Trinity Lutheran Church Women

The Trinity Lutheran Church Women held their annual Thankoffering and Ingathering Dinner on Nov. 13 in Trinity Hall. The welcome was given by Co-president Bev Jackson Cotter. The Rev. Marcia Hall gave the devotion and the table prayer. The dinner was catered by Greg Anderson and his staff.

After the dinner, they gathered the thankoffering collections and mission circle offerings. Thankofferings are gifts from individuals in gratitude for blessings. Lutheran women have been carrying out this tradition for more than 100 years. Thankofferings support the total ministries of Women of the ELCA with such things as Gather Magazine and Bible studies, stewardship, grants, scholarships and many more.

The Rev. Curtis Zieske held the November Bible study with the participation of the group members. A short meeting was then conducted by Erna Berthelsen, co-president. The secretary’s report was given by LaVonne Eggers and the treasurer’s report by Marcia Petersen. Copies of the treasurer’s report were placed on each dinner table.

Joan Mattick, quilt coordinator, said Trinity Church started sewing quilts for the Salvation Army in 1994. In 1997, the group started making baby quilts. Since then it has given the Salvation Army 159 large quilts, 150 baby quilts and 35 blankets. Its records, started in 1968, show that the group has made 16,030 quilts and blankets.

Zieske installed the following officers for 2013:

Co-presidents: Erna Berthelsen and Bev Jackson Cotter

Vice president: Karen Nelson

Secretary: LaVonne Eggers

Treasurer: Marcia Petersen

Mission Community Secretary: Phyllis Tavis

Mission Growth Secretary: Janet Drews

Mission Action Secretary: Virginia Plantage

The mission circles will remain the same for the year 2013. The group closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

 

VFW Auxiliary

The Freemond Madson Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary met at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the American Legion hall with President Eunice Hatleli presiding.

Sondra Rowe, first district VFW auxiliary president from Owatonna Post No. 3723, was present to do the annual inspection of the books and meeting. All was declared in fine order. The charter was draped for auxiliary sisters Vern Baer, Bernice Anderson, LaVon Eckers and Grace Tomson. Bless their memory.

The VFW just donated more than $1,000 to the veterans hospitals, VFW National Home for Children, Operation Uplink (telephone services to the overseas service people), Cancer Aid and Research and other community services and veterans programs. It received thank you cards from the Sioux Falls and St. Cloud hospitals.

Betty Jones, veterans and family chairwoman, read reports, which stated scholarships for nursing school students who are in their final year of training are available by application.

The post and auxiliary were at the Southwest Middle School on Nov. 12 for a Veterans Day presentation and gave a gift of a Buddy puppy to all present. The groups also attended a Veterans Day program at the courthouse, lunch at the Legion Hall and spent the afternoon at the Hawthorne Elementary School.

Auxiliary 447 served the noon luncheon at the Legion hall.

The next first district meeting will be at Northfield Post No. 4393 at 516 Division St. at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1. Department Membership Chairwoman Gail Brekke will be the department representative.

Lunch was served by post and auxiliary. Door prize was won by Francis Camerer.

The next meeting will start at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 with a potluck supper for post and auxiliary members and significant others. Regular meetings will start at approximately 7 p.m.