This Week at First Presbyterian Church
of Willmar
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To Make a Weekly/Monthly Offering | | |
Preparing for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
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Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
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 5th:
8:00am: Men's Bible Study in the Friendship Room
10:00am: Staff Meeting in the Admin Office and Chair Yoga in JKH
4:00pm: Zoom Book Study (Zoom ID:320 235 1263)
6:30pm: Buildings and Grounds in the Narthex
Wednesday, May 6th:
8:00am: Women's Bible Study in the Friendship Room
5:30pm: Wednesday Night Live (Last one until fall)
Thursday, May 7th:
10:00am: Chair Yoga in the Family Cafe and Presbytery COL Meeting in JKH
5:30pm: Music Team in the Sanctuary
Saturday, May 9th:
10:00am: Youth at LuLu Beans
Sunday, May 10th:
9:00am: Adult Education in the Friendship Room and Nurture and Fellowship in the Kitchen
10:00am: Worship
11:00am: Coffee Fellowship in JKH
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Wednesday Night Live Meal
May 6th, 2026
(Last Meal for Regular WNL until Fall)
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Sunday's Online Worship Service
May 3rd, 2026
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Come and join us as we celebrate the children and youth of First Presbyterian Church as they lead us in worship on Sunday, May 17th beginning at 10am. This special service, based on Matthew 7: Verses 24-27 will encourage you to see God as our “Solid Rock”. You will enjoy a delightful children’s message, a song and skit by our Gospel Rock students, an adorable musical poem by our nursery and Rainbow Venture kids, and so much more. You do not want to miss this very special service. We would love it if you would invite a friend or two!
Parents – There is only one remaining Wednesday practice, set for this coming Wednesday, May 6th. Please make every effort to have your child at the church (meal) by 5:30pm. Contact Jill with questions or comments.
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We’re looking for helping hands to bless our church family by providing treats and serving during Fellowship Hour after worship. If you enjoy baking, picking up simple snacks, or offering a warm smile as you serve, we’d love to have you be part of this!
Please sign up at the table in the Narthex, contact Shara in the church office, or by clicking the link below.
| | 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! | | |
MARCH OPERATING STATEMENT REPORT:
Receipts through March
$61,033.74
Expenses through March
$76,936.79
Expenses in Excess of Revenue
$15,903.05
Balance Due on the Internal Loan for 2022 Roof Replacement
and 2023 Parking Lot
$44,295.27
2026 Per Capita is $47 per confirmed member. Please pay as you are able. We appreciate receiving per capita as early in the 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:
Robin Raasch
Gary Hanson (Diann Anderson's Brother)
Thomas Sands
Gertrude Kluver (Bonnie Kluver and Jackie Grothe’s Mother)
Heather Woroniecki (Pastor Scott & Pastor Leanne’s Niece)
Renee Allen
Vicki Carver
Bea Ourada
Andy Sjerven (Sheila Sjerven’s Stepson)
Bev Skare
George Ruter
Prayers For Those Grieving:
Family of James Johnston (Mark Johnston's Father)
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:
-Caleb Woltjer, National Guard, Deployed to Kuwait
-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 Iran
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Sixth Sunday of Easter
Reflection, Response, and Prayer
Scripture:
Psalm 66:8-20
Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip. (vv. 8-9)
Reflection:
Some verses of this psalm are cast in the plural, as if all the members of Israel are at praise, and some verses are cast in the singular, as if the author is offering a personal song of gratitude. This alternation between plural and singular is common in the Psalms, and indeed is a mark of Christian worship, in which the individual and the assembly weave in and out of one another. So it is that if this is a Sunday on which it is difficult for me to praise God, I trust to the rest of the baptized community to carry me along with their song.
GAIL RAMSHAW
Response:
How has it felt for you to praise God, lately? To lament? To pray? What is it like to allow the worship community to praise for you when you cannot praise? To lament for you when you cannot lament? Or to pray for you when you cannot pray?
Prayer:
O God, you listen to the words of my prayers, whether they praise or lament or say nothing much; when I cannot pray, please send your Spirit to pray for me. Amen.
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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS
FURTHER CONNECTION
God doesn't know very much about math, because when you give to others, it should be that you are subtracting from yourself. But in this incredible kind of way...in fact you are making space for more to be given to you.
....The Dead Sea in the Middle East receives fresh water, but it has no outlet, so it doesn't pass the water out. It receives beautiful water from the rivers, and the water goes dank. I mean, it just goes bad. And that's why it is the Dead Sea. It receives and does not give.
DESMOND TUTU (1931-2021),
THE BOOK OF JOY:
LASTING HAPPINESS IN A CHANGING WORLD
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
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
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 4th through May 10th.
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. This frequently takes the form of a gas card to Walt's or a grocery card to Aldi, a bus pass for public transportation, a bag of ready to go food for a hungry person, or a warm blanket. 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.
ALERT: Please note that the Pastors or staff will never ask for gift cards or cash assistance directly. There is a pernicious scam going around where a thief spoofs the email or phone of an FPC staff member and asks for emergency direct assistance, invents an emergency and insists on email or text communication only. Please contact the church office directly on our main line if this happens. All of our assistance funds are routed strictly through the Caring Hearts Fund only, with no exceptions. Thank you so very much for your generosity and kindness.
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The Sewciables in Action:
Creating for Mission Work, One Stitch at a Time
Items are being made for the Woodland Centers Kid Connections, Safe Avenues, and Candace Adams and The Compassionate Way
| | 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 | |
GRADUATION PARTY
FOR CODY RAASCH
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Date:
Saturday, May 23
Time:
11am -3 pm
Location:
Robbins Island Regional Park
4 Seasons Shelter
N Hwy 71
Willmar, MN 56201
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GRADUATION OPEN HOUSE
FOR SAMANTHA MARQUARDT
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Date:
Sunday, June 7
Time:
1 pm -3 pm
Location:
12555 95th Street NW
Pennock, MN 56279
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We are just one month away from our “Snowball Mountain Challenge” VBS 2026 kickoff on Sunday, June 7th! We encourage families to get their children registered for this ice-cold summer adventure, packed with cool winter activities. This exciting winter sports event will feature Ollie, the Arctic Seal, and the Activities Director, AD for short, as they teach us how God helps Bible heroes – and people today – face challenges.
This epic event will be held June 7-10 from 5:30-8pm. Parents should register their child using the registration form sent in the mail or in this Monday VOICE email no later than May 26. Please reach out to Jill Boeyink if you have any questions.
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ALL VBS 2026 Youth & Adult Volunteer leaders are invited to a one-time meeting to discuss plans for “Snowball Mountain Challenge” VBS on Monday, May 11th at 6:30pm in the Family Café. You will receive all information needed for our fun-filled 4 days of VBS. Please make every effort to attend since this is our only gathering before our kick-off on Sunday, June 7th!
If you haven’t signed up to help, but would like to, please contact Jill Boeyink.
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VBS 2026 Mission Project
This year’s Vacation Bible School is set to take place June 7-10. “Snowball Mountain Challenge” will help participants find their strength in God!
This exciting winter theme lends itself to the obvious mission project…collecting new or gently used winter outerwear for children and adults.
Please begin collecting your donations now, while stores have these items listed below in stock. We will start receiving all items the first week of May. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please reach out to Jill Boeyink.
Desired items include:
- Hats
- Mittens
- Coats
- Boots
- Scarves
- Ear Muffs
- Snow Pants
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Earth Care Team
Seeking 3 to 5 people to form a FPC-Willmar Earth Care Team. There would be monthly meetings, some devoted to completing a certain list of actions. The goal is to earn a PC(USA) certificate as an Earth Care Congregation, as described in the Earth Care Corner of the January 28th Valley Bridge. If successful, FPC Willmar would be the 13th such congregation in MN, and the first in outstate MN. The team would select a subset of the 99 actions suggested in the Valley Bridge article. If so moved, contact Earl O. Knutson at 320-444-9615.
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Swift County 4-H is expanding its after school program in the county. We are in need of any supplies listed below. Any that can be donated are appreciated. There is a a box in the grocery cart for these items, no donation is too small.
Odds and ends of crayons, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, tissue paper yarn, pompoms, lids such as sour cream or cottage cheese and pony beads.
Thanks.
Swift County 4-H
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ROOTED CLASS MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING AS PART OF OUR
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE ACTIVITIES
LAST ROOTED CLASS IS MAY 6TH UNTIL FALL 2026
| | Zoom Book Study will resume in May | |
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 are almost out of pocket prayer shawls.
Anyone who has the talent of crocheting or knitting and is willing to make some more will be greatly appreciated!
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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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