Worship This Week
Third Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Text: Acts 10:1-17, 34-48
Narrative Lectionary: Week 30
Peter’s Vision
This Sunday we read from the Acts of the Apostles. Written by the author of Luke’s Gospel, it tells the story of what happens after Jesus ascends back into heaven, the followers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and they begin their work of going out into the wider world to “make disciples of every nation.”
Our reading for this week is from Acts 10 and tells the pivotal story of Peter being called by the Holy Spirit to visit a Cornelius, an officer in the Roman Legion who was also called by the Holy Spirit. This challenges everything Peter has believed to be true until this point, and in short order expands the disciples understanding of for whom the gospel is intended (answer: everyone). It’s a fantastic story, and we will be looking at how it was Peter’s and Cornelius’s practices of prayer that made this transformative moment possible.
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. 
AL AHRENS FUNERAL – SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Saturday, April 22 at 10:30am in the sanctuary
A luncheon in fellowship hall follows the service
**The funeral will be livestreamed to Facebook and Youtube and available as a recording**
CHOIR ENSEMBLE CONCERT – SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Saturday, April 22 at 4pm in the First Pres Sanctuary
Wartburg College’s Festeburg, an a cappella ensemble, will be performing in our sanctuary on Saturday, April 22 at 4pm. This concert is free and features two Wartburg students from Mount Vernon. Come support these talented students and enjoy a wonderful performance!
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.
SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE – SUNDAY, APRIL 23
Sunday, April 23 at 10:45 in the Community Room
Are you interested in learning about and responding to the issues we face, locally and globally? The Social Concerns Committee guides our congregation’s financial support of various groups as well as service projects, service trips, and educational opportunities.
COOPERATIVE YOUTH GROUP – ROOTED – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26
Wednesday, April 26 from **6:00-7:30pm** at Camp Tanager for a Service Night
Join us at Camp Tanager (1614 W. Mt. Vernon Road) as we help the camp get ready for the summer. Come dressed to work (work gloves are a great idea, too). We’ll be spreading mulch and doing some gardening. Light snacks will be provided. Note the earlier start time!
NOISY OFFERING RESULTS FOR MARCH & APRIL
In March, the children collected $160.13 to support the work of Southeast Linn Community Center. In April, $175.61 was collected for the One Great Hour of Sharing which provides support to three PC(USA) programs – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. Thank you for your generous support! Our next Noisy Offering will be Sunday, May 21.
NEW MEMBERS’ CLASS COMING SOON
We have several people interested in becoming members of First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon. If this is something you would like more information about, please email or call Pastor Lori Wunder at [email protected] or 319-431-2227.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS NEEDED
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! If you are willing to bring around 3 dozen treats of any kind, please sign up here. And thank you!
LITURGISTS NEEDED FOR APRIL, MAY, JUNE
Are you available to help lead worship? Click here to sign up.
THANK YOU, MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS!
We had a terrific response to our appeal for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels to neighbors in Mount Vernon during the month of April. All the dates are accounted for! Thank you to Marsha Acord, Elaine Bishop, Mike & Lori Cranston, Marsha McWhinney & Joe Schmitz, and Kristy Parker for volunteering! Our next month to deliver meals is October.
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. Pastor Lori and Carol Daly are looking into whether our space meets the state’s requirements. the MVL Child Care Solutions work group is looking for an entrepreneur to run a daycare. The goal is not to provide income for our church, but to be of service to our community. We will keep you posted as things develop.
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. We invite you to consider contributing $40.70 per member of your family to help cover this expense. Thank you!
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.
VBS–SAVE THE DATES!
Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 16
1:00-4:00pm at Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church
Mark your calendars and plan to have your kids, PreK through Grade 6 be part of the fun! Cooperatively led by First Pres MV, Seeds of Faith Lutheran and the Mount Vernon UMC.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Saturday, April 22
10:30am Funeral for Al Ahrens in Sanctuary
11:30am Luncheon in Social Hall
4:00pm Festeburg Choir Concert by Wartburg College in Sanctuary
Sunday, April 23
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
10:45am Social Concerns Committee in Community Room
Tuesday, April 25
1-3pm Church office hours
Wednesday, April 26
6:00pm Youth Group at Camp Tanager
Friday, April 28
9am-12pm Church office hours
Sunday, April 30
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