Worship This Week
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Text: Romans 5:1-11
Sacrament of Baptism
May Birthday Blessing
Narrative Lectionary:
Week 33
God’s Love Poured Out
Only three more Sundays to go with Year 1 of the Narrative Lectionary. We are on our second week with Romans AKA Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome. This morning’s passage describes how God’s love for humanity has been shown in the death of Christ, who died for us even though we had done nothing to deserve it. This love that God has shown us gives us the courage and strength to face the sufferings of the world around us.
We will also observe the Sacrament of Baptism for Kaymie Lenhart, daughter of Sara and Jon Lenhart!
UPCOMING MAY WORSHIP EVENTS
May 14 – Sacrament of Baptism & May Birthday Recognition
May 21 – Sacrament of Baptism & Noisy Offering
May 28 – Pentecost Sunday followed by a church potluck
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 FOR PREK & UP
Children PreK and up may leave for Sunday School with their teachers following Discovery Time. The nursery is open starting at 9:15 for children in kindergarten and younger.
Besides learning about the day’s Bible reading, the children are creating a mural.
POLLINATOR GARDEN PLANTED!
At WEO on Wednesday, a crew of kids planted plants and seeds for our pollinator garden. We have asters and sedum from Pastor Lori and penstemon and buttercup from Beth Simon. Morning Glory Farm donated purple coneflowers, yarrow, rudbeckia and butterfly weed. Thanks to everyone who helped!
A NOTE FROM BECKY AHRENS
I want to express my sincere “Thank You” to my church family. All of the prayers and hugs have helped Al and myself through the journey of Al’s ALS. So many people have come to our aid and that just reaffirms how wonderful our church is. I will soon be back on Sundays and pass out my hugs in person.
Thank you, again for your love,
Becky Ahrens
COOPERATIVE YOUTH GROUP – ROOTED
FINAL EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Wednesday, May 17 from 6:00-8:00 at AirFX Trampoline Park (1100 North 18th Ave, Hiawatha IA 52233)
Join us at AirFX for a fun night of jumping, climbing, shooting baskets, and eating pizza. Cost is $10 and participants need a signed waiver. Contact Jonathan for more information or if you need a ride!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION
Meet Up for Dinner at Morning Glory Farm
Thursday, May 18 5:30-7:00
Join your FirstPresMV friends for dinner from the Morning Glory food truck–or bring your own. We will have tables staked out, so join us when you can. The Thursday market runs from 4:00-6:00 with local vendors selling baked goods, meats, personal care products, and plant starts in addition to Morning Glory produce. The food truck will serve food from 4:00-7:00.
Pentecost Potluck
Sunday, May 28 following worship
Bring a side dish or dessert to share.
We will provide an entree, drinks and table service.
HELP MAKE COFFEE HOUR HAPPEN
Fellowship time is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. It’s all about strengthening the ties that bind us to one another–and enjoying a tasty treat! We need people willing to make coffee and provide around 3 dozen treats of any kind. Please sign up here. And thank you!
LITURGISTS NEEDED FOR MAY & JUNE
Are you available to help lead worship? Click here to sign up.
FIRST PRES MV & MVL CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS
Our congregation is working with Mount Vernon Lisbon Child Care Solutions group to provide more childcare options in our communities. Specifically, our nursery may qualify to provide infant childcare. The architectural drawings have been submitted to the State Fire Marshal for approval. Meanwhile, the MVL Child Care Solutions work group is looking for an entrepreneur to run a daycare. The daycare administration will be independent of the church. Our goal is to meet a critical need in our community, not to have a source of income for the church.
PER CAPITA PAYMENT
Each Presbyterian congregation shares in the financial support for the work of the wider denomination at the presbytery, synod and national level. This support is called Per Capita, an amount per member apportioned by the member presbytery (in our case, the Presbytery of East Iowa). Our congregation’s per capita is $40.70 per member, or $5403 total. Thank you to everyone who has contributed the cost of their per capita. So far we have received $1363.45, or 25% of our share of support for the larger church.
VBS–WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 16
1:00-4:00pm at Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church
At this year’s VBS we take a deep dive into the Parable of the Good Samaritan and learn about neighbors around the globe. Cooperatively led by First Pres MV, Seeds of Faith Lutheran and the Mount Vernon UMC.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Sunday, May 14
8:15am Choir Practice in Community Room
9:15am Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary & Online
Sunday School for PreK and up! Children will leave with teachers following Discovery Time (children’s sermon)
10:30am Coffee Hour in Social Hall
Tuesday, May 16
1:00-3:00pm Church office hours
Wednesday, May 17
6:00pm Youth Group at AirFX in Hiawatha
Thursday, May 18
5:30pm Dinner Meet Up at Morning Glory Farm
Friday, May 19
9:00am-12:00pm Church office hours
Sunday, May 21
8:15am Choir Practice in Community Room
9:15am Nursery care is available
9:30am Worship in the Sanctuary & Online
Sunday School for PreK and up! Children will leave with teachers following Discovery Time (children’s sermon)
10:30am Coffee Hour in Social Hall
3:00pm Private Graduation Party in Social Hall