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Churches of Minnesota   Photography by Doug Ohman

Literary Reflections by Jon Hassler

From the one-room chapel in a prairie town to the grandiose cathedral on a city street, churches -- which embody the spiritual history of their towns and neighborhoods -- stand at the heart of the Minnesota landscape. In this new book, photographer Doug Ohman and award-winning writer Jon Hassler (of Staggerford fame) come together to honor these architectural icons and share the stories of faith that built and now sustain these sacred spaces.

Through the seasons, Ohman has traveled to every corner of Minnesota to document the beauty of the state’s most evocative church structures of present and past, and in this book he showcases one hundred of his most exquisite interior and exterior shots with a colorful survey of a broad range of architecture.

In the “sure-handed, honest language” ( New York Times ) for which he is renowned, Hassler reflects on his own spirituality and his evolving faith in the church and its people. A graceful complement to Ohman’s images, Hassler’s remembrances chronicle how one’s connection with these spiritual grounds grows and changes with the milestones of life.

Churches of Minnesota is the second book in a new series by the Minnesota Historical Society called Minnesota Byways. The first book, released earlier this year, is Barns of Minnesota with photography by Ohman and a story by Will Weaver.

I - 50   Jacketed Hardcover    $19.95

Growing Up Lutheran: What Does this Mean?  by Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

Still a bestseller, this is a cradle-to-grave humorous look at Lutherans in the '50s, especially those who were triply blessed by being rural and Scandinavian as well as Lutheran.

Winter of the 1998 Minnesota Book Award for Humor and the Minnesota Independent Publisher's Award!

CA 2 - 06     Paperback     $13.95

You Know You are Lutheran If...   by Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

This book, boldly emblazoned with a picture of Martin Luther smack-dab on the front cover, is divided into 10 categories so it has something for almost everyone...Steadfast Lutherans, Contemporary Lutherans, Scandinavian Lutherans, Country Church Lutherans, Lutheran Church Basement Women, etc.

A great gift idea for Lutherans of all types, (ALC, ELC, LFC, LCA, LCMS, AFLC, ELCA,...) and for non-Lutherans who are trying to figure out their quiet and decent non-dancing, hotdish-eating neighbors.

CA 2 - 17     Paperback     $8.95

 

Luther's Small Dictionary: From AAL to Zululand  by Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

This is written for full-blooded Lutherans, halfhearted Lutherans, Lutheran Wannabes and non-Lutherans who get dragged to the St. Olaf Christmas Concert and don't know why. It contains entries such as, "Zacchaeus -- a New Testament figure who, like many a Lutheran woman, was up a tree because company was coming to visit" and "Dust -- the origin of mankind, and the downfall of Lutheran women."

CA 2 - 07     Paperback     $9.95

 

Lutheran Church Basement Women: Lutefisk, Lefse, Lunch and Jell-O
by Janet Letnes Martin and Allen Todnem

A humor cookbook with all your favorite church basement recipes supplemented with short stories, theories and great pictures of your aunts and their neighbors.  If you don't feel like cooking, just sit down, read this book, laugh right out loud, and order out!

MH 1 - 03   Paperback   $11.95

 

They Glorified Mary, We Glorified Rice  by Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

A Catholic-Lutheran lexicon for those who have forgotten what it was like in the 50's.  This little book is packed with great one-liners such as, "They had incense; we had Air Wick" and "They had Patron Saints; we pretty much fended for ourselves!"

CA 2 - 02  Paperback  $7.95

 

Gopher Tails for Papa      by Erling N. Rolfsrud

This book was used in grades 4 through 8 in North Dakota schools.  Rolfsrud's most widely read book, it has recently been reprinted by popular demand.

R - 01  $8.95

 

Delafield (VHS format)

Mark Brodin, producer/director

"Way to make me bawl out loud--all alone--on a Saturday night! When something evokes emotion in this old Norwegian Lutheran body, you know you have something that hits close to the heart. This is an absolutely beautiful, touching documentary." 

        An email from Suzann Nelson to the producer of the video.

It is apparent that this video was not made by someone simply assigned a job. . . and it wasn't. Mark Brodin, producer and director, is a former member of the Delafield Evangelical Lutheran Church (and current sound engineer for Church Basement Ladies.)  Brodin's concern and love for the people of the area come through clearly in this wonderful, but sad, story that centers on the parallel between the changing farm economy and the decline of the Delafield Church's population.

Founded in the 1870s by Norwegian immigrant farmers who were seeking to raise crops, families and community, they placed their most loved building in their most loved spot--a church in the middle of a cornfield. For the next 125 years, Delafield provided spiritual and social sustenance and continuity to subsequent generations. That continuity was broken in 1998 when the small congregation decided to disband and give away their beloved building.

Although this story takes place in southwestern Minnesota, it is relevant to rural areas throughout the Midwest, and viewers unfamiliar with this geographic region will recognize the pain and struggle of the dwindling membership as the people face the hard reality of change.

This video, which aired on many public television stations in 2002, would be a great gift for anyone who grew up in rural areas, and a wonderful donation to church libraries.

V2-05 Video $29.99

 

Growing Up Lutheran   Sound Version

Read by authors Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

Authors Nelson & Martin read an abridged version of their bestselling book, Growing Up Lutheran, in their natural Norwegian-American brogues.  Chapters are introduced with excerpts from familiar Lutheran hymns. In other words, there are no hymns from the green hymnal or With One Voice.  Truckers can shoot right across Kansas or Montana when they listen to this, and people in the hospital can shoot right through the day...unless they have had stitches.  In the case of stitches, the authors recommend the book version.  Why get sewn up again? The doctor has better things to do with his time, like finding a cure for hot flashes.

CDs: Three hours, three compact discs, 180 minutes.   Aud-CD     $19.95
 

Those Lutheran Ladies: Live at Medora

Recorded live in 1998 at the Medora Musical which is held each summer in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Western North Dakota.  Go to 'Those Lutheran Ladies.'

Available on CD      CA2 - 10      $7.95

Lutheran Church Food Group Trivets!

Lutheran Bars: They're Intoxicating!

CA 2 - 18a  Trivet  $9.95

 

Reserved: For Lutheran Hotdishes Only!

CA 2 - 18b  Trivet  $9.95

 

Egg Coffee:  It's all it's Cracked up to be and More

CA 2 - 18c  Trivet  $9.95

 

Funeral Fillings:  Minced Ham on White, Egg Salad on Wheat, Cheese Whiz and Olives on Rye, i.e., "dead spreads"

CA 2 - 118d  Trivet  $9.95

Red Jell-O: One Banana and a cup of Whipped Cream...fondly remembered as Lutheran Cuisine

CA 2 - 18e  Trivet  $9.95

Pickles:  Preserved So Pure and Wholly

CA 2 - 18f  Trivet   $9.95

 

"Confirmed Lutheran" T-shirt

Above Martin Luther's Seal it says, "This is Most Certainly True" and below it the shirt is stamped just like a passport saying, "Confirmed Lutheran!" Good for today's confirmands as well as for those who "read for the minister" when memory work really mattered and "Public Questioning" or catechization was enough to make Lutheran boys' voices squeak in public.

Available in Reformation Red.

CA 2-11a Red T-shirt  M, L, XL -     $16.00
CA 2-11b Red T-shirt  XXL, XXXL - $18.00

Lutheran Church Basement Dishtowel 

 When you're not drying dishes, you can use this towel for picking eggs, for headgear for the kid playing Joseph in the Sunday School Christmas program, or for keeping your "do" in place before a big "doing."  White with red printing. 

MH 1 - 07  Dishtowel  $7.95

 

Jell-O Apron

This is a no-nonsense apron in "new" hymnal red is a little sturdier than those flimsy, see-through organdy ones you got when you were a "waitress"  at your cousins' weddings. Also good for men who dish up mashed potatoes at church suppers or try to be modern city-slickers and flip burgers in the backyard. The motto above the bowl of Jell-O states: "Lutheran Jell-O Power: One Box of Red Jell-O, One Cup of Whipping Cream, Fondly Remembered as Lutheran Cuisine!"

MH 1 - 04  Apron  $19.95

Order by using the 'Place an Order' form or you may order by phone (800 494-9124).  For payment and shipping charges, see 'Place an Order.