Author Archives: First Presbyterian Church

Special Blessing for Konnor Krambeer

In worship on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Pastor Grant offered member Konnor Krambeer a special blessing as he departs for 20 weeks of training at the Iowa Department of Public Safety Basic Training Academy in Johnston. Upon graduation, Konnor will serve as a state trooper based in Chickasaw County. In May he graduated from CoeContinue reading “Special Blessing for Konnor Krambeer”

Rise, Be Fed, and Go

The saying is true and worthy of acceptance: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When problems demand solutions, when dire circumstances require commanding response, the spiritually strong step in to fill the void. But human energy and creativity are finite resources, and doing the work that God calls you to do canContinue reading “Rise, Be Fed, and Go”

Postcards from El Salvador

Mary L. VanderVelden, a child of our congregation now serving as director of children, youth and community at Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive, IA, shared this message during worship with us on Sunday, July 13, 2025. She reflects on her recent mission immersion in El Salvador, where Heartland has a sister parish. Mary earned bachelor’sContinue reading “Postcards from El Salvador”

Funeral for Beverly Johnson

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2) I last visited Bev the day before she died, and on that Sunday, at Thornton Manor, the noise from a handful of spirited great-grandsons truly was joyful: Giggles and wiggles filling Bev’sContinue reading “Funeral for Beverly Johnson”

Suffering Well

When the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo finished his statue of David, his 16th-century admirers all flooded him with the same question: How did you transform an inanimate chunk of rock into such an incredibly lifelike figure? Michelangelo’s supposed response? “I simply kept chipping away at everything that wasn’t David.” Strange as it sounds, you andContinue reading “Suffering Well”

The Wisdom Pyramid

Sober judgment, fueled by a healthy mind: That’s what lies near the core of this morning’s Scripture lesson. In the apostle Paul’s estimation, our minds need changing, refreshment; in some cases, wholescale transformation that leads to behavior modification. This epic renewal rises from the grace of God’s Holy Spirit, and given that heavenly gift ofContinue reading “The Wisdom Pyramid”

Loaves and Fishes

John the Baptist: the last of the Old Testament prophets, the first messenger of the New Testament’s Gospel, a pivotal figure without equal appearing in the wilderness at the hinge point of God’s relationship with all Creation. Clad in camelhair, surviving in the remote countryside on locusts and wild honey, John proclaims a baptism ofContinue reading “Loaves and Fishes”

Funeral for Karen Milton

Throughout history, and across many very different religious traditions, there’s long been a curious connection between spirituality and food. Faith has dictated what to eat, how to prepare it, and when to eat it. So also yoked to belief are times and seasons of fasting and abstinence. But none of the world’s great religions hasContinue reading “Funeral for Karen Milton”

A Cross-Shaped Life

Whenever I hear the Pentecost story, as we did last Sunday, the word of the Lord always leaves me wondering: What happens next? After the flames disappear, after the smoke clears, after tongues return to their native languages, what happens then? Now that God’s Holy Spirit has swooped in to dwell fully with all God’sContinue reading “A Cross-Shaped Life”