October Greetings from the Pastoral Nominating Committee:

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1 October 2017 Elders Suzie Anderson Alice Burgett Home: Kim Goering Cell: Dennis Hohn Cell: Aaron Luke Cell: Karie Martindale Cell: Shelly Morgan Home: Paul Riggs Home: Deacons Kathy Den Hartog Home: Janice Hite Sheryl Luke Cell: Frank Luke Home: Sue McMillin Cell: Linda Montgomery Home: Mel Robbins Cell: Linda Robbins Cell: Greetings from the Pastoral Nominating Committee: In late April, this committee was formed. Over the succeeding months many hours of work were given to completing the Ministry Information Form which was finished in mid July. The Ministry Information Form provides candidates with information about our church, identifies characteristics the church is seeking in a new pastor, and contained five narratives which describe the position and it responsibilities, the strengths of our church, its involvement in the community, and where this church stands spiritually. Once completed it was sent to the Presbytery's Task Force (better known at PCUSA as the Committee on Ministry) for approval. A month later we learned that our Ministry Information Form had been approved. A week later it was submitted to computer in Louisville (known to the committee as PCUSA/CLC church leadership connection. This computer reminds one of a dating service where people are matched together. It is supposed to be doing the same thing but with ministers and churches. A week went by and no matches, two weeks and no matches, after the third week passed with no results, a call was made to PCUSA asking for their assistance. "The computer shows your entry listed as "Incoming Status." What does that mean? "We haven't been notified of the approval of the Committee on Ministry from your Presbytery." She then gave the me name of the lady to contact. By the end of Monday, September 18th, everything had been approved and an indicated that within three days there would be matches for us to view. The next day someone pulled their finger out of the dike...there were 25 matches plus one self-referral. A couple of days later another was received in the mail. They were men and women from Washington to California, Minnesota to Texas, and Massachusetts to Florida and everything in between!!! This past week has been spent going through these Personal Information Forms deciding if there were any we felt had possible promise. On Monday evening that list was pared down to nine possibilities which included one who had mailed his form to the committee. The committee has been asked to do further investigation on these pastors. Visits have been made to their church websites, sermons from many have been either read or heard and this evening (Thursday, September 28th), we will vote on which ones to investigate further. Tomorrow we will ask for another match by the PCUSA/CLC computer. In addition to the process of examination of these pastors, we have been gleaning numerous ideas of programs and activities of their churches which our church might consider. Our committee has also held two mock interviews with local pastors and received their suggestions for questions to ask. NEXT PAGE First Presbyterian Church 228 W. 4th St. PO Box 733, Ottumwa, IA Phone: Web site: church@ottumwafpc.org

2 As members the question always comes up "What can I do to help?" In our Ministry Information Form one of the big positives of First Presbyterian Church of Ottumwa is the people who attend here. You can help prove that by introducing yourself to anyone you don't know who may be a guest and welcoming them. Prospective ministers are possible unannounced visitors! Our goal is to make everyone feel comfortable and at home in our church. Another thing, while we have a church custodian, there is an immense amount of work that needs to be done each week. Only the most important things are getting done. If you see something that needs to be done, please help whether it is picking up trash, going after a roll of toilet paper, emptying the wastebaskets, dusting a piece of furniture, or bringing cloth and some furniture polish for the woodwork. One place that needs attention is the outside of the front doors. If we all pitch in, we not only make it shine on the exterior but make our membership glow on the inside! If you have any questions for the pastoral nominating committee, please feel free to ask any of the members on the committee. Those members include Ron Brickey, Kim Goering, Janice Hite, Aaron Luke, Sheryl Luke, Frank Luke, Ellen Stoltz-McGinity and Steve Miller. We will do our best to answer your questions but know that the information about our prospective candidates is confidential. From The Music Office Indian Hills Community College has asked the bell choir from First Presbyterian Church to perform at the Christmas concert on December 14 th at 7:30 pm. The bell choir will be performing a piece along with the Indian Hills Community College choir. In return the choir from IHCC will be coming to First Presbyterian Church to have a night full of music. The coming up date for this event will be posted as soon as possible. October 1st Rev. David Madsen October 8th Rev. Linda O Connell October 15th Rev. Lola Peters October 22nd Rev. Sara Palmer October 20 David Wetrich In The Pulpit For October

3 Monthly $ Needed to Support Our Ministry $23, First Presbyterian Church Financial Status Report FPC Book Club 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% $11, % $11, % $12, % Our next meeting will be October 4, 6:30 PM. We are reading "Morgue: A Life in Death" by Dr. Vincent Di Maio and Ron Franscell. Dr. Vincent Di Maio and Ron Franscell tell a life story through their cases from the study of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald to the complex issues in the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. 20% 10% 0% June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 FPC Food Pantry Despite record rain the night before, Pantry day turned out sunny and warm. The Pantry served 136 households and helped a total of 409 people. Out of the 136 households we had 26 new to our mission. Larry Cofer 10/01 Mark Garner 10/03 Sue Sandage 10/04 Doug Pumroy 10/06 Douglas Robertson 10/07 Thank you to all volunteers, whether this was your first time or you have been here month after month. With out the help of all of you this FPC mission would not be possible. Food Pantry is in need of your clean grocery bags and toilet paper. Russ Goering 10/11 Ann Riggs 10/14 Ardys Wetrich 10/18 Louise Jirsa 10/19 Bob Perkins 10/24 Marie Pumroy 10/26 V Scott 10/29

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6 Sunday 1st Guest Speaker: Rev. David Madsen Communion Monday 2nd Wednesday 4th 6:30 PM Book Club Sunday 8th Guest Speaker: Rev. Linda O Connell Monday 9th Tuesday 10th 5:30 PM Personnel Meeting 7:00 PM Deacons Meeting Wednesday 11th Sunday 15th Guest Speaker: Rev. Lola Peters 5:00 PM Chili/Movie Night Monday 16th Tuesday 17h 6:30 PM Session Meeting Wednesday 18th Thursday 19th 3:00-5:30 PM Food Pantry Sunday 22nd Guest Speaker: Rev. Sara Palmer Monday 23rd Tuesday 24th 7:00 PM PMI Meeting Wednesday 25th Saturday 28th 5:30 7:30 PM Trunk or Treat at church Sunday 29th Guest Speaker: David Wetrich

7 I NEED YOUR HELP!! I am working on a new photo directory. This will be very helpful to our new pastor and the new people that will be attending our church. Below is the information that I need from you. Yes, I already have some of this but I would like to make sure everything is correct. So please fill out the form below and get it back to the church office. And remember if you do not get this form back to me I will be calling you over the next few weeks. As for the pictures. I still have the pictures from the last directory that I made. If you would like to have a new picture in the directory please see me and I will take a new picture of you for the directory. Thank you all for your help! Lu Ann, your church secretary Address Home Phone Cell Phone address Do you want your picture from the old directory in the new directory Yes No Birthdays