Duplicate Bridge Club

Five tables played during Duplicate Bridge Club on Dec. 27 at the Senior Center in Austin.

Winners were Loren Cleland and Dave Ring, first place; Vandy Newman and Bud Higgins, second place; Larry Crowe and Jim Fisher, third place; Gail and Ray Schmidt, fourth place; and Edna Knobbe and Rick Stroup, fifth place.

Four tables played during Duplicate Bridge Club on Dec. 28 at the Senior Center in Austin.

Winners were Dave Ring and Orrin Roisen, first place; Loren Cleland and Bud Higgins, second place; Edna Knobbe and Rick Stroup, third place; and Barb Engebretson and Gene Muchow, fourth place.

Players from Adams; Rose Creek; Austin; Albert Lea; Northwood; Joice, Iowa; and Mason City gather at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and noon Wednesdays to play at the Senior Center in Austin. All bridge players are welcome to attend.

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14 in Bethany Hall. Joan Holt provided prelude music.

The welcome was given by co-president Marge LaFrance. For devotions, Pamela Slette read “The Holy Thing,” which was written in 1877 and included in George McDonald’s book “The Gifts of the Christ Child.”

As a group, the FLCW purpose statement was read.

Holt installed the 2017 officers and executive board members. They are: Jo Hanson, president; Ruth Noren, secretary; Bonnie Trampel, corresponding secretary; Cindy Gandrud, treasurer; Gen Montei, assistant treasurer; and Marge LaFrance and Janice Lestrud, past presidents.

Hanson introduced Menssen, who spoke about Christmas memories. She related many humorous and heartwarming episodes about the past — such as her precious doll gift, experiences with elementary students as a teacher, and with her grandparents, parents and children. Julia Tonder and accompanist Marilyn Chafee led the group in singing several Christmas carols.

LaFrance conducted the business meeting. The secretary’s report was approved as printed with a motion by Bonnie Schneider and second by Montei. The treasurer’s report was given by Hermanson and will be placed on file for audit.

Correspondence secretary Trampel will put the following brochures in the library: Bibles for the World, Global Health Ministries, Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge and Plymouth Christian Youth Center. She also received St. John’s 2017 Auxiliary program schedule for coffee servers.

Diane Damerow reported on how the Holidays Ahead event went. She also explained the SCRIP program and how it can be used as a fundraiser for local and global missions.

Co-president Lestrud talked about the upcoming Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association 10th triennial gathering from July 13 to July 16. Members are encouraged to attend. The theme this year is “All Anew.”

This year’s secret prayer partners will be revealed today and new names will be drawn for the coming year.

For the offering prayer, Pamela Slette led the singing of “A Prayer for Martin Luther.”

LaFrance thanked ushers Marian Ahnemann and Carol Olson; greeters Schneider and Trampel; and hostesses chairwoman Joyce Fredin and her committee of Beth Breamer, Hermanson, Cheryl Moran and LouJean Nelson.

Sharing and Caring co-chairwomen Carol Colstrup and Slette and their committee served two funerals in Novemeber.

Early-bird registration for the Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church Association July gathering ended Jan. 6.

The First Lutheran Church Women board will meet at 8:30 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. this year.

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer  and Slette prayed the Norwegian Table Prayer.