SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL

Transcription

1 SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL VOLUME XXXIIII NUMBER 2 Spring 2015 PRESIDENT Vivian Westgard Love cannot be a black-orwhite lifestyle. Love does not permit us to make easy decisions. Love calls us to a constant balance of life lived in the gray of self-love and other-love, measured always by the fullness of our love for God and the ridiculous abundance of God's love for us. We must ask everyday how we will dance in the space between loving our neighbor and loving ourselves. Both you and your neighbor, created by God in love and for love, deserve all of your best. I read these words on Daily Grace, which can be found on the Women of the ELCA website, or can be downloaded on your smartphone. I just returned from Chicago, where I attended a meeting of the Conference of Presidents, when I read these words. Our theme in Chicago was The Dance is On. Over sixty presidents from the U.S. and Caribbean met for three days, and the dance was truly on. We listened, shared, laughed, ate, and some even danced. Hopefully I will be able to share with you, in the coming months, some of the things I learned. Remember our three resolutions passed at our last convention in Brookings: 1. Support SD Lutheran Campus Ministries. 2. Begin the necessary work to bring a woman to SD from Cameroon or Nicaragua in 2017, and then to support that effort financially. 3. Continue to give to our Dina Johnson Scholarship Endowment at Augustana College. In the summer 2014 issue of our Synodical Newsletter, you can find the complete resolutions. Notice in the March 2015 issue of Gather magazine (page 29), that our youth will be Diapering Detroit, at their Youth Gathering, July Let's show our support. There are ideas in the article. Please consider coming to Faith Lutheran Church in Rapid City (Bear Butte Conference), June 25-27, 2015, for our 28th Annual Synodical Convention of the Women of the ELCA. ( On Thursday evening, June 25 we will have a pre-convention event Chuck Wagon Dinner and a Music Show at Fort Hayes, followed by Lighting Ceremony at Mt Rushmore.) You will listen, share, laugh, eat, and maybe even dance. Hope to see you there. Spring Gatherings Prairie Coteau (I) Saturday, April 18, Grace Lutheran, Sisseton. Medary (II) Saturday, April 18, Leganger Lutheran, Toronto. Crossroads (III) Saturday, April 25, First Lutheran, Sioux Falls. Southeastern (IV) Saturday, April 18, St. Paul Lutheran, Elk Point. Northern Plains (V) Saturday, April 18, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Aberdeen. 9:30 am registration. Prairie Rivers (VI) Saturday, April 18, 2015 Zion Lutheran, Bridgewater. 8:45 AM Registration 9:30 Meeting Bear Butte (VII) Saturday, April 18, Custer Lutheran Fellowship, Custer. 8:30 am registration.

2 SO UTH DAK OTA SY NO DI CA L VOL UME XXXIIIl Page 2 VICE PRESIDENT Nancy Rieke We ve almost made it through another winter, haven t we? Despite the great weather, I think all of us long for spring s bright blue water and warm, gentle breezes. I know my husband Tedd and I do for especially one reason: camping! We can t wait to pull the Little Guy into the driveway, load it up, and drive away from laundry, the phone and the computers here at home! Many of our most cherished memories have been made camping and the funny thing is, many of them were not in a tent or camper but in a cabin at a Bible Camp. As a Minnesota kid, Tedd had the opportunity to go to Green Lake Lutheran Camp. I, being from South Dakota, went to our own South Dakota camps. Confirmation camp was mandatory, which meant everyone went. In my case, this meant I not only had to go, but could go as the church paid for the bulk of the fees. This was a fact my widowed mom much appreciated as she tried to raise my little brother and me alone. Mom valued the financial help, but even more, the opportunity for us, as she herself cherished her weeks at NeSoDak as a kid. The mandatory summer camp requirement had long given way by the time our kids approached confirmation age, so they didn t all go. I ve always felt badly for them as remember the bonds I forged with the kids in my church family over paddling, Bible study, dishes, swimming and campfire. We became more than acquaintances. Our class was family, as only those who share a common life in the Lord can be. Even though they missed camping with peers from their church, we made sure they got to go to camp. As a single mom, my boys and I enjoyed a wonderful week at Outlaw and our very first blended family vacation was there. To this day, when the kids talk about favorite family vacations, the week at Outlaw Ranch in the Black Hills is the one they remember most fondly. The friends they made, the counselors, the horses, the games and the fishing all trump any other family trip we made. Tedd and I experienced the love of God in community and became an intimate part of it, just like we remembered as kids plus we didn t need to defend where we were eating, where we were staying, or what we were going to do for the day with five kids, choosing a restaurant alone was always a huge challenge! Personally, I think camp is a foretaste of heaven. I d like to encourage any and all who would like to experience this little taste of heaven to consider time at camp this summer. For kids, this is an opportunity to spend a week just being a kid: swimming, singing, worshipping, and getting to know other Lutherans from all over the state. Bible Camping is perfect for grandparents: there s no cooking, no entertaining, just loving those kiddos! And for parents, it may be the best vacation week in your family s memory too! There are 135 ELCA affiliated camps all over the country with a very good share of them within a day s driving distance. They cater to every interest, from boundary waters canoeing to mission trips to motorcycle camp, and almost anything in between. There are even day camps and special retreats for special interest groups of all ages. For South Dakota camps, you can check it out at for all others go to SECRETARY Marilyn Abraham As I write, my husband and I are staying in a motel in Oklahoma waiting for a winter ice storm to abate. We are pulling our RV home from a stay in the South cut short by the death of my brother-in-law. We hope to make it home for the funeral, but this delay makes us anxious. I am reminded that our lives are not in our control no matter what we wish for or plan. Death is a certainty, and for the rest we must trust in the Lord. A reminder for conference secretaries: If you are electing officers at your spring gatherings, please remember to send me the information requested on the forms you have received for your new officers. You can edit the old form and asterisk those new ones so I know what changes have been made. Keep in mind that if you send a pdf file, I cannot make updates in it as I can if you send it in Word. Please don t hesitate to call or me if you have questions. Unit secretaries: Please send the information requested by your conference secretary as soon as you elect your local officers. Accurate and complete data makes possible the Churchwide Synodical database of unit presidents (Active Unit Assessment) that I am required to report.

3 VOLUME XXXIIIl SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 3 For anyone wanting a list of unit presidents in your conference or others, just send me a request and I will it as a Word document. Thanks to all of you who contribute to this task. It is very much appreciated! I hope to see you in June! Marilyn Abraham TREASURER Kathy Thompson In spring time, when the air is calm and pleasant, it is an injury against nature not to go out, and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth John Wilton Greetings sisters in Christ; It is now spring, we see changes in nature all around us each day as flowering trees start leafing out and fragrance in the air fills and awakens our senses to this time of the year. Soon it will also be time for our Synodical Convention is Rapid City. All the information and registration form can be found else where in this newsletter. Thursday activities: We will have registration at the Faith Lutheran Church from 2 to 4 pm. Their address is 17 Indiana Street. A map can be found elsewhere in the newsletter. Thursday evening at 5 p.m. a bus from Fort Hayes will be at the hotel to take all those who have signed up for the bus to Fort Hayes for a chuck wagon supper, with music show and then we will be taken to Mount Rushmore for the evening lighting ceremony. The registration form has the information on the Fort Hayes bus and meal fee of $ Which is to be sent to the Synodical Treasurer by May 25. The fee includes meal, show and all taxes, bus from hotel and return back to hotel after all activities are concluded that evening. Registration for the convention is $40, except for Conference officers it will be only $20 for them. (Please find the Registration form in this newsletter and please share with others in your unit.) The SWO poster is also included in the newsletter, so please post this at your church it would be great to have a good attendance to share in the worship, great speakers and interesting awareness sessions. Delegates must register by June 6 th, also non-delegates are asked to pre-register, so we know how many meals to plan for. However, we will still accept registration at the door for non-delegates only. Each church can have 1(one) delegate, but there is no limit on nondelegates that can attend. Registration will be from 2-4 p.m on Thursday afternoon at Faith Lutheran Church and again at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. Lodging- will be at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, 2111 North La Crosse St., take exit 59 off I-90. The room rate is $ per night, rooms have been blocked so all attendees for the convention can stay in the same hotel. The reservation number is , and ask to reserve under the SD Synod Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. They will be held at this room rate until May 25, They do not have complimentary breakfasts, but there is a Minerva's Restaurant in the complex. Silent Auction proceeds will be split between Campus Ministry, Missionary 2017, and Dina Johnson Scholarship Endowment Fund. Basket items were a favorite last year, also wall hangings, needlework, or whatever you do as a craft. All are welcome. Book Store Kathy Villa of Prairie Pages Book Store in Pierre will have a book display at the convention. Please plan to visit the book display and other items she has brought to the convention. Love offering WAVI (Women Against Violence, Inc.) in Rapid City, some of the items they are in great need for are: NEW underwear (esp. Sizes medium and large) socks, bras, slippers for women and children, deodorant, diapers and wipes (sizes 4,5,6), toilet paper, laundry soap and dryer sheets, clorox wipes, Target or Walmart gift cards. Offerings the SWO convention offering (50% to churchwide, 50% to Synodical): Friday evening offering to Pine Ridge Retreat Center. Silent Auction 1/3 to each: Campus Ministry, Missionary 2017, and Dina Johnson Scholarship. Leadership workshops will be Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m THANK YOU to Alpha Behrens, Myla Kneeland, and Tressa Schmidt for doing the review audit of the Synodical Treasurer's book for the past fiscal year. Kathy Thompson, Synodical Treasurer

4 VOLUME XXXIII l SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 4 MISSION GROWTH Janice Anderson Summer Bible Study written by Emma Crossen MISSION ACTION Dee Sanderson At the 2014 SD Synodical Convention held in Brookings, SD, Emma Crossen co-led a workshop about planned giving. Emma asked participants why there are not more women including Women of the ELCA in their estate plans? Emma encouraged all women to find ways to talk about estate and planned giving. A question often asked to Emma, How do we get more women involved in the WELCA? Many women answered receiving a personal invitation from another women to attend the Bible study and events got them involved. Three Summer Sessions, June, July/August In the summer of 2015, Emma Crossen, women of the ELCA s former stewardship director, is writing a three-session study on giving. No Catchy Slogans Session 1 : Give in Secret Session 2 : Be like the Widow Session 3 : God loves a Cheerful Giver More information will be coming in the Gather Magazine or go to gathermagazine.org Sisters in Christ. MISSION COMMUNITY MARY HILDEBRANDT Looks like spring might be here to stay thankfully just a few reminders: Spring Gatherings will be held in April so check your bulletins for information. Also the Synodical is in Rapid City June hope to see you all in the next months. Mary Joshua 22: 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Dear Sisters in Christ, I have been working on your annual reports of Missions Accomplished for 2014 it is apparent that you have been following this command to serve him with all your heart and all your soul. And your hands and your treasures. And your prayers. A HUGE thank you for all that you do for others. The complete report will be published in the Synodical Convention program and also in the next newsletter. But for now, raise your hand, pat yourself on the back. Praise the Lord as we continue to serve. Thank you, thank you, thank you. MEMBER AT LARGE Arlene Bich CONVENTION CHALLENGE..an increase in Convention attendance! (A letter to my WELCA Sisters) I have to admit it! I ve only been to one, yes, ONE State Synodical Convention of the SD Women of the ELCA. (I was blessed to attend the Triennial in Spokane, WA also). I m so glad this year s date for our State Convention is that last week in June the 26 th and 27 th. Yeah! This year it works for me.! Yes, there have been conflicts over the past 7 years, the number of years I ve been involved with WELCA at my church, First Lutheran in Sioux Falls. I LOVE what WELCA stands for, and I BELIEVE in WELCA S Missions and Service and I know you do also. If we want to GROW in our knowledge of WELCA, then we should all promote the fact that the...continued

5 VOLUME XXXIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 5 Annual Convention is another stepping-stone to learning more about WELCA. Serving locally or at the Conference level is good and we learn a lot, but now it s time for the NEXT step: State Convention. A time for Review, Renewal and Recognition of all that WELCA is and does! There s so much to learn! And we can do this together! Now the Challenge: Last year s attendance was around 111. This was for the STATE Convention! Surely we can do better than that for attendance when there are many Conference Gatherings that can equal that in attendance. I also remember that when I attended the Triennial, there were about 35 who attended from SD and I think around that many who attended the Triennial last summer in NC. If we can have that many attending Triennial s out-of-state, we should be able to reach 150 attending a State Convention. That s my CHALLENGE: 150 for Rapid City. Can we do it? I think we can. A Suggestion: The Spring Conference Gatherings are scheduled for April. Consider giving some financial support for attending Convention. How about a drawing at each Conference Gathering for 2 or 3 free registration fees to be paid by the Conference, or maybe one-night in a motel paid for 2 people. Some Units already pay for their delegate, but this would be for someone else to attend. OR.local units could even decide to have a drawing, or if not a drawing, just pay for at least part of another person s cost to attend or maybe 2 more. It s always more fun for 2 or 4 to go together. If EVERY ELCA church in SD could send at least 2 people to convention, I think we could reach 150. Local WELCA Units, Crossroad Conference planners, think about it, and maybe an incentive to help with expenses will encourage attendance. Let s load up a car In June, and head for the hills, the BLACK HILLS!! TODAY S DREAM TOMORROW S REALITY Racial Justice Advocates Margie Neugebauer In the book, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, the author describes the tipping point as that moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire. I assume that you have heard of the incident at the Rush hockey game in Rapid City where a group of Native American children and their supervisors left the game early due to alleged harassment. I hope that this incident is the tipping point for racial awareness and justice in South Dakota. Many positive and peaceful events have happened since that incident in January. 1. Native Americans and others have led rallies in Rapid City numerous times. 2. The Barbara Schneider Foundation was invited to Rapid City to lead a community conversation on Shared Values and Creating Alliances and Actions that Unite our Community and Empower All. I was one of about 85 whites and Natives who participated in this event. Another conversation in the same format is scheduled for March The Rapid City Human Rights Commission has beefed up their enforceability and has also produced Public Service Announcements for TV. 4. Sioux Falls city has recently hired a Community Relations/Human Rights Coordinator. 5. The Peace and Justice Center of SD, has made it a priority to focus on racial justice. A first step was to develop the Pledge to Stand Up Against Racism. Anyone can download this and sign it. You may contact the Peace and Justice Center to give them your name to be published with the Pledge in the Rapid City and Sioux Falls newspapers. 6. The Episcopal Church denomination has begun community conversations in Chamberlain with the Lower Brule, Crow Creek, and Chamberlain communities. 7. I have been asked by the Peace and Justice Center to lead a workshop on White Privilege in Sioux Falls in April. 8. I will be leading two awareness sessions at the WELCA Synodical Gathering in Rapid City in June. Things are happening. The tipping point has enlarged. Please get on the bandwagon and join in. There are many conversations that need to happen across our state. If you don t know how to get involved, contact me or Margene Thompson and/or attend one of the awareness sessions at the Synodical Gathering.

6 VOLUME XXXIIIl SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 6 SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS Keynote Speaker Pastor Larry Peterson - "My faith experience in the Lakota culture" Ordained pastor in the ELCA. Served on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Now volunteering at Outlaw Ranch. Churchwide Representative Pastor Gwendolyn King serves on the Executive Board of the Women of the ELCA. She served as chaplain of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, retiring with the rank of colonel, and currently serves as supply pastor in the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Opening Worship Presiding - Herb Cleveland, Interim Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Rapid City. Preaching - Dave Zellmer, Bishop of the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA. Speaker Pastor Phil Lewison - Holy Humor is Serious Business Phil is very serious about humor and its health benefits. Three years ago he started a 3-H Club (Humor, Health, Hangout) at Custer Lutheran Fellowship. He will speak about the value of humor and sharing humor. Bible Study Pastor Becky Piper-Becky serves with her husband, Pastor David Piper, as co-pastors at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid City. Becky's personal mission statement: To travel through life with Christ in my heart and faith in her actions. Awareness Session Tess Franzen - Human Trafficking 101 Founder and past Chair of South Dakota's West River Human Trafficking Task Force. Works to raise awareness, provide information, and fight human trafficking in South Dakota. Awareness Session Deanna Darr - A Tale of Two Trips Former journalist and current small groups coordinator at South Canyon Lutheran Church in Rapid City. She and other members of South Canyon will share mission trip experience in Bogota, Columbia, and Nicaragua, where the only thing they built was relationships. Awareness Session Hollie Strand - Recognizing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse Currently works full time as Education Specialist/Forensic Interviewer for the Child Advocacy Center of the Black Hills, serving local, state, federal, and tribal jurisdictions. Awareness Session Kayte Halstead - Acupuncture 4 Women s Health -- Acupuncture and Oriental medicine work by restoring balance and harmony to your whole system, thus promoting the body s ability to heal itself. Awareness Session Margie Neugebauer - TDTR (Today's Dream, Tomorrow's Reality) -Peace with Justice This session will review Bible passages related to justice, explore the difference between justice and mercy, and the difference between empathy and sympathy. CONVENTION SCHEDULE Thursday, June 25 Pre-convention activities 2-4:00 PM Registration at Faith Lutheran Church 5:00 Bus leaves from our hotel for Fort Hayes, Chuck Wagon Dinner and Music Show, then to Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony. Friday, June 26 (tentative schedule) 8:00 AM Registration at church entrance...coffee 9:00 Welcome: Opening Worship with Holy Communion Bishop Zellmer preaching 10:15 Coffee with questions for our Bishop 10:45 Churchwide Representative Pastor Gwen King 11:15 Business Meeting 11:45 Lunch for Non Delegates 12:15 Lunch for Delegates 12:45 Hymn Sing 1:00 Announcements Thank you from WAVI 1:30-2:15 Awareness Session 2:15 Coffee 3:00-3:45 Awareness Session 4:00 Holy Humor Pastor Phil 4:45-5:15 Line Dancing (Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls) Arlene Herber 6:00 Banquet/Keynote Speaker, Pastor Larry Peterson Saturday, June 27 8:30 Opening Hymn Sing 8:45 Bible Study, Pastor Becky Piper 9:30 Coffee 10:00 Leadership Workshop DVD showing for non officers or there are other options for activities. 11:00 Sharing and Questions for Leadership On our way rejoicing!

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9 VOLUME XXXIIII SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL PAGE 9 MAP KEY A. Best Western Ramkota Hotel 2111 No. LaCrosse St. Take Exit 59 off I-90 Rooms have been blocked so all Attendees can be housed together. B. Faith Lutheran Church 17 Indiana St. All Convention activities, June C. Fort Hayes..Thurs. attendees Will be taken by bus from our Hotel to Fort Hayes for supper, Western show & then to Mt. Rushmore for the evening lighting Ceremony and then back to the Hotel. You have to pre-register For this. TAKE THE BUS TO RAPID CITY JUNE Riley Bus Tours will take you by Bus to Rapid City for The Synodical Church Womens convention. 7 AM June 25, leave Milbank Visitor Center 7:30 AM Coffee Cup, Summit Rest of the route will be determined by the most passengers. Cost includes: 2 nights at Best Western 2 to a room $114 per person, per night 3 to a room $76 per person, per night 4 to a room $57 per person, per night Bus & Thurs. evening event $156 plus your room rate above. Bus will shuttle to Faith Lutheran and also Thurs. night. This is based on 25 people, if more go, you will get a small Refund on the bus fare. This is non-refundable, unless someone takes your seat. Money due May 25 w/room mates names. Send checks to Alpha Behrns, Box 33 Peever, SD Ph: (You will need to pay your own $ 40 registration.)

10 Page 10 SOUTH DAKO TA SYNO DICAL Volume XXXIIIl 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. Please stop by our booth at the Synodical Convention in Rapid City in June! Here are some updates about LSS services: LSS to Offer New Intensive Independent Living Program in Rapid City Recently LSS was awarded a contract to start a new program for Intensive Independent Living for youth ages 18 and up who are transitioning out of residential treatment programs or who have significant mental health and independent living skill needs. The program will be called New Alternatives and will be moving into the current Stepping Stones apartment building in Rapid City. Sheila Johnson, currently the director of Stepping Stones, has been selected as the program director for New Alternatives. The current Stepping Stones program will continue to operate but will relocate to apartments in the community. Kinship Locator Services Now in Aberdeen & Mitchell LSS was recently awarded a new contract to offer Kinship Locator Services. The Kinship Locator staff will work with Child Protection Services in Aberdeen and Mitchell to help identify and locate relatives who are possible resources of support or placement for youth entering the foster care system. Kinship locator staff will utilize a number of methods to find relatives, including state records systems and online search tools, as well as calling and visiting relatives. This work helps CPS staff identify relatives who are willing to be in the child s life and those who are willing to complete a kinship home study for possible placement. Some of these relatives will ultimately be referred by CPS to LSS for the (already in place) Kinship program for kinship home studies. The kinship locators will be overseen by Amy Witt, Kinship Coordinator. Amy also oversees our current kinship home study services. Volunteer and Wish List Opportunities Quilts are always needed for our young people in Foster Care, residential centers, and independent living programs LSS has a number of great events coming up! There s the Sioux Falls Taste of Culture event to raise funds for the Center for New Americans, two area dinner Benefits, and the 5 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! April 12 Sioux Falls/SE Benefit at Our Savior s Lutheran Church in SF April 18 Aberdeen Benefit at the Dakota Events Center (new location!) April 18 Sioux Falls Taste of Cultures at the District (new location!) August 3 Watertown Golf Tournament at Cattail Crossing Golf Course Liesl Hovel, Interim Northeast Regional Director or Liesl.Hovel@LssSD.org Jessica Lillebo, Western Regional Director or or Jessica.Lillebo@LssSD.org Linda Jensen, Southeast Development Officer or ext or Linda.Jensen@LssSD.org God sees me & cares for me! Genesis 16:13 SEE YOU AT THE SYNODICAL CONVENTION June Faith Lutheran Church Rapid City, SD Check out the fun pre-convention activities on Thursday evening!!

11 Volume XXXIIII SOUTH DAK OTA SYNO DICAL page 11 LAMP MINISTERY Jeanne Johnson I am so excited to report that LAMP is gearing up for another amazing summer of VBS-teaching, Christian sports camps, and Bible studies. Even more exciting is the fact that several teams have felt called to go back and visit their communities at additional times during the year. Right before Christmas, a team from Winnipeg visited Sachigo Lake in Ontario. What was supposed to be a two-day trip ended up being seven days, as the weather turned bad and the small commercial plane wasn t able to land at the airstrip. Not being prepared for a seven-day visit challenged the team of three, but they returned with some great life lessons: 1. You can make all the plans in the world, but God can change them and that s okay. We are so used to cramming our time for God into our busy schedules that we limit our time with Him. Up North, people seem to live like they have all the time in the world, so God-time is not rushed; it s enjoyed, soaked in, filled. It s a beautiful thing. 2. Sometimes we think we need to over prepare for a certain task. Preparation is a good thing, but we should never forget what we are truly preparing for: to live with God and to watch for moments He provides to share our faith and God s Word with others. Our walk with Jesus is also redeemed by Jesus. If we realize this, we won t be so worried about how well we perform. God knows what He is doing. When we see that we are a part of His plan, it is a beautiful thing. 3. Sometimes, we have decided for God how He is to use us. We need to remember that He sees all things and knows all things. He may take us out of our comfort zones and plop us smack dab in the middle of nowhere. Then, when He says, Trust me!, we can really understand the fullness of that word trust, and what faith in God truly means. What a beautiful thing. We say, God is with us all the time: He never leaves us or forsakes us. He always provides for us. Why not let God take you out of your comfort zone? You will understand these truths so much better! To become involved in the ministry of LAMP, visit our new website at God bless you as you learn your own new life lessons every day! St. Dysmas Pastor Bob Chell Last week, preaching at the prison I told the men something about Pastors that none of them were aware of: we would all rather preside at a funeral than a wedding. Not because we take pleasure in anyone s death, that s for sure. We would rather people be happy than sad, and living than dead, of course. We would rather preside at funerals than weddings for one reason: at weddings everyone is impatient for us to finish so the party can begin. At funerals people yearn for the comfort we have to give. They listen carefully for a word of hope, a word that will calm their anxiety, quell their fear, still the turbulent waves of grief and confusion. A word which will make sense of the senselessness they find themselves in. It has been said that the best thing the church has to offer is hope, and I there is much truth in that. The support of Women of the ELCA enables me to speak a word of hope and encouragement to men at the lowest ebb of their lives. To assure them of God s love and care in the face of what often feels like hopelessness. I want to tell you something of which you may unaware. It is this: Pastors of prison congregations, camp directors and campus pastors LOVE the Women of the ELCA! Your faithful and generous support sustains ministries reaching out to the left out, the young, the searching, those often missing from our congregations. I want to thank you for your prayers and support for St. Dysmas and for your keen eye for all those places, people and ministry where your support is cherished and appreciated. Yarn is needed. The men in Mike Durfee State Prison, in Springfield and the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls knit caps and mittens for those in need throughout the year. We are currently running low on yarn and appreciate your donations. It can be left at East Side Lutheran in Sioux Falls or you may contact Pastor Bob Chell at (605) a or via at pbob@stdysmas.com

12 Page 12 SOUTH DAKO TA SYNO DICAL Volume XXXIIIl The Benefits of gifting unneeded life insurance Did you know you can name a ministry or charitable organization as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy and benefit from a tax deduction? A life insurance gift is an excellent way to support the ministry of a favorite organization at a significant level at a fraction of the cost of other gifting strategies. Options for gifts of life insurance Option Benefit Gift of an existing policy Income tax deduction Annual gifts to cover premiums Annual income tax deductions Life Insurance beneficiary designation Estate tax deduction Gift of a new policy Income tax deduction Please contact us at Lutheran Planned Giving of SD if you d like more information about gift and estate planning. Please consider signing up for our weekly e-newsletter at Jim Schade, jschade@sdsynod.org or Kurt Osborne, kosborne@sdsynod.org *********************************************************************************************************************************** PRISON CONGREGATIONS Mary Mortenson PCA Welcomes Its Newest Congregation By Julie Thomas Administrative Assistant After nearly a year of hard work and planning, the Church of Another Chance is ready for its first service in Nashville, Tennessee. Pastor Scott Jamieson feels humbled and excited about starting this new church but after finishing divinity school at Vanderbilt University and being recently ordained, he is raring to go. He indicates they have a number of offenders (residents) who are helping to plan the service and readying themselves for worship roles and will have six outside volunteers to attend the first service. He would ask for your ongoing prayers as they take this next significant step in bringing the hope of God to people who are so often marginalized and overlooked. Please keep PCA Director, Mary Mortenson, in mind for speaking opportunities WELCA programs, mission events or pulpit supply. An easy and fun way to contribute to PCA is to allow her and her husband, Jack, to do pulpit supply, and give the honorarium to PCA. Contact Mary at or mary@prisonconrgegations.org. LUTHERAN PLANNED GIVING Kurt Osbourne & Jim Schade Dina Johnson Scholarship Awarded Samantha Rost, a Psychology major, from Sioux Falls has been awarded our Dina Johnson Scholarship. She writes this thank you: Dear South DakotaWomen of the ELCA, Attending a private liberal arts college was an important consideration for my family and me. If not 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 junior and grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I am pursuing a major in Psychology so I can pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. I am also minoring in Special Education and Sign Language Studies. At this point, my career goals include becoming an Occupational Therapist and working in a school setting with children who have disabilities. I am also a teacher at a dance studio and teach a dance class to children who have Down Sydrome. I hope to someday have a class that is open to children with various disabilities and help them learn the art of dance. Thank you! Samantha Rost

13 Volume XXXIIIl SOUTH DAKOTA SYNODICAL Page 13 LUTHERANS OUTDOORS Mara Stillson 2015 LUTHERAN OUTDOORS QUILT AUCTION Benefits all of the camps of Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota. Sunday, August 30th at Joy Ranch RED HAT LADIES DAY - Thursday, Aug 27 QUILT VIEWING - Thursday, Aug 27 & Friday, Aug 28 Remember, you can make a Thrivent Financial Action Team - Apply for $250 for quilt-making supplies. for info - contact Karen@losd.org or Karen at And...remember to come to camp this summer. Spaces are still available, register today by calling or online at

14 Page 14 SOUTH DA KO TA SYNODICA L Volume XXXIIIl We are on the Web Women of the ELCA, South Dakota Synod is now found on facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and we even have a blog! Be sure to LIKE the facebook page, and FOLLOW the Pinterest page. Facebook page: Women-of-the-ELCA-South-Dakota- Synod/ Pinterest page: Twitter: Blog: Do you have time to help with the Women of the ELCA South Dakota Synod blog, facebook, Twitter or Pinterest pages? If so, contact Erika Lehmann at elehmann@santel.net or send a message though any of the pages. Newsletter subscriptions that are expired or will be after this issue. Thelma Dittman Aldine Mayer Wendy Morgan Jane Peterson Judy Stearns Wanda Hernes Janice Moore Dileen Ninke Janet Sorum Gretchen Tweet CONFERENCE COORDINATORS Prairie Coteau: Edna Anderson, th Ave., Veblen, SD 57270, PH: tomanderson.2562@yahoo.com Medary: Elaine Rietz, 2024 Morningside Dr., Brookings, SD PH: dredrietz@hotmail.com Crossroads: Marlys Lueth, th Ave. Humboldt, SD PH: dmlueth@svtv.com Southeastern: Glenda Ofstehage, 2921 Pettersen Rd., Vermillion SD PH: ofsteglen@gmail.com Northern Plains: Kathy Heffernan, rd St., Wecota, SD PH: Heffernan@venturecomm.net Prairie Rivers: Lois Storm, rd St, Corsica, SD PH: cell: thestormfamily@hotmail.com Carolyn Goldhammer, th Ave, Corsica, SD PH: Bear Butte: Diane Lee Bryan, 1014 S. 35th St., Spearfish, SD PH: cell: blueroosterchick@hotmail.com ANYONE can receive a copy of this newsletter by at no charge. Please send your name and e- mail address to Lmbirk@itctel.com. This will be in PDF format so that you can open it if you have PDF, which I will instruct you in downloading a free copy when I send the newsletter out. You can also find this newsletter on the internet at: At the top of the page, position your curser on Congregations & organizations, then click on WELCA on the drop down menu. When this page comes up, click on the SD Synod WELCA newsletter. GLOBAL HEALTH MINISTRIES Hickory Street NE Minneapolis, MN Please remember, all addresses MUST be your mailing address, some of you have 2 addresses, a physical address (street or 911) but I have to have your mailing address to insure that your newsletter is delivered.

15 Volume XXXIIIl SOUTH DAK OTA SYNO DICAL Page Synod Officers PRESIDENT: Vivian Westgard, nd St. NE, Watertown, SD PH: nd year, 2nd term (Bear Butte Advisor) VICE-PRESIDENT: Nancy Rieke, 501 S. Lois Lane, Dr., Colman, SD 57017, PH: st term, 1st year (Prairie Rivers advisor) SECRETARY: Marilyn Abraham, th Ave., Alcester, SD PH: , 2nd year, 1st term (Southeast advisor) TREASURER: Kathy Thompson, 404 3rd St. Wilmot, SD , E:mail: PH: st year, 1st term (Prairie Coteau advisor) MISSION ACTION-(Stewardship): Dee Sanderson, 2305 Sanderson Dr., Aberdeen, SD PH: ; 2nd year, 2nd term (Northern Plains Adv.) MISSION GROWTH-(Justice) : Janice Anderson, 409 Kringer Ave., Baltic, SD pjand@alliancecom.net PH: nd year, 1 st term (Crossroads Advisor) MISSION COMMUNITY-(Discipleship): Mary Hildebrandt, PO Box 86, Ramona, SD PH: derraldmary@alliancecom.net 2nd yr, 2nd tm (Medary Advisor) MEMBER AT LARGE: Connie Bickett, th Ave., Oldham, SD conniebickett@alliancecom.net PH: or cell st year, 1st term, (Medary adv.) MEMBER AT LARGE: Arlene Bich, 2908 S. Orchard Ave., Sioux Falls habich@sio.midco.net PH: or cell , 1st year, 1st term (Crossroads advisor) LITERACY CHAIRPERSON: Sally Hillner, 505 Minnesota Dr., Brookings, SD PH: sallyh@brookings.net TODAYS S DREAM TOMORROW S REALITY - Racial Justice Advocates: Margene Thompson: th St., Letcher SD amthompson@santel.net PH: Margie Neugebauer, White Tail Ridge Rd., Hermosa, SD PH: dneugebauer@mt-rushmore.net NEWSLETTER: Lucille Birkholtz PH & FAX: LMBirk@itctel.com rd St, Willow Lake, SD FACEBOOK GURU; Erika Lehmann, PH: elehmann@santel.net April: Spring Gatherings April 22: Earth Day Dates to Remember June 26-27, 2015; Synodical WELCA 28th Annual Convention at Faith Lutheran in Rapid City. August 30, 2015, Lutherans Outdoors Quilt Auction at Joy Ranch July 13-16, 2017 Tenth Triennial, Minneapolis, MN, PASS IT ON!! This SD Synodical Newsletter is published to inform Women of the ELCA of the SD Synodical happenings, activities and opportunities with the Synod.The newsletter is published four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Please share this newsletter with your congregational unit officers: President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Mission Growth Mission Action Mission Community Anyone can subscribe to this newsletter for $5 per year. You will receive four issues. Due dates for article are Feb. 1, April 1, August 1, November 1. Name Mailing Address: City, State & Zip Make your check payable to SD Women of the ELCA and mail it with the above information to: Kathy Thompson, 404 3rd St., Wilmot, SD Send Address changes to Lucille Birkholtz, rd St., Willow Lake, SD PH: & Fax: LMBirk@itctel.com

16 South Dakota Synodical Lucille Birkholtz, Editor rd St. Willow Lake, SD CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED BREAD FOR THE WORLD Cathy Brechtelsbauer Feed Our Children It s mid-morning on a school day, and Sophie is trying to pay attention to her teacher. But all she can think about is food. Her parents both work, but they don t earn enough to pay for housing, utilities, transportation, and enough food to feed their family. School meals, summer lunch, WIC, the Child and Adult Care Food Program - programs that help meet nutritional needs of children through the school day and summer, and after school, and in child care settings - are up for re-authorization in Congress this year. You know little children will not be contacting Congress in support of these meals. They need us. Of course, the biggest child nutrition program is SNAP, which was authorized in the farm bill, but whose funding is threatened this year by potential budget cutting. Thus, we fervently ask that support for any child nutrition program not come at a cost to other programs that help meet children needs. SNAP needs our protection too. Our letters to Congress will be important. Please write a note at your Spring Gatherings and/or in your circle meetings. We can be part of helping children learn and grow up healthy and strong. At the state level, thanks to all who shared their gift of influence, something each one of us has, by speaking up for those who lack life s basics. We don t always win, but we are called, not to have success, but to be faithful. Thus, we keep speaking up for the marginalized, and we pray and trust that God s Kingdom comes. If you would like to be a Bread for the World member, check or call BREAD. Thanks, Cathy Brechtelsbauer, volunteer, SD Coordinator for Bread for the World , ryebread@breadrising.org,