Beginning Experience
Beginning Experience of SW MN/Marshall, a peer ministry support group for widowed, separated and divorced people is offering its “Coping With Life Alone” Series for ten weeks beginning Jan. 14, 2019. This series is designed for those wishing to work through the grieving process following the loss of a loved one. The Monday night sessions begin at 7:00 P.M. at the First Lutheran Church on Church and “A” Street in Marshall, MN.
Registration is held the first two Monday nights starting at 6:30 P.M. Registration is then closed for that session. The support group is open to people of all denominations. There is a $75 fee to cover the cost of materials. If you wish to pre-register or have other questions, contact: Laurie W: 507-829-4004 or wall.laurie33@gmail.com; MaryAnn S.: 507-828-2866 or maryannschultz83@gmail.com; Mary J.: 507-872-6251 or yote1@centurytel.net.
Give the Gift of Conversation
Do you have a relative, friend or neighbor that is in need of some social interaction? We can help through Friendly Visiting or Telephone Reassurance. Friendly Visiting entails having a trained volunteer spend short periods of time with them in their own setting. Telephone Reassurance is a daily phone call from a trained volunteer. Conversations are to inquire about their wellbeing, and often leads to a lasting friendship. For more information please contact Joyce Wiekeraad at A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota – Murray County at 507-836-8705 or via email at ace.murray@co.murray.mn.us.
Give the Gift of Respite
Do you have a relative, neighbor or friend that is struggling to have some time to themselves or go do something that they enjoy, because of their responsibilities of caring for their loved one? We have trained and screened volunteers available to relieve the caregiver while they take time to run errands, or socialize, or other activities for usually 1 to 3 hours. For more information please contact Joyce Wiekeraad at A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota – Murray County at 507-836-8705 or via email at ace.murray@co.murray.mn.us.
Good News
By: John Stenen
“There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as if everything is.” Albert Einstein.
The miracle of creation since Adam and Eve has been seen and explored for thousands of years. God has not only given us all we need on this earth to survive, but He has given us such diversity and beauty and wonder in it all. To see how a little baby, is wonderfully created within the womb of a woman, in only nine months is an amazing thing to behold.
All that we see in the heavens and on the earth was spoken into existence by God, and He holds all things together by the word of His power. Heb. 1:3. To think that God has even built within us a way in which our bodies can heal themselves if the injury or disease is not too serious. Even when there are sicknesses, diseases or injuries that are very serious, God’s Word tells us in Psalm 103: that He forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases. The trouble is that most Christians don’t seem to believe that. They believe God could heal if He wants to but that He usually doesn’t want to.
Well, two thousand years ago, God came to us - born of a virgin. He came to do the will of God. What is His will? Acts 10:38 says: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” Jesus also came to seek and to save those that are lost. He also came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus gave us a new and better covenant (compared to the Old Testament) with better promises which includes healing to those who choose to believe Him. Jesus said in John 14:12 “The works that I do shall you also do”…but this was for those who believe. My God is still the ‘Great I Am’, not the ‘great I was’.
“Winter Reads”
The annual adult winter reading program sponsored by the Plum Creek Library System and its member libraries, will begin January 1, and run through March 31, 2019. The program, open to everyone ages 16 and beyond, is held every year during the winter months, and rewards readers for doing what they love to do: READ!
Participation is easy: Simply sign up at your local Slayton Public Library beginning December 20th and pick up a prize for registering. The library will give you a reading log to record the number of books read. Then get set to read at least 12 books during the 3-month long program. Readers are encouraged to read as many titles as they choose, however in order for their reading log to be counted, a minimum of 12 books read is required. Titles may be in any format including audio books and e-books.
The Slayton Public Library offers patrons a prize for completing the reading challenge.
Make plans to stop by the library to register and get set to participate in the Winter Reading Program in January.
COURT QUEEN OF PEACE
Court Queen of Peace met for the annual Christmas party at City Limits on Dec. 12 with 33 daughters present. Regent Risacher called the meeting to order and prayer was offered by Joanne Halbur. Guest and new members, Judy Andrews, Deanna Konkol were introduced.
The secretary and treasurer’s reports were read along with committee reports which included Gummi Bear receipts, an inspiring thank you response from seminarian, Matt Wagner, Kelly Nelson’s update about Junior CDA for girls ages 6-18, and the Memorial Mass. Barb Surprenant gave an update on changes that may occur as a result of the recent election.
Rita Lear talked about the 95th anniversary for Court Madonna which she and Bev Schreier attended on Sun., Dec 9 at Wilmont. Margaret Slinger was visited by Joann Halbur and Joyce Risacher in Pipestone at Good Sam’s. She is doing well and welcomes visitors. Poinsettias will be delivered on Dec. 14 to the 5 members at nursing homes and the 1 shut-in. Dedication of the Habitat House in Fergus Falls on Jan. 14 will be attended by Marlys Knuth.
Motions were made to monetarily support the Mass of Reparation, our Medford Court Pal’s project of St. Joseph of Carondelet women’s religious, and gifts to our priests, custodians and cemetery caretakers.
Marlys Knuth, 1st Vice Regent gave us the challenge to think of ways to support the 43 groups of women’s religious and to bring those ideas to the State convention in Rochester in May.
Program chairs Kim Konkol and Betty Palmer finished off the evening with the ‘lefty and righty’ game and offered some nice prizes to go along with that. Heart Sister gifts were exchanged but not revealed.
The next meeting is Jan. 19 at 9 AM.
MCC Early Childhood Screening
The early childhood years from birth to the start of kindergarten are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Early Childhood Screening (ECS) is a program adopted by the state of Minnesota that helps to identify health and developmental needs of young children before they enter kindergarten. Screening during early childhood supports children’s readiness for kindergarten and promotes positive child health and developmental outcomes. All of the information from your child’s Early Childhood Screening is important to his/her future school success. It is necessary to have children screened at an early age, usually around 3 to 4 years old, so there is adequate time to obtain help for any identified concerns before the child enters school.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends the developmental screening instruments used in the Murray County Central School District. These instruments are approved by the Minnesota Department of Education for use in the ECS Program. The screening is required for entrance in Minnesota’s public schools or within 30 days of enrollment into kindergarten.
The screening process provides an opportunity for young children and their families to access a wide variety of services and early childhood programs. Some of these programs include: Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), Little Rebels Preschool, Trinity Preschool, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Public Health Services, Follow Along, and Head Start. It also promotes and supports parents understanding of their child’s health, development and learning.
During the screening, the staff will look at how your child sees, hears, moves, plays, talks, learns and behaves. The assessments include: vision, hearing, developmental screening (cognitive, fine and gross motor, language and social emotional development), immunizations, physical growth, risk factors that influence learning, referral for health care coverage and summary interview with parents.
