SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL

Transcription

1 SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL VOLUME XXXIII NUMBER 1 WINTER 2014 PRESIDENT Vivian Westgard For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NRSV) Keep up the good work! Our efforts in sending quilts and kits to Lutheran World Relief makes a difference to people in need. This month 26,400 Mission Quilts 11,500 Personal Care Kits 3,900 Baby Care Kits 3,500 School Kits All bound, by ship, for the Philippines. Isn't that wonderful? God's Work, Our Hands! On Saturday, January 11, we held our Winter Board Meeting, after having to postpone one week. It is really hard to schedule any meeting in South Dakota in the winter. We are thinking about holding next year's Winter Board Meeting in October. It will be in the Bear Butte Conference. The Synodical Officers spent the morning taking care of the business of the SD women. In the afternoon, we met with the Convention Planning Committee to start thinking about our 27 th annual Synodical Convention, June 20-21, in Brookings. We are planning a full convention with several interesting awareness sessions and inspirational speakers. The mission statement of the women of the ELCA is mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. That will be our goal for the convention. We want to mobilize and inspire you. Watch for more information in the spring newsletter. We have decided to have the Leadership Workshop (for Conference Officers) at the beginning of the Convention. Since the Triennial Gathering is in July, we thought maybe we should try to have the Convention and Workshop at the same time. This will mean a lot of preparation at one time for the Synodical officers, but should also reduce some expenses. We will evaluate this change after the convention. Have you thought about going to the Triennial Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in July? There are about 30 of us going, so why don't you join us?!! I think it will be fun, inspirational, fun, educational, and fun. The days are getting longer, which I really like. Spring will come, I keep telling myself. I hope you have a meaningful Lent. Vivian Westgard, President SPRING GATHERINGS Plan now to attend your conferences gatherings April 5 9:30 Prairie Rivers, to be held at Trinity Lutheran in Chamberlain, SD. April 5 9 AM Crossroads, to be held at Brandon Lutheran, Brandon, SD April 12 9 AM Medary, to be held at Trinity Lutheran in Madison, SD. April 26? Northeran Plains to be held at Zion Lutheran in Aberdeen, SD April 26? Bear Butte to be held at Trinity Lutheran in Rapid City, SD April 26? Prairie Coteau to be held at Joy Ranch, rural Watertown, SD Southeastern s date and place is undetermined.

2 SO UTH DAK OTA SY NO DI CA L VOL UME XXXIII Page 2 VICE-PRESIDENT ERIKA LEHMANN Dear Sisters in Christ! Now that the new year is underway, it is time to make plans to see each other at the Synodical Convention in Brookings this June! I hope to see you there. I'm really excited about attending the Triennial Gathering as well! These events can inspire us in many ways and are well worth the effort and time to attend. The Sunday after the Synodical Convention, June 22, 2014, has been declared Refugee Sunday by the 2013 Churchwide ELCA Churchwide Assembly. It will lift up the life-saving and life-changing work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) on its 75th anniversary and recognize the ongoing struggles of refugees and displaced persons today. According to the Winter 2014 Seeds for the Parish, "congregations are invited to celebrate this day and recognize the struggles of migrants--from displaced Lutherans after WWII to youth fleeing gang violence in Central America today." LIRS has put together a Refugee Sunday kit to make it easy to plan worship and education for that day. This kit is free and in February you can order it by signing up at wrdsunday/. Included in the materials is a challenge to Lutherans to support migrants and refugees as they start their new lives here in the United States. My dad, Gerhard Schmutterer, came to South Dakota from war-torn Germany in He was invited to be in the first group of postwar exchange students at Augustana College. He was welcomed and befriended by students who had fought against his country just a few years before, who didn't let his broken English, his very limited wardrobe and finances, or his foreignness stand in the way of their relationship. He was invited to speak at several congregations in eastern South Dakota that had strong German roots. He was "adopted" by families who had been settled in our state when they were displaced after World War I. South Dakota has had few fans as enthusiastic and grateful as Gerhard Schmutterer. After returning to West Germany while he worked on his PhD, Dad was hired to teach German at Augustana in the fall of 1953 and devoted the rest of his life to that work and to the Augustana community. Dad wasn't a refugee, but he found hope and a new life in America. To receive refugee status, there has to be proof of persecution or fear of persecution "on account of race, religion, nationality and/or membership in a particular social group of political opinion." (From the Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security) The United States is one of many countries that resettles refugees and the vast majority spends years, even decades in refugees camps or temporary housing near their home country, waiting for improvement there that would allow them to return home. Unfortunately, conditions in those camps are often very dire, and the hosting nations are not able to or are unwilling to support the infrastructure to make staying there more tolerable. International agencies must supply food, water, medical care and hope. Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran World Federation have been leaders in that work, relied upon by many, including the US government, to transport and distribute resources and run camps. There are about 15 million refugees and 16 million internally displaced people (uprooted by violence from their home areas, but still within their countries of origin.) In 2013 more refugees were resettled in the USA than in many years, nearly 70,000, in 186 communities in 49 states from 60 different nationalities. LIRS resettled about 10,000 of those. Do you know someone who came to this country as a refugee? Have you asked them about their story? Has your congregation helped to resettle refugees or delivered supplies to Lutheran Social Services Refugee and Immigration? Here is some information about what LSS website about what they do for refugees in South Dakota: "At the request of the state, LSS assumed oversight of refugee resettlement in South Dakota in The state of South Dakota continues to oversee refugee medical assistance, but LSS has taken the lead in oversight of cash assistance and program services. LSS operates refugee resettlement offices in Sioux Falls and Huron. The primary goals for all services are self-sufficiency and cultural adjustment. LSS provides six core services: Community Orientation & Education, Case Management, Employment Services, English Language Training, Immigration Services and Interpreter Services. LSS provides assistance with initial housing and basic needs items. Through federal funding, refugees are eligible for up to eight months of cash assistance beginning at date of arrival to the United States. To receive this money,

3 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 3 employable adults must cooperate with employment program and case manager, attend at least 6 hours a week of English language training, and attend 36 hours of community orientation. LSS case management and employment services are available to newcomers for up to five years after arrival. All refugees are legally qualified to work upon arrival. Employment services assist employable adults in finding the first job as well as job upgrades. English language training is available four days and two evenings a week. Classes focus on oral and written English skills. LSS immigration attorneys assist refugees who are pursuing permanent residency or U.S. citizenship." 5 For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, 7 then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever. Jeremiah 5:5-7 NRSV SECRETARY MARILYN ABRAHAM Rise Up Together is the theme of the ELCA Youth Gathering for high school-age youth, a happening that occurs every three years, and next year is the year! The Gathering will be July 15-19, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan. The following is an exerpt from the ELCA web site: The Youth Gathering is a five-day event that begins on a Wednesday evening and ends with a service of communion the following Sunday morning. The opening night sets the stage for the days ahead in which young people may have an encounter with Jesus that energizes their faith and helps them further discover their call to live and serve in the world locally and globally. On the days between Wednesday and Sunday, young people rotate through a variety of service learning experiences in the surrounding community. They explore and strengthen their faith by studying God s word, serving their neighbor, sharing bread and wine in worship, participating in lively faith discussions and broadening their experience of God s world and diverse communities through travel. For many young people, traveling to the ELCA Youth Gathering is the first time they have been out of their county or state. ( So what can W/ELCA do to help motivate and make participation in this event possible for the youth from our congregations? Pray that each one will feel the call to go with an open and giving mind. Encourage parents and teens to prayerfully consider making this mountain top experience part of their summer schedule for Participate in their fund raising activities, whether it is purchasing items they sell, getting your car washed, or whatever. Begin talking it up now while there is adequate time to prepare. If you have gone to a Youth Gathering, or your children or grandchildren, testify to the positive experiences and spiritual growth that occurred there. You probably have more ideas than I can think of, so consider how your W/ELCA women can assist the youth and their families in Rising Up Together to make the 2015 Youth Gathering a possibility for anyone of high school age. An unforgettable experience and perhaps a life changing event await those who attend. Marilyn Abraham, Secretary Lots of impor- JUST CAN T SAY GOOD-BYE! J tant news, so please read on! TREASURER DARLENE BRESSON That s right I will continue to be the Synodical Treasurer at least for the time being. Margie Hershey resigned in January because of health concerns. Please include Margie in your prayers. According to the WELCA Constitution, the Synodical Board is responsible to see that the officer s duties are carried out, so they appointed me Treasurer until a new one can be found. (continued on next page)

4 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 4 At that time, they will appoint the new person to carry out the duties, but she will be brought to a vote of the women at the SWO Convention in June, to fill the remaining term. So please tell your unit Treasurer to continue to send your offerings to me until you hear different! Also, please spread the word that we need a new Synodical Treasurer, and notify the nominating committee if you have a likely candidate Ps. Erika Lehmann, Synodical Vice President, is the Chair of the Nominating Committee. Hotel for the Convention! We had our first planning meeting for the 2014 Synodical Convention in January with the women of Ascension and First Lutheran (host church) in Brookings. Vicki Persson and I have been working on getting the rooms reserved and it has not been easy! Apparently several couples decided to have June weddings, so nearly all the hotels are holding rooms for wedding parties! So I was only able to get rooms set aside in one hotel Hampton Inn and only 11 double rooms at $ 109 and 5 suites at $119. I did look at a suite, and I think you could easily accommodate 3 or 4. There s 1 king-size bed and a sofa sleeper, so you d need to share a bed, but there s also a kitchenette frig, microwave, sink, and mirror so in addition to kitchen amenities, one person could apply make-up, etc in the kitchenette in the morning, while someone else was using the bathroom. They will hold these rooms at this price until May 20 th, but I encourage you to make your reservations early phone is The Synodical Board and the Conference Officers will be housed in 3 different hotels, but I took all of the available rooms the other hotels had. The Hampton is located on the east side of I-29, right on the corner - and you can easily see it from Hwy 14 or I-29. Churchwide Appeal I received a letter from Churchwide explaining that their offerings are considerably behind last year - less than half of the budgeted Regular Offerings had been received by the end of November - and asking us to remind units of the many ways our offerings are used to carry out our joint missions Programs, such as advocacy, anti-racism initiatives, stewardship education, etc.; Communications, such as Gather magazine, Interchange, Bold Connections, Daily Grace, etc.; Operations, such as staff, information technology, equipment, etc.; Triennial Convention; Gifts for the Ministries of the ELCA, such as World Hunger, Disaster Response, and Missionary Sponsorship. So together as Women of the ELCA, let us continue to use our God-given gifts to provide for the mission and ministries that have been entrusted to our care. Please prayerfully consider a gift for the use of our sisters and mentors at Churchwide. On a cheerful note, I received a thank you from Barbara Egbert of Gayville, who collected our offerings for the stole project in Cameroon: Thank you to the SD Women of the ELCA for the donation of $ to the Cameroon Sewing Project (stoles). With this contribution, we have met the total of our 3-year goal of $1,500 plus nearly $200 which will cover the cost of money conversion and some additional supplies to be sent with the group in February. We sent $900 with the Bishop and we are eager to hear how it was received. We will try to keep everyone posted on the progress of the project. (This donation was only 1 of a few that I sent to her.) Please be watching for your unit s year-end statements, which I will be sending in February. God s Blessing to all of you! Darlene Bresson, Synodical Treasurer MISSION GROWTH JANICE ANDERSON OBSERVE BOLD WOMEN S DAY FEBRUARY 24, 2014 Bold Women s day is observed annually on the fourth Sunday of February, celebrating all Lutheran women who have acted or are acting boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Some Women are bold in their unceasing prayers. Other women are bold in their service to those in need. Still other women are bold in their advocacy or through their hospitality. Whether you live out your bold story of faith in the workplace, family, or community, your faith compels you to make a difference in the lives of others. It s all about living out your baptismal call, about being a disciple of Christ. For Celebration ideas, go to womenoftheelca.org or call , ext

5 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 5 MISSION ACTION DEE SANDERSON Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. REMINDER: Conference Mission Action reports are due to me by March 1, It is always so exciting to see how the individual contributions add up to such magnificent gifts for others. And this in no way measures the gift we RECEIVE in our hearts nor does it measure the kindness and fellowship we RECEIVE from our sisters as we walk the path of creativity and labor. I have been doing a little investigating and have found some addresses that will take used greeting cards for repurposing them. Linda Burdick P.E.O. Chapter AV E. Walnut Road Queen Creek, AZ This P.E.O. chapter will take all kinds of cards. They are cut apart and the fronts and other parts are used to make new cards, which are then sent to our U.S. troops for their use. There is no charge to the troops for the cards. St. Jude s Ranch for Children ATTN: Recycled Card Program 100 St. Jude s Street Boulder City, NV This info is from their Web site stjudesranch.org: We now accept cards all year around. All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are used. Please send the front of the card only and exclude all Hallmark, Disney and American Greeting cards. 5" x 7" size or smaller is requested and if there is any writing on the back of the card front, we request you do not send as we are unable to use. The cards are sold to support the St. Jude s research program. Used stamps are a little harder to find a home for. The one Web site I found is: Stamp Camp USA 117 Court St., Suite A Elkland, PA According to their Web site stampcampusa.org: : We can also use stamp and philatelic supply donations. Better stamp items and collections will be held for three years per IRS guidelines before they will be sold or auctioned off to raise cash to help offset operational expenses. More common stamps, on or off envelope corners, will be used in camp training packets of all kinds. If possible, please separate US from foreign stamps as well as on paper versus off paper stamps before bagging them for us. Envelopes with special cancels, or first day covers with designs on the side, should be kept intact and sent as-is. Supplies are used during camps and can also be won as prizes by kids at camp-ending auctions. Blessings and warm greetings to all of you. Dee Sanderson ( or deesand@aol.com) MISSION COMMUNITY MARY HILDEBRANDT Sisters in Christ, it has sure been a long winter already and not done yet. We have met to plan both the Spring Gathering and the Synodical Convention, so watch for date times. I look forward to seeing you all in the spring. Stay warm and well. Mary Hildebrandt PRAYER REQUEST Diane Frederick serves on the Church-wide Board of the Women of the ELCA. Diane was in South Dakota for the Synodical Convention held in Watertown in Her husband, Ed, serves as senior pastor of St. Philips Lutheran Church in Hastings, Minnesota. Recenty, while traveling, Ed began to experience vision problems. The doctors discovered a large metastasized mass in his brain. The prognosis is not good. Please pray for Ed and Diane and their family. PS: You can follow Ed s progress on Caring Bridge. sign in to edsnotdead to read about his progress and great faith.

6 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 6 MEMBER AT LARGE Vicki Persson 2014 National Convention Promotor Janet Mattison 1000 Day Window of Opportunity Why 1,000 Days? The 1000 days between a woman s pregnancy and her child s 2nd birthday offer a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier and more prosperous futures. The right nutrition during this 1,000 day window can have a profound impact on a child s ability to grow, learn, and rise out of poverty. It can also shape a society s long-term health, stability, and prosperity. Today, under nutrition is still a leading cause of death of young children throughout the world. For infants and children under the age of two, the consequences of under nutrition are severe, irreversible, and reach into the future. Malnourished babies and children have a higher risk of dying and are more likely to develop pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. By focusing on improving nutrition for mothers and children in the 1,000 day window, we can help ensure a child can live a healthy and productive live. We can break the cycle of poverty. Rt. Nutrition during the 1,000 day window can: Save more than one million lives each year: Reduce diseases such as TB, malaria and HIV/ AIDS Reduce risk for developing other diseases later in life such as diabetes Improve an individual s educational achievement and earning potential As a result, experts agree that improving nutrition during the 1,000 day window is one of the best investments we can make to achieve lasting progress in global health and development. Solutions to improve nutrition are readily available, affordable and cost effective. They include: Ensuring that mothers and children get the vitamins and minerals they need; Promotion good nutritional practices, including breastfeeding and healthy foods for infants; Treating malnourished children with special, therapeutic foods We need to promote improved nutrition for all mothers and children in the 1000 days between a woman s pregnancy and her child s second birthday. Plan to join us for the 2014 Triennial Gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina - July I just thank God for His blessing in this as I get calls almost daily on what when and where. Our New Bishop will be there to talk to all of us. "Lord, You have established peace for us, all that we have accomplished YOU have done for us. (Isaiah 26:12) Spread the word and invite all girls and women to join us for this 'Spiritual Awakening'. Call me at , or me at mattisonj@knology.net. DELEGATES, if you have questions, contact our state President: Vivian Westgard Triennial delegates are: Marilyn Abraham, Janice Anderson, Darlene Bressen, Joan Ernst, Darlene Jervik, Carie Knutson, Vicki, Persson, Tressa Schmidt, Darla Tobin, Alternates are: Margene Thompson, Sheryn Ekstrum, Glenda Ofstehage, Nancy Renner, Doris Stowe, Donna Bieber, Arlene Bich, Shirley Martens, Call me at or mattisonj@knology.net if you have any questions. In Christ, Janet Mattison, South Dakota Triennial promoter

7 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 7 Lutheran Social Services, Linda Jensen Many thanks to all of the WELCA units and members who have supported the ministry of LSS through donations and prayers for those we serve! Please prayerfully keep LSS in mind as you discuss your benevolence giving for this year. Here are some updates about LSS services: Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota networks closely with Lutheran Disaster Response and state, local and other faithbased disaster relief programs when disaster occurs in South Dakota. LSS responded to the 2013 Spring Ice Storm that impacted southeastern South Dakota and the 2013 Fall blizzard known as Storm Atlas that impacted western South Dakota. Our staff is hard at work coordinating help for homeowners that received tree/debris damage and ranchers who suffered devastating livestock losses. Dede Mogck was recently named by Senator Tim Johnson as his Angels in Adoption nominee. Dede is being honored for her commitment to adoptive and foster children. As the Director of Adoption and Foster Care Programs for LSS of South Dakota, Dede oversees adoption, pregnancy counseling, and foster care programs. Since beginning her career as a social worker with LSS in 1979, she has been a passionate advocate and voice for children and families experiencing adoption and foster care. Dede is a true inspiration to those whose lives she has touched. Dede is a member of Peace Lutheran in Sioux Falls. Stepping Stones is an independent living program located in Rapid City that provides affordable housing, case management and life skills classes for youth ages 16 to 20 years old. The program provides a safe, supportive environment while they learn skills to be a self-sufficient adult. They currently have needs for items such as: backpacks, blankets/quilts, bikes, winter wear, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, volleyballs, skateboards, Frisbees, robes and slippers, hacky sacks, and craft projects. For a full list, or if you have questions, contact Sara Hornick. New Beginnings Center is a group home located in Aberdeen that provides group care for youth ages 10 to 18 years old. The program provides a safe, supportive environment while they learn skills to learn to cope with trauma from abuse and neglect as well as how to control their behavior in socially appropriate ways. They currently have needs for items such as: backpacks, blankets/quilts, bikes, winter wear, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, volleyballs, skateboards, Frisbees, robes and slippers, hacky sacks, games and craft projects. For a full list, or if you have questions, contact Lisa Adler. Due to the great response to the call for donated items, the childcare locations in Sioux Falls are no longer in need of more craft supplies. They still need games for all ages! Many thanks to those of you who saved hangers, paper towel tubes, tissue boxes and other items for the kids. For more information about the needs in the Southeast SD area, contact Linda Jensen. The Centers for New Americans in Sioux Falls and Huron are in need of winter clothes; coats, hats, gloves, snowpants, and boots. For more information, please call the SF location at (605) or If your unit (or any member) would like to find out more about LSS services in their area, or would like to take a tour of LSS facilities, please contact the LSS Development and Foundation person in your area---we d love to schedule a tour or visit and share information about LSS services. LSS has a number of great events coming up! There are Taste of Culture events to raise funds for the Centers for New Americans, four area dinner Benefits, and the 4 th Annual LSS Golf Tournament in Watertown. If you are interested in attending, recruiting participants, helping to find auction items, or helping the day of an event (set up, registration, etc.), please let us know----we always love having WELCA volunteers! March 15 March 29 April 6 April 13 May 3 May 10 August 4 Huron Taste of Cultures Brookings Area Benefit West River Benefit Aberdeen Benefit Sioux Falls/SE Benefit Sioux Falls Taste of Cultures Watertown Golf Tournament Lisa Adler, Northeast Regional Director or or lisa.adler@lsssd.org Sara Hornick, Western Regional Director or or sara.hornick@lsssd.org Linda Jensen, Southeast Development Officer or ext or linda.jensen@lsssd.org Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40

8 Page 8 SOUTH DAKO TA SYNO DICAL Volume XXXIII LAMP MINISTERY Jeanne Johnson These past couple of months have found us working hard to get the curriculum completed and online for our 500+ volunteers. We have been offering a specialized curriculum for the children up North for years. There are several reasons for this: 1. Most of our volunteers have to travel hundreds, (some over thousands), of miles to the community in which they minister; many can only fly in, so the supplies they can take along are very limited. 2. The culture in northern Canadian reserves is much different from the culture in the U.S. or southern Canada. Most of the curriculums offered by other church bodies are not relevant to the children s lives. The theme for this year s curriculum is Our God Saves. These lessons teach about the parting of the Red Sea, Jesus birth, baptism, death and resurrection. I can t think of anything more meaningful or powerful to be sharing with the children, and am excited to see how God s Holy Spirit will move in the communities through this curriculum. Please pray with us, that God would work mightily through the volunteers sharing and teaching, and that His Word would touch the hearts of the children, young people and adults that will hear about His great love for them. Pray that our Father would appoint others to come alongside to help teach the people He loves in northern Canada. And finally, continue to pray for those who having been enduring extreme cold, piles of snow and the ever-present darkness of winter in the North. There have been several untimely deaths in the communities in which we minister, several of which have been children we have taught through our VBS programs. Please lift up those who are grieving, asking for God s comfort, peace, healing and presence in their lives. Thank you! Jeanne Johnson US Director of Communications LAMP Ministry DINA JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN AWARDED The Dina Johnson Scholarship is awarded through a scholarship held at Augustana College. It's money given by the women since This year it was given to: Ashley Brekke, Nursing (NLN, CCNE) major from Sioux Falls, SD. Dear Mrs. Westgard, Attending a private liberal arts college was an important consideration for my family and me. If it wasn t for the scholarship and financial aid I received, it would have been difficult for me to attend Augustana. Thank you for your generous support of my education. I am currently a senior and grew up here in Sioux falls. I am pursuing a major in nursing. At this point my career goals include working as a Pediatric nurse after graduation in May and hopefully getting my masters within two years of graduation. Sincerely, Ashley Brekke (Ashley will be honored at a luncheon at Augustana on April 6, 12:30 pm) WOMEN of the ELCA SYNODICAL CONVENTION JUNE 20-21, 2014 FIRST LUTHERAN BROOKINGS Theme: Who Me?? Women of Faith Making a Difference Theme verse: Micah 6:8...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God There will be a variety of speakers, break-out sessions and activities. The convention is officially Friday all day and evening and Sat. AM. There will be some activities on Thursday and Thursday evening. Please Note: The Leadership training workshop will be held during the convention for ALL Conference Officers. Please plan to attend.

9 Volume XXXIII SOUTH DA KO TA SY NODI CA L Page 9 LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES Barb Goldammer LSS Recognizes Distinguished Partners & Volunteer of 2013 SIOUX FALLS Each year, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota recognizes a distinguished volunteer, a corporate partner, a community partner and a congregational partner in honor of outstanding service and support to LSS during Recipients for 2013 include: Distinguished Volunteer Mike Nold, Tea Award recipients have touched the lives of many South Dakotans through their partnership with LSS. Mike Nold of Tea was recognized as the 2013 LSS Distinguished Volunteer of the Year. His dedication and commitment to LSS began thirteen years ago as a volunteer mentor. Since that time, Nold has mentored three children and has mentored at elementary, middle school and high school levels. Nold also has recruited many individuals as volunteer mentors through presentations in his workplace and church communities. He currently serves on the LSS Mentoring Services Advisory Committee and as an LSS Mentoring Business Ambassador. LSS Mentoring Services is able to serve the number of children it has because of Nold. He has been a significant and reliable source of financial support for LSS Mentoring Services. Each year, Mike nominates and advocates for LSS Mentoring Services within Wells Fargo for volunteerism awards that carry a cash prize. This has routinely resulted in a gift of $1,000 each year. This year, however, Mike was able to gift LSS an award of $5,000 for Mentoring Services through Wells Fargo. Distinguished Corporate Partner Reliabank, Watertown Lutheran Social Services is honoring Reliabank of Watertown as the LSS 2013 Distinguished Corporate Partner of the Year. Through the efforts of Dave Johnson at Reliabank, the LSS Annual Golf Tournament held at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown has flourished. Reliabank showed support for LSS by becoming a major event sponsor at the very first golf tournament three years ago and their support has not wavered. They have been an inspiration to many other businesses and congregations to sponsor and participate in this growing event. The funds raised through the Watertown golf event each year help provide adoption sponsorships for Watertown area families, as well as supporting various other LSS services in the Watertown area. Distinguished Community Partner Falls Community Health, Sioux Falls Lutheran Social Services is honoring Falls Community Health of Sioux Falls as the LSS 2013 Distinguished Community Partner of the Year. FCH has been a vital partner of LSS Refugee & Immigration Services for more than fifteen years as the primary health care provider for all newly arriving refugees. Following the Center for Disease Control s guidelines, they provide initial screenings, physicals, dental screenings and mental health screenings with care and concern for the newly arriving refugees diverse needs and backgrounds. They provide excellent medical care through the use of interpreters and outreach workers in a timely manner. LSS Refugee & Immigration Services goal is to help all clients reach economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. The excellent care that the medical staff and outreach workers provide helps LSS meet the US State Department Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) guidelines and help the clients get their health needs met quickly. FCH also assists refugees to complete health paperwork at the time of their applications for permanent residency in both Sioux Falls and Huron. FCH goes above and beyond the requirements of the CDC and ORR to provide professional and affordable services. The sliding scale fee structure is a great benefit to many in the refugee community. Without the vital partnership with Falls Community Health, our refugee clients would not be able to reach their employment goals and become self-sufficient in a timely manner, says Oldenkamp. The health care that Falls Community Health provides is a critical part of the program s success and continues to have a significant impact on the lives of those we serve. Distinguished Congregational Partner St. John American Lutheran, Sioux Falls St. John American Lutheran of Sioux Falls was recognized as the 2013 LSS Distinguished Congregational Partner of the Year. St. John American is located just a few blocks from the LSS Refugee & Immigration Center. When space was limited in LSS facilities, St. John American opened their doors for English and citizenship classes. For nearly two years, St. John American has welcomed adult learners from around the world through their doors for adult education classes. St. John American has allowed LSS Refugee & Immigration Services to use their facility to provide English and citizenship education classes on weekdays. Through these classes, hundreds of refugees have learned basic communication skills, English literacy and civics. In addition, approximately 40 students have prepared for citizenship. Without this assistance from St. John American, it would not have been possible for the LSS Refugee & Immigration Services to teach these additional students. St. John American has been generous and hospitable to the new Americans in the Sioux Falls community. St. John American parishioners and staff have welcomed newly arriving refugees with invitations to meals and special events to provided additional opportunities to learn. In addition to supporting LSS Refugee & Immigration Services, St. John American has been involved with LSS Mentoring Services for three years. They initially adopted Garfield Elementary, their community neighbor, as the school of choice for congregational members to volunteer. Twenty members of their congregation have become volunteer mentors to date, mostly at Garfield, but also at other schools throughout Sioux Falls. In addition to the four distinguished awards, 52 employees were honored for their dedication and commitment to fulfilling the LSS mission of caring for, supporting and strengthening individuals, families and communities throughout South Dakota.

10 Page 10 SOUTH DA KO TA SYNODICA L Volume XXXIII BREAD FOR THE WORLD Cathy Brechtelsbauer And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. - Luke 9:2 I meet so many people who need the Medicaid expansion. Here are a few. Two parents work but have no health insurance. With 3 children, the eligibility threshold to qualify for subsidized insurance is too high for their income. (The bigger the family, the higher the requirement, poverty line.) A health crisis for either parent could devastate family finances. A 41-year-old starting a new business in a town of 1,600 says Medicaid expansion would help people like him stay in small towns and would help keep young people in our state. After 33 years of strenuous work in hotels and nursing homes, Kay is retiring at age 62. Medicare won t start until she s 65. A single adult makes about $400/month at fast food while training for a better job at SE Tech. A 58-year-old lost her job and insurance due to a fall. Now a car crash has left her with huge medical bills she cannot pay. An older couple already had to file for bankruptcy due to medical bills after his back surgery. He lost his job and its health insurance. With bad health, he took social security a year ago at 62. The couple is so short of money the wife goes without her medications, even though she has had 3 heart attacks. A woman in her 60 s, not in good health, cleans for $8.75/hour, no benefits and not enough hours. Amazingly, there is a 2-year wait for the medical benefit to begin after approval for disability. Obviously, these people need healthcare. Psychological or physical problems make some people unable to work full-time, simply not fully employable, even tho they are not on disability. Medicaid expansion has obvious benefits for our uninsured adults ages and for the health and economy of the state. They are already losing half a year of healthcare (Jan-June 2014). If this legislature delays again, they will lose a whole year (July 2014-June 2015). Someday there may be another way to cover our lowest-income adults, but right now this is the option that is available. The moral reason may be the best. Conservative Governor John Kasich (R-OH) decided for Medicaid expansion when he realized, "When you die and get to the meeting with Saint Peter, he's probably not going to ask you much about what you did about keeping government small, but he's going to ask you what you did for the poor." We don t know if Saint Peter asks such questions, but surely we must ask if our state will walk by on the other side of the road, while thousands of our neighbors could have health coverage. What s the hold up? The worry legislators cite is whether the federal government will keep its funding promise. This is why some states write an opt-out clause into their legislation. Of course, if our state would later discontinue the expansion, we would be no worse off than we are now. Meanwhile, thousands of now uninsured people could get healthcare. As Christ s church, we are inheritors of Jesus ministry, much of which was healing the sick. As Jesus spoke up for the marginalized, we can too. The 2014 state legislature has begun. Will our lowest-income adults gain access to regular healthcare? Or will people miss out on health coverage because they are poor? Martin Luther King preached that the church must be the conscience of the state. I hope you will advocate for our neighbors in need. Thanks! Cathy Brechtelsbauer, volunteer, SD Coordinator for Bread for the World , ryebread@breadrising.org, COMPANION SYNOD Cathy Larson Bold Women led Lutheran Christians to mission in the last two centuries according to an article in The Lutheran, Feb 2014, pg.20. Former Bishop Nyiwe of Cameroon said women are the backbone of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon. Bishop Victoria Cortez boldly leads the Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope in Nicaragua. Do South Dakota women disappoint in this call to work boldly in mission? Of course not!! Women hold leadership roles in the Church. Women have bazaars, craft sales, pie socials and so forth; they give to mission offerings for local and domestic need and ELCA World Hunger. Lutherans have many avenues for giving and women direct dollars to ELCA Disaster Response, LWR, Lutheran Campus Ministries, Lutheran prison ministries, LSS, companion synods, missionary sponsorship, etc. Our next generation of mission leaders sometimes find their way to ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission. ELCA could use more help funding that program. And if you have a young college age person in your congregation (male or female) who might fit our need for a new missionary to Nicaragua, please have them contact Cathy Larson. Mike Busbey, our current South Dakota Synod missionary to Nicaragua will finish his service in July. Carry on with the mission of Lutheran women. God is with you!

11 Page 11 SOUTH DA KO TA SYNODICA L Volume XXXIII LUTHERAN PLANNED GIVING Kurt Osbourne Consider a Bequest as you plan for family and ministry. A bequest is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can make a gift to our favorite charity or ministry. By creating a bequest in our Will, we designate a portion of our estate for ministry. Benefits of Your Bequest Receive an estate tax charitable deduction. Lessen the burden of taxes on your family. Leave a lasting legacy. How Do You Make a Bequest? A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to be made to family, friends, church or favorite ministries as part of your estate plan. Your Bequest Options A bequest may be made in several ways: Gift of a percentage of your estate Gift of a specific dollar amount or asset Gift from the balance or residue of your estate Making a Bequest of Your Retirement Assets A retirement asset, such as an IRA account, makes an excellent bequest to a church or ministry you choose. If the IRA were given to your family, much of the value may be lost through estate and income taxes. By designating a church or favorite ministry you choose as the beneficiary of all or part of your IRA (using a beneficiary designation form provided by your custodian), the full value of the gift is transferred tax-free at your death and your estate receives an estate tax charitable deduction. As you make plans for your estate, and we all should have a plan, please consider the complimentary resources of Lutheran Planned Giving of South Dakota (LPGSD). LPGSD is a ministry serving all congregations of the SD Synod, our partner ministries and you. Jim Schade and Kurt Osborne are able to visit with a congregation, a Women of the ELCA chapter, a family or couple as they consider the benefits and importance of gift planning. We invite you to look over our brand new web where you will find our contact information along with a variety of resources- including an online wills planning option. Thank you for the many talents and gifts which have supported and grown ministry in South Dakota and across the globe! Jim And Kurt Racial Justice Advocates TODAY S DREAM TOMORROW S REALITY Mardella Bieber Racism, Intolerance of all kinds, Bullying; all problems that we deal with every day and problems that are of concern to me. That led me to TDTR training and becoming a Racial Justice Advocate for Women of the ELCA. It is a great program and has helped me grow in my understanding of these problems and how to begin dealing with them. And to my surprise, it started with looking at my own attitude and then taking the time and making the effort to learn about the "others" and recognize them as people with much to offer and to be appreciated for who they are instead of changing them to fit our expectations. The disadvantaged may not wish to be made over to fit in, but they do want to be appreciated for who they are. Today's Dream: Tomorrows' Reality is an ongoing program with new women being trained each year. One such training session will be happening in our area again. It is important that we continue training someone new from our Synod because the problems continue and those of us who have been educators/ advocates for a long time sometimes need to step down. (as is the case for me. ) I have had the opportunity to have numerous training sessions, meet people from many backgrounds and given presentations for nearly 15 years. These issues are still of concern to me but I find it is time to retire from the active list of Advocates. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve. Margene Thompson will continue her work with TDTR and can be contacted at , or amthompson@santel.net Prayerfully consider the Training Session being offered this year. Margene has the information. She will be thankful to hear from anyone interested. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 Will your church or community celebrate World Day of Prayer this year? For more information go to the website:

12 Page 12 SOUTH DAKO TA SYNO DICAL Volume XXXIII ST. DYSMAS MINISTERY Pastor Bob Chell Weddings and funerals Few people know that most pastors would rather preside at a funeral than a wedding. Not because we welcome funerals we don t! However, we know that at a wedding many are eager for the wedding to end so the party can begin. At a funeral pastor s know people long for the comfort God s promises offer. Last fall after 32 years as a campus pastor, in three locations, I accepted a call to serve St. Dysmas Lutheran behind the walls of the SD State Penitentiary. While much is the same, one of the differences is similar to weddings and funerals. As a campus pastor my job was to woo students with the gospel. Many students don t perceive a need for what the church offers; community, forgiveness, eternal life, healing and hope. From their perspective life is full of unlimited opportunities. This isn t true of all students or of any student all the time, of course. Many have looked into the dark abyss of life when death, divorce or broken dreams have stopped them cold. Yet, day to day most experience the supportive community of friends and loving families. Health and hope are constant companions. At St. Dysmas everyone has looked into the abyss, and all are keenly aware of their need for what God promises. When cell doors close, questions spring to mind. Why? How? What s next? Where do I go from here? Is there hope? All the men I serve struggle to make sense of where life has brought them and how to go on from here. Some will rejoin society in a short time while others will live out their lives behind bars. Yet all ask the cosmic questions of meaning and purpose. I once read, I don t recall where, that the best thing the church has to offer is hope. The longer I serve as a pastor the more I see the truth of it. Some days I think one could say the only thing the church has to offer is hope. It is enough. As with everywhere I have served as pastor, those I serve have nurtured my faith as I seek to support them. The men of St. Dysmas witness to God s promises as they welcome visitors to our weekly worship, care for each other and cling to God s promises as the edge of the abyss. Pastor Bob Chell, St. Dysmas Lutheran, South Dakota State Penitentiary PRISON CONGREGATIONS Mary Mortenson The PCA Model Turns 30 Years Old By Mary Mortenson, Director, Prison Congregations of America Thirty years ago a Lutheran pastor from Chamberlain, SD was called to start a congregation in a women s prison in Jessup, MD. As Rev. Ed Nesselhuf began the Community of St. Dysmas, he asked the women of his congregation if they would be comfortable if people from outside churches came in to worship with them. The women were enthusiastic about the idea, and soon, they were answering Jesus call to welcome the stranger as they grew their own congregation inside and showed hospitality to their worship guests from the outside. Ed and Diane stayed in the Maryland area three years, long enough to get the congregation in Jessup, and another in a men s prison in Hagarstown on solid footing. They moved back to South Dakota, but what we now know as the PCA Model had taken shape in Ed s heart and mind. St. Dysmas South Dakota in Sioux Falls and St. Dismas Episcopal in Pennsylvania were organized before Ed finally realized in 1994 that PCA would be his life s work, and the ministry was formally organized. Even though PCA wasn t incorporated until 1994, the PCA Board of Directors chose to celebrate 2014 as the 30 th anniversary of the birth of the PCA model. As part of the celebration, Ed and I will join the folks in Maryland for a celebration in April. The PCA Board and I will commemorate the event in May with Celebration Fellowship in Michigan, and we will have smaller events with various prison congregations around the country. The year of celebration will culminate with the Partners at the Cross Celebration and Benefit Banquet in Sioux Falls on September 20, where Pastor Ed and former congregation member, Wilma Fuhr, will resurrect what was known some years ago as The Ed and Willie Show. Please keep me in mind for speaking opportunities WELCA programs, mission events or pulpit supply. An easy and fun way to contribute to PCA is to allow us to do pulpit supply, and give the honorarium to PCA. Contact me at or mary@prisonconrgegations.org.

13 Volume XXXIII SOUTH DA KO TA SY NODI CA L Page 13 LUTHERANS OUTDOORS Mara Stillson Opportunities for All Ages! Inter-generational programs, give family members and friends the opportunity to be together without the distractions of daily life. It is a quality, faith centered, ALL-inclusive vacation for families of ALL varieties. Family Camp Joy Ranch - 2 Camps, Sun. - Wed. and We Get It Family Camp, also Sun. - Wed. Outlaw Ranch - 6 weeks, featuring weekly resource leaders and musical artists-in-residence. Holden-on-the-Road at Outlaw Ranch NeSoDak - Weekend Family Camp Grandparents and Grandkids or Grandparent Camp Joy Ranch 4 Different dates available June 8-11 July 6-9 July August 3-6 Parent(or Grandparent) and Child Camp at NeSoDak Spring Women s Events at Outlaw Ranch and Joy Ranch Over seventy-five percent of guests throughout the year at Lutherans Outdoors are through year-round programs and retreats. Thank you for being a part of ministry throughout the year! You are invited to take part in these great getaways: Scrapbooking Retreat at Outlaw Ranch March 28 th - 30 st Spend a weekend with nothing to do but scrapbook, eat delicious meals, catch up on those unfinished projects, and share techniques with new friends. Bring your own projects and tools. Outlaw Ranch Women s Retreat April 4 th -6 th You are invited to Outlaw Ranch for a time of relaxing and renewal. Spend time with friends, craft, sing, worship, enjoy the outdoors and more. Come stay in a beautiful setting with comfortable facilities and great food - you'll leave refreshed and ready to go. The theme for this weekend is Letters to Myself, led by Pastor Rebecca Piper. If you could write a letter to your younger self, what insights would you have? Joy Ranch Crafty Chicks April 8 th -11 th This retreat will give you time and space to craft. You won t have to worry about stopping to cook. No curious little folks will rearrange your supplies. You won t have to disassemble your sewing station or your table of paper and stickers to accommodate the in-laws. Just come, set up, and craft away uninterrupted except by your choice to visit, relax in front of the fireplace, or hike the beautiful grounds. For more information and retreats at Joy Ranch and Outlaw Ranch visit Summer Theme 2014 Living in God s Time Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: At camp, time is holy - time set apart to live in intentional Christian community. Each day is structured around worship, Bible study, prayer, singing, having fun and sharing meals. This structure is in contrast to our everyday life, and gives campers the opportunity to refocus and participate in this expression of God s kingdom.