July Birthdays                                                     August Birthdays

07 - Susan Williams                                             04 – Darcy Robb

07 - Susan Williams                                             07 – Wren Schmid

08 - Hope Reichter                                              10 – Pat Fisher

22 - Jesse Howieson                                            14 – Tristan Kakacek

22 - Tabetha Sanchez                                          17 – Norma Keller

28 - Landen Kakacek                                           18 – Alex EnTin

28 - Deb Olson                                                     18 – Heinz Schmid

29 - Bob En Tin                                                     25 -  Jim Howieson

30 - Kohen Langfitt

We will be having worship at 9:30 a.m. on July 5th at the Gazebo Park.

Please bring your own communion! 

Also, bring your own lawn chairs and face coverings/masks.

This will be our meeting place until further notice.

We hope to see you there, we have missed you!!

Greetings! 

Are you as tired and frustrated by things in our world as I am? I am ready for all of it to just go away. I don’t want to hear another word about COVID 19, about systemic racism or about our elected officials not working together. I have had enough.

If only things were that simple. The truth is; none of these issues will just “go away”. The truth is; life is sometimes hard and unfair. The truth is; there are problems in our world and we each need to do our part to resolve them. I can’t wave a magic wand and make COVID 19 go away, resolve all the racism issues in our world or make all the elected officials work together. 

I can do some things though. I can remember to respect people’s personal space and I can wear a mask when asked to. I can acknowledge that I have no idea about what it is like to live as a person of color. I can recognize that not every person with an opinion different from mine is dumb, evil or anti-American. I can try to see things from the viewpoint of others.

My friend Jason Berning introduced me to the website “sportsspectrum.com”. This site uses the platform of sports to reach people with the message of God’s love. I have appreciated the things I have been reading and have a little piece that spoke to me. 

Reverend Robert Gray has been the chaplain for the Boston Celtics since the year 2000 and he has been actively shepherding the faith of the young men on the team.

“I encourage you to find one or two things that really move you that you can do to make change happen,” Gray said. “Everyone wants to move mountains but let’s just start moving the pebbles in front of you.  God will give everybody a vision, just take the vision you have and you give that your all. You make that vision come true and if everybody does that, you’ll know society is beginning to change.”

Maybe I can’t do it all, maybe I can’t move a mountain, but I can move a pebble. I can do a little something today to show the world that I love God and I love my neighbor. 

Pastor Bill

Look forward to seeing you for worship at 9:30 a.m. on July 5 at Gazebo Park. Remember to bring your own communion!

Session Minutes

United Presbyterian Church

Clarion, Iowa

June 17, 2020

The stated meeting of the Session was held Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Those in attendance: Peg Bunn, Mark Fisher, Mary Kallem, Frank Sharp, Karen Wason, Deb Olson, Clerk, Rev. Bill Kem, Moderator. Excused: Jeff Fankhauser. Rev. Kem opened with devotions and prayer.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Session approved the following:

Moving $1,200.00 from the General Fund to the Building Fund on a monthly basis

$2,120.40 to be taken out of the Building Fund and paid on the principal of the building loan

CLERK’S REPORT: Session approved the May 20 Session Minutes.

PASTOR’S REPORT: Worship in Gazebo Park will begin July 5, 9:30. This will be a short, casual service. Members are invited to bring their own communion or choose to use what is provided.

Various people are contributing to midweek devotions, which are recorded by Ted Bunn and placed on the church’s website. If anyone is interested in sharing a devotion, please contact Rev. Kem for details.   Rev. Kem will be gone July 7 & 8.

PROPERTY REPORT: The tree out front needs to be trimmed, preferably in the fall, when it is cooler.  Session approved hiring Crystal Clean Carpet to clean the carpet in the sanctuary at a cost of $742.69.

Rev. Kem closed the meeting with prayer at 3:08 p.m.

Congratulations to Amanda & Knute Severson on the birth of their son, Harbor Jack! 

Born May 3rd  7lbs 11oz and 20 inches long!

Birthdays

07 - Anna Williams 17 – Elliet Nerlien

12 - Edie Eaton 24 – Brittany Howieson

14- Diane O’Connor 26 – Karen chapman 27 – Roger Kallem

Greetings!

I hope and pray that this letter finds you and your loved ones doing well despite all the chaos around us. I pray for those of us who are in a tough financial spot at this time. I pray for those of us who are in a tough spot regarding our health – this could be physical, emotional or spiritual in nature. I pray for those of us who are frustrated, tired, depressed, angry, fed-up and looking for a light at the end of the tunnel.

I pray that each and every one of us would experience the peace and strength of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. This coming Sunday (the 31st of May) is the perfect time for us to celebrate Pentecost Sunday. I think we could all use a dose of God’s Holy Spirit – at least I know I could.

Please feel free to contact the church office if you are in a situation where you could use some help. Being the church means that we are here for each other. One of my friends talked to me about something they read on Facebook the other day. Someone had said that even though the church has not been gathering together for Sunday morning worship – the church has never been closed. I thought that was an excellent way to say it.

That thought leads me to this. With the recent increase of diagnosed COVID 19 cases in Wright County the deacons from the Congregational Church and the session from the Presbyterian Church have agreed that we will postpone gathering together for worship until the 5th of July. We are planning for both of our congregations to meet at the Gazebo Park at 9:30 on that day. Please pencil in the 5th of July as our new date to begin worshiping together and stay tuned for more information as that day moves closer.

I would like to leave you with a quote that I find very appropriate for the time we are living in.

“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found it is small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

May we be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to do all we can to keep the darkness at bay.

Pastor Bill