Pastor’s Notes
This morning I flipped the page on the calendar to see what was coming up. On the next page, right in front of me, was a picture of Jesus, with a basin of water and a towel, washing the disciples’ feet.
John tells us that Jesus knew his time had come and he wouldn’t have much more time alone with his companions. So what does he do but take up a basin of water and proceed to wash their feet and dry them with his apron. This was something for one of the servants to do, not “The Rabbi.”
What a perfect example Jesus is for each one of us. How many of us don’t struggle every day to not think about our own needs ahead of others? I know I do. It’s when I think I’ve got a good handle on it that I realize I don’t. Friends, why is it so hard for us to let go of our sin and pride? Why can’t we just get out there in the community and serve whoever needs to be served, without judging or pitying them?
It seems everywhere I go anymore I hear of one more organization or one more non-profit making reductions in staff or changes in how many people they can serve because either they aren’t receiving enough donations to fund their programs or they aren’t getting anyone to volunteer to serve. And so I wonder what’s wrong here?
For those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ that must mean that we aren’t living up to the standard He taught his disciples.
I’m reminded of the lesson in Mark where Jesus noticed the disciples in a pretty heated discussion as they were on their way to Capernaum. Even though you know he knew what it was they were talking so heatedly about he asked them anyway what it was they were so intently debating. And since they knew he knew they were ashamed and couldn’t speak of it. You see they were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.
Who among us doesn’t want to be recognized and maybe rewarded just a little for what they do? But that’s not what Jesus said. He said, “So you want to be in first place? Then you should take the last place. Be a servant of all.”
Mark’s gospel said that when Jesus asked his disciples what they were talking about the silence was deafening. As I read the gospels my heart is convicted because I know I fail to live as Jesus said I should. And the silence is deafening because I can’t even come up with a good excuse. There is no excuse.
As followers of Jesus we are all called to be servants, to minister to others. I’ve heard it said that’s its not the money but it’s what’s in our hearts. The question for each of us as we enter the Easter season is what’s in our hearts?
Jesus came into this world to save us from our sins and to show us how to serve. This season The Master again reminds us of our calling. Friends, can you hear his voice? Is your heart broken?
Come to the One who loves you to find healing and peace. Then you will know what to do next as you go out into the world. Pay it forward by serving and loving someone as you have been loved and served.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor David
IN MEMORIAM-EDNA JUNE NIELSEN
January 18, 1925-March 8, 2010
Edna June (Pash) Nielsen, age 85, died peacefully in the presence of her family of complications from cancer Monday, March 8, 2010, in Council Bluffs.
She had the combination of strength and sensibility. As a child, playful roughhousing with three brothers on the family farm provided her with mental and physical toughness. As a wife, mother and teacher she instilled the virtues of faith, discipline, hard work and generosity. Edna was born in Minden, Iowa, to Orville and Elsie (Blumer) Pash on January 18, 1925. She attended Avoca schools, graduating in 1942. Her education continued with Normal School where she obtained her teaching certificate. Edna spent the next year in a one-room country school in Avoca, Iowa. There she taught every subject to every child in kindergarten through junior high. After her stint in Avoca, Edna taught school in Treynor, Iowa, for three years.
While attending a chivaree for a mutual friend, she met Victor Nielsen. He asked her to go roller skating with him, but she said no. She already had a date. He ignored the rebuff, tried again, and after a three-year engagement the pair married January 25, 1946, in Avoca. They lived on a farm in Treynor, then for 10 years in Macedonia, Iowa, before making Walnut, Iowa, their home in 1958. There she was active with the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut, the Thursday Federated Club and the American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary. Her hobbies included dancing every weekend with her husband of 64 years, playing cards with friends, gardening, and wrestling on the floor with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids In addition to selling life insurance for a short time, Edna became Walnut's skilled seamstress. She made and mended clothing at a time when if a zipper broke, you didn't buy new clothing, you got a new zipper. Edna also stitched together the generations, tailoring wedding dresses for her daughters and granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Elsie Pash; and her brothers, Francis, Lester and Donald Pash.
In addition to her husband, Victor, she is survived by daughters, Rogene and husband, Daniel Terrian, of Ottumwa, Iowa, Vicki and husband, Roger Aughe, of Council Bluffs, Doreen Dee and husband, Dennis Taylor, of Waxahachie, Texas; sons, Bernie and wife, Cindy Nielsen, of Trinity, Fla., and Jay and wife, Karen Nielsen, of Allison, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Rob and Amy Hansen on the birth of their twins: William Edward & Elizabeth Sue on March 1st
Seen in Church Bulletins (Not Ours)
(These are jokes)
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church.
Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Presbyterian Women
If you are a Presbyterian and you are a women, then you are a PW! Come join us – the first Wednesday each month at 1:30 pm.
April 7th Walnut AFS exchange students, Akari from Japan and Nicole from Switzerland will speak.
Tuesday, April 6th walnut PW is invited to Guest Day at Peace United Church 2:00 PM.
April 10th, Saturday, members will journey to Council Bluffs Bethany Presbyterian Church for the Missouri River Valley PW Spring Gathering. Registrations must be in by April 5th. If you are planning on attending please call Charlotte Shepherd.
At this conference Walnut PW will be donating hygiene and beauty products such as bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion and other feminine products to Mission for All Nations (Love in Action) located at 5210 S 21st St in Omaha. If anyone in the church is willing to donate to this mission get the items to a PW member.
April 20, at 2 PM Walnut PW will host Peace Haven’s Birthday/Bingo party in the PH dining room.
Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come. You could even play bingo, call out numbers, bake a cake or donate prizes. If so call Charlotte Shepherd
Special thanks to all who helped and donated food or contributed in any way for the Lenten meals, Edna Nielsen memorial lunch and Easter breakfast.
Girls for Hire
Karley Helms, Josie Cable and Valerie Sievers are planning a trip this summer to go back to Wyoming to visit the church they worked on last summer and the family they stayed with during that trip.
The girls are trying to raise money for the trip and are open to any kind of work you may need done. Give them a call.
These girls (with Linda Ploen’s help) will be preparing our Easter Brunch. They will be collecting a free will offering.
Mike and Cathy Shutters became new members.
Landon and Jackson were baptized.
May Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Chuck/Linda Ploen, George Mertz, Alice Richter
Communion Servers: Linda Ploen-chm., Chuck Ploen, JoJane Walter, George Mertz
Flowers for April
April 4-----------PW Easter Lilies
April 11----------Phyllis Hansen
April 18----------Bonnie Holtz
April 25----------Darlene Stuart
Church Humor
Don’t let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
Session Minutes
March 9, 2010
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in regular session on March 9th in the south Sunday School annex.
Those in attendance were Jim McDermott, Linda Ploen, Dennis Jensen, Robin Tooley, Bonnie Holtz, Linda Krueger and Jim Tooley. Absent were Bobbie McDermott and Margo Matthies.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and scripture from Mark 6: 1-13. His reflection was entitled “Simplicity”.
The minutes of the February 16th meeting were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
David reported many visits and a total of 156 miles for his Pastor’s report.
There was nothing to report from the clerk and no deaths to report.
Linda Ploen stated that there were no responses from letters sent out for inactive status. It was moved and 2nd to place these members on the inactive list.
We received a letter of transfer from Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. It was moved and 2nd to accept this. Motion carried.
Stewardship and Mission
Linda K. and Bonnie reported on the One Great Hour of Sharing offering which is due Palm Sunday, March 28th. The money from the children’s banks will go to relief in Haiti. David and Jim M. also reported on several mission trip opportunities. We could possibly go with another church. Some trips are: Valentine, Nebraska w/Faithful Shepherd church in Omaha, New Orleans w/Church of the Master in Omaha, and one to Louisville, Kentucky for inner city work. These may be some possibilities.
Christian Education
Robin reported that she will meet with the Peace church on Thursday to discuss Bible School. There is interest in a youth group; we just need to set a date to get started.
Worship
Communion was served to 9 residents at Peace Haven on March 7th with Dennis Jensen serving as elder. It was moved and 2nd to serve communion on Maunday Thursday evening.There was some discussion on the Good Friday service. It has been poorly attended in the past so it was moved and 2nd to leave the decision of holding a service up to David and Pastor Muckey. It was also decided to go ahead and have communion on Easter Sunday since it’s the first Sunday of the month.
Finance and Property
Discussed spring cleaning. We will set a date next meeting. There was no action taken on the floor refinishing. Jim T. reported on a bid for redrywalling the sanctuary. Osbahr Drywall gave a bid for doing the ceiling. There would have to be prep work done before he started. We decided to table this discussion. Chuck Ploen sent an estimate for the repair of the round stained glass window on the front of the church. It was moved and 2nd to accept the bid . Motion carried. It was also moved and 2nd to remove the name of Kent Johnk from the signature card and safety deposit box at the bank and put Jim Tooley’s name on. Motion carried. We also had a CD renewed.
New Business
David and Jim McDermott attended the Presbytery meeting and David reported on the happenings at the meeting. Jim reported that the General Assembly will be in Minneapolis this year and may be a possibility for our youth or anyone to go and help with this. David also asked for permission to have “BRO” of Harlan come and maintain our copy machine. It was moved and 2nd to do so. Dennis also asked per Mary Ellen W. about ice for the Antique Walk. We decided to buy form the same company. Perhaps we need to raise our price. David asked us again to think about what our church’s mission is.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting is April 13, at 7:00 p.m.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
Note: It was later decided to cancel Maunday Thursday services and encourage everyone to attend Peace Church’s musical event.
