Worship This Week 
November Series: Together for Joy
Sunday, November 7, 2021
Text: Psalm 98, Exodus 3:1-10, Psalm 137:1-4
24th Sunday after Pentecost
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
**Daylight Savings Time Ends—Set Your Clocks Back One Hour**!

Together for Joy

By the rivers of Babylon—
    there we sat down and there we wept
    when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows there
    we hung up our harps.
3 For there our captors
    asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How could we sing the Lord’s song
    in a foreign land?
 ~Psalm 137:1-4 (NRSV)

Our ancestors found - even in the throws of enslavement, exile, and what felt like defeat - new ways to sing to God, new ways to stay together as a community, new ways to praise God, who never promises to shield us from the valley of the shadow of death, but rather promises to be with us, to give us strength, and to shepherd us as we move through it. And so they sang new songs, songs of comfort and hope, praise and thanksgiving. 

Worship with us ONSITE or ONLINE!

Find this week’s bulletin online here: https://firstpresmv.com/

Paper copies of the bulletin will be available in the sanctuary.
Or use a QR Code to download the bulletin to your phone!

Find Our Worship Online
Join us on Facebook beginning at 9:20 (to enjoy the prelude; service begins at 9:30) for a LIVE stream of the service! To find us on Facebook, search “First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, Iowa.”

ON SITE WORSHIP – MASKING GUIDELINES
Currently, the CDC recommends that vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas experiencing substantial or high transmission. Linn County is designated High Transmission by the CDC.

Please wear a mask during the service, even if you have been fully vaccinated. This allows us to sing in our worship service. 

Thank you for your cooperation and caring! The live stream of the service will continue. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact a member of Session or Pastor Lori (lori.wunder@firstpresmv.com)

TOGETHER FOR JOY—A SUNDAY OF SERVICE & CARING
Next Sunday, November 14
9:30 to around 10:15 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary (& live streamed)
10:15ish to around noon—Service, Socializing and Soup 
    • Bring ingredients for pasta e fagioli soup (pasta, white beans, chopped veggies, broth—exact list & sign up will be sent out next week) or bread and rolls to share. And a rake and gloves!
    • While one group makes the soup, other groups will be sent out to rake leaves for friends and neighbors around Mount Vernon and Lisbon (let us know if you would like help!).
    • Then we’ll come back to eat soup together (outside, weather permitting), and finally deliver soup and bread to friends.
    • Feel free to attend worship dressed for yard work, or join us for the outdoor portions only.
    • An RSVP and ingredient sign up link will be included in next week’s email. Please RSVP so we know how much soup to make!

This Week! Catherine Quehl-Engel Class and Concert
YOGIC SLEEP & SOUND BATH 
Thursday, November 11
4 to 5:10 p.m. in the Community Room
50% of suggested $15 donation for class goes to Navajo Water Project

Brief slow flowing yin style yoga followed by Yogic Sleep (Yoga Nidra) with sound healing to release stress, PTSD, insomnia, and more. Mystics use it for blissful states of resting in oneness with the Sacred. 
Please arrive at least 5 minutes before hand.
Bring yoga mat (some provided), mask, blanket, & optional pillow for lower back support...

PRAYERFUL HEALING
SINGING BOWL SOUNDS & VIBRATION 
Thursday, November 11 
6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Community Room
50% of suggested $15 donation for class goes to Navajo Water Project

Enter deep relaxation, tranquility, mystical Oneness, and peace. 
This candlelit reclined experience features soothing sounds 
of 30+ crystal and Himalayan Singing Bowls. 
Please arrive at least 5 minutes before hand.
Bring yoga mat (some provided), mask, blanket, & optional pillow for lower back support...

THE BLIND SPOT JOINS PRESBYTERY BOOK STUDY
The Rev. T. Denise Anderson, Coordinator, Racial and Intercultural Justice, at Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly (2016-18) will lead worship and an educational event at the November 18 Presbytery Meeting. In preparation for that, she is encouraging the Presbytery of East Iowa to read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

The Blind Spot has decided to read Caste and discuss it together at our October and November meetings. Contact Pastor Lori (lori.wunder@firspresmv.com or 319-431-2227) if you have any questions

Join us, even if you haven’t read the book. All of us can learn from each other!
Wednesday, November 17 at 7pm via Zoom

Topic: Blind Spot Group Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/98526044167

Meeting ID: 985 2604 4167

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE & GIVE

SELCC HOLIDAY GIVING PROGRAMS
Southeast Linn Community Center offers help for the holidays to people in need in our community.  Whether you’d like to buy gifts for a child, sponsor a food box, or volunteer, they’d love to have your help! Sign up here: https://forms.gle/zxaADhgRMxU7zGPn9

A Benefit Concert for SELCC
*New Date!* Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00pm
First Street Community Center
Our very own Marie Riechers & Julia Andrews, also known as Music Works Iowa, will be presenting a concert on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Street Community Center in Mount Vernon. A free will donation will be collected to support the important work of SELCC. 

*OPERATION NEW HOPE  
Aid Our Allies 
Thousands of our Afghan allies fled Afghanistan with nothing but the clothes on their backs. As part of Operation New Hope, Save Our Allies and their partners are providing for our allies. 

Below are items the Coalition is asking for, along with guidelines to best meet distribution and cultural requirements. The need is desperate.

• Diaper Ointment 
• Diapers and pull-ups (Every Size-Partial bags/boxes accepted) 
• Wet wipes 
• Baby Formula 
• Infant and Children’s Tylenol 
• Maxi pads (ultra thin with wings or super maxi no wings-NO TAMPONS are accepted) 
• Body wash (7 oz bottles are best) 
• Antiperspirant (unscented) 
• Toothpaste (Travel size) 
• Lotion (Travel size) 
• Razors 
• Bar soap (4 oz-unscented) 
• Laundry Detergent pods 
• Towels and washrags 
• Socks (all sizes, infant to adult) 
• Sneakers (all sizes, infant to adult) 
• Snow Boots (all sizes, infant to adult-new or great condition) 
• Coats (all sizes, infant to adult-new or great condition) 
• Gloves, Mittens, hats (all sizes, infant to adult) 
• Blankets (throw, twin, queen size) 
• Puzzles, balls, etc (new or good condition) 
• Exersaucers, play mats, etc (new or good condition) 
• Back packs or small tote size bags 
• ***Strollers and Baby Carriers*** (new or good condition) 

Together we can bring new hope! Donations can be dropped off on the porch at 415 2nd St. NW, Mount Vernon through December. Donations may also be brought to First Pres MV.
Further questions or donation pick up: Email talishazell@yahoo.com, text or call 214-930-2139