PASTOR’S NOTES
Looking at the Christian calendar I see that we are moving into Ordinary time. It’s that time of the year when we get to travel with Jesus as he walks about Galilee, Samaria, and Judea preaching, teaching, feeding the gathered crowds, and healing.
It’s also that time of year on the secular calendar when many folks are taking a few days to enjoy time with their families camping, fishing, biking, exploring, or maybe just relaxing on the patio at home being re-created.
And don’t we all need that time to be made new. Don’t you think God planned it to work like this for us? I know I look forward to the warmer temperatures, green grass, flowers blooming, gardens growing, and the chance to just sit in a chair outside and enjoy God’s wondrous creation. No matter what kind of a day I’ve experienced when I take time to just sit in the quiet of the garden listening to God’s creation I’m made new again. It’s an amazing thing that God does for us and I realize I don’t do it often enough.
You all know, of course, that God has created our weeks like that on purpose. He has given us 6 days to do our work and then comes the Sabbath where we can just sit in the quiet with God and be made new. And what makes it especially great is we get to sit with our friends and be in community together and be made new together.
God gives us the opportunity to come together to worship, to share our joys and our sorrows, to hear his Word, and to pray together for friends, neighbors, our community, our nation, and the world.
Friends, I hope that you take time this summer to take one day a week to join your friends to worship this great God who has given us the gift of his Son, Jesus and has filled us with his Holy Spirit.
Come and join us in worship and may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The grace and peace of Jesus be with all of you,
Pastor David
Thank-You
---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, and Kathy Hansen was everywhere doing everything.
Working Together
Coming together is the beginning
Keeping together is progress
Working together is success.
Henry Ford
Camping Test
Take this simple test to see if you qualify for solo camping. Shine a flashlight into one ear. If the beam shines out the other ear you should not go into the woods alone. Bruce Cochran (Kansas City cartoonist)
Upcoming Events
Presbytery is hosting a family day at Werner Stadium on August 21st. A block of 100 tickets has been purchased. If you and your family would like to attend you may pick up the tickets, ($7 each) at the Presbytery office. Pastor David will pick up the tickets for you but you must have your money to him by July 20th. The Storm Chasers game begins at 2:05.
Teacher Reception
The annual teacher reception will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church this
year. The date hasn’t been set yet, but school starts Aug.17th so it will be shortly before then.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to our Honor Roll Students: Kaitlyn Tooley, Emily Mitchell, Ty Johnk, Lauren Sievers, Sarah Ehlers, Chris Guthery, Megan Ehlers, Alyssa Becerra, Bailey Nielsen, and Hunter Nielsen.
August Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kent & Carla Johnk, Jim & Bobbie McDermott Communion Servers:.Margo Matthies-chm.,Kent Johnk, Barb Eslick, Bobbie McDermott
September Ushers and Connunion Servers
Ushers: Al & Dixie Schirm, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd Communion Servers: Jim Tooley-chm., Gloria Myers, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd
July Ushers and Communion Servers are on the July Calendar
Flowers for Pulpit
July 3 -------Betty Sunderman
July 10------Michelle Sunderman
July 17------Connie Jensen
July 24------Shannon Wood
July 31------Kami Bruck
Aug. 7-------Mary Ellen Woltmann
Aug. 14------Mary Ellen Woltmann
Aug. 21------Carla Johnk
Aug. 28------Jean Bornholdt
MISSION AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PRESBYTERY
3 - Project Days of Volunteerism
HELP Adult Services has three days that we need volunteers to help to prepare for
our move. We would be honored for you to consider one or more days to volunteer...
Thursday, July 7th 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided)
Volunteers will take down and re-build the warehouse shelving. Bring along your cordless
electric drill/screw-driver. We will start out at the current location (8447 Lake Street) and rebuild the shelving at the new location (42nd & Center). Needed 10 - 15 volunteers.
Friday, July 8th 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided)
We need help moving all of the health & medical equipment from the current location (8447
Lake Street) to the new location (42nd & Center). We will have a U-Haul truck available to
load the equipment. Needed 15 - 20 volunteers.
Thursday, July 28th 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided)
We will be moving the remaining health & medical equipment and all of the office furniture. We also need assistance in cleaning the empty office. We will have a U-Haul truck available to load the equipment and furniture. Needed 10 - 15 volunteers.
We appreciate any help you are able to provide. Call Emily at (402) 341-6559 x100 to volunteer and for questions. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Japan
‘When they call to me, I will answer them.’ – Psalm 91:15
What you can do:
GIVE — Congregations and individuals may send funds to the Missouri River Valley Presbytery office to help assist in the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami. On your remittance form gifts should be designated for account DR000117 - Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. If you have any questions, please contact the Presbytery office at 402.553.8300 or 800.603.8980
Gifts can also be made online by clicking on or pasting the following link in your browser: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/pda/, by phone at (800) 872-3283, or by mailing a check to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
ACT — Congregations and individuals can put together Gifts of the Heart hygiene kits and baby kits. Stay informed through the PDA website and Rapid Information Network e-mail reports.
PRAY — Join with others in lifting up the people of Japan and those providing aid.
What: A Conversation on Being A Missional Church
A chance to exchange ideas, materials and methods
Sponsored by MRV Presbytery Mission Committee
When: September 24
10:00 AM to Noon
Brunch will be served!
Where: West Hills Church
3015 S 82nd Ave.
Omaha NE 68124
402-393-8788
Who: All Your Missional Leadership:
Pastors, Mission Elders, Staff & Volunteers
Please RSVP to pam@whcomaha.org
or call 402-391-8662 ex 1006
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Spring Storms and Flooding
Since spring began, there have been 18 federally declared major disasters in 14 states due to severe storms, tornadoes, or flooding. Please continue to stand in the GAP for survivors in this response.
Give Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing support this and other disasters immediately when they occur. Additional gifts to DR000148 support disaster relief and recovery around the world where most needed, and gifts to DR000015 support disaster response in the United States, including response to the many spring storms across the nation during the previous weeks.
Act
Request the PDA Rapid Information Network email newsletter to receive email notices about this and other disaster responses.
Register your volunteer work team for upcoming or current opportunities around the United States by calling (866) 732-6121, or register your team’s interest online at http://apps.pcusa.org/pda/register/team.jsp.
Assemble Gift of the Heart Kits. After disasters, Church World Service hygiene, cleanup, school, and baby kits are often needed. Because congregations and other groups work throughout the year to keep the distribution sites stocked, the kits are ready to be disbursed as soon as disaster strikes. With recent storms widespread, there have already been many requests for kits, and they continue to arrive.
Assemble Clean Up Buckets for the Missouri River Floods (see Kevin Keaton’s message
on page 2) More than 14,000 hygiene kits have been distributed since the spring storms began, and nearly 500 clean up buckets have been shared. Please consider this hands-on mission of assembling hygiene kits or clean up buckets. Instructions are now available as a
bulletin insert at http://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/pda/pdfs/cleanup-bucket-bulletininsert.pdf
Pray
Pray for disaster survivors, loved ones of those who have been lost, congregations in the affected communities, and rescue workers helping in the response. Pray that the God of peace
will guide all those involved, and that the hope of Christ will be evident through those offering
assistance.
The Office of Theology and Worship has provided a new Service of pastoral care for those who have lost a home to earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, or other disaster. It can be adapted for specific needs and local circumstances.
For more information on Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and how to contribute to aid Joplin or one of the other areas hard hit by the spring storms, click on or paste the following link in your browser: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/pda/us-spring-storms-2011
June 2011 Session Minutes
June 14, 2011
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in regular session on June 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sunday School south annex. Those in attendance were: Dennis Jensen, Robin Tooley, Margo Matthies, Linda Krueger, Jim Tooley and Linda Ploen. Absent were Bonnie Holtz, Jim McDermott, Jack Ploen and Ty Johnk.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and scripture from Mark 10: 35-45. He also had a reflection from the Presbyterian magazine entitled “When God Calls”.
The minutes of the May meeting were read and approved after a correction under Stewardship and Mission. The Pentecost “envelopes” went out instead of the Pentecost “offering”.
The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
Pastor David’s report was approved as given. He traveled 130 miles this month. He delivered 233 pounds of clothing to the Open Door Mission from the Thirty Hour Famine.
Linda Ploen asked that the session complete a questionnaire on the future role and function of the Presbytery.
There was one death reported, that of Robert “Peter” Sievers on May 17, 2011. Interment was at Layton Township Cemetery on May 21, 2011.
Stewardship and Mission
Linda Krueger reported that the Pentecost envelopes had gone out. We also discussed how we can support those affected by the flood and tornadoes. Several ideas were suggested: monetary help, bucket supplies and physical help in clean-up. Perhaps the youth group would be interested in this along with the adults.
Christian Education
Robin stated that most all things are ready for Vacation Bible School. It will be at Peace Church this year. There is still a need for helpers and cookies for the week.
Worship
Communion was served to 5 residents at Peace Haven. Bonnie Holtz was the serving elder. The worship slides are going well, but we still need volunteers to help run them.
Finance and Property
The cabinet for the worship control center is being built by Gary Blum. It is not yet finished. All plans for the Antique Walk are being completed. David reported that a light is blinking on the center chandelier. It was moved and 2nd to approve the purchase of a docking station for an Ipod so the funeral homes could use it for funerals. Motion carried.
New Business
It was moved and 2nd to approve the purchase of a bulletin board for Sunday School. Motion carried. Margo, Linda Ploen and David reported that they had attended a CAP meeting in Avoca to plan for the upcoming year.
We will not have a meeting in July, so our next meeting will be August 9th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s prayer.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
