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To keep everyone in our church and as well as our wider community safe, we will be cancelling all public events through April 4th. Our hope at this time is to resume with Palm Sunday Services on April 5th. This cancellation will include the Community Dinner, scheduled for March 29th, and the Soup Suppers.

This year’s Soup Supper Series will focus on the mission work, both local and global, being done by members of our congregation. Come hear their stories and learn more about how our members are serving our church’s wider community.

Beginning March 4th, the suppers are held on Wednesdays during Lent; 6 PM – Soup; 6:30 Program.

March 4 – Friends of San Lucas in Guatemala – Bill Petersen will share the work of this mission.

 March 11 – Group Work Camp staff – Ella Coyle will talk about her experiences as a staff member with Work Camp

 March 18 – Philadelphia Local Church Ministries – Maddy Woodman will share her stories of working with local church ministries in Philadelphia

March 25 – United Church of Christ in the Philippines – Pastor Glen will talk about his work in the Philippines with the UCC.

 April 1 – Weekend Backpacks for school kids – Stacy Coyle will talk about her work on this project.

When we stepped across the threshold into Kodae’s house in Lospalos, I could tell he wasn’t breathing. His younger brother was sitting beside him on the dingy mattress he had been on for months, shooing flies away from the pale corpse. The smell in the room was putrid. The boy turned to us with tears in his eyes. Their father appeared from a side room. On seeing us he announced, “He just died.” It was 4 in the afternoon, the sun was shining, and it was very quiet.

Kodae had a massive tumor on his lower left jaw. When Monica first went to see him at the request of a mutual friend, the tumor was the size of a volleyball. That was January 11. Two days later the bottom half fell off, leaving a gaping, but painless, massive open wound. Over the next couple weeks we went to visit Kodae often. He was afraid of what was happening to his body. Yet both he and his father were hanging onto hope. Day after day his dad sat with him, lovingly cleaning his wound and repositioning his frail body.

In the last week of January we were there for another visit. This day was different: Kodae was writhing and moaning in pain. Monica suggested medicine to ease the pain, which he was willing to try. Kodae had not taken any pain medicine until now, despite nearly a year of serious illness. I read scripture and prayed with him. A few days later, Kodae’s right leg swelled up. The next day his breathing became increasingly labored. As we left that day I pulled Kodae’s dad aside and talked to him, encouraging him to invite close family and friends to say goodbye to Kodae.

Kodae’s tumor was the size of a marble for maybe a few years, according to stories we have heard from his friends and family. It eventually got bigger and in March 2020 he was referred to Dili, where doctors surgically removed the tumor. The biopsy, sent out of country to a pathology lab, showed cancer; Timor has no pathology lab of its own, and it has no treatment for most cancer patients beyond surgery. Kodae’s tumor came back within two months and grew rapidly. The family went back to Dili but doctors told them it was stage four cancer and there was nothing they could do. Kodae’s dad was desperate; they were given no treatment and no option but to go home and wait for death.

Kodae’s story was on Timor’s television news program a couple months ago. In the t.v. interview, Kodae’s father expressed outrage. Though he had fought for Timor’s independence, he feels ignored, marginalized, oppressed. Helpless to get proper treatment for his 25-year-old son with cancer.

Timor Leste invests less per capita in health care than any country in the world. Basic medicines are often in short supply. The well connected and the elites can go abroad for health care and higher education, and they do. Kodae’s dad knows this. It’s not fate, bad luck or a shortage of money that prevents some people from receiving decent health care in East Timor. It is the choices that people in power make that have far-reaching impacts on the lives of many.

Our annual Thanksgiving Potluck will be on Sunday, November 24th after our morning church service.  Come join us for good food and fellowship.  Last names A-L bring salad; M-Z bring hot dish.

Later that afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., the CCIC will hold the annual Community Thanksgiving Service at First Congregational Church beginning at 4:00 p.m.  This service of music and readings will feature the Cannon Falls Ensemble as well as choirs from the community.  After the service, the CCIC will host the monthly Community Dinner; this month the First English Lutheran Church will provide the meal.

Mark your calendar and plan on spending time at church with friends and neighbors in the glory of God!

John Fritz, age 87, of Cannon Falls, passed away peacefully at the Gardens of Cannon Falls on November 2, 2019. John Dwight Fritz was born on July 20, 1932, at the Willows Home in Kansas City, Missouri. At 10 days old, he was adopted by Ray and Johanna Fritz of Luverne, MN. After the death of his mother, he continued to be raised by his grandparents, Frank and Mary Fritz, and his great aunt, Selma Enger.

John graduated from Luverne High School in 1950 where he played baseball, basketball, and ran track. Winning the State Tournament in the half-mile was one of his proudest accomplishments. Following high school, he enlisted in the US Navy where he attended school and became an aerial photographer. He was stationed numerous places including the naval base in Atsugi, Japan.

After returning home, John was united in marriage to Viola Van Voorst on July 11, 1954. They resided in Cannon Falls after John received his bachelor’s degree from Mankato State Teacher’s College. John was a teacher at Cannon Falls High School for 29 years. During his teaching career he taught Science, Math, and started the Photography Department. He was a legendary Track and Cross-Country coach. Following his retirement, John enjoyed spending time at the lake in Garrison, MN. He loved to fish, golf, and be with family. His greatest joys were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be forever known as “Grandpa John” to everyone.

Survivors include his wife Viola, of 65 years; sons Kevin (Julie) Fritz of Garrison, and James (Sheri) Fritz of Cannon Falls; grandchildren Matthew (Kristine) Fritz, Ryan (Jessica) Fritz, Jenna (Matthew) Sjoblom, and Holly Fritz; great-grandchildren Issac, Eli, and Emma Fritz;  Rylie, Reese, and Renlie Fritz; Jackson and Josie Sjoblom; brothers Roger (Bonnie) Sarver and Russell (Sue) Sarver; sisters Phyllis (Kurt) Peters, Lori (Bob) Meyers, and Myra Vaughn.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 am, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 220 W. Main St., Cannon Falls. MN  55009. There will be a visitation from 10-11:00 am at the church, prior to the service. Interment with military honors will be at the Cannon Falls Cemetery after a lunch is served at the church. Lundberg Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Pat Green’s chili recipe from Wendy’s Restaurants and Sandy Meglic’s cornbread with kernel corn took top honors at the First Congregational Church Chili Feed, Sunday, October 27th, 2019.  Attendees sampled various chili and cornbread recipes brought in by church members along with desserts and coffee.  After the feed, participants “voted” for their favorites by making cash donations.  The winners were determined by the most cash raised.  Over $560 was raised for Feed My Starving Children, and will be used for the packing event planned for November 23rd, 2019.  Emery Kleven announced the winners (pictured above) with their winning entries.

David Russell Bremer, age 78 of Cannon Falls, MN, passed away in the early morning hours of October 21, 2019.

Dave was born the eldest of five children on May 4, 1941 in Northfield, MN, to Russell E. and Grace (Carlson) Bremer. David grew up in Cannon Falls, graduating with the class of 1959. Following that, he attended Winona State University.

Dave served in the United States Air Force from October 1962 to October 1966. In 1964, he left for an overseas tour of duty in Vietnam until 1965. On April 4, 1970 David was united in marriage to Marianne K. Hutchinson in Garden City, SD. They eventually settled down in Cannon Falls. In May of 1974, Dave was hired as a full-time member of the MN Air National Guard until his retirement in March of 1996 as a Master Sergeant.

Upon his retirement, David attended MN State College Southeast, graduating with a degree in accounting. After receiving his degree, Dave went to work at Dakota County Technical College until his full retirement in 2008.

David was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Cannon Falls VFW since 1965, American Legion since 1976, and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) since 2005.

David is survived by his wife, Marianne; son, Mark (Sangrail Deal) of Thomasville, GA; daughter, Dianne (Truman) Tucker of Rochester; granddaughter, Samantha Bremer (Adam Magnuson) of Maplewood; step grandchildren, Collin, Gretchen, Reagan, and Lauren Tucker; brothers, John (Mary Beth) of Northfield, Tom (Bonnie) of Owatonna, and Bob (Toodie) of Sioux Falls, SD; sister, Laura (Bruce) Hemmah of Cannon Falls; honorary family members, Bonnie Knoll of Hastings, Kayla Holthe of Wanamingo, and Kayla Simonson of Maplewood; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Grace; nephew, Joseph Hemmah; brother-in-law, Herb Hutchinson; and sister-in-law, Lois Snyder.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 27 from 2-5 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. A memorial service will be on Monday, October 28 at 11 AM, with visitation from 10-11 AM, at the First Congregational Church, 220 W. Main St., Cannon Falls. Interment will military honors will follow at the Cannon Falls Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the loving caregivers with Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Wing Hospice for their compassion and support.

There will be a memorial service for Nathaniel Blaine Emery on Wednesday, October 23rd at the First Congregational Church, 220 W Main Street, Cannon Falls.  Visitation will start at 2:00 p.m. with a service at 4:00 p.m.

Nathaniel Blaine Emery, age 48, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on Sept. 22, 2019. He died fighting a lifelong battle with mental illness. He left behind his parents, Chuck and Carol Emery of Cannon Falls, his sister Elizabeth, his brother-in-law, Neil Budzinski, his nephew Eli, and his niece Sylvie, all of Waltham, MA, all of whom Nathan loved and adored. He also left behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers of all ages. Aunt Janet was Nathan’s special friend and soulmate. Don Hernke was Nathan’s special friend and mentor. Harris Nelson was also instrumental in sharing values of life as he taught Nathan to catch northern pike in the Cannon River by Welch.

Nathan attended Cannon Falls Schools; did his Basic Training in U.S. Navy in Florida; earned a 2 year degree in Diesel Mechanics , Dakota County VoTec; earned BS Degree in Economics (graduated with honors), University of Minnesota, Duluth; earned MBA, U of M, Duluth; and got a Series 7 License.

Nathan’s interests included fly-fishing, mountain biking, camping, wood working, mechanical and auto body repair, watching NASCAR, professional sports and movies, dogs (Snoopy, Tar, Lady and Cooper), and almost anything to do with wheels!  Nathan loved traveling and had been to countries in S.E.Asia (Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia),  the length of South America from Columbia all the way down to ‘almost’ the southern tip, and a few countries of Europe.

Nathan’s ashes will be scattered in Minnesota, in the Wasatch Mountains and streams in Utah, and in the Fairview Cemetery , Langdon, Iowa, where his parents, sister, brother-in-law, his Aunt Janet and Aunt Arlene will be. Nathan’s grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents are already buried there.