The Week of February 10

Dear Swedlanda friends and family,

It was undeniably cold at Swedlanda this morning. Choir practice was canceled, but everything else went on as scheduled. At 9:00 a.m., when people started arriving for the Swedlanda Family Sunday School, the actual temperature was about 15 below and winds were about 25 mph, gusting to 34. That gave us a windchill somewhere in the 40 degree below zero range. The sun was out and there was no new snow, but one of our two furnaces was not firing, so the temperature in the entryway had dipped below 40. It was a bit warmer in the sanctuary, about 62 degrees. Even so, many hearty souls made an appearance. The message for the day is available through the SkyDrive link on the right side of the page.

There is hope for improvement. Already the temperature has soared to 8 below and winds have begun to diminish to about 13 mph. The windchill is around 30 below. And…I have a pansy blooming in a south window, one I planted from seed.

This was the first Sunday of Lent, so we have already begun our midweek services. This week, the Grace Circle will be serving a meal at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by worship at 7 p.m. The theme is “Bread for the Journey.”

Our prayer list for today includes Jim A., who is hospitalized at Univ. of MN hospitals in St. Paul. He had another surgery on Friday to remove some more of his small intestine. He is already out of ICU and back in a room in the transplant ward, 6 B. We continue to pray for his healing. Olga S. is back at the Golden Living Center in Olivia, recovering from her recent surgery. Annabelle R. was added to our list and is at Renville County Hospital in Olivia; she expects to be released from there on Monday.

Tyler B. turns 18 this Saturday, so we sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

A few other announcements from the bulletin have been copied below. Have a good week. God bless.

Pastor Stewart

Opportunities for personal enrichment

Congregational Leadership Day, March 1, 2008 at Faith Lutheran, Spicer. The Council has voted to pay the registration fee for any wishing to attend. Ask Eileen R.

MN Valley Conference Assembly, March 9 at First Lutheran, St. Peter. John Ylvisaker, gifted musician, will be there. Swedlanda is encouraged to send 6 delegates, 3 men & 3 women. Others are also invited to attend as guests.

2008 ELCA Global Mission Formation Event, May 2-3 Golden Valley Lutheran, Golden Valley. Registration $35 for a wide variety of workshops. Check the bulletin board.

Green Lake Lutheran Ministries-youth, family and special camps. Check out the 2008 brochure.