Northeastern Lights Nov 2015 - NE Minnesota Synodical Women`s

!
Newsletter!of!the!Northeastern!Minnesota!Synodical!Women’s!Organization!
Women!of!the!ELCA! !
Published!four!times!a!year! !!!!!!November!2015!
____________________________________________________________________________________________!
Please!share!this!edition!with!the!other!women!in!your!congregation.!
WHAT’S!INSIDE!
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!!!!!!!!!!Page!
Letter!from!Lynda! !
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3!
From!Pastor!Erika! !
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4!
Summer!Convention/Gathering! !
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5!
PV!for!Phebe!update!!
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6!
Treasurer’s!report! !
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7!
News!from!our!conferences!!
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!!!!!!!8T12!
2016!InTkind!gifts! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!13!
World!Hunger!notes! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!14!!
Peace!with!justice! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!15!
Synod!events! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!16T17!!
Board!meeting!minutes!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!18!!
Give!someone!a!hug!today! !
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!!!!!!!!!!19!
Focus!areas! !
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!!!!20T22!
Women!of!Hope!
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!!!!!!!!!!!23!
Websites!and!subscription!information! !!!!!!!!!!!24!
Help!needed! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!25!
WISE!Scholarships!and!recycling!bags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!26!
Change!of!Contact!form!!! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!27!!
SWO!Board!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!28!!
SWO!Assignments! !
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!!!!!!!!!!!29!
Conference!Committee!members!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!30T31!
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2!
Mission!Statement!!
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To#mobilize#women#to#act#boldly#
on#their#faith#in#Jesus#Christ.#
#
Purpose!Statement!
As#a#community#of#women#
#####Created#in#the#image#of#God#
#####Called#to#discipleship#in#Jesus#Christ,#
#####and#empowered#by#the#Holy#Spirit.#
We#commit#ourselves#to#
#####Grow#in#faith,#Affirm#our#gifts,#
#####Support#one#another#in#our#callings,#
#####Engage#in#ministry#and#action,#and#
#####Promote#healing#and#wholeness#
#####in#the#church,#the#society,#and##
#####the#world.#
#
!A"Letter"from"Lynda".."
"
"Words"from"our"President"
Dear!Sisters!in!Christ,!
!
Our!2016!Summer!Convention/Gathering!will!be!held!at!a!
new!location,!Ruttger’s!Sugar!Lake!Lodge!near!Grand!
Rapids.!!The!theme!verse!is!from!Romans!8:14,!“For!all!who!
are!led!by!the!Spirit!of!God!are!children!of!God.”!
!
We!may!ask,!“!When!did!we!become!children!of!God?”!Most!of!us!would!say!when!
we!were!baptized.!!That’s!a!beautiful!description!of!how!a!person!becomes!a!
believer,!not!by!our!will!or!choice,!but!by!the!Spirit!leading!us.!!When!we!were!
baptized!as!infants,!we!didn’t!walk!up!to!the!font!and!ask!to!be!baptized!but!we!
had!faithful!parents!or!guardians!who!brought!us!before!the!Lord’s!altar.!!By!
God’s!Spirit!and!the!washing!of!water,!with!the!Word!makes!us!His!children.!
!
!In!the!Gospel!of!John,!the!Spirit!is!described!as!coming!as!the!wind.!!The!wind!
blows!wherever!it!pleases.!!You!hear!its!sound,!but!you!cannot!tell!where!it!
comes!from!or!where!it!is!going.!!So!it!is!with!everyone!born!of!the!Spirit.!!John!
3:8.!
!
Now!we!know!a!lot!about!wind.!!We!know!when!it!comes!up!and!we!know!what!
direction!it!comes!from;!but!we!don’t!know!where!it!started.!!We!don’t!know!
where!it!finishes,!but!it!is!there.!!God!says!that!is!the!same!with!faith!TTT!the!Spirit!
comes!to!us.!!The!Spirit!leads!us.!
!
It!may!be!difficult!for!us!to!explain,!but!God!tells!us!the!means!that!He!uses.!!It!is!
by!God’s!power!and!grace!that!we!are!children!of!God!and!are!led!by!the!Spirit.!
!
The!Spirit!comes!through!the!hearing!of!His!Word,!through!the!Sacrament!of!
Baptism,!and!through!the!Lord’s!Supper.!!We!by!faith!can!say,!“We!believe!in!the!
Triune!God.”!!As!God’s!children,!we!then!understand!that!our!heavenly!Father!
loves!us.!
!
“Live!in!the!Spirit”!is!a!wonderful!theme!for!our!Convention/Gathering.!!Each!
time!we!gather,!hear!the!Word,!are!fed!at!His!table!and!remember!our!baptism,!
we!are!living!in!the!Spirit,!we!are!children!of!God.!!Once!God’s!Spirit!is!let!loose,!it!
cannot!be!contained.!!All!we!can!do!is!learn!how!to!share!that!Spirit!with!others.!
3!
From%Pastor%Erika%Foss%–%SWO%Vice%President%
I!want!to!share!with!you!a!couple!of!thoughts!as!we!kick!off!this!fall.!As!we!start!this!fall!
with!conference!gatherings!and!as!we!start!to!plan!this!summer’s!gathering!and!
convention,!keep!in!mind!all!things!are!made!new!in!Christ.!
Here!are!a!few!thoughts!for!you:!!
1.!A!scripture!verse!that!echoes!in!my!head!all!year!long!comes!from!the!stories!we!hear!about!at!Christmas!
time.!The!verse!is!about!Christ!being!born!and!is!spoken!by!the!angel!to!the!shepherds!as!the!shepherds!are!
watching!their!sheep.!The!angel!says!to!the!shepherds,!“Do!not!be!afraid:!!for!seeTTI!am!bringing!you!good!
news!of!great!joy!for!all!my!people.”!(Luke!2:10)!
What!echoes!in!my!head!is!this,!“I!am!bringing!you!good!news!of!great!joy.”!There!is!great!joy!going!on!all!
around!us.!There!is!great!joy!in!nature!with!the!colorful!leaves.!There!is!great!joy!in!our!families.!There!is!
great!joy!in!many!of!our!churches.!There!is!great!joy!within!the!Women!of!the!ELCA!in!this!synod.!!We,!your!
board,!are!hard!at!work!on!planning!and!preparing!a!new!way!of!doing!the!gathering!and!conventionTTin!a!
new!place,!in!a!new!space,!in!a!new!format.!We,!as!women!of!this!synod,!can!take!this!news!like!the!shepherds!
and!come!along!to!see!what!is!going!to!happen,!or!we!can!be!afraid!of!the!new!and!what!is!going!to!happen.!!
My!hope,!and!the!hope!of!the!board,!is!that!you!come!and!see.!And!not!just!you!but!bring!a!friend.!And!not!just!
see,!but!be.!Come!and!be!a!part!and!participate!and!enjoy!and!refill!yourself!in!this!new!experience!as!Women!
of!Northeastern!Minnesota!Synod!coming!together!for!fellowship,!learning,!growing!and!worship.!
2.!The!next!image!that!comes!to!mind!is!the!root!of!Jesse.!One!the!names!that!Jesus!has!is!the!root!of!Jesse.!
Jesse!is!the!father!of!David!in!the!Old!Testament;!David!becomes!a!king!and!is!listed!in!Jesus’!family!tree.!!This!
is!the!image!for!this!name:!!
!!!!!!!!!! !
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!!!
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Think!of!a!grove!of!trees!being!logged!off,!and!nothing!but!stumps!are!left.!And!yet!out!of!the!nothingness!of!
the!stump!comes!a!sprig.!A!sprig!of!life,!a!new!shoot,!something!old!becomes!new.!
Right!now!in!our!world,!life,!churches!and!even!in!our!women’s!groups,!it!might!seem!as!if!there!is!a!lot!of!
change!going!on.!There!are!things!that!always!used!to!be!that!are!now!no!more!or!are!different!or!are!less.!But!
that!doesn’t!mean!there!is!death!or!an!end;!it!may!mean!we!are!seeing!a!place!where!a!new!sprig!will!be!
coming!forth.!!
This!is!a!great!time!to!be!a!Lutheran.!This!is!a!great!time!to!be!a!part!of!the!Northeastern!Minnesota!Synod!
Women.!!
4!
Good"News!"**""Good"News!"**"Good"News!"**"Good"News!"
Announcing"a"new!location"and"a"new!Thursday/Friday!Schedule!for"NE"MN!
Synod,"Women"of"the"ELCA"2016"Summer"Convention/Gathering"
Our!women’s!synodical!board!extends!an!invitation!to!each!woman!of!the!ELCA!for!a!new!
experience!at!our!2016!Summer!Convention/Gathering,!growing!in!faith!and!enjoying!the!
fellowship!of!friends!in!the!beautiful!surroundings!of!God’s!creation!at!!
Sugar!Lake!Lodge!near!Grand!Rapids!MN!
Thursday,!June!9,!and!Friday,!June10!
Why#the#changes?#The#evaluations#sheets#from#last#year#indicated#that#participants#had#several#
concerns#including#the#amount#of#walking,#the#dorm#room,#showers,#and#noise#of#banging#doors.##
The#change#to#Thursday/Friday#resulted#from#working#with#the#resort#and#to#allow#participants#
to#be#available#for#weekend#family#events#during#this#busy#time#of#year.#
Our!theme!and!verse!are!inspiring!the!planning!and!preparation!for!our!convention/gathering.!!!
“Living!in!the!Spirit”!"Romans!8:14,!“For!all!who!are!led!by!the!Spirit!of!God!are!children!of!
God”!NRSV!
Our!keynote!speaker!will!be!Alison!Feigh!from!the!Jacob!Wetterling!Foundation!who!will!
present!on!the!challenges!of!protecting!our!children!and!what!we!can!do!in!communities!of!
faith.!
Workshops!will!include!opportunities!for!personal!enrichment,!service!and!fellowship.!
Women!of!Laurentian!Conference!are!busy!making!the!backdrop!quilt;!Heartland!Conference!
is!at!work!designing!the!logo.!Teal!is!our!theme!color;!please!wear!something!teal!when!you!
attend.!
Amenities!at!the!resort!include!paddleboats,!shuttle!service,!a!place!for!a!bonfire,!and!a!free!
round!of!golf!for!each!participant.!!Convention!rates!are!available!for!those!who!wish!to!extend!
their!stay!into!the!weekend!or!include!family!members!in!their!stay.!!!
This!event!promises!to!be!a!true!retreat!and!time!of!renewal.!The!entire!board!is!joyously!
working!out!the!details!as!we!craft!our!new!convention/gathering.!!!Watch!for!additional!
information!regarding!cost,!registration,!etc.!!Becky!Gaede!(Convention/Gathering!CoTChair)!
and!I!enjoyed!meeting!many!of!you!at!Fall!Gatherings!as!we!“pumped!you!up”!!Let’s!keep!the!
positive!energy!going!as!we!go!forward!“Living!in!the!Spirit”!in!all!ways.!
Your!Sister!in!Christ,!
Carolyn!Tuckner!!
5!
PV"for"Phebe"Update"
The!PV!for!Phebe!team!has!been!very!busy.!!Many!
Lutheran!church!events!occurred!throughout!the!months!
of!August!and!September!as!part!of!the!Solar!August!fund!
drive.!!Donations!to!the!NE!MN!Synod!office!for!August!
and!September!were!$53,910.80!giving!us!$65,959.76!on!
hand.!RREAL!received!$4,920!during!the!same!period!and!
has!$6,912.29!on!hand.!What!awesome!work!you!all!did!
and!continue!to!do.!BJ!Allen,!Pastor!Andy!Smith!and!I!
presented!at!the!SW!MN!Synod!Women!of!the!ELCA!fall!convention,!the!NW!MN!Synod!Women!of!the!ELCA!
fall!convention,!and!the!East!Central!Cluster!of!St.!Paul!Synod!Women!of!the!ELCA!fall!gathering.!!October!
promises!to!be!busy!with!presentations!as!well.!
In!September,!all!members!of!the!MN!congressional!delegation!were!provided!with!templates!and!asked!by!
RREAL!to!send!letters!of!support!for!PV!for!Phebe!to!both!USAID!and!the!White!House.!A!couple!of!positive!
responses!have!been!received.!
RREAL’s!fall!semester!intern,!Jordan!Morgan,!is!developing!a!PV!for!Phebe!crowdTfunding!campaign,!which!
we!plan!to!roll!out!throughout!the!month!of!November.!Stay!tuned!for!more!regarding!this!effort,!which!we!
hope!will!raise!a!lot!of!money!for!Phebe!!
We!were!informed!we!are!a!likely!candidate!for!WheatRidge!Ministries!funding!for!the!next!grant!round,!and!
we!will!submit!this!second!application!for!staff!funding!at!the!beginning!of!November.!
We!submitted!a!second!letter!of!inquiry!to!the!Gates!Foundation!for!funding!Phebe!and!an!application!to!
SolarWorld!for!the!donation!of!PV!modules.!!RREAL’s!battery!supplier!is!also!working!on!getting!us!a!
discount!on!the!batteries.!RREAL!is!further!seeking!donations!of!LED!lights!for!energy!efficiency!upgrades!at!
the!hospital.!
RREAL!continues!to!advance!additional!potential!grantTfunding!opportunities.!One!of!RREAL’s!new!board!
members,!Davis!LeinoTMills,!a!retired!health!educator!and!local!Community!Action!Executive!Director,!is!also!
assisting!in!grant!writing!and!fundraising!for!Phebe.!!
System!design!has!been!completed!by!RREAL!in!collaboration!with!the!Phebe!Power!Engineering!team:!!
microgrid!expert!Dr.!Greg!Mowry,!University!of!St!Thomas!REAL!(Renewable!Energy!and!Alternative!
Laboratory),!along!with!his!assistants,!Hoang!Ngo,!and!Julio!Vasquez.!In!October,!RREAL!will!continue!to!
work!with!suppliers!to!pursue!equipment!donations."
"
The!Midwest!Renewable!Energy!Association!(MREA)!is!a!nationally!accredited!technical!training!provider!for!
solar!electricity!(PV)!and!other!renewables!located!in!Wisconsin.!Bishop!Seyenkulo!is!working!on!submitting!
a!proposal!to!the!Evangelical!Lutheran!Church!in!America!Global!Missions!to!support!training!at!the!MREA!
for!Liberians!who!would!be!involved!in!the!operations!and!maintenance!of!the!PV.!
!
Keep!the!PV!for!Phebe!project!in!your!prayers.!Write!a!letter!to!your!congressman,!the!USAID!and!the!White!
House.!Send!a!donation.!We!need!to!support!this!project!every!way!we!can.!The!people!of!Liberia!at!Phebe!
Hospital!are!waiting!for!our!help!and!for!solar!power.!We!can!do!this!!
%
Mary!Jo!Mettler!
6!
Northeastern Minnesota Synodical Women’s Organization
Financial Statement – 2/1/2015 – 9/30/2015
RECEIPTS
Conference Gathering Offering
Congregational Unit Offering
Convention/Gathering Fund
Convention/Gathering Offering
Convention/Gathering Registration
Garden Room/Silent Auction
Love Offering
Northeastern Lights
Global Health Ministries
LWR Quilts and Kits Shipping
Other Income
WISE Scholarships
TOTAL INCOME
Budget
Feb 1, 2015
Jan 31, 2016
$ 3,500
15,000
3,000
5,500
16,000
2,000
5,000
2,000
5,000
1,000
2,000
Actual YTD
Feb 1, 2015
Sept 30, 2015
$ 2,120.80
4,434.25
3,075.00
4,934.56
13,525.00
2,453.75
2,855.00
855.50
1,483.10
3,058.00
730.00
2,000.00
$60,000
$41,524.96
$14,000
19,000
5,000
200
300
4,800
$ 3,00.00
18,387.17
EXPENSES
Women of the ELCA (CWO)
Convention/Gathering
Designated Convention Offerings
Financial Review
Justice/Equality Education
Leadership Team Building
Global Health Ministries
LWR Quilt and Kits Shipping
Phebe Solar Project
Northeastern Lights
Synodical Board Expenses
Garden Room Expenses
WISE Scholarships
Other Expenses
TOTAL EXPENSES
161.03
1,483.10
3,058.25
2,657.28
1,599.30
2,821.76
1,499.00
5,000
3,000
3,200
2,000
2,000
1,000
$60,000
643.51
$35,310.40
7!
CONFERENCE!AND!
CONGREGATIONAL!UNIT!
TREASURERS!
All!checks!should!be!made!payable!
to!!
Women"of"the"ELCA"
!
Please!make!out!individual!checks!!
for!each!type!of!offering.!
Include"your"unit"number."
!
All!checks!for!Synodical!Women’s!
Organization!should!be!sent!to:!
!
Cyndi"Worshek"
202"S."3rd"St."W."
Aurora"MN"55705"
!
All!remittances!to!Churchwide!
Women!of!the!ELCA!whether!Thank!
Offerings,!Designated!Gifts!to!Women!
of!the!ELCA!ministries!or!to!other!
ministries,!are!to!be!mailed!to:!!
!
Women"of"the"ELCA!
ELCA"Gift"Processing"Center"
P.O."Box"1809"
Merrifield,"VA"22116.8009"
!
Please!do!not!send!these!gifts!to!the!
Chicago!address!anymore—they!will!
have!to!pack!them!and!send!them!to!
Merrifield!to!be!handled!properly!and!
that!just!leaves!room!for!mistakes.
!
News from our Conferences
Living&Waters&Conference&
Caroline&Switzer&5&Coordinator&
What!a!beautiful!fall!day!it!was!for!traveling!to!the!Living!Waters!conference!fall!
gathering!in!Grand!Rapids.!!Thank!you!St.!Andrew’s!for!hosting.!!And!thank!you!to!
the!women!of!Carmel!Lutheran!in!Jacobson!who!attended!the!registration!table!and!to!Nashwauk!
Lutheran!for!providing!morning!coffee,!juice!and!delicious!muffins.!!There!were!72!in!attendance.!!!The!
theme!for!the!gathering!was,!"May!Your!Light!So!Shine”!using!the!Bible!verse!"In!the!same!way,!let!your!
light!shine!before!men!that!they!may!see!your!good!deeds!and!praise!your!Father!in!heaven."!Matthew!
5:16!
!
After!we!sang!a!few!songs,!Vicki!Fall,!Coordinator!of!St.!Andrew’s,!warmly!welcomed!us!to!their!church.!!
Pastor!Megan!Crouch!led!us!in!a!very!inspiring!worship!service!and!Holy!Communion!was!received.!
!
After!a!short!break!and!a!little!shopping,!our!business!meeting!began.!!Motions!were!made,!seconded!
and!passed!to!give!half!of!our!offering!to!the!PV!for!Phebe!and!the!other!half!of!the!offering!went!to!
Churchwide!Women!of!the!ELCA.!!A!total!of!$1,313.00!was!received!in!offering!that!day.!!Lee!Ann!Baker!
and!Deb!Poenix!presented!Loralee!Torkelson!and!Mary!Schmid!for!the!conference!nominating!
committee.!!They!join!the!committee!with!LeAnn!and!Deb.!!Coordinator!Caroline!Switzer!asked!for!any!
women!interested!in!working!in!the!quilt!truck!at!the!2016!summer!gathering!to!please!let!her!know.!
!
Our!new!Synod!President!Lynda!Lochner!gave!us!the!synodical!update.!!Carolyn!Tucker!and!Becky!
Gaede!shared!with!us!the!news!that!the!2016!Summer!Gathering!will!be!held!in!Grand!Rapids.!!They!also!
reminded!us!that!our!inTkind!focus!gift!this!year!is!school!kits!and!explained!the!great!need!for!them.!!
Dorothy!Dybvig!reminded!us!to!order!a!subscription!to!the!NE!Lights.!
!
BJ!Allen!from!RREAL!and!Mary!Jo!Mettler!showed!slides!and!gave!a!presentation!on!their!trips!to!Liberia!
and!talked!about!the!need!for!solar!panels!at!the!hospital!there.!!Their!story!surely!tugged!at!our!hearts.!
!
After!a!tasty!lunch!and!dessert,!Haley!Puddicombe,!a!young!lady!from!St.!Andrew’s!gave!a!great!
presentation!and!slide!show!of!the!ELCA!National!Youth!Gathering!trip!she!attended!in!Detroit!this!past!
summer.!
!
The!SWO!Board!came!forward!and!installed!the!new!members!of!the!nominating!committee.!!Peg!
Christensen!let!us!know!the!Silent!Auction!and!Buy!it!Now!Sale!brought!in!around!$610.!!She!also!
explained!the!proceeds!from!the!sale!help!those!in!our!conference!who!want!to!attend!the!2017!
Triennial!Gathering!in!Minneapolis.!!She!ended!the!day!by!giving!the!closing!devotions.!
!
We!were!so!pleased!to!hear!Salem!of!Longville!will!host!the!spring!gathering!and!Hope!in!Walker!will!do!
registration!!!Mark!your!calendars!!
!
Winter!will!soon!be!upon!us.!!Keep!warm!and!remember!to!thank!God!for!all!the!many!blessings!
bestowed!upon!us.!!
!
God’s!peace!!
Caroline!Switzer!
Living!Waters!Conference!Coordinator!
!
8!
Lake&Superior&Conference&
Beth&Holst&5&Coordinator&
“God!of!the!earthquake,!God!of!the!storm,!God!of!the!trumpet!blast.!
How!does!the!creature!cry!Woe,!How!does!the!creature!cry!Save”!
ELW!#740.!
!
Our!Lake!Superior!conference!women!gathered!at!Gloria!Dei!Church!in!
Duluth,!in!collaboration!with!several!Creation!Care!teams!from!NE!MN!
churches,!to!hear!Barbara!Rossing,!professor!of!New!Testament!at!the!Lutheran!School!of!
Theology!in!Chicago,!address!what!the!Bible!reveals!about!God’s!love!for!all!of!creation!which!
brings!hope!to!our!world!in!this!Kairos!moment!of!climate!change!TTT!an!urgent!time!in!our!
human!history!for!each!of!us!to!do!our!small!acts!of!love!towards!the!earth,!our!home,!which!we!
share!with!every!creature!and!person,!to!wake!from!our!“sleep,”!and!encourage!one!another!to!
act.!!It!is!not!too!late.!Now!is!an!opportunity!for!Lutherans!to!embrace!an!ecoTreformation!for!
our!times.!We!have!a!message!of!hope!to!share,!knowing!we!have!a!God!who!seeks!to!heal!and!
bring!us!from!death!to!life!!Joy!is!seeing!God!in!ALL!things.!
!
Professor!Rossing!shared!a!story!with!us!that!I!wish!to!share!with!you.!!She!was!visiting!a!part!of!
India!where!LWR!has!been!active!sharing!hope!among!the!people!who!have!suffered!drought,!
typhoons,!famine,!and!loss!of!natural!resources.!Women!there!have!formed!a!Women’s!Tree!
Protection!Association,!where!trees!provided!by!LWR!are!planted!to!hold!soil.!For!these!women,!
Lutherans!mean!trees,!trees!mean!life,!and!so!Lutherans!mean!life.!Awesome!!We!need!to!be!
planting!seeds!of!hope!and!justice!and!we!can!do!that!in!small!ways,!right!here,!right!now.!!
!
Some!things!you!can!do!to!save!our!planet:!(from!the!April!issue!of!The!Lutheran)!
1)!Get!outdoors!TTT!a!step!towards!presence!to!the!world!
2)!Eat!less!meat!
3)!Get!a!home!energy!audit!
4)!Compost!your!food!waste!
5)!Join!local!or!national!climate!advocacy!efforts!TTT!yes,!get!political!!
6)!Recycle,!reuse,!repurpose,!make!your!own!
!
!
Our!conference!quilt!is!making!its!way!through!our!30!churches!encouraging!each!of!us!to!do!
something!for!Phebe!hospital!in!Liberia.!2000!quilt!cards!have!been!made!and!for!each!pack!of!
cards!purchased,!$5!goes!towards!building!solar!panels!to!eliminate!the!hospital’s!need!for!
burning!fossil!fuels!to!operate.!A!small!act!of!goodness!restores!people’s!hope!and!provides!
healing!for!our!world.!We!are!well!on!our!way!to!the!2000!mark!sold.!!If!you!want!to!have!a!part!
in!this!exciting!work,!cards!are!available!for!purchase!in!the!office!at!First!Lutheran!Church!in!
Duluth,!1100!E!Superior!St.,!during!normal!business!hours.!!
!
“God!of!the!ages,!God!near!at!hand,!God!of!the!Loving!heart!
How!do!your!children!say!Joy,!How!do!your!children!say!Home”!
!
In!Christ’s!Love,!
Beth!Holst!
Lake!Superior!Conference!Coordinator!
!
9!
Kettle&River&Conference&
Jennie&K.&Hanson&5&Coordinator&
I!am!delighted!to!report!that!our!Fall!Gathering!was!a!huge!success.!!It!took!
place!at!my!home!church:!Bethlehem!Lutheran!in!Wright.!!We!met!on!
October!8!with!over!50!women!in!attendance.!!The!women!of!Bethany!
Lutheran!in!Cromwell!served!morning!coffee!and!goodies.!!Our!day!included!
a!morning!worship!service!led!by!our!new!Pastor,!Pat!McCormack,!followed!by!our!regular!
business!meeting.!!After!a!brief!break,!we!were!entertained!by!Elijah!Generation,!two!gals!with!
very!uplifting!messages!in!song!and!word.!Our!women!were!thrilled!to!hear!so!many!new!and!
familiar!hymns!and!stories.!!We!were!also!able!to!sing!along!to!many!of!them.!!Then,!our!lunch!
included!wild!rice!soup,!bread!sticks,!veggies,!and!a!very!delicious!homemade!pumpkin!
dessert.!!(See!page!17!for!the!recipe)!There!were!many!Silent!Auction!items!to!bid!on!and!a!
large!amount!of!money!was!raised!which!will!go!toward!the!women!going!to!the!next!Triennial!
in!Minneapolis!in!2017.!!After!lunch,!the!women!returned!to!the!sanctuary!for!the!rest!of!the!
business!meeting,!Synod!upTdate,!installation!of!Karen!Shaffer!as!our!new!member!of!the!
nominating!committee,!and!a!message!from!me,!Jennie!K.!Hanson,!on!My!Amazing!Summer.!!
We!roared!with!laughter,!gave!praise!to!our!Lord!and!had!several!serious!moments!as!well.!!
!!
As!part!of!the!Fall!Gathering,!we!took!a!survey!on!suggestions!for!future!gatherings.!!It!was!the!
consensus!of!the!group!that!we!try!to!start!our!gatherings!around!10!AM!and!then!go!on!later!
in the!afternoon.!!This!would!make!it!easier!for!the!women!that!have!a!long!way!to!travel!as!
they!wouldn’t!have!to!start!out!so!early!in!the!morning!and!they!would!also!get!home!before!
dark.!!I!think!we!will!still!continue!to!have!our!gatherings!in!the!fall!on!a!weekday!and!in!the!
spring!on!a!Saturday!so!that!working!women!can!attend!at!least!once!a!year.!
!!
I!encourage!all!our!women!to!attend!these!gatherings!in!the!future.!!We!do!need!to!worship!
together!and!take!care!of!the!business!of!our!Kettle!River!Conference.!!And,!since!the!next!
gathering!in!the!spring!will!be!my!last!as!your!Conference!Coordinator,!I!am!making!a!special!
invitation!for!you!to!attend.!Also,!you!can!start!thinking!of!Silent!Auction!items!for!this!event.!!
!
Here's!a!saying!for!your!outdoor!church!sign:!!No!God!T!No!Peace!!!TT!!Know!God!T!Know!Peace!!!
!
God’s!Blessings!to!all,!
!Jennie!K.!Hanson!
Kettle!River!Conference!Coordinator!
10!
&&&&Heartland&Conference&
Vicki&Kopplin5&Coordinator&
&
Greetings!to!each!of!you!!
!
The!changing!of!the!leaves!has!been!spectacular!this!fall!!The!fall!flowers!so!
brilliant!!I!love!the!changing!of!the!seasons!in!Minnesota!!!Positive!Seasons!of!
Change"!was!the!theme!of!the!Heartland!Fall!Gathering!on!October!24,!at!
Lutheran!Church!of!the!Cross!in!Nisswa.!Changes!are!all!around!us!whatever!
our!season!of!life:!spring:!birth,!childhood,!teens,!college;!!summer:!employment,!marriage,!
parent,!midlife;!!fall:!grandparent,!retirement,!disability;!!winter:!death.!"Jesus!doesn't!changeTT
he!is!the!same!yesterday,!today,!and!forever."!Hebrews!13:8.!
!
Three!churches!went!together!to!put!on!this!Fall!Gathering:!Our!Savior's!in!Pequot!Lakes,!
Lutheran!Church!of!the!Cross!in!Nisswa!and!Crosslake!Lutheran.!Change!!It!worked!out!well!to!
put!talents!together!and!carry!out!the!theme"!Positive!Seasons!of!Change."!!The!offering!that!day!
was!split!between!Bridges!of!Hope!and!Churchwide.!A!special!Phebe!offering!was!taken.!
Proceeds!from!the!silent!auction!will!go!to!those!attending!the!triennial!in!2017.!
!
The!book!Freddy!the!Leaf!by!Leo!Buscaglia!was!read!by!Carolyn!Blanck!to!set!the!theme!for!the!
day.!Pastor!Kari!Williamson!and!the!Lutheran!Church!of!the!Cross!Women!led!our!worship!and!
communion!service.!Musical!selections!by!the!Praise!Band!from!Lutheran!Church!of!the!Cross,!
and!a!flute!solo!by!Judy!Tender,!Crosslake,!were!part!of!the!service.!
!
Change!stations!or!workshops!were!an!interesting!feature!for!the!gathering.!There!was!a!
Message/Yoga!station,!a!Bold!Mocha!Cafe!with!ELCA!resource!information,!Meditation,!Moments!
with!God's!Creation,!and!Taking!Time!to!Grieve.!At!the!Stretching!our!Hearts!and!Hands!in!
Service!to!Others,!fleece!blankets!were!tied!for!World!Relief.!Women!were!able!to!attend!two!
stations!during!the!morning.!Childcare!was!offered.!
!
Discussions!about!the!Penny!Offering,!the!logo!for!the!Summer!Gathering,!and!where!our!next!
Gatherings!will!be!held!were!part!of!the!business!meeting.!President!Lynda!Lochner,!SWO!
president,!updated!us!on!current!happenings!from!the!Synod.!
!
An!Oktoberfest!lunch!of!pulled!pork,!German!potato!salad,!coleslaw!and!German!chocolate!
cupcakes!was!served!by!the!men!of!the!churches,!decked!in!bow!ties.!We!thank!Bonnie!Stevens!
and!Renee!Anderson!and!Our!Saviors!for!preparing!the!food!and!serving!treats!for!coffee!in!the!
morning.!!Polka!music!by!Harold!Herboldt!and!his!accordion!added!to!the!festive!Oktoberfest!
theme.!
!
We!hope!other!churches!will!share!the!responsibility!of!hosting!a!gathering.!It!was!a!great!way!
to!meet!new!people!and!use!people's!talents.!
!
My!husband!and!I!continue!to!experience!the!changes!of!life!with!challenges!of!health!issues!but!
are!rejoicing!at!the!birth!of!our!new!grandson!in!New!York!City!!
!
Blessings!to!each!of!you!!
Vicki!Kopplin!
Heartland!Conference!Coordinator!
11!
Laurentian&Conference&
Barb&Tanem&5&Coordinator&
Hello!to!all!of!you!from!Laurentian!Conference.!WOW!!It's!been!a!real!
learning!and!blessed!experience!becoming!the!Laurentian!Conference!
Coordinator.!!The!whole!experience!began!back!in!March!of!this!year!
when!I!took!the!WELCA!president!position!at!my!church,!First!Lutheran!
in!Hibbing.!Learning!all!that!is!involved!with!that!position!began!my!
desire!to!find!out!even!more!about!the!work!that!WELCA!does.!I!have!to!say!I!have!been!really!
impressed!with!all!the!great!women!I!have!met!so!far.!Getting!to!meet!and!then!share!faith!and!
God's!work!with!so!many!women!has!been!one!of!the!many!blessings!I!have!experienced.!!
!
At!the!June!Summer!Gathering!again!I!was!amazed!at!the!dedication!and!energy!all!the!women!
had.!That!gathering!really!was!fun,!educational!and!a!moving!spiritual!experience.!During!our!
Laurentian!Conference!meeting!in!June,!the!call!went!out!for!a!new!coordinator.!I!didn't!feel!I!
was!qualified!because!I!had!just!recently!taken!on!the!position!of!president!of!WELCA!in!my!
church.!My!thoughts!were!that!I!needed!to!have!more!time!under!my!belt!so!to!speak.!The!Holy!
Spirit!disagreed!with!me!and!before!I!knew!what!happened,!I!had!raised!my!hand!and!
volunteered!to!take!on!the!task!until!at!least!September!if!my!friend!Pat!Stone!from!Our!Savior’s!
Lutheran!Church!in!Hibbing!would!help!me!get!started.!She!agreed!and!away!we!went.!!
!
Then!our!wonderful!conference!secretary!Carol!Kleven!needed!to!step!down!due!to!her!term!
being!up!and!health!reasons.!At!our!Fall!Gathering!planning!session!in!July,!I!found!myself!with!
the!job!of!secretary!also.!Now!I!was!really!wondering!if!this!is!what!the!Holy!Spirit!wanted!me!
to!do.!Feeling!overwhelmed!at!times!I!pushed!ahead.!With!many!phone!calls!to!wonderful!
women!who!were!leaders,!I!was!able!to!put!together!a!flyer!for!our!fall!gathering.!!!By!this!time!I!
felt!I!could!agree!to!continue!to!be!the!coordinator!by!myself!for!the!whole!term.!A!few!mistakes!
were!made!on!the!flyer!but!our!Gathering!was!a!great!success!and!again!a!really!wonderful!
experience.!Thank!you!to!all!who!helped!to!make!that!day!so!meaningful!for!all!who!attended.!
During!the!business!meeting,!a!new!secretary!was elected.!!Plans!for!next!years!quilt!for!the!
Summer!Gathering!were!made.!Next!year’s!Spring!Gathering!and!even!next!Fall!Gathering!sites!
were!selected!!My!prayers!were!answered,!and!I!learned!that!I!should!lean!on!Jesus!and!know!
that!he!had!a!plan!all!along.!
!
I!look!forward!to!my!term!as!Laurentian!Conference!Coordinator,!the!women!I!will!meet!and!
the!friendships!that!will!grow!through!the!gatherings,!meetings,!phone!calls!and!reading!the!
Northeastern!Lights.!I!am!excited!to!take!on!the!tasks!that!come!before!me!because!I!know!He!is!
always!watching!and!putting!those!wonderful!women!of!the!ELCA!in!my!path!who will!educate!
and!support!me.!I!ask!for!prayers!that!I!may!not!lose!sight!of!the!reasons!we!accept!challenges!
in!our!lives!and!that!I!may!not!forget!how!He!blesses!me!each!time!I!put!myself!out!there!to!
do!His!work.!
!
God's!Blessings!to!each!of!you.!
!
Barb!Tanem!
Laurentian!Conference!Coordinator!
12!
2016!INTKIND!GIFTS!FOR!SUMMER!GATHERING!
!
Imagine!being!a!child!in!a!refugee!center!in!Syria!or!Jordan!and!not!being!able!to!go!to!school.!Or!
imagine!being!a!teacher!in!that!refugee!center!and!not!being!able!to!teach.!!Lutheran!World!Relief!
is!trying!to!make!a!difference!by!providing!school!kits!to!give!teachers!a!chance!to!teach!children!
where!they!are!so!that!life!will!be!more!normal!for!both!of!them.!!
!
Why!school!supplies?!To!the!children!who!receive!School!Kits,!these"supplies"mean"the"
difference"between"getting"an"education"or"not.!Public!school!is!usually!free,!but!in!the!places!
where!LWR!works,!even!a!few!required!supplies!like!pens!and!paper!may!be!more!than!many!
families!can!afford.!
!
And!when!parents!can!only!afford!to!send!one!of!their!children!to!school,!girls!rarely!get!
priority…yet!the"education"level"of"mothers"has"the"biggest"impact"on"development."
"
How!can!we!help?!!By!putting!together!lots!and!lots!of!school!kits!and!bringing!them!to!our!2016!
Summer!Gathering!to!be!sent!to!Lutheran!World!Relief!so!that!they!will!have!them!to!send!to!
countries!where!they!are!needed.!!
!
What!is!needed!for!a!school!kit?!!!
!
×4!
×1!!
×5!!
×1!!
Four!70Tsheet!notebooks!of!
wideT!or!collegeTruled!paper!
approximately!8”!x!10½”;!
no!looseTleaf!paper!
One!pencil!sharpener!
Five!unsharpened!#2!
pencils!with!erasers;!
secure!together!with!a!
rubber!band!
×1!!
One!blunt!scissors!(safety!
scissors!with!embedded!steel!
blades!work!well)!
×5!!
Five!black!or!blue!ballpoint!
pens!(no!gel!ink);!secure!
together!with!a!rubber!band!
×1!!
One!box!of!16!or!24
crayons!
×1!!
!
!
!
×1
One!30Tcentimeter!ruler,!or!a!
ruler!with!centimeters!on!one!
side!and!inches!on!the!other!
!
One!2½”!eraser!
One!sturdy!drawstring!backpackTstyle!
cloth!bag!approximately!14”!x!17”!
with!shoulder!straps!(no!standard!
backpacks)!
13!
World&Hunger&Notes&from&Jane&Grundmeier&
Are!you!familiar!with!all!the!great!information!that!is!available!on!our!Luther!Seminary!Website?!
I!get!a!regular!Stewardship!letter!by!email.!The!following!notes!are!from!a!sermon!that!was!
posted!recently!on!this!website.!
!
!!There"Are"Four"Kinds"Of"Bones"In"Every"Organization."!There!are:!!Wishbones!who!spend!
all!their!time!wishing!someone!else!would!do!the!work,!!Jawbones!who!do!all!the!talking,!but!
very!little!else,!!Knucklebones!!who!knock!everything!anyone!ever!tries!to!do,!!Backbones!who!
get!under!the!load!and!do!the!work.!God's!kingdom!grows!on!the!backs!of!those!who!are!willing!
to!be!Backbones!!!!
!
God"is"calling"us"all,"by"the"power"of"the"Holy"Spirit,"to"be"Backbones"in"this"organization"
called"Women"of"the"ELCA!"
!
You!know!the!story!of!Zaccheus!TT!he!was!not!a!wellTliked!person!in!his!community!because!he!
was!a!jawbone;!he!did!a!lot!of!talking!and!a!whole!lot!of!taking.!!He!took!way!more!than!was!his!
right!to!take;!he!stole!from!his!own!people!and!filled!his!own!pocket!to!overflowing.!But!for!some!
reason,!when!Zacchaeus!heard!Jesus!was!coming!to!his!community,!he!wanted!to!SEE!Jesus.!
!Because!he!was!a!short,!small!man,!he!climbed!up!in!a!sycamore!tree!so!he!could!more!easily!see!
Jesus.!!!A!sycamore!tree!typically!has!a!large!branch!that!grows!parallel!to!the!ground,!about!3!
feet!above!the!ground.!
!
Surprise!!!!!If!Zacchaeus!was!high!enough!above!all!the!people!to!see!Jesus,!this!meant!that!Jesus!
could!see!Zacchaeus.!!So,!in!Jericho,!Jesus!came!to!the!tree!where!Zacchaeus!was!stationed!and!
he!invited!Zacchaeus!to!come!on!down!because!he!was!going!to!come!to!his!house!!!
!
We!all!know!what!happened.!!Because!he!met!Jesus!and!entertained!him!in!his!own!home,!
Zacchaeus!was!changed;"He"became"a"Backbone"instead"of"a"Jawbone.!!He!gave!back!to!his!
community!in!ways!that!overcame!the!stealing!person!he!had!been.!!!
!
Your!brothers!and!sisters!in!Christ!in!Tanzania!know!all!about!being!Backbones.!!!In!their!
poverty,!they!don't!think!much!about!taking!anything!from!others!because!others!don't!have!
much!to!take.!!So!they!work!at!surviving!and!they!help!each!other!survive!because!that!is!the!
nature!of!their!daily!routine.!!!!In!their!poverty!they!know!what!it!means!to!pray,!have!faith!in!
Jesus,!express!their!trust!in!God!in!joyful!and!exuberant!worship!without!watching!the!clock.!!!
!
!Through!World"Hunger!we!are!committed!to!help!them!develop!selfT
sufficiencies!along!with!skills!that!will!enable!them!to!produce!and!market!
products!beyond!their!own!subsistence!in!order!to!increase!their!quality!of!
life.!!!
!
World"Hunger!also!supports!students!in!secondary!school,!and!it!is!making!a!
difference!in!the!country:!Average!income!in!Tanzania!is!about!$280/year;!
those!finishing!high!school!average!$800/year.!!Unemployment!rate!is!3T5!
times!lower!for!those!with!high!school!education.!Educated!couples!average!
2T3!children!rather!than!7T9,!and!they!have!lower!HIV/AIDS!rates!and!live,!on!
average,!more!than!10!years!longer.!
!
How"crucial"is"it"for"us"to"be""backbone""people?!!
14!
Peace!With!Justice!
Judy!Isaacson!
Peace!with!Justice:!!All!we!like!sheep!have!gone!astray…!
Soon!we!will!all!be!hearing!the!words!of!Scripture!interpreted!in!the!music!of!Handel’s!
Messiah!and!I!thought!of!these!words!when!listening!to!the!Pope!during!his!visit…!–!we!all!
know!the!words!but!how!has!it!happened!that!living!them!is!so!far!from!reality?!I!am!
struck!that!his!words!seemed!to!echo!the!Ten!Commandments!(he!began!his!speech!to!
Congress!by!being!against!the!death!penalty!T!Thou#Shalt#Not#Kill).!Did!you!hear!the!words!Love#Your#
Neighbor!in!his!comments?!!
Here!are!some!quotes!from!the!Pope's!speech!to!Congress!that!demonstrate!how!he!is!reshaping!the!
Catholic!Church's!political!priorities.!
.""We!know!that!in!the!attempt!to!be!freed!of!the!enemy!without,!we!can!be!tempted!to!feed!the!enemy!
within.!To!imitate!the!hatred!and!violence!of!tyrants!and!murderers!is!the!best!way!to!take!their!place."!
.""We,!the!people!of!this!continent,!are!not!fearful!of!foreigners,!because!most!of!us!were!once!
foreigners."!
.""Tragically,!the!rights!of!those!who!were!here!long!before!us!were!not!always!respected!...!but!it!is!
difficult!to!judge!the!past!by!the!criteria!of!the!present."!
.""We!must!resolve!now!to!live!as!nobly!and!as!justly!as!possible,!as!we!educated!new!generations!not!to!
turn!their!back!on!our!'neighbors'!and!everything!around!us."!
T!"In!a!word,!if!we!want!security,!let!us!give!security;!if!we!want!life,!let!us!give!life;!if!we!want!
opportunities,!let!us!provide!opportunities."!
."!"The!Golden!Rule!also!reminds!us!of!our!responsibility!to!protect!and!defend!human!life!at!every!stage!
of!its!development.!This!conviction!has!led!me,!from!the!beginning!of!my!ministry!to!advocate!at!
different!levels!for!the!global!abolition!of!the!death!penalty."!
.!"Why!are!deadly!weapons!being!sold!to!those!who!plan!to!inflict!untold!suffering!on!individuals!and!
society?!Sadly,!the!answer,!as!we!all!know,!is!simply!for!money:!money!that!is!drenched!in!blood,!often!
innocent!blood.!In!the!face!of!this!shameful!and!culpable!silence,!it!is!our!duty!to!confront!the!problem!
and!to!stop!the!arms!trade."!
At!the!prayer!service!at!Ground!Zero,!the!Pope!was!seated!on!the!stage!with!a!Jewish!rabbi,!a!Buddhist!
monk,!a!Sikh!doctor,!a!Greek!Orthodox!archbishop!and!other!religious!leaders.!They!offered!prayers!in!
their!own!sacred!languages!and!English!as!the!Pope!followed!along!in!his!program.!The!Pope!offered!his!
own!prayer,!in!English.!By!his!own!example,!the!Pope!involved!many!religions!in!the!prayers!for!peace.!
He!also!stopped!by!a!Bible!that!was!found!by!a!firefighter!in!the!Ground!Zero!wreckage.!The!open!copy!
of!the!New!Testament!was!found!fused!to!a!piece!of!metal!open!to!the!Book!of!Matthew.!
"You!have!heard!that!it!was!said,!'An!eye!for!an!eye!and!a!tooth!for!a!tooth,'"!the!page!
reads.!"But!I!say!to!you,!do!not!resist!an!evildoer.!But!if!anyone!strikes!you!on!the!right!
cheek,!turn!the!other!also."!
"Peace!in!all!those!places!where!war!never!seems!to!end.!Peace!for!those!faces!that!have!known!nothing!
but!pain.!Peace!throughout!this!world!that!God!has!given!us!as!the!home!of!all!and!a!home!for!all.!Simply!
peace,"!Pope!Francis!said.!
!
A!humble!man!has!spoken,!reiterating!words!we!all!know…!Do!we!hear?!
15!
!
&
WHAT’S&HAPPINING&IN&OUR&SYNOD&
HARVEST"BAZAAR"
!SATURDAY,!NOVEMBER!14!
!!!!!!!!!!!Grace!Lutheran!Church!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Mora!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!9:00!am!–!2:00!pm!
!!Cookie!Lane,!canned!and!baked!goods!
!!!!Grandma’s!Attic,!floral!arrangements!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SERVV,!lunch!served!
Coffee!and!rolls!available!before!doors!open!
"
"
"
"
HOLLY"DAYS"BAZAAR"
SATURDAY,!NOVEMBER!7!
Our!Saviors!Lutheran!Church!
Hibbing!
10:00!am!–!2:00!pm!
cookie!room,!bakery/deli,!SERVV!
turkey!salad!luncheon!!
and!homemade!pies.!
!
"""""""""""""""""LUTEFISK"DINNER"
!!!!!!!!!!THURSDAY,!NOVEMBER!19!
!!!!!!!Our!Saviors!Lutheran!Church!
Hibbing!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4:00!–!7:00!pm!
Lutefisk!and!meatballs!plus!trimmings!
LUTEFISK"DINNER"
SATURDAY,!NOVEMBER!14!
Our!Savior’s!Lutheran!Church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cloquet!
3:00!pm!–!6:00!pm!
Also!serving!salmon!and!meatballs!
ANNUAL"BAZAAR"
SATURDAY,!NOVEMBER!21!
Our!Saviors!Lutheran!Church!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Cloquet!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!10:00!am!–!1:00!pm!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Scandinavian!baked!goods!
A"TOUCH"OF"SCANDINAVIA"
CHRISTMAS"BAZAAR"
SATURDAY,!DECEMBER!5!
!
9!am!T!1!pm!
Bethesda!Lutheran!Church!
Carlton!
Saturday,!December!5!
Luncheon,!baked!and!canned!goods,!
Craft!table,!next!to!new!items,!!
Victorian!Christmas!ornaments!
HOLIDAY"TREASURES"CHRISTMAS"BAZAAR"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SATURDAY!DECEMBER!5!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!am!T!2!pm!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!First!Lutheran!Church!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hibbing!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Handknit!items,!Quilts,!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Christmas!Decorations!
Baked!Goods;!Lefse,!krumkake,!Rosettes!
Brunch!with!coffee!and!juice!$5!
16!
"
"""""""SCANDINAVIAN"CHRISTMAS"ON"""""""""""""""""""
""""""""THE"SHORE"AND"OLDE"WORLD"
"
"""""BAKED"GOODS"SALE"
!
SATURDAY,!DECEMBER!12"
"
"""""""" 9!am!T!2!pm!"
!!!!!!!!!!French!River!Lutheran!Church!!
!
!
French!River!!
Swedish!buffet!meal!from!11!am!to!1:30!pm!
Fancy!baked!goods,!demonstrations,!music,!
lefse,!artisans,!crafters, raffle,!
!glassware!and!candy!shop.!!!
CHRISTMAS"BAZAAR"
BAKE"SALE"AND"BRUNCH"
SATURDAY,!DECEMBER!12!
Bethlehem!Lutheran!Church!
Wright!
9:00!am!–!noon!
Christmas!items,!baked!goods,!crafts!
Silent!auction!and!raffle!
Gloria’s!Famous!Pumpkin!Squares!
TOUR"OF"TREES"
SATURDAY,!DECEMBER!5!
9!am!T!12!pm!
First!Lutheran!Church!
International!Falls!
Multiple!trees!decorated!with!
different!themes!!
Christmas!cookies!
lefse,!Swedish%meatballs!!
pasties,!and!crafts!for!sale.!
CHRISTMAS"CANTATA"
SUNDAY,!DECEMBER!13!
Our!Saviors!Lutheran!Church!
Hibbing!
8:15!and!10:30!am!
“Lead!Me!Back!to!Bethlehem”!
Patty!Stoddard,!director!
!
!!!!Served!at!Kettle!River!Fall!Gathering!
!
29Toz.!can!pumpkin!!
12Toz.!can!evaporated!milk!
1!cup!sugar!
3!eggs!
¼!tsp!nutmeg!
½!tsp!cinnamon!
1!box!yellow!cake!mix!
2!cups!chopped!pecans!or!walnuts!
1!cup!melted!butter!
!
PreTheat!oven!to!350°.!!Line!a!9x13!inch!pan!with!waxed!paper!or!parchment.!Mix!pumpkin,!
milk,!sugar,!eggs,!nutmeg!and!cinnamon.!Pour!into!lined!cake!pan.!!Sprinkle!the!cake!mix!over!
mixture!evenly!and!pat!the!nuts!into!the!cake!mix.!Spoon!the!melted!butter!over!the!mixture.!
Bake!1!hour!and!10!minutes!(knife!inserted!should!come!out!clean).!!Cool!for!20!minutes.!Run!
knife!along!edges!and!turn!out!onto!serving!tray!(to!be!upsideTdown)!Peel!waxed!paper!off!and!
refrigerate!until!cool.!!Serve!with!whipped!cream.!!
17!
!
MINUTES!FROM!NE!MN!SYNODICAL!WOMEN'S!BOARD!MEETING!!
Wednesday,!August!19,!2015!at!10!a.m.!!
SUGAR!LAKE!LODGE,!Maple!Room,!Grand!Rapids,!Minnesota!
!
Members"Present:""President!Lynda!Lochner,!Vice!President!Pastor!Erika!Foss,!Secretary!Arlene!
Freeman.!!Board"Members!T!Ardyce!Pederson,!Sharon!Schwegel,!Pat!Norby,!Char!Kramersmeier,!
Becky!Gaede,!Joyce!Lund,!Carolyn!Tuckner,!Amanda!Wirta.!Guests:!!Dorothy!Dybvig,!NE!Lights!Editor,!
Anne!Laechel,!SWO!Registrar.!!
Absent:!!Treasurer!Cyndi!Worshek!and!Sherry!Johnson.!!!
!
M/S/C/"by!Char!K.!and!Carolyn!T.!to!approve!today's!agenda!as!presented.!
Secretary's"Minutes:""M/S/C/!by!Erika!F.!and!Joyce!L.!that!the!minutes!of!July!26,!2015!be!approved!
as!submitted.!
Treasurer's"Report:""Cyndi!W.!was!absent!and!no!report!available.!
!
2016"CONVENTION:!!This!is!the!year!for!CHANGE!!!After!a!tour!of!the!Sugar!Lake!Lodge!facility,!M/S/!
by!Carolyn!T.!and!Sharon!S.!that!we!have!our!29th!Annual!Convention!at!Sugar!Lake!Lodge!in!Grand!
Rapids,!MN,!beginning!Wednesday,!June!8,!Thursday,!June!9!and!Friday,!June!10,!2016.!!Discussion!
followed!on!costs,!treats,!workshop!presenters,!mileage!and!lodging!and!the!motion"carried.""If"we"all"
want"this"to"work..it"WILL"work.""NOTE:""Alison!Feigh!from!the!Wetterling!Foundation!will!be!our!
keynote!speaker!and!have!two!sessions,!both!on!Saturday.!!
"
CONFERENCE"ASSIGNMENTS:""!
Heartland!Conference!T!LOGO!and!Prayer!Room!
Kettle!River!Conference!T!Registration!and!Hostesses!
Lake!Superior!T!Workshop!Facilitators!and!Guides!
Laurentian!T!QUILT!T!also!Ushers,!Lectors!and!Triennial!Marketplace!(former!Garden!Room)!
Living!Waters!T!Quilt!Truck!
"
M/S/C/"by!Char!K.!and!Ardyce!P.!that!school!kits!be!our!InTkind!focus!for!our!2016!Gathering.!
!
M/S/C/!by!Char!K.!and!Ardyce!P.!that!another!inTkind!focus!be!a!disposable!diaper!challenge!for!the!
local!crisis!centers!within!each!of!our!conferences.!
!
Registration:""OnTline!registration!will!be!available!at!an!additional!cost!of!$3!per!person.!!We!will!
also!be!able!to!mail!in!registrations!as!in!the!past!to!new!Registrar,!Anne!Laechel.!!Costs!are!of!concern!
and!will!be!finalized!at!our!November!15!Board!meeting.!
!
Our!next!Board!meeting!will!be!on!Sunday,!November!15,!starting!at!1!p.m.!at!Zion!Lutheran!Church!in!
Grand!Rapids,!MN.!!Everyone!will!bring!a!snack.!
!
We!said!our!closing!prayer!and!M/S/C/!by!Char!K.!and!Carolyn!T.!to!adjourn!the!meeting.!!The!
meeting!adjourned!at!3:10!p.m.!
!
Respectfully!submitted,!!
Arlene!Freeman,!SWO!Secretary!
!
18!
Give#Someone#a#Hug#Today#
by#Amy#Jandrisevits#
!
If!I!asked!for!a!show!of!hands,!I’m!guessing!that!many!of!us,!
over!the!course!of!the!last!week,!have!laughed!out!loud!(LOL’d),!
cyberThugged!someone!or!smiled!via!emoticons!(those!cute!
faces!made!with!punctuation!marks).!
!
We!probably!did!this!without!leaving!our!computer!because!
those!don’t!require!faceTtoTface!contact,!right?!In!fact,!the!
Internet!lets!us!keep!in!contact!with!people!all!over!the!world!
with!the!click!of!a!button.!
!
We!are!more!in!touch!with!people!than!we!were!five!years!ago.!
But,!ironically,!our!ability!to!keep!in!touch!has!actually!made!us!
more!out!of!touch!than!ever!before.!
!
Humans"need"touch.!The!power!of!touch!can!be!comforting.!It!can!heal.!And!it!connects!us!in!
ways!that!computers!and!electronic!devices!can’t.!
!
We!know!that!people!heal!faster!when!they’re!touched.!We!know!that!the!lack!of!touch!in!
babies!can!impair!development.!We!know!that!the!elderly!can!suffer!from!touch!deprivation!
even!when!they!are!surrounded!by!people!all!day!long.!
!
This!is!why!I!consider!passing!the!peace!such!a!vital!part!of!church!services.!
!
We!know!that!Jesus!liked!to!touch!people.!There!are!Bible!stories!where!he!healed!people!from!
afar—so!it!was!something!that!he!could!do.!But!time!and!time!again,!we!read!about!how!Jesus!
physically!touched!people.!He!even!touched!those!that!no!one!else!would.!
!
So"think"about"this:!Who!could!benefit!from!hearing!you!laugh!out!loud?!Who!would!
probably!like!a!pat!on!the!back!or!a!warm!hug?!Who!needs!to!hear!someone!say!“I’m!thinking!
about!you?”!
!
Take!your!lead!from!Jesus,!our!model!of!healing!and!comfort.!Give!someone!a!real,!genuine!
hug.!Hold!a!child!in!your!arms.!Offer!support!or!sympathy,!eye!to!eye.!Pat!someone’s!back!
when!you!congratulate!them.!We!all!need!to!be!touched.!
!
!
!
Amy#Jandrisevits#has#her#master#of#social#work#and#presently#uses#her#skills#in#her#career#as#at#
stayMhome#mom#to#two#boys#and#a#new#daughter.#She#also#has#a#doll#business#for#children#with#
limb#differences.#She#attends#Cross#Lutheran#Church#in#Milwaukee,#WI.#This#first#ran#in#April#2014#
as#a#Give#Us#This#Day#column#in#Gather#magazine!
19!
Discipleship"Focus"Area"
Char"Kramersmeier"
!
!
!
"All!Anew"!
!
Becky!talked!about!"God!chicks"!in!the!last!NE!Lights.!!We!do!come!in!all!
shapes!and!sizes,!all!colors!and!styles.!We!are!looking!for!ways!to!be!"bold."!
How!can!I!be!bold?!I!pray.!I!meditate.!I!do!devotions.!I!go!to!Bible!study.!I!
volunteer.!I!need!more.!
!
Have!you!checked!into!the!many!resources!offered!by!the!Women!of!the!ELCA?!!One!of!my!
favorites!is!their!magazine,!Gather.!!Each!month!includes!a!Bible!study,!which!I!enjoy!with!my!
fellow!circle!members.!Another!bonus!is!the!articles!that!are!related!to!the!study.!The!Bible!
study!now!is!"Slow!Faith"!by!Rev.!Liv!Larson!from!Spokane,!WA.!!Try!it.!!You!will!like!it.!
Have!you!tried!the!Women!of!the!ELCA!website!at!womenofelca.org?!There!is!a!free!monthly!
eTnewsletter.!Keep!informed!of!what!is!going!on!and!ways!you!can!help.!Plan!ahead!for!
opportunities!to!be!spiritually!fed.!
!
We!are!moving!our!convention/gathering!!!It!will!be!at!Rutgers'!Sugar!Lake!Lodge!near!Grand!
Rapids.!!The!theme!is!"Live!in!the!Spirit,"!and!our!then!verse!will!be!Romans!8:14!.!Dates!are!
Thursday,!June!9!and!Friday,!June!10!.!Look!at!the!article!done!by!our!chair,!Carolyn!Tuckner!
on!page!5!and!plan!to!attend!and!be!inspired.!
!
The!10th!Annual!Triennial!Gathering!of!Women!of!the!ELCA!will!be!in!Minneapolis,!MN!from!
July!13T16,!2017.!!"ALL!ANEW"!is!the!theme.!!It!will!be!so!close!that!it!will!be!easy!for!all!of!us!
to!participate!in!an!unbelievable!experience.!!Maybe!it!is!time!for!me!to!be!"ALL!ANEW."!!
!
I!pray!that!God!will!open!my!heart!and!mind!to!whatever!He!is!calling!me!to!do.!Think!of!what!
we!could!do!together!for!God!if!we!truly!opened!our!hearts!and!minds!to!Him!!
!
Have!a!great!fall.!Enjoy!His!beautiful!earth!!
!
Your!sister!in!Christ,!
Char!Kramersmeier!
20!
Justice"Focus"Area"
Amanda"Wirta"
Explaining!Peace!and!Justice!!
!
When!I!sat!down!to!write!about!Peace!and!Justice,!I!needed!to!really!think!about!
what!it!means.!Peace!seems!easy,!right?!It's!defined!as!"Freedom!from!disturbance;!
quiet!and!tranquility."!(But!peace!in!this!world!can!be!hard!to!find,!especially!if!
you're!a!mother!)!The!Oxford!Dictionary!defines!justice!as!“just!behavior!or!
treatment.”!Some!things!that!have!happened!in!my!life!recently!have!really!opened!my!eyes!to!social!
justice!in!this!world!(or!lack!thereof).!This!includes!acceptance!of!others/kindness!to!others,!gender!
equality,!understanding!other!cultures,!etc.!This!led!me!to!wonder,!how!on!earth!would!I!teach!my!son!
about!justice!if!I!weren’t!sure!what!it!meant!to!me?!
!
Some!examples!I’ve!experienced!lately!are:!!At!work!I’ve!witnessed!a!new!coTworker!being!treated!very!
unfairly.!I!was!shocked!that!the!Christian!women!I!have!worked!with!could!treat!someone!this!way.!!A!
cousin!of!my!husband!adopted!from!India!has!been!sharing!how!she’s!been!treated!unfairly!her!whole!
life!!!Another!example!is!witnessing!a!child!growing!up!with!a!“gender!identity!disorder.”!These!few!
examples!have!shown!how!naïve!I’ve!been!about!the!world!around!me.!There!are!so!many!directions!I!
could!take!on!all!this,!but!I!do!know!I!need!to!speak!out!more!and!be!a!better!example!for!my!family!and!
friends!!
!
First,!I’m!trying!to!teach!my!son!about!equality.!Something!as!simple!as!an!Easter!egg!hunt!when!he!
wanted!just!one!more!cupcake…he!didn’t!understand!why!there!was!this!table!FULL!of!cupcakes,!but!he!
could!only!have!one!!!!Explaining!that!it’s!not!fair!to!everyone!else!is!a!hard!concept!for!a!four!year!old,!
but!maybe!adults!don’t!understand!this!idea!either.!I!recently!saw!a!picture!on!Facebook!about!the!
“Biblical!Jesus!vs.!Modern!Jesus.”!!One!of!the!points!was!that!Biblical!Jesus!“Brings!division!when!
necessary.”!(Luke!12:49T56)!and!that!Modern!Jesus!“promotes!unity!and!tolerance!at!all!costs.”!!I!wasn’t!
sure!what!to!think….!have!we!really!lost!sight!of!what’s!“right?”!I!know!that!“life!is!not!fair,”!but!as!a!
Christian,!aren’t!we!supposed!to!love!all?!To!me!that!includes!“promoting!unity!and!tolerance!at!all!
costs.”!
!
Another!article!I!ran!across!said!that!we!need!to!show!children!what!unconditional!love!looks!like.!In!a!
world!where!girls!are!dieting!at!a!very!young!age!and!boys!are!feeling!the!need!to!be!macho,!this!is!very!
important!!!Part!of!this!means!finding!peace!within!yourself;!!learning!to!love!yourself!just!as!you!are,!
loving!yourself!as!Jesus!loves!you!!!This!can!be!the!hardest!challenge!in!someone's!life;!something!I'm!
just!now!learning!to!do.!Above!all,!God!IS!love,!so!love!all!!Which!brings!me!back!to!what!my!mother!
taught!me,!to!"kill!with!kindness."!!Even!when!I!have!a!hard!time!loving!someone,!I!remember!those!
three!words.!!
!
In!conclusion,!I!could!go!on!and!on,!but!I!have!a!lot!of!work!to!do!when!it!comes!to!teaching!my!son!(and!
myself!)!about!justice.!I'm!sharing!some!websites!I!came!across,!and!I!hope!you!can!take!them!and!use!
them!with!the!children!in!your!life.!(and!hopefully!teach!yourself!something,!too)!The!last!one!has!a!list!
of!children's!books!and!activities!that!may!be!useful!in!a!Sunday!school!or!confirmation!class.!!
!
Peace!to!you!all,!
Amanda!!
!
http://www.live58.org/5.everyday.ways.to.teach.your.children.about.justice"
"
http://centrikid.com/2013/01/30/explainingTgodsTjustice/#.VhL_UlU8KnM!
!
http://www.arteducators.org/news/nationalT
convention/Sarah_Ryder_Using_Children’s_Literature_to_Teach_Ideas_of_Social_Justice.pdf!
!
21!
Stewardship"Focus"Area"
Sharon"Schwegal"
Remember!the!person!who!plants!few!seeds!will!have!a!small!crop!and!the!person!who!plants!
many!will!have!a!large!crop.!!You!should!each!give!then,!as!you!have!decided,!not!with!regret!
or!sense!of!duty,!for!God!loves!the!one!who!gives!gladly.!!2!Corinthians!9:!6T7!
!
There!have!been!many!disasters!and!many!people!are!in!need.!!The!people!of!Nepal!are!on!the!
top!of!the!list,!especially!since!the!earthquake!in!April!of!this!year.!!Their!immediate!needs!of!
transitional!shelter!have!been!met.!!Food!packets,!2,900!quilts,!1,000!personal!care!kits!and!
100!filtration!units!have!been!distributed!through!Lutheran!World!Relief.!
!
The!story!of!Maya!Gurung,!64!years!old!and!sightTimpaired,!should!inspire!us!to!increase!our!
donations.!!She!lives!10!miles!from!the!nearest!hub.!The!drive!is!through!muddy,!mountainous!
roads.!!Before!the!earthquake!she!depended!on!agriculture!to!support!herself.!!Three!of!her!
four!hens!were!killed!in!the!earthquake;!work!on!other!people's!land!is!now!scarce.!!With!that!
loss!of!work!came!the!loss!of!her!two!meals!a!day.!!How!can!we!help!her!and!others!like!her?!
!
I!encourage!you!to!continue!your!generous!projects!and!donations!to!Lutheran!World!Relief.!
!We!live!in!a!land!of!plenty,!having!coffee!and!snacks!before!and!after!church!service,!planning!
to!go!to!breakfast!put!on!by!Lions!or!Legion!afterwards.!!Which!restaurant!will!we!try!this!
weekend?!!Give!gladly!to!others,!too!!
SWO!HANDBOOK!(“RED”BOOK)!CHANGES!
!
Last!summer!the!SWO!Board!made!changes!to!the!SWO!Handbook!that!is!also!known!as!the!
RED!Book.!!Every!year!there!are!some!changes!made!to!this!handbook!to!update!things!to!
include!current!information.!In!place!of!printing!all!the!updated!pages!or!replacing!all!the!pages!
to!make!things!easier,!this!year!the!Board!decided!to!update!the!RED!book!on!the!website!and!
let!people!know!what!pages!they!can!print!to!update!their!own!book.!This!also!makes!the!most!
current!information!available!to!everyone!in!our!organization!whenever!they!need!to!access!it!
for!their!own!use.!!!
!
Here!is!a!list!of!the!pages!that!were!updated!in!2015.!!
!
Pages!6,!10,!11,!12,!13,!14,!15,!16,!17,!18,!41,!42,!43,!44,!45,!and!50!
!
Updated!pages!list!“2015”!at!the!bottom!of!the!page.!!
!
Feel!free!to!print!off!the!pages!that!you!need!and!include!them!in!your!copy!of!the!RED!book!or!
print!off!all!the!pages!to!have!a!complete!copy!of!the!handbook!for!your!use.!!!
!
22!
!!!!!An!idea!from!the!Women!of!Hope!
The!Women!of!Hope!Lutheran!Church,!Moose!
Lake,!have!for!the!last!4!years!held!a!Summer!
Bible!Study!Retreat!in!the!home!of!one!of!their!
members.!!The!Bible!Study!comes!from!the!
Gather!magazine,!June,!July!and!August.!The!day!
starts!at!8:30!with!coffee,!coffee!cake,!muffins!or!
breads!and!then!two!sessions!are!done!in!the!
morning.!Lunch!has!been!potluck,!but!this!year!we!ordered!from!Subway!and!had!chips!and!ice!
cream!cones.!Offering!was!for!the!local!Food!Shelf!and!also!a!donation!towards!the!lunch.!
Session!three!was!in!the!afternoon!and!the!day!closed!with!a!picture!and!memories!of!a!great!
day!of!fellowship,!good!food!and!much!laughter.!This!is!a!great!way!to!use!the!summer!Bible!
studies!that!the!Gather!magazine!has!provided.!!!
!
Do!you!use!Facebook?!Do!you!know!that!the!NE!Minnesota!Synod!
Women’s!Organization!has!a!Facebook!page?!!We!need!you!to!”like”!us!
on!Facebook!.!Go!to!“NE!Minnesota!Synod!Women’s!Organization”!on!
Facebook!to!see!what!is!going!on!with!our!Synod!women!and!be!sure!to!
“like”!us!while!you!are!there.!!We!have!122!“likes”!as!of!now.!!Keep!them!
coming!and!keep!checking!out!what!we!are!doing!on!Facebook.!!
!
Do!you!have!pictures!or!things!that!are!happening!at!your!gatherings!or!your!local!unit!
activities!that!you!would!like!to!share!with!women!on!Facebook?!Let!Mary!Jo!Mettler!or!Joy!
Michalicek!know!and!they!will!see!that!it!happens.!!!
!
Keep!checking!Facebook!for!the!latest!information!about!our!Summer!Gathering,!June!9T10!at!
Sugar!Lake!Lodge!near!Grand!Rapids!and!spread!the!word!by!sharing!the!information.!!!
!!
23!
www.elca.org! !
!
!
!
www.womenoftheelca.org! !
Helpful&Websites&
This!will!access!the!national!churchwide!office.!
Churchwide!website!of!the!Women!of!the!ELCA;!resources!for!your!
Congregational!Unit!as!well!as!Café,#an!eTmagazine!for!young!women.!
!!
www.nemnsynod.org!!
!
This!will!access!information!about!the!Northeastern!Minnesota!Synod.!
!
www.nemnsynodwomen.org!!!!! The!website!for!our!Synodical!Women’s!Organization.!
!
www.lwr.org!
Lutheran!World!Relief!T!See!where!the!quilts!that!your!units!have!
made!or!the!school!and!health!kits!that!you!assembled!go!when!you!
send!them!to!LWR.!
!
www.ghm.org!
!
!!!!!!!!The!website!for!Global!Health!Ministries.!
!
www.lssmn.org!
!
!!!!!!!!Lutheran!Social!Services!in!Minnesota’s!website.!
!
www.bread.org!
Bread!for!the!World!–!find!how!to!write!to!Congress,!donate!and!order!
your!copy!of!bread,!find!out!what's!happening,!request!email!updates.!!
!
www.elca.org/hunger!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!ELCA!World!Hunger!–!hunger!facts,!resources,!stories,!how!to!give.!!
!
Northeastern!Lights!Subscriptions!and!Renewals!!
If!you!would!like!to!receive!your!own!edition!of!Northeastern!Lights,!this!would!be!a!good!time!to!
subscribe.!If!you!would!like!to!renew!your!subscription,!now!is!the!time!to!do!it.!The!subscription!rate!
for!a!calendar!year!is!$8.!!You!may!subscribe!or!renew!your!subscription!by!sending!your!name,!
address,!phone,!eTmail!and!your!check"for"$8"made"out"to"Women"of"the"ELCA."Note"NE"Lights"in"
the"memo"line.!!
!
If!you!are!subscribing!for!several!women!in!your!congregation,!please!send!each!individual’s!name,!
address,!phone!number!and!eTmail!along!with!your!check.!!!If!you!are!not!sure!when!your!subscription!
is!ready!for!renewal,!you!can!check!the!date!on!the!address!label!on!the!back!of!your!copy!of!
Northeastern#Lights.!!Your!subscription!will!be!good!through!the!year!listed!there.!!
!
Send!your!subscription!information!and!your!check!to:!
Dorothy!Dybvig!
PO!Box!392!
Sandstone,!MN!55072!
!
NAME:!____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!
ADDRESS:!________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!
CITY,!STATE,!ZIP:!________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!
PHONE:!___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!
ETMAIL!ADDRESS:!_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!
24!
A!REQUEST!FROM!!
CHURCHWIDE!WOMEN!OF!THE!ELCA!
!
Listed!are!topics!generated!from!the!Ninth!Triennial!Gathering!workshop!titled!Streets#to#live#in:#a#WELCA#model.!
Ideas!are!grouped!in!program!areas.!Several!ideas!can!be!used!for!blogs!and!articles.!
!!
I!need!your!help!!Can!you!refer!me!to!women!in!your!region!and!congregations!who!are!actively!making!a!
difference!in!their!congregational!units!and!community!using!the!topics!attached?!!I!would!like!to!learn!more!
about!those!ministries.!We!are!always!looking!for!ministries!to!highlight!that!might!encourage!women!in!other!
congregations.!
If!you!know!women!I!can!contact,!please!call!800T638T3522,!ext.!2450,!or!email!eva.yeo@elca.org!.!Be!prepared!
to!give!me!their!name,!congregation,!email!and!cell!or!home!phone!number.!
!!
Blog!topics!
Young!mothers!
How!to!gain!pastoral!support!–(Lift!up!discipleship)!!Val!
November!T!Building!relationships!with!younger!women!–!Ann!(Quilting)!Include!photos!
#!
Café!and!Intergenerational!programs!
After!work!groups!
Befriend!college!girls!as!“Grandmother!away!from!home”!
Intergenerational!prayer!partners!
Building!on!intergenerational!relationships!
Outreach!to!new!moms,!single!
!
Discipleship!
Shut–in!ministry!
Leadership!joy!(Grandma!group)!
Mantle!leadership!
Intercessory!prayer!ministry!
!!
Gather!
After!school!program!
Help!at!Rape!Crisis!Center!
Advocacy!
Building!on!intergenerational!relationships!through!ministry!
%%
Interchange#and#Bold#Connection!
Highlight!a!WELCA!resource!of!the!month!
Continue!to!lift!up!human!trafficking!information!
Send!a!gift!to!sponsor!a!delegate!to!triennial!gathering!
!!
Raising!Up!Healthy!Women!and!Girls!
Christian!Yoga!–!topics!for!Daily!Grace!
Cooking!class!
Dance!instruction!
Fitness/exercise!class/TaiChi!
!!
Stewardship!
A!series!on!financial!education!for!women!
End!of!life!forum!
%%
Thank!you!!
Eva"James"Yeo!T!Director!for!Membership!
eva.yeo@elca.org!
25!
W.I.S.E!Scholarship!
(Women!in!Seminary!Education)!
!
In!celebration!of!40!years!of!ordination!of!Women!in!the!ELCA,!the!WISE!fund!was!established!
to!help!in!the!financial!support!of!women!from!the!NE!MN!Synod!who!are!enrolled!in!an!ELCA!
seminary!pursing!ordained!ministry.!
• Funded through gifts from individuals, congregational units, and the SWO
• Make checks payable to Women of the ELCA
• Note “WISE Fund” in the memo line of your check. Send to:
! !!!!!Cyndi Worshek
202 S. 3rd St W.
Aurora, MN 55705
• Gifts will be distributed each December to women in seminary education from the NE MN
Synod, as reported by the NE MN Synod Office
• The amount of the annual gifts will be determined by the SWO Board, based on funds
available.
Please!continue!to!support!these!women!with!your!gifts!and!prayers.!!
Lorraine#Mix#sold#one#of#these#rugs#at#the#Living#Waters#Fall#Gathering#and#some#asked#for#the#instructions#
to#be#put#in#the#Northeastern#Lights.####
!!
RECYCLING"SHOPPING"BAGS"INTO"RUGS,"ETC.!
!!
Begin!by!collecting!colored!plastic!bags,!about!40!or!more!grocery!sized!bags!will!make!a!small!rug.!!
Less!of!heavier!plastic.!
!!
Also!need!crochet!hook!size!HTK,!depending!on!what!works!for!you.!Patterns!for!rug!yarn!can!be!used!to!
make!items.!
!!
Using!a!small!scissors,!draw!plastic!through!the!blade!to!make!a!strip!about!2T3"!wide,!tapering!the!ends!
as!they!will!overlap!to!make!a!continuous!strip.!Overlap!about!3T4".!Thicker!plastic!as!in!bread!bags!or!
other!store!bags!may!be!1",!more!or!less.!Practice!to!see!what!works.!
!!
For!round!rug,!chain!4,!connect!and!s!c!2!in!each!ch.!inc!as!in!any!circle.!For!oval!rug!I!chain!25!or!more!
depending!on!size!wanted,!sc!in!3rd!ch!and!continue!to!end,!3sc!and!continue!down!other!side!of!chain.!
Increase!about!3!times!around!each!end,!varies.!
!!
My!first!items!were!sturdy!shopping!bags!from!article!in!Lutheran!Women!magazine!about!1990.!
!!
Bottom!was!an!oval!so!kept!going!to!make!rugs!like!women!made!from!bread!bags!in!the!60's!and!70's.!
!!
Rugs!may!be!laundered,!I!use!gentle!cycle.!
!!
!Lorraine!Mix!
!
26!
NE"Minnesota"Women"of"the"ELCA"
Change"of"Officers/Contact"Form"
"
Year:"20_____"
!
!
Congregational!Units:!
!
Please!complete!this!form!as!soon!as!possible!after!your!elections!or!change!of!contact!person.!!
Please!type!or!print!neatly!so!the!form!will!copy!well.!!Mail!or!eTmail!to:!
!
SWO"Secretary"
"
"""""SWO"President" "
"""""Your"Conference"Secretary"
Arlene!Freeman!
!
!!!!!Lynda!Lochner!
28938!!442nd!Place! !
!!!!!208!!9th!St.!SE!
Aitkin,!MN!56431! !
!!!!!Little!Falls,!MN!56345!
!
!
Congregation:!_____________________________________________________________________________________________!
!
Address:!___________________________________________________________________________________________________!
!
City,!State,!Zip!Code:!______________________________________________________________________________________!
!
Church!Telephone!(include!area!code):!________________________________________________________________!
!
"
President/Contact"Person""
"
"""""""""""""""Secretary/Second"Contact"
"
Name:!____________________________________________!
Name:!_____________________________________________!
!
Address:!__________________________________________! Address:!__________________________________________!
!
City,!Zip!___________________________________________! City,!Zip!___________________________________________!
!
Telephone:!_______________________________________! Telephone:!_______________________________________!
!
Email:!_____________________________________________! Email:!_____________________________________________!
!
Replaces!__________________________________________!!!!!!!Replaces!_________________________________________!
!
These!names!will!be!submitted!in!a!secure!and!confidential!area!of!our!churchwide!Women!of!
the!ELCA’s!website!so!that!mailings!from!Chicago!come!to!an!interested!person.!!Our!SWO!
secretary!will!use!the!information!to!send!out!emails!and!land!mails!regarding!synodical!events!
and!to!officially!notify!each!unit!of!the!convention!that!is!part!of!the!“Summer!Gathering”!each!
year.!Your!conference!coordinator!will!use!this!information!to!keep!you!informed!about!
planning!meetings!for!conference!gatherings!and!to!“stay!in!touch”!with!you.!!
!
27!
OUR!SYNODICAL!WOMEN’S!ORGANIZATION!OFFICERS!AND!BOARD!MEMBERS!
President"
Lynda"Lochner"’15"
"
208!!9th!St.!SE!
Little!Falls,!MN!56345!
320T360T1343!
llochner@littlefalls.net!
Bethel/Little"Falls"
""
"""""""Heartland!
Joyce"Lund"’15"(1"year)""
""""Lake!Superior!
4004!London!Rd.!Apt!#1121!
Duluth,!MN!55804!
218T625T8270!
joyceelund@hotmail.com!
Lutheran"Church"of"the"Good"Shepherd/Duluth"
"
Stewardship"Focus"Area"
"
"
Vice.president"
Erika"Foss""’14!!"!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Heartland!
48139!Lake!Ave.!
McGregor,!MN!55760!
218T426T4635!
CellT!651T245T8588!
pastorerikafoss@gmail.com!
Grace/McGregor"
"
Secretary"
Arlene"Freeman""’14"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Heartland!
28938!442nd!Pl!
Aitkin,!MN!56431!
218T927T6764!
toberkat@gmail.com!
First/Aitkin"
"
Treasurer""
Cyndi"Worshek"!’13"‘15!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Laurentian!
202!S.!3rd!St.!W.!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T229T2981!
Cyndi.worshek@bluecrossmn.com!
Our"Saviors/Aurora"
"
Board"Members"
"
Ardyce"Pederson""’13"‘15"""""""""""""""""Living!Waters!
8037!44th!Ave.!NW!
Walker,!MN!56464!
218T547T2576!
aobpeder@arvig.net!
Hope/Walker"
"
Sharon"Schwegel"’14"‘15""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Living!Waters!
4515!28th!Ave.!NW!
Hackensack,!MN!56452!
cabinette@live.com!
St."Paul’s/Hackensack"
"
Sherry"Johnson"’15"
"
!!!!!!!!!Laurentian"""""
5392!Rd!46!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T638T1371!
jhnrsrs@frontiernet.net!
St."Marks/Palo"
"
Justice"Focus"Area"
Amanda"Wirta"’15"!
!
713!NW!10th!Ave.!
Grand!Rapids,!MN!55744!
218T999T5463!(h)!
218T591T3376!©!
amandawirta@hotmail.com!
Zion/Grand"Rapids"
!!!Living!Waters!
"
Discipleship"Focus"Area"
Char"Kramersmeier"’14"""""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Heartland!
1105!18th!St.!N!
Princeton,!MN!55371!
763T389T2062!
charsweb@q.com!
Trinity/Princeton"
"
Becky"Gaede"’14"’15"(1"year)"" """"""""Kettle!River!
PO!Box!275!
Sandstone,!MN!55072!
320T245T5187!
bgaede@scicable.com!
Grace/Sandstone"
"
28!
Patricia"(Pat)"Norby"‘15"
2699!Town!Rd.!403!W!
International!Falls,!MN!56649!
218T283T4113!
pater@frontiernet.net!
First/International"Falls"
"
Carolyn"Tuckner"’14" "
19382!Silver!Fox!Dr.!
Pine!City,!MN!55063!
320T629T3966!
ctuckner@gmail.com!
Our"Redeemer/Pine"City"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
!!!!!!!!!!Laurentian""""""""""!
""""""""Kettle!River!
SWO"ASSIGNMENTS"""2015.2016"
2015"Convention"!
Chair""Carolyn"Tuckner"
""""""""""""""SWO!Board!
Co.Chair"Becky"Gaede"
""""""""""""""SWO!Board!
!
Registrar"""""" Anne"Laechel! !
!
!
anne@lolbaxter.org! !
!
2017"Triennial"Gathering"Promoter"
Peg!Christensen!
!
!!!!!!Living!Waters!
3301!S!Hwy!169!
#1!Paradise!Park!
Grand!Rapids,!MN!55744!
218T326T5633!–!cell!218T256T5634!
christensenpeg@yahoo.com!
Partners"in"Ministry"Coordinator"
Cyndi!Worshek!!
!
!
NE"MN"Synod"Council"Liaison!
Erika"Foss"
"
"
!!!!!!!!!!!SWO!Board!
Prayer"Chain"Contact"
Char!Kramersmeier! !
!
SWO!Board!
Northeastern!Lights"Editor""""""!!!!!!!!Kettle!River!
"""Dorothy"Dybvig""
"""PO!Box!392! !
!
!!!!!320T245T2903!
!!!Sandstone,!MN!55072!!!
!!!2dybvigs@scicable.com!
SWO!Board!
Liaison"to"SWO"Nominating"Committee"
Cyndi!Worshek!!
!
!
SWO!Board!
Racial"Justice"Advocacy"
Connie"Johnson!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Heartland!
!!!PO!Box!186!
!!!Crosslake,!MN!56442!
!!!!218T543T4165!
!!!!seajohns@tds.net!
""""!!!"
Louise"Coston!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Kettle!River!
!!!31779!Airport!Rd.!
!!!Danbury,!WI!54830!
!!!715T656T4261!!!!
World"Hunger"
!!!Jane"Grundmeier! !
!!!!!!!!!Kettle!River!
!!!49570!Grundmeier!Rd.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!320T384T6932!
!!!Hinckley,!MN!55037!
!!!grundmeierfarm@gmail.com!
Peace"with"Justice"
""Judy"Isaacson"
"""135!Lauff!Dr.!Apt!#203!
!!Milan,!MI!48160!
!!dimwick1214@gmail.com!
!!!734T508T6790!
INTERNATIONAL"MINISTRIES!
Lutheran"World"Relief"""(LWR)"
!!!700!Light!St.!
!!!Baltimore,!MD!21230!
!!!1T800TLWRTLWR2!!(1T800T597T5972)!
!!!lwr@lwr.org!!!!!!!!!!!www.lwr.org!
Global"Health"Ministries"""(GHM)"!
!!!7831!Hickory!St.!NE!
!!!Minneapolis,!MN!55432!
!!!763T586T9590!
!!!www.ghm.org!
29!
Conference!Coordinating!Committee!members!are!elected!for!two!year!terms!at!the!Spring!Gathering!
CONFERENCE"COODINATOR"
L
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Nancy"Barker"’13"‘15"
6699!Industrial!Rd.!
Saginaw,!MN!55779!
218T729T7247!
gracefull348@aol.com!
Grace/Hermantown"
!
Beth"Holst"’13"‘15"
2230!Woodland!!
Duluth,!MN!55803!
218T391T2230!
bethie.holst@gmail.com!
First/Duluth"
"
Barb"Tanem"‘15"
3798!Pintar!Rd.!
Hibbing,!MN!55746!
218T966T6749!
First/"Hibbing"
!
SECRETARY"
Diane"Pastika""‘15"
1839!Boundary!St.!
Babbitt,!MN!55706!
218T290T9666!
218T290T1593!
pastika@frontiernet.net!
Evangelical/Babbitt"
Caroline"Switzer"’13"‘15"
6282!Fehrs!Dr.!NE!
Remer,!MN!56672!
218T792T5121!
switzer@brainerd.net!
Our"Saviors/Outing"
Shirley"Dowson"‘15"
6325!Pinecone!Ln.!NW!
Walker,!MN!56484!
218T547T1894!
Cell!T218T820T4346!
jdowson@arvig.net!
Hope/Walker"
Vicki"Kopplin"‘"15"
33777!Dancing!Bear!Dr.!
Crosslake,!MN!56442!
612T804T1116!
vickikopplin@gmail.com!
Crosslake/Crosslake"
Cynthia"Johnson"’12"‘14"
35956!S.!Platte!Lake!Dr.!
Hillman,!MN!56338!
320T277T6250!
Cell!T320T339T6731!!
plattelakeabc@gmail.com!
Immanuel/Hillman"
Jennie"K."Hanson""’12"‘14"
620!Center!Rd.!
Wright,!MN!55798!
218T357T2385!
jkh4president@hotmail.com!
Bethlehem/Wright"
Fay"Kertulla"‘15"
1805!Eileen!Ave!
Duluth,!MN!55803!!
218T724T3388!
Trinity/Duluth"
!
Debi"Maki"’13"‘15"
5957!Lake!Ct.!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T865T4376!
dmaki@nsbashland.com!
Our"Savior’s/Aurora"
Beth"Ronning"‘14"
4852!Sundance!Loop!Apt!C!
Duluth,!MN!55811!
218T341T8292!
ronning1@me.com!
Grace/Hermantown"
Barb"Richtsmeier"“15"
12!Fir!Circle!
Babbitt,!MN!55706!
218T827T2634!
barbjrichtsmeier@frontier.com!
Evangelical/Babbitt"
Kathryn"Pfaff"‘15"
1350!Plummer!Pt.!Rd.!
Outing,!MN!56662!
218T821T7551!
kpfaff@yahoo.com!
Our"Savior’s/"Outing"
Carole"Holten"‘15"
48263!241st!Pl.!
McGregor,!MN!55760!
218T426T3627!
Grace/McGregor"
!
Jane"Grundmeier"’13"‘15"
49570!Grundmeier!Rd.!
Hinckley,!MN!55037!
320T384T6932!
grundmeierfarm@gmail.com!
Grace/Sandstone"
!
CONFERENCE"COMMITTEE"MEMBERS"
TREASURER"
Diane"Scheremet"‘14"
32046!Firetower!Rd.!
Hinckley,!MN!55037!
320T384T6670!
er3550@mac.com!
Zion.Cloverdale/"
Hinckley"
"
30!
Gwen"Degner"‘15"
PO!Box!42!
Remer,!MN!56672!
218T566T2011!
degnerdg@means.net!
Bethany/Remer"
Karen"Kjolhaug"‘15"
620!N!16th!Ave.!E!
Duluth,!MN!55812!
218T591T3432!
kkjolhaug@gmail.com!
Gloria"Dei/Duluth"
Cindy"Zollar"’13"‘15"
PO!Box!718!
Tower,!MN!55790!
218T753T3632!
czollar@frontiernet.net!
Immanuel/Tower"
Fay"Klande"‘14"
13699!County!Rd.!72!
Swan!River,!MN!55784!
218T492T4338!
Zion/Grand"Rapids"
Renee"Anderson"’13"‘15"
PO!Box!212!
Pequot!Lakes,!MN!56472!
218T568T8387!
daveanders@charter.net!
Our"Savior’s/Pequot"Lakes"
Irene"Gearey"’13"‘15"
PO!Box!23!
Pine!River,!MN!56474!
218T587T4431!
1stluth@uslink.net!
First/"Pine"River"
Marlys"Mestemacher"
’12"‘14"
22475!Groningen!Rd.!
Sandstone,!MN!55072!
320T245T2663!
marlys.mestemacher@co.!
pine.mn.us!
First/Hinckley"
Charlene"Skrivseth"‘15"
3383!County!Line!Rd.!
Sturgeon!Lake,!MN!55783!
218T485T5967!
charleneskrivseth13@msn
.com!
Oak"Lake/"Kerrick"
Synod!&!Conference!Nominating!Committee!members!are!elected!for!twoTyear!terms!at!the!Fall!Gathering!
"""""""""""""SYNOD"(SWO)"
NOMINATING"COMMITTEE"
CONFERENCE"COMMITTEE"
"""""""MEMBER"
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Jane"Wick"‘14"
3020!East!Castle!Danger!Rd.!
Two!Harbors,!MN!55616!
218T834T3877!
Our"Savior’s/Castle"Danger"
CONFERENCE"NOMINATING"COMMITTEES"
Gwen"Lenz""‘15"
PO!Box!1305!
Grand!Marais,!MN!55604!
218T387T9860!
gwmlenz@boreal.org!
Bethlehem/Grand"Marais"
"
Joy"Michalachek""‘15"
1531!N.!9th!Ave.!E!
Duluth,!MN!55805!
218T724T1466!
jmichali@d.umn.edu!
Kenwood/Duluth"
Nancy"Noordzy"‘14"
4004!London!Rd.!Apt!1109!
Duluth,!MN!55084!
218T625T8252!
nanhanzy@gmail.com!
Our"Saviors/Castle"Danger"
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Jan"Cutter"‘15"
PO!Box!112!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T251T4203!
cuttejan@hotmail.com!
United"in"Christ/"Eveleth"
Kathy"Hoppa"‘15"
6544!Redwood!Rd.!
Virginia,!MN!55792!
218T749T1285!
Our"Savior’s/Virginia"
Ann"Godfrey"‘15"
Peg"Christensen""‘14"
1122!Golf!Course!Rd!
#1!Paradise!Park!
Grand!Rapids,!MN!55744!
3301!S.!Hwy!169!
!218T326T4948!
Grand!Rapids,!MN!55744!
godfreys@paulbunyan.net!
218T326T5633!
"St."Andrews/Grand"Rapids"""""""christensenpeg@yahoo.com!
""""""""""
Zion/Grand"Rapids!
"
Faye"Peterson"‘15"
30618!376th!Ave.!
Aitkin,!MN!56431!
218T927T1946!
Bethlehem/Aitkin"
!
Linda"Newlon"‘15"
1409!Janis!Rd.!
!Cloquet,!MN!55720!!!!!!!
218T879T6274!
Bethesda/Carlton"
Elaine"Palthe"‘"15"
38176!296th!Ln.!
Aitkin,!MN!57431!
218T927T6225!
Epalthe@live.com!
First/Aitkin"
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Barbara"Lang"‘15"
4798!Oak!Dr.!
Moose!Lake,!MN!55767!
218T380T0583!
beeper143@q.com!
Hope/Moose"Lake"
Judith"Belange""’13"‘15"
4411!Hwy!100!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T638T2801!
Junebug_1@frontiernet.net!
St."Mark’s/Palo"
"
Elaine"Edwardson"‘15"
7181!Jola!Rd!
Eveleth,!MN!55734!
218T744T9933!
snookie1946@hotmail.com!
United"in"Christ/"Eveleth"
Debbie"Poenix"‘14"
42298!Co.!Rd.!48!
Dear!River,!MN!56634!
218T246T2740!
Poecon@paulbunyan.net!
Suomi"Evangelical/Deer"River"
"
Lee"Ann"Baker""‘14"
49949!Horseshoe!Lake!Rd.!
Marcell,!MN!56657!
218T832T3502!
horseshoelake@arvig.net"
Bigfork/Bigfork"
Connie"Johnson"‘13"
PO!Box!186!
Crosslake,!MN!56442!
seajohns@tds.net!
Crosslake/Crosslake"
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Penny"Hudlow"‘14"
920!Spruce!Circle!SW!
Pine!City,!MN!!
320T629T3048!
pennyhudlow@gmail.com!
Our"Redeemer/Pine"City"
"
Karen"Schafer"‘15"
2097!Jade!St.!
Mora,!MN!55051!
320T679T1984!
kmschafer@qmail.com!
Calvary/Mora"
"
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Joyce"Dohlin""‘15"
4004!London!Rd.!#1318!
Duluth,!MN!55804!
dohlinjoy@gmail.com!
Good"Shepherd/Duluth"
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Kathy"Rous""‘15"
928!N.!57th!Ave.!W!
Duluth,!MN!55807!
218T628T1764!
jraus@aol.com!
Elim/Duluth"
Audrey"Kuehl"’12"(1"yr."term)"’13"‘15"
6857!Pike!River!Dr.!
Embarrass,!MN!55732!
218T741T7742!
Hope/"Embarrass"
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Louise"Ellingson"‘15"
5358!Rd!48!
Aurora,!MN!55705!
218T229T3152!
Our"Saviors/Aurora"
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Loralee"Torkelson""‘15"
1976!Trillium!Dr.!
Hackensack,!MN!56452!
218T682T2891!
lorus@tas.net!
St."Paul’s/Hackensack"
"
Mary"Schmid""‘15"
1666!Townline!Ln.!NE!
Longville,!MN!56655!
218T363T3327!
mschmid@arvig.net!
Salem/Longville"
Mary"Anderson"‘15"
4066!Moberg!Lake!Rd.!
Brainerd,!MN!56401!
218T330T6171!
maryteda@charter.net!
Lord"of"Life/Baxter"
"
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Donna"Oslund"‘14"
776!Fish!Lake!Dr.!
Mora,!MN!55051!
320T679T3275!
Cell!320T496T0430!
jdoslund@ecenet.com!
Immanuel/Brunswick"
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Mary"Jo"Mettler""‘14"
8725!Birchview!Rd.!
Grasston,!MN!55030!
320T629T7962!
djmjmettler@gmail.com!
Zion/"Cloverdale"
Northeastern"Lights"
!
NonTProfit!Org!
U.S.!Postage!!
Dorothy!Dybvig,!Editor!
PO!Box!392!
Sandstone,!MN!55072!
PAID!
Brainerd!MN!!
Permit!No.!471!
2015
CHANGE!
SERVICE!
REQUESTED!
Northeastern#Lights!is!published!four!times!a!year!by!the!Board!of!the!NE!
MN!Synodical!Women’s!Organization!of!Women!of!the!ELCA.!The!Board!
has!established!the!months!of!February,!May,!August!and!November!as!
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Free!copies!are!sent!to!every!church!in!the!NE!MN!Synod.!Because!of!the!
rising!costs!of!postage!and!printing,!donations!are!welcome.!
Copies!of!this!newsletter!may!be!made!for!distribution!to!women!in!your!
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32!