A Prayer for the Day
I ran across this prayer from Ted Loder's Guerillas of Grace, and I wanted to share it with all of you. May it inspire each of you in whatever new work God has in store for you this week. -- Peace, Pastor Amy
Breathe into Me the Courage to Make Something New
Thank you for all I forget are gifts,
not rights.
Forgive me for all the grievances
I remember too well.
Save me from the self-pity,
the self-seeking,
the fat-heartedness
which is true poverty.
Guide me, if I'm willing,
(drive me if I'm not),
into the hard ways of sacrifice
which are just and loving.
Make me wide-eyed for beauty,
and for my neighbor's need and goodness;
wide-willed for peace-making,
and for the confronting power
with the call to compassion;
wide-hearted for love
and for the unloved,
who are the hardest to touch and need it the most.
Dull the envy in me
which criticizes and complains life
into a thousand ugly bits.
Keep me honest and tender enough to heal,
tough enough to be healed of my hypocrisies.
Match my appetite for privilege
with the stomach for commitment.
Teach me the great cost of paying attention
that, naked to the dazzle of your back as you pass,
I may know I am always on holy ground.
Breathe into me the restlessness and courage
to make something new,
something saving,
and something true
that I may understand what it is to rejoice.
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Meeting of the Congregation March 13
Session is calling a meeting of the congregation on March 13 to dissolve Terms of Call with Rev. Dr. Amy Lea Wiles. The meeting will be held in the context of worship at 10:00 am.
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Saying Farewell to Pastor Amy
As most of you know, Rev. Dr. Amy Wiles' last Sunday Worship Service will be Sunday, March 13th. Before she goes, we want to show our appreciation and love.
On March 13th, we will be honoring Pastor Amy at the church fellowship following the service. A light lunch will be served, and a card shower basket will be available. We are also collecting a love offering for Pastor Amy.
If mailing a card to the office, we encourage you to send it to the church office by Wednesday, March 9. If you wish to contribute to the love offering, please send your gift to the church office by the same date with a note indicating what it is for.
RSVPs for the meal are needed. They will be in the bulletins Sunday, Feb. 27 and Mar. 6. You can also access a copy HERE or call the church office to RSVP.
Thank you for helping us honor Pastor Amy as we send her off with our love.
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Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Join us for worship on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd, at 6:00 pm as we begin the season. We will begin our Lenten journey with prayer, confession, and commitment.
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Ash Wednesday Supper
The Celebration Ringers will host an Ash Wednesday Supper on March 2nd beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Calvin Hall.
The menu will include: Sloppy Joes, coleslaw, chips, and apple crisp with ice cream. Beverages will be provided. The cost of this meal will be $7.00 for adults and $4 for children (under 12 years). Monies will be collected at the Ash Wednesday Supper on March 2. You may make a reservation by filling out the insert in the weekly bulletin and putting it in the offering baskets or by calling the church office. Click HERE to access an RSVP form.
Monies raised from the Ash Wednesday Supper will be used by the bell choir to attend the Area 7 Handbell Festival in Duluth, MN in June 2022.
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Lenten Lunch and Learn Starts March 9
Starting March 9, our church will hold our annual Lenten Lunch and Learn from noon to 1 pm. This year, we will be learning from Adam Hamilton’s 6-weeks series on the Lord’s Prayer. We will meet every Wednesday through April 13. Participants are invited to bring their own lunch to eat as we engage in discussion. We hope to see you there!
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Lunches with Pastor Amy
I would like to be able to spend my time in these coming weeks expressing my gratitude and love to the members of First Presbyterian. In addition to worship and Bible study, I will be enjoying my lunch at noon on Tuesdays for the next two weeks - Mar. 1 and Mar. 8. I invite any church member to join me for a time of fellowship as I begin to say goodbye to my time as your pastor. -- Pastor Amy
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Dementia Friendly Training
Dementia Friendly Cedar Valley is a program of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging that trains and certifies businesses, organizations, and individuals in practices which are “Dementia Friendly” (sensitive to and supportive of individuals with dementia). Megan Zimmerman, the Director of Dementia Friendly Cedar Valley, will meet with church leadership (elders, deacons, and staff) on Monday, March 21 at 6:00 pm at the church to present the program for our church to receive designation as a “Dementia Friendly Church.” All interested members are invited.
A second program offers training for individuals to become “Dementia Friendly.” Megan Zimmerman will attend the Adult Forum on Sunday, March 27 from 8:45-9:45 in Calvin Hall to lead this process. All are invited to attend.
Megan is a graduate of UNI’s Gerontology program under the leadership of Dr Elaine Eshbaugh. They have worked closely together on the Dementia Simulation House that has been established at UNI as a “learning lab” for students and the public to gain a greater understanding of environments that challenge individuals with dementia and strategies to mitigate those challenges.
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Upcoming Adult Forum Series
We are so excited to again have the opportunity to learn about our neighbors who are working so hard to improve our community. Barb Grant, from Operation Threshold, will speak with us on this Sunday, Feb. 27th, and inform us on the many ways that agency helps out the community. Please join us at 8:45 am in Calvin Hall.
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Updated Church Directory
An updated church directory is now available! There are printed copies available in the church office, or click HERE to access a copy. If you need one mailed, please reach out to Amber in the church office, 319-233-6145, or amber@1stpresby.org.
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Lakeshore Center Camp Brochures
The Summer 2022 Lakeshore Center at Okoboji camp brochures have arrived and are available in the office.
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Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Please join us this Tuesday, March 1st, at 9am in Calvin Hall. All are welcome! Coffee will be provided. We will be looking at the upcoming sermon text. We hope you can join us!
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LIVE STREAMING WORSHIP Now Available!
We are now live streaming our Worship Services EVERY Sunday! The stream will start at 10:00 am on Sundays, and you can view it live on our YouTube channel wherever you have internet access!
If you are unable to watch the service live, the video will be recorded and you can watch at any time by clicking on the video on the YouTube page. The link is (Click Here) bit.ly/1stpresby.
You can also find the link to the YouTube page on the church website.
Click HERE for this week's bulletin.
We look forward to worshiping with you every week!
PLEASE NOTE: We will continue to meet IN PERSON at the church every week on Sunday at 10:00 am.
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Upcoming Church Meetings
Foundation: Mon. Feb. 28, 5:15 pm
Mission and Outreach: Tue. Mar. 1, 4:00 pm
Session: Tue. Mar. 1, 6:00 pm
Stewardship & Finance: Mon. Mar 7, Noon Church Office
Christian Nurture: Mon. Mar. 7, 2:30 pm
Deacons: Tue. Mar. 8, 3:30 pm
Session: Tue. Mar. 15, 6:00 pm
*All Meetings Held in Calvin Hall unless otherwise noted
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Pulpit Flower Volunteers Needed
We are once again accepting donations of flower arrangements for our Sunday Services. We currently have openings February 27th and the entire month of April. If you would like to donate, please contact Amber in the office to find a date that works for you. You can call the office or email Amber directly. 319-233-6145 or amber@1stpresby.org. Alternatively, you can let Nancy Valentine know on Sundays after service and she will relay your information to Amber. Thank you!
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Birthday Reception
All are invited to celebrate Mary K. Williams’s 104th birthday (Yes, that’s 1-0-4) this Sunday, February 27, after worship. Join us for Coffee Hour after worship in Calvin Hall for cake and punch to celebrate a very special day.
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Thank You
Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, many cards and flowers during my recovery and physical therapy. Special thanks to Pastor Amy for her visit and to the Piecemakers for the beautiful quilt. You’re a great church family and I miss you all.
Gloria Frerichs
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Church Prayer List
With Our Sympathies:
Florence Ramsell passed away Wednesday, February 23. Our love and prayers are with her family for peace at this difficult time.
New to the Prayer List:
Lorraine Baker, recovering from heart surgery
Ongoing/Continuing Prayers:
Pat Narey, Kari O. Narey's husband, who is at Mayo with a bone infection in his foot ;Richard Gajewsky, Tyler's grandfather, who was recently diagnosed with cancer; Sam Christensen, recovering from a severe fall at the Med Center in Friendship Village; Pat Koenig, dealing with back pain; Janice and Paul Graham, Jennifer Lightbody's parents, who are dealing with health issues- especially Paul who recently fell and severed a vertebrae; Betty Wexter, continued recovery from a severe case of the flu; Sara Wexter, Betty's daughter-in-law, recently diagnosed with a severe health condition; Gloria Frerichs, recovering from a stroke at Northcrest; Marilyn Lottich, recovering from health issues at home; Joann Lockard, health issues; Marsha Platt, recovering from surgery, Cindy Trepp, health concerns; Barbara Benskin's brother, Bill Brenton, who is in hospice care; Joe Fernau, son of Marie Fernau, who has been diagnosed with lymphoma; Mable, great-granddaughter of Skip and Judy Mulock and their family, struggling with health issues; Steve Miller, ongoing health issue
Add to the Prayer List
Click HERE to submit a prayer request online. Our pastors will be praying for you and sharing concerns with the congregation as requested.
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Church Family Birthdays
We celebrate our members with birthdays in February and March. If you get a chance, please join us in wishing them a very happy birthday!
February
27 Lucas Trepp; Mary K. Williams
28 Dean Bellinger; Nick Ellsworth
29 Michelle Schellhorn
March
08 Dan Davis
12 Eric Dew
13 William Barnes
15 Tom Campbell; Marge Polacek
16 Mark Bickley; Brady Swenson
18 Kim Swallow
22 Ann Sage; Heather Wheelock
23 Connor McClain; Rev. Dr. Amy Wiles
24 Cody McDowell
26 Dale Lottich
27 Cindy Trepp
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Office Hours: M-Th 9:00am to 4:00pm
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