The Steeple

August 2017 First United Presbyterian Church Winterset, Iowa

AUGUST 2017 FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WINTERSET, IA

The mission of the First United Presbyterian Church is to make disciples of all people for the glory of God through teaching, caring and worshiping.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare

and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

As we come again to August, we have reason to think back upon the past two years. It

was in August of 2015 that our pastor, Jim Howland, announced his intention to leave

our church and explore new opportunities for himself that were at that time unknown to

him. In his last sermon preached at our church, he used this text. Of course, he was

speaking of his personal trust that God had plans for his life and would provide for his

future. However, this passage and his sermon also has had great prescience for our

congregation.

When an individual or a congregation is in the middle of uncertainty, and perhaps a bit

of fear and anxiety, it is difficult to see the hand of God at work or to trust that God

holds our future and that future is filled with hope. Certainly there was reason for

uncertainty and anxiety in August of 2015. It seemed that our church was going the way

of other mainline protestant churches in smaller towns. Our congregation was aging.

We had no young families; we had no Sunday school for the children and youth. Our

financial situation was serious. We had been taking from our savings to pay our pastor

and bills so much, that at the rate we were going, only a couple of years would be needed

to totally exhaust our savings. We had no working committees on our Session and no

persons outside of the Session were stepping forward with plans and ideas. Two or three

people assisted Jim in handling the issues of the church. Indeed, it did seem a bit

hopeless and the only thought that seemed to bring encouragement was the dream that

somehow a new pastor could be found who would revitalize our church.

Although our path as a church through the past two years has not always been smooth or

without a bit of disagreement or even conflict, a comparison of where we stand today as

a church is an amazing glimpse of the Spirit at work in this congregation bringing us

truly a future with hope. We have just the right people, in the right places, willing to

work together and positively to create a new future. We have been blessed to have the

continuity of the Rev. Don Elly leading us in worship once a month and the leadership

and direction of the Rev. Dave Endriss moderating our Session. We have an amazing

group of people leading worship as liturgists, and in proclaiming the Word through our

Sunday message. We have a choir and the beginnings of the children’s bell choir.

All of this is volunteered as the Spirit calls people to use their gifts. The organ has returned to play

and be enjoyed every Sunday. We have had the most well attended and inspirational Holy Week

services, in cooperation with the Lutheran church that we have ever had in recent memory.

Worship has been often traditional, but has also included hymn sings, drama and outdoor worship.

We now have a graded and well attended Sunday school. This year we had our first Vacation Bible

School in several years and over thirty people attended. We also have had a well-attended Spring

Retreat for the past two years. Activities abound, imagined and brought to life through the gifts and

work of many congregation members. We have had carnivals, hayrack rides, pie judging, and a

New Year’s Eve party, to name a few activities. People in the community have noticed that First

United Presbyterian Church is an active church. One frequently hears: “You have a lot going on

over there.” Our Presbyterian Women’s group found new life and has recently been more

successful in raising money through their mission efforts than they have been for many years.

Finally, we have several young families who have united with our church and shared their talents

and gifts along with church members who have been here for years. Yes, when we look back, we

see that the Lord has held us and guided us and provided for us. We have been given a future with

hope. Yes, the Holy Spirit is more than alive today at Winterset First United Presbyterian Church.

The search for a new pastor goes on and our PNC is working extremely hard to find the right person

that God has prepared or is preparing to lead our congregation further into the future. They have

determined to look until the right person is found. There are many smaller congregations, such as

ours, who are less fortunate than we, who are on life support or even in the hospice stage of their

congregational life. These churches may benefit from a pastor whose gifts are to give comfort as the

church continues to grow smaller. When prospective pastors look at serving a smaller congregation

in a smaller town, they may expect to find such a discouraging situation. Our church is different. It

is alive in the Spirit and growing in its witness. It is seeking the forward looking Pastor who will

share in our journey. Two years seems a long time, but God calls us to continue trusting in his care

and provision. God has plans for First United Presbyterian Church and that is for a future of hope.

We have only to keep the faith and maintain our trust in God’s provision.

THE WORSHIP TEAM

Hands to God 6 p.m.

Tuesday, August 8th

MADONNA CIRCLE Taking a summer break, see you in

September!

No meeting during the summer! See you in

September!

WOMEN GROUPS

Hands to God Hands to God is not a Bible study group. We are a group of people who enjoy working on projects usually crafts. We have a devotional book that we read a message from at each meeting. Hands to God also organizes the Holiday Hop Bazaar which will be held on Saturday, November 18 this year.

Madonna Circle The Madonna Circle will start meeting again in September, and always meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. We are about to finish up our current study, Embracing Your Strengths by Margaret Feinberg. This is part of a series of devotional books that we purchased at the Women of Faith Conference. Looking ahead….at our November meeting we will organize and decorate the sanctuary for Thanksgiving. We again will be involved in the help of the Holiday Hop Bazaar. The members of the Madonna Circle extend an invitation to all women of the church to join us for our lessons. We are sure to have interesting discussions, eat great food, and have wonderful fellowship.

Evening Guild

Evening Guild will resume monthly meetings on Sept 6th at 5pm in the church fellowship hall. We will be following the lessons Horizon Magazine and “These Days: Daily Devotions for Living by Faith” Daily Journal. Anyone is welcome! We will be working on gifts for the PW Gift Box for History Tours.

PW WOMEN The Presbyterian Women’s Group is open to all women in the church. They provide and assist in many of the events and activities of the church: the Samaritan Purse, Hop Holiday Bazaar, May Breakfast, to name a few. The group’s mission is to glorify God in all we do within the church and community.

These groups have been a major part of the ministry here at First United Presbyterian Church!

Just watch them as they pull together and accomplish great things!

Thank you for your faithfulness in God’s work!

Reminder Regarding Announcemets To ensure that all can hear and be given a fair amount of time for the announcements, please submit your announcements to the church office, in person or by email, no later than Wednesday, email address: churchsecretary3261@gmail.com.

Your announcement will then be given to the worship leader for the following Sunday. If you are unable to submit your announcement to the church by Wednesday, the deadline, you may give your written announcement to the worship leader before the start of the morning worship service. Thank You

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS &

ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays

Anniversaries

May God’s joy and peace be with you.

8/5 Carli Macumber

8/14 JoAnn Collins

8/16 Derek Silverthorn

8/20 Ellie Pashek

8/22 Gail Leeper

8/30 Carol Jacobs

8/1 Kevin & Rae de Regnier

8/2 Jack & Wendy Sawyer

8/3 Mike & Chery White

8/6 Paul & Cathy Bruett

8/11 Kevin & Teri Clemens

8/16 Bryce & Gentry Landers

8/18 Dean & Kit Schantz

8/23 Myron & Kristie Hirschman

8/28 Eric & Susan Hollen

8/29 Mike & Pat Dickerson

PICTURES: The Steeple is in need of pictures of every church activity and event. If you have a cell phone, take a few pictures and send them to churchsecretary3261@gmail.com. ARTICLES AND UPDATES: Attention: People that like to write. Your written items are needed for the Steeple! It can be a poem, short devotional, recipes, etc. Turn them into the church by the 21st of the month. You can submit a written or typed article, or fax to 515-462-1562, or email to churchsecretary3261@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN SERVICE TO PEOPLE

CRISP is collecting money for back to school supplies. The average cost of school supplies per student is over $100.00. CRISP can buy in bulk and for $35.00 can supply a child with a backpack full of the school supplies required for the child’s grade level. Please consider helping this year. We will continue to collect money for the month of August. Make your checks out to CRISP and place them in the offering plate. Thank you!

YOU ARE NEEDED!

Your unfailing love is better than

life itself; how I praise you!

Psalm 63:3 (NLT)

REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVE

Let us keep the men and women who are

currently serving our nation in the Middle East

in our prayers.

We give thanks to God and rejoice for the

safe return of all the men and women from the

Winterset area who have faithfully served.

If you are aware of someone serving our nation in the armed forces and would like to

add their name, please contact the church

office at 462-3261.

THE PRAYER & PRAISE PAGE

EXTENDED COMMUNION

PRAYER AND PRAISE!

PRAYER REQUESTS

ATTENTION: If you have prayer requests you can now call the church office at 462-3261 or email wfupcprayer@gmail.com. This site will be checked twice a day and prayer requests will be forwarded to the church membership.

PRAISE This is an opportunity for anyone to submit to the Steeple before the deadline (21st of each month), a prayer that has been answered or a praise of what God has done for you recently. Please send your article to the church office at churchsecretary3261@gmail.com, or bring it by the church office during office hours (Tues-Fri., 8:00-1:00 p.m. or see calendar for summer hours)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparabley great power for us who believe. Eph 1:18,19 (NIV)

PRAISES!

Prayer is. . . 1. The first step to knowing Jesus Christ 2. Recognizing the presence of God 3. Man’s means to know God intimately 4. The laying hold of God’s promise 5. The soul on its knees 6. The path to strength and peace 7. Man’s means to touch God 8. God’s gift of power 9. Giving God access to our need 10. The key to the miraculous 11. The very breath of spirit

Please lift the following people in prayer this month: 8/1 Ellie Pashek

8/2 Hunter Pashek

8/3 Shane Pashek

8/4 Taylor Pashek

8/5 Hannah Puderbaugh

8/6 Sheryl Puderbaugh

8/7 Larry Raney

8/8 Nancy Raney

8/9 Ruth Reed

8/10 Judy Robey

8/11 Amanda Ryner

8/12 Dan Ryner

8/13 Lori Ryner

8/14 Jack Sawyer

8/15 Jackson Sawyer

8/16 Wendy Sawyer

8/17 Dean Schantz

8/18 Kit Schantz

8/19 Derek Silverthorn

8/20 Larry Silverthorn

8/21 Laura Silverthorn

8/22 Tyler Silverthorn

8/23 Mark Smith

8/24 Mavin Smith

8/25 Nicole Smith

8/26 Rush Smith

8/27 Don Stanley

8/28 Kay Stanley

8/29 Thelma Stevens

8/30 Keith Tucker

8/31 Ethel Lee Osborn Tucker

GOOD WORD OF MOUTH!

WOW!!! “Our own LEXI WILCOX (Fleming)

was in a beauty pageant! A beautiful girl and a beautiful smile!”

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR FAIR WINNERS!

HISTORY TOURS OF THE CHURCH

The Church History Committee is supporting efforts to develop a standardized church tour of our church and its history. This includes participating Saturday in the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival. The committee members will provide standardize church tour at 10:30 am and 2:30 PM. The tours are projected to last an hour and end with a 15 minute organ recital of film soundtracks (including Phantom of the Opera). We are currently developing key points about the building, window, organ, and history. We welcome any ideas or thoughts to add to the tour scripts. We also would like to train 4-6 people to provide the tour process. If you would like to know more please contact Connie Banks or Pam Deichmann

CROP stands for “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty” under the guidance of Church World Services. Our Madison County community resurrected the CROP Walk ten years ago under the leadership of Linda Armstrong (First Christian Church). Volunteers from area churches began meeting in June of each year to discuss past walks and to plan the “last Sunday of September” event. Each county church pastor receives a letter encouraging their participation, and typically 5-10 church congregations get involved. There is a traveling trophy for the church that raises the most money, and another award for the church that contributes the most canned goods. Please consider helping with CROP Walk in 2017, as it’s a wonderful display of church fellowship and cooperation. You can be a church representative, or sign up to raise funds, or be a walker, or bring canned goods, or bake cookies; just to name a few things. There IS a job for everyone, so don’t be shy!! Thank you for your continued support!

HISTORY TOUR FOR

CHURCH MEMBERS!

The History Committee will be providing

church history tours in September to church members. Short tours will be

offered following church services. Everyone is welcome! The tours will last

a half hour and share key points about our local history, the building, the

uniqueness of our pipe organ, or the history of our rose window. Tours are

scheduled Sept 10th, and Sept 17th

In the narthex following church services. Plan today to learn more about your local

Presbyterian Heritage!

Breakfast will be hot and ready,

starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings!

September 10th

SUNDAY SCHOOL

IS STARTING!

SEPTEMBER 10TH

9:00 A.M.

Would you like to be part of ministering to others? You can volunteer to teach, or help a teacher, flexible times: for a Sunday, couple of Sundays or month! If you are interested in teaching, helping with supplies and activities, or have ideas, contact Pat Dickerson at 468-2066.

BUILDING USE

If you want to use any of the church facilities,

please fill out a building use form for your

event. This excludes any church planned

activities or events. As a member there is no

fee. There is a courtesy cleaning fee ($35.00)

required and is to be paid directly to the

custodian, Steve Walker.

SAVE THE DATE! SWEDISH DINNER GALA

Presbyterian Women will be hosting a fall fundraiser “Swedish Dinner Gala”. The

dinner theater will be on Saturday, September 16, 2017

at 5:30 PM. Our own Judy Robey will be overseeing

the Swedish Dinner menu. Fun for all! Watch for updates!

STEWARD’S TRAINING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TRAINING

October 22nd at 12:15 p.m.

This is a training that is open for everyone who wants to attend. It is mandatory for the Session, teachers, volunteers and all that work with children.

There is no charge for this training. Lunch will be provided.

BOARD OF ELDERS

Class of 2017

Larry Raney

Pat Dickerson

Kevin de Regnier

Jake Al-Mazroa (Youth Elder)

Class of 2018

Sheryl Puderbaugh

Hal Jackson

Don Stanley

Class of 2019

Laura Silverthorn

Wendy Sawyer

Paul Millhollin

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

SUMMER HOURS! OFFICE DAYS & HOURS

TUES.-FRI.

8:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.

Phone: 515/462-3261

Fax: 515/462-1562

Email: churchsecretary3261@gmail.com

The session meeting for July was postponed and

scheduled for August 8, 2017.

Look forward to hearing from the session in

August and the many issues and events they will

be discussing.

CHURCH STAFF Mike Dickerson, Financial Secretary

Nancy Raney, Financial Secretary Assistant Shane Pashek, Treasurer Steve Walker, Custodian

Chery White, Administrative Assistant

AUGUST USHERS

Hal Jackson & Laura Silverthorn– Ushers

Teams of elders from our church will be taking the sacrament immediately after the service to our homebound members. Homebound members will be contacted during the week before communion is served to ask if they would like to receive communion. The names of those receiving communion at home will be read during the communion service, bringing them into our fellowship around the table. Teams of elders will take the communion elements to the homes, after the service, after previously arranging a convenient time with those being served.

EXTENDED COMMUNION

July, 2017

SAVE A TREE! Would you like to save paper? Maybe even a tree?

You just need to provide an email address and the

Steeple will be sent to you via email.

Call the church office at 462-3261 or email

churchsecretary3261@gmail.com.

OUR WEBSITE

Visit our website at www.wintersetpresbyterian.org find a

podcast, go to our website and click on the “Resources” tab.

A menu will drop down and you can select “Sermons”. A

new page will open and you can see the available sermons

listed by date. You can also see the focus scripture the

sermon is based on and the sermon where you can listen to

the Prayer for Illumination, the Old and New Testament

readings and the sermon. To title. Just click on the title of

the sermon and listen.

Now you can listen any time and any place you have access

to the web, it even works on a smart phone!

God Is Bigger

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the

remnant of the house of Israel, who have been

upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried

from the womb: even to your old age, I am He,

and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have

made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will

deliver you.

Isaiah 46:3-4

One of the most important verses in the Bible for

linking the Old and New Testaments is 1

Corinthians 10:11a: “Now all these things

happened to [Israel] as examples, and they were

written for our admonition.” The way God cared for

Israel tells us He will care for us.

God birthed the nation of Israel and has carried

and cared for her and will deliver her at the end of

the age. Nothing Israel has experienced will be

more than she is able to bear for those who trust

in the Lord. Likewise, God elected believers in

Christ and called us to Himself. Nothing can

separate us from His love and His divine purpose

to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans

8:28-29, 35-39). When we face difficulties in life,

we can rest assured they will not be stronger than

God’s power to deliver and save us.

If you are experiencing tests or trials, remember

that God is bigger than them all. Nothing will derail

His plans for your eternal destiny.

Matthew Henry Presbyterian Devotional

HOW CAN IT BE?

I am guilty

Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become

These hands are dirty

I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

I've been hiding

Afraid I've let you down, inside I doubt

That You still love me

But in Your eyes there's only grace now

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be

How can it be

Though I fall, You can make me new

From this death I will rise with You

Oh the grace reaching out for me

How can it be

Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be

Deb Kneller teaching the children

the Youth Message July 16

More kitchen help for the bus tour!

So appreciated!

Brian Dickerson helping out in the kitchen with

a smile!

Zach Fleming helping VBS!

Two happy cooks!

Elaine Newton & Pat Dickerson

Many fun activities for the kids!

As many of you are aware, I spent a month in Germany this summer. For the first two weeks of my travels, I

worked as a Steward with the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) at their General Council

meeting in Leipzig, Germany. The WCRC holds a General Council meeting every seven years in different parts

of the world. The Presbyterian Church, USA, as part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism, is a

member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The Moderator and other leaders from General

Assembly of the PCUSA took part in this year’s council meeting, along with around one thousand other

Reformed Christians. All gathered in Leipzig, Germany to discern God’s will through Scripture, in order to

set the World Communion of Reformed Churches’ direction and elect new leadership. This year’s General

Council theme was Living God, Renew and Transform Us, reflecting not only the WCRC’s heritage, but to

center the Council around the God of Life, and challenge participants to renew themselves and the church so

that the world can be transformed. The General Council meeting was held in Germany this year, because as

many of you know, it is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which began with Martin Luther nailing his

ninety-five theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

Working as a steward at the General Council meeting had its rewards and challenges. There were seventy-five

of us, (35 from Germany and 35 from other countries around the world) often working from early in the

morning to late into the night. A good night’s rest became a luxury that few of us could afford, and the meaning

of which many of us forgot. I primarily worked in the printing room. My team was responsible for printing out

tens of thousands of pages of documents in six different languages. With only two printers (which we lovingly

named Lefty and Righty), there was a lot of pressure to fight paper jams and software malfunctions, while still

delivering the documents to the plenary hall on time. It is safe to say, that I am now considered to be an expert

printer, a title that will surely be added to my resume. When I was not in the printing room, I was where I was

at my best, interacting with people. I helped lead delegates through our cultural excursions to Berlin and

Wittenberg, and attended many meetings and receptions.

While stewards worked extremely hard and were not always appreciated, I do not regret my experience for one

second. It was amazing to meet so many different people, from so many different countries and cultures, which

were united under one faith and one mission. To see very different people come together to discuss and worship

was an incredible sight. It would be impossible in this brief summary to discuss and explain all of the important

actions and decisions of the council. However, I would be amiss not to share the highlight of the council

meeting when we all traveled to Wittenberg, to the place where the Reformation began. There, we members of

the World Council of Reformed Churches met with Methodists and Roman Catholics and all signed the

“Wittenberg Witness” in which these denominations within the Christian Church vowed to work together to

share the love of Christ in all parts of the world.. It was the ecumenism of the Council meeting that struck me

the most. I could see that Christ is being shared and represented through our missions throughout the world and

that every church and culture has a unique part in sharing of the Gospel and love of Christ. I would not trade

this experience or friendships that I made for anything.

HANNAH PUDERBAUGH

AUGUST 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Fellowship

OFFICE HRS: 8:00AM-1:00PM

6:00 p.m. Hands to God

7:00 p.m. Session Meeting

OFFICE HRS: 8:00AM-1:00PM SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETING 7PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00AM-1:00PM

7:00 P.M. Property & Finance Meeting

OFFICE HRS: 8:00AM-1:00PM

JUGS

2:00-8:00PM

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Fellowship

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

MINI-JUGS 10:00-4:00PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Fellowship

OFFICE HRS: 8:00AM-1:00PM WeeLearners Mtg. 5:30-8pm

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

SCHOOL STARTS

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

MINI-JUGS 10:00-4:00PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM STEEPLE DEADLINE

Calendar dates for June due

27 28 29 30 31 21th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Fellowship

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

OFFICE HRS: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM WeeLearners Mtg. 5:30-8pm

MINI-JUGS 10:00-4:00PM

First United Presbyterian Church

210 W. Green Street

Winterset, Iowa 50273

Phone: 515-462-3261

Churchsecretary3261@gmail.com

www.wintersetpresbyterian.org

MAY 2017

OUR SUMMER WORSHIP HOURS

Worship Service – 9:00 a.m.