Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary

The Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary had their monthly meeting on Feb. 20. President Sandy Anderson called the meeting to order. The pledges were recited. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were given and approved. There were no bills to present.

The last sewing date for the community sewing group was Wednesday at the American Legion hall in Freeborn. At the January gathering of the sewing group, there were seven quilts completed. Anderson thanked Viola Krogsgaard for organizing this sewing group. She also thanked the ladies who are helping with the sewing. In addition to the quilts, the sewing group has completed four large lap robes, four heart pillows and seven neck pillows.

Anderson announced that the annual reports would be completed at the March meeting. All members should be gathering their information so that the reports can be completed in a timely manner.

It was decided to leave the organization’s annual dues the same as last year. Since both the national and the department dues have stayed the same, the group felt there was no reason for it to raise dues. They will remain at $20.

Anderson stated that two Girls State invitations had been sent out, but no response had been received as of this date.

With no other business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. March 19 at the American Legion hall in Freeborn.

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 10 in Bethany Hall. Prelude music was provided by Joan Holt.

After the welcome by Co-president Marge LaFrance, devotions were given by Barb Andersen on the various meanings of the word “love,” ending with Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”

The group read the FLCW purpose statement.

LaFrance introduced the program, Youth for Christ. DeeAnn Bergland, middle school director for Youth for Christ, brought along the two project interns from Germany, Jenna Lotterer and Marina Miller. Lotterer expressed her love for working at Youth for Christ and sharing the gospel with young people. Miller arrived just recently and looks forward to her stay here. Bergland showed a short video about the Breakfast Club at Southwest Middle School. In addition to enjoying the muffins, the students write in reward journals to learn more about Jesus.

The secretary’s report was approved as printed with a motion by Nancy Jenson and a second by Virginia Hermanson.

The correspondence secretary had received thank yous from Mount Carmel, Good Earth and The Salvation Army. There were new subscription orders for Gather magazine, the Mount Carmel 2016 schedule, a newsletter from Children’s Vision International and an invitation to the 10th annual women’s retreat “More of You, Less of Me,” which will be hosted by Autumn Ridge Church on April 22 and April 23 in Rochester.

There was no old business.

In new business, The proposed 2016 organization budget was approved after a motion by Lorraine Bakken and a second by Bonnie Schneider. The dispersal of organization excess funds for the year ending in 2015 as printed was approved after a motion by Jo Hanson and second by Marlene Jensen.

The offering was collected during the singing of “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” after which Schneider gave the offering prayer based on Psalm 24:1.

LaFrance thanked ushers Marlene Behle and Helene Westrum; greeters Mavis Bryson and Jensen; hostesses chairwoman Bonnie Schneider and her committee of Phyllis Hamborg, Cheryl Moran, Virginia Thompson and Bonnie Trampel.

Co-chairwomen Deloris Fligge and Marge Moine and their committee served two funerals in January.

The Carthage College Women’s Ensemble was at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 in the First Lutheran Church sanctuary. There was a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 19 in Bethany Hall. The Augustana College Ascension Ringers from Rockford, Illinois, will perform at 3 p.m. today in the First Lutheran Church sanctuary. Special Lenten observances at First Lutheran Church will be at soup and sandwich lunches at 11:30 a.m. in Bethany Hall; Lenten musical reflections at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary; evening Lenten meals at 5:15 p.m. in Bethany Hall and Lenten worship service at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

The meeting was closed by singing the Table Prayer and praying the Lord’s Prayer.

St. John’s Auxiliary 

St. John’s Auxiliary met at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15, 2016, in St. John’s chapel. President Jan Jerdee welcomed everyone and read a poem for Valentine’s Day. The group sang “Oh Savior, Precious Savior” accompanied by Irene Goskeson on piano.

Secretary and treasurer reports were given by Bonnie Schneider and LeAnn Knutson. The reports were approved.

Activities director Shirley Leeman reported that volunteer hours for January were 845. There were 22 hours for day care, one for You & Me Club and two sing-a-longs. She also gave the activities scheduled for March: March 1 L.A. Sasse; March 2 Lenten service at 10:30 a.m.; March 4 Plus One Music; March 11 Gary Froiland; March 12 Dunnell Lenort; March 16 veterans group; March 17 St. Patrick’s Day and Lenten service at 10:30 a.m; March 18 Kent Larsen; March 20 Palm Sunday; March 24 Maundy Thursday service; March 25 Good Friday; and March 27 Easter.

Vice President Les Harmon had the group sing the happy birthday song for residents celebrating birthdays in February, March and April.

Churches thanked for serving Sunday coffee were First Lutheran and Zion Lutheran.

The program was provided by Bear Lake Lutheran. Carol Purdy and Jan Reshetar sang and played love songs for Valentine’s Day on the guitar and mandolin.

The Lord’s Prayer was said and the group sang the table prayer. The meeting was adjourned.