A Blessing in the Chaos
To all that is chaotic
in you,
let there come silence.
Let there be
a calming
of the clamoring,
a stilling
of the voices that
have laid their claim
on you,
that have made their
home in you,
that go with you
even to the
holy places
but will not
let you rest,
will not let you
hear your life
with wholeness
or feel the grace
that fashioned you.
Let what distracts you
cease.
Let what divides you
cease.
Let there come an end
to what diminishes
and demeans,
and let depart
all that keeps you
in its cage.
Let there be
an opening
into the quiet
that lies beneath
the chaos,
where you find
the peace
you did not think
possible
and see what shimmers
within the storm.
—Jan Richardson
from The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief
Image: “Stories Move in Circles“
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Annual Meeting of the Congregation, THIS Sunday,
February 13, after worship
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our the annual meeting of the congregation. Annual reports are available in the church office for any church member. Deacons, Elders, and Foundation members can find the reports in their church mailboxes. We will not be live streaming the meeting, so please make plans accordingly.
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Honoring Church Officers
THIS Sunday after the annual meeting, we will have 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
Please stay after the meeting on Sunday and show your appreciation.
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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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Dementia Friends Training
Dementia Friends 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 Friends 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 Friends.” 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. This Sunday, Feb. 13th, Jenny Nelson from Love, Inc. will discuss that great project that meets in our church on Tuesday evenings. 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. We have one last spot to fill on Feb. 20th and hope to have that soon. Please join us at 8:45 am in Calvin Hall.
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Presbyterian Women Meeting
The Presbyterian Women will be meeting Wed., Feb. 16th, at 9:30 am in Calvin Hall. This month's meeting is when we will begin receiving pledges for 2022. You may read about the annual PW pledge and how it impacts local, national, and global mission projects by clicking HERE.
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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, February 15th, 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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Piecemakers Quilters Meeting Rescheduled
The Piecemakers have been rescheduled to meet on Saturday, February 12th, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This month's project offers three options: a set of four 14.5" placemats, a 19.5" table topper, and a 24.5" table topper. This pattern lets us practice our use of partial seams. For fabric requirements or questions, contact Jackie Bass. Chicken Tortilla Soup or Cheeseburger Chowder will be provided for lunch. Bring a salad, dinner rolls/garlic bread, or a dessert to share if you wish. Remember to bring your "Show and Tell" following lunch!
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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.
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.
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Upcoming Church Meetings
Piecemakers Quilters: Sat. Feb. 12th, 9:00am Fellowship Hall
Session: Tue. Feb. 15, 6:00 pm
Presbyterian Women: Wed. Feb. 16, 9:30 am
Foundation: Mon. Feb. 28, 5:15 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 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.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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Church Prayer List
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.
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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
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Office Hours: M-Th 9:00am to 4:00pm
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