First Presbyterian Church of Gliddengliddenpresbyterianchurch.org/2018-11-newsletter.pdf · 2018. 10. 31. · football game in Glidden many years after moving to Altoona. It was a

First Presbyterian Church of Glidden

November 2018

Pastor Mission Update

**Pulpit has been filled through the end of the year

**PNC has been picked and needs approved

**Jennifer Olson from United Presbyterian Church in Denison is our Moderator

** Pastor Lorinda is on call for emergencies

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, November 4th

After Worship

We will be voting to approve the Pastor Nominating

Committee.

Where are they now?

This month we feature Marv and Mary Wood who

now live in Altoona, Iowa but lived in Glidden from 1976-

1980. They were members of First Presbyterian Church

while living in Glidden.

Mary was a city girl growing up in Fort Dodge,

Iowa. She has two sisters and all the girls attended Fort

Dodge Public Schools. Mary pointed out her 1971

graduation class in Fort Dodge had 515 students. While in

high school, Mary enjoyed music in addition to her regular

studies, as well as being on the yearbook staff. There were

no sanctioned girls’ sports at FDSH until after she had

graduated. Mary’s first job while in high school was being a

nurse’s aide at one of the city’s

nursing homes. Following high

school graduation, she enrolled at

Iowa Central Community College in

Fort Dodge where she studied

liberal arts and was on the campus

newspaper staff. While in college

and during summer breaks, she

worked for Iowa State University

Extension in the Expanded

Nutrition Program. Mary graduated from Iowa Central in

1973 and she enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa

where she obtained a degree in English education and a

minor in journalism in 1975. While at UNI, she joined a on-

campus service fraternity called Tomahawk which did

service work for the communities of Cedar Falls and

Waterloo. She was in involved with the Tomahawk campus

book sale during her junior and senior years at UNI.

Marv Wood grew up on a farm around Fontanelle

with four brothers. He attended Bridgewater-Fontanelle

School with 35 other students in his 1972 graduation class.

Marv was involved in all the school sports B-F offered plus

vocal music, drama and speech. Marv received many

sports awards during his high school years with many of

them being all-conference recognition. Once Marv finished

high school, he was off to attend college at the University

of Northern Iowa in 1972. He studied social science

education with a minor in coaching. He graduated from

UNI in 1976. While in his sophomore year of college, Marv

led the student election process which elected students in

various leadership positions. Marv worked all four years at

various jobs. One job was selling books door to door in

Rome, Georgia. After training for one week in Nashville,

TN., Marv worked for Southwestern Publishing Company

and then went on the road selling door to door. The next

summer (1974), he returned to Rome where he worked in

a cotton mill factory making yarn. Housing, the second

summer, was a problem for Marv because of availability

and a lack of money. In any event, Marv was creative in his

thoughts. He enrolled in Martha Berry College at Mount

Berry, Georgia (outside of Rome) for two classes so he

could obtain a low-cost dorm room. That summer, he went

to class early in the morning, and then he worked later in

the day at the cotton mill. By doing this he added to his

education and obtained a place to stay.

Marv and Mary met in 1974 while members of

Tomahawk. They began to date, and were engaged in the

spring of 1975. They were married

that summer at the Fort Dodge First

Congregational Church (United

Church of Christ). The couple points

out that they were so short of

money that their honeymoon was a

trip through Wisconsin and a short

stay with relatives prior to returning

to college where they lived in

married student housing. Marv had

one year of college remaining so Mary took a full-time job

at Hardee’s in the UNI Union and Marv worked part-time at

the Waterloo Kmart. They both also worked at a family

owned business called Daisy Maid which had several

locations in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. In March of 1976,

Mary was offered a job for the final three months of the

school year in Janesville, Iowa as an English teacher for

grades 9-12. She was the sixth teacher to be hired in five

years (all of those five had been relieved of their teaching

duties). The Janesville School District wanted her to

continue as a teacher with them in the fall of 1976, but

Marv and Mary had other plans.

Marv interviewed at Glidden-Ralston in the

summer of 1976 with Dale Johnson, Galen Frantz and

Dennis Ploeger as a teacher of social studies and a coach of

three sports. Marv was hired and for the next four years

was an excellent teacher in the GR School District. Scott

Burkley was the Pastor at First Presbyterian while the

Wood family was in town. In fact, Marv and Mary stay in

touch with Scott and Dottie today. Marv was active as a

teacher and Mary was a substitute teacher at GR and in

Carroll Public Schools for nearly two years. In 1977, Mary

joined the staff at the Carroll Daily Times Herald as a

proofreader. After just one year, she became a writer and

was named the Life Styles editor before leaving the paper

in the fall of 1979.

Mary took a sabbatical from education and the

newspaper when their son, Joel, was born in November of

1979. He and his wife, Ana, live in Austin, Texas with their

two-year-old daughter, Fiona. Laura, was born in July of

1982, and lives with her husband, Matt, in the Raleigh, N.C.

area along with their seven-year-old son, Donavan. Marv

and Mary’s son, Jonathan, was born in December of 1986

and died in 1988 as the result of a birth defect. In

September of 1991, the Wood family adopted Allison to

complete their family. Allison has a two-year-old daughter,

Aubrey. They reside in Altoona.

Before leaving Glidden, Marv and Mary bonded

with the people of Glidden. They enjoyed the students, the

friendship of fellow teachers, and especially the people of

First Presbyterian Church. Mary claims that Marv bonded

with GR people because, being from Fontanelle, it was

almost like returning home.

Once Marv and Mary finished their four years at

GR, they moved to Altoona and began teaching at

Southeast Polk. Marv first taught high school government

classes, and then junior high geography as well as coaching

several sports. He also did a great amount of refereeing

and officiating. Marv retired after 34 years at SEP giving

him 38 years of full-time teaching.

Mary was a substitute teacher at SEP and

Bondurant-Farrar for nearly three years before becoming

full-time 8th grade English teacher. She was awarded the

area Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2002. Marv was

honored by a South Dakota school district in 2006 for his

teaching skills. A student who moved from Southeast Polk

and transferred to South Dakota nominated Marv to

receive the award in South Dakota. Both Marv and Mary

were honored and humbled to receive the awards.

Prior to the now all-too-common school gun

violence in today’s world, SEP unfortunately experienced it

in 1984. While in the junior high-high school building, a

young high school student shot a young lady who chose to

ignore his attraction to her. It was a case of murder-

suicide, and it happened directly across the hall from the

lounge where Mary was eating lunch. A painful memory in

an otherwise wonderful teaching career for Marv and

Mary.

Marv still does substitute teaching for district

schools at SEP, Bondurant-Farrar, and Prairie City-Monroe.

It has become nearly a full-time occupation as he enters his

fifth year of retirement. He also officiates junior high

volleyball games and, up until recently, he officiated

basketball and football games. In fact, he worked a

football game in Glidden many years after moving to

Altoona. It was a very positive experience and a highlight

of his refereeing career. Mary likes to read, help out at

church, and spend time traveling to Fort Dodge to visit her

97-year-old mother. She is a member of a book club,

retired teacher organizations, and is manager of the Wood

household. Marv and Mary have traveled a great deal both

internationally and in the United States. They plan on many

more trips including visiting their last state which is

Oregon.

The Wood family is active in the Altoona United

Methodist Church. This church has a membership of over

650 people and has three services each Sunday morning.

Marv and Mary sing in the choir, have taught Sunday

school, are in a small group study, and are currently

worship leaders. Church is very important to them and

Marv has challenged himself to read the Bible from front to

back. He now is in the book of Isaiah. The Wood family is

also involved in the SEP Dollars for Scholars, and Mary was

honored by the school district when a scholarship was

given to a graduating senior in her name and presented to

the student by Mary.

Memories of time at the First Presbyterian Church

include a neighbor lady operating a CB radio during the

Sunday morning service. The woman’s voice and words

coming over the speaker system during worship. Marv also

recalls when he, along with Scott Burkley, was a counselor

at the Presbyterian church camp in Okoboji. Mary recalls

her involvement with the United Presbyterian Women.

She also recalls the outpouring of support when Joel was

born, and the amazing comfort offered when their son,

Jonathan, passed away.

Marv and Mary understand the statement, “The

older we get, the less we know”, and realize we are not in

control of everything. The future includes Marv substitute

teaching, doing yard work, and more travel-especially to

see grandchildren. Of course, the future will continue to

involve church activities and worship of our Lord. It was

great hearing from the Wood family, and we wish them

many years of health and happiness.

The Call Process

1. Contact the Committee on Ministry

(COM) upon notification of the pastor’s

resignation

2. Plan for the transition [COM & Session]

3. Dissolve the pastoral relationship

[Presbytery]

4. Session confers with the COM whether a

mission study will be required

5. Discern your leadership needs [COM &

Session]

6. Assess the financial capability of the

congregation [COM & Session]

7. Authorize a congregational meeting to

elect a Pastor Nominating Committee

(PNC)

8. Congregation elects the PNC

9. PNC writes the Ministry Information

Form (MIF)

10. PNC submits the MIF to the Church

Leadership Connection (CLC) for

matching

11. PNC defines an interview process

12. PNC reviews and receives Personal

Information Form (PIF) referrals on

candidates

13. Presbytery performs background checks

on candidates

14. PNC selects a candidate (nominee)

15. PNC extends a call to the nominee

16. PNC & Nominee (pastor) negotiate the

Terms of Call

17. Committee on Ministry approves the call

and the terms

18. PNC reports the Call to the Session

19. Session authorizes a congregational

meeting to elect the pastor

20. Congregation elects the pastor

21. PNC & Committee on Ministry sign the

Call

22. Our work is complete

Warming the Bench

Spectator sports are great –football,

basketball, soccer, baseball—all fun to watch.

Who can’t find something enjoyable and

interesting about the World Series, Super Bowl

or NCAA tournament? And all we have to do is

pay the price of admission, or even easier, plop

down in a chair and turn on the television.

We’re entertained and someone else pulls the

weight. Coaches and players put in the time,

sweat and effort and we sit back and relax.

Oftentimes we also complain about the

outcome of the game.

Attending church is not a spectator sport.

Even though there is a coach (minister),

assistant coaches (Session and committees)

and team members (you), there can’t be

success unless someone puts in the effort.

Paying the admission fee and plopping down in

the bleachers (pew) is not enough. Hiring a

new coach is not enough and can’t lead to a

flourishing church. Our team ceases to exist

unless there are members who are willing to

put in time and effort.

Be a part of the team! If you’re asked to serve

on the Session or a committee, say “YES”! If

you’re asked to serve as an usher or prepare

communion, say “YES”! Don’t be a bench

warmer. Put in the effort and contribute in

whatever way you are capable.

Our team needs you now more than ever.

Matt Campbell, coach of the Iowa State

Cyclone football team put it this way—are you

a PRETENDER or are you a CONTENDER?

Put in the effort. May the Lord show you the

way and give you strength.

KUDO’S

To Sara Stevens for writing and publishing a children’s book

titled “I love you all the time”. The book is available at Barnes

& Noble, Amazon, itunes and the Apple Store.

To Sam & Elyna Matthews on the birth of a new daughter,

Nayomi Wren, born September 5, 2018. Ruthanne Humphrey

DeVries is the proud great grandmother.

To Keith Danner for going the extra mile during the visitation

and funeral of Tim Reever.

To Elaine Crawford for uploading the newsletter onto the

church website each month

Kuddos to all

Bible Banter

November Birthdays and

Anniversaries

November

-4th-Wayne and Shirley Seaman Anniversary

-7th-Tyler Stidham

-13th-Marion Junker

-16th-Cooper Mueggenberg

-19th-Blayce Nelson

-19th-Bill and Elaine Crawford Anniversary

-22nd-Zachary Mueggenberg

Announcements

-Sunday School meets on Sunday Mornings at 9:30am

-Adults at the United Methodist Church

-Children and Students at the Presbyterian Church

-Thanksgiving Sunday and potluck is on Sunday, November 18th, after church

-Bring a covered dish to share and a table setting

-PW meets on Wednesday, November 14th at at Charlie’s in Carroll at 11:30 am

-Session meets on Tuesday, November 13th at 5:30 pm at the church basement

The Special Offering for November and December is Grocery Gift Certificates

No family should ever go hungry during the holiday season, so we make sure that even the poorest people in Glidden have a little bit extra food for the holidays. Special offerings this month will go to purchase gift certificates to the Glidden Grocery, which will be distributed to anonymous low-income households in Glidden. This is one way that we truly love our neighbor.

Volunteers Needed!!

The Presbyterian Church members have been

delivering senior meals in Glidden on Tuesdays.

We need volunteers to replace Pastor Brian’s shift.

Also, we will need a couple substitutes for

vacations. Meals are picked up at the Glidden-

Ralston School south lunchroom door at 10:45

AM. It generally takes 30-40 minutes to deliver

meals to the 11 people in the Glidden community.

This is a wonderful service and is only one day per

week. Please contact Suzy Danner at 659-3010 if

interested. Thanks!

Thanksgiving Celebration!!

Thanksgiving Sunday and potluck is on Sunday, November 18th, after church

Bring a covered dish to share and table setting!