20+ hour, 42+ min ago (213+ words) Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "West Central Tribune staff report." Often, the "West Central Tribune staff report" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email: [email protected] or phone 320-235-1150. Church Calendar published Nov. 29, 2025 GROVE CITY " The annual "Christmas at Trinity" will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City. There will be cards, napkins, quilts, crafts, baked goods, lefsa and ethnic goodies…...

1+ week, 20+ hour ago (246+ words) Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "West Central Tribune staff report." Often, the "West Central Tribune staff report" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email: [email protected] or phone 320-235-1150. Church Calendar published Nov. 22, 2025 ATWATER " An oyster stew and soup dinner will be served from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at St. John Lutheran Church, north of Atwater. Freewill donation toward St. John Sunday School. GROVE CITY " The annual "Christmas…...

2+ week, 20+ hour ago (147+ words) Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "West Central Tribune staff report." Often, the "West Central Tribune staff report" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email: [email protected] or phone 320-235-1150. Church Calendar published Nov. 15, 2025 ATWATER " An oyster stew and soup dinner will be served from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at St. John Lutheran Church, north of Atwater. Freewill donation toward St. John Sunday School....

3+ week, 1+ day ago (209+ words) Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "West Central Tribune staff report." Often, the "West Central Tribune staff report" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story. The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email: [email protected] or phone 320-235-1150. Church Calendar published Nov. 8, 2025 WILLMAR " A sale of repurposed decor and other home items will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at First Covenant Church, 801 Willmar Ave. S.W., as a fundraiser for the church decorating committee. Furniture and entertaining…...

23+ hour, 53+ min ago (246+ words) SPICER " Green Lake Lutheran Ministries announces a new name for the organization to better capture the breadth of the work across the ministry's sites and programs " Water's Edge Ministries. According to a news release from Water's Edge Ministries, the name was chosen due to the role water plays in scripture as well as the group's programming. The ministry is a provider of faith-based camps, retreats and learning opportunities across Minnesota and the country. The decision to change the name came from the organization's growth and evolving mission since 1992. The board and a task force guided the rebranding process. Input was gathered from campers, families, congregations, volunteers, supporters and staff. According to the news release, the new name unites aspects of the ministry under a shared identity. Ministry programs include Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, Shores of St. Andrew in…...

4+ day, 21+ hour ago (234+ words) ST. CLOUD " Leaders for the Diocese of St. Cloud are studying potential options after being notified that its lay employee pension plan, administered by Christian Brothers Services, is significantly underfunded and without assets to meet long-term obligations for its more than 180 member organizations. In a letter to employees, the Diocese of St. Cloud stated that the total increase in participating employer contributions required to resolve the shortfall would be greater than $80 million over 25 years, which it called "not a viable option." The diocese has participated in the Christian Brothers Service retirement plan since July 1991, covering 1,400 employees across parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations in the 16-county area. Priests are not included in the plan, Anderson said. According to the diocese, underfunding isn't the result of any decision or action made by any parish or school participating in the plan, and…...

2+ day, 10+ hour ago (253+ words) Two stories anchor our oldest holiday. Both took place in times of division and deprivation. And both offer a hopeful note about who we can be when we try. The peaks and valleys of American history are commonly defined by our wealth and our power. But as these stories remind us, the true character of America is found in our capacity as a pilgrim people to find reasons for hope and gratitude and share those blessings with others. So, what might those moments suggest for today's era of disunity and discord? In the face of all this, the overwhelming temptation can be to retreat to our separate corners, to give thanks only with those who think as we do, to harden our hearts against those on the other side of whatever divide the algorithms tell us is most urgent that…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (371+ words) Among my growing list of improper uses of the English language is the response I get when telling a restaurant server or anyone else "thank you." The usual response has been for as long as I remember, "you're welcome." For the young, especially, it has become "no problem." Why would thanking someone for a service or kindness performed be considered a problem? What does that even mean? There once was a time " and I still remember it " when most of the Christmas rush began after Thanksgiving. Now we have Black Friday beginning in some TV ads before Halloween. Thanksgiving has taken a back seat to Christmas commercialism. It is now a one-day stuffing, not just of the turkey, but of ourselves, plus a couple of football games. While the early settlers and Pilgrims were known for thanking God for His…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (392+ words) I think that one of the most challenging aspects of living a life of faith is the realization that everything in this earthly life we know is so " ethereal. Circumstances can change in the time that it takes for an eyelash to drop to the ground, and that is a very disconcerting thought for most of us. This precariousness is jarring and reminds us that truly we walk through this life trusting in things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1) I was reminded this week by a devotion I read that all we are certain of in this world is only temporary, and that our fortunes can literally change with the dawning of a new day. The rub, of course, is that those changes can either bring us great joy " or tremendous sorrow. I think it is exactly this uncertainty that vexes so many…...

1+ day, 5+ hour ago (768+ words) IZNIK, Turkey " Pope Leo condemned violence in the name of religion on Friday at a landmark event with Christian leaders from across the Middle East, urging them during his first overseas trip as leader of the Catholic Church to overcome centuries of heated divisions. At a celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of a major Church council with senior clerics from countries including Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Israel, Leo called it a scandal that the world's 2.6 billion Christians were not more united. "Today, the whole of humanity, afflicted by violence and conflict, is crying out for reconciliation," Leo said at a ceremony in the Turkish town of Iznik, once known as Nicaea, where early churchmen created the Nicene Creed still used by most Christians today. "We must strongly reject the use of religion for justifying war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism…...