By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist The church I serve, Chatfield United Methodist, has been organizing a Soup Supper and Silent Auction for the Eagles Cancer Telethon for many, many years. Like many of the ministries we do, we do it with such passion and faithfulness because we have been touched by the problem we are trying to alleviate. Hunger, lack … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: New Year’s Day: “If you had not seen us crash, we may have all died.”
“It was like the Lord told him to do it now – you have an important job to do tomorrow,” wrote Glenn Buxengard, referring to neighbor George Wiemerslage, whose tractor had run out of gas the night before – New Year’s Eve. It was dark and time for chores, so Wiemerslage was going to leave gassing up until tomorrow. But he didn’t wait. So, when Buxengard phoned him the next … [Read more...]
How I love you, how I love you, my dear old Swami
I opened the door and a robed visitor accompanied by sitar music walked in out of the dimming twilight. The renowned mystic from the Far East part of the township, the fabled soothsayer, the seventh son of the seventh son of the seventh son, the oracle from just down the road; Swami Davis, Jr. stopped by to give me his predictions for 2021. He knows little but suspects a lot. … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage
Well, it is about time to take down the old Christmas tree. Some years I have been the lone decorator. At other times I have been delighted by a surprise when my family put up the tree and donned it with lights, garlands and ornaments. Our first Christmas tree filled our apartment with the typical refreshing scent of pine. As a young married couple, our budget did not allow … [Read more...]
Draft horses are a hobby for the Apenhorst family
Immersed on a farm south of Spring Valley, the Apenhorst family can be found working with their hobby of Belgian Draft Horses. Lynn Apenhorst takes pride in grooming and driving their Blond Belgians as well as working at the Rochester International Airport and farming, while his wife Lisa (Paulsen) Apenhorst is employed at the Kingsland High School as a paraprofessional. These … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The Christmas angel
By Bethany Schneekloth Every year without fail, during the Christmas season, people put out their angels. Whether they are topping trees, ornaments, or little figurines decorating an area, the angels all have similar characteristics with their horns of gold and vibrant dresses. With wings of either gold or white feathers, they are beautiful to see. But when did the use of … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County: Historical, Fillmore County Christmas gift, like no other!
By Dianne Ruud Last week our friend Flip Huggenvik shared one electrifying story about how Aaron Dayton’s hired man was needing emergency medical attention, and that the Mayo brothers in Rochester, Minn., were contacted by the patient’s wife, Mrs. E. M. Rolfe. The Mayos had only recently begun their practice, and the year was 1896! She asked that they please come to … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Trains bypass county seats; earn dollar and a half a day working on the railroad
The first railroad in southeast Minnesota went up the Root River Valley, bypassing two county seats – Caledonia and Preston. That omission would soon be solved by entrepreneurs in Caledonia. Railroads began to cross Houston County in the 1860s, shortly after the Civil War. The railroad era in southeast Minnesota lasted more than a century before ending in 1976. In 1880, the … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions: When life gives you dingleberries…
By Pastor Bridget Sheely Racine/Sumner Center UMC, Stewartville UMC Children’s Mininstry Coordinator A few years back, when my two boys where young our family loaded up into our truck to go pick out our Christmas tree. As we cruised down the road with the Christmas music playing, our oldest was bouncing around in the back seat and doing what kids do, which ended with me … [Read more...]
Santa wasn’t watching but Aunt Ingeborg was
I don’t care if we have a white Christmas. There, I’ve said it. Such an utterance is nearly a sacrilege. I remember going to see the Christmas tree man each year. He was destined to sell Christmas trees according to a neighbor who claimed the man’s head comes to a point. We bought the cheapest Christmas tree in the lot, only seeds would have cost less. The tree had a lived-in … [Read more...]