Cluster Meeting Highlights
by Karen Seaver, Treasurer
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North Cluster Gathering News
Seven churches in the North Cluster gathered at Chisago Lakes Lutheran in Center City on October 29th. Karen Seaver shared about Safe Haven Foster Care Shoppe in Lindstrom, followed by each congregation sharing the activities in which they are currently involved.
Safe Haven is a non-profit which serves western WI and a large area in MN from Brainerd to Mankato. As children enter foster care, often they leave their homes with only the clothes on their backs. Safe Haven provides a backpack with a change of clothes, blanket, school supplies and more. You can donate individual items for a backpack or a full backpack.
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South Cluster Gathering News
The South Cluster gathered at St. Philips Lutheran Church in Hastings on November 5th. Michael Allen founder of the non-profit, “My Very Own Bed,” presented the history, purpose, and vision.
My Very Own Bed partners with over 30 organizations throughout the metro area to identify children from ages 2 to 17 who are moving from homelessness to a home. In 2022, they will have delivered 1,200 beds for children from Cambridge to Hastings. In 2023, their goal is to deliver 1,600 beds.
You can help by donating items for the dream kit by having a “donation drive” at your church, family, or business. The dream kit includes tied fleece blankets or new cozy blankets (no quilts). See the website for additional donation options such as money, https://www.myveryownbed.org/ An offering of $170.00 was given to My Very Own Bed. |
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Presidents' Corner
by Dawn Sargent and Becky Maier, Co-Presidents
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The new board is slowly but surely getting acclimated to their duties and is moving forward.
Many of you sent us emails thanking us for the last Bridges and all of the information in it. We appreciate your feedback and welcome your ideas going forward. Dawn gets credit for putting together the last Bridges with the help of others submitting the articles.
And, the big news now (for which we are so happy and feeling so blessed) is that we have a new “Communications” person. Kathy Frost is a member of Our Savior's in Stillwater and previously worked in their church office as communications coordinator for 3 years about 10 years ago. She has been invaluable with getting things up and running with Constant Contact. Kathy is also responsible for putting together this edition of Bridges and getting it out to you.
We have found a few glitches with Constant Contact and are working on those. One of those glitches is that for some people the emails went to their junk/spam mail. Perhaps as you receive your email with this Bridges you could check with others that you know should be receiving it to make sure they have received theirs. And, if they haven’t, please suggest to them that they check their junk mail. From there, they can let it be known that it is an email that is OK to go into their inbox.
If you let us know of activities happening in your congregation, we can put it on Facebook and send an occasional email to let others know. Communication is one of the most important tools we have.
It was nice to have two of the clusters back in operation this fall. Congratulations to both the North and South Clusters for interesting and informative programs. There is confidence that the others will be able to get back up and running soon.
Convention will be here again before we know it. We hope to see many of you there. It is just good to get together!
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Treasurer’s Note
by Karen Seaver, Treasurer
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A few years ago, my husband and I moved from our home of over 30 years to a townhome on the lake for retirement. It meant finding a new church community to belong to. The 125 year old church we joined shared stories of the dedicated church women from both the past and present who continue to inspire me on my faith journey. At that same time, an article in Gather Magazine spoke to me about being part of the community of women, a sisterhood of faith, which continues to shape and strengthen my faith. The pandemic was hard on many churches, but the women were still there planning how to serve communion whether it was an outdoor service or watching on zoom, how to reach out to shut-ins with phone calls or care bags, making quilts and blankets and serving meals even when the meals had to be delivered.
Our Saint Paul Area Synodical Women’s Group has 2022 stories to tell too.
25 Congregational Units and many individuals have supported WELCA through offerings this year.
Unit Offerings to date with 2 months remaining in our year are $4,100
- Last year’s total Unit offerings were $5,045
Convention monetary offering totaled $3,456
- Bethany Crisis Center received $964
- Days for Girls Tanzania Enterprise received $964 and
- Diaper Ministry received $100
Cluster offerings totaled $1,345
- Safe Haven Foster Care received $505 and
- My Very Own Bed received $170
Offerings forwarded to Churchwide to date are $4,000
- Last year’s total support of Churchwide was $2,985.
As we gather in communities of faithful women, our finances improve and our outreach grows. Let us continue to make memorable stories worth sharing as we grow together in our sisterhood of faith.
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Social Justice
by Patty Todnem, Board Member
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As I write the article for the December issue of Bridges, I am reminded of the Hymn, “In Christ There Is No East or West” written by John Oxenham.
In Christ there is no east or West,
In him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide world.
When this hymn was written, the theme was one of the most durable hymn statements of Christian Unity in the twentieth century, based on Galatians 3:28: “There is no longer Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ.”
This song was originated in the missionary movement in the 19th and 20th centuries, when John Oxenham, a citizen of the United States, traveled extensively to Europe, South America and France.
The focus of this hymn shifted from world missions in the early 20th century to a great hymn of
Christian Unity for the 21st century churches. The third verse relates to this:
Join hands, then brothers of the faith,
What-e’er your race may be;
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.
The tune we are familiar with is adapted from a spiritual by the famous African-American composer and songwriter, Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949). Burleigh had many singing engagements in America and abroad. He sang for King Edward VII of England and for four presidents in the White House, but it was only on his fourth engagement, when singing for President Theodore Roosevelt that he was invited to enter by the front door rather than the servants entrance.
As we enter this Christmas season and New Year, may we “join hands, what-e’er your race may be,” assuring us that we are “one great family bound by love throughout the whole wide earth.”
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What Discipleship Means to Me
by Jacque Bieber, Board Member
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When I look at the WELCA seven marks of discipleship--praying, studying, worshiping, inviting, encouraging, serving, and giving, some resound for me more than others, so I’ll share my thoughts on praying, encouraging, and giving.
Praying
I have been part of Gloria Dei’s Prayer Team, and while I do not consider myself to be a particularly competent extemporaneous prayer, with God’s help, I have been able to be a vessel for His love and share that with others. When friends and family are experiencing difficult times, I offer prayers with them on Prayer Sunday.
My daily prayers include thanking God for all the blessings in my life. I downsized more than 10 years ago from a 3,800 square foot home to a mother-in-law’s apartment in the home of a landlady who I met on Craigslist and who has become a dear friend. When my husband died, I found myself in a home that no longer had kids or a spouse. It had become a quiet and lonely place. I realized that I did not want to live alone and reaching out to someone who was looking for a roommate turned out to be a great gift for me. Both my landlord and my daughter have three-year-old sons and we have all become one big, noisy family when we get together.
Encouraging
Wisdom accompanies aging in many societies, and I believe that a certain amount of wisdom lies beneath encouragement. As a recently retired woman over 70 years of age, I find that encouraging is something I can do for my two daughters or for my two grandchildren, both under the age of 6. And I find that the act of encouraging does not depend on the age of the person I’m encouraging. While I may provide verbal Rah, Rahs to the children in my life, for tasks they perform that start out difficult and with practice become easier, the spirit and the essence of encouragement is the same no matter the age of the recipient. I pray for wisdom and for ideas and words that will meet the needs of those I love when they need encouragement. More to come on identifying those needs.
Giving
What do I have to give? The Little Drummer Boy gives the gift of music. I quit piano lessons when I was 12 and while I have a daughter who sings in a band, this is not mine to give. What I can give is less concrete than what the Three Wise Men bring. It has more to do with caring and matching my gifts to the needs of others. Uncovering those needs can be the first challenge in giving. What seems to be apparent to me may not have anything to do with the recipient’s real needs. I can ask directly and at other times I can make suggestions and ask for reactions to my ideas, but the closer my gift matches need, the better the outcome for me and for others. Sometimes the greatest gift I can give is listening. I’ll listen first, before I share my ideas, and I’ll keep love as the foundation for all my gifts.
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Stewardship: Cutting Holes in the Darkness
by Glenda Schnirring, Board Member
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“Cutting Holes in the Darkness” was scripted from a remark by Robert Louis Stevenson, a noted Scottish writer. At the age of 12, and often fighting illness, Stevenson was looking out into the dark from his upstairs window, watching a man light the streetlamps. Stevenson’s governess came into the room and asked him what he was doing. He replied, “I am watching a man cut holes in the darkness.”
There is a lot of darkness in the winter months of this “Bridges” issue, making the analogy of “cutting holes in the darkness” very fitting. Our generosity through monetary giving “cuts holes in the darkness” of worthy programs lagging, or progress being delayed until additional funding is gathered in.
Women of the ELCA are good at gathering-in money and its leadership is good at giving out great ideas as to where “holes in the darkness” can be cut. As units and individuals are taking account of their respective treasury balances, it is being asked that prayerful consideration is given to the Synodical Women’s Organization (SWO) resolution passed at its 2022 summer convention, which pledged $1,000 each to two LSS charities over the next two years.
“Families Together Therapeutic Preschool “ in east St. Paul is in operation but needs our help. This endeavor works with preschool children and their families who have been traumatized. Their experiences are delaying their overall development in speech, behavior and socialization. Intervention at this early age can and will save a child from permanent setbacks in life. LSS of MN has asked the Saint Paul Area Synod to partner with it in getting this therapeutic preschool in full operation on the east side of St. Paul. Other areas where these preschools exist, have demonstrated dramatic improvement in the children. For more info: https://www.lssmn.org/services/families/therapeutic-preschool
How much can you or your unit give to “cut a hole in this darkness”?
Another LSS of MN endeavor the SWO has resolved to endorse with funding is the Bethany Crisis Center near Duluth. This center has existed to serve children from ages 0 to 17 for many years. The building it was in had become too costly to repair so a new structure was built. Now LSS is seeking assistance from organizations like our local WELCA units or individuals within our congregations for operational costs and once again help shelter youth in crisis in the Duluth area. For more info: https://www.lssmn.org/services/youth-homelessness/duluth/lss-bethany
How much can you or your unit give to “cut a hole in this darkness”?
Congregational Unit gifts and individual gifts are also requested by Churchwide. Katie’s Fund is requesting funding to build its Endowment core to ensure leadership development, global connections and living theology continues into the next generations, and to equip women to actively work in cultures beyond our shores to further the name of Jesus Christ. This work is so important to continue. Grants from Katie’s Fund are used to provide such support. Katie’s Fund is also a great way for an individual to provide a one time or continuing gift. All gifts received by September 2023 will be attributed to the 2022 Katie Fund Campaign. For more info: https://www.womenoftheelca.org/blog/2122/making-the-case-for-katies-fund
Katie's Fund “cuts through the darkness” for so many people.
To make a contribution, write a check payable to “Synodical Women’s Organization” and memo it to “Therapeutic Preschool”, “Bethany Crisis Center” or “Katies Fund”. Mail your check to the SWO treasurer,
Karen Seaver
30325 Newlander Trail
Lindstrom, MN 55045
Received gifts will be advanced to LSS of MN earmarked for your choice of recipient or to Churchwide earmarked for Katie's Fund.
May you feel the surround of our Gracious God as you experience the joy of giving.
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Holiday Recipe Corner
by Missy Struve, Secretary
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Baking this time of the year brings memories of family and friends sharing time together. One recipe that I make every year originally came from my dear mother-in-law, now 98 years young! I’ve made this for teacher and neighbor gifts, sent bags to college kids, and include some every year in my children’s Christmas boxes. Everyone seems to enjoy the sweet and salty combination, different from other mixes. Manna from Heaven?! I will let you decide! Bake up a batch while listening to your favorite Christmas hymns. Enjoy!
Sweet Chex Mix
2 sticks (1 cup) margarine (butter may burn)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp each: Chili powder, Garlic salt, Curry Powder, and Worcestershire sauce
12 shakes of Tabasco sauce
Directions:
Melt margarine in the microwave, whisk in the rest of ingredients till well blended. Set aside.
1 (16 oz.) bag of pretzel twists or snaps
1-2 bags (9.25 oz.) Fritos corn chips
1 box (14 oz.) Wheat Chex cereal
1 box (12.4 oz.) Cheez-it White Cheddar crackers (or more)
2 (15 oz.) containers mixed nuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Combine all dry ingredients together in a large roaster, mixing well. Pour over brown sugar
mixture. Combine gently but thoroughly. Bake for 1 ½ hours, stirring well every 15 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes then store in air-tight containers. (Cool completely, but stir once or twice,
before placing in plastic bags for mailing.)
*Tip: Don’t fill the roaster to the top, leave room to stir!
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Navigating the Virtual Playground
by Joy McElroy, Director of Cherish All Children, A service of LSS of MN
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Join us for a Cherish All Children Community Event “Navigating the Virtual Playground: Healthy Choices and Worrisome Pitfalls for Today’s Youth.”
When: Saturday, January 21, 2023, 10am – 12pm
Where: Lutheran Social Service, 2485 Como Avenue, Saint Paul
Virtual option will also be available.
Join us in this free community event to learn how you can support youth as a parent, grandparent, youth leader or other caring adult. As technology continues to evolve, learn how you can play a positive role in helping young people develop a healthy sense of self and stay clear of online exploitation.
You’ll hear from Alison Feigh, Zero Abuse Project and Director of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, and Joy McElroy, Cherish All Children Executive Director.
Alison’s presentation objectives include:
- Identify the challenges that occur when developing brains and screen time collide.
- Understand how grooming is used in online exploitation cases with a specific focus on the attention/affection trap.
- Build a safety net of 5 trusted adults for each child or youth.
Joy will lead the audience in activities from Cherish All Children’s Safe and Healthy Relationships Youth Guide, focusing on Session 2: Online Safety, encouraging you to bring this resource to your faith community.
You’ll leave with new knowledge and resources to make a difference in the lives of young people, understanding the role you can play in keeping youth safer in their online world.
We’d love to know if you’re coming to help with our planning:
Go to Eventbrite.com and search “Cherish All Children” to register,
or just come that day if you missed signing up.
Thank you to Women of the ELCA Saint Paul Synodical Unit for sponsoring this event by providing the morning’s treats! We hope you can join us!
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A Day for Making Comfort on January 28 from 9 am - 3 pm
Once again in January there will be “A Day for Making Comfort”. Over the past few years hundreds of quilts have been completed and been given to places in need locally and around the world and you are invited (and encouraged) to join the fun in 2023. The date will be January 28, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and going until 3:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join in for just an hour or two or to stay for the whole day. The place is Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stillwater – 1616 West Olive Street, Stillwater. If you are staying for lunch plan to bring your own. No experience is needed for this event. There is a job for all skill levels, including having no quilting or sewing experience. Bring a friend with you and make a difference!
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2023 Triennial Gathering
Start saving for the next:
Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering
in Phoenix, AZ
Sept. 21 – 24th, 2023
It will be a great time to finally get together in person to worship, celebrate friendships and learn more how we can all be bold women of faith in this crazy world.
More information for the triennial will be coming out early next year.
So, start saving and plan to go to the next triennial in 2023.
Robin Kieffer
Triennial Gathering Promoter
651-216-3611
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Facebook
Did you know that our Synodical Women’s Organization has a Facebook page? Look for us at “Saint Paul Area Synodical Women’s Organization” and keep up with the happenings of our SWO.
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2022-2023 Saint Paul Area Synodical Women's Organization |
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Communications News
by Kathy Frost, Communications
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Bridges E-Newsletter!
Welcome to the email format of our quarterly Bridges newsletter! As its logo states, Bridges is the "communications link between the Synodical Women's Organization & its women". Now email is that primary communications link! Bridges E-Newsletter will be created and sent directly to recipients' inboxes using our new communications tool, Constant Contact. It will also be sent to each congregation and will be posted on the SWO web page at the synod.
Submitting articles for future issues of Bridges E-Newsletter
Any articles or event listings to be submitted for publication in Bridges E-Newsletter can be emailed directly to Kathy Frost at kathyafrost@gmail.com.
Signing Up to receive the Bridges E-Newsletter
Attendees to cluster meetings and convention will automatically be added to our Contact list to receive email communications. You can also contact Kathy Frost to be added. And watch for a SIGN UP button coming to the SWO Facebook page in the near future.
Don't use email or prefer printed copies of Bridges E-Newsletter?
There is no cost for this e-newsletter. If you want a hard copy and can’t print it, try asking a friend or your church to print a copy for you. Or print and mail this Subscription Form to request a printed version to be mailed to you via USPS for $6.00 per year to cover printing and postage for 4 issues.
If you, or someone you know, have signed up to receive our email communications but don't find Bridges E-Newsletter in your Inbox...
With the use of new tools comes the anticipated minor issues to work through. Some email addresses we had on file were no longer correct and needed updating. Some recipients experienced their September Bridges email land in their Junk/Spam folder. To train your email system to not treat SWO emails as junk/spam, open your Junk/Spam folder, view the email from SWO, click a button or choose a menu option indicating the email is either “safe” or “not junk” or “not spam”. Then the next time SWO sends you an email, it should arrive in your Inbox.
Thank you for your patience as we begin using a new communication tool!
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Bridges E-newsletter is published four times a year.
Information for the Spring 2023 issue must be submitted by
March 10, 2023.
Send Bridges E-newsletter articles via e-mail to:
If the E-newsletter is not being received, or another address should be used,
For subscription information contact:
Bridges E-newsletter is emailed to all churches in the Saint Paul Area Synod.
Please encourage your church to post or link it to their website,
and share with other women in your church.
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