Pastor’s Notes
This my first day back in the office after serving at Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage #7 at Camp Calvin Crest in Fremont, Nebraska. And so, friends, I’m sitting here wondering how I can possibly describe how wonderful, how God-filled this last week was.
Have you ever experienced being waited on, having your every request taken care of for four days? That’s what Pilgrimage is like. The guests are served by a team of people who respond by delivering whatever they might need whether it’s a cup of coffee or tea or another pillow or an umbrella that they forgot to bring or whatever.
By Sunday afternoon the guests begin to understand that this is just a small example of what our God is capable of providing for us. There is so much love, so much compassion, and so much joy, that you couldn’t possibly believe its true unless you were there and experienced it yourself.
If I could use just one word to describe the five days I was there it would be “grace.” As you all know grace is that free gift God has for us with absolutely no strings attached. Our God is so big, so generous with his love that it’s beyond anything we could ever imagine. The guests received so much grace, and so did the team, that it overflowed and spilled out onto the staff at Camp Calvin Crest.
At Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage guests are showered with so much love that they are almost overwhelmed. Most have never experienced anything like it. There are boxes of tissues on every table because the love that’s shared just bubbles up and overflows.
There are people, literally from all over the United States, and this year from Ireland too, praying 24-hours a day for everyone at the Pilgrimage, guests and team members. You don’t really grasp that until you see their names and the times they are praying surrounding you as you sit in the community room. Can you imagine the feeling of having someone praying for you, by name, for over 3 solid days? It’s beyond belief but that’s what happens. Friends, that’s powerful.
Sunday afternoon the guests are received and welcomed into the Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage community. Then they are sent back into the world to love and serve the Lord. In other words they go back home and go back to work. They go back into the world where they have to get their own coffee, make their own snacks, and some are probably wishing they were back at the Camp. They probably felt a little like Peter, James, and John when they were on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured. They just don’t want it to end.
But it does end. Each of us has to go back to the world immersed in our work, our families, and our communities and try to remember that we have been sent back here to serve as we have been served. Friends, that’s not an easy thing, especially when you have been on the receiving end for 3-4 days.
God serves us, provides for our needs, every day, and all he asks of his church, all Jesus asks, is that we go out and serve those who have a need to be served. And, friends, we don’t have to walk very far to find someone who needs our service.
How can you serve? You can serve by providing for those who have needs, whatever their needs may be: clothes, food, prayers, hugs, or kind words. Ask God, see where he is directing you, listen to his voice, and he will show you where to serve.
If you would like to experience just a small portion of God’s amazing grace come to Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage #8 October 21-24, 2010. You will not be sorry you came and you will leave filled to overflowing with God’s grace and love.
Grace to you all, Pastor David
Congratulations
Congratulations to Sean & Mary (Mertz) Moutary on the birth of their daughter, McKayl McKenzi on April 9th. Grandparents are Randy & Rhonda Mertz. Great Grandfather is George Mertz.
Congratulations to Reid Matthies for being awarded to the dean’s list at South Dakota State University in Brookings. Reid is the son of Doug and Margo Matthies.
Congratulations to Josie Cable and Dustin Dea for being chosen Prom Queen and King. Also to
Hugh Griffith for being chosen to be Crown Bearer.
Seen in Church Bulletins (Not Ours)
(These are jokes)
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday. The
congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Presbyterian Women
The Presbyterian Women met in the church basement April 7th for their monthly meeting. Plans were made for April 20th when the women will be playing Bingo with the Peace Haven residents and also providing cakes for their monthly birthday celebration.
Also on April 20th the women hosted the “Golden Oldies” for lunch at the church. The Golden Oldies is anyone of retirement age that would like to visit and enjoy a good meal for only $3.00. The churches in Avoca have been doing this for awhile and wanted to include Walnut residents also, so asked us to host the first Walnut lunch. They have a lunch once a month, September – May.
The program for the April meeting was Walnut’s Exchange Students. Akari Fujita from Japan and Nicole Messer from Switzerland gave wonderful presentations about their countries. Al and Dixie Schirm hosted Walnut’s first foreign exchange student 45 years ago.
The next meeting will be May 5th when the ladies will be honoring our graduating seniors, Valerie Sievers, Josie Cable, Karly Helms, Dustin Dea, and Becky Grush.
Thank-you
Thank-you for your generous donations to the girls for preparing our Easter Brunch. They raised $320. for their trip to Wyoming.
Thank-you to Presbyterian women for providing the Easter lilies for the sanctuary. Also Ross and Jean Bornholdt for their Easter lilies and the Tooley family for the mum arrangement.
Bible School
Mark your calendars and tell your neighbors Bible School will be at our church from
Tuesday, June 1-Saturday, June 5th, from 9-11 AM. The program this year will be on
Saturday at 11:00 AM with a hot dog lunch to follow.
June Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Steve & Michelle Sunderman, Betty Sunderman
Communion Servers: Bonnie Holtz-chm, Betty Sunderman, Al & Dixie Schirm
Flowers for May
May 2------------Darlene Stuart
May 9------------Teresa Griffith
May 16-----------Enola Pagliuso
May 23-----------Linda Ploen
May 30-----------Linda Ploen
Good Guys – Food Pantry
The Good Guys have passed out food boxes at Christmas for many years and this year are going to expand that idea and provide a summer box to those in need. Roberta Gillette, who operates the food pantry, put together this list of items to include in the summer box. No date has been set for distribution.
SUMMER FOOD BASKET/BOX
1. Hotdogs
2. Hotdog buns
3. Catsup
4. Mustard
5. Pickle relish
6. Chips
7. Baked or Pork & Beans
8. Cookies
9. Paper plates
10. Napkins
11. Dinnerware
12. Ground pork or hamburger
13. Hamburger buns
14. Green beans or corn
15. Fruit-canned or fresh
16. Cereal
17. Milk-1 or ½ gallon
Roberta also presented this information at the last meeting.
Good Guys Team Notes
1. 2009 statistics-156 families served, 508 people; 7,786 products donated and $2,048 donated
2. First quarter 2010 statistics-49 families served, 200 people; first quarter 2009 statistics-35 families served, 107 people
3. A “Thank you open house at the Food Pantry will be held May 22, 2010 from 1-3 p.m.
Pastor David giving his Children’s Sermon April 18th.
Notice the campfire props (and the choir looking on).
Church Humor
A woman had just returned to her home from an evening church service when she was startled by an Intruder… She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled:
“Stop! Acts 2:38!” (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: “Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture at you.” “Scripture?” replied the burglar.. “She said she had an Ax and Two 38’s!”
Session Minutes
April 13, 2010
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in regular session on April 13, 2010 in the Sunday School south annex.
Those in attendance were Linda Ploen, Bobbie McDermott, Jim McDermott, Robin Tooley, Jim Tooley, Margo Matthies, and Linda Krueger. Those absent were Dennis Jensen, Bonnie Holtz and Val Sievers.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with a reading from Psalms and prayer. The scripture reading was from I Peter 1:13-25, and the reflection was entitled “Live is short”.
The minutes of the March 9th meeting were read and approved with the mention that we did not have a Maundy Thursday service at our church so we could attend the service at Peace Church.
The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
David reported in his pastor’s report that he will be the Spiritual Advisor at Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage April 21-25. Rev. Kathryn Bates will preach April 25th, and Rev. Nancy Ross-Hullinger will be on call for pastoral care if needed. Linda and David will be attending Wee Kirk Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on May 4-6. David traveled a total of 304 miles this month. It was moved and seconded to approve David’s vacation for July 25-31. Motion carried. We will need a supply pastor for July 25th.
Linda Ploen read a PMRV Stewardship Resources Committee letter. We have already paid our per capita.
There was one death reported, that of Edna Nielsen who passed away on March 8, 2010 in Council Bluffs. Her memorial service was held March 12th at our church. She was cremated and her remains were not interred at this time.
We received a request from Monroe Methodist Church for a membership transfer for Joan Bornholdt. It was moved and 2nd to reinstate Joan to the active list and then allow her transfer. Motion carried. It was also moved and 2nd to receive Amy Leaders Hansen into membership by transfer from the United Church of Avoca. Motion carried. Motion was also carried to allow David to perform the baptism of twins Elizabeth Sue and William Edward Hansen born March 1, 2010.
Stewardship and Mission
David reported that we need to make church members aware of “wills emphasis”. We should do this on a yearly basis.
Christian Education
Robin stated that she is planning a Mother’s Day program for Sunday School children at church and it was moved and 2nd to purchase flowers for this. She also said that Bible School will be Tuesday, June 1 through Saturday June 5th, with the program and Hot dog roast on Saturday. The theme this year is “Son Rock Kid’s Camp”.
Worship
Easter service was well attended with 81 worshipers present. Easter breakfast also went well with the three senior girls serving. This was a fund raiser for them to return to Shell, Wyoming.
Finance and Property
It was decided to drop the sidewalk project for now as it would eliminate parking spaces. There was then some discussion on possible sanctuary remodeling projects. It was reported that there was some concern on these projects and the cost of them. We were assured that we were just getting estimates on things to help maintain our church and any project would need the approval of the congregation. We need to look into possible window replacements.
Next on the agenda was spring cleaning. We all took a walk around the property to see what needed to be done- trim trees, shrubs, clean windows, etc. It was decided to remove the landscaping edging and rocks as they are in need of updating. Linda Ploen will speak with the senior girls to see if they would like to take on this job. They could use this to make money for their trip.
New Business
There will be an MRV Christian Educators Gathering on April 27, at 11:30 at the Presbyterian Office.
We received a letter from the Board of Pensions concerning the Benefits Plan.
It was moved and 2nd to renew our CCLI license at a cost of $185. This allows us to make copies of songs. Motion carried.
Presbytery meeting will be April 24 at Florence Presbyterian Church.
Also discussed was our memorial monies. Linda Ploen will look into the prices of new pew Bibles, some large print Bibles and a projector and screen for the church.
It was also approved to collect a Pentecost offering on May 23rd.
Approval was given to Jean Mertz Schmitt to use the church basement for Josie’s graduation on May 15th from 4-7 p.m.
David then presented “Gift of the Heart Kits” for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Robin thought that would be a good project for the Sunday School kids.
Jim Tooley then mentioned that we need to develop a disaster plan for our church in case of tornado, fire, etc. Are there any volunteers for a committee to do this.
Moved and 2nd to adjourn the meeting. Meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Date for the next meeting will be May 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Linda Ploen, Clerk of Session
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