Pastor’s Notes
My friends, as this Christian
year ends and a new year is set to begin with the first Sunday of Advent I’m
reminded, again, that God calls us to be his Church in the world. We are called
by God to minister to the people in our congregations, in our communities…and in
the world.
So, as we prepare to watch and
wait and pray for the coming of God’s gift to the world I pray that we take
time every day to sit and listen for God’s voice that speaks, just to us,
calling each of us to a particular work in a particular place at a time God has
chosen. May we take the time to not only read God’s word and pray but also to
listen for God’s voice.
For First Presbyterian Church
here in Walnut it will be a time of change as a new pastor begins his call to
serve God’s people here and in Avoca. It will be a learning experience for both
congregations as they begin to work together, pray together, worship together,
and serve God’s people together.
I pray that just as our children
bubble over with excitement and joy in anticipation of Christmas that we also
overflow with the same degree of excitement and joy as the new Christian year
begins.
Friends, as you talk with God
keep Joel and his family in your prayers and also the leaders of each
congregation. Remember Jesus instructions to his disciples, love your God with
your whole being, love your neighbors as much as you love yourself, and make
disciples everywhere you go. Do this knowing that you aren’t alone. God is with
you all the way.
God loves you, my friends, and so
do I.
Pastor
David
Sunday School Christmas Program
The
annual Sunday School Christmas program will be December 21st during
worship at 9:00 AM. Come and enjoy
watching our youth (and adults) perform and sing.
Food Pantry
Food pantry needs for December are:
Any Wholesome Food or Paper Product
Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women’s group will meet on
Dec. 3rd at 12:30 at Emma Jean’s.
All women of the church are invited to
attend.
You
know you’re grown up when none of the things you want can be bought in a store.
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. 20th 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. 20th if you can help.
‘When
the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.’
Jimi Hendrix
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.
‘Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is
like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.’
George Carlin
Golden
Oldies
The
first Golden Oldies meal will be at our church at 11:30.
Jan
20 – First Presbyterian - Walnut
‘There’s something about
Christmas that’s magical. Money seems to
disappear into thin air.’
Melanie White
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 27th. 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 12th.
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
Never worry about the size
of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of
children they’re all 30 feet tall.
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.
‘The most
important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.’
January Ushers and Communion Servers
Ushers: Dennis Jensen, Dustin
Jensen, Allan & Shannon Griffith Communion
Servers: Allan Sievers-chm., Dustin Jensen, Craig
& Linda Woltmann. December ushers
and communion servers are at the bottom of the calendar.
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it
every day.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen
New
Minister Starting In Avoca
Our
new minister (starting in Feb.) has moved to Avoca and began preaching there Nov.
24th. Pastor Joel
Jackle-Hugh, wife EmJ, and son Kyle have moved from Dubuque where Joel attended
seminary. Pastor Jackle-Hugh will be in
a ministry partnership with our church and the United Church of Avoca.
Session
Minutes
November 11, 2014
Moderator Pastor David Krueger opened the joint session
meeting with United Church of Avoca and Walnut First Presbyterian Church with
prayer.
Chuck Ploen from the Avoca and Walnut Joint Transition Team
presented their recommendations for worship times and secretary. The worship times suggested were 8:45 AM for
Walnut and 10:30 AM for Avoca. It was also proposed to share a part-time
secretary (10 hours per week) between the two churches.
Also presented to the sessions were the dates for Joel to
begin worship services at United Church of Avoca and the date for the moving
van to arrive. The total moving cost is
$4,005.16 to be divided equally between the two churches. A check needs to be available for the movers
at the time of arrival.
Joel and EmJ will be staying at the Super 8 Motel in Walnut
until the manse is ready and their household items are moved in. The cost for lodging will be divided equally
by both churches.
Preparation of the manse and where to store the household
items if the manse wasn’t ready was discussed. It was decided to unload the
items in the United Church of Avoca fellowship hall if the manse wasn’t ready.
The worship times agreed to by both sessions was 8:30 AM for
Walnut and 10:15 AM for Avoca.
The joint meeting was adjourned.
First Presbyterian
Church Session Meeting
The session of Walnut First Presbyterian Church met in
regular session on November 11th in the south Sunday School Annex.
Those in attendance were Cathy Shutters, Greg Mertz, Kathy
Hansen, and Gloria Walter.
The minutes of the October meeting, the treasurer’s report,
and the pastor’s report were approved.
There
was one death. Russ Lehnhardt died
November 1, 2014 at the Allen House, Atlantic, IA. Graveside services were held
November 5, 2014 at Layton Township Cemetery where his cremated remains were
buried.
New
Business
Youth group fund signatories are to be
changed to Cathy Shutters and Robin Tooley. This action was approved.
The estate of Joy Sievers has been settled.
The final report was presented to the session.
The Christmas Eve service will be held at 10
PM. The Youth Group will decorate the Christmas tree.
It was moved decrease the number of elders on
session from 9 to 7 members. This action was approved.
Employee evaluations were discussed as well
as financial compensation. It was approved to increase the hourly rate for the
janitor.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Shutters, Clerk pro-tem
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December 2014
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Confirmation
classes will begin Dec. 7 at 5:30 PM
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1
Joel/EmJ
Jackle-Hugh Anniversary
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2
COM
at New Horizon P.C., 4:30
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3
Salem
Lutheran Homes, 9 AM
12:30
UPW @ Emma Jean’s
Alice
Richter
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4
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5
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6
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7
Church
9:00
Communion
Sunday
School 10:15
Peace
Haven 11:00
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8
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9
Allen
Place, 9 AM
Session,
7 PM
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10
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11
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12
Xavier
Gregory
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13
Joel
Jackle-Hugh ordination at UCA, 1 PM
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14
Church
9:00
Sunday
School 10:15
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15
Noah
Heilig
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16
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17
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18
Peace
Haven, 7 PM
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19
Michelle
Mertz
JoJane
Walter
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20
Kyle
Jackle-Hugh
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21
Sunday
School
Christmas
Program 9:00
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22
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23
Trista
Sievers
Sam/Brinda
Shirley
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24
Christmas Eve
Service 10:00
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25
Christmas
Day
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26
Donna
Heiny
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27
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28
Church
9:00
Jeff
Hansen
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29
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30
Avoca
Nursing, 2 PM
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31
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December Ushers – Jean Bornholdt, Craig & Linda
Woltmann
Communion Servers—Michelle Mertz, chm, Jean
Bornholdt, Allan Sievers, Gloria Walter
