Pastor’s Notes
This last week, Wednesday through Sunday, I was at a spiritual retreat named Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage. It was the 6th such retreat held by this group. You might be wondering why it is that your pastor keeps going back after being a guest pilgrim at #2.
Well, for me, it’s a little like a family reunion where you get to be with family you don’t get to see everyday and there’s really good food. But it’s way more than that. Every time I go I am filled with God’s grace in this wonderful, awesome ecumenical Christian community. And I am inspired and convicted to respond to this grace that is so freely bestowed on all of us by a God who truly loves us.
It’s a little like the best vacation you can remember ever being on. The site is beautiful, the food is top notch, and you are filled with so much love your heart overflows. My words just don’t seem to adequately describe it. I guess the best way to find out what I’m talking about is to get a registration blank and fill it out for the April 22-25, 2010 pilgrimage that will be at Camp Calvin Crest along the Platte River just south of Fremont, NE.
I go there to serve others and even though we all go to bed late and get up early it really doesn’t seem like work. There are 14 talks given by lay speakers and clergy. There are stories told that make you laugh so hard you almost can’t breathe. And then there are talks that are so heart wrenching that you’d swear there aren’t going to be enough tissues in the box.
It’s just the best spiritual retreat ever. And you don’t have to observe silence the whole time. Maybe for some that wouldn’t be a good thing. Oh, there are quiet times but there’s also a lot of singing and telling short, clean, funny stories. Have I told you that the food is the best there is? And you don’t have to cook or wash dishes. It’s great.
If you decide to come you will discover that your relationship with Jesus becomes stronger and you be searching for ways that you can serve others through Him.
If you’re curious about what Pilgrimage is go to this website, http://www.gpppilgrimage.org, for more information.
Fall supper work schedule is included in this Gleaner. Please check to see your duties.
In Memoriam
Marjorie Evalyn McDermott
May 29, 1924-October 12, 2009
Marjorie Evalyn McDermott
Marjorie Evalyn Jones was born on May 29, 1924, in rural Lewis. She was the daughter of Glenn Owen Jones and Beula Collier Jones, and had one brother, Glenn Owen Jones.
The family moved to Atlantic when she was a young child, where she attended Jackson Elementary School, and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1941. After high school, she worked at Atlantic State Bank for four years, and then as secretary to her father in his positions as an officer in state and national beekeeping organizations. In this capacity, she traveled extensively throughout the United States with her father.
On September 20, 1947, Marjorie married Austin D. McDermott and became a farm wife. They loved dancing, family gatherings and holding hands. Austie loved horses, and for him she learned to ride. They farmed for a short while west of Atlantic, then moved to the farm southeast of Walnut where they would raise their family, Evelyn, Elaine, Jim and Karen (aka Kenner). Marjorie raised chickens, selling the eggs and dressed chickens. She tended a large garden for many years, and canned and froze the produce. She was also an expert seamstress and enjoyed candlewick, needlepoint and other sewing crafts. An excellent cook, she excelled especially at baking pies and homemade bread. She enjoyed traveling, and went on many fun road trips with her friends Ruby and Jean as the trio aptly called “The Roving Redheads.” She also loved traveling with her grandchildren, and took each on a special trip at least one time before her health limited her travel.
In 1979, Marge and Austie moved to Walnut, at which time she worked as a desk clerk at the Country Village Inn. Marjorie lost the love of her life when Austie died in 1981. She retired in 1994, and later moved to Peace Haven Retirement Home in Walnut. In 2006, she moved to Heritage House in Atlantic where she grew fond of the nurses and aides who cared for her, calling them “her girls.”
Marjorie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Walnut, United Presbyterian Women, Walnut Genealogy Society, and served many years on the board of the Walnut Library.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Austin, her brother Glenn, daughter Evelyn Eblen, in-laws Harry and Josephine McDermott, and brothers-in-law Clarence McDermott, Robert McDermott, Herb McDermott and Richard McDermott.
Marjorie is survived by her daughters, Elaine McDermott of Kansas City, MO, and Kenner Baxter (Randy) of Marne, and by her son Jim McDermott (Bobbie) of Walnut. Also her son-in –law Gene Eblen of Walnut, grandchildren Aaron Eblen (Essence) of Pensacola, FL, Tony Eblen (Lindsey) of Treynor, Adam Eblen (Melissa) of Jacksonville, FL, Megan Andersen (Brian) of Omaha, Nellie Popp (Brian) of Omaha, Christina Baxter of Marne, and Brittney Baxter of Waterloo, as well as great grandchildren Dylan Eblen, Aubry Eblen, Emma Eblen, Evyn Eblen, Cohen Eblen, Kenner Eblen, Nora Andersen and Dasia Baxter. She also leaves behind her beloved sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Pauley Jones Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, October 18, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Walnut, with the funeral on Monday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. at the church.
Thank-You
Special thanks go out in this November (Thanksgiving) Gleaner to all our Church volunteers:
Sunday School teachers Robyn Tooley & Teresa Griffith
Choir Director Darlene Stuart
Piano Player Connie Jensen
Clerk of Session Linda Ploen
UPW President Charlotte Shepherd
Church Treasurers Robyn Tooley and Connie Jensen
Session Members
Flower Contributors
All workers at the Church Bazaar and Supper
All workers at the Antique Walk Food Stand
Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you!
Pumpkin
Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Ty Johnk for showing the Champion AOB Breeding Beef at Ak-Sar-Ben Youth Livestock Exposition.
December Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Ross & Jean Bornholdt, Craig & Linda Woltmann Communion Servers: Leo Rechtenbach-chm, Jean Bornholdt, Jim & Bobbi McDermott. November ushers and communion servers are at bottom of calendar.
Flowers for Pulpit
November 1 –Mary Ellen Woltmann
November 8- Linda Woltmannh
November 15- Gloria Walter
Flu Shots
Don’t forget to stop in at the Walnut City Hall to get your flu shots Friday, November 6th from 9:00-11:00.The Shot is $25.00 and the Flu mist is $30.00.
Poinsettias For Sale
The Music Parents will again be selling poinsettias to raise money for the WCS music program. If you would like to order call Teri Harmon at school 784-3615. The deadline for ordering is November 8th. Color choices are red, pink, white, or marble. You can choose a Wednesday, November 25th delivery date or Thursday, December 3rd (available for pick-up at the elementary winter concert.) Please make your checks out to Music Parents.
Wanted
People who are excited about Prayer!
MRVP Committee for Congregations is looking for individuals who are devoted to prayer and would be willing to serve on a prayer team to pray for revitalization, re-development, and new church development. If you are this person, contact Pastor David for more information.
Session Minutes
October 13, 2009
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in regular session on October 13, 2009 in the south Sunday School annex.
Those in attendance were Darlene Stuart, Gloria Myers, Val Sievers, Linda Ploen, Jim McDermott, Bobbie McDermott, Robin Tooley, and Bonnie Holtz. Absent were Leo Rechtenbach and Dennis Jensen.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer. Scripture readings and our reflection were based on Psalms 22:6.
The minutes of the September meeting were read and approved.
The Treasurer’s report was approved as presented.
Pastor David reported that he would like to take a class called “Sharpening Your Skills: A Course in Pastoral Care.” It is coordinated by the Nebraska Medical Center Clinical Pastoral Education Unit. It was moved and 2nd to pay the $260 fee for this class. Motion carried Pastor David traveled a total of 339 miles and made many visitations.
Linda reported that she will be going to New Horizon church on October 27th for a review of our church records. She also read a letter from the MRVP Committee for Congregations asking for individual devoted to prayer who would be willing to serve on a prayer team to pray for revitalization, re-development and new church development.
Stewardship and Mission
It’s time for our stewardship campaign. Bonnie and Darlene will work on this. We also reviewed the Gleaner mailing list to see if any names could be eliminated to save some cost. Several ideas were mentioned to help save money. No decision made. Darlene reported that 36 people walked on the Crop Walk and a total of $2100 was raised.
Christian Education
Any discussion on our Christian educator’s Guide to Evaluating and Developing Curriculum was tabled again. Robin reported that 9 kids are attending Sunday School. She also said that she would like to have a Halloween party for our kids before they go UNICEFing. St. Pat’s is in charge of UNICEF. Gloria also reported that all the receiving blankets made by the Bible School kids are gone, so we need to have our kids make more, as we have several babies to be born this year.
Worship
Pastor David and Jim Tooley took communion to Judy Ferguson. She has requested to have communion each month. Four and five residents were served communion at Peace Haven. Elders Gloria Myers and Allan Sievers served the respective months.
Finance and Property
The furnace was not working so Feekes came and made repairs. We need to start thinking about the 2010 budget. A motion was made to look into having a church member take care of snow removal and mowing. It was 2nd and carried. Jim and Linda will look into this. It was also moved and 2nd to compensate Tom Liston for weed eating behind the church. We will give him two free tickets to the church dinner. Motion carried. Gloria reported that a refrigerator was purchased on Vic and Edna Nielsen’s sale for $225. It was moved and 2nd to take the money from the Memorial fund. Motion carried. Linda also reported that Chuck had put on a new door knob on the south annex and repaired the retaining wall and downspout in the back of the church. He also made recommendations for the round window on the front of the church. It was moved and 2nd to go ahead with the window repair with monies coming from the Memorial Fund. Motion carried. Chuck will have a detailed estimate for the next meeting.
New Business
It was approved to allow the Walt Siever’s family to use the church basement on November 14th from 11:30-4:00. November 10th will be the MRV Presbytery meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah from 5-7. Pott. County End of Life Community Partnership is offering information to anyone interested. David received the 2010 minimum terms of call for MRV Presbytery. David has envelops available from Would Vision so individuals can donate each month to feed a child. Darlene showed us a laminated flyer that could be put in each pew telling members and visitors about our church. No action was taken.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting November 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
