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GIFTS FROM THE HEART

From Human Care, Zone Spring Rallies 2024


Our LWML MNS District ladies held Gatherings and Servant Events, and collections were held for area mission projects. Following are the Zone Rallies held Spring 2024. The Servant Events and mission support projects were:

  • Arlington Zone Spring Rally was held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Arlington. Guest speakers were: Virginia Flo from Lutherans for Life, and Sarah Gillis from First Choice Pregnancy Center in New Ulm. Gifts from the Heart: numerous quilts, shampoo, hygiene products, infant clothing, diapers, and monetary donations of $175 for the Center.
     
  • Austin Zone Spring Rally was held at Holy Cross in Austin, on Saturday, April 13. Our speakers were Esther Dale and Madelyn Krinke with Bible Faith Lutheran Ministries to India, which is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization. India is the most unreached nation in the world. They talked about Bible Faith Lutheran Churches and Seminary, the India Bible study translation project; but mostly about the Moriah School and Children’s Home. Gifts from the Heart: received $545 and 16 pairs of children’s socks.
     
  • Blue Earth Zone held a Mission Gathering Rally, April 16, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, MN. Topic led by Rev. Dr. Boehme, was “The Church and the Millennials, the Spiritual But Not Religious, and the New Perspective on Religion in Our Time”. Gifts from the Heart: items for the food shelf of Faribault County, Blue Earth, Minnesota.
     
  • Carver Zone held a Spring Rally at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood/Young America on Saturday, April 20. Kim Dickey, Director of Communication, Global Health Ministries was the speaker. Gifts From the Heart: 105 Bath Towels plus $20; an additional 44 completed Hospice Kits and 206 individual items were also donated for Global Health Ministries. At a Servant event: assembled an additional 50 Hospice Kits. A total of 94 Hospice Kits and the additional 206 items were delivered to Global Health Ministries, Minneapolis.
     
  • Faribault Zone held a Spring Rally.  The speaker was Tuthie Wagner, mission work in Sierra Leone/Lutheran Bible Translators.  Gifts from the Heart included ten packages of toilet paper, 11 diapers, eight packages paper towels, six packages Kleenex, 14 shampoo/conditioner, 20 packages of wipes, four boxes of bandaids, nine packages of toothbrushes, 25 toothpaste, one deodorant, one hairbrush, one anti-itch cream, six pads, one body cream, one package cough drops, 10 bars hand soap, five body wash, one powder, 18 dish soap, four laundry detergent, one bleach, nine all-purpose cleaners, $123 cash.
     
  • Lake Minnetonka Zone had their Spring Gathering on April 13. Items were collected for Phil's Friends Care packages. Gifts from the Heart: a total of 642 items consisting of: blankets, lotions, socks, lip balm, hats, playing cards, puzzle books, journals, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Kleenex packs, gift cards, plus $60 toward shipping costs.
     
  • Lake Pepin Zone held their Spring Rally on April 13, at Trinity-Elgin. The Theme: Connected in Christ; with speaker: Matthew Feils, leader of the Immanuel-Plainview Youth Group, who spoke about a recent mission trip and provided ideas on how to make multi-generational connections in our churches. Gifts from the Heart: collected for Plainview-Elgin Area Food Shelf: 176 items (176.4 pounds) and $240 cash.
     
  • Litchfield Zone hosted a Spring Rally on April 13.   Speakers were Rev. Wayne and Donna Bernau. Strong marriages and solid Christian families was the topic.  Gifts from the Heart: paper products, soap, religious books, and food items which were donated to families and the food shelf.
     
  • McLeod Zone Rally was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Winsted, on Saturday, April 13. The speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Burkart Emeritus Professor of Education and Humanities, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN who spoke on “Do Not be Anxious about Anything…Let Your Mouth be Filled with Laughter…”. Gifts from the Heart: $436 for King of Kings Lutheran School in St. Paul.
     
  • NE Suburban Zone met at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Lake Park, on Saturday, April 27. Alfrieda Baldwin, founder of Laurel Community School in St. Paul was the speaker. The offering was $174; Gifts from the Heart collection went to the school.
     
  • NW Suburban Zone held a Spring Rally with Speaker: Katy Gifford, editor at Lutheran Women’s Quarterly, speaking on "Walking with Christ in Bible Journaling."  Gifts From the Heart: collected $256, 262 pairs of socks, and 26 pairs of shoes which were sent to Orphan Grain Train.
     
  • Pipestone Zone held a Spring Rally at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda, MN, on Saturday, April 6, at 9:00 a.m. The speaker was Pam Lienemann who spoke about her Gideon Comfort dog. Ingathering was for the Hospice House in Slayton, MN: $310 and kitchen items were collected for them.
     
  • Rochester Zone held their Spring Rally at Redeemer on April 20. The speaker was Jim Seeman who spoke on prison ministry, and was joined by another speaker from Damascus Way in Rochester.  Gifts From the Heart donations: 18 quilts, nine blankets, five sheet sets and five single sheets, two pillows, seven bed sets (pillow, towels, sheets), two pillowcases, four mats, nine pairs of socks, eight hand towels, 16 bath towels, 12 washcloths, seven hygiene kits, ten various items of personal care, one backpack with 20 personal care items, and $41 in cash.
     
  • St. Croix River Zone Spring Rally that was held on Saturday, April 20, at New Life Lutheran, Hugo. The theme was “Everything You Wanted to Know about Hymns” presented by Dr. Jeffrey E. Burkart. Gifts from the Heart totaled $428 for King of Kings Lutheran School, Burkart Endowment Fund.
     
  • St. Paul Metro Zone held a Women’s Spring Gathering, April 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m., at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in St. Paul.  The speaker was: Anna Gruen; topic: International Students at Concordia University. Gifts from the Heart: collected 12 boxes of disposable diapers, 43 containers of wipes for New Life Family Services.
     
  • SE Suburban Zone held a Spring Rally on April 27, at Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Burnsville. Theme: “Asylum Speakers in Minnesota: What Neighbors Need to Know” with Bethany Ringdal from Jonathan House.  Gifts from the Heart: $146 and paper products for Jonathan House.  
     
  • SW Suburban Zone held a Spring Rally on Saturday, April 6, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington. Michelle Gillard with Lutheran Bible Translators was the speaker.  Gifts From the Heart: 398 pairs of socks and $75 monetary donation to Orphan Grain Train; the churches continued to collect socks for a total of 700 pairs of socks taken to the 2024 MNS LWML District Convention for Orphan Grain Train.
     
  • Waseca Zone had their Women's Winter Retreat February 24. They collected 57 baby quilts, 30 clothing items, 3 packages of diapers, and 9 body hygiene products to be given to Rachel's Hope, in Austin, MN.  Their Spring Mission Gathering was held April 13, at Bethlehem Lutheran in Morristown, MN. Mission speakers were Linda Laville and Jamie Riskdahl from Rachel’s Hope, Austin, MN. Rachel’s Hope operates a pro-life pregnancy and parenting resource center in Austin and the surrounding communities. Gifts from the Heart: $245.00 for Rachel’s Hope, plus many personal and baby items for their clients.
     
  • Winona Zone Spring Fling held April 13, at St. John’s in Hart. Theme: “Set Apart to Serve” with Bible verse: Galatians 5:13b.  Speaker: Angela Marin, talked about her mission at the school in Thomassique, Haiti, with a power point presentation. Gifts from the Heart: $570 gift cards for the needs of the school children in Haiti.
     
  • Worthington Zone held a Spring Get-Together (Rally) on April 6, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jackson, MN. The Theme was based on Matthew 25:36. The speaker was Phil Zielke of Phil’s Friends doing a zoom presentation.  A servant event of coloring “Cards of Hope” for Phil’s Friends was held. Gifts From the Heart: care package needs for Phil’s Friend - 741 items donated, $420 in Gift cards, and $388 in cash.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV).

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  Thank you for showing Jesus' love!  

Debi Mahoney, outgoing  LWML MNS District Vice President of Human Care and Committee Chair; Kay Gottschalk,  incoming LWML MNS District Vice President of Human Care and Committee Chair; and committee members Doreen Hoffman, Deb Otto, Dianne Nutzman, Pastor Matthew Lehman (2020 - 2024), and Pastor Bert Mueller (2024-2028)