February 2010 Gleaner

First Presbyterian Church Church Phone: 712-784-3953
Box 707 Pastor David’s home phone: 712-784-2204
Walnut, IA 51577 Pastor David’s cell: 402-936-0153

Pastor’s Notes
Whoo Hoo! February is looming just around the corner. That means there’s only two more months of winter, right? I guess we could get a snow storm in April but it’s not going to last as long as what we see outside today.

Okay, I’ve had enough winter to last me for quite a while. I’m tired of snow. I’m tired of the ice. I’m tired of having the electricity go off for hours or days. I’m addicted to heat and lights and I’m getting just a little bit irritated from not seeing the sun as much as I’d like to see it.
So, I’m whining just a little, but I know I’m not alone in this. Be honest with me, you’re feeling a little bit like me too, aren’t you?

I think it’s time to be thinking about what’s coming up on the calendar. Do you realize that Ash Wednesday is February 17th? That’s right; the Lenten season is just around the corner. In fact if you would turn around you’d notice that it’s peeking at you.

So, what’s that mean to you, giving up something for Lent, Lenten evening worship along with good food and fellowship with our family, neighbors, and friends? Lent allows us time to reflect on where we’re at in our walk and how does Jesus fit into all of it.

I know we’ve just finished celebrating Jesus’ birth. Some churches are in the time of Epiphany and others are in what is known as Ordinary time. Epiphany always make me think of a cartoon with a bright light bulb suspended over someone’s head; an “aha” moment you might say. I only get those once every blue moon.

But ordinary time, well that’s almost every day isn’t it? I wake up, look at the clock, get up, get dressed, let Murphy out of his kennel and take him outside. While we’re out the coffee is brewing and will be ready when we get back. Then it’s time to take one upstairs to Mrs. K, the love of my life. I eat breakfast, check emails, put on my multiple layers of clothes and walk down to church. There’s morning prayers, study, and before I know it it’s time to go get the mail and walk back home for lunch with Mrs. K. Then I walk back to church for more study in preparation for Sunday’s message. At 5 I turn everything off and walk home to eat supper, read some, nap some, watch some TV and then to bed around 10. Pretty ordinary wouldn’t you agree. Maybe that’s why it’s called Ordinary time.

Now I’m getting ready to turn a page on the calendar and there it is, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. What a great time of the year. I know that in about 7 weeks Easter will be here along with the promise of a new life.

We will be journeying with Jesus and his disciples, listening to his parables, watching him heal folks, and listen to him answer the tough questions everyone has for him, the why’s, the what’s, and the where’s. And we may even have some questions ourselves that we would like answers to. Isn’t there something you’ve been pondering and would like God to answer for you? Maybe during Lent he’ll help you find the answer.

Lent is a good time to work on our prayer time. If we’ve kind of let our prayer time slide because we thought we were too busy this is a good time to get it back on track. Oh, it’s not only prayer. What I meant is our time for reading, study, reflection, and prayer, which might include some silent time with God. I know, that’s kind of hard, but we all need some silence in our lives so we can hear God’s voice.

This season of Lent may be just the time we all need to get ourselves in shape for what God has planned for His church this year. There is much God has for us to do and we really do need to get ourselves in shape for it. If you’re like me you kind of let yourself go in the winter eating all the good stuff and neglecting the exercise. I think we tend to do the same thing with our devotional time. We get so wrapped up in things that we let our time with God kind of slip.

Friends, he misses us. Take time this season to get back in shape with God. Let him be your guide. Trust in him to take care of all the issues that you think only you can deal with. Just enjoy being in his presence.

Friends, I hope to see you all at the Lenten evening worship services in Walnut and Avoca.

May God bless you with his grace and peace,
Pastor David


IN MEMORIUM
MARIE MERTZ
APRIL 12, 1914 – JANUARY 10, 2010


Marie Mertz, 95, longtime resident of Walnut, Iowa passed away at Heritage House in Atlantic early on Sunday morning, January 10,2010.

Marie was born the daughter of Charles and Mary (Thiessen) Koll on April 26, 1914 in Walnut, Iowa. She grew up and attended country school in the Walnut area. Marie was married to Herbert Arthur Mertz on August 18, 1935 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The couple made their home in Walnut where they were blessed with a son and a daughter.

They were members of the First Presbyterian Church and Marie was active in the Ladies Aide and Eastern Star. She was on the board of directors at Walnut State Bank. She especially took interest in her doll collection, horses, shopping and playing in the Marne Band. Her most memorable vacation was their family Alaskan Cruise to celebrate Herbert’s and her 60th anniversary.

Marie will be remembered for her love for people and being with her grandchildren. She enjoyed life to the fullest.

She is survived by here son, Donald Mertz and his wife Virginia of Yuma, Arizona; her daughter Jean Schmitt and husband Joe of Walnut; one granddaughter Vickie Weihs and husband John of Walnut; three great grandchildren, Josie and Drew Cable and Matthew Weihs; seven Step-grandchildren; and a number of great-step grandchildren.

She was preceded in passing by her father Charles Koll; her mother Mary Koll Varns; her husband, Herbert; her sister Elsie Best; and brothers Lawrence Koll and Elmer Koll.


Lenten Services
Our Ash Wednesday Services will be at our church this year at 6:00 PM. on Feb 17th. As in the past we will alternate Wednesday evening meals and services between the two churches. Please try to join us for some good food, fellowship, and worship as we prepare for Christ’s resurrection. This year we are again participating with Peace United in Walnut, Trinity Lutheran, St.Mary’s, and United Church of Avoca in hosting Sunday evening Lenten worship and a meal. These services begin at 5 PM. Mark your calendars. The first Sunday service is at United Church at Avoca.


Seen in Church Bulletins (Not Ours)
(These are jokes)

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water”. The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus”.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.





Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women will meet at 12:30 on Feb. 3rd for a Dutch Treat Lunch. Place to be announced.

Thank-you
Thank-you to anyone that gave miscellaneous paper gifts to the church.



Isn’t it strange--
how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church,
but such a small amount when you go shopping?

March Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Brett & Bonnie Holtz, David & Mary Woltmann – Communion Servers;
Dennis Jensen-chm, David Woltmann, Mary Ellen Woltmann, Teri Abel


Flowers for February
February 7----------- Michelle Mertz
February 14--------- Charlotte Shepherd
February 21--------- Alice Richter
February 28--------- Pam Nielsen
March 9---------------Linda Sieck

Church Humor
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,
“And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because
people are sleeping.”

The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mic, and as he preached he moved
briskly about the platform, jerking the mic cord as he went. Then he moved to one side,
getting wound up in the cork and nearly tripping before jerking it again. After several
circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered,
“If he gets loose, will he hurt us?”


Session Minutes

January 12, 2010

The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in regular session on January 12, 2010 in the south Sunday School annex.

Those in attendance were Darlene Stuart, Gloria Myers, Linda Ploen, Jim McDermott, Bobbie McDermott, Dennis Jensen, Robin Tooley and Bonnie Holtz. Absent were Leo Rechtenbach and Valerie Sievers.

Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and scripture from Luke 13: 6-9. David also had a reflection from God’s work for Today on the story of the “unfruitful tree.”
The minutes from the November and December meetings were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was approved as read.

David then presented his pastor’s report. He traveled 151 miles in November and 319 miles in December. Communion was served to several and many visitations were made. David will also be attending Winter Pastor’s School on Feb. 1-4 and a Board of Pensions Workshop on retirement in Kansas City on February 24-25. It was moved and 2nd to approve this report.

Linda Ploen reported that she has been sending in reports that are due to Presbytery. She also stated that we received our notice of apportionment and our share is $4,111.25 which is a per capita of $28.75 based on 143 members. We need to send letters out to inactive members. It was also moved and 2nd to approve our general mission pledge.

There was one death, that of Marie A Mertz. She died on January 10, 2010 and her service was on January 14th with interment at Layton Twp. Cemetery in Walnut, Iowa.

Reflecting on the Past Year
David asked us to think of the church’s accomplishments this year. Some were: the Wyoming Mission trip, the June Walk, the annual church supper, an active women's group, our Sunday School program, a great Bible School, the Angel tree. When asked what our lessons learned were, Jim stated” Don’t take boys to Canada when it’s rainy and cold!”

Stewardship and Mission
It was moved and 2nd to receive the One Great Hour of Sharing on Palm Sunday, March 28th.

Christian Education
Gloria has been reading the Christian Educator’s Guide and stated that we need to put together a committee of church members to evaluate what we want for our Christian Education program. She also sent scholarship forms to Kelsey Helms. Bonnie Holtz is now helping Robin Tooley with Sunday School to replace Teresa Griffith who will be on maternity leave.

Worship
Communion was served to 12 residents at Peace Haven on January 3rd with Darlene Stuart serving as elder. Lenten services will begin here on Ash Wednesday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. Worship will follow the meal. United Church of Avoca will host the first Sunday service on February 21st at 5:00. Pastor David will be doing the worship service. A meal will follow worship.

Finance and Property
We need to plan for a spring cleaning day. It was mentioned that we need to have someone from Edward Jones come and speak to us about our investments to see if we can access our interest money. We also need to get Leo’s signature taken off financial statements as he is going off session.

Personnel
David asked for pastor evaluations and evaluations of other paid positions. There will be a Community Assistance Program meeting on February 21st at United Church in Avoca at 7:00 p.m.

New Business
There is a Presbytery meeting scheduled for February 20th at Church of the Cross from 1-3:30 p.m. David would like one of our elders to go also. The annual congregational meeting is January 24th, with church at 10:30 followed by a meal and the meeting. Mary Ellen Woltmann will prepare the meat. Gloria reported that the nominating committee has three proposed new members: Margo Matthies, Linda Krueger, and Jim Tooley. David will have training for these members. He is also looking into getting each elder a new “Book of Order”. It was moved and 2nd to have installation of elders on February 7th. Margo will be ordained also. David asked us to be thinking about the mission of our church. He said our numbers may be going down, but we can still do great things!.

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Next meeting will be February 9th at 7:00 p.m.

Linda Ploen, Clerk of Session






Annual Corporate Congregational Meeting
January 24, 2010

The annual meeting of the First Presbyterian Church of walnut, Iowa was held following a BBQ rib potluck dinner in the church basement.

The meeting began at 12:45 and was called to order by Moderator David Krueger, CLP. The meeting was opened with devotions and constituting prayer. There was a quorum of members present.

Barb Eslick moved and Jim McDermott 2nd the motion to approve the agenda as printed. Motion carried.

Linda Ploen then read the minutes to the January 25, 2009 corporate congregational meeting. Dennis Jensen moved and Darlene Stuart 2nd the motion to approve the minutes as read. Motion carried.

The following reports were presented: Pastor’s report, session, Christian Ed., PW, and choir. Jim McDermott moved and Allan Sievers 2nd the motion to approve the written reports. Motion carried.

The financial reports were then reviewed. They included: finance & property, stewardship, financial secretary, treasurer’s report, memorial fund, PW financial report and the youth group financial report. A motion was made by Craig Woltmann to approve these reports. Dennis Jensen 2nd the motion. Motion carried.

The congregational meeting was closed and the corporate meeting was called to order. Linda Krueger nominated the following members to serve as elders on session: Margo Matthies, Jim Tooley and Linda Krueger. Jim McDermott moved nominations cease and a unanimous ballot cast. Chuck Ploen 2nd the motion. Motion carried.

All church officers have agreed to continue their jobs for another year.

Jim McDermott, retiring 2010 elder, was nominated as the elder to serve on the 2010 nominating committee along with Chuck Ploen and Greg Mertz from the congregation. Linda Krueger moved and Linda Woltmann 2nd the motion that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot cast. Motion carried.

The 2010 church budget was then reviewed. The total proposed budget for 2010 is $75,835.50 as compared to $75,706.18 for 2009. Dennis Jensen moved and Allan Sievers 2nd the motion to approve the proposed budget. Motion carried. Moderator David then asked about our goals for the church. Jim McDermott stated that he wants to get our youth more involved in the church. We need to get some input from them. Charlotte Shepherd stated that the PW has funds available to help with youth activities. It was also mentioned that we need to get a new sidewalk out in front of the church and Chuck Ploen will give us a bid for repairing the round stained glass window on the front of the church.

David reported that even though we are a small church, our accomplishments are many. He mentioned many things including an active women’s group, the Antique Walk, and the trips for the youth. He also said that anyone can come to the church anytime if they have a need to be closer to God – he asked that we use the church! Perhaps we could even host a blood drive in the church basement. It was also mentioned that if anyone was interested, we could hold a small group discussion after church to discuss the sermon, scripture readings, etc. to better understand it’s meaning.

Linda Ploen brought up that we need new Bibles for the church pews so they’re all the same version. We could use memorial fund money or perhaps ask members to donate a Bible in memory of someone. We also could use some of the Memorial fun to upgrade our TV and DVD player.

Jim McDermott discussed their plans for a tubing trip on the Mississippi River for the youth and hopefully, families. David also mentioned that we are still waiting on a list of mission trip possibilities. Pastor David stated that one way we can try to get people to church is to talk about our church and tell others about our story. Share your Christian story with people.

George Mertz moved for adjournment. Barb Eslick 2nd the motion. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session