PASTOR’S NOTES
The
season of Lent is fast coming to an end. This coming Sunday we remember and
celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He, and his disciples, was on
the final leg of his journey to the cross, and the tomb.
April
2nd will be the beginning of Holy Week. Each day of Holy Week the
church will be open from 7-7. A labyrinth with 10 stations will be created in
the church basement. This is being set up jointly with United Church of Avoca
to provide a space where folks may come and reflect on the path Jesus walked
from the Temple to the Upper Room to his trials to Golgotha to the Tomb.
We
will have a week to reflect on this journey that actually began at 6 p.m. on
April 6th, 30 A.D. and ended at 4 p.m. April 7th.
All
of us will have an opportunity to put ourselves in Jesus’ sandals. Think about
the thoughts that were racing through his brain as he prepared for what he knew
was inevitable, what he knew God, his Father, had determined must happen in
order for humanity to be saved. What turmoil and anxiety he must have
experienced as he sat at the Passover meal with his disciples. What was he
feeling as he prayed in the Gethsemane? What was the depth of his sorrow, with
what kind of passion did he pray so that he perspired so profusely? What kind
of fear was he feeling? Did he doubt?
And
yet, he left it all in God’s hands. He trusted in the will of his Father. This
sacrifice of one human had the potential to be just another man dying on the
cross, the sacrifice negligible. He knew the suffering he would be experiencing
and the waiting for it all to begin and then be over must have been
excruciating. What extraordinary courage it must have taken.
It was
all worth it in God’s eyes, victory over death, eternal life for those who
believed. Think of what Jesus experienced and then think about our
responsibility after receiving such a gift.
It is all grace. How could God do such a
thing? We find it hard to imagine such love. What does God ask of us who
willingly receive this gift of grace?
Friends,
we pray that you will take advantage of this time to reflect and meditate on
the sacrifice God made for us in Jesus, the Messiah.
Grace and peace from God, our
Father, and his Son, Jesus,
Pastor David
It’s Spring!
We’re so excited
We wet our plants!
Maundy
Thursday/Good Friday
A
joint Maundy Thursday/Good Friday service is being planned for Thursday April 5th
at
6
PM. United Church of Avoca will be
joining us for this service. (no meal)
Thank-you
Thank-you to Kathy Hansen for the roses for everyone on Valentine’s Day.
Thank-you to Jim Tooley for mailing the birthday cards in February.
Thank-you to Linda Ploen for leading the worship while the Pastor was on
vacation.
Thank-you to Justen Tooley for installing our new door.
Thank-you to Robin Tooley and the whole Sunday School for leading the
worship after their “Lock-In”
Humor
Three sisters age 92,
94, and 96 all live in a house together.
One night the 96-year-old draws a bath.
She puts her foot in and pauses.
She yells to the other sisters, “Was I getting in or out of the
bath?
The 94-year-old yells
back, “I don’t know. I’ll come up and
see.” She starts up the stairs and
pauses, “Was I going up the stairs or down?”
The 92-year-old is
sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea and listening to her
sisters. She shakes her head and says,
“I sure hope I never get that forgetful.”
She then knocks on wood for good luck.
She then yells, “I’ll
come up and help both of you as soon as I see who’s at the door.”
May Ushers and
Communion Servers
Ushers: Chuck/Linda Ploen, George
Mertz, Alice Richter
Communion
Servers: Linda Ploen-chm., Chuck
Ploen, Kathy Hansen, George Mertz
April ushers and communion servers are at the bottom
of the calendar.
Flowers for April
April 1-----------PW Easter
Lilies
April 8-----------PW
Easter Lilies
April 15----------Bonnie Holtz
April 22----------Darlene
Stuart
April
22----------Darlene Stuart
Sunday School Bloopers
Noah’s wife was Joan of Ark
The people who followed Jesus were called the 12
Decibels.
The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
One of the oppossums was St. Matthew.
The Jews had trouble throughout their history with
unsympathetic Genitals.
A Christian should have only one wife. This is called monotony.
Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women met March 7th in the
church basement. Wendy Richter presented
a program.
about the Family
Crisis Center in Atlantic . She told the group about the services that
are available
through the center.
They serve all victims of crime (not just domestic abuse) through
shelter,
counseling, advocacy and education. The center serves up to 800 victims a year.
The next meeting will be April 4th at 1:30
at the church. The annual Spring Gathering will be
April 14th at the Church of the
Master with a program titled “Let the Little Children Come To Me”.
They say one day your whole life will flash before your
eyes. Make it worth watching.
Sympathy
Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Linn Dale
Johnk. Linn passed away
at his home in Council
Bluffs on February 21st at the age of
61. His memorial service
was held at our church on March 24th.
Linn was the only son of Virgil and Florence Johnk (both
deceased). He is survived
by his Aunt Vera (Milton )
Mueller of Walnut and cousins.
Session Minutes
March 13, 2012
The session of Walnut First
Presbyterian Church met in regular session on March 13th at 7 p.m.
in the Sunday School south annex. Those
in attendance were: Margo Matthies, Linda Krueger, Jim Tooley, Linda Ploen and
Kathy Hansen. Absent were: Jim
McDermott, Jack Ploen, Michelle Mertz, Allan Sievers and Mike Mertz.
Moderator David Krueger opened the
meeting with prayer and a reflection entitled “Journey to the Cross” based on
John 2: 13-22.
The minutes of the annual corporate
meeting were read and approved. The
minutes of the January 10, 2012 were also read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was accepted
as given.
Robin Tooley and Margo Matthies
then reported on the progress of the committee to paint the interior of the
sanctuary. They have one bid of $3,200
and will be getting another. They are
open to any suggestions or ideas from anyone.
David then presented his report for
the months of January and February. The
report was approved as presented. Pastor
David asked for permission to officiate the wedding of LeAnn Larsen Blotzer and
Terry McCarthy on March 17th.
Permission granted. Permission
was also given for the baptism of Tyler DeLee Hansen, son of Amy and Robert
Hansen.
Linda Ploen read a thank-you from
Robin Tooley and Dave Heilig for the scholarship money to attend a Christian
couple’s retreat.
The death of Linn Johnk was
reported. His memorial service will be
Saturday, March 24th at our church.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
FOR 2012
Since this was the first meeting of the new term, commit ignments were made. They are as
follows: Worship-Linda Ploen & Jack
Ploen, Stewardship-Linda Krueger & Margo Matthies, Christian Ed. –Kathy
Hansen & Michelle Mertz, Finance and Property-Jim McDermott, Jim Tooley and
Allan Sievers.
STEWARDSHIP &
MISSION
Linda Krueger reported that the One Great Hour of Sharing
offering is ready to pass out. She also
reported that Minot, North Dakota has asked for assistance and the Presbytery
is providing assistance for tornado victims.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The Sunday School lock-in was a success with 18 kids
attending. Bible School will be at our
church this year. Our youth is still
planning to do the 30 hour famine this spring.
WORSHIP
David and Pastor Nancy will be meeting to plan the Maundy
Thursday service. Easter sunrise service
will be at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast to follow.
Pastor David will be at Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage on Sunday,
April 22nd. He is serving as
spiritual advisor. Communion was served
to 4 residents at Peace haven on March 4th. Jim McDermott was the serving elder.
FINANCE &
PROPERTY
Jim Tooley reported that the glass above the front door was
replaced and a door closer has been ordered to put on the new door to keep the
wind from damaging it. Jim is also
working on the organ dolly. He also read
a letter from the Red Cross asking if our church would serve as a shelter in
case of an emergency. It was moved and 2nd
to do this. Motion carried. Jim will fill out the forms, and someone will
have to come and inspect our facilities.
It was also mentioned that perhaps we could serve as a place for the Red
Cross blood drive. Kathy Hansen also
volunteered to paint the pie cabinet for the Antique Walk.
NEW BUSINESS
We need to review our church by-laws. It was moved and 2nd to donate
$100 a quarter to the Good Guys. Motion
carried. We also received word from
Presbytery recommending we raise David’s continuing education fund from $853 to
$1066. It was moved and 2nd
to do so. We also received a letter from
PMRV Committee on Ministry Care Team for our church. The committee sent a reminder that a member
of their committee is available to come to a session meeting. We should do this.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Our next meeting will be April 10th, 2012 at 7:00
p.m.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
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