Please Join Us for Worship This Holy Week!

Palm Sunday, March 25th

Maundy Thursday, March 29, 7:30pm

Good Friday, March 30, 12:00pm
* Light Luncheon Follows

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES
April 1st, 10:00am

He has recently been chaired as pianist with Mankato Symphony Orchestra. Since 2004, Ben has performed as the Artist In Residence at Morgan Creek Vineyards Wine Down for the Weekend Music Series.

Benjamin was awarded the PLRAC/McKnight Emerging Artist Grant to fund a recording of new repertoire in 2012. He also accompanies for churches and educational institutions throughout southern Minnesota.

Rev. Dr. Ashley is the seventh child of Dorothy and Freddie Gaulman. Born in Frankfurt, Germany to a military family, SanDawna spent her formative years living in Columbia, South Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SanDawna is married to the Reverend Murphy Ashley, Jr. She is the mother of Jay, and grandmother of Christian and Olivia.

Rev. Ashley served as Assistant Stated Clerk, manager for Call Process Support and Teaching Elders Ministries in the Office of the General Assembly. In her work, she provided training, consultation, coaching, and resources for presbyteries in support of congregations, COMs, call seekers and calling organizations. Additionally, her experience includes serving as the denomination’s Associate for Leadership Development with direct responsibility for equipping adaptive pastors, working with committees and assisting call seekers in vocational discernment. As the Associate for Gender and Racial Justice, Rev. Ashley facilitated ministries and programs at all levels of the church that assisted the PC(USA) in becoming an inclusive, diverse, and racially just denomination.

Her pastoral service includes serving as senior pastor and solo pastor of congregations in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Illinois. Rev. Ashley has degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) with a concentration in leadership development and congregational transformation, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary Masters of Divinity in the Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care (MDIV) and Georgia State University Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).

B i o g r a p h y

Michael is currently a senior Choral and Instrumental Music Education double major at Gustavus Adolphus College. He is a Björling scholarship and music award winner. He studies Horn and Voice at Gustavus with Melissa Morey and Dr. David Kozisek. Michael is an active student conductor at Gustavus.

As a Horn player Michael has played in the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Vasa Wind Orchestra, Gustavus Horn Choir, and Gustavus Brass Choir.

While not active as a Percussion student, Michael has studied Percussion with Paul Hill and has played with the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Encore Wind Ensemble, Vasa Wind Orchestra, Percussion ensemble, Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir of Christ Chapel, and was most recently featured as a percussion soloist with the Gustavus Choir

As a singer Michael sings Bass/Baritone in the Gustavus Choirs as well as in Legacy A Capella.

While dabbling in composition, Michael was recently awarded as a finalist in the 2016 Gustavus Music for Peace Composition Contest.

As a conductor Michael has lead performances with the Belchertown High School Symphony Band, the Vasa Wind Orchestra, and the Choir of Christ Chapel. Michael has studied conducting with James Patrick Miller, Ruth Lin, Brandon Dean, and Gregory Aune.

August 31, 2017

**Hurricane Harvey Relief**
__________________________________________________________________________

Monetary gifts will be  collected on Sunday,  September 3, 2017 for  this special session
authorized offering.
Funds may be remitted  later as well.

Please make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church of Mankato and mark all checks and envelopes “HARVEY/PDA.”

We are working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance of the PCUSA, a truly outstanding relief organization.

A community-building movement that connects music, people and joyful purpose.

The Mankato & North Mankato ACT on Alzheimer’s Action Team is proud to introduce a new and excitingopportunity for people in the community to join together for a unique choral experience. The chorus is especially created for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and their care partners.

Chorus members include people with dementia, their care partners and volunteers. We welcome any person who is living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia who can attend the structured weekly rehearsals and, most importantly, wants to make good music and good friends! There are no auditions, and no musical training or experience is necessary. The rehearsals culminate in a public performance showcasing the accomplishments of the singers.Volunteer Singers
Our volunteer singers sing alongside the person with dementia. They will help them follow the music and lyrics, taking instructional notes and ensuring that all the singers have a comfortable and enjoyable experience during rehearsals and performances.

 

A full house and balcony — an amazing experience in our church last night with gospel music legend Robert Robinson, his band and the East H.S. Choir.

 

 

July 19, 2016Session is very pleased and excited to announce the news of our new incoming Interim Pastor, Rev. Dr. Nancy A. De Vries.

Please click on the link below to review her story, experience and history!

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/63819add4ca797deb8268359f/files/The_Rev_bio.pdf

Celebration of Life, June 1, 2016 at 2:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church, Mankato, MN

Inella’s Story Here — http://obituaries.mankatofreepress.com/story/Inella-Burns-1917-2016-784833191

Our church team, “Sunday Cyclists,” raised an amazing $1895 for Partners for Affordable Housing at “Pedal Past Poverty” on February 27th. Thank you to our generous donors and to our top fund-raiser, Carla Chesley, who raised over $600 from her exercise group. Thank you to the riders: Brad Guss, Sally Erdahl, Carla Chesley, Taylor and Ryan Kuechle, Sue and Sam Sonnek, April and Josh Austin, Grant Hanson
and also to our alternates: Mark or Rhonda Taylor and Terry Kuechle. Thank you to our team captains: Lynn Kuechle and Sally Coomes and Patty Conlin who launched this effort. The event raised a record-breaking $103,000.

Partners in Outreach is now promoting ECHO Food Shelf Donations which will be matched in March by Minnesota FoodShare. All March food and monetary donations to the ECHO Food Shelf will be matched. Boxes for ECHO contributions are in the coat room. Checks payable to ECHO may be placed in the offering plate in March. We will deliver all contributions to ECHO at the end of March.

Introducing Brett Bybee 
Communication Committee Intern                 March 2, 2016
First Presbyterian Church has been looking for new ways to develop more relationships with the community and one way of doing this is through one of the many colleges in the Mankato area. FPC and Minnesota State-Mankato have teamed up again this spring, to develop a Communication Internship program for current Communication Studies students. This is to allow a current college student hands on experience of real world communication work.
Some tasks that have been included are social media, mass e-mailing, advertising, website work and many more for the future.

Brett is a junior at Minnesota State University – Mankato, majoring in Communication Studies, minoring in Mass Media. He grew up in Ramsey, Minnesota with his parents, Tom and Linda, two older sisters, Brittany and Jennifer, and a dog named Bunker. He played football and baseball for Anoka High School. During the summers he worked for a local landscaping company.Some of his interests include: playing sports, working out, boating, fishing, pretty anything active or outdoors. Also, he enjoys traveling and photography, and one day hopes to travel to Australia. He is really looking forward to the new internship opportunity, to further his skills in his field of study. Welcome to FPC!

Mary E. Roed, 89, of Mankato passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 24, 2016.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church in Mankato. Visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m., Monday, February 29, 2016 at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Woodland Hills in Mankato.

Mary was born February 13, 1927 to William and Nan (Seaton) Eberhardt in Alden, IA. She attended Prairie Dale Country School and graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1944. On May 2, 1948 she married Verland “Dusty” Roed in Alden, Iowa. Together they raised three children, Steven, James, and Nancy Jo.

Mary worked as a bookkeeper at several companies, including 15 years at Kreutzer Motor Express in Mankato.  Mary was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church since moving to Mankato in 1961.  She served in a variety of roles including Sunday-school teacher, deacon, head usher, funeral service chairman and choir member.  As a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, she held many positions in her local chapter as well as being a state and national representative.  She volunteered for many organizations such as Vine, Meals on Wheels, the RSVP reading program at Kennedy School, Habitat for Humanity, Cub Scouts and Campfire Girls.  In her spare time, Mary enjoyed walking, reading, gardening, doing crafts, and being with her family and friends. She will be remembered as a fun, giving, strong and independent woman who will be greatly missed by many.

Mary is survived by her children, Steven (Gloria) Roed of Lino Lakes, MN, James (Bonnie) Roed of Eden Prairie, MN, and Nancy Jo (Neal) Duncanson of Mendota Heights, MN; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Verland “Dusty” in 1993; sisters, Betty Nan and Patricia; and brother, Bill.

The family prefers memorials to the First Presbyterian Church or the donor’s choice.

Introducing Madelaine Smith
Director of the Children’s & Youth Choirs                 January 24, 2016

Introducing Holly Havemeier
Church Organist-Pianist-Accompanist                      January 21, 2016

Holly became our church organist-pianist-accompanist on September 28th!   We have had a busy fall and just had time to chase her down and ask her a few questions.   We want to make sure we welcome her officially to all members who have not yet had time to meet or talk with Holly.

I am very excited to be a part of First Presbyterian Church’s music program. I’ve met quite a few members and I hope to meet all of you. I have enjoyed playing on such fine instruments and playing a three manual organ is a dream come true for me. 

I am a stay-at-home mom and I have a personal business with Mary Kay Cosmetics for the past 19 years. This fall I added my 15th piano student. I’ve been teaching piano for the past 15 years. 

I married my high school sweetheart, Devron, and we’ve been married for 19 years. We’ve been blessed with 3 children: Garrett, (10)Autumn, (6) and Lucas, (4). We live on a hobby farm outside of Nicollet and my husband enjoys farming and raising corn and soybeans. And of course, the kids enjoy Jack Frost, our dog, and all their chickens, ducks and kittens. 

My first organ lessons were at 11 years of age and at age 13, I lead my first church service. I continued organ lessons and then studied with Dr. Linda Duckett at Minnesota State University. I served at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal for the past 22 years before coming to Mankato’s First Presbyterian Church.

I enjoy spending time with my family taking nature walks and summer nights with campfires and smores with the little ones. 

Celebration of Life – George Sugden                         January 12, 2016

Obituary
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/obituaries/george-sugden/article_9f46aa0a-b7e9-11e5-93b5-3f73245405e2.html

Visitation
Tuesday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Northview Mankato Mortuary and Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of Mankato 1 hour prior to the service.

Funeral Service 
First Presbyterian Church – Wednesday January 13 at 11:00 am.

Luncheon 
Immediately following the service.

Graveside Service
Following luncheon – With military honors at Glenwood Cemetery.

Christmas Eve Services

Thursday, December 24th, 2015
2:45 p.m. ~ Orchestra Rehearsal
4:30 p.m. ~ Christmas Eve Orchestra Performance
5:00 p.m. ~ Worship Service with Candlelight

Christmas Eve Orchestra

Our Christmas Eve Orchestra will again play carols preceding the 5:00 p.m. service. We hope that you will come at 4:30pm to listen to us! If you would like to join in on the playing, we will have one practice on that day at 2:45pm. Please bring your instrument and a music stand if possible.

First Fridays Series – Debbie Richman – Friday November 6, 12pm

Join us 12pm on November 6th’s First Fridays Series – Debbie Richman who will be joined by Sandi Lubrant! They will be speaking about the subject of, “Where is God in Alzheimer’s?”.This event is free and all are welcomed to join!

Salvation Army – Bundle Me Warm “Coat off Your Back” Event

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Guide                 August 6, 2015

 The Mankato/North Mankato ACT on Alzheimer’s team has put together a resource guide which also has an online version.  The guide includes the FPC caregivers’ support group and the online version has a hyperlink to the FPC website—cool!!!

Here is the link to a PRINTABLE PDF:

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/63819add4ca797deb8268359f/files/ACT_Resource_Guide_Final_Draft_HL_both_pages.pdf

Here is the link to the online version:
http://www.rndc.org/act-alzheimers

The action team understands that people in our community want information when the need arises and this is an excellent way for people to get started. We want the resource guide to get out to as many people as possible.

Ecumenical Prayer Service    Saturday June 20th at 4:30 pm
An ecumenical prayer service will be held to honor and rememberthe shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

The service will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S. 2nd St, in the chapel.

All are invited.

FREE Monthly Class
May – August, 2015 | 6:30-8 p.m.

Are you or is someone you love living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia? These FREE education classes will help you understand the disease, what you can expect and provide you with resources. You are not alone.

Join us!