Worship This Week
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Text: Matthew 20:1-16
Second Sunday in Lent
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
This Sunday –
Narrative Lectionary Week 24
Laborers in the Vineyard
Jesus’s Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is a challenge: a landowner hires laborers throughout the day. Those who were hired last and only worked an hour were paid the same amount as those who were hired first and worked all day. When the laborers complain, the landowner asks if he is allowed to do what he pleases with what is his. The landowner is God, and of course God is allowed to do as God pleases, and God’s generosity doesn’t meet our human standards for what is “fair.”
(Artwork is The Red Vineyard by Vincent Van Gogh, 1888.)
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.
We welcome Caitlin Brannaman to the piano as Director of Music Julia Andrews enjoys a Sunday off!
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 WEEK
Children PreK and older are invited to head to Sunday School with their teachers following Discovery Time. Our lessons follow the same scripture read in worship.
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 started this week by working with Marie Riechers on the transition process. In addition to growing beautiful and delicious vegetables at Morning Glory Farm, Donna has years of experience as an administrative professional. Donna’s office hours are:
Tuesdays 1:00-3:00pm
Fridays 9:00am-12:00pm
COOPERATIVE YOUTH GROUP – ROOTED
For any youth grade 6 and older, this group is sponsored by Seeds of Faith Lutheran, Mount Vernon Methodist and our own First Pres MV.
Wednesday, March 8 – at the Methodist Church
6:30-8:00 pm Exploring the Bible! Plus food and fun
Bring the bible you received in third grade if you have it.
WEO on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
1:15pm – 3:30pm
Theme: Arts & Crafts
Meet at First Presbyterian Church, lower entrance.
Tasty snacks, followed by several art projects we’ll be doing for the church as well as a personalized craft for the kids to bring home. Parents are welcome to stay, but drop-off and pick-ups are fine. Please RSVP to Lori or Jonathan.
Also let us know if you’d like your kid(s) to attend but have transportation issues.
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.
HEALING SOUND BATH & YOGIC SLEEP
Thursday, March 30 in the Community Room
6:30-7:30pm
Experience deep relaxation, surrender, Oneness, and inner peace through prayerful Singing Bowl Sound Healing and Yogic Sleep (Yoga Nidra). Begins and ends with the penetrating power of singing bowls. Yogic Sleep, a reclined meditative experience, is added. VA Hospitals and Clinics offer it to reduce stress, PTSD, insomnia, etc. Mystics use it for blissful states of Oneness rest in The Sacred. 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 5 – 2nd Sunday in Lent, Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
**No Choir**
9:15am Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary
**Sunday School for PreK and older during worship**
10:30am Coffee Hours in Social Hall
Tuesday, March 7
7:00pm Community Painting Group
Wednesday, March 8
1:15ishpm WEO at Church
6:30pm Youth Group at Mount Vernon Methodist
Sunday, March 12 – Third Sunday in Lent
8:15am – Choir Rehearsal in Community Room
9:15am – Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary
**Sunday School for PreK and older during worship
10:30am Coffee Hour in Social Hall