Pastor’s Notes
Why are we here? Why is
First Presbyterian Church here in Walnut? What is God’s plan for this body of
Christ? What is God’s plan for you and me? What does he desire that we would
do, the church and you and me? How can we know what God would like us to do?
These are questions that
often bounce around in my head. You might wonder if I’ve received any answers.
Yes, in fact I believe I do have some answers. These answers may or may not be
the same ones God would reveal to you.
Beginning in March the
Session has been participating in a new curriculum, Engage, from the Office of Evangelism, PC (USA). There’s that word
again, evangelism.
Answers to the questions
above are, I believe, to make disciples. To make disciples the Story needs to
be told. It all begins with the question Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you
say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15).
When we hear Jesus ask us
the same question the answer we give is the start of God’s mission to rescue
and reconcile this broken creation. Part
of our mission as God’s church here in Walnut is to relieve suffering and offer
folks the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. This work enables us to begin to
see what the restored and healed creation might be like.
Paul wrote to the
Ephesians, “So Christ
himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, 12 to equip
his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up13 until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”(Ephesians 4:11-13).
He continues saying…“speaking
the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the
mature body of him who is the head, that is,
Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together
by every supporting ligament, grows and builds
itself up in love, as each
part does its work.”
My friends, that’s evangelism, sharing the good news, the
good news of God’s healing and saving love in Jesus Christ. This thing called evangelism becomes a lifestyle through
which followers of Jesus Christ can share their faith and serve folks in need.
This
church on Antique City Drive
So,
the Session is studying what it means to be God’s church here and in the
process learn how to tell the story to our neighbors.
God’s
peace and grace be yours,
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 along with helping
everywhere, Kathy Hansen was everywhere doing everything, Barb Eslick
for her work on the ice cream machine (and the tea), and Pastor David for all
his help.
Special thanks to Larry
& Charlotte
setting up.
Mary Ellen had a call from
the Institute of Lifelong
Learning out of Sioux
City Sioux City Western
Iowa Tech
Community College and have more than
1500 members in the Sioux City
Yesterday
I went on a diet. Glad that day’s over.
Upcoming Events
Youth Fundraisers – July 13th a car wash is planned
from 9-12 at the school playground and on July 14th the youth are
planning an egg/pancake/sausage brunch after church from 10-12 in the church
basement. A free will offering will be
appreciated. The money for these events
will be used for the youth fishing trip to Minnesota
A woman said to a lost child she met in the
park, “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Connor,” the boy replied.
“Can you tell me your full name?”
The boy thought for a second, then replied,
“Connor Stop That.”
Shell Wyoming
You may remember we took some of
our youth on a mission trip to Shell, Wyoming
August Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kent & Carla Johnk, Jim
& Bobbie McDermott
Communion Servers: Linda Ploen – chm., Kent Johnk, Barb Eslick, Teri
Abel
September Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kathy Hansen, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd
Communion Servers:
Jim McDermott-chm., Larry & Charlotte Shepherd
July Ushers and Communion Servers
are on the July Calendar
How Rich Are We?
One day a father and his rich
family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him
how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a
very poor family. When they got
got back from their trip the
father asked his son, “How was your trip?”
“Very good Dad.” “Did you see
how poor people can be?” the
father asked. “Yeah!” the son replied. “And what did you learn?” the father
asked. The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog
at home, and they have four. We have a
pool that reaches
to the middle of the garden, they
have a creek that has no end. We have
imported lamps in the garden, they
have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they
have a whole horizon.” When the boy was
finished
his father was speechless. His son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me
how ‘poor’ we are.”
Flowers for Pulpit
July 7 -------Betty Sunderman
July 14------Michelle
Sunderman
July 21------Connie
Jensen
July 28------Shannon
Wood
Aug. 4------Kami
Bruck
Aug. 11------Mary
Ellen Woltmann
Aug. 18------Mary Ellen Woltmann
Aug. 25------Jean
Bornholdt
“Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?”
June 2013 Session Minutes
June 11, 2013
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in
regular session on June 11, 2013 at 7 PM in the Sunday School south annex.
Session members present were: Linda Ploen, Michelle Mertz, Kathy Hansen, Allan
Sievers and Cathy Shutters. Absent were: Jim McDermott, Jack Ploen, Jim Tooley,
Greg and Mike Mertz.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting with prayer and
a reflection entitled “What Went Wrong” based on Genesis 3:1-13. We also
watched a meaningful video about God’s unconditional love.
The minutes of the May meeting were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
The pastor’s report was approved as written. David
traveled 468 miles. There were many hospital visits, a wedding and 2 funerals.
Worship and communion was served at Peace Haven on May 5th. Linda
Ploen was serving elder for two residents.
Linda Ploen reported on the 16th Annual BBQ and
Quilt Auction at Calvin Crest on Saturday, August 24, 2013. Any donation of a
quilt would be greatly appreciated.
David officiated at the Celebration of Life service for
Gloria Myers on May 17, 2013. She died May 12, 2013 in Omaha ,
Nebraska and was interred at Fullerton Cemetery
at Fullerton , Nebraska
Also
discussed was the possibility of a confirmation class this year.
Stewardship
and Mission
Kathy
Hansen delivered the buckets we had filled for disaster aid. She also announced
that the Lutheran
Church Nicaragua
Christian
Education
The
“Silly Supper” was a success. No plans for Bible School
Worship
David
is using ”Spill the Beans” learning resources for worship services this summer.
David will be gone on Sunday, July 21st, so it was decided to have
no service on that Sunday and no Saturday evening service on the 27th,
as David will be on RAGBRAI. This will give everyone a chance to attend another
church that Sunday.
Finance
and Property
There
will be Thursday set-up for the Antique walk. There were no reports from the Ad
hoc Committee or any quotes for the new heating and AC.
Personnel
We
need to look over by-laws for our church, as we have none.
New
Business
None
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer. We will
have no meeting in July so the next meeting will be on August 13th
at 7 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
July 2013
|
Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
Salem Lutheran Homes
9 AM
Tina Gregory
|
4th of July
|
Jean Bornholdt
|
Jessica Ploen
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
Church 9 AM
Communion Peace Haven 11:00
|
|
Allen House 11 AM
|
|
Randy Mertz
Brielle Lohoff
|
|
Darren/Michellle
Tooley
Larry/Charlotte
Shepherd
Youth car wash WCS playground 9-12 AM
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
Church 9 AM
Youth Serving Brunch 10-12 In Church Basement
Free Will Offering
Jean Schmitt
|
|
|
Betty Sunderman
Joy Sievers
|
Peace Haven 7 PM
Bobbie McDermott
|
Vickie Weihs
|
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
No Church
-----Pastor gone--------
|
-------Pastor gone-----
Kathy Hansen
Bruce Walter
Collin Shutters
|
-------RAGBRAI-----------
|
---Pastor gone------------
Dixie/Al Schirm
David/Linda Krueger
|
---RAGBRAII--------------
Shelley Thompson
|
-------Pastor gone------
Don Walter
|
---RAGBRAI------------
No Saturday
Evening Services
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
Church 9 AM
Brett Holtz
Ross Gregory
Ed Myer
|
Tara Lohoff
Red Cross Bloodmobile
11:30-5:30
|
Carrie Schmitt
Avoca Nursing & Rehab 2 PM
|
|
|
|
|
July Ushers: Jack &
Judy Ploen, Barb Eslick - Communion Servers: Kathy Hansen-chm, Linda Ploen, Mary Ellen
Woltmann, Jack Ploen
August
2013
|
Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barb Eslick
|
Braden Wood
|
|
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
Church 9 AM
Communion Service
Peace Haven 11:00
|
Jennifer Ploen
Kaitlyn Toley
Pam Nielsen
|
|
Salem Lutheran Home 11 AM
Jolene Jensen
Dominic Schaben
Troy/Diana Schaben
|
|
Margo Matthies
|
Carla Johnk
|
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
Church 9 AM
Michelle Sunderman
|
|
Allen House 11AM
Session 7 PM
Kurt Hansen
Brandi Wood
Leo Rechtenbach
|
|
Alan Sievers
Doug/Margo Matthies
Peace Haven Service
7 PM
|
PMRV Presbytery meeting-Calvin Crest 5:30-9 PM
Cathy Shutters
|
PMRV Presbytery meeting-Calvin Crest 8:45 AM-3 PM
|
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
Church 9 AM
|
Megan Andersen
|
|
Mason Schaben
|
|
Kelsey Helms
|
|
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
Church 9 AM
Shannon Wood
|
Todd
Ehlers
|
Avoca Nursing & Rehab 2 PM
COM/CPM training at Calvin Crest
|
COM/CPM training at Calvin Crest
|
|
Terry Green
|
Contemporary Worship 5:30 PM
Bailey Nielsen
|
August Ushers –Kent
& Carla Johnk, Jim & Bobbie McDermott-- Communion Servers –Linda Ploen-chm.,Kent
Johnk, Barb Eslick, Teri Abel
