February 17th, 2022
Pastor Connection
A Note from Pastor Amy

I imagine that most of you have either heard or read that I am leaving First Presbyterian Church as pastor to accept a position with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. No doubt, the news has been met with a flood of varying emotions. I, too, have mixed emotions as I begin to say good bye. This will be truly a bitter sweet time.

But the one thing that bubbles up over and over again is my enormous gratitude and love for each of you. It is hard to put into words the impact you have had on my life. You have not only taught me how to be a pastor. You have taught me more about grace, generosity, commitment, humility, and forgiveness than I have ever known. You have not only supported my ministry as a pastor but my walk of discipleship with Jesus as well. Thank you!

I plan to spend my time in these coming weeks expressing my gratitude and love to as many people as I can. I will be making visits as usual, leading worship and preaching, teaching the Tuesday morning Bible study, and carying out my other regular tasks of ministry while cleaning out my office.

In addition, I will be enjoying my lunch at noon on Tuesdays for the next three weeks - Feb. 22, 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.

Again, I am grateful for you and love you all.

Pastor Amy
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.
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. 
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
Honoring Our Church Officers

Last Sunday after Worship, we had a special coffee hour honoring those church officers who have rotated off of Session, Deacons, and Foundation Board. They are:

Session - Jean Seeland
Deacons - Jan Bellinger, Lynda Cose, Beth Klann, Gary Lee, Kathy McClain
Foundation - Jerry Anders, Craig Cose

Thank you for your faithful service to the church!
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, February 22nd, 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!
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

If you do not immediately see the live stream, please keep refreshing the page, and it will show up.

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.
Upcoming Church Meetings

Foundation: Mon. Feb. 28, 5:15 pm

*All Meetings Held in Calvin Hall unless otherwise noted
Pulpit Flower Volunteers Needed

We are once again accepting donations of flower arrangements for our Sunday Services. We currently have openings February 20th and 27th, and March 13th and 27th. 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.orgAlternatively, you can let Nancy Valentine know on Sundays after service and she will relay your information to Amber. Thank you!
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Church Prayer List

New to the Prayer List:
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

Ongoing/Continuing Prayers:
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; Sarah 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; Lorraine Baker, heart concerns; 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.
Church Family Birthdays

We celebrate our members with birthdays in February. If you get a chance, please join us in wishing them a very happy birthday!

February

01 Jan Schwab
04 Gerald Buls
05 Darlys Varner
06 Blandine Mananga
07 Donald Broadston
08 Andrew Jamieson
09 Colleen Jessen; Florence Ramsell
11 Harold Haasis
12 Bruce Bowers; Carol Carroll; Jean Curran
13 Sheryl Berry-Rudic; David McQuilkin; Susan Wexter
16 Samuel Christensen
17 David Dutton
20 Emma Schellhorn
21 Marvin Carroll
22 Krystal Matthias
24 Linda Wiles
25 Jan Bellinger
26 Jacob Quirk; Aubrey Robinson
27 Lucas Trepp; Mary K. Williams
28 Dean Bellinger; Nick Ellsworth
29 Michelle Schellhorn

First Presbyterian Church | Waterloo, IA | 319-233-6145 | www.1stpresby.org
Office Hours: M-Th 9:00am to 4:00pm