CEYLON — Today, July 15, the Welcome Summer Festival continues with a parade at 4:30 p.m. along with many other activities in and around Welcome including city-wide garage sales, a vendor show, inflatables and music.

Circle of Faith parishes, which include St. Peter from Ceylon, in following their July schedule, will have Sunday morning services at 9 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran in Welcome and 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran in Trimont.

The congregation at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Ceylon will not have their usual Saturday evening service tonight since they will join in the special service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 16, at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Wilbert to celebrate the retirement of Pastor Reimers of these dual congregations.

The special service at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Wilbert will be a joint communion service with Our Savior’s Lutheran from Ceylon at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 16, and following the service, a light lunch will be served. Then at 1:30 p.m. there will be a program of hymn singing and speakers that are friends and colleagues of Pastor Reimers.

Two more Tuesday coffee hours for the month of July will be held. The next one is 8:30-10 a.m. on July 18, at the Regional Worship Center in Sherburn. The Coffee Lovers group in Ceylon will have its coffee time from 8:30-10 a.m. each Thursday. Area men and women are welcome to join friends and neighbors for good coffee and great fellowship.

The Ceylon Summer Auction will be held July 22. Machinery items, no household items please, may be consigned now until July 21st with Howell Auctioneers at the bus/office in Ceylon.

The non-profit group, Helping Hands of Ceylon, will have a food stand and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 22 at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Street, near the digital sign. Their menu includes barbecues, hotdogs, coney dogs, chips and beverages plus the bake sale items. Hand made jewelry will be available for sale. Funds raised will help the group continue their projects such as park restoration and equipment project.

There will be an American Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 21, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Welcome. There will also be a blood drive from 1-7 p.m. July 24, at St. Vianney Church in Fairmont. To make an appointment or check

out drives near you, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), go online at www.redcrossblood.org or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Summer is usually slower for blood donations and the need is great so give if you are able. Thank you.