Pastor’s Notes
I’m
sitting in my office this morning and it’s raining outside…again. I’ve almost
had enough…water in the basement, dumping the humidifier bucket, pulling crab
grass, walking the dogs in the rain, and dreary, cloudy, humid days.
Well,
that’s enough complaining for today. It’s so easy to keep going though,
building up a head of steam complaining about how things are; at least it seems
to come easy for me. I get in that rut and it’s hard to find anything good,
about anything. It may be because I’m buried so deep in the rut I’ve made for
myself it’s impossible to see the good that’s all around me. Does that ever
happen to you?
My
friends, we’re not alone. We have good company. As Moses led the Israelites
through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land they found a lot to
complain about, the food, sleeping in tents, Moses was always gone somewhere,
and God seemed to have abandoned them.
It
didn’t get any better once they arrived in the land promised to their ancestor
Abraham. Their neighbors had different gods, better they thought. Their
neighbors had kings to care and protect them. They didn’t have any. And so they
complained.
There
are a few glimmers of light as you read through the Old Testament but they
always fall back into that complaining mode. Even the disciples who followed
Jesus complained.
They
couldn’t understand his parables. There were too many people bothering him, for
them to learn from him. Too many folks who wanted to hear his stories; too many
folks who wanted to touch or be touched by Jesus; too many who wanted to be
fed; and Jesus wanted his disciples to feed them! Can you blame them for complaining?
I
once had a boss who listened to me complain about something at the plant and he
said, “Well, how would you fix it? Do you have a remedy or solution for this
problem?” I didn’t the first time. I learned that if I was going to complain
about something to my boss he was going to expect me to be part of the
solution. So, before I complained I had to think whether I wanted to work on
the problem. Did I want to be part of the solution?
So,
my friends, do you want to be part of the solution? Membership is declining in
our churches, financial giving is becoming less and less, fewer folks are
coming to worship, and where are the younger families with children? And the
General Assembly passed some things that I don’t agree with? And the presbytery
never seems to pay any attention to us rural churches?
Any
of these ring a bell with you? Well, I’m writing this so they might be some of
my complaints and, then again, they might be some I’ve heard.
What
should we do when it seems as if we do more complaining than is good for our
well-being? Maybe we should go to God and talk to him. Maybe instead of
unloading on our neighbors and friends and the pastor maybe we should lay our
baggage at God’s feet.
The
problem is, my friends, God is probably going to involve us in fixing what
we’re complaining about, making us part of the solution.
That
may scare you a little but we have to trust that God knows the problems and how
to fix them. That’s faith, trusting in God.
My
friends when I get on a rant about how things are going God leads me to my
knees and patiently listens as I lay it all out. And then just as patiently God
waits for me to quiet down and listen to his answer. Sometimes he has to shout
because I’m a little hard hearing.
So,
my friends, as the pastor nominating committee does their work, as this pastor
begins to gather his things together and move on to only God knows what, pray.
Pray for the PNC and pray for your pastor and pray for the other congregations
searching for someone to guide them. And pray for patience and God’s grace for
yourselves.
Blessings
on your day my friends,
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 to make sure
everything runs smoothly. I (Linda Krueger) told session last summer (a year ago) to
find someone else to do the scheduling and thank you to Michelle Mertz for
handling that.
12 Reasons Why a Pastor Quit Attending
Sporting Events
1 The coach never came to visit me.
2 Every time I went, they asked for money.
3 The people sitting in my row didn’t seem
very friendly.
4 The seats were very hard.
5 The referees made a decision I didn’t agree
with.
6 I was sitting with hypocrites—they only
came to see what others were wearing!
7 Some games went into overtime and I was
late getting home.
8 The band played some songs I had never
heard before.
9 The games are scheduled on my only day to
sleep in and run errands.
10 My parents took me to too many games when I
was growing up.
11 Since I read a book on sports, I feel that
I know more than the coaches, anyway.
12 I don’t want to take my children because I
want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
Your
Congregation's Mission Support to the Presbytery
The mission and
ministry of the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley is supported through the
mission giving of the 50 congregations within its boundaries. Congregational support is vital to the
presbytery's mission.
One way in which
mission dollars are at work is through the mini-grants offered through the
Mission Committee. Since 2010, the
mini-grant program has provided grants (up to $2,000) for the Presbyterian
Women's Great Truck Haul, Santa's Children Christmas Village community garden,
an intern's salary at Castelar, help building six wells in the South Sudan,
help for the victims of a mudslide in Nicaragua in 2011, First Church, Bellevue
sponsoring a refugee family, Social Justice and Peacemaking Grant to
Father Boyle, who ministers to gang members in Los Angeles and many more
mini-grants.
These
grants are made possible only by the
General Mission giving of the congregations in Missouri River Valley
Presbytery. Through mission giving, a
wider community is blessed.
If all is not lost, where the
heck is it?
Congratulations
Anniversary Congratulations -- Al and Dixie Schirm –
71 years – on July 24th
--Don and JoJane Walter – 66 years – June 23rd
“When you stop giving and offering something to the rest of the world,
it’s time to turn out the lights.” George
Burns
August Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kent & Carla Johnk, Jim
& Bobbie McDermott
Communion
Servers:.Linda
Ploen-chm., Kent Johnk, Barb Eslick, Chuck Ploen
September
Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Kathy Hansen, Larry & Charlotte Shepherd
Communion Servers:
Kathy Hansen-chm., Jim McDermott, Larry &
Charlotte Shepherd
July Ushers and Communion Servers
are on the July Calendar
If you found out you were dying would
you be nicer, love more, try
something new? Well, you are. We all are.
Flowers for Pulpit
July 6 -------Betty Sunderman
July
13------Teresa Griffith
July 20------Barb
Eslick
July 27------Barb
Eslick
Aug. 3-------Bobbie
McDermott
Aug. 10------Bobbie McDermott
Aug. 17------Carla Johnk
Aug. 24------Jean Bornholdt
Aug. 31------Avis Mortensen
Life is short. Smile while you
still have teeth.
June 10, 2014
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian
church met in regular session on June 10, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the Sunday School
south annex. Session members present
were: Cathy Shutters, Allan Sievers and Kathy Hansen and clerk Linda
Ploen. Absent were: Greg and Michelle
Mertz, Jim Tooley, Gloria Walter and Dustin Jensen.
Moderator David Krueger opened the meeting
with prayer and a reflection from d365.org called “Creator God” from Genesis
1:9-13.
The minutes of the May meeting were read and
approved. The treasurer’s report was approved as given.
Pastor David’s report was read and
approved. He traveled 283 miles this
month. He had several meetings and
visitations.
Clerk Linda Ploen reported on the Quilt
Auction on August 16th at Calvin Crest and the request for donations
for the pool project at Calvin Crest.
Linda also asked that she not be paid for her time as clerk. After some discussion, it was moved and 2nd
to not pay her each month-per her request.
Motion carried.
David also mentioned that he has been
contacted by a member of the community to join our church.
New Business
We will be serving dinner at Peace Haven Retirement Home. Date set is August 23rd. We will need help with this-session members,
youth and members of the congregation? It was moved and 2nd to serve
brisket, potato salad and bars. Motion
carried. We will discuss more at the
August meeting.
Stewardship and Mission
Kathy reported that she will be putting the jar out for donations to a
needy family. David also stated that
there are mission opportunities to be found on http://www.pmrv.org/index.php/newsletters/monday-morning.
Christian Education
Cathy S. reported that Bible School will be a one day event on June 29th. They may buy T-shirts for the kids. It will be an Olympic/sport theme. They will then either go swimming or rent a
bounce house. There was also some
discussion about an Adult Sunday School class or Bible Study.
Worship
Communion was served to 5 residents at Peace Haven on June 8th
with Jim Tooley as serving elder.
Finance and Property
Jim McDermott was removed from check signing and Dustin Jensen will
replace him. There was some discussion
on the Antique Walk. Larry Shepherd and his
grandson will be setting up the tents and Greg and Michelle Mertz have the work
schedule. It was also reported that
Feekes will be working on the heating and air soon. David also stated that the hinges on the
south door are really rusty.
Personnel
Cathy S. reported on the progress of the PNC. There was still no action on our
by-laws. It was also decided not to have
a meeting in July.
Motion to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be August 12th, 2014 at 7 pm.
Linda Ploen
Clerk of Session
|
July 2014
|
||||||
|
Sunday
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
Salem Lutheran Homes, 9 AM
|
3
Tina Gregory
|
4
Independence Day
|
5
Jean Bornholdt
|
|
6
Church 9:00
Communion
Peace Haven
11:00
|
7
|
8
Morning Worship
Allen House, 11AM
|
9
Dixie Schirm
|
10
|
11
Randy Mertz
Brielle Lohoff
|
12
Joyce Redman’s memorial
service, 9 AM
Wedding, 4:30 PM
|
|
13
Church 9:00
Darren/Michelle Tooley
Larry/Charlotte Shepherd
|
14
Jean Schmitt
|
15
|
16
|
17
Betty Sunderman
Peace Haven, 7 PM
|
18
Bobbie McDermott
|
19
Vickie Weihs
|
|
20
Pastor Gone--
|
21
------------------
|
22
Kathy Hansen
Bruce Walter
Collin Shutters
|
23
RAGBRAI----
|
24
Al/Dixie Schirm
David/Linda
Krueger
|
25
-------------------
|
26
Pastor
home
10:00
PM
Don
Walter
|
|
27
Church 9:00
|
28
Brett Holtz
Ross Gregory
Red Cross bloodmobile 11:30
AM to 5:30 PM
|
29
Tara Lohoff
Avoca Nursing & Rehab,
2 PM
|
30
Carrie Schmitt
|
31
|
|
|
July Ushers: Jack & Judy Ploen, Barb Eslick
July Communion
Servers: Dustin Jensen – chm, Margo
Matthies, Teri Abel, Jack Ploen
|
August 2014
|
||||||
|
Sunday
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Barb Eslick
|
2
Dalton Dea
|
|
3
Church 9:00
Communion
Peace Haven
11:00
|
4
|
5
Jennifer Ploen
Kaitlyn Tooley
Pam Nielsen
Cheyenne Mertz
|
6
Salem Lutheran Homes, 9 AM
|
7
Jolene Jensen
Dominic Schaben
Troy/Diana Schaben
|
8
|
9
Margo Matthies
|
|
10
Church 9:00
Carla Johnk
|
11
Michelle Sunderman
|
12
Allen House, 11 AM
Session 7 PM
|
13
Kurt Hansen
Brandi Wood
|
14
|
15
Leo Rechtenbach
Alan Sievers
Doug/Margo Matthies
|
16
Quilt auction @
Calvin Crest
Cathy Shutters
|
|
17
Church 9:00
|
18
|
19
Megan Andersen
|
20
|
21
Mason Schaben
Peace Haven, 7 PM
|
22
|
23
Serving supper
at Peace Haven
Kelsey Helms
|
|
24
Church 9:00
|
25
Shannon Wood
|
26
Todd Ehlers
Avoca Nursing & Rehab, 2
PM
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
Worship
6:00
Terry Green
|
|
31
Church 9:00
Bailey Nielsen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
August Ushers: Kent &
Carla Johnk, Jim & Bobbie McDermott
August Communion
Servers: Linda Ploen-chm., Kent
Johnk, Barb Eslick, Chuck Ploen
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