10 years ago (2011)
•Director Terrie Gulden is retiring after 15 years at the helm of the county’s Heartland Express public transportation program.
Gulden said he considers the completion of the Heartland Building at 1011 North Blue Mound Avenue as a career highlight.
“This building has been a huge success for the program,” Gulden said.
After years of being bounced around, the Heartland office now has a permanent home with the busses located in the building. …
Gulden said he will miss working with his staff and a supportive county board as well as the people served by the Heartland buses.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•After three years of research, plans are finally in place for a congregate care facility in Luverne.
The Good Samaritan Society has approved plans by Luverne’s Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center to construct  a 28-unit congregate care facility in the Sybesma Addition of Luverne.
The apartments, to be located directly south of the Mary Jane Brown Home, will be designed as alternative senior housing, allowing residents to live independently without the responsibilities of maintaining a home.
The two-story complex will be equipped with both an elevator and stairs. It will consist of one- or two-bedroom apartments with kitchen/dining area, living room and bathroom. In addition, there will be common areas for activities, a beauty shop, living room, dining room and more.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•After a lengthy discussion last Tuesday, the Rock County Board of Commissioners accepted the low bid on a purchase of two new automobiles to be used by the sheriff’s department.
Award of the bid was given to Van’s Motor Co. of Luverne with a bid of $3,548.84 each on two new Plymouth Fury autos.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Axel Anderson, who has operated Anderson’s Café here since August 1, disposed of the business to Mr. and Mrs. Art Goodbody, Waukegan, Ill., Thursday of last week. Mrs. Goodbody will be remembered as the former Miss Alma Lund, of Luverne.
The business will hereafter be known as the Rainbow Inn, and the new management will continue to serve meals, lunches, beer, and soft drinks.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•A sale of outstanding importance in registered livestock circles, considering the general inaction of the past several months, was consummated the latter part of last week, when W. R. Hansen, of Kanaranzi township, sold ten Percheron and Belgian stallion colts to Holbert Bros., of Greeley, Ia., who are known throughout the United States and Canada as extensive importers and dealers in registered horses.
The colts ranged from sucklings to yearlings and consisted of three Percherons and seven Belgians, and the purchase price ranged from $250 to $450. The horses were shipped Monday to Greeley from Rock Rapids.

December 2020
Dec. 8: James Hendel, 85, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dec. 16: Edward Berning, 90, Adrian.
Dec. 23: Eugene Stoterau, 86, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dec. 27: Lianne Buckmiller, 64, Pipestone.
 
January 2021
Jan. 2: Nicholas DeBoer, 90, Leota.
Jan. 4: Burdell Willers, 95, Beaver Creek; Arden Hull, 87, New Prague.
Jan. 6: Marlys DeVries, 85, Luverne; Lillian Gruis, 78, Slayton; Shirley Young, 93, Portland, Ore.
Jan. 7: Lennis “Red” Arndt, 72, Luverne; Sandra Boyenga, 57, Mankato.
Jan. 8: Jean Barclay, 98, Luverne; Marian Helling, 94, Bismarck, N.D.
Jan. 10: Marvin Rozeboom, 95, Leota.
Jan. 11: JoAnn Van Engelenhoven, 90, Luverne.
Jan. 12: Arlene Rollag, 96, Beaver Creek.
Jan. 16: Arlene Mitchell, 96, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jan. 17: Keith Aanenson, 78, Luverne; Carol Zwaan, 77, Steen.
Jan. 19: James Dreesen, 69, Jasper; Rhona Ruud, 59, Bricelyn.
Jan. 20: Dena Santana, 57, Luverne.
Jan. 21: Barbara Nelson, 79, New Hope; Hildegarde Jagow, 89, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jan. 22: Lester Vanden Berg, 92, Edgerton.
Jan. 23: Donna Loud, 82, Blackduck.
Jan. 26: Linda Vis, 66, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Doreen Wiese, 80, Luverne.
Jan. 27: Helga Hoffman, 87, Urbandale, Iowa.
Jan. 28: Alvera “Polly” Martinson, Moody County, S.D.
Jan. 29: Kitthachone “John” Sengvongxay, 49, Luverne.
Jan. 31: Sandra Eitreim, 80, Fridley.
 
February
Feb. 1: Charles Cooksley, 87, Luverne; Harold Sandstede, Lincoln, Neb.; Donald Esterly, Phoenix, Ariz.
Feb. 2: Herman Lupkes, 86, Luverne.
Feb. 4: Kim Kimmel, 73, Magnolia.
Feb. 5: Keith Lemke, 83, Hardwick; Ardean “Bub” Walgrave, 100, Luverne.
Feb. 7: John Feikema, 74, Orange City, Iowa.
Feb. 10: James Keiper, 74, Dresbach.
Feb. 12: Pa Si Phan, 67, Worthington; Brad Weinkauf, 50, Jasper; Larry Rosenberg, 76, Slayton.
Feb. 16: Barbara Wills, 81, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Donald Mitchell, 72, Luverne; Orvel Dreesen, 84, Ellsworth.
Feb. 17: Alvera Balster, 92, Ellsworth.
Feb. 24: James Ebert, 68, Garvin; Harold Hixson, 86, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Feb. 25: Evelyn Ykema, 89, Luverne.
Feb. 28: Ruth Van Westen, 96, Ellsworth; Douglas Bork, 59, Beaver Creek.
 
March
March 1: John Berghorst, 73, Sturgis, S.D.
March 2: Kenneth Bowen, 82, Edgerton; Delores Kindt, 90, Kenneth.
March 3: Myron Smook, 68, Magnolia.
March 5: Mary Johnson, 67, Brandon, South Dakota.
March 8: Gertrude Bruynes, 86, Luverne.
March 11: Shirley Ford, 93, Luverne.
March 12: Debra Tilberg, Jordan.
March 14: Claudette Thone, 85, Mission Viejo, Calif.
March 15: Arlen Olson, 85, White Bear Lake.
March 17: Ted Lingen, 55, Jasper.
March 19: Darlene Ruud, 88, Sioux Falls, S.D.
March 20: Grace Boeve, 95, Luverne; Alice (Hoiland) Larson, 87, Bloomington.
March 21: Virgil Schutz, 93, Luverne.
 
April
April 1: Emma Blomgren, 82, Ellsworth.
April 3: Albert Boeve, 97, Luverne; Nelvin Schelhaas, 82, Luverne.
April 7: Tanya Lehmann, 83, Oconomowoc, Wis.
April 10: Hannah Dooyema, newborn, Nashville, Tenn.
April 12: Henrietta Huenink, 98, Steen.
April 15: Velma Brommer, 87, Rock Rapids.
April 16: Bruce Rye, 58, Luverne.
April 20: Theodore Van Peursem, 89, Leota.
April 26: Roger Achterhof, 80, Rochester.
April 28: Beatrice Rogness, 84, Luverne; Paula Snyder, 66, Salida, Colo.
April 30: Eric Christensen, 56, Luverne; John Remme, 82, Worthington.
 
May
May 1: Douglas Kuper, 75, Beaver Creek.
May 3: William Preuss, 78, Luverne.
May 4: Robert Bullerman, 92, Tyler; Erwin Eisner, 85, Sioux Falls, S.D.
May 13: Richard Rauk, 68, Beaver Creek.
May 16: Corrine Houg, 93, Jasper.
May 19: Richard Brown, 85, Hudson, Wis.
May 22: LaVera Wick, 89, Sioux Falls, S.D; Leif Gilbertson, 61, Powell Butte, Oregon.
May 23: Wayne Green, 67, Luverne.
May 26: Carolyn Smiens, 75, Northfield.
May 27: Helen Fitzer, 94, Luverne.
May 28: Glenn Swenson, 85, Hills.
 
June
June 2: Clarence Bauer, 81, Adrian.
June 3: Gladys Siebenahler, 89, Luverne; Mary Van Hofwegen, 92, Edgerton.
June 4: Wendell Marshall, 94, West Linn, Ore.; Bryanna Cobler, 31, Luverne.
June 7: Marian Frahm, 88, Breezy Point.
June 10: Lambert Van Olst, 89, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
June 13: Faith Kruse, 67, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
June 15: John VandenHoek, 69, Luverne; James Sommers, 78, Pipestone.
June 19: Rodney Fikse, 61.
June 20: Dewey Dooyema, 91, Luverne.
June 21: Roger Russell, 63, Hills.
June 23: James Sandstede, 76, Luverne.
June 27: Howard Hoyme, 97, Hills.
June 29: Ruth Roemeling, 86, Luverne; David Rollag, 78, Luverne.
 
July
July 2: David Huiskes, 72, Luverne.
July 21: Sharon Becker, 70, Sioux Falls, S.D.
July 22: Thomas Mollberg, 63, Sioux Falls, S.D.
July 25: Jacob Adams, 14, Ellsworth; Loretta Petersen, 93, Luverne.
July 29: Joan Heeren, 88, Luverne.
July 30: Ramona McDowell, 91, Luverne.
 
August
Aug. 5: John Anderson, 83, Nevis.
Aug. 7: Marsha Jandl, 61, Jasper.
Aug. 8: Ethel Ten Hove, 95, Pipestone; Helen Ver Hoeven, 92, Hawarden, Iowa; Ronald Arp, 64, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Aug. 12: Lewis Kruger, 66, Lennox, S.D.
Aug. 14: William Beimers, 84, Luverne.
Aug. 21: Mavis Grage, 99, Jasper.
Aug. 27: Jamie Ertle, 38, San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 31: Delores Schmidt, 86, Pipestone.
 
September
Sept. 6: Nancy Christianson, 91, Pierre, S.D.
Sept. 8: Guenther Luitjens, 76, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Sept. 12: Robert Tomlinson, 74, Luverne.
Sept. 14: Cecilia Javner, 86, Oak Creek, Wis.
Sept. 15: Margaret Enger, 61, Chicago, Ill.
Sept. 16: Steve Baumgard, 62, Luverne.
Sept. 20: Todd Geertsema, 57, Burtrum.
Sept. 22: James Johannsen, 78, Luverne.
Sept. 28: Dennis  Smook, 67, Luverne.
 
October
Oct. 3: James Klein, 94, Luverne; Alison Baker, newborn, Hardwick; Alex Brandt, 24, Adrian.
Oct. 5: Douglas Scott, 60, Kenneth.
Oct. 12: Charlotte Kuechenmeister, 94, Sioux Falls, SD.
Oct. 13: Joyce Sandbo, 79, Luverne.
Oct. 17: Debra Von Behren, 63, Madison, South Dakota.
Oct. 18: John Dubbelde, 72, Pipestone.
Oct. 19: Julie Wynia, 67, Steen.
Oct. 20: Carol Stearns, 61, Mountain Center, California.
Oct. 23: Larry Fodness, 77, Edgerton.
Oct. 24: Lylas Smidstra, 88, Luverne.
Oct. 25: Tracey Fahrenholtz, 55, Moorhead.
Oct. 27: Greta Veldkamp, 96, rural Jasper.
Oct. 30: Helmer Haakenson, 102, Luverne; Nancy Greve, 81, Hutchinson.
 
November
Nov. 3: Elaine Hamann, 96, Luverne; Harvey Taubert, 91, Beaver Creek; Deborah Hellwinckel, 62, Beaver Creek; Hortensia Cornejo, 73, Luverne.
Nov. 6: Maurice DeJaeghere, 85, Luverne; Milton Fink, 96, Luverne.
Nov. 7: Mary Anderson, 84, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Nov. 9: Lowell Thone, 88, Mission Viejo, Calif.; Dale Matus, 87, Beaver Creek.
Nov. 11: Tanya Fey, 38, rural Woodstock.
Nov. 12: Gerald Wikstrom, 85, Coon Rapids.
Nov. 13: Ashley Jo Barber, 33, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 14: Robert Veldkamp, 49, Edgerton.
Nov. 15: Gerald Utter, 79, Portland, Ore.
Nov. 16: Milo Hamann, 85, Luverne.
Nov. 18: Terry Connell, 57, Luverne; Francis Faber, 95, Luverne.
Nov. 19: Joan De Jongh, 88, Luverne.
Nov. 26: Laura May Bosch, 94, Brandon, S.D.; Cornelius Bosch, 94, Brandon, S.D.
Nov. 28: Leland Vlastuin, 58, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 29: Marcus Uithoven, 91, Luverne.
Nov. 30: William Sneller, 87, Luverne.
 
December
Dec. 1: Carolyn Sneller, 92, Parker, S.D.
Dec. 6: Calvin “Jim” VanHulzen, 69, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dec. 7: John “Jack” Paulsen, 80, Hills.
Dec. 8: Stephanie West, 47, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dec. 9: Jack Boomgaarden, 63, rural Magnolia.
Dec. 13: Lois Nelson, 92, Hills.
Dec. 18: Gerald Pommer, 73, Ellsworth.
Dec. 19: Virginia Wessels, 71, Hardwick.
Dec. 22: Bernette Helling, 88, Paynesville.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Jan. 3: Chicken chow mein with brown rice, Oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges, pudding with whipped topping.
Tuesday, Jan. 4: Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, pineapple, Texas toast, cookie.
Wednesday, Jan. 5: Creamy chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, biscuit, warm fruit crisp.
Half-Price Day sponsored by American Reformed Church.
 Thursday, Jan. 6: Pork loin, candied yams, broccoli, bread, bar.
Friday, Jan. 7: Meatloaf, baked potato, stewed tomatoes, bread, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Sanford of Luverne.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

The Luverne boys’ hockey team traveled to St. Paul on Dec. 22 to take on the Two Rivers Warriors in the West St. Paul Arena.
The Cardinals couldn’t get much offense going from the opening puck drop.
The visiting Cardinals were outshot 19-5 in the first period, but Luverne goalie Tyler Arends kept the score at 0-0 after the first.
The hometown Warriors got on the scoreboard 1:23 into the second period to take a 1-0 lead, but that’s all the scoring that happened in the second period.
Arends made 11 saves, but the Cardinals were only able to get four shots on Two Rivers goalie Brady Altier in the second.
The final period saw the Warriors put up five goals on Luverne with the Cardinals having nothing in their arsenal to mount a comeback.
Total shots on goal for the game were 52-14 in favor of the Warriors.
Arends ended with a solid 46 saves in the contest.
The Cardinal boys were scheduled to go on the road Dec. 28-30 for their holiday tournament in Rochester.

By Dalton Bass
For the Star Herald
In a closely fought contest for most of the game, the Murray County Central Rebels pulled away late to beat the Patriots 59-45 in Hills on Tuesday night.
It was three minutes into the game before either team put points on the board. Senior Cole Baker (14 points and six rebounds) hit a floater from in the lane to give the Patriots a 2-0 advantage.
The Rebels went on an 11-0 run before a timeout was taken by Coach Wiertzema with 12:31 to go in the first half.
The Patriots came out hot after the timeout as Drew Leenderts (10 points) capped off the run with a three-point basket to pull the Patriots within three, by a score of 13-10.
The rest of the first period was a back and forth affair as Cole Baker put in a layup as he was fouled with 28 seconds left to go to cut the Rebels’ lead to 29-24 at the half.
The second half could never get closer than six points as Leenderts hit a mid range shot to cut the deficit to 34-28.
MCC’s lead grew as large as 16 points before ending the game with a 59-45 advantage.
Seniors Troy Durst (nine points and seven rebounds) and Andrew Harris (five points and six rebounds) were contributors for the Patriots.
The Patriots travel to SMSU in Marshall to play Canby on Thursday night.
 
Box Score
Baker 4 1 3-9 14, Raymon 0 0 0-0 0, Harnack 2 0 0-0 4, Page 0 0 0-0 0, Leenderts 2 2 0-0 10, Bundesen 0 0 0-0 0, Gehrke 0 0 0-0 0, Metzger 0 1 0-0 3, Taubert 0 0 0-0 0, Tatge 0 0 0-0 0, Durst 4 0 1-2 9, Scholten 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 2 0 1-2 5, Wiersema 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team Statistics
HBC: 18 of 44 (41 percent), 5 for 13 free throws (38 percent), 28 rebounds, 24 turnovers
MCC: 21 of 54 (39 percent), 11 for 19 free throws (58 percent), 30 rebounds, 13 turnovers

I have a great job as a self-employed, independent investment adviser, helping people try to get to a comfortable retirement. Saving money for your later years is not something that everybody is good at.
I would like to think I have made a measurable difference in that regard for my clients over the past 33 years, but they still needed to participate in order to achieve success, and that takes discipline.
When my day job duties have been fulfilled, I spend my free time doing whatever I can in the world of conservation. There is no end to the amount of time and energy you can expend in this effort.
I have been involved in conservation for more than 35 years and I have never gotten to a point where I think you can take your foot off the gas and think everything is now going to be OK.
The list of challenges that game fish and wildlife face is accelerating, not slowing down. Loss of grasslands is a huge factor. Grassland ecosystems are the most endangered eco-type habitats on the planet.
Everyone knows they need to worry about the rain forests, but grasslands are in more peril and danger today than they are.
Millions of acres of grasslands have been plowed under in the past 20 years. South Dakota’s pheasant hunting heritage is facing a real threat. The good old days in South Dakota are over, and they are not coming back.
When you lose or convert millions of acres of grasslands to row crop agriculture, there is no way Mother Nature can raise the number of birds she did before.
In fact, if you subtracted the South Dakota pheasants harvested by the number of pen-raised planted pheasants that are released by hunting preserves, they may not ever be the No. 1 state in the nation anymore.
Two decades ago, there wasn’t anyone in a close second position. That grass is never coming back. Much like a new temporary tax. Once instituted, there is less than a zero-percent chance it will be repealed.
It doesn’t really matter if you are trying to save some Atlantic salmon species, restore native habitats for pheasants, increase the number of North America’s songbirds, protect America’s precious wetlands, or any other conservation-related cause.
There is an immediate need for dedicated individuals to take a stand for an important cause.
Folks like me have been doing this for decades, and as my generation ages out, there are very few individuals coming in behind them to fill that volunteerism gap.
My local Pheasants Forever board has over 250 years of volunteer history to its credit. The reason for this is that many of them have been helping out for the same 30-plus years I have.
When these folks lose their ambition to old age or health problems, this outstanding record of volunteer effort is also going to crash just like many game and fish species.
Whether it’s a conservation cause or something else, all of these non-profit organizations are in the same boat. I would be willing to bet that any great cause, the American Cancer Society, United Way, Walk for Life, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Toys for Tots, any one of hundreds of veterans or religious organizations can all say that their helpers have been on the job and in the trenches for decades, and there is an almost impossible task of filling those empty volunteer spots.
I would love for my readers to take up a conservation cause and start doing their part to protect and preserve our natural resources. Not everyone has or shares my outdoor lifestyle motivation. I really don’t care what important cause you engage in, but engage in something. Please engage in something.
The most common excuse used is “I have no time to do these kinds of things,” and that is a lie. Everyone gets the same 24 hours in each day. It is the prioritization of those hours that determine if you can make a difference in something you believe in.
I have no intentions of ending or even slowing down on my conservation efforts, but I would love to have some young, invigorated helpers to participate along the way.
Don’t make a New Year’s resolution that fades away.
Instead reach out and make a few calls and get involved. The future of our natural resources depends on the success or failure of your motivation.
Send me an email and I can get you any phone number you need to make that first step.
 
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. or on Twitter @habitat champion.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. 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
Sundays 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
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Dec. 30: No activities. Friday, Dec. 31: Office is closed. Saturday, Jan. 1: No activities. Sunday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion. 10 a.m. Coffee fellowship. No Sunday school. 5 p.m. Worship with Holy Communion. Tuesday, Jan. 4: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Jan. 5: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 1 p.m. Priscilla/Elizabeth circls meet. 3:15 p.m. Faithweavers. 5 p.m. Youth supper. 6:15 p.m. 6th and 7th grade Confirmation. 7:15 p.m. 8th grade Confirmation. 8:15 p.m. 9th grade Confirmation. Thursday, Jan. 6: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online: Sundays 9 a.m. on the church website www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab or go directly to our Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 will air our worship service Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Sundays, 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. Wednesday, Dec. 22: 7 p.m. Advent Vespers.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Thursday, Dec. 30: 9 a.m. Kitchen reserved. Friday, Dec 31: 6:3o a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, Jan. 2: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. 3 p.m. Youth room reserved. Wednesday, Jan. 5: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Club. 6:30 p.m. Jr. and Sr. High youth groups. Thursday, Jan. 6: 5:30 p.m. Tumbling Tikes. Services 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.
 
Rock River Community Church (formerly First Assembly of God)
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
Ph. 612-800-1255; email info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor; Annette Junak, Assistant Pastor
Sundays, 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship service. Children’s church for ages 3-6th grade and nursery for ages 0-3 provided during our services. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Worship service. All services are in-person and all are welcome.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Wednesday, Dec. 29: No Wednesday evening classes. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Saturday, Jan. 1: Office is closed—Happy New Year! Sunday, Jan.2: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour. 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 2: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:30 a.m. Sunday school.  Wednesday, Jan. 5: 5:30 p.m. Bells. 6:15 p.m. Choir. 7:15 p.m. Committee meetings. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. Worship. Monday, Jan. 3: 1 p.m. Quilters meet. Wednesday, Jan. 5: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 2: 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
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. 10:30 a.m. Sunday school. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 2: 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
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
Sunday, 9 a.m., 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
Sunday, 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
Sunday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion. 9 a.m. Sunday School. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Jan. 4: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:30 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, Jan. 5: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation. 7 p.m. Social/dessert time. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship service.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

Where do you turn when things go wrong in your life and you need answers? I am challenging each of us to look at who or what we rely on.
We know bad things can happen, and we can all agree that no one likes to face a crisis. We would much rather avoid suffering, pain, frustration, or really anything that might make us uncomfortable.
When we are looking for answers, do we turn to God? Do we seek his help when we are struggling?
God tells us in Psalm 124:8, “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Therefore, it is important for us to understand that where we turn in times of crisis absolutely matters.
There is a story about this in II Kings, Chapter 1. This particular chapter is a record of an event in the reign of King Ahaziah, who was king of Israel.
Ahaziah walked in the way of his father, Ahab, and his mother, Jezebel, doing what was evil in the eyes of God.
King Ahaziah had fallen and gotten injured in his home. This kind of thing is something we can all relate to. Every day accidents happen, people slip and fall and sometimes people get hurt.
King Ahaziah’s injury from his fall was a serious one. Because of this serious injury, Ahaziah sends messengers to go and consult with a false god. Ahaziah wasn’t doing anything different than any other king would do in his day. In fact he was doing what he had seen his parents do.
If we read the entire chapter of II Kings 1, it might be easy for us to say Ahaziah was a foolish king, but let’s not be too quick to judge and move on.
I believe Ahaziah’s short story has the potential to teach us an important lesson. It is a reminder for us to turn to the one true God and look to him for help when we face trouble of any kind. God alone has the answers we are looking for.
No New Year’s resolution is going to fix our problem. No magic pharmaceutical or 12-step program will give us the answer we are searching for to attain health and happiness.
This new year, 2022, let’s all try something different. When we need answers, let’s all choose to turn our eyes upon Jesus.