Freeborn County Genealogical Society

The Freeborn County Genealogical Society met at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 with Valarie Lair presenting the program on “Attending Online Classes, It’s EZ.” The members also met at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 for a Christmas meal catered by Conger Catering. After the meal the group played Christmas bingo.

The next meeting is at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Freeborn County Historical Museum. Note the time change. The program is yet to be decided.

 

Trinity Lutheran Church Women

The Trinity Lutheran Church Women met at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 in Trinity Hall for their Christmas gathering.

Co-president Bev Jackson Cotter gave the welcome to the guests.

Eleanor Schou, Eunice Circle Bible study leader, gave a reading titled “Martin Luther – From Heaven to Earth I Come.” A Christmas hymn and the Doxology was sang.

Lunch was served by the Eunice Circle. There were two offerings given. One was for the Oak Mission in Oklahoma for supporting orphan Indian children and the other to help defray expenses of the TLCW.

After lunch was served, Cotter conducted a short business meeting. She announced that the annual workshop for the TLCW board members will be at 9:30 a.m and the circle chairwomen and any other circle members who can come will be at 1:30 p.m.

The 2014 budget for the year of 2014 was unanimously approved.

A big thank you to Erna Berthelsen and Marcia Petersen, outgoing board members, was given.

Virginia Plantage gave the closing devotion and all recited the Lord’s prayer.

After the meeting all went to the church sanctuary to listen to the Albert Lea High School chorale give its 2013 Christmas concert under the direction of Diane Heaney.

 

TOPS

The TOPS Minnesota Chapter 979 announces its November and December winners.

Division winners were Shirley Schuster, Loretta Wacholz, Deanne Kuchera, Darlene Kenison, Barb Solberg and Sandy Oudekerk

Quarterly winners were Betty Hanson, Shirley Schuster and Sandy Oudekerk

Showers fruit: Shirley Schuster

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit weight-loss support group. There is no diet plan but support with others on the journey to health and wellness.

TOPS MN 979 meets at 9 a.m. on Thursdays at the Senior Center in the Skyline Plaza to weigh-in and learn about healthy lifestyles.

 

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met at 1:15 p.m. Dec. 11 in Bethany Hall.

Joan Holt played some lovely Christmas music for the group to enjoy.

The welcome was given by Bonnie Trampel who said the meeting would begin and would be completed as much as possible until the program group arrived. They had another commitment that day and were not able to arrive until a little later.

Holt presented the FLCW officers for the year 2014 and complimented the women on their ability to take their office seriously. She also said the women put a lot of work into their position as officers of FLCW. The officers are as follows: Marian Drescher and Sandy Narverud, co-presidents, Joyce Fredin and Donna Ludtke, co-vice presidents, Julia Tonder, secretary, Lois Jensen, corresponding secretary, Virginia Hermanson, treasurer, Gen Montei, assistant treasurer, Neva Mathison and Bonnie Trampel, immediate past presidents, Selma Engebretson, circles, Joan Holt, pianist, Marilyn Chafee, assistant pianist, Marge LaFrance and Marge Moine, mission community, Jane Loge, historian, Barbara Andersen and Jinni Olson, mission action (catering and sharing), Lavonne Oftedahl, food service, Janice Lestrud and Diane Damerow, church wide advocate and Marge Moine, kitchen.

Secretary report: As the minutes had been distributed prior to the meeting upon a motion made and seconded the minutes were approved and will be placed on file.

Corresponding secretary: Lois Jensen reported that the group had received a thank you from the Rev. John and Jane Holt. Also received was a thank you from Mt. Carmel.

Newsletters were also received and were placed in the library. Jensen reported that the Church Basement Ladies will have their last performance on June 29 if anyone wishes to attend.

Old business: The business meeting continued and the group was reminded that that day was the revealing of the secret prayer partners. Members who had not done so should reveal their prayer partner following the meeting.

There was no new business.

The group sang the hymn “Joy to the World” in unison.

Then the program arrived after their previous performance and the group was delighted to see them. The group consisted of Gail Thurnau, Marilyn Chafee, Carol Hedalen and Becky Tennis (Hanson). They presented a wonderful program of music for the FLCW to enjoy. Their voices were beautiful and each song had a true meaning of the Christmas holiday.

Offering: The offering was taken with ushers Gen Montei and Jinni Olson and the offering prayer was given by Deloris Fligge.

Greeters were Carol Olson, Marge Moine and Sandy Narverud.

Hostesses were Sue Olson, chairwoman, and her committee, Betty Ball, Judy Kropp, Donna Ludtke and Anna Oberg.

Caring and sharing: Co-chairs Carol Colstrup and Wanda Dorman and their committee served two funerals in November.

Other announcements were listed in the Dec. 11 agenda.

The group sang the table prayer before having lunch and also closed the meeting by praying the Lord’s prayer.