Duplicate Bridge

Duplicate Bridge was played by 11 teams on Dec. 19 at the Senior Center in Austin. Winners were Gail and Ray Schmidt, first place; Vandy Newman and Ron Peters, second place; Loren Cleland and Bud Higgins, third place; Larry Crowe and Jim Fisher, fourth place; Dave Ring and Orrin Roisen, fifth place; and John Leisen and Rick Stroup, sixth 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 Nov. 14 in Bethany Hall with prelude music by Joan Holt. Co-President Karen Hovde welcomed members and guests to the meeting. Devotions were given by co-President Donna Ludtke from “Always Give Thanks,” based on Philippians 4:4,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!” In a boarding house the guests shared their thanks as they went around the table, and one lady was thankful for one top tooth and one bottom tooth. Even in prison, Paul could rejoice in Jesus, as he knew Christ was his mediator and he is everyone’s. As a group, they then read the FLCW purpose statement.

Jo Hanson introduced the program speaker, Judy Worth, who spoke and shared photos from her trip to Sri Lanka.

Ludtke led the group in the Litany of Thanksgiving followed by singing the hymn “Praise and Thanksgiving.” The thank offering was then presented and Ludtke gave the offering prayer.

Hovde called the meeting to order. The secretary’s minutes from the Oct. 10 general meeting were approved as printed by a motion from Shirley Strand and seconded by Neva Mathison. Motion carried.

Treasurer Cindy Gandrud gave her report.

Bonnie Trampel, corresponding secretary, reported on the following items received:

• An appeal from St. Jude Research Minnesota and Midwest Group Guide brochure with listing of trips 

• Brochure from Day Trippers Theatre of Bloomington advertising their comedy of ghosts play, “Spirit Level” from Feb. 27 to June 15

• Youth for Christ newsletter and card advertising Give Life to Their Story event

• Interchange newsletter from the Women of the ELCA

• Thank you from First Lutheran for $205 given to the radio fund

• Southeast Minnesota Synodical Women’s Organization sent a thank you for the donation and a reminder of the 2019 spring conference in Blue Earth at Trinity Lutheran Church

• Perspectives brochure from the Plymouth Christian Youth Center.

Cindy Martin asked if any correspondence had been received on the Ironwood Ranch programs, which had not.

Diane Damerow reported the canvas wall prayer by Chandler Anderson was dedicated at the stone soup and annual meeting event on Nov. 11.

Bonnie Schneider reported 142 1/2 dozen lefse were made in October, and she thanked all who came to help.

Prayer partners were revealed at the Dec. 12 First Lutheran Church Women general meeting. Food backpacks cost $580 weekly for two breakfasts, two snacks and two lunches for 145 students at Halverson Elementary School. The group partnered with Hayward Lutheran on this project. School supplies of paper, pencils, crayons, etc., can continue to be brought to the church office, as they will continue to be distributed to the local schools throughout the year.

Hovde thanked greeters Joyce Fredin and Cheryl Moran; ushers Mathison and Bonnie Schneider; and hostesses chairwoman Kathryn Olson and her committee, Mavis Bryson, Carol Colstrup, Nancy Fulfs and Judy Hoiseth.

Caring and sharing co-chairwoman Hovde and Ruth Noren and their committee served two funerals in October.

The group closed the meeting singing the hymn “We Give Thee but Thine Own,” the table prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.