Pastor Connection 7/21/2022

July 21st, 2022

Pastor Connection

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The Gift of Love

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Church Wide Lunch

The congregation is invited to a special all-church lunch following the worship service on Sunday, July 31. During the worship that Sunday, Rev. Dr. Kivett will focus his sermon on the discernment process regarding the future of First Presbyterian Church. At the lunch there will be an opportunity for more discussion, questions, and ideas. The input of the congregation is very important in this process. Please plan to attend.

Irish Fest Fundraiser

Irish Fest will be coming to Lincoln Park, right across from the church, August 5-7. We plan to take advantage of our location and again use our parking lot as a fundraiser for the Buildings and Grounds Committee. We need volunteers to help park cars and collect the fee. Each volunteer time slot will last about 2 1/2 hours. We will need volunteers for Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday morning. Someone will be in the hall on Sunday mornings to sign up volunteers. To volunteer you can also call Mary Mumm or Jackie Bass to pick your volunteer spot. The money will be spent for building maintenance. The Building and Grounds Committee appreciates your help.

Tools for Caregivers Classes

Feeling stretched caring for a family member or friend? Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a class to provide you - the caregiver - with skills to take care of yourself. This series of six classes, held once each week, offers tools and support to help you reduce stress, solve problems, and communicate confidently when faced with tough decisions. Class participants are given the Caregiver Help book to accompany the class and provide additional caregiver resources.

When you take care of yourself, everyone benefits.

Six Tuesdays, starting Aug 2 through Sep 6. 10:00-11:30am, here at First Presbyterian. No cost to attend.

Registration deadline: July 27. These classes are through the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging.

For more information contact:

Anne Marie Kofta akofta@nei3a.org

Brittny Brown bbrown@nei3a.org

Or call 1-800-779-8707

Church (Indoor) Picnic!

First Presbyterian Deacons are planning a church picnic on August 14 after church in Fellowship Hall (picnic in the cool!). August 14 is Rev. Dr. Kivett's last Sunday with us so we will thank him for his leadership for the last few months. Deacons will provide grilled brats and hamburgers, drinks, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. Please provide a dish to share. Sign up on the insert in the bulletin to let us know how much meat to prepare.

National Night Out

This year's National Neighborhood Night Out is August 2 and the Walnut Neighborhood is already making plans. Last year we had wonderful volunteers from First Presbyterian who helped make the evening a success. We are beginning again to solicit volunteers for the event. Volunteers are needed for:

Set up - 4:30 pm - 8 people needed
Servers - 5:10-6:10 pm - 6 people needed
Clean-up - 8-10 people needed

(We do not need to provide all the volunteers, but we would like First Presbyterian to again be represented)

There will also be a talent show. Brush up on your jokes, songs, and dances and sign up to perform. We know we have lots of talent at First Presbyterian!

A sign-up sheet for volunteers will be in the office. Thank you!

Last Saturday, Rev. David Feltman and Marvin Carroll met at the church to remove a dying tree from the Walnut Street side of the church property. It's sad to lose a tree, but we were worried someone might get hurt if one of the dead limbs fell off as they walked by. Thanks to David and Marvin for their fine work!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

On Saturday July 17, 21 folks from First Presbyterian went out to the ballgame to cheer on the Bucks to a win! Much fun was had as they enjoyed the game and some beautiful fireworks at the end as a cherry on top!

Have you moved? Do you know someone who has? Would you like to register to vote? There are voter registration forms on the counter in the office, or you can click HERE to access a digital copy. Please take and fill out. Then send to this address:

Black Hawk County Courthouse

Courthouse Room 210

316 E. 5th St.

Waterloo, IA 50703

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. Updated April 2022. 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, July 26th, 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 11:00 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 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 11:00 am.

Pulpit Flower Volunteers Needed

We are once again accepting donations of flower arrangements for our Sunday Services. We currently have openings July 24 and 31, and August 14, 21, and 28. 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!

Birthday Card Shower and Coffee Hour

Barbara Benskin is turning 89 years old! Her children and grandchildren are throwing a card shower, as well as a coffee hour celebration on THIS Sunday, July 24th before the Worship Service. If you would like to mail a card to Barbara, her address is: 2711 E. 4th St., Waterloo, 50703.

Church Prayer List

New to the Prayer List:

George Day, who has been diagnosed with pneumonia; Joe Fernau, who was released from the hospital on Friday, July 15 and is recovering from chemo and a bone marrow transplant at home

Ongoing/Continuing Prayers:

Sue Albright is recovering at home after she had her left shoulder replaced Tuesday July 6th, with 4-6 months of rehab to follow; Dan Davis, who fell and broke his femur, followed by surgery to repair it, undergoing rehab therapy at Waterloo ProMedica (was Manor Care), room 217; Marsha Muir, who had back surgery and is recovering at home; Pat Narey, Kari O. Narey's husband, recovering at home from complications from his foot surgeries in February; Betty Wexter, dealing with health issues; Don Broadston's friend, Jean Singer, struggling with lung health problems; 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; 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 and settling in to her new home at Friendship Village; 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.