FIRST PRESS The monthly newsletter of Estherville

First Presbyterian Church

October 2015

EDU-WORSHIP

We have kicked off our new and exciting event Edu-Worship. This event takes place every Wednesday from 5:45pm-6:45pm. Edu-Worship is a combination of worship and education for everyone; from the young to the elderly.

In this issue…

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Celebrations at First Presbyterian Church!

Committee Happenings

By the Numbers

October Calendar

Did you know you can make automatic contributions to the church? Never worry about writing a check or missing the offering plate! Go to www.esthervillepresbyterian.com and click on “make a donation” to give a one-time gift or to set

up regular contributions.

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Something to celebrate at First Presbyterian Church If you have something to celebrate, let us know so we can share it with

our family of faith in next month’s newsletter!

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Anniversary Congratulations 1- Ed & Jolene Greving 5- Brent & Cheryl Baddeley 21- Walt & Lois Jensen 22- David & Jeanne Egeland 23- Roy (Skip) & Diana Clabaugh 25- Bob & Sandy Kemper 28- Vernon & Vera Origer

   

     

Worship at

10:30am Sundays

Edu-Worship at 5:45pm Wednesdays

Way to Go…  *Lori Donovan on the first brick painting. Thank you for your willingness to paint. You did an excellent job! *Deacons for caring for families in need of support in September.  * Committees of the church for all your hard work throughout the year. * Congregation for providing the Emmet County Food Bank with many goods to replenish their shelves.

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Birthday Wishes 2- Ruth Sunde 3- Jayke Stokes 4- Virginia Moore 8- Morgan Dalen 8- Devon Titus 9- Ralph Evans 9- John Blagg 10- Merle Johnson 10- George Shadle 11- Eric Poole 14- Alan Robinson 17-Chelsey Moffitt 22- Lee Moore 25- Austin Strenge 25- James Bishop 26- Becky Olk 27- Dave Johnson 27- Luke Kollasch 28- Leo Zinnel 30- Matt Moffitt 31- Emmanuel Sabwa      

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Committee Happenings Building & Grounds – The Building and Grounds committee met and decided to do some general maintenance around the church. The committee is happy to announce that the tuck pointing project is complete. The repairs needed from storm damage to the church have been completed. The next meeting will be October 11th at 11:30am following worship. -Julie Graves, Chairperson

Christian Education –The CE committee met and set a deadline for registering for the 2016 Mission Trip to The Robin’s Nest in Jamaica. All paperwork and deposit for the trip is due to the church office by 1:00pm on October 15th. There will also be a Mission Trip fundraising meeting for all those who are planning on attending the mission trip; the meeting will be on Wednesday, October 14th at 6:45pm. The committee decided that they would provide a snack for Edu-Worship. The next meeting will be Monday, October 12th at 5:00pm. -Katie Hanson, Chairperson

Congregational Life/ Outreach – The CL/O committee looks forward to the upcoming fall and is always pursuing new ideas for fellowship events for our congregation. We have received the draft from the pictorial directory to proof. We hope to complete this at our next meeting. We will continue our Second Sunday snacks before our 10:30 worship service. We will be having our monthly potluck, “Last Sunday Lunch,” beginning in October. Thanks to all my great committee members for their hard work! We are always looking for new faces on our committee; contact me if you are interested. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 13th at 5:45pm. -Evy Strenge, Chairperson

Deacons – The next meeting will be Monday, October 12th at 6:30PM. -Pat Johnson, Moderator

Finance –The Finance committee has reviewed various statements prepared by Teresa Dalen and income is still behind budget. Expenses are in line with the budget this month. The tuck pointing has been completed and the funds for the bill have been made available from the endowment. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 8th at 5:30PM. -Brian Bixby, Chairperson

Generosity Team –The Generosity Team organized the effort to host the meal for the July stated meeting of Prospect Hill Presbytery. A free-will offering for the meal covered expenses and raised an additional $276.40, which the team has decided to give to the Mission Trip fund. The committee launched a new monthly mission, “Meet the Need,” which will involve a new mission project each month. The committee began discussing its hopes and plans for this year’s Generosity Sunday. The date was set for November 15th. The next meeting will be Monday, October 5th, at 6:30PM.-Lisa Hermanson, Co-Chairperson

Presbyterian Women – The nursing home activities were held in September and I want thank the Shadle Circle and PW Board for hosting these activities. The Shadle Circle will meet Thursday, October 15th at 9:30AM. Following Circle the PW general business meeting will take place. The Spiritual Bazaar offering will be received and dedicated at this time. The Sewing/Quilting group will meet Monday, October 26th at 1:00PM in the lower educational wing of the church. The Rosewood Manor kept 6 lap robes and 23 were taken to Good Sam. This is one of our local missions. The next PW Board meeting will be held Wednesday, October 28th at 10:00am. -Mary Clabaugh, PW Moderator Personnel – No notes. - Lowell Swalve, Chairperson

Worship –The worship committee met on Monday, September 7th. The committee approved of placing the “Meet the Need” table in the sanctuary( a place to hold the monthly mission project items). The committee also discussed at length the upcoming theme that will run from Welcome Back Sunday to the first Sunday of Advent. The theme is “Building.” We will spend three weeks each discussing how we are building who we are, building on where we’ve been, and building with what we have. We will also be building a brick wall feature that will get added onto each Sunday. Each Sunday will have a painter who will paint something on that section’s bricks that represents that day’s theme. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 5th at 5:30PM. Kennen Barber-Ensz on behalf of Paul Moffitt, Chairperson

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By the numbers… Average Worship Attendance August 2013 – 87 August 2014 – 76 August 2015 – 73 Pastors’ Stats Presbytery meetings – 6 Visits - 16 Home Communion was served on September 6th by the pastors and Deacons Elaine Kaltved and Evy Strenge.

Would you appreciate a visit from one of the pastors or your deacon? Schedule a visit by calling the church office or through our website! www.esthervillepresbyterian.com - 712-362-4772

General Budget 2015 General Budget - $169,274.06 Budgeted Giving as of 09/22 - $123,700.27 Actual Giving as of 09/22 - $87,477.13 Roof Fund 2015 Roof Fund Goal - $25,000.00 Received as of 09/22- $12,166.39

Let’s meet up for dinner, conversation, and a devotion! Ladies Night Out will be held on the first Thursday of every month at 6:00PM. October’s Ladies Night Out will be Thursday, October 1st, at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant.

It’s time to decorate the church for fall. If you have any pumpkins, gourds, & squash in all different shapes, sizes and colors, please have them to the church by Thursday, October 15th.

The 2016 Mission Trip Registration Deadline is set for Thursday, October 15th at 1:00pm. Paperwork and deposit $100/person or $150/family are due to Katie in the office by 1:00pm on the 15th. If you are in need of paperwork please contact Katie in the office at 362-4772 or Katie@esthervillepresbyterian.com

There will be a Mission Trip Fundraising meeting on October 14th at 6:45pm for all mission trip participants. As a group we will be coming up with fundraising options and ideas to help cover cost of the mission trop for participants.

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723 First Avenue S. Estherville, IA 51334 712-362-4772 www.esthervillepresbyterian.com

YOUR LEADERS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH Ruling Elders – Brian Bixby, Beth Carrico, Lori Donovan, Julia Graves (Clerk of Session), Katie Hanson, Lisa Hermanson, John Klingbeil, Emily Origer, Bobbi Jo Ruschy, Kevin Sander, Lowell Swalve,

Deacons – Pat Johnson (Moderator), Janet Anderson, Mavis Evans, Jan Greig, Elaine Kaltved, Cheryl Klingbeil, Paul Moffitt, Heidi Origer, Lavonne Ruschy, Evy Strenge, Diane Swalve, Georgia Whitehouse.

Building & Grounds – Julie Graves (Chair), Aaron Ruschy, Jack Bixby, Walt Jensen, Larry Harsin, Kevin Strenge, Carl Ruschy.

Christian Education – Katie Hanson (Chair), Liz Bixby, Natalie Brown, Bobbi Jo Ruschy

Congregational Life/Outreach – Evy Strenge (Chair), Jolene Greving, Sandy Harsin, Paul Moffitt, Shirley Moffitt, Chelsey Moffitt, Dawn Ruschy

Finance – Brian Bixby (Chair), Shirley Moffitt, George Shadle, Lavonne Ruschy

Generosity Team – Beth Carrico (Co-Chair), Lisa Hermanson (Co-Chair), Janet Anderson, Judy Bixby, John Klingbeil, Kevin Sander, Diane Swalve, Craig White

Personnel – Lowell Swalve (Chair), Shirley Moffitt, Aaron Ruschy

Presbyterian Women – Mary Clabaugh, Moderator; Sandy Harsin, Treasurer; Shirley Moffitt, Secretary

Prayer Chain - Belva Henrickson, Marilyn Syverson, Velma White, Jean Wiant, Dee Zinnel

Worship – Paul Moffitt (Chair), Paula Beaver, Lori Donovan, Evy Strenge

Pastors and Staff – Chad Ensz, Pastor; Kennen Barber-Ensz, Pastor; Katie Hanson, Administrative Assistant; Andrew Thelen, Organist & Choir Director; Teresa Dalen, Treasurer; Craig Kesler, Custodian

First Presbyterian Church