October 2009
Pastor’s Notes
Why are we here? That’s a question I have asked myself many times. The question I want to put before you to think about is, “Why is this church here? What is its purpose? What is God’s plan for his church?” Actually there are three questions but who’s counting?
This is the time of year when all churches begin to think about finances and the budget. Let’s not think about money but instead consider what it is that God is doing in the world and how can we join him in it. That, I think, is the real question we should all concern ourselves with.
When we go back to the book of Genesis we find that God created everything for his pleasure, including us. We are here for his pleasure. But I don’t think it ends there.
God through Moses gave his people laws to live by and Jesus boiled all of them down to two. He said we were to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. That, my friends, is our reason for being. That’s why the church is here; that’s its purpose. I believe God’s plan for his church is to continue the work begun by Jesus, the apostles, and the disciples. And that work was to tell the world about God’s kingdom here on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.
Yes, it’s all about evangelism and mission and stewardship and making disciples of all nations, loving our neighbors enough to care whether they know about Jesus and his love for them. Now our love for them may not begin with our telling them about Jesus. It may begin by attending to their needs, whatever they may be.
Friends, I know that it’s hard to help others meet their basic needs when we know that they’re there because they may have made some choices in their lives that put them in the predicament they’re in at this particular time in their lives. It’s very hard not to judge. The fact is that nothing has changed since the time of Jesus. People made wrong choices then and they are still making wrong choices today. And I believe that Jesus told his disciples, and us, that we are to care for them.
That’s the reason this church is here. That’s the purpose and God’s plan for his church, to help the least and the lost, the poor and the lonely. And we are to love them as we love ourselves.
As you’re reading this you’re saying, “But times are tough and there’s just not enough money.” I agree, times are tough and money does seem to be tight but I think it’s more than that. As I said last month it’s about tithing our lives to God, dedicating everything we do to God. Giving up our old lives and living like the new people we profess to be as followers of Jesus. It’s not about the money.
It’s not easy but living the life set by Jesus’ example isn’t easy. If it was we wouldn’t be talking about mission, stewardship, and the like because the churches would be overflowing. Everyone would want to be a Christian.
We profess to be Christians. That means we believe in Jesus. We believe he died to forgive our sins. We believe that He rose again and before he ascended into heaven he stayed with his disciples for 40 days and taught them again how to love and care for those whom he called to be his, rich and poor, black and white, Jew and Greek, everyone part of God’s plan.
Friends, I ask you to prayerfully consider what it is that God is doing in this community and then decide how we can join him in his work. That is our mission. That is why we’re here.
God loves you and so do I,
Pastor David
Thank-You
Thank-you to Linda Ploen for leading the service September 20th all about the Wyoming mission trip. Thanks also to Jason and Heather Ploen for all their technical help. Also, thanks to the girls for sharing their memories.
Thanks to the pastor for polishing the communion service and replacing the tablecloths in the sanctuary.
Thanks to Linda Ploen for changing the alter flowers for the fall season.
New Addresses:
Vic and Edna Nielsen
300 Risen Son Blvd.
Apt 241
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone # 712-256-2984
Mabel Stahl
1100 Brookridge Circle
Apt 1C
Atlantic, IA 50022
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the Homecoming Royalty Court; Valerie Sievers, Josie Cable, Chris Guthrie and Jessica Helms.
Congratulations to Brittni Johnk for graduating from Jennie Edmundson School of Radiology. She graduated with top academic honors and also was awarded the Outstanding Clinical Student award.
Congratulations to Ty Johnk for winning Champion Charolais Composite breeding heifer at the 4-H show at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
CROP WALK
For the first time the CROP HUNGER WALK will be held in Walnut. Come join the walkers on October 11th at 1:00 p.m. at the Walnut City Park. The walk will be app. 4 miles long. Contact Darlene Stuart to get your sponsor sheet. Also, please bring canned food items for the Avoca Food Pantry.
Kid Joke
A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
“Would you like to say the blessing?’
“I wouldn’t know what to say,” the girl replied.
“Just say what you hear Mommy say,” the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
“Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”
November Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Leo & Jeanette Rechtenbach, Teri Abel & Shannon Griffith
Communion Servers: Bobbie McDermott-chm, Barb Eslick, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd. October ushers and communion servers are at bottom of calendar.
Flowers for Pulpit
October 4-------Mabel Stahl
October 11------ Jeanette Rechtenbach
October 18 ------Bobbie McDermott
October 25 ------Janet Grush
Rev. Doug Orbaker, missionary from Nicaragua spoke to us on Sept 27th . The Avoca United Church joined us for fellowship and communion. Chuck and Linda Ploen welcomed him into their home to stay overnight and Charlotte Shepherd coordinated the coffee and sweets afterward.
Simply Voices
Simply voice is a group of 10 women from the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church who will be celebrating their 6th year of singing together in October. October 11th they will be singing our worship service at 9 a.m.
Their style of music is both contemporary and traditional. The group was asked to perform 3 years in a row at the Iowa State Fair for the ecumenical church service in Pioneer Hall. They have sang in 3 different events for the Iowa Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and sang for installation of a local woman in the Rebekah Lodge. They have also performed for various community events and surrounding area worship services and have sang for Easter and Christmas concerts for their local community for the past 5 years. They are passionate about their ministry and have touched many who have heard their "ministry through song."
We hope you have a chance to come and hear them sings. I think you will enjoy hearing them. Pastor David's sister, June, is a member of this group.
Bank Account
I have just deposited
Love and Blessings
Into your bank account
And the best part is that
It will cost you nothing
I ask that you use it in abundance
*Your pin number is J-E-S-U-S
*Important Notice*
If you lose your pin number you lose everything.
Make a deposit in someone else’s account.
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
Session Minutes
September 8, 2009
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in regular session on September 8th, 2009 in the south Sunday School annex.
Those in attendance were: Gloria Myers, Valerie Sievers, Linda Ploen, Jim McDermott, Bobbie McDermott, and Bonnie Holtz. Those absent were: Darlene Sstuart, Leo Rechtencach, Dennis Jensen and Robin Tooley.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with several readings from the book of James. He also had a reflection on justice, the poor and homeless. We did not have a meeting in August because of the funeral visitation of Bill League.
The minutes of the July meeting were approved as read.
The Treasurer’s report for July and August was read and approved.
The pastor’s report was approved as given. Pastor David traveled 109 miles in July and 65 miles in August. He served 9 residents of Peace Haven communion, visited many members and traveled with the mission group. Pastor David also asked for vacation on the weeks of September 20th, October 4th, and October 25. It was moved and 2nd to allow this. Motion carried. The mission trip girls will do the service on Sept. 20th and Katherine Bates-Heyne on the 4th and 25th of October.
There was no clerk’s report. Deaths recorded were William F. Sievers who died July 28th, 2009 and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa, and William Cleveland League who died August 7th, 2009. His burial was at Layton Twp. Cemetery in Walnut, Iowa. There were no new members or membership transfers.
Stewardship and Mission
David reported that the mission trip to Shell, Wyoming went well. The girls worked hard and we all had a great time. Doug Orbaker, delegations Coordinator for the Council of Evangelical Churches in Nicaraugua will be here for a joint worship service between First Presbyterian and United Church of Avoca on September 27th at 9 a.m. It was moved and seconded to grant approval to serve communion that Sunday. Motion carried. We will not have communion on October 4th. Linda Ploen reported on the Open Door Mission Walk-A-Thon on Sept. 20th. We hope to have a good group from our church going. We will meet here at the church at 12:00 and travel together so we can walk as a group.
Christian Education
Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage #6 will be October 15-18, 2009. Joyce Serenil is the rector. Gloria has ordered Sunday School material, and also received a scholarship application from Kelsi Helms. She will be attending Upper Iowa. David also mentioned again that we need to get together and look over the Christian Educator’s Guide to Evaluating and Developing Curriculum to see what our Christian Education needs are. He would like to focus on adult education.
Worship
Communion was served to 4 residents on August 2nd and 5 residents on September 6th at Peace Haven Home. Gloria Myers and Allan Sievers each served the respective months. There will be no communion on October 4th since we will serve it on September 27th instead.
Finance and Property
David asked again about the purchase of software from Servant PC Resources Inc. The cost is $699. He is still waiting for feed -back on the need and possible purchase. It would help keep track of pledges, membership and the interests of our members. It was mentioned that to obtain this information we could possibly put a “gifts assessment” sheet in the Gleaner to find out what our members strengths, interests and gifts are. No action was taken. There was also no action taken on the Presbyterian Foundation Investments.
New Business
Our Memorial Fund balance is $7,533.48 at last report. Several ideas were brought up for using these funds: a projector for the church, new pew Bibles so they are all alike, new tables for the Antique Walk (the heavy old ones will be disposed of), a different refrigerator, and perhaps some equipment for the Food Pantry. These were just some thoughts. No action taken.
Jim McDermott and Terri Abel then reported on the Crop Hunger Walk which will be in Walnut this year. It will be on October 11th at 1:00. They asked for at least 8 walkers from our church. Plans are going well for the 5 mile walk. Anyone interested in walking or pledging may talk to Jim or Terri, or a session member.
The meeting was closed with the Lord Prayer.
The next meeting will be on October 13th at 7:00 p.m.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
