Duplicate Bridge

Duplicate Bridge was played at five tables Jan 15. Winners were Joyce Crowe and Millie Seiver, first place; Edna Knobbe and Rick Stroup, second place; Jim Fisher and Bud Higgins, third place; Lorraine Lippert and Ron Peters, fourth place; and Gail and Ray Schmidt, and fifth place.

Duplicate Bridge was played by nine teams on Jan. 16. Winners were Dave Ring and Orrin Roisen, first place; Bonnie Fritz and Stan Schultz, second place; Barb Engebretson and Eunice Michaelis, third place; Peters and Rick 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.

Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary

Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary No. 552 had its November meeting at the legion in Freeborn. President Sandy Anderson opened the meeting and led the group in pledges.

The organization approved a donation of $25 to go to the hospice tree.

Christmas cards for veterans were sent. The group has four members who have not renewed their membership.

For new business, the group had community coffee time at the legion. They had 15 people attend and plan to have the event again next year. The Santa Day/Hospice Tree Lighting/Potluck/Bingo was Dec. 2 at the legion hall. The event was sponsored by the Freeborn Legion Gambling Fund. Jeff Dahlen did the Bingo calling. Jim Johannson did the hospice reading.

The legion is responsible for every Monday through Friday coffee time at the fire hall in Freeborn.  Each month a different organization in town gets the $1 donation per each attendee.  The money is then distributed to a nonprofit group in Freeborn. The group decided to give the December money to the veterans group, who will make blankets, neck pillows, heart pillows, etc. They will  be distributed to veterans. The other month added went to the fund for playground equipment.

The group will have a soup and dessert night from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at the legion.

The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Saturday.

TOPS MN Chapter 979

TOPS MN Chapter 979 announced its November and December division winners.

November division winners were Trish Williams, Division 2; Aisha Heard, Division 2; Pat Sorenson, Division 4; and Darlene Kenison. Winners must be a TOPS and lose at least one pound.

Weekly Best Losers were Judy Thorson, week one; Kenison, week two; Heard, week three; and Heard, week four; Heard had four stars and earned $4. Sorenson had four weeks loss and earned $4.

Freida Johannsen is a new KOPS.

Weekly incentive winners are Thorson, Heard and Sorenson.

December division winners were Barb Solberg, Division 3 and Sorenson, Division 4.

Quarterly division winners were Heard, Division 2; Rose Rolands, Division 3; Sorenson, Division 4; and Kenison, Division 5.

Weekly biggest losers were Schroeder, week one; Solberg, week two; and Sandi Oederkirk, week four. Solberg had a four weeks of loss.

Weekly incentive winners were  Lois Goodnature, week one; Peggy Inderlie, week two; Goodnature, week three; and Solberg, week four.

Decorate your tree contest winners were Heard, 44 ornaments; Sorenson, 43 ornaments; and Fern Rockwell, 37 ornaments.

TOPS — take off pounds sensibly — is a nonprofit weight loss support group. There is no diet plan, but support with others on the journey to health and wellness. TOPS MN Chapter 979 meets at 9 a.m. on Thursdays in the Albert Lea Senior Center in Skyline Plaza to weigh in and learn about healthy lifestyles.

First Lutheran Church Women

First Lutheran Church Women met Jan. 9 in Bethany Hall with prelude music provided by Joan Holt. Bonnie Schneider, co-president, welcomed members and guests. Devotions were given by Cindy Gandrud. She read an article from Salem Lutheran Church, which reminds Lutherans that worship is the heart of what they do, giving thanks, praise, and service to the Lord. The group then read the FLCW purpose statement.

Marge LaFrance introduced the program speaker, Rev. Joel Erickson, who spoke on “Understanding the Islam Faith in a Complex Religious World.” By 2050, it is expected that Christian and Islam populations will be close to equal; in 2016, 1 percent of the total U.S. population was Muslim. Muslims believe in the oneness of God, that God sent messengers or prophets, including Jesus, to mankind, that God revealed scriptures to some of his prophets, that there will be the day of judgment and that there are things decreed by God, and we simply have to be obedient to God’s will — divine decree. The five pillars of practice of Islam are that there is none worthy of worship except God and that Mohammed is the messenger of God, obligation to pray five times a day, assist less fortunate, fasting, and to travel to Mecca once in one’s lifetime.

Sharia Law is the divine law for guidance of Muslim activity. Islamism is founded on the belief that Muslims and non-Muslims should submit to Sharia Law. The Quran is the primary source for interpreting Islamic faith. The Quran draws stories from the Old and New Testament with no stories unique to Islam. Erickson said the overall message is Allah is one and him only should you worship — “God is forgiving and merciful.” The Sunnah and Hadith also give significant direction to the majority of Muslims. For decades, Muslims have been outstanding citizens of the U.S. and have been supporters of the democratic process. Moderate Islam is not responsible for what radical Islamists, such as jihadists or terrorists, do throughout the world. We need to find ways to enhance conversation between the Muslim citizenry and the rest of citizens of America to build bridges of understanding and mutual support. Erickson gave an update on Save Our Health Care.

The group then sang the hymn, “Just As I Am.” This was followed by the memorial service led by Bonnie Schneider, honoring the deceased members of 2018. These members included Esther Satre, Evelyn Ferber, Norma Schneider, Sarah Anderson, Junice Schuhmacher, Vivian Toenges, Eunice Isackson, Pamela Helmers, Carol Gilderhus, Lily Anderson, Betty Abben, Marjorie Peterson, Delphine Drommerhausen, Judy Stevens and Maxine Hamer.

Schneider called the business meeting to order. The secretary’s minutes from the Dec. 12 meeting were approved as printed by a motion from Carol Olson and seconded by Bonnie Trampel. Cindy Gandrud, treasurer, presented the treasurer’s report. She also noted that the fourth-quarter report was attached to the program for viewing. Corresponding secretary, Bonnie Trampel, reported the group received thank yous from Rev. John and Joan Holt and from Jane Maiden for the poinsettias and lunch. Requests for monetary gifts from Bibles of the World, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Good Earth Village and Women of the ELCA were noted.

Members were reminded to sign up for prayer partners with Janice Lestrud.

FLCW Annual Reports from committee members are to be turned in.

“Go Tell It On the Mountain” was sung during the regular offering, followed by the offering prayer, given by Gandrud.

Schneider thanked Deb Koenigs and Jackie Sletten for the new table centerpieces. She then thanked ushers Ruth Noren and Bonnie Trampel; greeters Joyce Fredin and Marge Moine and hostesses and chairwomen Deloris Fligge and Elaine Panzer, with their committee of Valerie Fox and Jo Hanson.

Caring and Sharing Chairwomen Carol Frydenlund and Joni Rowe and their committee served one funeral in December.

Announcements:

The SEMCAC Community Connect Event opening the door to local services will be from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday in Bethany Hall

Sweet Hour of Prayer will be at 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the chapel.

Holidays Ahead Crafting will be at 9 a.m. Monday mornings in Bethany Hall.

FLCW Board meets at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 in the parlor.

April 6 is the Blue Earth River Conference. Registration is from 8 to 9 a.m. and coffee is served from 9 to 11:30 a.m.  at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth.

The meeting closed with the table prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.