Human Care

GIFTS FROM THE HEART

From Human Care: Zone and Conference Rallies - Spring and Fall 2023

Our LWML MN South District ladies were busy with the Spring and Fall Rallies/Gatherings. The Gatherings and Servant Events were held, and collections for area mission projects were collected.

The Servant Events and mission support projects for Spring 2023 were:

  • The St. Paul Metro Zone met on April 15th, at Jehovah Lutheran Church in St. Paul; theme “A Broom is a Gift of God”; speaker Dr. Richard Carter, who spoke on missionary stories and insights from the mission field, sharing the Gospel through your vocation. The Gifts from the Heart—items for national convention: Phil’s Friends, and used eyeglasses were collected.
  • On April 15th, Arlington Zone held their rally, at Peace Lutheran Church in Arlington. Speaker was Nader Alaraj, a missionary from POBLO Twin Cities. Gifts from the Heart were monetary gifts for POBLO Twin Cities missions.
  • Litchfield Zone held their rally at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Guest Speaker was Coral Rose, who spoke on “I love to tell the story.” They held a collection for mites and brought children's books to be distributed to local daycares in the zone.
  • McLeod Zone held their rally at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. Speaker was Reverend Peter Preus who presented on “Christians Wrestle with Suicide - Gospel Comfort for the Grieving”. Gifts from the Heart to support national Gifts from the Heart: cash and gift cards for Phil’s Friends and A Place of Refuge: $787.00. Other items collected included 27 puzzles books, 13 pairs of glasses, 15 pairs of socks, 40 journals, 15 hats, 2 pairs of gloves, 3 headbands, and 19 caps.
  • On April 22nd, St. Croix River Zone held their rally at St. John Lutheran Church in Woodbury. The theme was “Transforming Lives Through Christ’s Love” with speakers from The Dwelling Place. Gifts from the Heart totals included $770 in Gift Cards and 110 donations of household cleaning items, 3 sets of sheets, 3 shower liners, and 2 bath rugs needed for The Dwelling Place.
  • The NE Suburban Zone held the LWML Prayer Service at King of Glory in Blaine on April 29th. Baby clothing was collected for Samuel's closet, a ministry of Anoka Community Mission.
  • NW Suburban Zone held their rally on April 15th, at Eternal Life Lutheran in Brooklyn Park; theme/topic – Memorization: Bind Yourself to Holy Scripture. Gift cards were collected for the LWML National Convention Gifts from the Heart.
  • The ladies of the SE Suburban Zone gathered at Emmanuel Lutheran to hear about the ministry of The Dwelling Place. Gifts from the Heart were chosen from a list of basic needs along with donations of money.
  • SW Suburban Zone held their rally on May 6th, at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in Bloomington, with a presentation by Pastor Mark Moss from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Gifts from the Heart were donations for LHF to purchase children’s books in Sierra Leone.
  • On April 15th, Lake Minnetonka Zone held their rally at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wayzata. The speaker was Alfrieda Baldwin from Laurel Community School, who spoke on the importance of Christian Micro-schools. Gifts from the Heart donations were Lap tables, and monetary gifts for playground equipment.
  • The Carver Zone rally was held at St. Peter’s in Watertown. Lutherans For Life, was the guest speaker. Gifts from the Heart collection: 216 Bath-size bars Ivory soap; 290 cloth diapers; 206 pillowcases; and $500 in checks designated for shipping costs. Additional items brought for the servant event were: 28 bath towels; 32 wash cloths; 37 onesies; 8 newborn hats; and 89 receiving blankets. Following the rally the ladies assembled 189 newborn layette kits that were placed in pillowcases, packed and ready to be delivered to Global Health Ministries for shipping and distribution overseas.
  • Austin Zone rally was held on April 22nd, at First English Lutheran in Spring Valley. Russ Schwichtenberg from Camp Omega was the speaker. The ladies donated supplies for Camp Omega.
  • On Saturday, April 29th, the Faribault Zone held their Mission Gathering at St. John Lutheran Church, in Claremont. Becky Lewis, a teacher at Hope Lutheran High School in Winona, spoke about the international students attending the school. Gifts from the Heart were School supplies for Hope: loose leaf paper, flashcards/notecards (index cards), printer paper, notebooks, folders, pencils, pens.
  • Waseca Zone held its Spring Mission Gathering on April 22nd, at First Lutheran Church, Waldorf. Speakers were Rev. David & wife Darlene Fretham “Telling the Story of the Orphan Grain Train”. Gifts from the Heart were donations for the Orphan Grain Train Ministry - 55 Hygiene Kits, seventy-five quilts and $125.00 cash for shipping and postage were thankfully collected.
  • Blue Earth Zone held their rally on Tuesday, April 18th, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman; topic led by Rev. Craig McCourt. Gifts from the Heart collection of – T-shirts, toilet paper, paper towels and copy paper for Camp Omega, Waterville.
  • On April 22nd, Worthington Zone Spring Get-Together was held at Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom. Theme: “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations” Mark 13:10. Speaker: Stan Tordsen; English Conversation Partners Missionary Volunteer, and zoomed with Chelsea Irwin in the Czech Republic. Gifts from the Heart collection was Worthington Helping Hands Pregnancy Center with many baby items being collected.
  • Lake Pepin Zone held their gathering on April 15th, at Concordia in Red Wing. The theme was: Serve the Lord with Gladness. Gifts from the Heart collection were items for Little Footprints Daycare: Ziploc bags, washcloths, crayons, pencils, masking tape, sharpies, pens, paintbrushes; and items for Hope Coalition: bodywash, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste.
  • Rochester Zone rally was held at Our Savior’s in Eyota. Russ Schwichtenberg from Camp Omega was the speaker. Money and supplies for Camp Omega were received for the Gifts of the Heart collection.
  • On April 15th, Winona Zone Spring Fling was held at St. Martins in Winona. The theme was: “Disciples of All Nations”, Verse: Matthew 28:19-20; Speaker: Rocky Sandcork, principal Hope Lutheran, with several International students in attendance. Gifts from the Heart collection - $500 of gift cards were given to the International Students to cover their needs while attending classes in Winona.
  • On April 22nd the Pipestone Zone ladies met at St. Paul Lutheran in Pipestone with Arnold Boehme as their speaker. Items collected for Pipestone County Hospice included 60 pillowcases, 30 bottles of lotion, and $30.

The Servant Events and mission support projects for Fall 2023 were:

  • The Minnetonka Conference Rally was held at St. John’s Lutheran in Chaska, on October 7th. Pastor Mark Moss, from Lutheran Heritage Foundation was the speaker. The ladies gave $892 to help fund “Jesus Never Fails”, a Lutheran Gospel Tract, for Kono and Mende languages in Sierre Leone, West Africa.
  • Blue Earth Zone held a Fall Mission Gathering on Sunday, October 1st, at St. James Lutheran Church, Northrop. Speaker: Stan Tordsen, English Communication Partners, Short-Term Missions; Gifts from the Heart to local first responders: drawstring bags containing quilt or blanket, colors, coloring book, Christian book, and stuffed animal; Additional $35 cash towards Christian books to add to bags delivered to CADA-Mankato.
  • Capitol Conference held a gathering on October 14th, 9:30 a.m., at the Gathering Place Lutheran Ministries in Arden Hills. Guest speaker: Pastor Yia Lor and his work as a missionary to the Lost in SE Asia. Gifts from the Heart: 45 blessings bags, 5 boxes of food items for Sharing and Caring hands of Minneapolis.
  • Crow River Conference Fall Rally was held on October 7th, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran, Lester Prairie. Speaker was Joel Landskroener, Executive Director of Mayer Lutheran High School, on "Why Lutheran School are Essential."  $374.49 was collected for Mites, $315.00 for Minnesota South District, $1038.00 and 30 quilts for Mayer Lutheran High School students for their mission trip to Mexico.
  • Lyndale Conference met at Christ Lutheran Church on October 21st, 8:30 a.m. The speaker was Coral Rose and her topic was “The Lord of the Nations”. Kitchen tools and supplies were collected for POBLO Ministries.
  • Minneapolis Conference held a Fall Rally at Beautiful Savior in Plymouth on October 7th. Pastor Chou Vang was the speaker. Gifts from the Heart of $410 was given to Hmong Lutheran Church in St. Paul for their children’s ministry.
  • Owatonna Conference Fall Rally met on September 30th, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Owatonna. Speaker was Coral Rose, who spoke on “Women at the Well”, based on ‘Come and See’ John 4:29. Gifts from the Heart were children’s books collected for St. Martin’s Lutheran School in Winona, Preschool-High School.
  • Pipestone Zone Fall Rally Prayer and Praise service at Trinity Lutheran Church on October 14th, in Slayton. Offering was $166, Gifts from the Heart was $320 in gift cards for the Murray County Hospice House.
  • Whitewater Conference held a gathering at Redeemer Lutheran in Rochester, on October 14th. Speaker was from Mission Central, who spoke on “God’s Church at Work”; Verse: Acts 13:2-3. Gifts from the Heart were monetary donations given that will be used to prepare meals for guests who come to visit Mission Central.
  • Worthington Zone held a Fall Get-Together, “Telling the Next Generation”, at Immanuel Lutheran in Lakefield, on October 28th. Darlene Fretham shared the work of the Orphan Grain Train. Gifts from the Heart: assembled Teacher Kits for Orphan Grain Train.

Thank you, ladies of LWML, for all the support given to missionaries, mission projects, servant events, and Gifts from the Heart collections.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Debi Mahoney
LWML MN South District Vice President of Human Care and Committee Chair
2020 – 2024