In the back of my mind, and the
front and the middle, are thoughts like, “What should we be doing as God’s
church in the community where we are living?” I know we do things but
I’m always thinking I should do more; we should do more.
We’re in the season of Easter and
its spring outside with new life revealing itself everywhere we look, flowers,
calves, baby sheep and goats. And with this new season shouldn’t we be thinking
of new things we could do to serve Christ…and our community?
I know we support the Food Pantry,
Good Guys, Traveler’s Aid, Crop Walk, Angel Tree and such but…could we do more?
I know, we’re all older and none of us are exactly wealthy but…God hasn’t
called us home yet either.
So, you’re thinking, “What’s he
want us to do now?” I don’t have anything concrete in mind; it’s just that I’ve
been thinking about what Jesus would be doing if he were living with us.
What was he doing when he did live
here? He was out among the ordinary people teaching, eating, praying, and
healing.
So, I’ve got the eating and praying
part down, I think, and I believe the rest of you do too. That leaves the
teaching and healing parts.
I’ve never attempted to heal
anyone, just put on Band-Aids or ointment and give aspirin. That probably
doesn’t qualify as healing. But does sitting with a friend who is fighting
depression because life has become too hard for them, is that healing?
Does telling a little one about how
you talk to God every day and ask Him to watch out for
them, is that teaching? Inviting a neighbor to come to worship with you might
also meet the criteria for a teacher.
Today I have been listening to
Landon Whitsitt, a young, smart 30 something pastor from Kansas , lecture us about the church as an
open-source church. Open source refers
to computer programs that are free to anyone.
What if the church was free to
anyone, literally free, no exclusions, no restrictions, nothing? What would that
be like? This is radical thinking but it’s exactly what Jesus was doing in
Galilee.
Friends,
what is God’s mission for us here and are we actively participating in it?
That’s the question.
Easter
blessings my friends,
Pastor David
Presbyterian
Women
Thanks
to everyone who brought food for the Lenten service meal, Golden Oldies
luncheon, Linn Johnk memorial lunch and prizes/cakes for Peace Haven Birthday
Bingo.
Thanks
to Gloria Myers for her presentation at the April meeting.
It’s
been a busy March and April with more to come in May.
Presbyterian
Women will honor our 2012 high school seniors; Drew Cable, Ty Johnk, Bailey
Neilsen, Jared Ploen and Connor Sievers on Wednesday, May 2nd in the church dining room at 3:15. All Presbyterian women are welcome to attend
as is anyone from our church family who might be interested. Please rsvp if you plan to attend.
Guest
Day/Mother’s Day Breakfast
Tuesday,
May 1st, from
8:30-10:00 AM, Peace United Church is hosting a May Day Breakfast.
Saturday,
May 5th Peace United
Church is inviting the women to their “Guest Day” at
9:30
AM. The program will be presented by
Betty Johnson on “Dolls of the History Trails” featuring the Orphan Train. Please let Charlotte know if you plan to
attend.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw
everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
Thank-you
Thank-you
to the Presbyterian Women for the Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones
To Ross and Jean Bornholdt in memory of Laurie
To Barb Eslick in memory of Bill
To the Myers family in
memory of Jean and Louis
Thank-you
to Kathy Hansen for decorating the church basement for our Easter Brunch and
providing all the prizes for children and
adults.
Thank-you
to Pam Nielsen, Teri Abel, Bobbi McDermott, Linda Ploen and Willa Petersen
for the delicious brunch on Easter
morning.
BIG thank-you to Linda Ploen for being the
“Worship Leader” while Pastor David was gone on Pilgrimage.
Where is God?
Two
little boys, ages 8 and 10, were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and
their parents knew if any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were
probably involved. The boys’ mother
heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so
she asked if he would speak with her boys.
The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. The mother sent the 8-year-old to him the
next morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon. The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming
voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Do you know where God
is, son?” The boy’s mouth dropped open,
but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging
open. So the preacher repeated the question
in an even sterner tone, “Where is God?”
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and
shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “WHERE IS GOD?!” The boy screamed and bolted from the room,
ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the
closet, he asked, “What happened?” The
younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, “We are in BIG trouble this
time!”
“GOD is
missing, and they think WE did it!”
Bible School
We will be hosting Bible School this year. Kathy Hansen and Michelle Mertz are
co-chairman. We will again be sharing
with Peace Church. Dates for Bible
School are June 4th-8th, 6:00-8:00 with the program June
8th at 6:00. Bible School is
open to 3-year-olds through 5th grade. The theme for this year’s Bible School is
“Splash In God’s Word”. Bible School
will be held at Peace Church to be closer to the Splash Pad.
Antique Walk Food Stand
June 15th-17th will be the Antique
Walk. The work schedule will be in the
June Gleaner.
When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is,
remember the teacher is always quiet during a test.
June Ushers
and Communion Servers
Ushers: Steve & Michelle Sunderman, Betty
Sunderman
Communion Servers: Jim Tooley-chm,
Betty Sunderman, Val Sievers & Dennis Jensen
Flowers for May
May 6------------Teresa
Griffith
May 13------------Linda Ploen
May 20---------- Linda Ploen
May 27-----------Barb Eslick
Session Minutes
April 10, 2012
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in
regular session on April 10th at 7 p.m. in the Sunday School south
annex. Those in attendance were: Linda
Krueger, Jim Tooley, Linda Ploen, Jim McDermott, Jack Ploen, and Kathy
Hansen. Absent were: Margo Matthies,
Michelle Mertz, Allan Sievers and Mike Mertz.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer,
scripture from John 1: 3-10 and a reflection entitled “Good News”.
The minutes of the March meeting were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was accepted as given.
The pastor’s report was given and approved. Pastor David will be attending the Heartland
Presbytery’s Lectures in Kansas City on April 23 and 24 and the Daniel Nelson
Lectures on May 15th.
There was no clerk’s report.
David officiated at the funeral of Linn Johnk, who passed
away on February 21st and his memorial service was on March 24th. Burial was at Layton Twp. Cemetery. He also conducted the funeral of Byron Martin
on March 26th. On April 1st,
David baptized Tyler DeLee Hansen, son of Robert and Amy Hansen.
Stewardship and
Mission
Linda K. reported on the Pentecost offering. It was moved and 2nd to accept
this offering. Forty percent of it stays
to help youth in Walnut. She also
mentioned “Blankets for World Service”.
Perhaps the offering received at Bible School could go towards this.
Christian Education
Kathy Hansen reported that Bible School will be June 4-8th
from 6-8 p.m. The theme is “Splash in
God’s Word”. Our church is in charge of
Bible School, but it will be held at the Peace Church so the kids can be closer
to the Splash Pod. She also reported
that she had several flyers on mission opportunities and fun activities for
youth. David noted that there has been
an interest in an adult Bible Study. It
was mentioned that perhaps it could be held after church during Sunday School
hour.
Worship
Communion was served to 5 residents at Peace Haven on April
1st. George Mertz served as
elder. David will be at Pilgrimage on
April 22nd. Linda Ploen will
conduct the service that day. A big
thank you was given to Kathy Hansen for all she does and for all the fun things
she gave on Easter Sunday.
Finance and Property
Jim Tooley reported that the committee is still looking into
bids for the interior church painting.
Justen is still looking for a door stop that will work on our new front
door. Kathy Hansen volunteered to paint
the shed out back of the church. Jim
Tooley asked for permission to purchase a plaque for our sound and visual
equipment in memory of William Sievers and Herb and Marie Mertz. Permission was granted. He also read a letter from the attorney,
James Sulhoff, stating that the church was mentioned in the will of Linn Johnk
as one of the benefactors.
Personnel
David read a letter from Robin Tooley asking for our
thoughts on possible day camps for kids on days they don’t have school. We agreed to support this, as we encourage
anything for the kids.
New Business
David stated that we need to have a special meeting to
discuss our church’s by-laws.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be May 8, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
Paddy was driving down the
street in a sweat because he had an important meeting with his banker and he
couldn’t find a parking place.
Looking up toward heaven, he
said, “Lord, take pity on me. If you
find me a parking place, I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my
life and give up my Irish Whiskey.”
Miraculously, a parking place
appeared. Paddy looked up again and said
“Never mind, Lord. I just found
one.”
The
choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join he
choir.
