Summer is here. How do I know that for sure? Well for one thing Vacation Bible School is over and the Amvets Annual Father’s Day Antique Walk was last weekend. For me that means it’s officially summer and its hot and humid outside.
Do you remember what it was like in the good old days before every house had air conditioning and quite a few people supported their families by working outdoors in the heat, the sun, and the rain, when it fell? Sometimes I find myself talking about the good old days but I forget that in the good old days we didn’t have some of the conveniences that we take for granted today.
In the winter I hear about those who don’t have homes trying to find shelter from the snow and the cold but in the summer we don’t hear so much about those without homes and shelter. But they are there. They are still living outdoors and have to put up with the extremes of nature. Just imagine what it must be like to be living outdoors with all the rain we’ve received this month. It can’t be very comfortable. Now, with everything soaking wet, the humidity is going to go up. It gets even worse for those living outside with minimal shelter.
My point is this, please don’t forget these folks. The Food Pantry still needs food because there still are folks who need help with groceries. The Open Door Mission still needs donations so they can feed those who are living on the streets of Omaha and Council Bluffs. The Good Guys still need donations because there are still people who are struggling to pay rent and their utilities. Nothing has changed just because its summer. Those who need our help are still here and they really need us.
Friends, our sisters and brothers need us and we need them. Jesus asked us not to forget those who were poor and homeless and without food or clothes. Today’s message from Galatians 5 reminded us that we are to love one another as we love ourselves. By contributing to these organizations or to God’s church in any way we can provides some relief for those who don’t have the luxuries we have and maybe they will experience the joy of being in God’s presence because of something we did.
May you be blessed with the grace and peace of God’s Spirit,
Pastor David
Thank-You
---to all who helped make Vacation Bible School such a success. We averaged 45
Children a day! Big thanks to Robin Tooley!! Also Deb Petersen, Sarah Kock, Margo Matthies, Pastor David, Pastor Gail, Charlotte Shepherd, Carole Schroder, Bonnie Holtz, Linda Ploen, Linda Krueger, Kaitlyn Tooley, Bailey Nielsen, and McKenna Martin for all their help.
---to EVERYONE who helped in any way at our FOOD STAND for the Antique Walk. Chairman Mary Ellen Woltmann works tirelessly for MANY days, Charlotte Shepherd organizes, purchases and delivers the supplies, Larry Shepherd takes charge of the setting up and tearing down of the stand. Also many thanks to the people that show up every day to help where needed—Barb Eslick, Don and JoJane Walter. It amazes me that the hardest workers are over 65? I don’t know how they do it year in and year out.
---to Dixie Schirm for knitting a beautiful prayer shawl. Pastor David delivered it to Jeanette Rechtenbach.
---to Chuck and Jason Ploen for installing/replacing the molding around the stained glass window and installing double pane glass over it—the window and the framing around it are beautiful. They also noticed that the window blocks under the Sunday
School annex were broken so they covered them with cement board.
Bible School 2010
CONGRATULATIONS
---to Jessica Ploen, daughter of Jack and Judy who received her Bachelor of Science degree on May 15 from Creighton University in Omaha. Jessica was a double major in sociology and philosophy. She was a member of the national honor society for sociology, Alpha Kappa Delta and the national honor society for philosophy, Phi Sigma Tau. Jessica graduated cum laude.
---to Robert Reid Matthies for being named to the dean’s list for the Spring 2010 semester at South Dakota State University.
August Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kent & Carla Johnk, Jim & Bobbie McDermott Communion Servers:.Margo Matthies-chm., Brittni Johnk, Barb Eslick, Bobbie McDermott
September Ushers and Connunion Servers
Ushers: Al & Dixie Schirm, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd Communion Servers: Jim Tooley-chm., Linda Krueger, Vincent Hansen, Darlene Stuart
July Ushers and Communion Servers are on the July Calendar
The Death of “Someone Else”
I know that all of you were saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church’s most valuable members---Someone Else. Someone’s passing created a vacancy that will
be difficult to fill. Someone Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of
those years, Someone Else did far more that the normal person’s share of the work.
Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration
as well as results. Someone Else can work with that group. Whenever there was a job to
do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s lips, “Let Someone
Else do it.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers
in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone
Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes
appearing super-human, but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everyone
expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone. We wonder what we are
going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow
it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember, we can’t depend on Someone
Else anymore.
Hospitalized—Betty Maassen fell and broke her leg. She is recuperating in Elkhorn, NE. Her address there is: Brookestone Meadows
600 Brookstone Meadows Plz
Elkhorn, NE 68002
Flowers for Pulpit
July 4 -------Betty Sunderman
July 11------Michelle Sunderman
July 18------Kami Bruck/Shannon Wood
July 25------Connie Jensen
Aug. 1-------Carolyn Johnk
Aug. 8--------Karla Helms
Aug. 15------Carla Johnk
Aug. 22------Terri Abel
Aug. 29------Jean Bornholdt
Upcoming Events
Presbytery hosting a family day at Rosenblatt Stadium on August 22nd
The Omaha Royals baseball game begins at 1:34 p.m. with clowns doing face painting and balloon art during the game, as well as a “fun area” for kids.
A block of 100 tickets has been purchased on the 3rd base line. If you and your family would like to attend you may pick up the tickets, $5 each, at the Presbytery office which is $2 off the regular price. Pastor David will pick up the tickets for you but you must have your money to him by July 13th.
Audio/Visual Committee-A committee is being formed to look in to updating, using the Memorial funds, our audio/visual equipment. If you would like to serve on this committee please see Dennis Jensen, Jim McDermott or Jim tooley. Memorial money has been received to us specifically for this.
No Gleaner in August—I’m having surgery on my rotator cuff again (the same shoulder) on July 15th so will be unable to get the August Gleaner out. I’ve included the September calendar, the September flower list and the September ushers and communion servers in this edition of the Gleaner. Linda Krueger
A Note from the United Church of Avoca
The United Church of Avoca will be renting their parsonage beginning August 1, 2010. The rent will be $800 a month. The renter will be responsible for the utilities - which run about $200 a month. The property committee of the church will take care of the lawn mowing and snow removal. Tenants will be non-smoking, and no pets will be allowed. First, last and deposit will be required. Please contact: Jim Sievers at Sievers Plumbing 343-2294.
Thanks
June 2010 Session Minutes
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in regular session on June 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sunday School south annex.
Those in attendance were Linda Ploen, Dennis Jensen, Robin Tooley, Bonnie Holtz, Margo Matthies, Linda Krueger, and Jim Tooley. Absent were Jim McDermott, Bobbie McDermott and Val Sievers.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and scripture from Isaiah 58:6-11. The reflection was about Evangelism and Discipleship from the Presbyterians Today magazine.
The minutes of the May 11, 2010 were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
The pastor’s report was read and approved. He traveled 77 miles this month. Nine people were served communion at Peace Haven.
We had a request to reinstate Betty League as a member of our church per Betty’s daughter. It was moved and 2nd to do so.
Stewardship & Mission
Linda Krueger reported correspondence about the Peacemaking offering. It was decided to table this until our next meeting.
Christian Education
Vacation Bible school was great and was well attended. A total of 49 children attended. A thanks was given to Robin and Margo for their hard work. The offering for the week was $262. This will be divided between “The Good Guys”, Food Pantry and “The Angel Tree”.
Worship
The alter cloth and flowers have been changed. David will be gone on July 25th, so we will need a supply pastor. David will also order a new daily devotional booklet entitled “Our Daily Bread”. It is free of charge and will be available to anyone.
Finance & Property
David reported that he had received word from Mary Ellen Woltmann about the Antique walk. Everything is ordered and ready to go. All prices will stay the same, but requested that the price of pie be raised to $2.00, ice to $2.00 and rolls to $1.25. It was ok’d to change these prices. It was also reported that we need to really watch and control the amount of meat we put on each bun. The price of pork is higher this year and we will lose money if we put too much meat on.
Linda Ploen reported that the new Bibles have been ordered, and the new round window is in and Chuck and Jason will replace it soon after the Walk.
David reported on the visual and audio equipment. Finance and property will put together a committee to get recommendations on what we need.
Margo and Linda Ploen also presented some ideas for landscaping around the church from “My Nest” green house. After some discussion it was decided to go with this plan, but just do along the south addition and around our sign at this time. We will decide on the other areas later. “My Nest” will give us a 15% discount on plants.
New Business
It was moved and 2nd to give Kaitlyn Tooley and Sarah Ehlers $100 each to go to church camp. Motion carried.
We also received a note from Lotus Paulsen from Avoca along with a monetary gift to defray the cost of the Gleaner.
A letter was also received from Family Crisis Center thanking us for the donation from Lenten services. It was also decided not to have a July meeting, as there is little business.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be August 10th at 7:00.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of session
