A WORD FROM THE PASTOR:
“The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that it’s difficult to determine whether or not they are genuine.” – Abraham Lincoln
Well said, Mr. President, well said. I love a good, inspiring quotation as much as anybody, but it seems that most of what one finds on the Internet is rather uninspiring. But a while back I encountered a quotation on a Facebook friend’s page that actually made me stop and think: “What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” Wow. What if everything we took for granted disappeared? What would go away? Our families? Our friends? Our homes?
We live in a gratitude-deficient culture, where we expect things and demand things, but take for granted the basics that many people in the world do not have. We may complain that our Internet connection isn’t fast enough, or that our smart phones don’t work right, or that our houses are not big enough or fancy enough. But by doing so, we betray our spoiled, thankless attitude that pervades our unbelieving world.
The holiday we know as Thanksgiving is not just a secular observance with nods to the food and football gods. Thanksgiving was established by Abraham Lincoln (who never owned a smart phone) on October 3, 1863, during the depth of the Civil War. Despite the bloodshed and national turmoil, the president urged Americans to change their perspective and show their gratitude for all God’s blessings. Here is a (real and honest) snippet of his proclamation:
“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they [our blessings] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
For Christians, “thanksgiving” is not just one day out of 365 when we remember our blessings while feasting on turkey. But thanksgiving is an attitude of gratitude that we cultivate each waking moment, when we—with other Christians—give thanks to our God who has given us life and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Perhaps one more Internet quotation would be helpful here, and this one is also trustworthy: “What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.” Psalm 116:12-14 NIV
So let us give thanks to our great God, not just on November 24, but on every day.
Pastor Ray
MAKE A NOTE!
Mark your calendars! The date for moving your clocks back is Sunday, November 6. Don’t forget to fall back.
SESSION
The session will have its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
The session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, November 13, following worship for the purpose of approving the pastor’s compensation for 2012 and electing officers (deacons and elders). Elder candidates will be Greg Worner (1st term), Jim Paige (2nd term), and Kevin Peterson (2nd term). Deacon candidates will be Karen McElwain (1st term) and Misty Beair (1st term).
STEWARDSHIP DRIVE
After our congregational meeting on November 13, all members and participants of our church will receive a stewardship packet with our finalized budget for 2012, a financial pledge form, and a time-and-talents form. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the ministry of our church and return your form either to Anita Fuelberth or the church office by December 4.
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
The High School Youth Fellowship will meet on Wednesday, 11/2, and Wednesday, 11/16, from 7:30-8:30p.m. The Middle School Youth Fellowship will meet on Wednesday, 11/9, and 11/23, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. Invite a friend!
BETTER TOGETHER
Last I checked, the Bible and the Creed speak of one church, not many. So let’s start living like it! The high school youth from the congregations in Wayne are coming together to make a difference through a Community Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday, November 9. Everyone wishing to participate should meet at the Wayne Community Activity Center by 7:00 p.m. Each group will be assigned an area of town to go out soliciting food for the Wayne food pantry, and we will finish by 8:00 p.m. We might even mix up the youth groups, just for fun! Everyone will then meet back at the food pantry to drop off collected items. Refreshments provided by each group involved will follow in FPC’s Fellowship Hall. Let’s get together!
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The Presbyterian Women will meet Wednesday, November 2, at 6:30p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bible Study will be led by Marilyn Yates and the Hostess this month is Elaine Francis. Sewing Souls will meet on Saturday, November 19 at 9:00a.m. to do some cleaning in the kitchen as well as other projects! Your Hostesses for this are Judy Linberg and Sandra Metz.
RED CROSS
Northeast Nebraska Red Cross offers several opportunities to become involved. If anyone or any group is interested contact Shalle Wolff at
(402) 371-0393. Current needs are:
- Office support volunteers
- Hand-made quilts for disaster clients
- Plastic totes for storage of blankets/bedding/quilts
- Shelving in disaster supply storage areas
- Items for comfort kits given to disaster clients
- Replenish supply of bottled water and snacks
- Office supplies collection
- Disaster Response Volunteerism
BIRTHDAYS!
There will be a birthday list on the Opportunity Table…please check it out! If your birthday is on there, make sure we have the right date, if it isn’t and you would like it to be, please add it to the list! Happy Birthday!
FESTIVAL OF TREES
The American Association for Women in Community Colleges presents its 11th Annual Festival of Trees at Northeast Community College, Norfolk, Friday-Sunday, November 11-13. Hours are Friday from 2-8 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. in the Lifelong Learning Center. Enjoy holiday displays by retailers, non-profit groups, student organizations, and private collections not on public display elsewhere. If you are interested in participating in the Festival of Trees, please contact Deb Ferris at 402-844-7101 or register online at www.northeast.edu/Organizations/AAWCC/. You may get tickets for this event at the door.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE
Wayne Community Thanksgiving Service will be Sunday, November 20, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Soup and pie dinner to follow. Our church is responsible for bringing 4 soups and 4 pies. There is a sign-up sheet on the Opportunity Table if you would like to participate!
THANKSGIVING BREAK
The Church Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. We will also not have Confirmation class or church school on Sunday, November 27.
PRAYER GROUP
Several Christians from the community are organizing an inter-denominational prayer group to humbly make petitions to God. They will meet for the first time on Friday, November 4, from 12:00-12:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Holy Family Hall (in the basement). This prayer group will continue to meet on Fridays from 12 noon to 12:30 and is open to and welcomes all people of any faith and age. God has promised that where two or three are gathered He will be there in our midst. So let us seek Him together! For any additional information please call St. Mary’s Church at 375-2000.
SUPPORT OUR SOLDIER!
Please pray for David Buller, our soldier who is serving in Afghanistan. If you would like to contact him or send him gifts (please refer to the soldiers’ wish list in the Fellowship Hall), his address is:
SPC Buller David
181 Eng Det FFTM
Camp Deh Dadi II
APO AE 09368
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY
Our presbytery will gather at Calvin Crest on Thursday, November 17, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Come away to camp for a day of refreshment and worship!
COAT CLOSET AND FOOD PANTRY
The Coat Closet and Food Pantry need your help! You may bring your donations to the church office during regular office hours. The Coat Closet will take not only winter coats for all ages (especially kids), but snow pants and snow boots, hats, gloves, and mittens as well. The Food Pantry is in need of such things as canned fruit, canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.), soups, pasta, Hamburger Helper, and macaroni & cheese. Also, if you would like to donate diapers, all sizes, it would be appreciated! Thanks for your help!
CHRISTMAS DECORATING
It’s time to decorate the church building for the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons! We will be decorating on Wednesday, November 30, at 7:00 p.m. Please bring Christmas snacks and music to share as we work together!
GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL
If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.org; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 