to be over the moon

God’s Son is heaven’s greatest gift to our world. God’s Son is also heaven’s most precious gift to our world. 1 Peter 1:19 describes our salvation from sin and for heaven in this way, “with the precious blood of Christ.”

Jesus and his sacrifi ce for sin on the cross are fi rst and foremost to every believer. Way back in the Old Testament, Psalm 25:18 was prayed by God’s people,

Psalm 25:18 … “See my affl iction and my trouble, and take away all my sins.”

Affl iction then and now is horrible, but more precious than deliverance from trouble is the forgiveness of our sins. See my affl iction and trouble, O Savior, but see no more of my sins. When you forgive our sins, Lord, we will even rejoice in our sufferings no matter how troubling they are (See: Romans 5:3-8).

In spite of all our present troubles, Christians still see forgiveness of sins as our greatest gift from God. The joyful and confi dent message of Jesus Christ crucifi ed and risen is exactly what our edgy world needs.

An end to any earthly problem does not come close to an end to sin’s curse and damnation. An end to sin, though, means that we live a life of peace now with our God with eternal life in heaven waiting after that.

What joy and comfort we have when we take any trouble or triumph to the Lord in prayer and then conclude that prayer … “and take away all my sins.” That’s because our Father in heaven always does take away our sins because of his Son! With that full and free forgiveness in his heart is exactly how we want our heavenly Father to look at and deal with our affl ictions and troubles.

ARNELL MEMORIAL HUMANE SOCIETY

Girl Scout Troop 56021 from Amery, are 7th grade Cadettes. They have been a troop of four since they were all in kindergarten together. As a troop, they have participated in fundraisers for eight years, selling Girl Scout Cookies in the Spring and Nuts & Snacks in the fall. Their dedication to these fundraisers allowed them to take a group fi eld trip or two and donate to local non-profi t charities.

The Troop donated $266 to Arnell Memorial Humane Society because they “care about animals and wanted to help their community.” The Cadettes, along with their troop leaders, presented their donation last week. Photo left to right: Alessandra Hayes, Jean Edwards, Alexandra Edwards, Izzie Iwaszko, Stephanie Hayes and Marley Cran. Their troop spirit is greatly appreciated.

In February, twin

CHURCH LISTINGS

Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, all gatherings of 10 or more are being curtailed. Please call to see if church services are being held in some capacity.

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 ———————— ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH East Farmington Rev. Joseph Madanu ———————— BETHANY LUTHERAN Star Prairie Pastor Dan Pennington (715) 248-3730 blcsp@frontiernet.net ———————— BETHESDA LUTHERAN LCMC 1947 110th Ave. Dresser Sand Lake 715-755-2562 www.bethesdalutheran.ws Pastor Peter Rimmereid Associate Pastor Scott Adkins ———————— CEDARBEND CHURCH

P.O. BOX 414, Osceola Matt Hayton connect@cedarbendchurch.com SUNDAY: Worship, 10:30 a.m. at Osceola High School Auditorium.

brothers Ryder and Cole Doerfl er, delivered their birthday gifts to the shelter animals at Arnell. In place of gifts for themselves, they asked family and friends to donate supplies from our Shelter Wish List. They donated dog and cat food

and treats, toilet paper, kitty litter, hot dogs, paper towels, klleenex and money. Their smiles were the second gift; great birthday presents for all.

Our pets have all been experiencing Covid Stay-at-Home orders too. Some will take it in stride while others may be thrown by their owners’ presence at home all day, every day.

Pre-COIVD, our pets had the house to themselves all day. They used

SEE ARNELL, PAGE 16

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

150 Fifth Street Marine on St. Croix, Minn. Pastor Joel Martin 651-433-3222 ———————— EL SALEM/TWIN FALLS CHRISTIAN CENTER Six miles east of Dresser on Co. Rd. F, 1751 100th Ave. Pastor Darryl R. Olson 715-755-3113 ————————

EUREKA BAPTIST CHURCH

2393 210th Ave., St. Croix Falls Pastor Seth Brickley 715-483-9464 ———————— FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 661A West Street Taylors Falls, MN 55084 651-465-6792 www.fi rstbaptisttaylorsfalls.com Dr. Kevin Schumann, Pastor ———————— FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 561 Chestnut St. Taylors Falls, Minn. ———————— FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 719 Nevada St. St. Croix Falls Reverend David Maghakian 715-483-3550 (offi ce) ———————— GRACE CHURCH – OSCEOLA Pastor Mark Barlow 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola 715-417-0752 ———————— 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 ———————— 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 ———————— HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH 523 First Street, Clayton 715-948-2203 Father Christopher Wojcik ———————— HOPE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 933 248th Street, one mile north of Osceola on Highway 35 Pastor Nate Roschen 715-294-2112 • www.hefc.org ———————— JOURNEY CHURCH 131 Broadway, Amery www.journeychurch.city offi ce@journeychurch.city 715-268-2223 ———————— 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 ———————— NEW WINE COMMUNITY CHURCH

309 5th Street, Centuria Pastor Scott Petznick (715) 338-8912 ———————— OSCEOLA COMMUNITY CHURCH 2492 Education Drive, Osceola Larry Mederich www.osceolacommunitychurch.org ———————— 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 ———————— PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), 2355 Clark Rd., Dresser 715-755-2515• plcdresser.org Pastor Melissa Carmack Find us on Facebook! peace@centurytel.net ———————— PRAIRIEVIEW COVENANT CHURCH OF NEW RICHMOND 1396 210th Ave. 2 miles north of New Richmond on Hwy. 65 Pastor Rudy King 715-248-0600 ———————— REDEEMER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Wisconsin Synod Corner of Adams & Louisiana

Norma Jean Fish

Norma Jean Fish died on May 22, 2020, at her Osceola home after a long battle with cancer. She was 86.

Norma was born in Eureka Township on Sept. 3, 1933, the daughter of Arthur and Oleeta (Johansen) Holdt. She graduated from Luck High School and from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

Norma taught in rural schools of Polk County for four years, Taylors Falls, Minn., for 10 years and New Richmond for 27 years. She married Royal James “Bud” Fish in October of 1967. They shared many good times before his untimely death in 1975.

She volunteered at the Osceola Food Shelf/Open Cupboard for 12 years until her poor health forced her to step away.

She helped care for her quadriplegic mother in her home for 13 years.

She enjoyed many European trips with family and friends.

Norma had a great sense of humor and was quick to laugh. She was known for her strong opinions and she enjoyed recounting many family stories from over the years. She cherished her family, great friends and neighbors. Norma was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Royal James “Bud” Fish; brother, Ken Holdt, and sister-in-law, Vicki Holdt.

Norma is survived by her brother, Arlen Holdt; sister-in-law Wilma Holdt; step-son, Steve Fish and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Burial will be at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Arrangements are under the care of the Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, Wisconsin.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. E 3 t H L t - s f M R “ 1

POLK COUNTY MARRIAGE LICENSES

Jesse Lee Beverlin and Angela Marie Sargent of St. Croix Falls are to be married June 5, 2020.

Austin Ryan Hagemeister of Maple Grove and Adaira Michelle Kari of Lindstrom were married May 30, 2020.

Nathaniel Alan Kahl and Naomi Elizabeth Williamson of Luck are to be married June 6, 2020.

Levi Paul Otterson of Tainter and Anna Grace O’Brien of Luck were married May 30, 2020.

St. Croix Falls Rev. Timothy Blauert 715-483-3401 ———————— RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE 1289 160th Street St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 715-483-5378 Pastor Jonah Fetzer ———————— ST. ANNE PARISH 139 Church Hill Road Somerset, WI 54025 715-247-3310 Rev. Joseph Madanu ———————— 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 ———————— ST. CROIX UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 201 N. Adams, St. Croix Falls www.scuuf.org Rev. Kelli Clement ———————— ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH Franconia, MN 651-465-7345 www.stfrancisfranconia.org Fr. John Drees ———————— ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC

Osceola Rev. Joseph Madanu 715-294-2243 ————————

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC

490 Bench Street Taylors Falls, Minnesota 651-465-7345 www.stjosephtaylorsfalls.org Fr. John Drees ———————— SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD 140 Madison Street St. Croix Falls Pastor Mark Schoen 715-483-1186 ———————— TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) 300 Seminole Ave., (Ct H M) Osceola 715-294-2828 • www.trinityosceola.com Pastor David Rosenow (920-645-7526) ———————— TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GARFIELD 1578 85th Ave., Amery Pastor Lori Peper 715-268-9577 ———————— WEST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN (ELCA), 447 180th St., Osceola www.westimmanuel.org Interim Pastor Matt Saarem SUNDAY: ———————— WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP Cliff Bjork, (651) 465-7373 366 Bench St., Taylors Falls, Minn. ———————— ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod) East Farmington Pastor William Brassow (715) 294-3489