JANUARY 2016 • Volume 29, Issue 1
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NORTHEASTERN IOWA JANUARY 2016 • VolUme 29, IssUe 1 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Celebrating Renewal:Star St. Elizabeth of Hungary — Service A life of privilege creates a legacy of service by Marcia Hahn The stories about Mike and Marge McCoy Family St. Elizabeth of Distinguished Chair in Luther Hungary have been Heritage and Mission. “Elizabeth, handed down for though, was influenced by St. Fran- 800 years, recount- cis of Assisi who had a heart for ing her unwaver- serving the poor and needy. She was ing devotion to married to the ruler of Thuringia, the poor and the yet she expressed herself by feeding sick, her deep the hungry and building a hospital.” Kit Kleinhans religious faith in God, and a few tales of miracles. During Ludwig’s travels as a ruler, She lived to only age 24, but her he left Elizabeth in control of his good works and humble life in the finances and household. She used early 13th century endeared her to this opportunity to distribute alms those she served then and inspire to help the poor and share bread public charitable services today. from the castle with hundreds of poor and hungry people each day. Born the daughter of King Andrew She built a 28-bed hospital at the II of Hungary in 1207, Eliza- foot of the castle where she person- beth was betrothed in marriage ally helped care for those who were This statue of St. Elizabeth of Hungary with at age four and sent to live with afflicted with leprosy and other ill- a basket of roses stands near the Wartburg the Thuringian court at Wartburg nesses. Castle, above the site where Elizabeth Castle in Eisenach to be educated. established her first hospital. From an early age her religious “Elizabeth would only have had to devotion was evident as she spent step out the front gate of the castle >> Continued on page 2 many hours in prayer and pious to be among people who were less observances. At age 14, she mar- fortunate,” Kleinhans said. “The ried Ludwig IV of Thuringia, and notion of bringing those people to- IN THIS ISSUE their happy union produced three gether to be tended to and well fed was a remarkable commitment to children. With her husband’s bless- A life of privilege creates a living out her faith.” 1 ing and support, Elizabeth used her legacy of service status and wealth to feed the poor Ludwig died of the plague while on and tend to the sick. a crusade, and Elizabeth’s in-laws 3 We are church together “It was a time when noble families exiled her from the castle. A widow 4 Rural Ministry Conference assumed that their position was at age 20, Elizabeth and her chil- God given and if they had a lot, dren were forced into poverty wan- 6 Decorah coalition helps that was how God wanted it,” said dering the streets. Elizabeth moved immigrants pursue citizenship Kit Kleinhans, Wartburg College to Marburg, Germany, where she Congregations professor of religion who holds the lived an austere life under the guid- 7 8 Prayer Calendar A life of privilege creates a legacy of service << Continued from page 1 ance of a severe spiritual advisor. in Europe and the She built a hospital at Marburg and U.S. carry the St. continued to serve the poor and sick Elizabeth name. until her death. “It is great to have motivation and to “From our position of privilege, help others, but to create a real and we, too, can help others who are lasting change re- less fortunate.” quires a lot more,” Kleinhans said. “Eliz- abeth did that, and we continue to do Stories of miracles have always that as Lutherans.” been associated with St. Elizabeth and are depicted in paintings, Kleinhans cites Lu- stained glass, and statues in Ger- theran World Relief, many and Eastern Europe. One Lutheran Services in famous story was the miracle of America, and the Lu- roses, in which Elizabeth was carry- theran women who ing bread smuggled from the castle make quilts as part kitchen to give to the poor. She ran of a bigger mission into her husband who asked to see as examples of living what she was carrying under her faith in the world. cloak. He turned back the cloth and “From our position a bouquet of roses was revealed. of privilege, we, too, can help others who St. Elizabeth of Hungary is depicted in paintings, statues and Another story tells how Elizabeth are less fortunate.” stained glass artwork around the world. This painting of “The helped a man who was dying of lep- Charity of St. Elizabeth of Hungary” is by Edmund Leighton rosy by bringing him into the castle St. Elizabeth lived at (1853-1922). and laying him in Ludwig’s bed. Wartburg Castle 300 Upon Ludwig’s return to the castle, years before Martin cause she was born into a life of he ripped off the covers and saw the Luther and the reformation, but she privilege, but she wasn’t limited by crucified Christ. is celebrated as part of the renewal that,” Kleinhans said. “She wanted because she lived the kind of life of to help others who were less for- “One of the challenges about some- service that Lutherans value. tunate, and she packed a lot into a one from this long ago is that we very short life.” don’t know how accurate all of the “Elizabeth is a great example be- stories about her are,” Kleinhans said. “What we do know is that Eliz- abeth was canonized as a saint just four years after her death, so she Day of Renewal to feature St. Elizabeth clearly had a powerful impact on people at that time to have had that Rostered leaders can learn more about the service ministry of St. Elizabeth of much support for sainthood.” Hungary at this year’s Day of Renewal. The event is set for Thursday, March 17, at Nazareth Lutheran, Cedar Falls. Elizabeth worked to improve peo- ple’s lives, and building hospitals Watch for more information in upcoming issues of the Star newsletter and on created a way to serve people long the synod website. after she was gone. Many hospitals 2 NORTHEASTERN IOWA SYNOD | www.neiasynod.org BISHOP We are church together The surgeon had decided that this simple, yet my father needed surgery as soon “There was a bond that only profound state- as possible. That meant that the ment describing surgery would be the next day at the they could experience.” the identity of end of a long day. the Evangeli- cal Lutheran My mother waited patiently, as a Church in spouse and good nurse would. At 11 I have never experienced anything America, we p.m., she finally allowed me to call quite like it before. Everything will experience down to the surgical recovery area. changed. The nurses embraced her. a bond and purpose not unlike what Permission was given to go back They talked a language that only my mother experienced that late and see my father, though he had the nurses understood. There was night. not yet come out of the anesthesia. a bond that only they could experi- ence. They were nurses. We are church. We are Lutheran. Two nurses came to get us. I men- We are church together. We are tioned that my mother was a nurse We are church. We are Lutherans. church for the sake of the world. and that she had graduated from We are church together. We are the nursing school of the hospital church together for the sake of the — Steven L. Ullestad that was caring for her husband. world. As we continue to grow into Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod Where do our offerings go? In 2014, members of nearly 10,000 congregations in the United States and Caribbean gave $1.8 billion in regular offerings to support ELCA ministries. Those gifts helped grow the ELCA in the United States and grow the Lutheran church around the world. The funds help support and develop current and future lead- ers in the ELCA, support churchwide ministries, address social issues, and more. A new poster illustrating how gifts to the ELCA are used is available for congregations. The posters are free and can be mailed to congregations requesting them. To order, contact Pastor Mark Anderson, assistant to the Bishop, 319-352-1414 or ander- [email protected]. JANUARY 2016 3 Conference to focus on rural ministries Rural Ministry Conference March 6-8, 2016 Dubuque, Iowa The 35th annual Rural Ministry Conference is set for March 6-8 in Dubuque. Sponsored by Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Center for Theology and Land, the event will focus on “Life Changing Ministry in the Small Membership Congregation.” Keynote speakers are the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, who serves on the ministry team at the national offices of the United Church of Christ, and The Rev. James M. Childs, Jr., Ph.D., who is a professor emeritus of theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Samuel Giere will be the Bible study leader. by Monday, Feb. 8. The standard registration rate is due WORKSHOPS Monday, Feb. 29: $185 for one person or $165 per person Six workshops are planned for Monday afternoon: for two or more. Pastors who have been serving a rural Two-Minute Testimonies congregation for less than five years save $50. Participants Dilley will present creative techniques to share powerful also have the option to register for just the Monday after- stories of life-changing ministry.