Commemoration Elizabeth Fedde February 25

Commemoration February 25

Elizabeth Fedde, Deaconess, d. 1921

Reflection

Elizabeth Fedda was born on Christmas Day in Norway. At age 19 she entered deaconess training and worked as a nurse. She established a hospital in a remote area of northern Norway. On her 32^nd birthday she received a letter asking her to come to New York and take up a ministry to the Norwegian seamen. Sister Elizabeth established a six-bed hospital that was to be come a large medical center in Brooklyn. Sister Elizabeth also founded homes for widows and orphans, collected an distributed food and clothing to the poor, made burial arrangements, taught Sunday School, solicited funds for ship fares for the disillusioned who wanted to return home. She also established the Lutheran Deaconess Home and Hospital in Minneapolis. Plagued by ill health, she returned to Norway, where she married and lived for nearly 25 years.

Prayer

Gracious God, Your Son came not to be served but to serve. Thank you for the life and example of Sister Elizabeth. Inspire us to lives of service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.