Pastor's Notes
I guess you could say
that we’re in the middle of the Easter season since this coming Sunday is the
5th Sunday of Easter and Pentecost is going to be celebrated and remembered May
19th. It’s spring but it doesn't feel like it today. I know it is because last week was Great
Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage #13 at Calvin Crest Retreat Center in Fremont,
NE...and it hailed, then it snowed. It really is springtime in the Missouri
River Valley.
So, I’ve just returned from
pilgrimage and again God’s grace and love was evident as sisters and brothers
in Jesus Christ greeted each other with hugs and slaps on the back, new friends
were made, some delicious meals were devoured in the camp dining hall (Connie
and her gang are marvelous chefs), and worship and communion happened everyday.
And some very great speakers shared God’s word and stories of how He has made a
difference in how they live their lives today. We heard 13 or 14 talks over the
3 days of pilgrimage. We do have to take notes so we can remember all that was
shared...at least I do.
Why am I telling you this? Well, to
be honest sometimes I don’t feel God’s presence or his joy in my work days...but
then I go to pilgrimage and He’s just there. It’s hard to explain but He really
is there in the faces and the hearts of everyone, the team, the guests, the
Calvin Crest staff, even Bob’s dog is filled with the Spirit. Don’t believe me,
then come see me, get an application and go as my guest. I’d be glad to sponsor
you. One caveat though, you might come home weighing more than when you first
arrived. The food is that good. There are calories in that Spirit-filled
food. What can I say.
With that being said Pentecost is
just around the corner. I invite you all to come to worship wearing red that
Sunday as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We talk about God’s grace as a gift and sometimes forget that
Jesus told the disciples God would be sending them...and us, an Advocate, the
Holy Spirit, to interpret the Word and remind us of all He said. We forget that
when we’re struggling to understand what we’ve read in God’s word. The Spirit
is right there to help us understand. The Spirit is right beside us, within us,
within our friends, even within your pastor, even when he can’t feel his
Presence, the Spirit’s there. In fact the Spirit helps in the composition of
these notes.
I can’t explain how it all happens other than to tell you what Jesus
said. He said he was sending His Spirit; I believe His word. And I’ve seen
evidence of His Presence at pilgrimage.
My hope and prayer is that more folks want to experience the joy of
being filled with the Spirit and will come and see and be blessed with God’s
grace either here or at pilgrimage.
As we tell each other at pilgrimage, “God loves you my sisters and
brothers, and so do I.” God’s grace and peace be with you today and always.
Pastor David
Presbyterian
Women
Presbyterian
Women will honor our 2013 high school seniors; Jessica Helms, Lauren Sievers,
Courtland Griffith and Chris Guthery on Wednesday, May 1nd in the church dining room at 4:00. 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.
I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes 63 years in a row.
Guest
Day/Mother’s Day Breakfast
Wednesday,
May 1st, from
8:30-10:00 AM, Peace United Church is hosting a May Day Breakfast.
“I’ve
learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these
three things: a rainy day, lost luggage,
and tangled Christmas tree lights”
Maya
Angelou
GRADUATION – Walnut High School Graduation will be Sunday, May 19
at 2:00.
Jessica
Helms would like to invite everyone to her celebration at The American Legion
Hall at 4:00 that day.
An
old man told his grandson, “You know, back in the old days, you could go to the
store with a dollar
and
get a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs and a watermelon. You can’t do that today. There’s just way
too
many surveillance cameras.”
Thank-you
Thank-you
to Kathy Hansen for decorating the church basement for our Easter Brunch
and providing all the prizes for
children and adults. Also, thank-you to
Kathy for the Earth Day gifts.
BIG
thank-you to Jim McDermott and Greg Mertz
for leading worship and giving the message while Pastor David was gone
on Pilgrimage.
CHURCH
Imperfect
people,
Forming
an imperfect family,
Serving
a perfect
GOD
Antique Walk Food Stand
June 14th-16th will be the Antique
Walk. The work schedule will be in the
June Gleaner.
Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be
when I grew up.
June Ushers
and Communion Servers
Ushers: Steve & Michelle Sunderman, Betty
Sunderman
Communion Servers: Jim Tooley-chm,
Betty Sunderman, Barb Eslick & Dennis Jensen
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the
world. Today I am wise, so I am changing
myself.
Flowers for May
May 5------------Linda Ploen
May 12---------- Linda Ploen
May 19---------- Barb Eslick
May 26-----------Barb Eslick
Piglet: “How
do you spell love?”
Pooh:
“You don’t spell it, you feel it.”
Session
Minutes
April
9, 2013
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in
regular session on April 9, 2013 at 7 pm in the Sunday School south annex. Session members present were: Linda Ploen,
Jim McDermott, Kathy Hansen, Cathy Shutters, Greg Mertz and Jim Tooley. Absent were: Jack Ploen, Allan Sievers,
Michelle and Mike Mertz.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and
reflection from John 15:1-8. The lesson
was entitled Resting In and Trusting Jesus.
We also watched a short video to reflect on. We need to remember how much Jesus loves us!
The minutes of the March meeting were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report for February and March was approved
as given.
The pastor’s report was approved as given. David traveled 28 miles this month. David asked for permission to perform the
wedding for Dana Blum on June 1, 2013 and the wedding of Amy Sandbothe and Josh
Thomas on September 21st at our church. Permission was so given. Permission was also given to accept Eldon
Ranney as a member of our congregation through reaffirmation of faith. His original membership was with First
Presbyterian Church of Red Oak, Iowa.
Stewardship and
Mission
Kathy Hansen reported on several mission opportunities for
our church. “Help A Hero” provides tooth
brushes, toothpaste, powdered drinks etc. for our servicemen. “The Great Truck Haul” provides hygiene kits
and clean up buckets for disaster aid through the Presbytery. We also have the opportunity to have
missionaries from Nicaragua
come and speak to us between May 10-19.
David will look into this.
Christian Education
Sunday School is going well.
They are using the curriculum “Holy Moly” and continue to use the video
equipment.
Worship
We will have elder training after worship on Sunday. The Sunday School will be hosting a “Silly
Supper” after the Saturday Contemporary service on April 27th at
5:30. It’s open to everyone and should
be a fun evening.
Finance and Property
Jim M. read reports from Edward Jones and DuPaco. We also discussed the adhoc committee that
will be meeting soon to discuss our financial investments and building repair
priorities. David reported that he filed
our corporate biennial report. Jim
Tooley is the contact person for the Corporate Board.
New Business
PMRV presbytery meeting will be April 27, 11-3 at Red Oak First
Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was closed with The Lord’s Prayer.
The next meeting will be May 14, 2013 at 7 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
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~ May 2013 ~
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Sun
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
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1
May Breakfast
Peace Haven 8:30-10
Pres. Women 2:00
Choir 7:00
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2
Jason Ploen
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3
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4
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5
9:00 Worship
10:15 Sunday School
11:00 Peace Haven
Sam Shirley
Brandi Wittrock
Nora Andersen
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6
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7
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8
Salem Lutheran 9:00 AM
Courtney Griffith
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9
Erin Shannon
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10
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11
Gene Eblen
Fundraiser
5:00
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12
9:00 Worship
10:15 Sunday School
MOTHER’S DAY
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13
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14
Daniel Nelson Lectures 9:30 AM
Allen House 11:00
Session 7:00
Mike Shutters
Darren Tooley
Jared Ploen
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15
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16
Evening worship at Peace Haven, 7 PM
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17
Charles Walter
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18
Brian/Megan Anderson
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19
9:00 Worship
10:15 Sunday School
High School
GRADUATION
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20
Linda Woltmann
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21
Golden Oldies
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22
Evalyn Popp
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23
Jason/Shannnon Wood
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24
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25
5:30 Worship
Silly Supper following
Karley Helms
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26
9:00 Worship
10:15 Sunday School
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27
MEMORIAL DAY
Linda Ploen
Todd/Darla Ehlers
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28
Avoca Nursing 2:00
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29
Connie Jensen
Dalton Green
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30
Red Cross bloodmobile here 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
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May Ushers – Chuck & Linda Ploen, George Mertz
& Alice Richter
May Communion Servers – Linda Ploen – chm, Chuck
Ploen, Kathy Hansen, George Mertz
