly went home with their minds and hearts filled with Apron Memories. Cluster 4: Calvary Lutheran Church at Park Rapids hosted the Cluster 4 Spring Gathering. Karen Stoker from Fargo was the guest speaker. She told about the mission of Greg Mortenson and his work with the Central Asia Institute and it children's Pennies for Peace program. They have built 151 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are promoting peace with education, especially for the girls. The fall Cluster 4 meeting will be held on Sept 25th at Zion Lutheran in rural Bagley. Cluster 5: The Cluster # 5 Spring Gathering was held at Zion Lutheran Church in Twin Valley with the theme Living from the Heart: Health and Spirituality. We gathered to special music and area churches served punch and hors d oevures. Several healthy heart stations were on display: Forgiving Heart, Prayer-Filled Heart, Joyful Heart, Peaceful Heart, and the Clean Heart. Prayerful Heart Station Devotions were taken from Luke 8:42b, As Jesus was on his way, the crowds crushed him. Pastor Charles Bade led us in Holy Communion. Special music was How Great Thou Art and I Love to tell the Story. Our guest speaker was Dr. Debra Bell who spoke about Living from the Heart, speaking on health and spirituality. She highlighted the importance of mindful eating, daily prayer, staying physically active, deep breathing for 6

relaxation and eating colorful fruits and veggies for a healthy life. Keeping with the theme of the evening, the Zion Church Ladies treated us to a delicious Heart Healthy meal.

7 relaxation and eating colorful fruits and veggies for a healthy life. Keeping with the theme of the evening, the Zion Church Ladies treated us to a delicious Heart Healthy meal. The Cluster 6 Spring Gathering was held at Our Savior s Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN. After a meal, In Praise Group of Our Savior s opened with special music. Pastor Patrick Loree gave devotions and talked of the first Christian in Europe being a woman named Lydia. Women teach the children and tell the stories. Women today still are faithful witnesses! Speakers, Bishop Larry and Joy Wohlrabi shared their memories of their trip to India. India is seventh in area, and second in population with 944 people per square mile. This compared to the 83 people per square mile in America. It is just over 2% Christian. They traveled around the synod visiting the larger churches, the girl s school, the Bible Women Group. They brought a $1,000 check to the Bible Women from the NW MN Synod. They were honored many times with shawls and a plaque was dedicated to them. They had to remember to take off their shoes, get used to many vehicles, animals and potholes while driving. Children in India were fascinated by their white skin; they wanted to touch them to see if it rubbed off. The Women s Synodical Board presented Bishop Wohlrabe with a check for $2,000 to be used as needed. The next meeting will be September 23, 2010 at Glyndon Lutheran. The Cluster 7 Spring Gathering was held at Eksjo Lutheran Church in rural Lake Park. The theme was 'On Our Way Rejoicing'. We opened with devotions and prayer led by Vicki Heydt, followed by a bible study on Isaiah 55:12, You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands led by Eksjo's Pastor Randy Whitehead. Our guest speaker was Vicki Marthaler with Kim Schnitzer. Together they shared a wonderful message of word and music, about trusting in God, living and sharing your faith, and rejoicing and loving one another. They recorded a CD of gospel songs for this event, and we each received a copy to take home. The Fall Cluster Gathering will be at First Lutheran in Detroit Lakes on September 25th. Bishop Wohlrabe and his wife Joy talk about their trip to India. We closed with the Lord's Prayer, and sang the table grace. A lunch of ribbon sandwiches, salads, cheesecake and coffee was enjoyed. Vicki Marthaler & Kim Schnitzer The Cluster 8 Spring Gathering was held at Hope Lutheran in Fergus Falls. A delicious supper was catered by Zens Catering. Carol Adam, the Hope Lutheran WELCA president, welcomed us and Sylvia Griepentrog from Hope Lutheran gave the devotions. Special reports were given by Luther Crest, our synod representative, Georjean Johnson, our triennial coordinator, Ardys Horner, and Lutheran Social Services. Everett Jacobson favored us with two excellent musical numbers. Our 7

SNOW 300 4 th Ave SE Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 guest speaker was Carolyn Engebretson who spoke on "Women Gathering at the Well".

Cluster 10: Cluster 10 held its Spring Gathering at Osakis Lutheran Church. The theme for the day was "Lutheran Campus Ministry - The Churches Best Kept Secret".

8 SNOW th Ave SE Pelican Rapids, MN guest speaker was Carolyn Engebretson who spoke on "Women Gathering at the Well". This was about the difficulties that women are facing in Israel and Nicaragua where water is scarce. Carolyn gave a very informative and interesting presentation. Cluster 10: Cluster 10 held its Spring Gathering at Osakis Lutheran Church. The theme for the day was "Lutheran Campus Ministry - The Churches Best Kept Secret". Special music was provided by "The Joyful News Trio" of Osakis. Tom VandenBosch, Development Director of Lutheran Campus Ministry of MN, and Kristine Braaten Lee, Campus Minister of U of M Morris, presented information on the value of Lutheran Campus Ministry and noted the fact that WELCA Units are a major source of funding for LCM. Paul Hanson, Luther Crest Bible Camp, stressed the importance of encouraging our youth to attend camp at Luther Crest. They will be celebrating their 65th Anniversary the weekend of July 10th. The Fall Cluster Gathering will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Brandon, on October 16th. Joyful News Trio - Osakis Lutheran Church. 8

Northwest Minnesota Synodical Women of the ELCA Summer Why attend the Fall Synodical Convention?

SNOW Northwest Minnesota Synodical Women of the ELCA Summer 2011 Renewing Strength NW Synodical Women s Convention September 9 & 10, 2011 Redeemer Lutheran Church Thief River Falls Why attend the Fall