The city of Whalan gratefully accepted a $200 donation from the Whalan Lutheran Church during the regularly scheduled October 13, 2025, city council meeting. The money is earmarked to go toward ballfield expenses. The council thanked the church for its gracious donation. Present at the council meeting were Mayor David Hallum along with council members Thore E. Johnson, … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) In 2007 I received a book written by Bishop Rueben P. Job. It was not a big or lengthy book, yet it was a book of transforming power and love. THREE SIMPLE RULES lifted up a powerful life and world changing way to live. Quoting … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Toil and Trouble
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger “Vanity of vanities! (Eccles 1:2b) The Hebrew literally means vapor of vapors, but it’s translated many ways: “utterly meaningless,” “all useless,” “nothing but smoke.” That’s Ecclesiastes’ conclusion about much of life – its toils and gains are vapor. Authorship … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Oh, Those Assumptions!
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches There was once an elderly woman who went to the grocery store in California to do some shopping. When she returned to her car, she noticed four men getting into her car in a big hurry! They were trying to steal the car! The woman dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse, and pulled out a … [Read more...]
Looney Valley Lutheran Church Celebrates 150 Years
On Sunday, September 28, Looney Valley Lutheran Church will join together to celebrate a century and a half of its existence. Using a theme of “Yesterday we remember, today we celebrate, tomorrow we await,” the church will host a coffee hour at 9:15 a.m. followed by a special church service at 10 a.m., a noon meal of meatballs and turkey and a program at 1:30 p.m. Three of … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Where Does The Road Lead?
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) Recently on a cool, pleasant evening I went for a walk on a quiet country road. There was a gentle breeze and the evening was peaceful with colorful wildflowers and the songs of roadside birds. As I walked along, I got to thinking … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) A few days ago, I ran across a picture of Snoopy sitting in the grass with a big smile on his face and the caption, “Be the reason someone smiles today.” The expression on Snoopy’s face was one of sheer joy and happiness and it made me … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Faith is a Guide in Times of Distress
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches Life is hard. It is full of ups and downs, pain and sorrow. For people of faith, our faith is part of what helps us weather those challenges in life! With lots of challenging national news happening in the last couple of weeks, I wanted to name some of the ways that faith can help you in times of … [Read more...]
Bethany Evangelical Free Church Celebrates 120 Years
Bethany Evangelical Free Church located at 301 S. Ellsworth St. in Houston, Minn., will be celebrating its 120th anniversary as an organized church on September 13 and 14. The two day celebration titled “Faith, Hope, and Love: Celebrating God’s Goodness over 120 Years” will consist of a “history day” on Saturday with a pancake/sausage brunch, fellowship, and an address by EFCA … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Saturated
By Pastor Kevin Barnhart Spring Grove Evangelical Free This summer the rain has seemed constant and steady like a “drip…drip…drip that never stops.” Floods have occurred near and far causing devastating destruction to homes, land, and lives. The damage in the wake of something so innocent as the rain is incredible. But when the soil becomes saturated and can no longer … [Read more...]