Nora Unitarian Universalist Church
- Sunday Services -
March 5: “Emerson in Winter” – Part II
Check out the new link that was added on the
Links page!
Social Justice Committee As part of Nora Church's social justice commitment we are providing
the people power for the distribution of food for the Food For All program
on Saturday,
March 11. Food For All was one of the programs selected at our June annual
meeting as a congregational response to our local area's needs. Food distribution
is provided to anyone who registers at the Presbyterian Church in St. James.
No applications are necessary. The program supports a large number of elderly
and families who come from a wide geographic area. Members of the Coming
of Age class and their mentors are participating in this service project. Anyone
else who would like to join us is more than welcome. We will meet at church
at 7:30 A.M. and carpool to St. James. We will finish around 11:00 A.M.
Any
questions - contact Darrell Hinsman, 507-359-7494. Second Sunday Offerings On the second Sunday of each month the “loose” money will be donated
to Food For All, our designated agency for addressing local hunger. (The Social
Justice Committee suggested this approach, and the Board approved it.) The Second
Sunday offering will apply to cash and change only, although checks may be designated
to Food For All by writing “Food For All” in the memo line. Thank
you for your gifts to those who need them most! To Keep In Touch Our thoughts and condolences are with Brenda and Mark Wiger on the loss of Brenda’s father this past month. We keep John and Anne Makepeace in our thoughts as John’s father passed away recently and his mother is dealing with serious health issues. If you know of anyone needing our assistance or attention please
call one of the following Caring Committee members: THANK YOU! - Caring Committee BOARD NOTES The Board approved replacing the furnace in the parsonage after it developed a crack. The new LP-fueled furnace is in place, and Rev. Rollins says it has made a big difference in his allergies. Because the furnace was considered a maintenance issue, the funds were taken from the Buildings and Grounds budget. However, the Board was concerned that the spending limit placed on the Board in the by-laws may need to be increased to meet other unanticipated expenses. The current limit is $2,500. Timely notice will be given to the congregation before any by-law change is presented at the Annual Meeting. MONEY MATTERS ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEES UU-UNO SEMINAR The event starts for youth and advisers on the evening of Wednesday, April 5, with an orientation on homelessness. On Thursday, the focus will be international – on extreme poverty induced by war and conflict. There will be a tour of the United Nations building and a speaker from the UN. On Friday, the focus will be on the U.S. and Cananda. On Saturday morning, the program will focus on the relationship between being a UU and poverty. For more information, check the flyer posted on the bulletin
board in the Fellowship Hall. Religious Education We have started our focus on learning more about specific people and events that have shaped our UU religion. A Lamp in Every Corner is a collection of stories about UU history, and it will be our primary resource for this unit. Each week, the children will hear a story from A Lamp in Every Corner. The remainder of their class time will be spent on activities about the topic of the story. Other supplemental resources that will be used are UU and Me , The UU Kids Book, and From Long Ago and Many Lands. If you are interested in having your children share the stories they have heard in Sunday School, please let Anne know, and we will make sure you get a copy of the book or story for you to read.
VERY IMPORTANT INFO: REMINDERS: EXTRAS: We would like the children from the Juniors and Tweeners class to join us during church, however recognize that between Sunday School and church it may be a long time for the children to sit. If families are feeling the church service is too long for the younger children (Juniors and Tweeners) to sit through, they may feel free to let their children leave after the children’s story. There will be an age appropriate video downstairs for them to view until the end of the service. We ask that the elementary school children not use the nursery as it is a tiny space designed for the youngest children. Thank you for your assistance. We are always looking for people interested in teaching or helping out with RE
and Sunday School.
Celebrate Nora's 125th Anniversary with us on Sunday, August 20! Also keep your calendars clear on November 11 for a night of dancing at the Community Center in Hanska. We are currently updating the Centennial book so if any of you have photos or stories to share, please contact Sheldon Rieke, Chris Bodick, or Joy Rathman.
Wednesday, March 15 11:30 AM “Main Ingredient” Minnesota Street (200 Block N.)
A listing of trips to Transylvania is
Please help fill our plastic tub in the entryway with non-perishable food items.
Come listen to local talent share their poetry, stories and music.
The Membership Committee has designated April 2 as “Bring a Friend” Sunday. (Also, Potluck Sunday!) This is your chance to share why you are a member of Nora Church and a welcoming opportunity for people you know to experience that in person. Let’s get the word out why we’re here!
The 2006 Prairie Star District Annual Conference is coming up. Come join UUs from across eight states! This year the conference will be held April 28-30 and will be hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, Iowa. Registration packets are available at Nora Church or you can go on-line at: www.psduua.org. Deadline for Early-Bird Discount is March 27. OUR MARCH HONOREES OF NORA CHURCH 
- MURIEL THORDSON - Rare as it is these days, some people choose to live in their hometown their entire lives. Lifelong Nora member, Muriel Björneberg Thordson, is one of those folks. She was schooled in Hanska, met and married her husband, Erwin there, worked and raised a family – all in Hanska. Muriel had one sister, Joyce Hetle, also a lifelong Nora member. Muriel and Erwin raised one child, Marlan, who still lives in the area. She is also blessed with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. These days, Muriel enjoys reading biographies and magazines. She also enjoys watching the news and game shows on television. Music comes to mind when Muriel thinks of our church. She and Lorraine Becken are the surviving members of a six-member, all-girl choir under the direction of Mrs. Walen, spouse of one of Nora’s former ministers. We extend our gratitude and appreciation for Muriel’s service to our church! 
- MARYLINN O’REILLY - Marylinn Baekken O’Reilly was born on a farm in Linden Township. She is one of five children, four of whom still survive. Her great-grandparents (family names: Moe and Baekken) were among the most influential of Nora’s founders. After her education in a country school, Marylinn moved to White Bear Lake, near Minneapolis, where she met and married Paul O’Neill in 1955. They moved first to Bloomington, then back to Hanska. Marylinn was active as a volunteer for several organizations, including the Cancer Society, Lake Hanska, the American Red Cross, Nora Women’s Society, the “Over 60 Club” and the American Legion Auxiliary. Her current hobbies include croqueting and reading. Marylinn has been a member of Nora Church for her entire life. When asked about her memories of church life, she cites both weddings and funerals. Thank you, Marylinn, for your service to Nora Church! 
- CLARICE SANDMANN - Clarice Sandmann is yet another of our lifelong members. Born on a farm in Linden Township, she worked on her family’s farm and even hauled coal for the country school she attended. (She was a good student.) Clarice was the youngest of five children; she had two brothers and two sisters. She married her husband, Ezra, and together they worked a farm and raised five children of their own. (Clarice and Ezra were married in our parsonage.) Over the years, their family survived a demolishing fire, years of failed crops and various health problems. Clarice has had a lifelong interest in cooking, bowling and dancing. Her fondest memories of Nora Church are breakfast and hymn sings at Hanska Lake, and a Ladies’ Aid skit when she played one of Nora’s prominent leaders. Blessings on you, Clarice. Your work is most appreciated! - DOROTHY STROM - Sadly, Dorothy Strom passed away last month. While we miss her strong hugs and ready smile, we honor her with this profile. Dorothy Thedens Strom was born in New Ulm and raised on an area farm. She married Henry Strom in 1925, and together they farmed near Hanska, in the Browerville area. Henry passed away in 1974, and their son, Myron, took over the farm operation thereafter. Dorothy leaves behind a son, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, a sister and several nieces and nephews. She was an expert maker of meatballs for our annual Smorgasbord, a faithful worker and a truly good soul.
MERE LYS I would like to hear from everyone on whether you would like
to continue receiving the Mere Lys by mail or if I could send it to you via email.
The time I would save
by emailing the newsletter would be immense - time that I could put to other use
for Nora. Of course, I realize that not everyone has an email account, but if
enough of you prefer the email route, then we’d probably save money as well
even if we stopped with bulk mailings and went with the standard rate. I want
to check this out, but I need your help to do it! You can also take this opportunity
to let me know whether you would like to discontinue receiving the newsletter
altogether. To send me a reply, click
on this link, print the page and
send the page to me at: OR Click on this link, look at the form and just send Nita an email at: THANK YOU!
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March, 2006
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