Duplicate Bridge

Duplicate Bridge was played at five tables on Jan. 2 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were Larry Crowe and Jim Fisher, first place; Eunice Michaelis and Dave Ring, second place; Tom Flaherty and Stan Schultz, third place; Ron Peters and Rich Stroup, fourth place; and Loren Cleland and Bud Higgins, fifth place.

Duplicate Bridge is played at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and at noon on Wednesdays. Players come from Adams, Austin, Albert Lea, Rose Creek, Northwood and Mason City. All bridge players are welcome to come and play. Those who need a partner can call 437-2750.

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met Dec. 12 in Bethany Hall. Prelude music was provided by Joan Holt. Karen Hovde, co-president, welcomed members and guests to the meeting. Devotions were given by Sheri Nicol. A poem titled “A Christmas Prayer of Praise” was read. The devotion talked of people sleepwalking through life unaware of our Christian life and God’s beloved son. People often focus on December and Christmas, but they should live everyday aware of Christ and baby Jesus. Christians need to live every day in the glorious presence of God. She finished the devotion with the Bible verse for the day. As a group, they read the FLCW purpose statement.

Installation of the FLCW officers for 2019 was took place with Holt administering.

A list of the 2019 officers and executive board members was included in the printed programs.

Rev. Holt was welcomed back from Tanzania, as he had just returned home the previous day. Rev. Holt and his wife, Joan Holt, presented the program focusing on the alphabet of Christmas. The Holts went through each letter of the alphabet with words that could be related to Christmas. They also used the gift of song to add to their presentation. They also shared saved momentos and Christmas items that pertained to some of the letters. They encouraged members to meditate on these letters and come up with others.

Hovde called the meeting to order. The secretary’s minutes from the Nov. 14 general meeting were approved as printed by a motion from Bonnie Schneider and seconded by Neva Mathison.

Corresponding secretary, Bonnie Trampel, reported the following items received:

Good Earth Village sent a thank you for our support and a Christmas card; newsletter and a monetary plea from Global Health Ministries; newsletter, Christmas card and a monetary plea from Mt. Carmel Ministries; newsletter and a monetary plea from Plymouth Christian Youth Center of Plymouth; plea from St. Jude; research plea for support from Bibles for the World; St. John’s Lutheran Community sent their 2019 calendar for the Sunday coffee hours; save the date event card for the Spring 2019 Blue Earth River Conference at Trinity Lutheran in Blue Earth on April 6; and “Beneath the Ancient Dust” flyer advertising the book written by Melissa Meyers of Zumbrota, telling of her decade living in Afghanistan.

Janice Lestrud stated members can fill out prayer partner cards for 2019 in January at the FLCW general meeting. Prayer partners can remember their secret partners through prayer and with cards on birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions throughout the year.

Bonnie Schneider stated the August FLCW meeting will be at 1:15 p.m., same time as a majority of the FLCW general meetings. An evening meeting time and a noon meeting time have been tried, but decided it best to leave the time for the afternoon.

“Away in a Manger” was sung during the offering.

Sheri Nicol gave the offering prayer.

Hovde thanked greeters Carol Olson and Bonnie Trampel; ushers Cindy Gandrud and Gen Montei; hostesses and chairperson Joyce Fredin and her committee.

Hovde also thanked Donna Ludtke for serving with her as FLCW co-president this past year and Ruth Noren for serving as secretary the past two years.

Caring and Sharing co-chairpersons Carol Colstrup and Pam Slette and their committee served five funerals in November.

The meeting was closed by praying the Lord’s Prayer and the table prayer.