First Presbyterian Church

Retreats

elizabeth — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:44:11 +0000

The Presbytery’s youth had a great time at First Presbyterian Church last weekend. Thanks to all those who donated food to keep them going.

On March 19-20 the college students will have a retreat in Edina. If you would like to participate or help with snacks please contact Elizabeth.

“This is the day. . .”

Mike McCormack — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:58:31 +0000

Every so often, maybe once or month, or maybe MORE often, I find myself murmuring the scripture verse from Psalm 118: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I think that’s Psalm 118. Let me check. Yup. Psalm 118:24. The Message puts it like this: “This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive!” That makes my point: God is active today in our lives. God is active everyday. What is God doing in your life TODAY? ”This,” the verse says, “is the day the Lord has made,” and not another day. You have today, so far, pretty guaranteed. What have you done? I’ve eaten macaroni and cheese, called church members on the phone, read biblical commentaries, returned emails, fed the baby and changed the baby’s diaper. All of this is part of the day the Lord has made. Can I accept all this? Yes. That’s the other part of the verse that grabs me: “This is the day the Lord has made (and not another); Let us rejoice and be glad (not resentful, not angry).” This has to do with accepting what God dishes out. Wow. This is obviously the most challenging thing about being a Reformed Christian. God is the one who does the dishing out. God gives us good gifts, challenges, trials, tests. I don’t always like that idea. I don’t always like what happens to me. But I am challenged by this Psalm, to “accept the things I cannot change,” as the famous prayer says, and become wise. Today is the Day the Lord has made for us, and as we walk together toward Easter–only through the tunnel of death–we will hear Psalm 118 on Palm Sunday. It is also a day the Lord made. Just like today. Rejoice a little. Help someone else rejoice.

Welcome

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Welcome to First Presbyterian Church Website from Kirksville, Missouri. We are glad you found us. We worship each Sunday at 9:30am and have Sunday School at 11am. There are many other exciting events at FPC and this is the place for the info.

It’s LENT

elizabeth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:36:12 +0000

Please pick up the Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son “From Fear to Love” by Henri J.M. Nouwen in the Narthex. Provided by, the Christian Education Committee

Calling All Cooks

elizabeth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:52:36 +0000

The college ministry, PCF would like to ask/beg for their dinner. Each Sunday night at 5:30 they gather for fellowship and study at the Westminster House. We can support them by making a home-cooked meal something sorely missed during college.

The college ministry will then exchange services with you. You cook them dinner they will give you a coupon for two hours of work for you. That could be changing light bulbs, moving furniture, babysitting, shovling snow or a task of your choosing. Please sign up on the Ministry Opportunity Board (outside Michael’s office) or speak with Shannon Tanner today!

Lenten Lunch

elizabeth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:24:05 +0000

Please join Michael for a time of devotion and reflection each Friday during Lent . Bring your brown bag lunch to the fellowship hall at noon and join in the discussion. Hope to see you there.

Lenten Practices

Mike McCormack — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:42:24 +0000

I opened the sermon on Ash Wednesday saying something about “What are you giving up for Lent?” Lent is a time when so many of our brothers and sisters in the family of faith are practicing Lent by giving up a number of things: chocolate, ice cream, smoking, being generally nasty, etc. But it is also good to consider what we might TAKE UP. What practice might we begin? Praying the psalms throughout Lent? Contributing 2 cents a meal to the Presbyterian Hunger Program? Cleaning out our closets and giving unused and lonely clothes to the clothes closet? Sending a card to a shut-in, or maybe delivering it in person? We want to consider what practices might impact US as well as OTHERS. Jesus was concerned not only about private piety but public policy. What we do internally, privately, affects others externally, publicly. The most difficult thing about being a Christian, I think, is recognizing that not only does Jesus want me to change. He wants me to help change things in this world. Lent is about that. Lent is also about the cost of that. May Christ be with you as you practice your Lenten practices. Don’t worry–you can do it until you get it right!

Sermon’s appearing on the website

Mike McCormack — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:31:01 +0000

Thanks to Greg Marshall, I am now able to upload my sermons to our website. Remembering it is more blessed to give than receive, or maybe I should say, more blessed to upload than download, I will be putting sermons up as quickly as I can. So far the most recent five sermons are available–from January 31 to Feb 21. I am unsure just how many I can cram, er, place on our website, but I hope these can be enjoyable for our community, either for recollecting, or sharing with others. Like everything technological, I hope sermons on our website (as well as the website itself) can be helpful in our growth communally and individually. May Christ continue to bless you this Lent.

Surprises are Good

Mike McCormack — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:27:04 +0000

Surprises abound. And they are good. I don’t know if you have been following the European Soccer Championship but I have. And if you had asked me, “Mike, who’s going to win?” I would have said, “Holland or Portugal. They will meet in the final and one of ‘em will take it.” Nope. They have been ELIMINATED! Shocking. Suprising. And yesterday, all the people that thought Italy would win–THEY were surprised when Italy was eliminated. Spain, Russia, Turkey (Surpise!) and Germany will play. Another great surprise happened for me when the Lonbergers signed up to share special music in church. I had no idea what they would do. Well, if you were there, you know: Frank played mandolin, Dan played Bass, and Treda played guitar and sang. A bluegrass trio in a Presbyterian Church. It was a wonderful surprise! As I sat and listened to Frank solo on the mandolin, I felt one of my ministry dreams coming true. The soccer, the music, all of it to say: God still suprises us each day. This, after all, is the day that the Lord has made. Let’s look for the suprises.

20% Chance of Rain, 100% Chance of Work

Mike McCormack — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:10:39 +0000

Thursdays for college students are “the new friday.” For me, as a pastor, thursdays are also my fridays. I try and get ahead, anticipate needs, do some of next week’s work today.
There are at least two challenges in my work of ministry that may be similar to your work. One, you will accomplish many things you didn’t THINK you’d get done. You will not finish those things you thought you’d finish. If someone comes into the office that I didn’t expect, I am glad, but I have to set aside my expectations. I will not do what I THOUGHT I would do. I will only do what I will do. I know that sounds stupid, or tautological (who’s stupid NOW!) but it is true. Eugene Peterson, famously Presbyterian bible translator said something that I think applies. He was talking about the daily -ness of his work, all the lists he made, and how a dream changed his perspective. He writes, “I. . .started keeping a journal. At first, and for a long time, my journal contained only lists: people to see, letters to write, visits to make, errands to run. I put them int the journal rather than on scraps of paper, to give them some dignity, some semipermanence. And I prayed my lists: this is best-seller material.” (Under the Unpredictable Plant, 152-3) Peterson’s point is that the stuff of life is important. And often what we think is accidental, hap-hazard or incidental is not. An easy mistake to make, given that we are used to dictating the terms of our work or life. wrong.
The second thing that may be helpful in your work life, and something that I’ve found in Church work is that it’s feast or famine. I am either the busiest guy in the universe or it’s like after-hours at coney island. It is either Lent or July. Christmas Eve or Memorial Day. There do not seem to be many days or weeks that are moderate in their mood. Feast or famine. I have not found a solution. I don’t think there is one except to accept it. And maybe also to say, “O Lord, come to my assistance. O God, hasten to help me.” Or, “there is a time and a purpose for all things under heaven.” Saying those things give me comfort in the feast, and nourishment in the famine of my work. Maybe they will do the same for you. Blessings on this day of Work with or without Rain. mm