Crystal Hills Assembly of God Church near Paynesville will be packing shoeboxes again this month for Operation Christmas Child. Anyone is welcome to help pack the boxes on October 23rd – beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Pastor Dan Courtney says the evening will begin with pizza and a message from a missionary, and then they are hoping to pack 300 boxes with items that will go to children all over the world. He says this mission was started by Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization.
Pastor Courtney says they found out that their boxes last year went to Chile and many of the children who receive these boxes have never had a toothbrush, pencil, toy or other item that they find in their box at Christmas time. He says they also collect some money which helps with shipping costs and for Gospel materials that are included in each box.
Pastor Dan says they have drop off sites around Paynesville in case anyone wants to drop off items to be packed in the boxes or cash including: Fleet Supply, Tractor Supply, Elizabeth Rose Salon, Firehouse Coffee, the pharmacy, Hilltop and Crystal Hills Church. He says you can find more information about Operation Christmas Child at crystalhillag.org or samaritanspurse.org. Crystal Hills is near the intersection of Highways 55 and 4 – about 5-miles east of Paynesville.
The G.A.R. Hall and Meeker County Museum will be hosting another Civil War Roundtable meeting next Thursday – October 10th. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m.
Museum Executive Director Danelle Erickson says the Civil War Roundtable has a membership, but visitors are welcome to attend for $3. She says Litchfield native Brian Pease will be speaking during the October 10th meeting about battle flags with the topic “Carrying the Colors with Courage, Pride and Honor.”
Erickson says a new group will begin meeting at the museum in Litchfield soon. She says the Genealogy Hour will be held on the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and the first meeting will be coming up on November 7th.
Erickson says the museum has some materials that people are welcome to use as they explore their family history. She says the Meeker County Historical Society will have its annual meeting on December 5th. The Museum at 308 North Marshall Avenue is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10-to-4 and Saturdays from noon-to-4. For more information, go to meekercomuseum.org.
