to have your heart set

It was shaping up to be the perfect weekend - a trip to Chicago to visit our daughter Hannah and take her some items for her apartment. We’d stay at a comfy hotel, have a nice getaway and spend time with her. We’d join a nephew for lunch and make our way back to Wisconsin for stay in Spring Green and a chance to attend a couple of plays at our favorite theatre before heading home.

The shine started to wear off the plans right away. We left quite a bit later than we planned, and encountered more road construction and traffi c than any highway has a right to in the middle of the night. Finally getting to Chicago early Friday morning, we saw Hannah for a few minutes as we picked her up and drove her to work, Then we returned to her place to spend the morning carrying stuff from the car parked a block away up the stairs to her place.

That evening she had a performance commitment she hadn’t been able to get out of and we can’t get tickets to see her perform. “Maybe” we’re thinking “this wasn’t the best weekend to see her.” Especially when to kill time while waiting we went down by the lake and parked the car to walk along the harbor breakwater. That was nice until we returned to our car and a dead battery. When we’ve told the story we’ve made sure to remember the slow response from the garage AAA called to help us. But even with our late return to get her we had to wait. It wasn’t supposed to be long. But it was –longer than any of us had thought. (none of it her fault) While we waited for her we didn’t dare turn the car off, because the battery was not exactly fi xed. Trying to salvage some of the night, we ordered pizza to take to our hotel. It took an hour to prepare, My wife & daughter waiting for it in an uncomfortable neighborhood while I drove around the block over and over again. When we fi nally arrived at our hotel (which was farther away than we’d thought) to fi nd that our (by now cold) pizza was not the one we ordered. None of us were really up for Jalapeños at that point. Meeting our nephew for lunch the next day was more frustration. I dropped the girls off and went to park the car. 45 minutes later I made it back to the restaurant, though I wasn’t sure if it would start when I returned or even that it was in a legal spot and that it would be there. That afternoon as we left Hannah and got on the freeway to come north I was thinking, “I usually like visiting Chicago, but this was a hot & frustrating time – I’m glad to be heading up to the peace and quiet of Wisconsin. I can’t wait to get to Spring Green That’s when the tire blew. As traffi c (lots of it) sped by at 70 mph we got hold of AAA, and over the noise tried to let them know where we were. We were still there over an hour later with no sign of a wrecker. A fellow in an Illinois Highway service truck helped us change it. When it’s was done the car won’t start. He has to give us a jump. We fi nd our way to Sears where we have to get a new tire and a new battery. But by the time we are able to get on the road again it’s far too late to get to the play. We get to our hotel in Spring Green after midnight.

The next morning I’m not really up for going to church.

So we had our own. In a quiet gazebo behind the motel surrounded by beautiful gardens with a small pond and running water, we sipped coffee and in the cool and quiet morning, opened the Bible to Romans 12.

“…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think..”

When I began to change the way I remembered our Chicago adventure. I started to tell myself the other story.

In this one I remember how much we enjoy night drives with no time pressure, stopping when we need. I could enjoy remembering how much delight I took seeing my daughter after weeks and having breakfast with her, that unloading the car was in a cool morning at our own pace.

In the afternoon we got to visit Hannah’s work, meet the folks she works with and enjoy dinner together at a sidewalk café. Later while she attended to her commitments, Cheryl & I get to take a walk along Lake Michigan and, when our car doesn’t start, meet a nice young family who can jump our car.

We did get to spend the late evening with Hannah, even if we’re not thrilled about the pizza.

Next day the car starts and continues to work through all the errands we run, including a trip to a great grocery store and lunch with our nephew In this story, having a fl at tire as we tried to leave town sounds funny instead of tragic. We are rescued on the highway by the highway service personnel who change the tire and recharge our dead battery. We have smart phones to locate a Sears, call them & get there late on a Saturday afternoon. We get a new tire and battery and didn’t have to worry about it the rest of the trip.

Some people have stories with a lot more sorrow and grief than we encountered. But even in those, if we let God renew our minds we can fi nd examples of his grace. And then we can make a new story - one of hope.

How do you look at your life? What story are you writing? Do you need to have your eyes opened and your mind to be transformed in Christ? Maybe it’s time for a renewal project with God.

PENNIES: Fundraiser SUBMITTED Senior Campaign Manager for the Wisconsin Chapter for the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society, Brooke Shalstrom, teaches students about white blood cells, platelets and oxygen with three special Osceola Elementary helpers at the Pennies for Patients kick-off .

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wonderful, caring community that continues to support our efforts. People save their pennies year round for us - nickels, dimes, and quarters too.”

Osceola Elementary students have the entire month of February to collect as much change as they can before donating the funds to students who have been diagnosed. The goal this year is $2,020 for year 2020 and if the kids make that goal, they receive a special prize.

Osceola elementary teachers will participate in a special game called “egg roulette” where they will take turns picking up eggs – some hardboiled, some not- and crack them on their heads! This is sure to be a fun show and a great incentive for the kids to raise $2020.

Now that the event has started, students and parents alike are encouraged to help the kids meet their $2020 goal before the end of February. Students were encouraged to look in their couch cushions, donate payment from household chores, and even set up online donations platforms like GoFundMe.com with the help of their parents. Whether or not that goal is met, the mission is clear: fi ghting cancer is possible no matter your age, or how much money you can donate.

“It is amazing the support we receive from the families and the entire community,” says Jorgensen. “The kids are so proud to have a part in saving lives, and every penny makes a difference. Our change can make a change in cancer!”

CHURCH LISTINGS

ALLIANCE CHURCH OF THE VALLEY 1259 Hwy. 35 South, St. Croix Falls 715-483-1100 www.stcroixalliance.com Lead Pastor Jeff Naegelen Co-Lead Pastor Chris Folkestad SUNDAY: Worship 10 a.m. ———————— ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH East Farmington Rev. Joseph Madanu SUNDAY: Mass at 9 a.m. ———————— BETHANY LUTHERAN Star Prairie Pastor Dan Pennington (715) 248-3730 blcsp@frontiernet.net SUNDAY: Traditional Worship 8 a.m. Contemporary Worship 9:30 a.m. ———————— BETHESDA LUTHERAN LCMC 1947 110th Ave. Dresser Sand Lake 715-755-2562 www.bethesdalutheran.ws Pastor Peter Rimmereid Associate Pastor Scott Adkins SUNDAY: Contemporary/Traditional worship, 9 a.m ———————— CEDARBEND CHURCH P.O. BOX 414, Osceola Matt Hayton connect@cedarbendchurch.com SUNDAY: Worship, 10:30 a.m. at Osceola High School Auditorium.

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 150 Fifth Street Marine on St. Croix, Minn. Pastor Joel Martin 651-433-3222 SUNDAY: Worship 8:15 & 9:45 a.m. ———————— EL SALEM/TWIN FALLS CHRISTIAN CENTER Six miles east of Dresser on Co. Rd. F, 1751 100th Ave. Pastor Darryl R. Olson ALLIANCE CHURCH

715-755-3113 SUNDAY: Morning worship 10:30 a.m. Evening service 6 p.m. ———————— 715 755 3113

EUREKA BAPTIST CHURCH 2393 210th Ave., St. Croix Falls Pastor Seth Brickley 715-483-9464 SUNDAY: Worship Service 10 a.m. ———————— FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 661A West Street Taylors Falls, MN 55084 651-465-6792 www.fi rstbaptisttaylorsfalls.com Dr. Kevin Schumann, Pastor SUNDAY: Worship 10.15 a.m. ———————— FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 561 Chestnut St. Taylors Falls, Minn. SUNDAY: Worship 9 a.m. ———————— FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 719 Nevada St. St. Croix Falls Reverend David Maghakian 715-483-3550 (offi ce) SUNDAY: Church Service 10 a.m. ———————— GRACE CHURCH – OSCEOLA Pastor Mark Barlow 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola 715-417-0752 SUNDAY: Worship Service, 10 a.m. ———————— GRACE BEREAN FELLOWSHIP 421 4th Street, Centuria Duane Gallentine, Pastor 715-755-2523 FRIDAY and SUNDAY KJV Bible Study/Fellowship ———————— GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Nye Area/Wisconsin Synod 2098 70th Avenue Pastor Nile Merseth SUNDAY: Worship 9 a.m. ———————— HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX

CHRISTIAN CHURCH Meeting at Zion Lutheran Church 28005 Old Towne Road Chisago Lakes, Minn. 651-260-5100 www.holyx.net Fr. Bill Neumann, pastor SUNDAY: Worship 9:30 a.m. ———————— HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH 523 First Street, Clayton 715-948-2203 Father Christopher Wojcik SUNDAY: Liturgy 9:30 a.m. ———————— HOPE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 933 248th Street, one mile north of Osceola on Highway 35 Pastor Nate Roschen 715-294-2112 • www.hefc.org SUNDAY: Worship 10 a.m. ———————— JOURNEY CHURCH 131 Broadway, Amery www.journeychurch.city offi ce@journeychurch.city 715-268-2223 THURSDAY: Latino Bible Study 5 p.m. SUNDAY: Worship Service 9 a.m. ———————— NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Non-denominational 201 State Hwy. 35, Dresser Pastor Tony Minell, 715-417-1982 galatiansii20@yahoo.com Church offi ce: 715-417-0945 SUNDAY: Worship Service 9:30 a.m. ———————— NEW WINE COMMUNITY CHURCH 309 5th Street, Centuria Pastor Scott Petznick (715) 338-8912 Worship 10 a.m. ———————— OSCEOLA COMMUNITY CHURCH 2492 Education Drive, Osceola Larry Mederich CHRISTIAN CHURCH

www.osceolacommunitychurch.org SATURDAY: 6 p.m. SUNDAY: Worship 9 a.m. OSCEOLA MEDICAL CENTER SPIRITUAL CARE 2600 65th Avenue, Osceola https: myomc.org/wellness/ spiritual-care 715-294-2111 Chapel open daily for meditation. ———————— OSCEOLA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 306 River Street, Osceola P.O. Box 447 Pastor Jack Starr 715-755-2275 osceolaunitedmethodistchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY: Worship 10 a.m. Coffee Fellowship, 11 a.m. ———————— PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), 2355 Clark Rd., Dresser 715-755-2515• plcdresser.org Pastor Melissa Carmack Find us on Facebook! peace@centurytel.net SUNDAY: Worship, 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. ———————— PRAIRIEVIEW COVENANT CHURCH OF NEW RICHMOND 1396 210th Ave. 2 miles north of New Richmond on Hwy. 65 Pastor Rudy King 715-248-0600 SUNDAY: Worship 10 a.m. ———————— REDEEMER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Wisconsin Synod Corner of Adams & Louisiana St. Croix Falls Rev. Timothy Blauert 715-483-3401 SUNDAY: Worship 9:15 a.m. ———————— RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE 1289 160th Street St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 715-483-5378 Pastor Jonah Fetzer SUNDAY: Worship 10 a.m. ———————— ST. ANNE PARISH 139 Church Hill Road Somerset, WI 54025 715-247-3310 Rev. Joseph Madanu SATURDAY: Mass 5 p.m. SUNDAY: Mass 8 and 10 a.m. ———————— ST. CROIX FALLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Upper St. Croix Parish 300 North Adams Street St. Croix Falls 715-483-9494 churches@centurytel.net umstcroixfallswolfcreek.org Pastor Ran Yoo Pastor Kooko Kim Sunday services 10 a.m. ———————— ST. CROIX UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 201 N. Adams, St. Croix Falls www.scuuf.org Rev. Kelli Clement SUNDAY: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sunday 10 a.m. ———————— ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH Franconia, MN 651-465-7345 www.stfrancisfranconia.org Fr. John Drees SUNDAY: Mass 9:15 a.m. ———————— ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC Osceola Rev. Joseph Madanu 715-294-2243 SATURDAY: Mass at 4 p.m. SUNDAY: Latin Mass, 8:30 a.m. Mass at 11a.m. ———————— ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC 490 Bench Street Taylors Falls, Minnesota 651-465-7345 www.stjosephtaylorsfalls.org Fr. John Drees SATURDAY: 5:30 p.m. Vigil SUNDAY: Mass 7:30 and 11 a.m. ———————— SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD 140 Madison Street St. Croix Falls Pastor Mark Schoen 715-483-1186 SUNDAY: Worship Services 9 a.m. ———————— TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) 300 Seminole Ave., (Ct H M) Osceola 715-294-2828 • www.trinityosceola.com Pastor David Rosenow (920-645-7526) SUNDAY: Worship 9 a.m. • Wed. 7 p.m. Bible Class, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. ———————— TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GARFIELD 1578 85th Ave., Amery Pastor Lori Peper 715-268-9577 SUNDAY: Worship Service 9:30 a.m. ———————— WEST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN (ELCA), 447 180th St., Osceola www.westimmanuel.org SUNDAY: Worship Services, 9:30 a.m. ———————— WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP Cliff Bjork, (651) 465-7373 366 Bench St., Taylors Falls, Minn. SUNDAY: Worship Service 10 a.m. ———————— ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod) East Farmington Pastor William Brassow (715) 294-3489 THURSDAY: Worship, 4:30 p.m. SUNDAY: Worship, 10:30 a.m. l it h h St C i F ll Wi i T l F ll Mi t