Chandler and Carissa Brass of Stockton would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Bailey Samantha, born at 2:07 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at HaysMed in Hays. Bailey weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and measured 21 inches long. She was greeted at home by her big sister, Brooklyn. Proud grandparents include: Mike and Brenda Goll, and Robert and Chandra Kruse, all of Salina. Great-grandparents include: Gene and Pat Westhusing of Stockton, Carolyn Brass of Coldwater, and Evelyn "Bum" Goll of Phillipsburg.

The Rooks County 4-H Achievement Celebration was held on Sunday, November 7th at 183 Lanes in Stockton. Awards were given along with the members enjoying bowling, food and fun during the afternoon event. Members were recognized for their accomplishments during the 4-H year with Olivia Dix and Taigen Kerr named the 2020-2021 Outstanding Rooks County 4-Hers. Receiving the Friends of Rooks County 4-H Award were Dawn Knoll, and Bill and Dixie Dibble.

God wants you to be more than a body. We all have a God-given purpose here on earth.

MORE AMAZING GRACE? Last week we considered two reasons why God's grace is truly amazing. (1) God's grace is amazing because it is gained totally apart from the law, i.e. self-effort or working to deserve it. (2) God's grace is also amazing because He gives saving grace regardless of merit (focusing on our negative merit, i.e. regardless of our sinfulness). Furthermore, (3) God's grace, His saving grace, is amazing because it is received simply by faith. God's justifying grace will be poured out on anyone who savingly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says "by grace you have been saved" (Eph. 2:5) and adds that salvation is "by grace...through faith" (Eph. 2:8). Paul told the Romans that sinners are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith" (3:24-25). It can't get any more simple. Sinners must simply believe or, exercise genuine faith, that Jesus paid their sin-debt and suffered God's wrath in their place. It really is that simple and yet only God can bring a person to the place they fully understand and believe - the result of His grace. (4) God's grace is amazing because it's beyond our full comprehension. Referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul tells the Corinthian christians, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15). The word "indescribable" means it cannot be fully expounded or expressed. The Greek word is a base word plus 3 prefixes which greatly intensifies the meaning. God's free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is utterly and infinitely beyond our comprehension. Why would the eternal, infinite Son of God leave the perfections of heaven, come into our sin-filled world, take upon Himself humanity's nature, live a sinless life, and then lay down His perfect life and suffer His Father's wrath in the place of sinners? That's amazing grace!

I almost missed an interesting phone call this past week thinking it was another scam number. My caller ID listed the name as Stephen Minton. Sharon Elder Minton, Arkansas, was calling to get information on a memorial service in the spring for her brother, Gary Elder, of North Carolina, who had passed away. Sharon also has a sister, Paula Elder, residing at Osborne’s Parkview Manor and a brother, Richard of Louisiana. Their parents were Cleo and Pauline Elder and they were raised in Phillipsburg and the Norton area. The grandparents were Charles and Bessie Elder who farmed in Ash Rock Township and donated land for the Ash Rock Cemetery. Her greatgrandparents were A. A. and Rachel Elder. A. A. Elder traveled to Kansas in a covered wagon and filed a homestead entry in 1880. My great-nephew, Cody

VETERANS SERVING VITTLES is an annual event on Election Day at the Stockton VFW. Some of the helpers included Deanna Bouchey, Gerry Atwood, Deb Niermeier, Vicky Peterson and Carol Serefko. And if you haven’t bought a poppy this year, several businesses in town will be selling them for the next week or two.

Come in and check us out!! New books for adults are: • “Sleigh Bells Ring” by RaeAnne Thayne • “Christmas Dessert Murder” by Joanne Fluke • “The Butler” by Danielle Steel • “Better Off Dead” by Lee Child • “2 Sisters Detective Agency” by James Patterson New books for children and young adults are: • “Diary of a Wimpy Kid Big Shot” by Jeff Kinney • “Disorder” by Martha Adele • “The Broken Peace” by Martha Adele Your library staff, Chris Sander, Chris Sander, Crystal Dunlap & Beth Hazen.

Just a reminder that the Stockton Food Pantry is open next Thursday, November 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Food Pantry is now at its new location at 602 Main Street in the building behind the Main Street Christian Church Parsonage.

Madeline Towns of Palco was one of more than 200 K-State legacies who have been recognized with the K-State Alumni Association’s Legacy Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarships were awarded to 209 students who are children and grandchildren of K-State alumni for the 2021-22 academic year.