Pastor’s Notes
The
old year is over and a new year has already started. Christmas has come and
gone and we, the Church, begin a new journey, and only God knows where it will
end.
During
the Advent season we have been thinking about “time,” how much we have, how we
use it, and hopefully, how God would have us use it. Each of us is given 86,400
seconds every day. What do we do with
it?
So,
not really knowing how much time we have to accomplish what God has for us to
do, we should be getting on with living into what God would have us be and do.
With the time I have left to share God’s word with you I plan to have us
consider how we can and do that very thing.
Of
course you know I’m thinking about retirement and wondering how God will have
me use those 86,400 seconds every day. I know what I’m thinking but I’ve
learned my thoughts aren’t God’s thoughts necessarily.
Consider
your life today. We live in a country where we’re free. Unless we’ve had our
heads in the sand we know that not everyone in the world enjoys the freedoms we
take so much for granted.
With
our freedom comes temptation. Instead of living lives of simplicity and sharing
our wealth with those in the world who don’t have what we have we’re tempted to
acquire the latest technologically advanced car, home, computer, or toy. Some
people call that “the life.” Those who win the lottery find that their
new-found wealth isn’t “the life” but a curse.
In
the Bible we find this wonderfully long word describing how we should live with
God. That word is “righteousness”, kind of a long word that means we need to
live rightly with God, doing what God would have us do.
Since
we know that we’ll never achieve perfect righteousness the question is, “How
are we to live?”
The
answer(s) can be found in God’s word for us in the Bible. I’m not going to give
you the answer(s) because I think the only way it will stick with us is if we
put in the “time” reading, studying, talking, praying, and worshipping.
Doing
that doesn’t ensure that we’ll be perfect, but by “doing” we are taking the
steps toward “living” rightly with God.
It’s
like trying to change habits. At first it’s so hard we think we’ll never be
able to change but if we persevere eventually the old is gone and a new,
hopefully better, habit has taken its place.
The
same is true of our spiritual life. At first it’s hard and we fail some days
but the longer we stay at it the easier it becomes to live a right life with
God. You know what I mean. It’s hard to commit the time to have devotions, to
be with God every day. After all, remember this, we only have 86,400 seconds
every day. Some folks think they don’t
have “time” to spend with God reading and praying.
If
a doctor told you that in order to see another year you’d have to change your
diet and exercise habits don’t you think you’d try really hard to change. Well,
God has told us we should live righteous lives in order to achieve eternal
life. Maybe we should make more of an effort to come to God in His word and in
prayer and then, maybe, it’d be easier to live in love with our neighbors and
the world.
May
the peace of Christ be with you my friends,
Pastor
David
RETIREMENT
PARTY FOR PASTOR DAVID
The session is inviting
EVERYONE to church Jan. 25th for David’s retirement party.
It will be part of the
worship service and also downstairs immediately following worship. The committee is “...hoping for and expecting
a large attendance to show appreciation to David for the impact he has had in
our lives.”
The annual congregational meeting will
follow the lunch. Please have your
report to David by the 19th.
Please bring a vegetable, salad or dessert for the lunch.
ALSO ON JAN.25th the confirmation students will be confirmed during
worship.
There is no key to happiness…the door
is always open.
Congratulations
We
welcome Eunice Smith as a member of our church.
Eunice reaffirmed her faith on December 28th.
Congratulations
to Christy Matthies, daughter of Doug and Margo Matthies, on receiving her
Master’s Degree in Business Administration on December 13th from
Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Christy
graduated with high honors, achieving a 4.0 grade point.
Food Pantry
Food
pantry needs for January are: Any Wholesome Food or Paper Product
Thank-you
Thank-you to Gloria Walter for decorating the church
sanctuary.
Thank-you to everyone that made the Sunday School
Christmas Program such a success. Cathy
Matthies, Robin Tooley and Michelle Mertz planned and directed it.
Thank-you to Michelle and Greg Mertz for buying and
bagging the Christmas fruit and candy, and Kathy Hansen for helping deliver
them to our shut-ins.
Once again our church was in charge of the Angel
Tree. We thank Linda Ploen and Margo Matthies
for making it a success. 19 children received 2 gifts each plus toys that The
Knights of Columbus contributed and books from the English Class in Avoca.
We thank Pastor David, Linda and Jim McDermott for
helping pack and distribute the Good Guys boxes to the recipients in Walnut.
Pastor David and Linda would like to thank everyone
for the Christmas cards and gifts they received.
Is tossing and turning at night
considered exercise?
Flowers
January 4 ----------- Flowers Provided
January
11----------- Willa Petersen
January 18----------
Linda Krueger
January 25----------
Michelle Mertz
“The two most important days in
your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.”
Mark Twain
Golden
Oldies
Jan
20 – First Presbyterian - Walnut
Feb
17 – St Mary’s Avoca
March
17 – United Church – Avoca
April
19 – Peace Church – Walnut
‘The secret to having it all is
knowing you already do.’
POINSETTIAS
Donated by: In
memory of:
Presbyterian
Women (3) Church
Family Larry & Charlotte Shepherd (2) Family,
friends & Gloria Myers
Margo
& Doug Matthies Margo’s
Father
Jean
& Joe Schmitt Herb
& Marie Mertz
Julie
Nash Ryan
Nash
Jean
Bornholdt Ross & Laurie Bornholdt
Leo
Rechtenbach Jeanette
Rechtenbach
Les
& Teri Abel Paul
& Aletha Abel
Steve
& Marie Livengood (2) John & Twyla Bero
Betty,
Steve & Michelle Sunderman (2) Darrell & Sam
Sunderman,
Joe &
Dorothy Beckendorf
Chuck & Linda Ploen Margie
Ploen &
Melissa Manhart
Barb
Eslick Bill
Eslick
David
& Linda Krueger Family & Friends
Eunice
Smith Clifford
Smith
“Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you others can see
Him.” C. S.
Lewis
February Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Charles & Gloria Walter,
Greg & Michelle Mertz
Communion Servers:
Greg Mertz-chm., Michelle Mertz & Charles Walter and Linda Ploen.
January ushers and communion servers are at
bottom of calendar.
No one
ever injured their eyesight by looking on the bright side.
Secretary Position
The church is
in need of a secretary (this is a paid position). Main responsibilities would be the monthly
newsletter (Gleaner), the weekly bulletins and putting the worship slides on
the sanctuary computer.
The church is
also in need of someone to operate the audio-visual slides on Sunday mornings
and send out birthday cards to our members.
I (Linda Krueger) have given the
Traveler’s Aid folder and checkbook to Steve Lewis (Peace Church) to manage.
Talk to a
session member or Linda Ploen (Clerk of Session) if you would like to help with
these jobs.
Session Minutes
December 9, 2014
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in
regular session on December 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm. in the Sunday School south
annex. Session members present were:
Cathy Shutters, Greg Mertz, Gloria Walter and Dustin Jensen and clerk Linda
Ploen. New pastor Joel Jackle-Hugh was also present. Absent were: Kathy Hansen, Michelle Mertz,
Allan Sievers and Jim Tooley.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and
we watched a brief video from Theocademy on lessons for new elders and deacons.
The minutes of the November meeting were approved.
The treasurer’s report was read and approved.
The pastor’s report was given and approved. David traveled 342 miles. He had many visitations and two funerals.
Linda gave the clerk’s report. Our per capita is due, as is our Presbytery
mission pledge. She also received a
letter from Calvin Crest asking for donations.
We had one death, that of Betty Clark, Jensen, League. Her funeral was November 15th in
Atlantic, Iowa.
It was moved and 2nd
to accept Eunice Smith as a member of our church through reaffirmation of
faith. Motion carried. We also received a letter from Linda Sieck
asking that her name be removed from our membership list.
New Business
The nominating committee of Margo Matthies, Jim McDermott
and Linda Ploen were reminded they need to find new elders for the coming
year. Jim Tooley has asked to resign as
a ruling elder. It was so approved. This year it was approved to have only seven
members. It was decided to divide up
members and speak to the paid employees for evaluation and feedback. We next worked on the church budget for
2015. The congregational meeting will be January 25th with worship
at 10:00 AM. We will have confirmation
during worship, recognition of
Pastor David’s retirement. After worship
will be a potluck rib meal and our meeting will be at 1:00 PM.
Stewardship and
Mission
Three bags of hats, coats, mittens and gloves were collected
and delivered to Castelar Presbyterian Church in Omaha. Greg and Michelle Mertz will get supplies for
the Christmas bags for the Sunday School children and shut-ins.
Christian Education
The Sunday School Christmas program will be December 21st
during worship. A youth confirmation
class with 14 young people was started December 7th using “New
Member” videos and worksheets from Theocademy.com. They will be received as
members on January 25h. “Ed’s Story”
from Flannel.com is being used by Sunday evening youth group.
Worship
Christmas Eve service will be at 10:00 pm. There will be no Saturday evening service in
December. Pastor Joel will be preaching on January 4th and serving
communion, so worship will be at 8:30 am.
Finance and Property
No report this month.
We need to have a joint session meeting with Avoca to discuss Pastor
Joel’s compensation package.
Personnel
Need to do By-laws!
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be January 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
A man
went to a church meeting with both ears bright red. A friend asked him, “What did you do to your
ears?”
“A
terrible thing,” the first man said.
“While I was ironing my shirt to come here tonight, the phone rang, and,
well, I picked up the iron instead of the phone.”
“That is
terrible,” said the friend sympathetically.
“But what happened to the other ear?”
“The guy
called back.”
