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To Make a Weekly/Monthly Offering | |
This Week at First Presbyterian Church
of Willmar
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Preparing for the
Sixth Sunday of Easter
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Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21:10; 22--22:5
John 14:23-29
Choose a word or phrase that especially grabs your attention. Pray from that word or phrase and ask God to help you connect to its particular invitation for you this week.
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Good Morning!!
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR:
Tuesday, May 20th:
10:00am: Staff Meeting in the Admin Office and Chair Yoga in JKH
4:00pm: Zoom Book Study
Wednesday, May 21st:
8:00am: Women's Bible Study in the Friendship Room
5:30pm: Awards Dinner for Children and Youth and their families, and Volunteers
Thursday, May 22nd:
10:00am: Chair Yoga in JKH
6:30pm: Session in the Friendship Room
Friday, May 23rd:
5:30pm-7:00pm: Willmar Community Closet Shopping and Drop Off Night
Sunday, May 25th:
9:00am: Adult Ed in the Friendship Room
10:00am: Sunday Worship
11:00am: Fellowship in JKH
Monday, May 26th:
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY
OFFICE CLOSED
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I will be at church every Tuesday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. I am making myself at home in the pastor's old office. Please feel free to stop by (We do have a staff meeting from 10:00 - 10:45). You can reach me other times on my cell phone at 320-815-8158 or my email: kterp101@yahoo.com
Here is a thought for the week:
Did you know that if you put 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar nothing will happen? But if you shake the jar hard the ants start killing each other. The red ants consider the back ants their enemies and the black ants consider the red ants their enemies. The true enemy is the one shaking the jar. The same thing happens in human society. So before we attach each other we should think about who is shaking the jar. Kurt Vonnegut
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Sunday's Online Worship Service
May 18th, 2025
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Darcy Forkrud is had a surgery recently and is asking the congregation to help out with meals for her for a few weeks after to make things easier. There is a link below to sign up and help!
Contact information for Darcy:
320-905-0936
| | For those of you that use our church nursery on Sunday mornings, there will be no nursery attendant on staff during the months of May through August. Please feel free to use the nursery during these summer months. The worship audio will be running in the nursery during the service for your convenience. Parents should stay with their children while in the nursery. | | | Please have any announcement needed to be put in the bulletin or the weekly voice to Shara in the office the week before it is wanted to be shared with the congregation! Thank you! | | |
APRIL OPERATING STATEMENT REPORT:
Receipts through April
$94,992
Expenses through April
$103,906
Expenses in Excess of Revenue
$8,914
Building Fund balance on hand
$114,953
Balance Due on the Internal Loan for 2022 Roof Replacement and 2023 Parking Lot
$64,266
2025 Per Capita is $46 per confirmed member. Please pay as you are able. We appreciate receiving per capita as early in year as possible, but welcome payments throughout the year.
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Prayer Corner
Keeping you in the loop
with the most updated prayer needs
Prayers for Healing & Comfort:
Will Martin - Connor Gabbert's Grandpa
Vicki Carver
Bea Ourada
Andy Sjerven (Sheila Sjerven’s Stepson)
Bev Skare
George Ruter
Jill Berglund (Mary Berglund’s Daughter)
Prayers for those Grieving:
The Family of George Luther (Trevor Luther’s Grandfather)
Prayers for the Church Here and Abroad:
The People of Occidente Presbytery, Guatemala;
Mark and Miriam Adams, Frontero de Cristo, Douglas, AZ.
Bdecan Presbyterian Church, Spirit Lake Reservation, ND
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Prayers for those Serving Elsewhere:
Robert Holmquist, Navy Seal, being deployed (Rita Phillip's Great Nephew)
LT. Matthew Sjerven, Colorado National Guard, Colorado Springs, CO
Tristian Woitaszewski (Terry Woitaszewski’s Nephew) Navy, Pensacola, FL
Perry Bishop (Bruce and Pam Quimby’s Grandson-in-law) Army, Fort Benning, GA
Rob Grunwald, Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Station/Saginaw River in Essexville, Michigan
Peter Rampaart, Rosemount, MN
Also be in Prayers for:
California wildfire areas
Israel/Palestine (war)
Ukraine War
Conflict in Syria
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Sixth Sunday of Easter Scripture,
Reflection, Response, and Prayer
Scripture:
John 5
Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, " My Father is still working, and I also am working." For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
(vv. 16-18)
Reflection:
The Jews in this story are not Jesus enemies because they are Jewish but because they reject Jesus. They are most likely the Jewish leadership who Jesus challenges. They make Jesus their enemy because he threatens their power, authority, indeed their very perception of reality. The defense of the Sabbath law is the defense of the entire system of ordering life and religious practices. It is the defense of a particular understanding of God and how God belongs in human experience, and of membership in a religious community. The Jews have too much to lose (and, therefore , too much to defend) if Jesus is allowed to define God’s presence in the world, so they choose to eliminate Jesus as a threat. The religious authorities with the power, close ranks rather than admit the possibility of a new way.
Response:
When are times when your beliefs have been challenged?
How have you responded?
Are their times when your faith and beliefs grown because they were challenged?
Prayer:
Most Holy Lord, help me to always be open to the new ways
that you are working in the world. Amen.
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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS
FURTHER CONNNECTION
Knowing the risk of giving, now try the even greater risk of receiving. Learn to be a generous receiver. Somebody wants to love you; think of that. Let down the barriers, open the doors, remove the inhibitions, let him in. Somebody less worthy of you wants you to accept him or her. Try it. Open your hand to receive what someone else is prepared to give you. The old spiritual fathers used to say that we get so little from God because we are prepared to accept so little from God. Open your hands, and open your hearts to the abundance that is waiting to fill them both.
PETER J. GOMES (1942-2011)
STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
MAKING THE CONNECTIONS
Choose one or two questions for reflection:
- What connections have you noticed between this week's texts and other passages in Scripture?
- What connections have you made between this week's texts and the world beyond Scripture?
- What is God saying to your congregation in particular through this week's readings and commentaries?
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SABBATH DAY
SCRIPTURE OF ASSURANCE
He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.
(Acts 8:30b-31)
WEEKLY EXAMEN
- Take a quiet moment, seek out God's presence, and pray for the guidance of the Spirit.
- Consider the past week; recall specific moments and feelings that stand out to you.
- Choose one moment or feeling for deeper examination, thanksgiving, or repentance.
- Let go, breathe deeply, and invite Christ's love to surround and fill you in preparation for the week ahead.
- End with the Lord's Prayer.
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This week we name and celebrate folks in our congregation who are celebrating birthdays from May 19th through May 26th,
and we offer them a blessing.
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Caring Hearts Fund
As a Church known for being “a church with heart in the heart of Willmar,” we often have individuals and families walking in asking for help with food, gas money, shelter, or other incidentals. Many of us take for granted that we will have gas in our tanks to get to a medical appointment or work. We could find it in our family budget to purchase a warm coat, or a bus ticket to visit a family member who is ill. We don’t wonder if we will have a place to sleep when it’s pouring rain or bitter cold outside. Our pastors offer the hospitality of a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and prayer. When possible, they help connect these folks to resources in the community that can help meet their needs. When there aren’t other options available, they do their best to help in the small ways that resources allow. That is why we have a fund called the Caring Hearts Fund. This fund provides the pastors with funds that can be used, at their discretion, to respond to the needs of our neighbors. May is the month that our mission offering goes to this Caring Hearts Fund. Please consider supporting this important ministry to our community.
| | Other Church Announcements | | To Subscribe to the Frontera de Cristo Newsletter click the link below and check out their homepage! | | To Subscribe to the Family Promise Newsletter click the link below and check out their homepage! | | FROM PRESBYTERY OF MINNESOTA VALLEYS | | |
Class of 2025
Maddie Douglas - Willmar Graduate
Open House Information
Sunday, May 25, 2025 from 2-5:00 p.m.
at the Douglas residence
5598 1st Street N
Willmar, MN. 56201
Future plans:
Attend Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in Marshall, Minnesota
Major: English
Minor: Art
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It may seem like a small act, but collecting pop can tabs can make a big difference in the lives of others. In fact, since its founding, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Twin Cities/Duluth chapters have raised over $800,000 to help cover program costs for families on the road, and staying at RMHC houses while their child receives medical care, by collecting tabs to be recycled. Many of these families travel from out of town or out of state, in some cases. So, we have decided to go on this journey with them as part of “Road Trip” VBS 2025.
There will be a large Ronald McDonald House in the Narthex from March 2 through the conclusion of VBS activities on June 29. Please begin saving pop tabs now as we help our VBS “Travelers” make a difference. All VBS families will receive a RMHC pop tab bank to collect tabs in, and then return them on June 29 as we celebrate the end of “Road Trip” VBS!
In addition to collecting pop tabs, we are inviting “Road Trip Travelers” to bring in much needed supplies for RMHC houses. Below is a list of items for VBS families to choose from, and anyone else who would like to contribute. Please bring in your items during VBS, June 22-25.
- puzzles
- balls and outdoor games
- stuffed animals/dolls
- canned goods
- paper towels
- toilet paper
- trash bags
- aluminum foil
- laundry detergent/fabric softener
- dishwasher detergent
- toothpaste/toothbrush
- deodorant
- shampoo/conditioner
| | “Road Trip” VBS 2025 letters and forms have been sent out. Parents, please complete your child’s form and return it to the church office soon so that we can begin to build Traveler groups. Remember, there are no fees to participate, and we would love it if your child would bring a friend. | | |
Youth Led Worship
May 18, 2025
| | For more pictures go to the church website | |
WE NEED YOUR CROCHETING
AND KNITTING TALENTS!!
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We are looking for individuals that are skilled in crocheting and knitting. If that is you, we would love you to help us make our church pocket prayer shawls. All the details are in the PDF button!
Thank you in advance!!
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We, at First Presbyterian Church, hope you have a wonderful week. If you have any prayer requests, please click on the "Prayer Request" button at the top and let us know!!
Sincerely,
First Presbyterian Church
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First Presbyterian Church
(320) 235-1263
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