Ministries serve local communities

Star
Northeastern Iowa
NovemBER 2014 • Volume 27, Issue 10
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Strengthened for Witness and Service
Ministries serve local communities
by Marcia Hahn
Congregations of the Northeastern
Iowa Synod make Christ known in
their communities by witness and
service to those who are lonely, who
need a helping hand or who need to
know that people care.
Many congregations join in community-wide projects by supporting
a Christmas giving tree, assembling
backpack meals for children, or
hosting a blood drive. Others develop their own local ministries,
such as growing and sharing garden
produce, mentoring children, or
hosting a Thanksgiving meal.
Here are some examples of how
Northeastern Iowa Synod congregations are serving others in their
communities.
Mentoring Program
A year ago the Board of Mission of
St. Peter, Denver, began looking
for a project to do for the community. With the help of member Pat
Leonhart, who had taught fourth
grade at Denver Elementary School
for 28 years, they started the “Give
Me Thirty” mentoring program for
students in kindergarten through
fifth grade.
The program pairs adults with students who are recommended by
their teachers, to spend 30 minutes
per week together at the school
doing an activity, such as reading,
playing games, making crafts, or
whatever they
want. “So many
kids need that
stability and
constant in their
life,” Leonhart
said.
The mentors
follow volunteer
guidelines set
by the school,
and the teachers
obtain written
The “Give Me Thirty” program developed by St. Peter, Denver, pairs adults
permission from with Denver Elementary School students for weekly mentoring sessions.
the parents for
their children
ate having an adult come in. When
to participate. The teachers share
working with children, mentors
with the mentors what the student’s
almost always discover the interacstrengths and interests are and what
tion they share not only impacts the
areas in the children’s lives could
children’s lives, but theirs as well.”
use some extra support. Leonhart
says that all the parents who had a
child in the program have enrolled
>> Continued on page 2
their children in the program again
this year.
The St. Peter Board of Mission
recruited volunteers through the
church newsletters, invitation, word
of mouth, and a video about the
program, which is posted on the
church’s website. Nineteen adults
from the Denver community are
involved in the program this year.
“Lots of teachers would love to do
more one-on-one with the kids to
connect with them, but they don’t
have the time available,” Leonhart
said. “The teachers really appreci-
In This Issue
1
Ministries serve local
communities
3 Go and Tell
4 Mission Completed
6 Disaster Response Network
7Congregations
8 Prayer Calendar
Ministries serve local communities
<< Continued from page 2
Community Meals
What started four years ago as an
annual free Thanksgiving meal for
the community has turned into
twice-monthly meals for anyone
who would like to join in supper
and fellowship with others at
American, Jesup. Since June, the
congregation has been offering the
free “Be Our Guest” suppers on the
last two Wednesdays of the month,
and 75 to 90 people have attended
each meal.
According to Pastor Dawn Pederson, the Thanksgiving meals and Be
Our Guest suppers are about good
food, good community and being
together, especially for those who
would otherwise have to eat alone.
Many of those attending are widowed people who stay for an hour
or more, and the majority are not
affiliated with American Lutheran.
Meals are delivered to homebound
Jesup residents, upon request.
“The meals are for anybody who
wants to come,” Pederson said. “We
want people to sit down and enjoy
food and fellowship and not rush
off to the next thing.”
The meals are funded through a
Thrivent Outreach Bridge Grant
and generosity from the congregation. No free-will donation baskets
are put out, but Pederson says that
some people will slip donations to
her during a handshake.
A committee of eight people plans
the menus and evaluates how the
program is going. Members sign
up to prepare the food, serve,
and clean up. Fliers were mailed
to every household in Jesup and
through the area churches to invite
people to the suppers.
Children get involved by greeting people and offering assistance.
All the food is homemade, and a
number of congregation members
help behind the scenes by baking
desserts at home.
“We did a lot of praying and searching before choosing this as what
to do with our grant money,” Pederson said. “It’s been amazing and
we’re having fun doing it. As long
as people keep coming and we have
volunteers and can financially support it, the meals will be ongoing.”
Food Pantries
On the fourth Saturday of every
month, some 35 volunteers gather
at American, Grundy Center, to
unload the food truck delivery from
the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
In about 20 minutes, dozens of
boxes of canned goods, frozen food,
breads, and more are unloaded and
set up in the church’s fellowship
hall for distribution to families who
come from a four-county area. It
takes only one hour for all the food
to be given away to the 100 or so
people who come each month.
American Lutheran began hosting
the Mobile Food Pantry a year ago
when leaders from Bethany Presbyterian Church asked Pastor Luther
Thoresen if American Lutheran
would like to take over the project.
Youth and adults from American
join a dozen volunteers from Bethany to keep the food pantry going.
Volunteers wear name tags so the
families can become familiar with
who is serving them. A local service
group brings juice and donuts for
everyone who comes to the pantry.
Volunteers help carry the food for
people who are elderly or have disabilities.
People who may otherwise eat alone enjoy home cooked food and fellowship with others at the
twice-monthly community meals offered at American, Jesup.
2
“When we planned to host the
pantry at American Lutheran, we
put our heads together and intentionally said we wanted to make
the guests feel welcome,” Thoresen
Northeastern Iowa Synod | www.neiasynod.org
Bishop
Go and Tell
The end of athletic seasons seem
to always bring the firing of several
head coaches. Some have lasted
as long as a year in their position.
Others win championships and in a
few years are fired. After all, “what
have you done for me lately?”
The calling of a pastor is something
very different. The call process
begins with a time of discernment.
When we meet with congregational
councils and call committees, we
distribute the Bread for the Day
devotionals that we developed in
partnership with Augsburg Fortress.
Then we pray and we ask these
elected leaders to pray with us each
day throughout the call process.
A period of study in the congregation and in the community engages
as many people as possible in
seeking God’s will. More hearts
and minds engaged in the process
“Together, with God’s help, we
can do amazing things to reach
out and help others.”
said. “We wanted them to be received as friends and help keep a
positive attitude for them.”
The church council from Our
Savior, Leland, jumped at the
chance to open a food pantry in
April 2013 when First Congregational Church of Forest City asked
them to take over their food pantry.
The Forest City congregation gave
Our Savior their freezer and remaining account funds. Our Savior
“It takes time to listen
carefully to God’s call.”
brings more power to the process
and the need for very careful listening to one another and to God. The
primary questions are “To what
mission is God calling us? How
can this pastor lead us into that
mission?”
The process of discernment reaches
a peak in the interview process.
When the questions and answers
are only directed one way, it does
not go well. When the interview is
more of an interrogation of positions on issues, it is difficult to
have a conversation about shared
mission.
This process takes many months. It
purchased shelves and additional
freezers and set up a back room for
food storage and a room in the fellowship hall for the pantry. Open
Tuesday afternoons, the pantry
serves 125 households from Winnebago County school districts.
The number using the pantry has
nearly doubled since January.
The pantry is a partner agency
of the Food Bank of Iowa, which
allows Our Savior to purchase food
at low cost. Paper products and
fresh produce from local gardeners are also offered. Donations and
grants help with operational expenses.
“There is a real need for this food
pantry,” said Wayne Wubben, who
November 2014
takes time to
listen carefully
to God’s call.
Athletic teams
may hire and
fire. In our
church, God
calls through
the discernment and vote
of the congregation.
Though we may use the analogy of
“team,” we know that first and foremost we are the church, the body of
Christ. The church sets apart and
calls some to be our teachers and
spiritual leaders.
We give thanks for this call for the
sake of Christ’s mission. Go and
tell.
— Steven L. Ullestad
Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod
helped start the project. “We have a
lot of volunteers from our congregation who are eager to help with this
project.”
Medical & Military Ministries
The “Medical Loan Closet” at Our
Savior’s, Waterloo, started 16 years
ago and is still thriving today, loaning assistive medical equipment to
those who can’t afford to purchase
it on their own. The project started
in response to a workshop held at
Our Savior’s which discussed the
needs of respite caregivers within
the community and how Our Savior’s might respond.
>> Continued on page 4
3
Ministries serve local communities
<< Continued from page 3
The program maintains an inventory of crutches, walkers, wheelchairs,
canes, commodes and other assistive devices and supplies to loan
free of charge to people in the community who don’t have the means
to pay for it. The equipment is often
donated by families who no longer
need it. Excess items are donated to
the Visiting Nurses Association.
“This ministry is still active and
lets people know we care,” said
Joyce Arends, who has managed the
program since it began. “Together
with God’s help, we can do amazing things to reach out and help
others.”
This year, Our Savior’s reached out
to the military community through
a free breakfast and Christmas
stockings project. The neighborhood was invited to a free community breakfast where they could
adopt a stocking to send to members in the military.
Our Savior’s member Jeanette Alton
came up with the idea after coming
across a box of unfinished stockings
at a tag sale. Other women from the
congregation joined her in sewing
backs on the 122 stockings and
making canvas and yarn “pocket
crosses” for the soldiers to carry in
their pockets. They also collected
donated items such as personal care
items, markers, pens, pencils, and
toys for the soldiers to hand out to
children where they serve.
Alton has asked families to share
the names of military members to
send the stockings to. Extras may be
sent to others serving in the military
or being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“We wanted another way to get our
4
“We serve roughly 30 kids each
week during the school year, and
we have a cap of 35,” said Karleen
Uitermark, who coordinates the
program.
St. Petri volunteers drive to Des
Moines about once every six weeks
to pick up nonperishable food
items at the food bank. Then each
Sunday, volunteers stay after worship service to pack the bags. Uitermark takes the bags to the elementary school in Story City early in the
week, where they are distributed on
Fridays by school officials.
Our Savior’s, Waterloo, plans to send stuffed
Christmas stockings to community members
serving in the military.
name out there in the community,”
Alton said.
Backpack Meals
Uitermark and the other St. Petri
volunteers have no idea who receives the sacks of food each week,
and that’s OK with them. “It doesn’t
matter to us who’s getting the
sacks,” Uitermark said. “We’re just
happy that we can help children in
need.”
A few years ago, St. Petri, Story
City, initiated a
backpack program to provide
Northeastern Iowa Synod
weekend meals
for children
Bishop Rev. Dr. Steven L. Ullestad – ullestads@neiasynod.org
Assistants to the Bishop
in the Roland Rev. Mark A. Anderson – andersonm@neiasynod.org
Story school
Rev. Darrel W. Gerrietts – gerriettsd@neiasynod.org
Linda J. Hudgins – hudginsl@neiasynod.org
district who had
ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission
little or no food
Rev. Joelle Colville-Hanson – colville-hansonj@neiasynod.org
to eat during
Star Editor
Marcia Hahn – hahnm@neiasynod.org
the weekends.
The Star is published 11 times a year by the Northeastern Iowa Synod,
This school
201 20th Street SW, PO Box 804, Waverly, IA 50677-0804;
year marks the
www.neiasynod.org, phone 319-352-1414, FAX 319-352-1416.
third year that
Send news for the December issue to Marcia Hahn by Nov. 12. We
volunteers from
welcome story ideas related to the 2014 theme, “Strengthened for
Witness and Service.”
St. Petri pack
plastic sacks of
Articles in this newsletter may be duplicated for
use in synod congregations and organizations,
food, donated
with credit to the Star newsletter.
by the Food
Please notify the synod office with name and
Bank of Iowa in
address changes. To receive an electronic version
Des Moines.
of the Star, rather than paper, send your request
to hahnm@neiasynod.org.
Northeastern Iowa Synod | www.neiasynod.org
www.neiasynod.org
STEWARDSHIP
Mission Completed
Once again the Northeastern Iowa Synod has
accepted a challenge and
exceeded it!
Thank you. Thank you
to every person, family,
and congregation that
contributed financially
to the renewal of the
Blair Court (Monopoly)
houses at Wartburg
Theological Seminary in Dubuque.
Thank you to everyone who went
to Dubuque and worked on the
houses, thank you to everyone who
provided meals, treats or a warm
welcome to the workers.
Thank you to everyone who held
this project in prayer. Thank you to
the Naz builders of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls who
committed to this project and to the
Nazareth Endowment, which contributed $20,000 and challenged
the synod to match it (which we
exceeded by more than $4,000).
The seminary held a rededication at the end of October to
celebrate the 10 houses that were
renewed thanks to 2,680 volunteer
hours given by 26 volunteers, and
$44,482 in cash gifts to purchase
materials.
This project is a wonderful example
of stewardship at its best. Some
could contribute their talents in
building skills, some could contribute their time in showing hospi-
tality to the builders, and some
could contribute their treasures to
purchase the necessary materials.
Together we exceeded our goals
and provided safer, more comfortable housing for families, and more
energy efficient living which helps
the environment and reduces utility
expenses.
When we each contribute our best
individually, together our offerings
can do amazing things.
— Pastor Mark Anderson
Assistant to the Bishop
Is your congregation listing up to date?
The ELCA website features a “Find a
Congregation” page where people
can locate congregations by synod,
state, zip code, or name.
(see below) otherwise displayed.
To find a congregation, visit www.
elca.org/tools/FindACongregation.
To submit updates, visit www.elca.
org/tools/UpdateCongregation.
The congregational listings include
contact information, pastor’s name,
membership statistics, and links.
Each listing also features a photo of
the church building, if one has been
submitted.
Congregational leaders are
encouraged to visit their listings
and submit needed updates and a
photo to replace the generic image
November 2014
5
Disaster Response Network
Now, more than ever, preparedness
matters
“By definition, a disaster is any event that
redefines a person or community.”
Disasters change and redefine communities in
positive and negative ways. They vary in scope and
cause. Some are the result of humans, such as shootings and car wrecks. Other disasters are the result of nature, such as
floods, tornadoes, and epidemics.
By definition, a disaster is any event that redefines a person or community. Recovery from a disaster is the process in which a person or
community moves from being a victim to a survivor by redefining the
new normal in their life.
The fear that the epidemic of Ebola may become a pandemic as it
moves across the globe to affect our own country is the most recent
event in our history that we can point to why our disaster efforts are
imperative. As a leader of the church — a leader of tens, hundreds, or
thousands — what is your response if a disaster should happen? Your
congregations are filled with leaders in their communities and places of
employment. In what ways can they respond if your town is impacted
by a disaster?
The Disaster Network of the Northeastern Iowa Synod has taken on the
efforts to write this new section in the Star synod newsletter in hopes to
equip our congregations and leaders to be prepared for times when disasters strike our communities. We will discuss preventative measures,
answer your questions, and provide you with resources to implement
these strategies in your communities.
The majority of the information cited in future articles will be taken
from the Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guidebook. You can download a full copy of this 101-page guidebook at www.elca.org/Resources/Lutheran-Disaster-Response under the “General” tab. There are also
many other resources available on this web page, including worksheets
that coincide with the Guidebook to assist your planning efforts.
If you have any questions that you would like answered or are in need
of resources for a specific disaster response, please email Pastor Ron
Mathews at pastorron@stpeterdenver.org or call 319-984-5648.
— Pastor Ron Mathews
Disaster Response Network
Men’s Retreat Set
One Year to Live Retreat
Feb. 6-8, 2015
Camp Ewalu, Strawberry Point
Men of the
Northeastern
Iowa Synod
are invited
to attend
the “One
Year to Live”
men’s retreat
set for the weekend of Feb. 6-8 at
Camp Ewalu, Strawberry Point.
This “spiritual boot camp”
is a unique opportunity to
experience spiritual and personal
growth as part of a special
fellowship of brothers.
Early registration fee is $175 by
Jan. 7, 2015; $200 if registered by
the Jan. 22 deadline. The fee for
men age 18-24 and seminarians
is $125.
Learn more and download a
registration brochure at www.
neiasynod.org/ministries/
mens-ministry.
Safeguarding Event
A free training session of the
“Safeguarding God’s Children”
program will be offered in
November.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014
Our Savior’s, Leland
2 - 5 p.m.
Call 641-567-3331 to register.
Learn more at www.neiasynod.org/disaster-response.
6
Northeastern Iowa Synod | www.neiasynod.org
Events
Congregations
NOVEMber EVENTS
INSTALLING
5 Conference Call, S.A.F.E. Ministry Team, 9-11 a.m.
6 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
6 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. Petri, Story
City, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
7Event, New to Synod, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
9 Event, Safeguarding God’s Children, Our Savior’s,
Leland, 2-5 p.m.
13Meeting, Deans and Chaplains, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
14Training, Safeguarding – Train the Trainers, 9:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
14Meeting, Advisory Committee, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
15 Meeting, Synodical Women’s Organization Board,
8:30 a.m.-12 noon
19Event, Confirmation Fest, Upper Iowa River
Conference, Decorah Lutheran, Decorah, TBA
20 Meeting, Three River Conference, Fredsville, Cedar
Falls, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon
23Meeting, LYON, 2-4 p.m.
27-28 Office Closed, Thanksgiving Observance
DECEMber EVENTS
2Meeting, Fall Conference Planning, 1:30 p.m.
4Meeting, Compensation Committee, Mason City,
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
4 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
4 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. John, Charles
City, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
5-6Meeting, Candidacy Committee
12-13 Snow Date, Candidacy Committee
14Meeting, LYON, 2-4 p.m.
22-26 Office Closed, Christmas
January 2015 EVENTS
1 Office Closed, New Year’s Day
8Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
8 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. Timothy, Hudson,
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
10Meeting, Synodical Women’s Organization, 8:30 a.m. 12 noon
10Meeting, Congregation Treasurers, Redeemer,
Waverly, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
17 Snow Date (SWO from Jan. 10)
18Meeting, LYON, 2-4 p.m.
1/30-2/2 Event, ELCA Youth Ministry Network
Extravaganza, Dearborn, Michigan
Rev. Kevin Jones, Trinity, Mason City, Nov. 8-9
Rev. Matthew Muters, Our Saviour’s, Mason City, Nov. 9
INTERVIEWING
Belmond, Trinity, Rev. Alan Schulz, interim
Cedar Falls, St. John (staff), Rev. Duane Miller, interim
associate
Cresco, Immanuel, Rev. Karen Grandall, interim
Hawkeye, Trinity, Rev. David R. Nelson, interim
Ryan, Peace and Dundee, St. John (Unity of the Cross)
West Union, Zion, Rev. Nancy Larson, interim
SELF-STUDY
Alta Vista, Zion and Lawler, Immanuel (Crane Creek),
Rev. Vincent Fricke, interim
Arlington, St. John; Elkader, Hope (Littleport);
Strawberry Point, St. Sebald; Volga, St. Paul (One in
Faith Lutheran Parish)
Belmond, St. Olaf and Renwick, St. Paul (All Saints
Parish)
Calmar, Calmar and Decorah, Springfield, Rev. Phillip Olson, interim
Coulter, Nazareth and Hampton, St. John
Decorah, Big Canoe and Highland
Decorah, Good Shepherd
Decorah, St. John’s and Hauge
Dows, First
Elkader, Bethany
Garnavillo, St. Paul
Garner, Faith (Miller), Rev. Joel Dahlen, interim
Lake Mills, Salem, Rev. Peter Soli, interim
Mason City, St. James
Waterloo, Trinity
ROSTER CHANGES
Rev. Miles Renaas, transferred to St. Paul Area Synod
Sonnee Steveson, retired AIM, transferred to Grand
Canyon Synod
Rev. Christopher Clarkson, transferred to Northern Texas Northern Louisiana Synod
FEBRuary 2015 EVENTS
5Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
6-8Event, “One Life to Live” Men’s Retreat, Ewalu,
Strawberry Point
10 Meeting, Assembly Planning, Wartburg College,
Waverly, 4-6 p.m.
12Meeting, Endowment Fund Investment Committee,
9-11 a.m.
12 Conference Call, First Call Theological Education
Executive Committee, 10:30-noon
15 Meeting, LYON, 2-4 p.m.
20-21Event, Candidacy Retreat, American Martyrs,
Cedar Falls
November 2014
7
Prayer CALENDAR
NovemBER 2014
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
Rev. Michael R. Blair,
Decorah
Rev. Leo E.
Combs-Lay, Oelwein
1
St. Peter, Rockwell
Bergen, Roland
Rev. Sandra M.
Burroughs, Sumner
Rev. A. Thomas
Kraabel, Decorah
2
3
4
Zion St. John,
Sheffield
Kristin J. Johnson,
Story City
Rev. Ole Winter,
Decorah
Rev. Dr. Jennifer E.
Edinger, Farmersburg
Faith, Shell Rock
St. Paul (Waupeton),
Balltown
Rev. Robert L.
Edwards, Nevada
Rev. William P.
Thalacker, Waterloo
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Rev. Corey W. Smith,
Janesville
Middle East
St. Peter, Toeterville
Dorothy Loots,
Waverly
Rev. James R. Radatz,
Dysart
Gracia Harms,
Waverly
Our Savior,
Stanhope
Rev. Gary G.
Hatcher, Greene
Lillian A. Jahr,
Waverly
St. Petri, Story City
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
St. John (Buck
Creek), Sumner
29
Ellen Ward, Decorah
Peace, Ryan
Rock Creek, Osage
Immanuel, Scarville
5
6
7
8
Deer Creek,
Carpenter
St. Sebald,
Strawberry Point
Rev. Ramon A.
Runkel, Des Moines
Rev. Curtis C.
Schneider, Waverly
Rev. Dr. Kathryn A.
Kleinhans, Waverly
Emanuel, Strawberry
Point
Phyllis Burri,
Decorah
Joan G. Tange,
Cedar Falls
23
24
25
26
27
28
St. Peter, Oran
30
Congregation Treasurers Meeting Set
Jan. 10, 2015
Redeemer, Waverly
A congregation treasurers meeting is set for Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly. Invitations
and a response card will be mailed in December. Guest speakers will be
Keith D. Oltrogge, CPA, of Denver and Paula Kitt, regional manager for
the Mission Investment Fund. Pastors, financial committee members, and
others are welcome to attend.
Fall Conference Offering
Gifts to the offering for the 2014 Fall Theological Conference totaled $1,252.
This offering will support seminary scholarships through the Northeastern
Iowa Synod Fund for Leaders in Mission.
Thank you for your support!
Portico Open Enrollment
Oct. 27 - Nov. 21, 2014
The member enrollment period for
ELCA-Primary health insurance is now
open until Nov. 21. All ELCA-Primary
health insurance members will need
to visit myPortico during this time
to enroll in their employer’s option,
buy up to a different option, or waive
ELCA health benefits, if qualified.
Visit https://myportico.
porticobenefits.org/
OverviewLifeChanges/
OpenEnrollment/EnrollmentCenter.
aspx.
Good News
November 2014
Volume 27
Number 10
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.
Thankoffering: Give with Gratitude
For more than 100 years,
Lutheran women have carried
out the tradition of collecting
Thankofferings during their
circle/general meetings or
Sunday congregational service.
Years ago, we were given a
small thankoffering box that we
filled with coins in gratitude for
blessings throughout the year. There might still be some of
those around!
Thankofferings remain an important part of our total
stewardship using God-given gifts to support the ministries
that God has entrusted to our care. These offerings (100%)
are to be sent directly to our Churchwide office in Chicago,
where they are turned into life-changing ministries for
thousands of women within the United States and around
the world.
Your offerings provide for:
· Leadership training
· Gather magazine and Bible Study
· Support for new units
· Program resources (on women’s health, spiritual
practices, church history, human trafficking, etc.
Café and Daily Grace
· Racial justice network and trainings
· Advocacy for women and children
· Grants and scholarships
· Outreach through social media
· Partnering with other Christian women’s
orgnizations:
Will you please make your women aware of how
important this offering is to all we can do as an
organization? Gloria Tollefson, NE IA SWO President
Additional information can be found on our website and
Interchange July/August 2014 issue.
How Will You Respond?
At our recent Ninth Triennial Convention, delegates voted
and passed memorials that we as an organization are to
focus on during the next three years:
· AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
· BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND RELATED
VIOLENCE
·
·
CREATING SAFE CHURCHES FOR CHILDREN
SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE PHOBE HOSPITAL IN
LIBERIA
At our recent synod board meeting, we discussed how we
would respond as a board. We felt that we could best help our
units and clusters to become more aware of human trafficking,
bullying, harassment and domestic violence. We will begin by
finding available resources: speakers, films/DVDs and books on
these topics that we will share with you in this newsletter. Please
help us by adding to the resource list.
At our last two synod conventions we have had speakers on
School Bullying led by teenage girls from Denver High School.
You might have girls from your own congregation and a high
school counselor speak to you about what is happening in your
high school to counteract bullying and harassment. This could be
an intergenerational meeting which should interest younger
women to attend. Women at our convention gave it the highest
ratings.
A year ago, we had a speaker on International Human
Trafficking from Lutheran Social Services. This, too, was found
very interesting by the women who attended. But we know that
many of our women do not attend the convention. So it is
important that we address these issues at our congregation (unit)
and cluster meetings. We hope that our unit and cluster leaders
keep this in mind as they plan their meetings. Then let us know
which of these resources you have used and how effective you
felt they were. Churchwide has asked us to share with them also.
We know that our synod has and continues to hold seminars
throughout our synod on creating safe churches for children and
we are thinking Churchwide will give us direction on special
fundraising for providing solar energy to the hospital in Liberia.
Gloria Tollefson, NE IA SWO president
Recommended Films
I attended the Triennial Gathering in Charlotte, NC with my
great-granddaughter in July, 2014. While there I had the
opportunity to view three film screenings. The first, “I Believe
You: Faiths’ response to Intimate Partner Violence.” It is an
hour-long interfaith documentary that explores the stories of
survivors of abuse and the response of faith groups to address
their needs. It was written and produced by Debra Gonsher Vinik
and directed and produced by David Vinik. The documentary was
nominated for two Emmy Awards for best Religious
Programming and Best Editing.
The second film was “Harvest of Empire,” which spans 500
years, from the first New World colonies to our nation’s 19thcentury westward expansion, from the days of gunboat diplomacy
to the turn of the millennium. The film is “a history of Latinos in
CALENDAR
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
2015
Apr 25
May 2
Jun 19-20
LWR Ingathering, Olson Explosives, Decorah
LWR Ingathering, St. Peter Lutheran Church,
Greene
Living Waters Fall Cluster Event.
Cluster VIII Spring Gathering, Hauge & St.
John, Decorah
LWR Pickup, Olson’s Explosives, Decorah
Iowa Tri-Synodical W-ELCA Convention, Iowa
Central Community College, Ft. Dodge
the U.S.” It features family portraits of real-life immigrants
from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, the Dominican
Republic, Guatemala and Nicaragua, along with sketches of
political events and social conditions that compelled them to
leave their homeland. Producer is Wendy Thompson-Maquez.
The third film, “Miss Representation” by Jennifer Siebel
Newsom, explores how the media’s representations of women
have led to the under-representation of women in positions of
power and influence. In a society where media is the most
persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective
message that our young women and men overwhelmingly
receive is that a woman’s value and power lie not in her
capacity as a leader.
These are available at the Lutheran Resource Center, 630
US Hwy 18 E., Ste 2, Clear Lake, IA 50428-1440. Phone:
641-357-4451 or lrc@netins,net. Submitted by Carolyn
Loftaas, Kensett Lutheran Parish
Application Period for Seed Grants Opens
October 15
Will the Churchwide organization plant a seed in your
congregation, allowing it to engage women
and girls in your church and communities
in making and fostering emotionally,
spiritually and physically healthy choices?
The 2014–2015 cycle for seed grants in
our health initiative, Raising Up Healthy
Women and Girls, opens October 15.
Application materials will be available at
womenoftheelca.org. All applications must
be postmarked or e-mailed by December 15, 2014 and be
submitted by active units of Women of the ELCA who are
familiar with the Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls
initiative and the criteria of this program. From
www.Bold Connections
GATHER—our own magazine
We hope that as you have GATHERED this fall, you are enjoying
our new Bible study, “Transforming Life and Faith.” Each month
we will be considering how our lives and our faith journeys are
transformed by the events we experience and the people we meet. I
can really relate to that right now, as I am spending seven weeks at
the Mayo Clinic with my husband as he goes through treatments
for bladder cancer. The support we have received from so many of
you and all the people who are serving us here is life transforming.
In this thought-provoking study we will discuss people in the
Bible who had life-changing experiences too—Paul on the road to
Damascus, Moses in the wilderness, Lydia praying by the river and
the Ethiopian man traveling from Jerusalem to Gaza. Other articles
in Gather support the lesson. As I study the lesson, I read the
articles as they are referenced in the study (“See name of article,
pp. 10–14,” for example). You can even attend a seminar with the
author every May to get additional insights. Companion Bibles
($3.95), and leader guides ($7.95) are also available, but not
necessary. It is also available now in audio and digital form. Our
website has a video each month that supports the lesson.
This is our magazine. We are proud of it. It has earned many
awards for excellence in religious periodicals. Why would a
Women of the ELCA Bible study group want to use something
other than their own Bible study/magazine? Do you remember
when it was just a small magazine with no color? We all renewed
our subscriptions at circle? We updated its name from Lutheran
Women Today to Gather? This magazine just keeps improving with
each issue. It is a beautiful magazine with ma ny excellent articles
and updates on what we as an organization are doing church-wide.
If you are not using our Gather study now, subscribe by calling
800-328-4648 for only $15 a year. A downloadable brochure about
the Bible study is available at gathermagazine.org. Share it with the
women in your Bible study group, strongly encouraging them to
use our Bible study and magazine. To further support our own
magazine, why not do as some of our church women are doing?
● Give a subscription to new women members at your church
● Give a subscription to the women’s jail/prison
● Give it as a gift to a person in your family who cannot get
to a circle meeting
● Start a new Bible study group in a care facility near you; in
your own church
● Purchase a subscription for each circle that a visitor could
use and then give it to that person
● Redeemer Lutheran women in Waverly place used/extra
copies in a basket for free pick-up by interested women.
Try it! You’ll like it! Gloria Tollefson, NE IA SWO president
NEIA Women of the ELCA website:
neiasynod.org/womenoftheELCA
Good News
Editor Jan Harbaugh
P. O. Box 68
Renwick, IA 50577
515-825-8068
jan.harbaugh@gmail.com
Articles are due the 1st of the month for the next month's
newsletter. Please put WELCA in your subject line. (You can also
send paper copies by “snail” mail.)
NEIA Women of the ELCA Treasurer
Nancy Poppe
2656 Gilmore Ave
Ionia, IA 50645
641-435-2231
Popcan@exede.net
Contact Women of the ELCA at:
773.380.2730 or 800.638.3522, ext. 2730
http://www.womenoftheelca.org/
8765 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631-4189
Living Faith
Dear Faith Shapers,
November always makes me
think of thankfulness and I
have been trying to live my life
with more gratitude (thanks to
Ann Voskamp’s book One
Thousand Gifts). To give up
my ungratefulness for
gratitude and anger for joy. To
give thanks for everything. I
am learning to be grateful and
happy whether my hands are
full or empty. Martin Luther
once said, “If you want to
change the world, pick up your
pen.” So I started a gratitude
journal. In order to change, I
needed a pen and a new habit– a
habit of gratitude. It was not
easy as busyness and hurry
are a daily challenge. Hurry
empties the soul, so I try to slow
down and give thanks
continually throughout the
day. As I play with my kids,
as I wash the laundry, as I
work. The discipline of
gratitude takes practice. Will
you practice with me? As I
practice, I can feel gratitude
soak into my soul and I feel
my life becoming the blessings
I have received and I become a
blessing to others. Thanks be to
God!
May you be a blessing to others,
Lisa Kammerer
Associate in Ministry
A Time for Thankfulness
November is a time for thankfulness. Here are some
ways to be grateful all month long.
1. Read Psalm 100.
2. Go to the grocery store and buy
Thanksgiving dinner ingredients to
give to a family who may not be able
to celebrate Thanksgiving with a big
meal. Deliver them to a family in need
or to your local food pantry.
3. Write simple notes of appreciation
each week during November.
4. Invite a guest to dinner and share
the gifts of hospitality and friendship.
5. Take a blank November
calendar and write one thing a
day to thank God for.
This information is prepared for you by the
Northeastern Iowa Synod-Home Life Network
for use by families and local congregations.
Like our page on Facebook and our posted resources will appear in your
newsfeed. Our page is Northeastern Iowa Synod Home Life Network ELCA
A New Thanksgiving
Tradition
Place a chalkboard in your kitchen or dining
room and have each person write what they are
thankful for on the chalkboard. Take a picture of
the chalkboard each year to capture these special
blessings! You can even include this list in your
table prayer before your meal. Make a thanksgiving book with the pictures so you can look back
at the years of blessings! Start this tradition this
year. It’s never too early or late to count our
blessings.
Technology Corner
Gratitude journaling on your smart phone.
Here are some great apps for keeping a gratitude journal.
And the best part, it is always handy!
Gratitude365
This app uses a calendar form and you can add
words and pictures. It’s easy to use and it’s fun
to be able to see your month of gratitude in
pictures! Pro version- $1.99 Lite version– free
One Thousand Gifts
This app is based on the book One Thousand
Gifts by Ann Voskamp. In her book, she challenges you to name 1,000 gifts (ways God loves
you). The extra cool part, you can sync between devices and also use Instagram. Count
your blessings and share your joy. Free app!
A good story draws
people in. A good
story takes us on an
adventure. The best
stories teach us something about ourselves. November begins the season of
holiday gatherings. As you gather, share a story.
 Share stories of holidays past
 Share stories from your childhood
 Share stories about what God has done in your life
 Share stories about a lesson you learned.
 Share stories about people and experiences that shaped
your faith.
Throughout history, societies have passed on their
values, beliefs, and traditions through stories. Pass
the faith by sharing your
story this holiday season.
Random Acts of Kindness
Kids are great imitators of
what we do. If you want to
make a difference in our
world , try a small act of kindness. Small acts of kindness
amount to a huge difference ,
especially when we teach kids
to do service and develop compassion for
others. Lead
by example
and help
your kids
recognize
moments
when we can
serve others.