By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein Many of you reading this have seen and/or participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, featured in the left portion of the picture above, that has been sweeping the nation in hopes of raising money and bring awareness about ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” This illness is a progressive neurodegenerative […]
Anna Neumann, daughter of Jen and Doug Neumann, will be a part of the cast for the in the production of Children of Eden, which will kick-off the Revival Theatre Company’s inaugural season in the estate’s natural amphitheater–September 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m. Based on the book by John Caird, and a concept […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I cannot believe how much stuff has been brought in for the garage sale, which will take place beginning tomorrow. There have been numerous volunteers, at least sixteen according to my count, who have been very busy getting the room ready, and then sorting, stacking, […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein I cannot seem to escape the shadow of the valley of death. Last week, I was wrestling with the deaths of the young men in various parts of our own area as well as the military death that had just been announced. Over the weekend in the St. Louis area, a […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein Three of the top nine stories listed on KCRG-TV 9 deal with death: Two-star general is killed in Afghan attack, four teens killed in an accident in western Dubuque County and one young man was the driver of the vehicle that hit them, and nine-year old twins killed in ATV accident […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein In just a few days, we celebrate Independence Day, on July 4. Since the holiday occurs on a Friday this year, I am guessing a lot of individuals and families will be taking advantage of the long weekend that many will be able to enjoy. Picnics, fireworks, sparklers and time to […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein Last Saturday, June 21, was the first day of summer. The extended school year is finished; the vacation schedules are beginning to unfold; and the hot and humid weather is settling in over the heartland. I had often heard it said that summer is a time when things slowdown in the […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein As we are on the verge of the opening day of yet another Hog Wild Days Event, I have been thinking about the 80/20 rule, otherwise known as Pareto Principle or the Rule of the Vital Few. Most, if not all of you reading this posting, are familiar with this principle. Named after an […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein In just a few days there will be the celebration of Father’s Day, a day set aside to honor fathers and male parenting. This day was established in the early 1900’s to complement Mother’s Day that was already being celebrated. Yet celebrating Father’s Day had little success and faded from the […]
By: Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein It is that time of the year when graduations are happening, honoring students at every level of learning from preschool and kindergarten to high school and college to post graduate work. It is a time of the year that is often filled with joy and hope and anticipation as individuals celebrate […]