Presbytidings – April 2013

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787

(402) 375-2669 Ë www.fpcwayne.org

“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”

 Chuck Colson, who was an assistant to President Nixon and who died last April, was convicted for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.  Colson served time in federal prison for his crimes, and later he became a Christian and a famous apologist for the Faith. Here is what he said about Jesus’ resurrection:

“When I am challenged on the resurrection, my answer is always that the disciples and 500 others gave eyewitness accounts of seeing Jesus risen from the tomb [1 Corinthians 15:5-6]. But then I’m asked, ‘How do you know they were telling the truth? Maybe they were perpetrating a hoax.’ My answer to that comes from an unlikely source: Watergate.

“Watergate involved a conspiracy perpetuated by the closest aides to the president of the United States—the most powerful men in America, who were intensely loyal to their president. But one of them, John Dean, turned state’s evidence, that is, testified against Nixon, as he put it, ‘to save his own skin’—and he did so only two weeks after informing the president about what was really going on—two weeks! The cover-up, the lie, could only be held together for two weeks, and then everybody else jumped ship in order to save themselves. Now, the fact is that all those around the president were facing was embarrassment, maybe prison. [But] nobody’s life was at stake.

“But what about the disciples? Twelve powerless men, peasants really, were facing not just embarrassment or political disgrace, but beatings, stonings, execution. Every single one of the disciples insisted, to their dying breaths, that they had physically seen Jesus bodily raised from the dead. Don’t you think that one of those apostles would have cracked before being beheaded or stoned? That one of them would have made a deal with the authorities? None did. Men will give their lives for something they believe to be true; they will never give their lives for something they know to be false.

“The Watergate cover-up reveals the true nature of humanity. Even political zealots at the pinnacle of power will, in the crunch, save their own necks, even at the expense of the ones they profess to serve so loyally. But the apostles could not deny Jesus, because they had seen him face to face, and they knew he had risen from the dead.

“No, you can take it from an expert in cover-ups…that nothing less than a resurrected Christ could have caused those men to maintain to their dying whispers that Jesus is alive and is Lord. Two thousand years later, nothing less than the power of the risen Christ could inspire Christians around the world to remain faithful—despite prison, torture, and death. Jesus is Lord: That’s the thrilling message of Easter. It’s a historic fact, one convincingly established by the evidence—and one you can bet your life upon.”

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

Pastor Ray                                                 

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

YOUTH GROUPS

High School Youth: 4/3 and 4/17 at 7:30 p.m.

Junior High Youth: 4/10 and 4/24 at 7:30 p.m.

BROWN BAG BIBLE STUDY

We will meet on April 4, 11, and 18 to finish out the semester. We will finish out Ephesians and briefly tackle Philippians.

MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT

Calvin Crest is hosting a middle school retreat for kids in grades 6-8: April 19-20 (Friday-Saturday). The cost is $49, but the church will pay 100%. To learn more (and to register), visit http://www.calvincrest.org/Youth_Retreats.php. And adult chaperons are free!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

VBS will be June 3 through 6, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Put it on your calendar, and don’t forget to bring a friend!

SUMMER CAMP

Calvin Crest has an awesome variety of summer camps for kids of all ages! Choose from horseback, mountain biking, adventure, nature education, or traditional camps that all blend camp fun with love for Jesus. Pick up a brochure at the Opportunity Table in fellowship hall or visit http://www.calvincrest.org/Summer_Camp.php for more information. Our church will pay for 50% of the cost of camp. Also, if you invite three friends who have never been to Calvin Crest before, you go for free!

NEED A SUMMER JOB?

Calvin Crest is looking for summer staff to work with campers. They need people for counselors, lifeguards, crafts, and health care. Applicants should be Christian high school graduates and preferably at least 18 years old. Visit www.calvincrest.org/job_opportunities/php for more information. If you are in grades 9-12, you can also be a CSI—camp staff intern!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR PRAYER GROUP?  Just contact Jenny at the church office (402)375-2669 or email us at fpcwayne@gmail.com, and we will be glad to add your name!

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN will meet on Wednesdays again beginning with our April 3rd meeting at 6:30 pm.  Jackie Owens will lead our Bible study and Babs Middleton will be the hostess. 
SEWING SOULS will also move our sewing days back to Wednesday.  In April we meet on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30.  There is plenty to work on no matter what your sewing skills.

CHURCH COOKBOOK

We are still collecting recipes for a second church cookbook.  Since this is a project Sandra Metz was interested in completing, we would like to finish the cookbook and dedicate it to her.  It would be great if every family could submit at least one recipe, but we would love more!  Recipes can be emailed to jane@inebraska.com  or they can be left in the basket on the Opportunity Table.  Thanks for your help with this project.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

We are now on Facebook! You can “like” us at “First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska.” Tune in for the latest updates from our church. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our unchurched neighbors
• Denny Spangler
• Tiffany Heese

GREETERS

APRIL 2013                                                                                                 

7^th – The Pulfer Family                                                                                 

14^th – The McLaughlins & The Fuelberths                                                  

21^st – The Sweetland Family                                               

28^th – The Peitz Family                                                                                

MAY 2013

5^th – The Worner Family

12^th – The Liskas & The Milton Owens

19^th – P. Straight, K. Johnson, &  The Griesses 

26^th – Verlin & Elaine Francis, & Jack & Bev Beeson

LECTORS

APRIL 2013                                                                                      

7^th – Ken Marra                                                                                

14^th – Rachelle McCalla                                                                     

21^st – Levi Heese                                                                                

28^th – Ken Liska                                                                                 

MAY 2013

5^th – Gail McCorkindale

12^th – Tiffany Heese

19^th – Sydney McCorkindale

26^th – Angie Nelson

ACOLYTES

APRIL 2013                                                                                      

7^th – Emily Armstrong                                                                      

14^th – Maddie Beair                                                                           

21^st – Shea Sweetland                                                                       

28^th – Gabriel Peitz  

MAY 2013

5^th – Jon Worner

12^th – Solomon Peitz

19^th – Zach Urbanec

26^th – Maddie Stenka     

April 2013 – First Presbyterian Church

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

            1       Genevieve McCalla

           4       Bev Beeson

           8       Andrew Pulfer

           9       Kevin Armstrong

          19     Taylor Racely

           23     Jill O’Leary Scott

          26     Phil Griess, Levi Heese

     27     Stacey Alexander, Verianne McClain

          29     Heidi Armstrong

          30     Greg Bloom

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