PASTOR’S
NOTES
As I sit
here writing this morning the temperature outside is 33 degrees and it’s very
foggy. My sister in Massachusetts
is preparing for another winter snowstorm. Of course it’s winter and that’s to
be expected.
All of us
who have lived in the north central plains are more or less used to the 4
seasons and the extreme weather conditions. That doesn’t mean that we always “like”
the heat or the cold, the rain or the snow.
People
who’ve been through periods of bitter cold, no electricity, piles of snow, and
being housebound for long periods of time can probably empathize with those who
experience similar feelings spiritually and emotionally.
In the
winter we can be isolated, cold, our resources could run low, and life can
become almost unbearable. Our emotional and spiritual psyche can experience
similar things.
Think about
what we do when this happens. What do you do when you begin to feel like no one
cares, you’re all alone, and the sun hasn’t been out for days?
When this
happens we might turn to our faith in God. I read a blog this morning by Donald
McKim at Gathering Voices where he referred to Samuel Rutherford who talked
about the “winter” in our lives. In a letter he wrote he said, “I see faith
growth best in the winter.” And in a sermon he said, “Faith is a grace for winter, to give God leisure to bring
summer in his own season.”
Have you ever considered that “grace
grows best in the winter?” McKim reminds
us that “winter” is usually our time of greatest need. Therefore in “winter”
God’s grace most often meets us where we most need him.
Isn’t that so true? Think about
those times when you were struggling and maybe times were pretty tough. What
did you do? Where did you turn? When it’s happened to me I find that I go to
God in prayer. Maybe you do to.
We go to God because our faith, this
wonderful gift from God, leads us to him. We go to him because Paul said that
God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs. We go to him because Paul learned
and told us that when he was weak God’s strength prevails. God’s power is
perfect in our weakness.
So, good friends, as you lament the
fact that it’s bitter cold and the snow is piling up in the driveway and the
woodpile is getting low or the gas bill is getting bigger remember this, “Faith
grows best in the winter.”
God’s grace and peace be with you
all this winter,
Pastor David
In Memoriam
Edna Kutnink
November 19, 1915-January 18, 2013
Edna May Kutnink was born on November 19, 1915, to
Andrew and Anna (Pieper) Jensen in Minden ,
Iowa Minden
until the eighth grade. She worked as a housemaid until her marriage on January
19, 1934 to John Kutnink. The couple lived on a farm northeast of Walnut where
they were self-sufficient with crops, cattle, hogs, chickens, and the biggest
garden in the county. Edna had a 5-quart bucket of strawberries picked before
most were out of be in the morning. She spent much of her time cooking for her
family and the farm help and canning fruits and vegetables. After John’s death
on November 23, 1980, Edna then moved into Walnut.
To her
family Edna is best known for her quilts. She spent thousands of hours making
them, and each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren have at lest one on
their beds. She enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and friends. She was a
member of the garden club and the canasta card club. She taught many of her
grandchildren to play and always made them earn their win: “No crying, be a
good sport.” She enjoyed cooking, baking, and sewing, and having all her family
around. She would make the birthday cake of choice for her grandkids. All her
family would request her meatballs and Christmas cookies during the holidays.
Her wedding present for each was a quilt and hand-embroidered dish towels and
pillow cases. She made many of her own clothes, and taught her grandchildren to
sew. She enjoyed helping her grandchildren with their many 4-H sewing and
cooking projects. She would examine their report card, and each A would earn
them a dime. They also earned money by running across the acreage to turn off
the windmill and other various chores around the farm. Grandma Kutnink made an
everlasting impact on the lives of all of her grandchildren.
She enjoyed
traveling and attempted to visit every state in the U.S. She ended up a few states
short, but was able to see Hawaii and Alaska . She was a member
of the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut and was active in the church’s
Women’s circle. She would make small quilts and kimono robes to send to
under-privileged children around the world. She was a woman on-the-go. Most
days you could find Edna in her high heels, clip on earrings and necklaces. Edna
said she never retired; she was “just tired.” Who could blame her after all
those activities?
Edna moved
to the Avoca Nursing and Rehab
Center
She is
survived by her daughter rosemary and husband Louis H. Pedersen, Jr. of Walnut,
Iowa; her grandchildren: Valorie Baggenstoss, Felicity Pedersen, April
Pedersen, Gwendolyn and her husband Richard Blum, Melanie and her husband Tim
Simpson, Tuesday and her husband Bruce McDonald, Cheyenne and her husband Eric
Mertz, Kent Kutnink and his wife Terri, Bob Kutnink Sunny Joy and her husband
David Anderson, and John Kutnink and his wife Lucille; twenty-five great
grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and
friends.
Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose
their beauty – they merely move it from their faces to their hearts.
Thank-you
Thank-you
to David and Mary Ellen Woltmann for preparing the meat for our Annual
Congregational
Meeting.
Thank-you
to Kathy Hansen for the wonderful decorations (and prizes) for our Annual
Congregational
Meeting.
Congratulations
Congratulations
to Katie (Shepherd) and Justin Fuller on the birth of their son, Brensyn Tate.
Brensyn
was born on January 7th and weighed 9 lb 3 oz and was 21 in
long. He joins a sister,
Hailee
at home. Brensyn's grandparents are Doug
and Susan Shepherd. His
great-grandparents
are
Larry and Charlotte Shepherd and Larry and Judy Kay.
Congratulations
to Kelsey (Helms) and Seth Griffith on the birth of their twin girls. Hayden
Marie
was 4 lb 10 oz and Hadley Jaymes was 6 lb 9 oz.
Grandparents are Larry and Carla
Helms
and Courtney and Paula Griffith.
Great-grandparents are Carolyn Johnk and Bill and
Opal
Griffith
Some of us grew up playing with tractors and
trucks. The lucky ones still do.
March Ushers
and Communion Servers
Ushers: Brett & Bonnie Holtz,
David & Mary Ellen Woltmann
Communion
Servers: Jim
McDermott-chm, David & Mary Ellen Woltmann, Bonnie
Holtz
February ushers and communion servers are at the
bottom of the calendar.
I exercised once, but found I was allergic to
it. My skin flushed and my heart
raced. I got sweaty and
short of breath.
Very dangerous…
Flowers for February
February
3--------Alice Richter
February 10-------Pam Nielsen
February 17-------Linda Sieck
February
24-------Gloria Myers
“Iindness is a
language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Mark Twain
Session Minutes
January 16, 2013
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian church met in
regular session on January 16, 2013 at 7 pm in the Sunday School south
annex. Those in attendance were: Margo
Matthies, Jim Tooley, Linda Ploen, Jim McDermott, Michelle Mertz, Kathy Hansen,
Allan Sievers, and Mike Mertz. Absent
were: Linda Krueger and Jack Ploen.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer. Our reading based on Mark 10:39 was from Font
& table Resources for the renewal of sacramental life. “We are washed and
fed by God”.
The minutes of the November minutes were read and
approved. The December minutes were also
read and approved after a correction.
Jim Tooley and Jim McDermott were present at the December meeting, but
Linda Ploen was absent.
The Treasurer’s report was approved as given.
The pastor’s report was given and approved. Pastor David traveled 278 miles. He also officiated the funeral of Dan Weihs
in Walnut and the funeral of Dorothy Schroder at the Hancock United
Methodist Church
There was so clerk’s report.
Reflecting On the
Past Year
After discussing our accomplishments as a church, we listed
the Antique Walk, the children’s Christmas program, our collection of hats,
coats & blankets, the painting of the church interior, we hosted the blood
mobile, our Saturday night services, the joint Lenten services, the Angel Tree
project & Good Guys, Bible School, and our baskets to new Walnut
residents. Lessons learned: our Saturday
night services were not as well attended as we had hoped.
Stewardship &
Mission
In 2013 we would like to continue to help with local
missions.
Christian Education
The 2013 Presbyterian Youth Triennium will be held at Lafayette , Indiana
Worship
Communion was served to 3 residents at Peace Haven on
January 6th. Allan Sievers
served as elder. It was asked again if
we want to continue the Saturday night contemporary service. Installation and ordination of new elders
will be February 3rd during morning worship. David reported that Ash Wednesday service will be here at our church on February 13th at 6:00 pm.
The community services will be
on Wednesday evenings as follows: February 20th-Peace church,
February 27th-St. Mary’s in Avoca,
March 6th-Trinity Lutheran in Avoca, March 13th-United
church in Avoca, and March 29th-First Presbyterian. Easter is March 31st.
Finance & Property
Jim Tooley reported that the new tarp for the Antique Walk
should be shipped soon at a cost of $80.
Scholarships will be paid to Megan Ehlers, Ty Johnk, Bailey Nielsen and
Jared Ploen.
Personnel
We received word from Jeff Nielsen stating that from now on
he will be donating his time in snow removal and lawn mowing-there will be no
charge. We truly appreciate that.
New Business
The 2013 budget has been approved. The annual congregational meeting will be on
January 27th. Sunday School
will be at 9 am, worship at 10:30 am and then a noon meal followed by the
Corporate Congregational meeting. PMRV
Presbytery meeting will be in Council
Bluffs on February 23rd. Linda Ploen asked for permission to use the
church basement on February 25th, Jim McDermott asked for a date in
April and David stated the use for the blood mobile on May 30, July 29, and
September 23rd. All the above
were approved. Permission was also given
for David to perform the wedding of Sarah Sievers and Jessie Lindeman on
September 14th. David also
reported that we are now sending out 189 Gleaners instead of 200. The charge is $37 a month and an annual fee
of $120. There was a discussion on this
cost, but we feel that many people still enjoy receiving the Gleaner in the
mail. Jim McDermott also discussed the
summer fishing trip. There could be many
kids going this year. He has reserved 2
cabins.
The meeting was closed with prayer and The Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be February 12th, 2013 at 7 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
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◄ Jan 2013
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~ February 2013 ~
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Mar 2013 ►
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Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
|
|
|
|
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1
|
2
Mike/Cathy Shutters
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3
Church 9:00
Communion
Peace Haven 11:00
Sunday School 10:15
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4
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5
Rhys Griffith
|
6
Services @
UPW – Dutch Treat
Time/Place to be announced
Choir Prac. 7:15
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7
Darlene Stuart
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8
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9
GPPP mtg
Discovery Pres.
9:30 AM
|
|
10
Church 9:00
Sunday School 10:15
CAP Mtg 5:00
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11
Harley Ploen
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12
Allen House 11:00
Ben Krueger
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13
ASH WEDNESDAY
Services 6:00
Tyler Schaben
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14
Gloria Myers
John Woltmann
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15
Jolene Anderson
Janet Grush
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16
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17
Church 9:00
Sunday School 10:15
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18
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19
Golden Oldies 11:30
St. Mary’s/Avoca
Teri Abel
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20
Lenten Service
Peace UCC 6:00 PM
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21
Peace Haven 7:00 PM
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22
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23
Pres. Mtg
Evening Service 5:30 PM
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24
Church 9:00
Sunday School 10:15
Lauren Sievers
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25
Vic Nielsen
Cyndi Jensen
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26
David Woltmann
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27
Lenten Service
St. Mary’s/ Avoca
Shane Lohoff
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28
Craig Woltmann
Valerie Sievers
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(29)
Alyssa Becerra
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February Communion
Servers: Jack Ploen-chm, Greg Mertz,
Michelle Mertz, Charles Walter
February Ushers: Charles & Gloria Walter, Greg &
Michelle Mertz
