Hooves are made from the same protein that

BY JACK STARR

OSCEOLA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

It is the most simple of verses.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NRSV)

This last Sunday was what my denomination likes to celebrate as Peace with Justice Sunday. It’s a day in which we take an extra offering to support ministries that work for economic and social equality, fi ght oppression, seek peaceful resolutions to confl ict, and aid the vulnerable and marginalized. Talk about timing. If peace with justice means recognizing that every individual is a person of inestimable worth, created in God’s image and loved as God’s own child, then the events of the last week show us just how far that is from reality in our world today. Disciples of Jesus Christ need to help our society imagine a different world – one that refl ects God’s dream for creation and one that CAN be a reality today. The way we do that is by living in such a way that others can see the Kingdom of God alive in us.

When Micah wrote those words about 8 centuries before Jesus was born the nation of Israel was enjoying a time much like we were a few months ago. Many of the privileged class had never had it so good. But others suffered – the gap between the rich and poor had never been larger. In choosing to forget their own struggles leading up to liberation, the people had grown complacent and apathetic. They neglected to show the vulnerable and suffering in their midst the same grace they’d needed at one time themselves. Those who had position and power felt no responsibility for those who were marginalized and had none. The wealthy class and powerful politicians had swayed the religious leaders into establishing a set of rituals & practices that didn’t have any practical effect on the world around them. These empty words amounted to some sort of bargaining tactic, even an attempt to buy off God. And God wanted none of it.

Micah was a small town boy who spoke for the poor farm workers who were suffering at the hands of the land owners. When he saw injustice, he boldly named it, taking a big risk because he was not in a place of power but rather right in the midst of the situation. That’s how God was able to use him. Micah goes before business, political and religious leaders, calling out those who have infl uence and power but refuse to use it for those who don’t. Calling out injustice, Micah asks, “But what does the Lord require?”

The answer is so simple you could put it on a coffee mug or a t-shirt or even post it on the internet with a pretty picture of nature behind it. And we have done that, all of it. But it isn’t pretty. Micah is crying out at the top of his lungs to people who have forgotten God and their promises to God. Even now, they’re not paying attention. People are hurting! People are dying! Wake up church!!!

Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly with God. In all its simplicity, this commandment is hard work.

It’s hard work because justice is about not only seeing and naming a problem but also about fi nding ways to make things better.

It’s hard work because justice means acting with fairness, honesty and integrity. These are things one can’t do halfway. It’s all or nothing

If justice is hard work, mercy may be even harder

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SEE MEDITATION, PAGE 14

Mercy is hard work because even though we can see all kinds of injustices, tragedies and atrocities; seeing is not enough. Mercy fl ows from our hearts. We naturally love mercy when we receive it. How about when it comes to showing and sharing it?

Mercy is hard work because it requires us to be vulnerable - as vulnerable as Jesus.

Walking humbly with God is hard because true humility is hard for all of us. But what it means is recognizing that God has invited us to be part of God’s own mission of mercy to the world. Not playing God, not forgetting we are human, but recognizing our dependence on grace.

Walking humbly is remembering that I get it wrong as often as I get it right, maybe more. Walking humbly is knowing that I have not always been just or merciful and that God still accepts me and works with me, knowing that I can do better. So maybe walking humbly with God is simply about paying attention to who we are and what is around us.

Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly with God. It’s simple. Right? It will only take the rest of our lives to begin to even understand all that it means. But as we do, when there are crises in this country and around the world, we can come together and listen to one another and come up with solutions and say together, “No, wait! God has shown us a better way. Let us tell you about it.”

How would Micah preach this message today? How do you preach to entire systems that are so entrenched in our way of thinking that we can’t even see the problem? How do you preach to those who care – but maybe not quite enough? How do you preach

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.

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

Dennis Allen Dixon

Dennis Allen Dixon (Benny) died at his home in Osceola with immediate family members at his side in the morning hours of June t 2, 2020. 2

He was a graduate of Osceola High school class O of 1974. In 1978, Dennis got o a job at Andersen Windows a and he worked there for the a next 39 years all while livn ing in Osceola and raising i his two sons with his wife h Shelly Dixon. S

Dennis was an avid football fan and was a member b of “Raider Nation” which o all who knew him could a attest to. Sundays at the Dixon house consisted of the three F’s: Family, Football and Food. He also enjoyed lifting weights, camping and canoe trips with family.

Dennis passionately loved his family and spent years entertaining them with his larger than life story telling abilities as well as his fun loving ways in which he razzed them all. Dennis was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Ben Dixon; mother, Elaine Dixon and brother, Bennie Ray Dixon.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Shelly Dixon; children, Cole (Misty) Dixon, Chet (Ashley) Dixon; siblings, Catherine (Gene) Wymer and James (Kristen) Dixon; grandchildren; Devin, Mason, Ben, Morgan and Alexandra; niece, Samantha (Ryan) Williams and many more extended family and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held a later date and will be announced publicly.

Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home. C ondolences may be expressed online at www. grandstrandfh.com.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – MILWAUKEE

Jennier Pfannes of Osceola graduated with a bachelor of arts degree.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – SUPERIOR

Mariah Loiselle of Dresser was named to the spring semester Dean’s List.

ST. NORBERT COLLEGE

Oliver Dresser of Dresser was named to the spring semester Dean’s List.

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

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