august 2021 newsletter news at first

August 2021 Newsletter

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NEWS AT FIRST First Presbyterian Church | Monticello, Iowa

Open my eyes, Creator of the universe, that I may see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and t he s t a r s t ha t you have established; open my ears, that I may hear what the heavens are telling me about your glory, which transcends all material bounds and yet deigns to reside with human beings.

May I ever marvel at your tender care for us, and give you thanks and praise forever. Amen.

—Prayer suggested by Psalms 8 & 19

“Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the chi ld as it is to the caterpillar.”

-Bradley Miller


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211 W First St Monticello, IA 52310 (319) 465-3393

Pastor:

Randy Argall, Interim Pastor m: 920.309.2761 [email protected]

Office:

Administrator: Mackenzie Kahler

office: 319-465-3393 [email protected] Summer Office Hours: M-Th, 8 am - 12 noon

Treasurer:

Dan Saunders Office hours vary

Worship:

Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Join us on FaceBook livestream for worship each Sunday.

Social Media:

Facebook: @MonticelloFPC

Welcome, Pastor Randy! Hello! I am happy to take this opportunity to briefly introduce myself. I retired in July 2019 as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Green Bay, WI after 11½ years. I began my career as the pastor of a Reformed Church in South Dakota and ended it in Green Bay; in between, I completed a graduate degree (at UI) and taught for a decade at the University of Jamestown, a Presbyterian college in Jamestown, ND. Shortly after retiring in 2019, I spent two months in Moscow (see photo) working for World Mission. Then COVID-19 hit. Only now have I sought active ministry again and I am excited about

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Pastor Leave Pastor Randy will be on leave Friday, August 13th through Thursday, August 19th. If you have an emergency, please contact the church office and an emergency contact will be made available to you. Please note, we will have worship Sunday August 15th as usual.

serving in your midst.

I have been married to Ann for 48 years this fall. We purchased a condo in Iowa City to be near our son Sam and his family. Ann and I have been providing daycare for two grandsons, age 4 and 1, during the pandemic. My hobbies include biking, kayaking, travel, reading, and sports (Go Pack!).

Others have described me as having a non-anxious presence. I am a patient person and trust that, in spite of difficulties, God is still in charge and does all things well. Hopefully we can discern God’s will together to prepare the church for the next installed pastor. My email is [email protected] and my cell phone is 920-309-2761. I look forward to connecting with each of you.

Heads Up!

Please note: Camp Courageous will be holding their 2021 Annual Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, August 1st. This will take place from approximately 8am-12noon. The bike route portion of the triathlon will bring bikers through Monticello, heading west on W First St in front of First Presbyterian Church, up Main Hill and out on County Road D62. Bikers will bring another route back into town. Please be aware of cyclists coming by the church on the road as you enter/exit your vehicles and the church for worship. Allow extra time coming and going for services on Sunday, August 1st. This will be Pastor Randy’s first Sunday with us at First Presbyterian Church as well. Thank you!⚠


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No VBS 2021After much careful consideration, the Christian Education committee has decided to forego vacation bible school for 2021.

They have been working on lesson plans for the new Sunday school year and are excited for you to join us.

Watch for more information to come on 2021-2022 Sunday school announcements and schedules, which will resume in September 2022!

Please verify that you are following our OFFICIAL Facebook page (@MonticelloFPC) for updated information or call the office with questions.

The Power of Listening“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen,” says Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, author and integrative medicine professor. “Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.”Twice in Mark 4, while teaching, Jesus urges, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen” (verses 9 & 23, NRSV). One way we show what Jesus means to us is by truly listening to his word — not just hearing sounds but being attentive and intentional. Likewise, one way we love and serve others is by respectfully listening to them: not assuming we know what they feel or mean or will say; not planning what to say even as they’re still speaking, but listening deeply to learn about them and their experience.We often think living our faith calls for great accomplishments or worldwide reach. But Remen says, “A loving silence often has … power to heal and to connect.” Don’t underestimate something as basic and doable as listening as a way to practice Christlike love. What a beautiful day the LORD has made.

Dear Presbyterian Church,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for the opportunity I have been given. The large scholarship I’ve been gifted will help me immensely in the future, and I want to thank you all for it.

Thank you,

Rease Saunders


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How Deep Is Your Faith? Lyrics to the Bee Gees’ 1970s hit song “How Deep Is Your Love” came to mind as I pondered the “depths” of my faith. Sometimes I prefer to stay securely in the shallow end, while other times I fearlessly launch off the diving board, ready and willing to be drenched by God’s love.

If you’ve ever tried to coax young swimmers to jump into the deep end of a pool, you may remember their excitement (and relief) after they finally take the plunge into your arms. To experience that joy in your spiritual life, evaluate your location in your own faith “pool.” Are you wading safely in the shallows or exploring the freedom of the depths? No matter where you’re at, you can jump confidently into Jesus’ outstretched arms. From the edge, hear his promises: “Jump in! I’ll catch you! I’ll keep you safe! Trust me!”

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry continues to serve the community on Mondays, 5 pm - 7 pm, and Fridays, 2 pm - 4 pm. Donations can be taken at this time as well.

If you have any extra produce from your gardens this summer, we would love to share your donation with a family in need. Fresh produce should be dropped off a half hour prior to pantry hours to ensure fresh quality to our clients. Thank you!

🍅🥦🍉🥒🍒🌽🥕

Other needs include: Hygiene products: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body wash or bar soap.

Presbyterian Pie Service

The Presbyterian Pie Service continues to fill the pie desires of the community by attempting to stock the freezer, continuing to take orders by phone, and holding the occasional drive-through.

If you would like to place an order or check our stock, call Pam (319-480-7700) or Kris (319-480-1538).

The PPS would like to thank everyone for their on-going support. ☺ 👩🍳 🥧


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If indeed childhood was ever carefree, it’s hardly so now. Some children face bullying, while others deal with rough home lives. Many fret over their performance at school and in sports. News of dangers and tragedies makes parents want to shelter their kids from worldly harm.

Whether real or imagined, childhood anxieties are best confronted in the same way as adult anxieties: through prayer and the assurance of God’s presence. Teach this traditional prayer to a young person in your life — and find comfort in it yourself:

God in heaven, hear my prayer. Keep me in thy loving care. Be my guide in all I do. Bless all those who love me too. Amen.

Jane Corbin

Betty Lambert

Doug Mettler

Lorraine Haag Pennington

Marj Stubbe Pennington

The family of Mary Jane Steiner

Laura Eiben MNRC

Marie Hein MNRC

Barb Null MNRC

AttendanceWorship

June 27 naJuly 4 20July 11 34July 18 32July 25 *Church at Fair —

Back to School


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Session News First Presbyterian Church

Regular Session Meeting MinutesJuly 14, 2021

6:00 P.M.CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL

DECLARATION OF QUORUM (Moderator, Clerk & ⅓ of elders) WELCOME GUESTS: NoneMODERATOR Wayne PeachOPENING and OPENING PRAYER By Wayne Peach 6:07APPROVAL OF DOCKET APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM - MSC CLERK’S REPORT

1. Building use requests see new business2. Deaths: Mary Jane Steiner3. Confirmations: Landon Orcutt, Taylor Gassman and Dawson Ricklefs4. Communion served this month

Served by ???? and ??? Served cant find communion book 6. Worship Attendance per week:

June 6 – 34June 13 – 47 ConfirmationJune 20 - 35 Father’s DayJune 27 - 31

7. Sunday School attendance: Summer break 8. Reminders to Elders

• Next regular session meeting will be: Aug 11 @ 6:00• Newsletter deadline will be 20th of this month.

9. Presbytery updates: • Presbytery meeting: this Saturday, July 17, 10am-1pm via zoom Need to register by

Tomorrow July 15thPASTOR’S REPORT

- July 21 - Aug 1 Wayne Peach unavailable. - July 18, Curt Mayo- July 25 at Jones County Fair – How do we want to distribute advertise etc. - Aug 1 Pastor Randy- Aug 8 Pastor Randy- Aug 15th Pastor Randy on vacation - Pastor Mark may be filling in- Wayne Peach returned key for church back. Handed to Dan Saunders

Janean King (2016) X Stacey Takes (2016) X Peg Arduser (2019) X

Anita Benedict (2019) X Dan Saunders (2019) X Don Smith (2019) E

Vacant O Vickie Bone (2020) X Lillian Bruns (youth) X


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Session News (con’t)ANY SESSION COMMITTEE REPORTS/UPDATES

- Deacons (Stacey) - Did not meet in June. Gave pastor Ed & Jean blanket as a thank you for all they have done for our church over the years.

- Christian Ed (Anita) Sunday School to start Sept 12th. No VBS this year. - Finance/Corporate Trust (Dan) Dan passed out report.- Building (Don) check after todays rain to see if any leaks. May call to clean carpets if no

leaks after today’s rain.- Personnel (Peg) – Quarterly reviews Talked to Heather (janitor) She said all is going well

and got thru detailed cleaning. Session mentioned that they have not heard of any complaints so felt it was all going real well also.

OLD BUSINESS• Landscaping in front of church – Pam/Vickie working with contractor to finalize. Plants are

paid for.• New signage in front of church with Boyd King’s memorial money. Will table till next

meeting. Looking into city ordinances first. NEW BUSINESS

• LifeLine is inquiring about Wednesday, Nov 3 date Motion to allow LiveLine to come in and to let Senior dining know in advance so schedule around MSC

• Motion to give the Senior Dining Coordinator a key to building MSC• Mackenzie will be instructed to Contact Don Smith if any funerals or pastoral concerns the

week Wayne Peach is of as it is the week before Pastor Randy Starts• Welcome reception set for Pastor Randy after his first Sunday Aug 1st. • Deacons said they would like to help so asking them to do a cookies and punch type of

reception after church• Session agreed to do a Kick Off / Welcome Back on Sept 12th when Sunday School starts

for the year. Plan to invite any members from Scotch Grove incase they would be interested as their church closed.

SPIRITUAL & PASTORAL CONCERNS/PRAYER REQUEST MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT MSCCLOSING PRAYER 7:07 by Wayne PeachRespectfully submitted, Stacey Takes, Interim Clerk of the Session

June Contributions 2021 $4,815.00

June 2020 $4,206.00

June Expenses 2021 $4,437.59

June 2020 $11,807.77Thank you!

august 2021 newsletter news at first

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