Friday, August 22, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Jackie's memorial service
Visit this link to watch the service.
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Belinda's Surprise Gifts: A Beautifully Written Poem and a Lovely Tea Towel
A Fun Fact
Belinda, my dear, this towel is for you.
You choose to shine
in all that you do.
You shine at work, and you shine at play.
You shine in just any and all ways.
That beautiful smile shines everyday,
Along with loving words that you so kindly say.
Always happy and so fun to be around,
Everyone is your friend in the whole town.
Every week you have a new idea or two,
Never know what you might be up to.
Every church has a pastor this is true,
But few have a wife quite like you.
Hope this little bit of fun brings a smile to your face.
Just know that a gal like you we could never replace.
So you go girl; you’re “truly one of a kind.”
I’m so blessed to have you go and attend this church of mine!
- Written by Linda B., "Poet Laureate" of the United Methodist Church in Glenville, Minnesota
Monday, August 11, 2025
"The Look"
Wesley has his way of showing off his many moods and today, he was focused on the coming and goings of the household.
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Glenville Days was a treat!
A heavy rain this morning delayed the start of the Glenville Days parade a full two hours! When the rain stopped, the Glenville UMC contingent joined the parade's participants in celebrating this wonderful community!
Friday, August 8, 2025
Relay for Life
We supported today's Relay for Life at the fairgrounds with two luminaries. The first, is in memory of Charles' dad who died of cancer in 1991. The second, is in honor of the Glenville UMC who have welcomed us into their community.
Friday, August 1, 2025
A big project
Charles tackled a big project today, volunteering to remove a large pile of branches at the Itasca Rock Garden (part of the History Center of Freeborn County). Five hours and six pickup loads later and the job was done!
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
A Fair Day
Charles accompanied some of the residents from Thorne Crest to the Freeborn County Fair today and had a nice time escorting one of the men around the fairgrounds.
Sunday, July 27, 2025
A treat from Glenville
Poem: “To Pastor Charles and Belinda”
Written by Linda Bighley, the “poet laureate” of Glenville United Methodist Church (GUMC), Glenville, Minnesota, to commemorate Pastor Charles Alkula’s first month pastoring the church. This was read by Linda Bighley before the worship service, GUMC, Sunday, July 27, 2025.
A month ago, today, you came into our life: A wonderful Pastor and his very special wife. Hope you know you’ve made us happy as can be, Adding a great blessing to our church family.
You’re both beautiful, inside and out, Some of God’s wonderful people, there is no doubt. We prayed to God to bless us with someone like you. He truly did answer with the gift of you two.
Here at our church, we are simple, pretty easy to please. We love to laugh and be happy, and some truly love to tease. We want to make each person feel real welcome here, With a smile, a big hello, and a greeting full of cheer.
We love our music, like to sing, and praise the Lord, Being all in unison with hearts of one accord. We’re blessed with many good readers, really enjoy them all. They are ready with our Scripture: summer, winter, spring, and fall.
Great group of ladies, making coffee and goodies to eat. When it comes to being tasty, they can’t be beat. Our men are all so talented, can fix most anything. If we have a problem, we just give one of them a ring.
It makes us happy whenever you are both around, To know we have some friends like you, Because of all the cheer you bring, The warmth and gladness, too.
It doesn’t’ take a special day to tell you that we’ve found The world’s a nicer place to be, whenever you are both around. This is the beginning of a journey blessed by our Lord. If we follow and do right, we will be given a heavenly reward.
We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to begin. With God, you two, and every member of our flock, Here at the Glenville Methodist Church, we are ready to rock.
Friday, July 25, 2025
A Friday task
Charles spent a few hours this morning, volunteering to paint some of the curbs that had not been painted in a good many years.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Another civic activity
Charles attended his first meeting of American Legion Post 56 tonight after being signed up by a member of the Glenville UMC.
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Sunday triple header
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Art & Garden Tour 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Busy in Glenville
Thursday, July 17, 2025
A visitor from Blue Earth
Our friend, Judy Clark, was in town today and spent an enjoyable time with Belinda at the Green Mill!
Friday, July 11, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Sunday afternoon in Council Bluffs

Shortly after leaving Omaha this morning, the car developed a problem with the alternator which led to a call to AAA for a tow. Eventually, he got to a car repair place in Council Bluffs, Iowa and then by Uber to a hotel at the Ameristar Casino!