The menus for the week beginning Monday, December 14, are as follows: Monday—Meatballs, potato salad, pudding, bread, tropical fruit. Tuesday—Chicken dressing casserole, sweet potatoes, corn, roll, cranberry salad. Wednesday—Goulash, Brussels sprouts, bread, hot cinnamon pear slices. Thursday—Oven-baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, bread, pineapple upsidedown cake. Friday—Taco burger with lettuce, cheese and tomato, refried beans, bun, mandarin oranges.

THE GREATEST GIFT! It's that time of year again, though this year is shaping up to be a Covid-Christmas. And you know what that means - no sitting on Santa's lap. What an unexpected blessing! Yeah, I'm rather a "grinch" when it comes to "ol' Saint Nick." And rightfully so. First of all, a "saint" is someone who has savingly trusted Jesus Christ. While Nicholas of Myra might have been a kind and giving person, there is zero historical evidence of him ever trusting in Jesus' death and resurrection. Secondly, the historical "Santa Claus" was early on nothing more than a mar keting ploy used for financial gain. Whether "good or bad," even the Salvation Army started using "Santa Claus" in 1890 to solicit donations. However, in my reading, I recently came across what is one of the most monstrous statements I've ever seen. A "minister" apparently wrote some 20 years ago, "There are few causes to which I am more passionately committed than that of Santa Claus. Santa Claus deserves not just any place in the church but the highest place of honor, where he should be enthroned as the long-bearded, ancient of days, the divine and holy one whom we call God." He went on to say that Santa Claus "refers to God the Son." I make no apology for stating that such an assertion is the most incredulous blasphemy I've ever seen. The Lord Jesus Christ is no make-believe jolly old man dressed in red. Jesus is "our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:13) and "Lord of lords and King of kings" (Rev. 17:14). Jesus is the One to whom one day "every knee" will "bow" (Phil. 2:10). Jesus is the One whom all angels worship (Heb. 1:6). Jesus is the One in whom "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). Teach your children the myth of Santa Claus if you will, but what they need taught is that Jesus gave His precious blood for their sin—the greatest gift ever given!

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). Can you relate to David, author of this Bible verse, after enduring many of the problems and events of 2020? Have you wondered just how long we have to go through all of this adversity?

Week of December 7 Breakfast Monday—Pancakes, fruit, juice, milk. Tuesday—Cereal bar, Tuesday—Cereal bar, fruit, juice, milk.

The community extends sympathy to the Robert Dix family on the death of Robert on Thanksgiving Day. Graveside services were at Ash Rock Cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday, November 30, 2020. Robert was a 1948 graduate of Woodston Rural High School.

Kansas hunters are urged to remain vigilant to the dangers harmful algal blooms can pose to hunting dogs. Every summer, dogs in Kansas get sick or die from exposure to harmful bluegreen algae, but potentially deadly algal blooms can still occur into fall and winter. “There are a lot of different species (of bluegreen algae) and some don’t care what season it is,” said Tom Stiles, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Water director. “If there’s a period of sunshine, calm conditions and it’s warm, a bloom could pop up. Hunters need to pay attention to their dogs.”

The 2020-2021 recipient of the Wilbur Hartzler Scholarship is Jayde Hosier, a Plainville High School graduate. Jayde is a Freshman at Fort Hays State University majoring in Elementary Education.

The Hobart Homemakers FCE group met Monday, November 23, 2020, at the United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. We opened with the flag salute. We had seven ladies present. We watched via zoom the lesson from Anna Muir on, "The Science of Family Meal Time: A Child and Family Development Perspective." It is always good to remind ourselves how important it is to sit down and eat as a family. Lots of us have grandkids and it’s a good tradition to pass down to them. It isn't always easy but takes some planning on scheduling and conversation starters. The lesson also stressed how there should be no technology at the dinner table. While watching the Zoom, we ate some delicious apricot dump cake!