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This newsletter is to inform members about projects and events that are happening in the local Northern UT Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. If you would like to volunteer learn more or donate to any project please call the Communications Director Kristine Gerrard at 801-779-4476. The Care in Congregations® program allows members to come together and demonstrate care and concern for others. When considering activities, remember these three important qualities: member involvement, awareness and impact. Through the Care in Congregations® Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for Thrivent Financial members to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities to benefit a congregation or its related Lutheran institution(s), including schools. Members are encouraged to help the congregation in its ministry to the community.
· Holy Trinity Lutheran /Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (02/28/06) · Holy Trinity Lutheran /Easter Breakfast (04/16/06) · Elim Lutheran Church / Easter Breakfast (04/16/06) · St. Paul Lutheran Church / Auction and Dinner for School (02/25/06)
Elim Lutheran Church Article Contributor: Mary Givens Place: Elim Lutheran Church Event: Easter Breakfast April 16, 2006, from 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 am. It’s always amazing how God works for us, especially when you’re in a situation that’s seems to be hopeless. That’s when miracles occur. . .This year at Elim’s Annual Easter breakfast their chief chef was suddenly hospitalized with a blood clot, and their secondary chefs stepped up to fill his place. Unexpectedly and unsolicited help came in the form of older members who helped with the serving and clean up. (Mike Morgan, Dick and Bonnie Glissman, and Eli Goich, to name a few.) Elim members participated by providing food, volunteering to serve or clean up, or just by coming and eating! This event proceeds will benefit the youth who want to go to summer camp at the Peak Performance camp in Kalispell, they will be able to earn scholarships to help pay their way. Way to go Elim!
· Boys & Girls Club of Brigham City · Handel's Messiah Performance · Afghan Clothing Relief · Silent Auction & Potluck Dinner · Outreach Community Charity Quilting Day
Article Contributor: Robert A Morstadt Place: Holy Cross and Boys and Girls Club of Brigham City Event: April 4th. To benefit all the future Picasso’s and Monet’s a community service team from Holy Cross Lutheran Church and staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Brigham held a "hands-on activity". They went to Wal-Mart and purchased about $413 of art and craft supplies for the Boys & Girls club to use in their youth programs. The Boys & Girls Club of Brigham City provides after-school and summer programs for our local youth.
Thrivent Financial and Ascension Lutheran Church encourages everyone to promote fitness in their families by signing up for the second annual Grace Race. This event was the brainchild of Pastor David Kiel who wanted to see his parishioners show some spunk and move their bodies. No matter your fitness level everyone can participate in this event. Kick-off for the 2-mile walk is May 13 at 8:00 am and the 5K run begins at 8:15. All who enter will receive a raffle ticket good for a drawing for door prizes as well as a goodie bag with a t-shirt in it. Sponsors have donated over $2,500 in prize donations. Prizes will be awarded to the top male, female and youth finishers. Proceeds will be divided and given to St Anne’s Center and Hurricane Katrina Survivors. Last year $5242.72 was raises for St. Anne's to purchase a new professional grade stoves. This year we hope to do even better!
“The quality of the quilts is outstanding!” exclaimed Chaplain Michael Meyer as he received twelve homemade quilts made by a group organized by a Lutheran Church in Northern Utah. Chaplain Meyer employed with Intermountain Home Care, or more popularly known as Hospice received twelve blankets from an out reach project organized by the Quilting Guild of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSLC). OSLC solicited funding from Thrivent Financial Care Abounds in Communities to purchase a sewing machine, fabric and supplies to make quilts for a number of not-for-profit groups, Hospice being one of them. Meyer explains that because many patients have poor circulation and low body mass they have a hard time staying warm. So it’s nice to give the gift of a cozy blanket to those who truly need it. The Quilting Guild of OSLC sponsors this ongoing activity that usually meets on a Saturday morning. Nancy Harlan, one of the leaders of the Quilting Guild says, “Our group is bound together by the love of sewing.” Just like a quilt made from different colors and patters so are the participants of this project, many are Catholic, Mormon, Non-Denominational and of course Lutherans. Employees from the store, Hancock Fabrics, and members of Holy Cross and Ascension Church come together to make these special keepsakes for unknown recipients. On these special Saturdays quilters get together and catch up on details of the lives of old acquaintances and parties they are going to organize with friends. All the while they put together blocks of fabric. Harlan points out these blankets start from scraps of material but end up being “special” to someone. Each blanket has a story just like the person who will receive it. One participant Janet Hayes admits she hates quilting but loves the Fellowship! Hayes demonstrates her latest sewing project pointing out all the mistakes. Another quilter Pam Deitsch, solemnly states, “God doesn’t make anything perfect, so quilters are supposed to intentionally do something wrong.” Many of these quilting participants have a personal signature they like to put on their work. Sharon Hallsten likes to embroider JOY on her blankets. She say, “It stands for Jesus Others and Yourself” Hallsten explains, “if you put Jesus and Others before Yourself it will bring you JOY.” All who join in making these blankets have experience great “JOY” in sewing no matter what happens. Even Sharon Ganske an employee from Hancock Fabric who’s friends titled her “anal” can find solace in making quilts. Kim Jones, another employee from Hancock Fabric points out that Ganske has a fabric block out of place in her quilt pattern. Unsettled at first, Ganske comes to grip with her mistake and shrugs her shoulders and says, “It adds character!” Chaplain Meyer describes, “The people that have received them are amazed at the amount of effort and love put into the quilts. It is wonderful that the quilting group at OSLC is able to provide a meaningful and helpful gift at such an important time in a persons life.” This group should be very proud of what they have accomplished with the funds from Thrivent Financial. If anyone wants to participate with this on-going project please call Nancy Harlan at 773-5283 or Joan Tonn at 476-0577.
Good things come in small packages. Ask the service men and women as well as the orphans who received much needed supplies, clothing and even toys from the care packages sent from the Northern UT Chapter of Thrivent Financial. This “special delivery” began when Pastor Renee Kiel, who normally should be preparing sermons for her home church, Ascension Lutheran, in North Ogden was called to duty in Afghanistan. During her tour she requested that families in the US send service men and women care packages called “Operation Christmas”. These packages included hygiene items, food and other supplies. As of December the Northern UT Chapter of Thrivent Financial For Lutherans provided money for postage to mail packages to the troops in Afghanistan. 46 Boxes were sent which included: · 744 Hygiene items-chap stick, q-tips, hand lotion, razors and body sponges. · 424 Food items-beef jerky, candy, cookies and granola bars. · 1170 Entertainment items- batteries, magazines, paperback books, pens and note books. · 818 Miscellaneous items – plastic bags, Christmas and Greeting cards. Since December many more packages have been sent and the program has expanded from soldier care packages to material for the Afghan people. We are now assembling packages not only at Ascension but Holy Cross and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) as well. The following is a list of desire items for future packages: · Hygiene Products (especially dental care items). · Children’s Clothing/Shoes (used sweaters, coats, gloves, mittens, ski caps, etc.) · Adult Clothing/Shoes (used sweaters, coats, gloves, mittens, ski caps, etc.) · School Supplies (Paper pads, memo pads, notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, etc. ) · Small stuffed animals and small toys.
This newsletter was written and edited by volunteer leaders of your local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter to keep you informed of chapter news. If you have any questions and/or comments about the content of this newsletter or would like to learn more about chapter activities being planned in your area, please contact one of your chapter leaders. To access your chapter leader contact information, go to www.thrivent.com; Members/Chapters; Information About My Chapter; View Leadership/Activities/Website; Chapter Leadership Board.
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