St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Mass. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Joe Steenholdt, Pastor
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays: 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Thursday, Aug. 10: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Sunday, Aug. 13: 9 a.m. Worship Service. Tuesday, Aug. 15: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. 3 p.m. Services at MJB and Poplar Creek. Wednesday, Aug. 16: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 11 a.m. Amazing Grays. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Sunday School and Bible class. 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, Aug. 11: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible Study. Sunday, Aug. 13: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Freedom Gates Ministry. CommServices are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne. Tuesday, Aug. 15: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Aug. 16: 6:30 p.m. Apologetics study. Thursday, Aug. 17: 9 a.m. Cookie Crew. 4-8 p.m. Washed in Grace.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Wednesday, Aug. 9: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Prayer chapel. 6:30 p.m. Organized prayer. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Friday, Aug. 10: 10 a.m. Annual DS interview. Saturday, Aug. 12: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Aug. 13: 9:30 a.m. FUEL/Adult Sunday School. 9:45 a.m. Coffee. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Live streamed on Facebook and radio. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. Monday, Aug. 14: 6:30 p.m. Genesis to revelation Bible study. Tuesday, Aug. 15: 10 a.m. Shut-in visits. 6:30 p.m. PPR meeting. Wednesday, Aug. 16: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Prayer chapel. 6:30 p.m. Organized prayer. 8 p.m. AA meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: fpcemilie@gmail.com
Wednesday, Aug. 9: 7 p.m. Session meeting. Sunday, Aug. 13: 9:30 a.m. In-person Worship service. View on Facebook under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne, City of Luverne's LUV TV or on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays). 10:30 a.m. Fellowship coffee hour of Lowell Wessels’ birthday and Kim and Brian Schoneman’s Anniversary. Wednesday, Aug. 16: Circle outing to Rock Ranch (watch for time), 4 p.m. Music staff meeting. 7 p.m. Deacons meeting.
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Saturdays: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10 a.m. Fellowship Time. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. Bible Study. 6:30 p.m. Catechesis Class. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. Youth Group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org. Holy Communion is offered on 2nd and 4th weekends and Liturgical Feasts.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Josh Hayden, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662 – firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Aug. 13: 10 a.m. JOINT OUTDOOR Worship with Holy Communion at Palisade Lutheran Church. Bring your own lawn chair! 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Pie and Ice Cream Social and Sunday Funday. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @FirstLutheranValley Springs; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Tuesday, Aug. 15: 7 p.m. First Council meeting.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — palisadechurch@alliancecom.net
www.palisadelutheran.org
Thursday, Aug. 10: 1:30 p.m. Palisade WELCA meeting. 7 p.m. Palisade council meeting. Sunday, Aug. 13: 10 a.m. JOINT OUTDOOR Worship with Holy Communion at Palisade Lutheran Church. Bring your own lawn chair! 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Pie and Ice Cream Social and Sunday Funday. All are welcome. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @PalisadeLC; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship Service in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sundays: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship Service. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Praveen Muthasamy, Pastor
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 5 p.m. Evening worship service.
 

When our kids were in high school, we had a rule they had to participate in at least one organized sport a year. However, our son was more interested in snowboarding or skateboarding than organized school sports. Because of our house rule, last year he chose to participate in track and field.
So, we purchased him nice running shoes … very expensive, I might add.
The very first track meet was close to my office, so I went to watch him run his race. The issue with track is you never know exactly what time a specific heat will be. I didn’t even know what event the coach told him to run.
I arrived just as the meet started, looking for my son, not knowing when his debut as a track star was coming. I sat down just as the starting gun fired for the 100-meter dash. There he was, running his first race. As I watched, I noticed he wasn’t wearing the shoes we just bought. Instead, he was wearing his skateboarding shoes which have flat souls and weigh a lot. I’ll never forget as he ran with what looked like red bricks strapped to his feet. Clomping his way as he sprinted toward the finish line at alarming speeds, reaching the pace of a gramma driving a Prius. Unbelievable, yet hysterical!
My point of this story isn’t about the shoes or his abilities. The point is, I arrived at the exact moment that I needed to be there to watch this crazy kid run a sprint with bricks on his feet. Even one minute later would have been too late. My timing was perfect!
Guess what? God’s timing is perfect. This is what Paul wrote to the Galatians:
But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”  Galatians 4:4-6
Jesus came at just the right time in God’s redemptive plan. But not until the world was prepared for him. When he was born, most people missed the miracle of the moment. They did not acknowledge the significance of Jesus’ birth. People were too busy to pay attention to the young girl giving birth to her first child out in a stable.
Christ coming into the world was not a coincidence. His coming was part of God's plan established long before he created the heavens and the earth.
The timing was perfect. The Roman world was in great expectation, waiting for a savior. The old religions were dying, the old philosophies were empty and powerless to change people’s lives, and strange religions were invading the empire. The world had sunk into this dark hole so deep that even the pagans were crying out against it. Spiritual hunger was evident everywhere, making it a perfect time for the coming of Christ.
If you are waiting for something in your life, be patient. Wait for God’s perfect timing.
Israel waited 483 years from the time the Angel Gabriel told Daniel about the Anointed One until Christ was born.
I think we can all manage to wait a little while longer!

Following are racing results for local drivers competing in Luverne, Rock Rapids, Hartford, Slayton, Worthington and Brandon for the week of August 1-7.
 
Rapid Speedway 
Aug. 4 Rock Rapids, IA
Sportsmen
5th-#17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek
7th-#24H Brock Harnack, Hills
Hobby Stock
1st-#22E Eric Gaul, Luverne
7th-#10 Blake Schneekloth, Brandon
DNF-#15X Kaden Kracht, Steen
DNF-#14K Bryant Klaassen, Adrian
B-Modifieds
DNF-#52 Trevor Kracht, Luverne
Stock Cars
1st-#46 Colton Arends, Luverne
8th-#4D Cory Kelderman, Hills
12th-#15 Thomas Kracht, Luverne
DNF-#69 Cadyn Wessels, Luverne
DNF-#117L Chad Lonneman, Adrian
DNS-#21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia
 
Murray County Speedway
Aug. 4 Slayton, MN
Street Stock
DNF-#13 Spencer Kalass, Luverne
 
I-90 Speedway
Aug. 5 Hartford, SD
Rained out
 
Worthington Speedway
Aug. 5 Worthington, MN
No races
 
Huset’s Speedway
July 30 Brandon, SD
No races

ISD #2184 School Board

meets June 22

MINUTES OF REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184,

ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA

A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in

H-BC School Board

meets July 10

Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671

Minutes

July 10, 2023

The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semi-monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the H-BC Secondary School Board room, 301 N Summit Ave, Hills, MN.

Luverne took the Region 13C playoff series against Heron Lake 2-0.

The Redbirds beat Heron Lake 15-0 at home July 26 and finished the Lakers on the road 3-0 July 29.

The Redbirds swooped in and knocked Heron Lake out of the Region 13C playoffs, beating the Lakers 15-0 Wednesday, July 26, and 3-0 Saturday, July 29 in a best-of-three series.

Here is a recap of other Region 13C baseball playoff action.