Acts 9:36-43

Psalm 23

Revelation 7:9-17

John 10:22-30

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.

Good Morning!!

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Tuesday, May 6th:

8:00am: Men's Bible Study in the Friendship Room

10:00am: Staff Meeting in the Admin Office and Chair Yoga in JKH

5:30pm-7:00pm: Willmar Community Closet Shopping and Donation Drop-Off

6:30pm: Buildings and Grounds in the Admin Office

Wednesday, May 7th:

8:00am: Women's Bible Study in the Friendship Room

5:30pm: Wednesday Night Live

Thursday, May 8th:

10:00am: Chair Yoga in JKH

6:00pm: Music Team in the Sanctuary

Saturday, May 10th:

10:00am: Youth at LuLu Beans

Sunday, May 11th:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

9:00am: Adult Ed in the Friendship Room and Nurture and Fellowship in the Choir Room

10:00am: Sunday Worship

11:00am: Fellowship in JKH

May 5th-May 8th: Clearwater Forest Work Camp

Sunday's Online Worship Service

May 4th, 2025

Darcy Forkrud is going to be having a surgery this week 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:

Darcy: 3

20-905-0936

Hannah (1st week): 

320-905-0064

Thank you, dear church family, for the lovely day celebrating my upcoming birthday. It was great to have my family and my church family worshipping together and joining together in fellowship—thank you for the many ways you honored me with cards, messages, lovely rose, Happy Birthday song, handshakes and greetings. Blessings and love, BEA

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.

MARCH OPERATING STATEMENT REPORT:

Receipts through March

$69,254

Expenses through March

$68,422

Revenue in Excess of Expenses

$832

Building Fund balance on hand

$114,562

Balance Due on the Internal Loan for 2022 Roof Replacement and 2023 Parking Lot

$64,266

2025 Per Capita is $46 per confirmed member in addition to your regular offering pledge. We will be paying the balance of our required per capita to the Presbytery at the end of April. Through March, we have collected less than $3,000 of the $9,500 due for per capita. While we will accept and welcome payments throughout the year, per capita payments made this month will be even more appreciated as they will lessen the impact on our budget. Thank you!

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

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

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. October is the month that our mission offering goes to this Caring Hearts Fund. Please consider supporting this important ministry to our community.

Volunteers Needed!!

We, at First Presbyterian Church of Willmar have started our Ridgewater College Ministry Meals. We are in need of some volunteers to help with the prep and distribution of these meals each month. Every month we provide a meal on the third Wednesday starting at 10am and going until around 1pm. The Tuesday before we will need help with the meal prep at the church. If this is something that sounds like you would be willing to help out with, please reach out to Roger or Carol Tatge at 320-894-0845 or rctatge@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance!!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

This passage in Jeremiah is the foundation for this year’s Youth Sunday worship service, “Your Life; God’s Direction” on May 18th. All children in Rainbow Venture, Gospel Rock and Youth Group will be leading us in liturgy, scripture, words of hope for all ages and proclaiming that we all have hope for a future knowing that God will provide for us as long as we continue to seek Him and His perfect will for us.

In addition, we will be celebrating the gifts, time and talents of our very dedicated CEYM 2024-2025 leaders and volunteer support staff. If you are one of these individuals, we invite you to join us this day to recognize you for your commitment to our children and youth.

So, what do you hope for? What God tells us is…He has a plan! Join us on this very special Sunday as we celebrate the gifts and talents of our young people, and invite a friend to this awesome celebration!

Practices for Youth Sunday will be held on Wednesdays, April 30, May 7 and May 14th during regular Wednesday Night Live classes. As usual, we will meet in John Knox Hall for our meal and worship time at 5:30 p.m. Students should then report to the sanctuary for practice.

Preparations for “Road Trip” VBS 2025 are in full swing, and it’s time to gather as a team to prepare for our 4 days of VBS from June 22-25. Volunteers are in place, and so it is now time to meet together and plan everything out. There will be a VBS volunteer’s meeting on Monday, May 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Café. If you are not able to make the meeting, please let Jill Boeyink know, OR if you are interested in helping with “Road Trip” and have not yet been asked to help, be sure to contact Jill right away and she will get you signed up!

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.

Connect With Us: