Jim Ruether

 Jim Ruether, 64, of Montevideo passed away on Friday, December 16, 2022,…

John “Jack” Bittner

 John “Jack” Bittner, 97, of Montevideo passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2022,…

Beyond Reason

7:15PM. The center atrium at the mall. A large, temporary structure houses “The North Pole”, an ad-hoc collection of holiday lights and fake snow. Rob weaves his way past a “Closed” sign, through the short maze where a line usually forms, and pokes his head behind the curtain.

Over $26,000 awarded in grants at Montevideo Area Community Foundation banquet

Monday evening, a crowd gathered in Table 212’s banquet room for the annual Montevideo Area Community Foundation Awards Banquet. The Montevideo Area Community Foundation was established in 1993 with the mission to nurture philanthropy and provide opportunities for current and future generations to enhance their quality of life in the Montevideo area. Originally, the group was formed to create the Community Center, then began giving out grants in 2003, giving away $4,500 that year. Before Monday night’s banquet, the foundation has given away a total of $259,984.80 over the years since.

Thunder Hawk boys score two victories last week

Montevideo will carry a two-game winning streak into road games at BOLD on Thursday and Central Minnesota Christian Friday. The Thunder Hawks (2-1) will then return home to face Eden Valley-Watkins on Tuesday night -- and have an excellent chance to be 5-1 heading into the Christmas break.

Love is more than an emotion or feeling

When I was about seven, I was invited to a friend’s birthday. For his gift, my mom showed me two choices; a Hot Wheels matchbox car (super cool), or a card game (super lame). She told me to choose one for him, and said I could keep the other. Of course, being a selfish seven year old I chose the card game for my friend. Though I can sheepishly laugh about that self centered decision now, it contrasts starkly to God’s approach to gift giving. You see, in sending Jesus to live among us, he sent his very best; There was no holding back…. because he loved us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The “Why” of his gift to us is so important to understand: For God so loved…it led to his unselfish action on our behalf: that he gave… Love is so much more than an emotion, or feeling. In spite of what many think, it’s not something we fall “in” or “out” of either. My favorite Chip Ingram quote is: “Love is not a feeling; Love is giving someone what they need most, when they deserve it least, at great personal cost to yourself” Wow. Isn’t that exactly what God did in sending his Son, knowing that someday Jesus would pay the price for our sin, so our relationship with our Heavenly Father could be restored? We didn’t deserve what God did, but we certainly needed it! How wonderful to know what motivated God’s actions towards us was his love for us.

CHURCH SCHEDULES

Assembly of God, Clarkfield SUNDAY: Sunday School 9 a.m.; Worship 10 a.m.; Evening 7 p.m. Wednesday: Teens 5 p.m.; Young Explorers 6:30 p.m.

From the Editor’s Desk

While my son was deployed in the Middle East, I wrote about my grandma’s great cookie mission. Each week she would bake and send box after box of cookies and then, once they arrived, my son would go around base and hand them out to all of his fellow soldiers that were around at distribution time.

Live Well, Age Wisely:

Prairie Five Community Action has wonderful options to help fill any holes in your holiday shopping list! Give the gift of safety with a punch card or monthly pass for our RIDES transportation system. Winter weather driving can be so dangerous and even going out to warm up the car and scrape the windows gets tedious.