Mental health workshops to be held in Waukon and Lansing
Are you feeling down or blue? If so, you are not alone. You are invited to join a free, five-week program, “Raising Our Spirits Together,” that will meet Wednesdays from April 26 through May 24.
Raising Our Spirits Together is based on cognitive behavioral therapy, an evidence-supported approach for treating depression. You’ll be given the tools and skills to feel better.
Classes will meet at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing from noon to 1:30 p.m. The church is sponsoring the program with grant funding from Gundersen Health System. Visit LansingLutherans.org for more information or to enroll.
New sermon series focus on Holy Spirit
The person and work of the Holy Spirit — the who and the what of the Trinity’s Third Person — are front and center in a new, six-part sermon series that Pastor Grant began Sunday, April 16, with a lesson from John 14.
The other Scriptures in the series include:
+ Sunday, April 30, Genesis 3 and John 3:1-18, being born again by the Spirit
+ Sunday, May 7, Mark 1:1-13, being led by the Spirit
+ Sunday, May 14, Ephesians 4:14-24, the Spirit generates our faith
+ Sunday, May 21, 1 Corinthians 12, the gifts of the Spirit
You can read or listen to the messages at FirstPresWaukon.com/sermons/. The Scripture lessons will prepare us to celebrate the feast of Pentecost on Sunday, June 4. In addition to sharing the story of the Holy Spirit descending on Christ’s disciples, we’ll hear lessons from the Old Testament’s Exodus 2 and Joel 2.
Passages from the Heidelberg Confession of Faith will complement the Scripture lessons.
Worship on Sunday, May 28, will be a service of Scripture, song and prayer for Memorial Day.
Presbyterian Women host spring gathering
All women of the church are cordially invited to attend the 2023 spring gathering of the John Knox Presbyterian Women on Saturday, May 6, at our church. The gathering begins with fellowship and coffee at 9:30 a.m., and the program starts at 10 a.m.
The speaker is Beverly Larson-Needham, an organ transplant recipient. Her presentation, “BELIEVE,” is based on some of her favorite Bible passages and how one little word got her through her illness and continues to inspire her life.
Lunch will be served for $7 per person. The day’s events also include dedication of the birthday offering and a communion service led by Pastor Grant. To help in planning, please RSVP by Friday, April 28, by calling or texting (563) 419-7371 or emailing ripleyjb56@gmail.com.
Office manager leaving staff
Office manager Michelle Gress is leaving our staff on Monday, May 1.
Michelle was a valued and trusted employee who met and often exceeded performance expectations – including those placed upon her by the COVID-19 pandemic. She collaborated well with church staff and other leaders, and her efforts were appreciated and remarkable.
We are ending our employment relationship with Michelle, because the demands of her full-time employer limit her availability to continue serving as our office manager. We are sad to see Michelle leave but trust that she will continue being a blessing to others as she has been for us more than three years.
The Human Resources and Administration Committee will lead the recruitment effort to hire a new staffer for the office.
Lee Stegen organizing fund-raiser for Jeremy Engrav
A 65-inch television will go the winner of a fund-raising raffle organized by member Lee Stegen. All proceeds will benefit Jeremy Engrav of Waukon.
Jeremy was diagnosed with glioblastoma last April. He had surgery, and they were able to resect 99 percent of the mass. Jeremy received radiation last summer, and chemotherapy continued into this year. During a routine scan in January, doctors discovered progression of the disease, and last month Jeremy he started a new treatment plan.
Jeremy is the husband of Betsy Engrav and the father of four beautiful children: Brayden, 15, Brecken, 11, Brantley, 10, and Briar, 7.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. You may purchase tickets from Lee or Jenny Stegen, (563) 794-0518; Cody Snitker, (563) 379-3162; Blaine Snitker, (563) 794-0971; Ben Rausch, (563) 568-1233; Stef Perkins, (563) 794-0756; or Quinn Brennan (563) 568-9856.
Tickets also are available at these local businesses: Green Valley Getaway, Waukon State Bank, Lid’s Restaurant, Epic Wear, and KNEI.
Tickets may be purchased electronically by Venmo to Lee Stegen.
The winner will be drawn live on KNEI in early June.
Plan now to attend annual Synod School
Registration is now open for the 69th annual Synod School, a week-long event of speakers and classes for personal and professional development.
“Our Family Story” is the theme for this year’s gathering, which will be held from Sunday, July 23, through Friday, July 28, at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. The keynote speaker is Rev. Jimmy Ray Hawkins, director of our denomination’s advocacy offices: Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC, and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in New York City.
Synod School, which is open to both individuals and families, is a ministry of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, a regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that covers much of the upper Midwest. For more information about Synod School, go to LakesAndPrairies.org and click on “Engaging Leaders” in the menu bar. Scholarships are available for first-time attendees.
Church scholarships available for college
Our church is blessed to have endowed funds that generous donors have designated for scholarships, and for many years, our church has made scholarships available to graduating high school seniors who are members of our church.
Scholarships also are available to members who are –
+ First-time students of higher education who have been out of high school for any number of years;
+ Holders of two-year associate degrees or other certificates who are seeking four-year degrees;
+ Students or professionals seeking post-graduate degrees;
+ Unemployed or underemployed individuals in need of job training or re-training.
Waukon seniors can get scholarship applications in the high school guidance office. Applications also are are available through the church office. Call (563) 568-2981) or email fpcwaukon@gmail.com.
Announcements
Two sons of our congregation, Bill and Jim Withers, are among the former bandmates reuniting for a concert to benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. “Bandmates, Brothers and Friends” or “BBF” will perform on Mother’s Day weekend, Friday, May 12, at Goodfella’s in downtown Waukon from 6 to 10 p.m. You’ll hear songs from the ’50s through the ’90s, both country and rock, from classic bands and individual artists like Elvis, the Beatles and Alabama, to name a few. Freewill donations will be accepted at the door.
Member Annie Ellingson is in the cast of the musical “Grease,” which the Wolfpack Theater Company will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May 11-13, at the Waterville Community Center. To order tickets, go online to WolfPackTheaterCompany.Ludus.com or call director Adam Hooten at (563) 568-1186.
The Waukon Lions Variety Show will be held Saturday, May 6, in the Waukon High School auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7. Tickets, available at the door or from any Lions Club member, are $5 for adults and teenagers. Children age 12 and under are admitted free. The Lions collect and recycle used eyeglasses, and collection boxes will be available at the show. Proceeds help fund Lions projects.
If you have a key to the church and no longer need it, please return the key to the church office so it can be shared with leaders who need one now.
Reprinted copies of the Presbyterian Women’s popular cookbook from 2005 are available for $25 each. Place your order with Fern Rissman at (563) 568-4486 or frissman2@msn.com.
Online giving allows you to make your tithes and offerings safely and securely from your desktop computer, tablet or smart phone. To access this new service, go to our church website, FirstPresWaukon.com, and scroll down until you see the red “Donate Now” button. Clicking that button takes you to our online giving portal, where you can make a one-time offering or set up regular weekly offerings.
A donation box to recycle old eyeglasses and hearing aids is available in the Fellowship Hall near the door to the Chapel. In partnership with the Waukon chapter of Lions Club International, the glasses and hearing aids will be recycled and distributed to people living in low- and middle-income countries who lack access to vision and hearing care.