Pastor Connection 4/14/2022

April 14th, 2022

Pastor Connection

John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray Him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself.

Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For He knew who was to betray him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After He had washed their feet, had put on His robe, and had returned to the table, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

*Preaching this week for Easter Sunday is Rev. David Feltman. Please join us at 10:00 am! *

HOLY WEEK SERVICE SCHEDULE:

Maundy Thursday: Thursday, April 14, 2022, The Presbyterian Churches of the Cedar Valley are holding a shared service at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian in Cedar Falls, 902 Main St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613. This will be live-streamed at (click here) www.facebook.com/firstprescf/

Good Friday: Friday, April 15, 2022, The Presbyterian Churches of the Cedar Valley are holding a shared service at 6:00 pm HERE. This will be live- streamed on our YouTube channel

Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 17, 2022, Please join us for our Easter Sunday service here, at 10 am. In-person here and live-streaming.

Easter Sunday, April 17th, there will not be a coffee hour following the Worship Service.

One Great Hour of Sharing

It is not to late to give! The final date to receive an offering is Monday, May 2, 2022, for our special offering gifts for One Great Hour of Sharing. Please write OGH in the memo line of your check.

This offering provides relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. Europe is facing its largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. The United Nations estimates up to 18 million people, both internally displaced and refugees, will eventually be impacted.

According to reports from Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance, Ukrainians are facing reduced or disrupted services in water, heating, electricity, transportation and telecommunications. Health services have deteriorated rapidly due to shortages of medical supplies and personnel.

Refugees, mostly women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly, had to leave their homes and spend days traveling to neighboring countries for safety, with almost nothing with them.

Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing allow for an immediate response from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) when emergencies first occur, often responding to crises that never make it into the news.

In this volatile situation, PDA was able to provide urgent funding to trusted, established partners with the expertise to carry out humanitarian aid. Reformed and Orthodox church partners, like the Community of St. Egidio and Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, are working closely with local churches and organizations to provide food, water, clothing, shelter, psychosocial support and other basic items for survival. They are the “boots on the ground,” listening and responding to the needs of those impacted.

To stay informed about the work Presbyterians are doing in and around Ukraine, visit pcusa.org/pda/ukraine. To learn more about One Great Hour of Sharing and the vital ministries it supports, visit pcusa.org/oghs.

In this season of Lent, pray for our siblings in Ukraine. Pray for peace. And pray that all of us will remember that we are the Church, together

Saying Farewell to Pastor Pat

As most of you know, Rev. Dr. Pat Geadelmann's last Sunday Worship Service will be Sunday, April 24th. Before she goes, we want to show our appreciation and love.

On April 24th, we will be honoring Pastor Pat at the church fellowship following the service. A brunch will be served, and a card shower basket will be available. We are also collecting a love offering for Pastor Pat.

If mailing a card to the office, we encourage you to send it to the church office by Wednesday, April 20th. 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. The final day to RSVP is Monday, April 18th. There will be forms in the bulletins. You can also access a copy HERE or call the church office to RSVP.

Thank you for helping us honor Pastor Pat as we send her off with our love.

Easter Egg Hunt

On behalf of the Christian Nurture Team, we would like to thank all of those who donated eggs, candy, and who helped with the egg hunt.

We considered it a success! We had 50 kids that came out and participated, what a great turn out for our first year!

Thanks again,

Terry Sage - chair

Presbyterian Women

The PW will be meeting Wed., Apr. 20, at 9:30 am in Calvin Hall.

Volunteer Help Requested

Do you have a few hours free on Thursday mornings? Do you like doing easy tasks that will greatly help someone else? We have a place for you. Each Thursday morning, Amber sends out the Pastor Connection and the weekly bulletin. She could use some expert help in folding, stuffing and sealing envelopes. Come at 9:30 a.m. It should not take more than a few hours and you will be done by 11:30 or before. If you are willing to commit one Thursday morning a month to help, please contact Jean Seeland, 319- 493-2015 or sign up in church office.

Hy-Vee Receipts

Have you been saving Hy-Vee receipts and wonder if they are still being collected? Well they are! Please drop them off to the church office before April 30 to benefit Cunningham School (our partner in education) this year. The school with the highest total in receipts will receive a monetary prize. Thank you for saving your receipts!

Antique Quilts Wanted

We have been showing off new quilts in the hallway and keeping members updated on modern patterns or methods of making quilts. Starting in March and continuing for several months, we will be displaying in the hallway antique quilts belonging to members. Each quilt will be displayed for one month. Do you have a family heirloom quilt you would like displayed? Contact Mary Mumm. Every quilt has a story!

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.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Please join us this Tuesday, April 19th, at 9am in Calvin Hall. All are welcome! Coffee will be provided. We hope you can join us!

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 the Good Friday bulletin.

Click HERE for the Easter Sunday 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.

Pulpit Flower Volunteers Needed

We are once again accepting donations of flower arrangements for our Sunday Services. We currently have openings May 22, and May 29, and Jun 5 (Pentecost), Jun 12, Jun 19 (Father's Day), and Jun 26. 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!

Blessed are the Children!

Congratulations to Sam and Mary Shull on the birth of their son, Brennan Wayne, on April 12^th. Colette Shull is Brennan’s proud grandmother and Gloria Frerichs is his great grandmother.

Church Prayer List

Ongoing/Continuing Prayers:

Ed Halvorson, recovering at home from gall bladder surgery; Lorraine Baker, recovering from heart surgery; Pat Narey, Kari O. Narey's husband, recovering at home from 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; Sara Wexter, Betty's daughter-in-law, recently diagnosed with a severe health condition; Gloria Frerichs, recovering from a stroke at Northcrest; Joann Lockard, health issues; 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.