Central Region Women's Annual Meeting, June 25, 2011
The Central Region Women’s Ministries (WM) held their annual meeting on June 25, 2011, at the Heartwood Conference Center in Trego, Wisconsin.  There were 35 ladies in attendance.  We held our meeting during the luncheon of the Central Region Biennial Convention.

President Sue Patterson opened with a couple readings from the book entitled “Heartprints” and led in prayer.

We had a wonderful time of sharing what the various WM groups were doing, what was working and what was not.  A lot of the discussions were concerning how to get women of all ages involved in the Women’s Ministries groups.  Many ideas were shared from having teas, “muffin and mugs”, get-togethers with special speakers, a fun game night, Bible studies with material from Beth Moore or other wonderful Bible study authors or just taking a chapter in the Bible and really studying it verse by verse.  Mary Thompson, Ebenezer, has a wonderful resource that she has compiled entitled “Bringing God’s Word into Our Lives.”  It helps us to ask, who? What? Where? When? As we observe the passage.  If you would like to have a copy of this resource, just email her at: marythompson199@gmail.com.

Linda Ronnevik, Fergus Falls, MN, was elected as Treasurer, Sara Peterson, Barnesville, MN, as North Vice-President, and Kari Andrews, Appleton, WI, as South Vice-President.

We thanked Margaret Seland by our applause for her wonderful job for four years as our Central Region Treasurer.

Here are some photos of our wonderful LTCII conference at the Ebenezer church in Minneapolis.  We had 38 women in attendance and Ruth Vallevik, Ruth Christenson and Janet Spencer did an awesome job of presenting the subjects of “Growing UP: Maturing in Your Faith”,  “Rooted in the Truth”,  “Strengthening Your Connection”. “ Women’s Ministries at Work:  Caring for Seedlings”, and Growing in Servant Leadership.  Thanks to  Tess Soholt and LaShel Solberg who did a lot of the planning for this event.  The church also gave each of us one of their church cookbooks!  What a wonderful beautiful gift.

The Central District WMCLB sponsored a women’s retreat on Sept. 17-18th at the Mt Olivet Retreat Center near Northfield, Minnesota.  There were twenty women there from Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.  The weather was just beautiful and the spirit was a blessing.

Our speaker was Sandra Heinsch from Owatonna, Minnesota.  Her theme was “Wardrobe of Joy.”  On Friday evening she shared her testimony about how God has faithfully led through the ups and downs of her life.  He taught her to be thankful and grateful for, and in, all circumstances.

Sandie shared about the life of Queen Esther.  She was a women who was both outwardly and inwardly beautiful.  She trusted God to work out the details of her life.  She shared that there were 5 “O’s” in Esther’s life.  Orphan, Open to Instruction, Opponent, Obedient and Over comer.  Another “O” was that God never says “Oops!”.  He is Sovereign and knows exactly what He is doing.  Another session she talked about the four seasons of color and displayed the different colors that work well for “our” season.   She also shared about the color of emotions and challenged us to live in Technicolor and enjoy life rather than live in black and white with little or no joy!!

April 17th, 2010 the Central District Women’s Ministries held their annual meeting at the Community of Joy LB church in Eagan, MN along with the annual CLB Central Region meeting.  We were blessed with a beautiful spring day and had 35 women in attendance.  The group re-elected Sue Patterson as President and Marilyn Naseth as Secretary for a second term.  We had two wonderful speakers at our meeting.

Mary Thompson, a retired nurse and past Director of Nurses Christian Fellowship with Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, spoke to us about Encouragement to Women in OUR World.  She based her talk on Matt. 11:28-30 where we can come to Jesus with all our burdens.  She had a handout that is sort of a “recipe” as to how to study our Bible.

Secondly, we had Kim Sorensen present a slideshow of photos taken when she and her family lived in Japan and taught English for two years.  It was a very delightful trip to Japan.

Both of these talented ladies are from the Minneapolis area and we were all blessed to have them minister to us.  The women of Community of Joy served us a wonderful salad buffet, along with chips, croissant roll, cookies, coffee and lemonade.  Thank you to all who helped make this a wonderful day!!

On February 5-7, 2010 the Central District hosted a Pastor’s Wives Retreat at Inspiration Point Bible Camp.  It was a cold week-end, but we had sunshine inside and out.

Our guest speaker was Suzanne Bowman from Jamestown, North Dakota.   Her theme for us was “We are the work of His Hands” using Isaiah 64: 1-8 as the text for this theme.   She presented to us that God is the Master Planner.  He has power, a plan and He will deliver us in unexpected ways.   God sees us as cracked pots and Suzanne used a visual of a cracked pot and asked us the question “How is God going to use me if I am only a cracked pot.  Her messages spoke to each and every heart that was in attendance.  Suzanne had 4 different sessions for us and also used her musical talent on the piano to accompany us for some praise and worship songs and also shared her beautiful voice as she blessed us with a couple of vocal solos that fit very well with her messages.

We held a break apart session on Saturday morning and were blessed to have Joy Mathiesen and Kristin Erickson from Fergus Falls come and be our moderators so the wives would have time to work thru some questions that were presented and have prayer time.

Saturday afternoon was a time of relaxing, visiting, walking out in the cold, and just hanging out.  We had Jen Peterson, a Mary Kay director from Fergus Falls help us all with facials during the afternoon time also.

Six of our Central District churches were so kind as to supply little gifts for a gift bag for each person attending.  Berea, Alexandria, Mn., made coasters and gave sticky note pads,  Bethel, Joice, Ia., had made coasters, also, Hope, Barnesville, Mn., had little pots of fudge, Word of Life, LeSueur, gave note cards and greeting cards, Bethany, West Union, Ia., gave Bath and Body lotion, and Karen Quandt from the Bethesda, Eau Claire, had made a cute holder with a couple of pencils tucked inside.  Everyone enjoyed their gifts.

Those attending were: Angi Salmonson, Bethel, Aiken, Mn., Shannon Seaver and Martha Jarvinen, Community of Joy, Eagan, MN. Janice Davis, Faith, Thief River Falls, MN., Tanya Nugent, Word of Life, LeSueur, MN., Kathy Larsen, Oak Ridge, Menomonie, WI., LaVonne Quam, Elim, Osakis, MN., Kathie Seaver, Triumph, Moorhead, MN., Barb Mundis, Oak Hill, Bloomington, MN., Jennifer Pangman, Bethesda, Eau Claire, WI., Melissa Pribbenow, Bethel, FF, MN., Jacquie Quam, Salem, Grand Rapids, MN., Tara Nessa, Bethany, West Union, IA.

Four gals weren’t able to make it because of illness:  Kathleen Olson, Bethel, Joice, IA., Sharol Wik, Bethel, Faribault, MN., Jacquie Schweitzer, Bethany, Colfax, WI., and Kathy Larson, Bethesda, Eau Claire, WI.

The Central District had three “Face to Face” meetings with Ruth Vallevik, our Director of Women’s Ministries this past month! What a blessing they were!

On Sunday at 4 pm we met at Ebenezer in Minneapolis, Minnesota with about 26 women in attendance. The theme was “Walking in Faith.” Tess Soholt led the meeting. They presented Ruth with a cookbook from the church. Teri Larson led the singing of “Come thou fount of every Blessing” and “I need thee every hour.” It sounded like what the voices of Angels in Heaven would sound like!

Kim Sorenson, missionary from Japan, gave a little commercial for an opportunity coming up at the church November 8th, an informational meeting about the mission field

Ruth challenged us to have a Head “Tune UP.”  We need to Shut Down all that is around us and then Shut In with God where we can pour out our praise, worship and anxious thoughts to Him and let him tune us up!! Psalm 46:10 says to “Be still and know that I am God”.

The next gathering at Bethesda, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was decorated with the theme of “Take a look at your shoes.” They had around 65 ladies in attendance! We were welcomed by Karen Peikert and she introduced Ruth and me. Then we had our refreshments and sang the hymn “Anywhere with Jesus”. Jill Myers sang “In this very room” accompanied by Katie Thews.

Ruth started out her presentation having us describe different kinds of shoes and boots and what their purpose was. Then she asked us to describe what we thought a shoe for the Christian Life should be like. Next she listed what kind of shoes we need to maintain our Christian life. We need:

1. A Standing Shoe so we can stand firm for the Lord. Phil 1:26,” Stand Firm in one Spirit”.
2. Walking Shoes for companionship and fellowship. Psalm 29:15, “walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.”
3. Lastly we need Running shoes so we can run the race as stated in Hebrews 12:1, “we may run with endurance.”

Jill sang another song, “In the Garden” and we closed with the hymn, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” This was another angelic choir moment.

~Sue Patterson, Central District President