This week’s subject, Désiré LeSage, has fascinated me ever since I first saw his portrait hanging in the gallery of the museum. In addition, he has descendants who led active lives in the history of Rooks County. His name is on the wall as a Civil War veteran.

Harry and Willardene Purdum of Stockton will be celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniverary on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The couple were married on March 11, 1961.

Darrell Rubottom: “The old truck sitting south of Solutions North Bank is like the truck in one of Dorothea Lange’s famous pictures of a migrant family during the Great Depression of the 1930s.”

NOT ASHAMED. In his most doctrinally important letter, Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). I believe this was one of the first Bible verses that I committed to memory after trusting the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross as that which took away God's wrath toward my sin. It's still a vital verse for genuine Christians to understand and memorize. With the "tsunami of shaming" going on in our current "cancel culture" for anything, everything, and even for nothing, perhaps true followers of Christ need reminded that we have no reason to be ashamed of the Lord. Paul was certainly not ashamed of the gospel because he knew what it is. It's the power of God unto salvation—it makes forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life possible to attain. Paul was also not ashamed of the Gospel because of who it is for. It's for everyone—whether Jew or Gentile! Jesus' death makes forgiveness available to all regardless of social standing, education, race, or nationality. Paul was furthermore not ashamed of the gospel because of how it's obtained. It is obtained by faith. It's available to all who believe on or savingly trust in Jesus Christ (versus trusting their own righteousness or goodness). Lastly, Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because of what it reveals. The message of the gospel reveals that God is righteous (v. 17) as seen in His judging our sin on His Son. This is the foundation that allows sinners to be deemed righteous in His sight. Because God judged mankind's sin on Jesus He is thereby able to judge sinners to be righteous when they trust in Christ. That's the Good News! When the world tries to "cancel" us, remember 1 Peter 4:16 - "it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name!"

The menus for the week beginning Monday, March 15, at the Stockton Senior Center, are as follows: Monday—Polish sausage, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, peaches. Tuesday—Harvest turkey soup, coleslaw, crackers, rosy applesauce. Wednesday— Taco salad, refried beans, chips, mandarin oranges. Thursday—Smothered chicken filet, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, pineapple upside down cake. Friday—Chef salad (meat on the side), orange/pineapple salad with cottage cheese, crackers, cookie.

Come in and check us out!! New titles in the library for adults are: • “Fatal Deception” by April Hunt • “Undercover Kitty”by Sofie Ryan • “A Simple Murder” by Linda Castillo • “No Holding Back” by Lori Foster • “Till Murder Do Us Part” by James Patterson • “Irish Parade Murder” by Leslie Meier • “Before She Disappeared” by Lisa Gardner • “The Russian” by James Patterson • “The Vineyard at Painted Moon” by Susan Mallery New titles in the library for kids are: • “Wolfboy” by Andy Harkness • “111 Trees” by Rina Singh • “Pepper & Boo a Cat Surprise” by Charise Mericle Harper • “Beak & Ally Unlikely Friends” by Norm Feuti • “After School Superstars Lucy Lopez Coding Star” by Claudia Mills • “All You Need is Love” by John Lennon Your library staff!.

The phrase, “Do not be afraid,” appears 365 times in the Bible, one time for each day of the year. Do you think that might be important, or maybe just a coincidence? Pastor Brian told us this week that as we go through the many valleys of our lives, it may be difficult for us to understand why we are going through them. It is easy to see God and hear from God when things are going well, but in tough times we need to remember what we have been told.

The Hobart Homemakers FCE group met Monday, February 22, 2021, at 7 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. We started our meeting out with a Zoom class from Anna Muir on electric pressure cookers (called multipots) that are becoming very popular. They are faster and more convenient but you should not expect meals in an instant! She shared her favorite things to make and shared some foods that didn't work as well in an multipot. Janie made crack chicken in hers and we put it on buns to sample and also a delicious chocolate peanut butter lasagne dessert!

The Woodston United Methodist Church held services on Sunday, February 28, 2021. Margaret Welker and Joan Balderston sang a duet, “It Is Well” for the special. Pastor Michelle Byerly had scripture Genesis 17:1-7 and 15-16. The title of the sermon was, “People of the Covenant: What’s In A Name?” The closing hymn was, “How Can We Name A Love.”

Week of March 8th Breakfast Monday—No School. Tuesday—Pop-Tarts, fruit, juice, milk.