Worship This Week 
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Text: Mark 1:9-13
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Noisy Offering


This Sunday – 
Wilderness Wisdom

This week we welcome Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel to the pulpit. We’ll be taking a break from the Parables of Matthew’s Gospel and looking instead  at passages in which Jesus went away by himself for awhile. What can we learn in and from those deserted places? 

(Photo by Catherine, taken while walking the Camino de Santiago last year)

The children will collect the Noisy Offering to support the work of Southeast Linn Community Center.
                                 
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. 

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
Youth Grades 6 and older are invited to join us for this cooperative youth ministry led by First Pres MV, Seeds of Faith Lutheran and the MV United Methodist Church.
6:30-8:00pm at the UMC for Food, Fellowship, Fun and Faith!

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:

  1. Your name
  2. Number of flowering plants you would like to purchase
  3. Name of person the plant is in honor or memory of
  4. 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 19 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
  8:15am – 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

Wednesday, March 22
  6:30pm Youth Group at UMC 
  6:30pm MVL League of Women Voters in Community Room

Sunday, March 26 – 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