PASTOR’S
NOTES
Another
year is over. Next Sunday begins a new year; the first Sunday of Advent. And
that means, for me, a new preaching series. We will continue to follow the Old
Testament prophets. By ‘follow’ I mean we will be walking a path, maybe not the
same path they walked, but figuratively we’ll be considering what it means to
journey with them as they share God’s Message with the people of Judah and
Israel.
“Prophetic Pathways” is the title for
the series which comes from one of our friends in Scotland at New Kilpatrick
Presbyterian Church, Roddy Hamilton. He and a group of friends put together a
package of material with a Scottish flavor that helps me come up with the
messages you get to listen to on Sunday morning. The material is called “Spill
the Beans.” You know, it’s to help all
of us understand how to tell our story to the folks God introduces us to on the
path we walk every day.
Since I retired from the bearing
factory I do quite a bit more walking, burning calories instead of gasoline,
wearing out shoe leather instead of the rubber tread on my pickup. I meet way
more people this way, at the bakery, the library, the post office, the bank,
city hall, and McDonald’s. Some of them have time to visit and I have time to
listen.
That’s
the path I walk. What’s your path like? Who do you meet in your daily commute
to work or to coffee? Have you noticed that sometimes God’s hand has been there
too, kind of mixing and stirring the pot, just a little?
There are many days when we don’t
notice because we’re so focused on our ‘to do’ lists. Friends, think what we
miss because we haven’t taken the time to slow down and pay attention to what’s
going on around us.
It happens to me way to often. One day
this fall I was walking home and this tree was so beautiful I had to stop, get
my camera, and take a picture. I’d walked by this tree for weeks without noticing
just how God had created this colorful painting using the leaves of a maple
tree. So, I went to visit my daughter and convinced her to get her camera and
come with me and take pictures. It was something I’ve always wanted to do but
had never taken the time. We had a wonderful time strolling, stopping, snapping
pictures, and talking.
That’s just one path here in Walnut.
Where do you suppose God will lead us this next year? What path has God chosen
for us? And are we ready? Come, and join us, walk with us. I’m sure it will be
nothing like we imagine since God’s hand is always there mixing things up and
turning them upside down.
May your days be filled with wonder
and thanksgiving. Stop and listen and wait for God’s message for you. Tell your
story and come and share it with us at First Presbyterian Church here in
Walnut.
Advent
blessings to you all,
Pastor
David
Sunday School Christmas Program
The
annual Sunday School Christmas program will be December 22nd during
worship at 9:00 AM. Come and enjoy
watching our youth (and adults) perform and sing.
Christmas
Eve Candlelight Worship
Our annual Christmas Eve
Candlelight worship service will be held this year at 10 PM. Our friends from
United Church of Avoca will be joining us for worship.
Sometimes
memories sneak out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks.
Food Pantry
Food pantry needs for December are:
Any Wholesome Food or Paper Product
Roberta Gillette, the food pantry
coordinator, is retiring at the end of December.
If you who would like to volunteer for her
job, or you know of someone, contact Pastor David.
Counting
other peoples sins does not make you a saint.
GOOD GUYS FOOD BASKETS
The
Food Pantry needs names, addresses, phone #’s & number of people in the
family by Dec. 9th for food boxes for people in need. The boxes will need to be picked up by the
client on Dec. 21st between 9-10AM at our church. Help is always needed to fill the boxes. Meet at the United Church in Avoca at 7:30 AM
on Dec. 21st if you can help.
God
gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say Thank-You?
Thank-you
Thank-you to EVERYONE for making the Fall Supper/Bazaar a
success. Around three
hundred
people were served. It’s always such a
heart-warming time to see our congregation so actively working together.
“The
place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands.” Robert M. Persig
.
United Church of Avoca
Annual
Sat. Dec 7th from 10-1
Luncheon 11-1
Creamed Turkey over Biscuits, Relishes, Salad and Cake
$6/Adults and high school - $3/K-8th grade
Cookie Walk, Bake Sale, Tree Decorations &
Homemade Items
Over 30 Nativity Sets on Display
Free Admission
“Oh,
for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran
out of money.”
Golden
Oldies
Jan
21 – First Presbyterian - Walnut
Feb
18 – St Mary’s Avoca
March
18 – United Church – Avoca
April
15 – Peace Church – Walnut
“Peace
on earth will come to stay
When
we live Christmas every day.”
Helen
Steiner Rice
Congratulations
Congratulations to Ron and Brittni (Johnk) Van Woesik on the birth of
their son
Ronald Franklin Van Woesik III. He was born Oct 28th at 5:51 PM
and weighed 6 lb 6 oz.
His grandparents are Kent and Carla Johnk and
great-grandmother is Carolyn Johnk.
Congratulations
to Eric and Cheyenne (Pedersen) Mertz
on the birth of their daughter
Willow Rose.
She was born Nov 25th at 12:35 PM and weighed 7 lb 9oz. Her
grandparents are Louis and Rosemary Pedersen and
great-grandfather is George
Mertz.
Walnut’s Angel Tree
For the past several years the people of Walnut have provided
assistance top families with Christmas gifts for their children through the
Angel Tree Program. These gifts helped to make the holidays a memorable time
for families that may need a little help at this special time of year.
The Angel Tree will be located at the Walnut Public Library
beginning November 30th. Anytime the library is open, you may pick an angel
from the tree, fulfill the wish of a child, and return the gift to Walnut
Communications office by December 13th.
If you would like to participate in the program but are not able
to make it to the library, please call 784-3533 for more information. Margo
Matthies & Linda Ploen
That breath you just took…that’s a gift.
POINSETTIAS
Poinsettias will be
placed in the sanctuary in memory of family and friends who have passed
on. Please let me know who your
poinsettia is in memory of.
“You will not be in Heaven unless you are leaning on
the arm of someone you have helped.”
Edgar Cayce
January Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Dennis Jensen, Dustin
Jensen, Allan & Shannon Griffith Communion
Servers: Allan Sievers-chm., Dennis Jensen, Craig
& Linda Woltmann. December ushers
and communion servers are at the bottom of the calendar.
Session
Minutes
November 12, 2013
The session of
Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in regular session on November 12, 2013 at 7 pm in the Sunday School south annex. Session members
present were: Linda Ploen, Michelle Mertz and Cathy Shutters. Absent were: Jim
McDermott, Jack Ploen, Kathy Hansen, Allan Sievers, Greg and Mike Mertz and Jim
Tooley. Also present was Dick Brown from the PMRV Committee on Ministry.
Moderator David
Krueger opened the meeting with prayer. We then turned the meeting over to Dick
Brown to explain the discernment process in looking for a new pastor. It is a
two week process. The congregation will be asked two questions: What does God
desire for our church and what kind of pastor will best serve this kind of
church? Dick will come on Sunday, November 24th to speak with us and
explain things and come back on December 8th to gather our
information.
The minutes of
the October session meeting were approved as read.
The treasurer’s
report was approved as written.
David’s
pastor’s report was approved as given. There were many visits and the Great
Plains Pilgrimage.
Linda reported
that our mission pledge is due, but we will put off discussion until our
December meeting. She will be taking our church books to be reviewed on
December 14th. One death was reported, that of Mildred Joy Sievers
died at Avoca Nursing & Rehab in Avoca, Iowa on October 2th, 2013, and was
interred in the Layton Twp. Cemetery following service on October 22, 2013.
New Business
The session
nominating committee is Linda Krueger, Chuck Ploen and Robin Heilig. Linda
Ploen asked permission to use the basement on November 25th for a
meeting.
Stewardship
and Mission
Mission pledges
are due.
Christian
Education
The Sunday
School Christmas program will be Sunday December 22nd.
Worship
David will be
using Spill the Beans, Issue 10, Prophetic Pathways for Advent, Christmas and
Epiphany. Seven residents were served communion at Peace Haven on November 3rd
with Cathy Shutters as the serving elder. The Christmas Eve service will be at
10:00 pm. We will be meeting at United Church of Avoca at 11:30 on November 17th
to discuss sharing ideas.
Finance and
Property
There were no
reports, as no members were present. Next month we will need to work on the
2014 budget. It was moved and 2nd to allow David to purchase a new
laptop computer for the church. Our old computer needed updating and a new
pastor will need a new computer.
The meeting was
closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Our next
meeting will be December 10, 2013 at 7 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
November 17th, 2013
The session of
Walnut First Presbyterian church met in special meeting on November 17th,
2013 at 11:30 at United Church of Avoca. Present were: Kathy Hansen, Jim
McDermott, Linda Ploen and Pastor David. Chuck Ploen from the PNC committee was
also in attendance as well as the Avoca session. After a delicious meal, the
meeting was opened with prayer. David reported on where we are in the process
of paper work in looking for a pastor. We will begin our discernment next
Sunday. After this the PNC will be able to start meeting. We need to get our
covenant agreement out to the congregations. We will move ahead on the yoke
agreement. David closed this part of the meeting with prayer.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of
Session
Covenant Agreement
We, the First Presbyterian Church,
Walnut, Iowa and the United Church of Avoca, Avoca, Iowa, do covenant to hire
and support an energetic, conscientious pastor to provide pastoral care and
leadership, spiritual development, and help us to build our Christian education
program.
Our churches are working together
in mission in our communities by supporting the local Food Pantry, the Good
Guys financial assistance program, vacation Bible school, joint Lenten worship
services, confirmation classes, senior citizen meals, and food stands during
community events.
We desire to share a pastor for the
long term to walk with us on this journey.
First Presbyterian Church, Walnut, Iowa
United Church of Avoca, Avoca, Iowa
December 2013
|
Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
Church 9:00
Sunday School 10:15
Communion Service
@ Peace Haven 11
|
|
COM mtg @ New Horizon 4:30 PM
Alice
Richter
|
Salem
Lutheran Homes 9 AM Service
Pres Women meet
Emma Jean’s 12:30
|
|
|
United
Church of Avoca Christmas
Bazaar and
Luncheon
10-1
|
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
|
Church 9:00
Mtg after Church
“Discerning the Future..”
Sunday
School 10:15
|
|
Devotions
@ Allen
House 11
AM
Session 7
PM
|
Cantata @
Peace
UCC 7 PM
|
Xavier
Gregory
|
|
|
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
Church
9:00
Sunday
School 10:15
|
Xavier
Gregory
|
|
Cantata @
Trinity
Lutheran 7
PM
|
Peace
Haven Service
7 PM
JoJane
Walter
Michelle
Mertz
|
|
7:00 Pack Good Guy Food Boxes at
United Church in
Avoca
9-10 pick them up
at our church
|
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
Sunday School Christmas Program 9:00 AM
|
Trista
Sievers
Sam/Brinda
Shirley
|
Christmas Eve
Service 10 PM
|
Christmas
|
Donna
Heiny
|
|
No Sat Evening Service
Jeff
Hansen
|
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
Church 9
AM
|
|
Avoca
Nursing & Rehab Service 2PM
New Year’s Eve
|
|
|
|
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