(641) 424 - 4273
June 5, 2017
Vol. 57 No. 10
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
THE PULSE
CLASSES FOR ALL AGES - 9:00 A.M.
SUNDAY WORSHIP - 10:30 A.M.
www.firstpresbymc.com
A Note from Pastor Paul
(This is a preview of a longer essay I am working on, about the
theological and moral basis of combatting global warming
and climate change.)
On Sunday we celebrated the day of Pentecost, when the
Holy Spirit of God was poured out in a powerful way, with
rushing wind and tongues of fire. With Pentecost we celebrate the breaking
down of barriers between strangers as the proclamation of the power of God
is understood in multiple languages.
But too often we restrict the scope of the Holy Spirit to the human sphere.
We fail to see that the Holy Spirit is poured out not only on those assembled
few in Jerusalem, and not only on the Christian church, but on all of creation.
As our forebear in the faith, John Calvin, reminds us: “For it is the Spirit who,
everywhere diffused, sustains all things, causes them to grow, and quickens
them in heaven and earth . . . transfusing into all things his energy, and
breathing into them essence, life, and movement.” (Institutes, 1.13.14)
And if the Holy Spirit is present in all of creation, what does that say about
how we relate to the world? Does it not imply a relationship of communion
rather than domination and exploitation? A more recent Reformed
theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, expounds that idea, writing: “If the Holy Spirit
is ‘poured out’ on the whole creation, then he creates the community of all
created things with God and with each other, making it that fellowship of
creation in which all created things communicate with each other and with
God.” (God in Creation, 11)
For centuries, faithful Christians in the Reformed tradition have
understood this relationship with creation as the theological basis for
stewardship of the earth and its resources. For decades, Presbyterians have
been working with leaders in science, technology, industry, politics as well as
theology and ethics, toward what we call “eco-justice”: ecological health and
wholeness together with social and economic justice. “The vision of
eco-justice . . . lifts up and affirms the church’s longstanding commitment to
justice and peace and adds a major new insight for our time: that justice and
peace among human beings are inseparable from right relationships with and
within the natural order.” (“Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice,” A
Report by the 202nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA),
1990) And our faith also teaches us that those who have power and wealth
have a moral commitment to consider how their actions affect those who are
poor and powerless, and to work cooperatively with the entire global
community on issues that affect their well-being.
(Continued on page 2)
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, JUNE 7
Bible Study—10:20 am
Dinner and guest speaker—6:00 pm
Saturday, JUNE 10
Eat, Pray, Love Group—9:00 am
Sunday, JUNE 11
Worship—10:30 am
Garden Gathering Meeting—11:30 am
Tuesday, JUNE 13
Coffee and Conversation—9:00 am
Wednesday, JUNE 14
Bible Study—10:20 am
Thursday, JUNE 15
Deacons—7:00 pm
Sunday, JUNE 18—Father’s Day
Worship—10:30 am
Tuesday, JUNE 20
Special Needs & Endowment—1:30 pm
Wednesday, JUNE 21
Bible Study—10:20 am
Thursday, JUNE 22
Session—7:00 pm
Friday, JUNE 24
Eat, Pray, Love Group—9:00 am
Sunday, JUNE 25
Worship—10:30 am
Monday, JUNE 26
Pulse articles due—Noon
Wednesday, JUNE 28
Bible Study—10:20 am
A Note From Pastor Paul
(continued)
That is why the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), the Rev.
Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, says that the recent statement
by President Donald Trump, withdrawing the U. S.
from the Paris climate accord, “is a disappointment
and represents a setback to our work as well as the
work of other interfaith and ecumenical groups.” But
he also affirmed that “we will not be deterred. We will
continue to work toward building an environmentally
safe world, creating jobs and a new economy based on
clean air and building a more environmentally
safe nation and world.”
The growing crises of global warming and climate
change are not just political, economic, or
technological issues—they are moral issues, and
concern us not only as citizens of the world, but also as
people of faith and followers of Jesus Christ.
Mission Co-Worker Visit—June 7
On Wednesday, June 7, we will welcome mission
co-worker Jim McGill to our church home, and hear
about what he and his wife Jodi will be doing when
they return to the mission field later this year. We will
begin with a salad/dessert potluck dinner
at 6:00 pm (grilled chicken will be
provided), followed by a presentation and
discussion with Jim McGill. Jim and Jodi
are one of the mission teams we have
adopted this year, the other being
POTLUCK
Karla Koll in Costa Rica.
Prayer cards for each team are available on the
Mission bulletin board in the narthex. We invite you
to take the cards, pray for our mission co-workers,
and, if you are so moved, send notes of
encouragement and support. We are still accepting
offerings to our Lenten Mission Connection project.
Envelopes are in the pew racks.
Summer Pulpit Exchange
This Summer we will be participating with our sister
churches in North Iowa in a pulpit exchange. On July 9,
we will welcome to our pulpit Catherine Belles, pastor
of Eden Presbyterian in Rudd, and First Presbyterian in
Greene, and Pastor Paul will be preaching at First
Presbyterian, Garner. On July 23, we will welcome
Justin Asche, from the Garner church, and
Pastor Paul will be in Rudd and Greene.
Please keep the following people
in your prayers:
Steve Adair; Julie Eaton,
daughter of Lee and Judy Butler;
Kelly Koenen, daughter of Bob and
Sarah Kress, undergoing treatment; Lucretia Green,
Good Shepherd Care Center; Dick Attleson; Shirley
Opheim, Heritage Care Center; Kay Sloan is at Mercy
west campus; Ruth Dalton has moved from
Heritage Care Center to Good Shepherd Care Center.
June Birthdays
4—Lucretia Green
8—Shelby Helps
12—Donna DePrenger
13—Don Hofstrand
16—Ella Hertzel
20—Yvonne Herlitzka
21—Whitney Mahaffey
29—Bob Lind
A big thank you to the talented ladies of the
Eat, Pray, Love group for making the beautiful
Pentecost banners. They were perfect with the alter
decoration Pastor Paul created. Thank you Sarah Kress
and Teri Elsbury for cutting out the doves, and a special
thank you to Bob Kress and Jerry Stephens for hanging
the doves. Everything together made the service even
more meaningful!
With the love of Jesus Christ, First Presbyterian Church welcomes you just as you are — a child of God.
Garden Gathering
There’s Still
Time to Sign Up
for Camp!
Sunday, June 11—Fellowship Hall
We want to help you get your camper registered.
Information on all the camps being offered,
including activities, dates, and cost,
can be found in the Friendship Room or at
www.lakeshorecenteratokoboji.org.
FPCMC will cover 50% of your student’s cost, and their
friends too! We'd love for your child to experience
this wonderful place and hope you can find the
perfect camp for your youth.
Here are the steps:
1. Find a Camp!
2. Register for Camp either online or at the church
3. Fill out the Health Form
4. Let FPCMC know what camp you're going to
Facebook: Window Scavenger Hunt
Let’s have a little fun this summer!
I’m sure you’ve spent time looking
at the windows in our sanctuary,
but how well do you know them?
Each Sunday morning we’ll be
posting a close-up photo of a window
on our Facebook page. Find it and
then write your name and answer on
one of the slips of paper on the small
table in the narthex to enter for a
prize. We’ll draw a name every
week, so come back each Sunday and
see what you can find.
Thank you to the following
people for helping with
Meals On Wheels the week of
May 29—June 2: Bob Lind,
Gwen Smith, Jill Thoreson,
Fred and Jackie Wendt,
Jerry and Kathy Stephens.
Are you interested in the
plants around the church?
Do you have any ideas or
suggestions for the future?
We’re getting together to chat about topics like these
after worship next Sunday, June 11.
We’ve been blessed to have so many people step up
and serve in this way and we’d love to keep it growing.
Some ideas that have been talked about:
 Missional Raised Bed Gardens
 Courtyard Hosta Planting
 Upkeep of Current Trees & Shrubs
We hope you’ll join us and get your hands dirty!
Wednesday Bible Study Readings
Wednesdays at 10:20 am
What a wonderful way to enjoy Bible
study! Come join us in the Friendship
Room as we look at the upcoming
Sunday scripture. We laugh, share,
and learn about God working in us.
June 7
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8
2 Cor. 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
June 14
Gen. 18:1-15 (21-7); Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23)
June 21
Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39
June 28
Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13
Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42
With the love of Jesus Christ, First Presbyterian Church welcomes you just as you are — a child of God.
Congratulations and
best wishes to
Gene and Nancy Kuehn
who will be celebrating their
60th wedding anniversary
on June 28!
You Are Invited
Jim and Ann Kuhlman would like to
invite you to a joyful double celebration
open house on Sunday, June 18, from
2:00—4:00 pm at Central Gardens of
North Iowa in Clear Lake. It is located on
the corner of 2nd Avenue N. and 8th
Street N. Please join them to
celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first meeting
of Jim and Ann; the program is at 2:30 pm. The
dedication ceremony for the white marble gander
sculpture, “Smiley” the Sentinel, which the Kuhlman’s
purchased for the gardens, will follow at 3:00 pm.
“Smiley” will watch over the gardens in the years to
come. Jim and Ann request no gifts please; just come
and share your memories.
First Presbyterian Church
100 South Pierce Avenue
Mason City, IA 50401
Telephone (641) 424 - 4273
Fax (641) 424 - 6965
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.firstpresbymc.com
Pastor, Paul Collier
Director of Youth & Family Ministry, Nate Ruge
Administrative Secretary, Rhonda Pyle
Office Hours:
Monday - Wednesday 8:00 am—4:30 pm
Thursday 8:00 am—Noon
Church email: [email protected]
Pastor Paul’s email: [email protected]
Nate’s email: [email protected]
MacNider Arts Festival
Join us for the MacNider Arts Festival: Ahoy Art!
this Saturday, June 10, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The Art Market is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Admission is FREE! Plus a free pancake breakfast will
be served from 9:00 am to
10:00 am. Many local artists
will be selling their works in the
Art Market and children can
create works of art with
numerous make-and-take kids’
activities, many at no charge.
Food is available to purchase,
and enjoy live music all day!
More information can be found
at the Museum’s website at
www.macniderart.org.
Prayers For the Churches
The Committee on Ministry invites all
congregations in the Presbytery of North
Central Iowa to be in prayers for one
another throughout the year. We hope
in this way to share the spirit and power
of prayers as we reflect on our oneness in Jesus Christ.
The following are the churches to pray for this month:
June 4—First, Mason City: Rev. Paul Collier
June 11—First, Cedar Falls: Rev. Brad Braley,
Rev. Marian McCart, Parish Associate
June 18—Pray for honorably retired pastors in the
Presbytery of North Central Iowa (not currently
serving churches): Rev. Bruce Baillie, Rev. John Bates,
Rev. Fran Beyea, Rev. Susan Cluts, Rev. Dan Emmert,
Rev. Robert EnTin, Rev. Jerry Evelsizer,
Rev. Richard Harken, Rev. Wesley Harker,
Rev. Neil Mulock, Rev. Jack Mauldin,
Rev. Harold P. Martin, Rev. Larry Mitchell,
Rev. Charles E. Orr, Rev. John Osborn, Rev. Mark Pell,
Rev. Charles Quirk, Rev. Robert Roof,
Rev. LaVern Seth, and Rev. Cathy Young
June 25—First, Greene and Eden, Rudd:
Rev. Catherine Belles
With the love of Jesus Christ, First Presbyterian Church welcomes you just as you are — a child of God.