Worship This Week
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Text: Matthew 22:1-14
Third Sunday in Lent
March Birthday Blessing
This Sunday –
Narrative Lectionary Week 25
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
To be honest, this week’s parable makes me uncomfortable:
A king prepares a wedding feast for his son, but when the guests are summoned to come, they not only don’t come, they mistreat and even kill the messengers. The king retaliates with violence, then instructs his slaves (that’s the word used here) to invite anyone and everyone. But one guest doesn’t put on the appropriate wedding attire so is bound hand and foot and thrown into the darkness.
One gift of using a lectionary is that it forces us (me? the preacher?) to wrestle with scripture passages we would rather avoid. Understanding the background does help make sense of what Jesus is trying to get at here. Come, so we can learn and wrestle with the text together!
Find this week’s bulletin online here
Paper bulletins are available in the sanctuary.
Find Our Worship Online
Join us on Facebook or YouTube beginning at 9:20 (to enjoy the prelude; service begins at 9:30) for a LIVE stream of the service!
To find us on Facebook, search “First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, Iowa.”
To find us on YouTube, search “FirstPresMV” to find our channel, then click on LIVE. 
SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS SUNDAY
Children PreK and older are invited to head to Sunday School with their teachers following Discovery Time.
SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK
The office will be CLOSED March 13-17 for spring break.
Pastor Lori Wunder is taking vacation March 13-20. Director of Christian Education Jonathan Walsh and Office Manager Donna Warhover are also on vacation this week.
NEW OFFICE MANAGER DONNA WARHOVER
We are pleased to announce that Donna Warhover has been hired as the new office manager for the church. . Donna will be out of the office March 13-20 however, Donna’s normal office hours are:
Tuesdays 1:00-3:00pm
Fridays 9:00am-12:00pm
COOPERATIVE YOUTH GROUP – ROOTED
No meeting March 15. Happy Spring Break!
EASTER FLOWER SIGN UP
Are you are interested in purchasing flowering plants (i.e.: African Violets, Lilies, Kalanchoe, etc.) for the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday? The cost is $10. Please get payment to the church by March 31 with the following information:
- Your name
- Number of flowering plants you would like to purchase
- Name of person the plant is in honor or memory of
- Will you take plant home after Easter worship or would you like them taken to shut-ins?
CAMP WYOMING–REGISTER FOR SUMMER FUN!
Registration for summer programs for elementary, middle, and high school youth is open! Click here to check out what Camp Wyoming has to offer your kids this summer. Our congregation believes so much in this Christian camp experience that we will pay your child’s way.
MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR APRIL
The month of April is our congregation’s turn to provide volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels to neighbors in Mount Vernon. Monday through Friday, volunteers are needed to pick up the meals and delivery list from Southeast Linn Community Center at 11:10am, make the deliveries, then return the insulated bags to SELCC.
To sign up, click here.
HEALING WITH SOUND & VIBRATION EXPERIENCE
Thursday, March 30 in the Community Room
6:30-7:30pm
Experience deep relaxation, surrender, Oneness, and inner peace through singing bowls by candlelight. Dress in layers and bring yoga mats, blankets, bolsters, etc. to create a nest of comfort to receive the healing sounds and vibrations. Donation of $20 requested. Click here for more information and to register. Prayerfully offered by Rev. Catherine Quehl-Engel.
FIRST PRES MV & MVL CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS
If you don’t have young children in your life, you may not be aware that there is a challenging shortage of childcare options in our communities. Community stakeholders met about this crisis last fall and various committees are exploring all the options, including the possibility of using our nursery to provide childcare for infants. Conversations are in preliminary stages but our congregation always wants to be of service to our community. We will keep you posted as things develop.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Sunday, March 12 – Third Sunday in Lent
9:15am – Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary & Online
**Sunday School for PreK and older during worship
10:30am Coffee Hour in Social Hall
Monday, March 13
6:00pm Bunco in Social Hall
**NO OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK – SPRING BREAK**
Sunday, March 19 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
8:15 Choir rehearsal in Community Room
9:15am – Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary & Online
**Sunday School for PreK and older during worship
10:30am Coffee Hour in Social Hall
Monday, March 20
6:30pm Session in Community Room