Murray County Christmas Project
The Murray County Christmas Project is again providing toys and gifts to children (12 & under) in Murray County.
Items needed are new toys, gifts, stocking caps and mittens. Monetary donations will be used to buy these items. All checks should be made payable to: Murray County Christmas Project/SRDC. Donations can be dropped at Slayton Shoe Repair, local banks in Murray County or sent to Murray County Christmas Project, Box 111, Slayton, MN 56172.
All donations for the Murray County Christmas Project are greatly appreciated.
December Evening In The Country Features Meredith Andrews
Lake Sarah Baptist Church is excited to present Meredith Andrews live in concert at 7 pm on Saturday, December 1st, doors open at 6 pm. Meredith Andrews is the featured artist for December Evening in the Country, Lake Sarah’s annual Christmas event.
Meredith Andrews is a contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader. She has won two Dove Awards and was nominated 7-times including Worship Song of the Year and Praise Worship Album of the Year. Andrews has extensive touring experience, including shows with Michael W. Smith, Francesca Battistelli, for KING & COUNTRY, Big Daddy Weave, and more .
While Meredith has performed for huge crowds, she keeps a down-to-earth attitude. “I don’t want to worry about the numbers,” says Meredith. “I want to be focused on ‘Am I being faithful? Am I leaning in? Am I speaking truth and offering hope to people who are listening? I want to be a mouthpiece. I want God to use my story and use my songs to meet them in the hard place they’re at right now. That’s the goal. . . So that’s what I’m focused on.”
Lake Sarah Baptist is pleased to offer this special Christmas experience complete with refreshments served following the concert. Tickets are $30 and available online at lakesarahbaptistchurch.org or by calling the church office at 507-763-3477. The concert is expected to sell out, but any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Sign in/Sign up!
Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Through USDA’s new streamlined process, producers doing business as an individual can now register, track and manage their applications for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and 2017 Wildfires Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) on the secure and convenient www.farmers.gov Currently, USDA eAuthentication does not have the mechanism to issue accounts to businesses, corporations, other entities, or for anyone acting on behalf of another individual or entity. Producers, doing business as an individual, first need to sign up for Level 2 eAuthentication access.
- Step 1: Create and online account at www.eauth.usda.gov
- Step 2: Complete identity verification by either using the online self-service identity verification method or by completing the identity verification in-person at your USDA Service Center.
- Step 3: Contact your local USDA Service Center to have your new Level 2 account linked with your USDA customer record
- Step 4: You’re enrolled and ready to log in
Or go to your local USDA Service Center and our supportive staff will help you sign up for Level 2 Access right in the office! They will get you online so you can create an online account at www.farmers.gov/sign-in. You’ll complete identity verification right on the spot. You’re enrolled! Users with a secure Level 2 eAuthentication ID, linked to their USDA customer record, can apply for select USDA programs, view and print farm maps and farm records data. Enrolling is easy! Visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more.
To locate a service center near you or use online services not requiring eAuthentication access, visit www.farmers.gov. For technical assistance, call the eAuthentication help desk at -800-457-3642 or contact the Murray County FSA office at (507) 836-8567.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides emergency assistance to eligible livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers who have losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, not covered by other agricultural disaster assistance programs.
Eligible livestock losses include grazing losses not covered under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), loss of purchased feed and/or mechanically harvested feed due to an eligible adverse weather event, additional cost of transporting water because of an eligible drought and additional cost associated with gathering livestock to treat for cattle tick fever.
Eligible honeybee losses include loss of purchased feed due to an eligible adverse weather event, cost of additional feed purchased above normal quantities due to an eligible adverse weather condition, colony losses in excess of normal mortality due to an eligible weather event or loss condition, including CCD, and hive losses due to eligible adverse weather.
Eligible farm-raised fish losses include death losses in excess of normal mortality and/or loss of purchased feed due to an eligible adverse weather event.
Producers who suffer eligible livestock, honeybee, or farm-raised fish losses from Oct. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2018 must file:
•A notice of loss the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent or by Dec. 3, 2018
•An application for payment by Dec. 3, 2018
The following ELAP Fact Sheets (by topic) are available online:
•ELAP for Farm-Raised Fish Fact Sheet
•ELAP for Livestock Fact Sheet
•ELAP for Honeybees Fact Sheet
To view these and other FSA program fact sheets, visit the FSA fact sheet web page at www.fsa.usda.gov/factsheets.
Good News
By: John Stenen
A Christian man was dining in a restaurant one evening and felt that the Holy Spirit was encouraging him to speak to the man who was waiting on him about Jesus. He, like most Christians was not accustomed to speaking to strangers about heaven and hell or what it takes to be a Christian so he put it off. However, it kept coming to him to speak to the man. When his meal was over and his bill was paid, he stepped out onto the sidewalk and such a feeling of urgency came upon him to speak to the man that he decided to wait just outside until the waiter was off duty and came out.
After awhile the owner of the restaurant came out and asked the man why he was standing by the door. “I am waiting to speak with the man who waited on me,” replied the customer. “I’m very sorry sir, but you will never speak to him again, for when he finished waiting on you he went into my back room and shot himself. The authorities will be here any minute,” replied the owner.
How sad that this type of tragedy has happened so many times. We Christians have the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the greatest news this world could ever hear and yet, God’s children are so afraid to tell the lost how to receive everlasting life. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 still tells us that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation to this lost and dying world and we are ambassadors for Christ. How will they ever come to salvation if we are too afraid to speak to them? May all Christians pray for greater boldness to share the Good News of Jesus and what He has done for us.
