Presbytidings – June/July 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.”

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR

So what was on Jesus’ mind as he prepared to leave this world? Among other things, us. Specifically, all believers of every time, place, and flavor. Before his arrest, Jesus prayed in the garden: “My prayer is not for them alone [that is, his disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message [that is, you and me], that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Sometimes we are so far from Jesus’ prayer that it’s embarrassing. He prayed that we would be one church, and yet we are not. It’s the uncomfortable reality of American Christianity: we have carved up the body of Christ into thousands of disparate groups, factions, and sects who often have little to do with each other. We harbor suspicion, telling ourselves that “they” are not really authentic Christians. We cling to our distinctives, majoring in the minors at the expense of unity. But our lack of unity compromises our witness to the world, and the dark forces of evil rejoice at a divided, weak church.

But there is a better way. Real progress toward Christian unity will not come by waiting for denominational leaders to forge new alliances (it is against their interests to cede any territory to other factions, unfortunately). But real change will come when we Christians on the “front lines” choose to love our neighbors and trust other Christians who worship in a different building than ours. And real unity will emerge when Christians come together to pray and to work on God’s mission in the world.

There is an opportunity to forge such unity that is sprouting in our own neighborhood. A Christian from another congregation has invited all of us to help realize her vision of unity and service to our community. Her goal is “to provide an ecumenical presence in the community that will enhance the opportunities to serve the spiritual, physical, and mental health needs of individuals and families in the community of Wayne and the surrounding region.”

If that vision sounds compelling to you—as a way of living into Jesus’ prayer for unity—then join the next phase of our conversations: Thursday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church’s building. And please join me in praying that we would be one, even as Jesus and the Father are one.

Blessings to you and your families!

Pastor Ray

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, June 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There will be no meeting in July (unless needed).

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

Beginning the first week in June, the church office will be open Wednesday – Fridays, from 8:30-11:30am.  Otherwise, you can always send an email at fpcwayne@gmail.com

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, June 2. Jim Paige is the ruling elder responsible for the elements and the servers.

SONSURF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Surf’s up, dude!  Catch a wave to VBS at FPC!

• June 3 – 6, from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
• For kids completing K – 6^th grade.
• What can we say?  It’s free!
• What else can we say?  How about POOL PARTY!  Thursday, June 6, from 8:30-9:30pm @ the Wayne Municipal Pool.
• E-mail fpcwayne@gmail.com or call (402)375-2669 to register.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women will be meeting Wednesday, June 5, at 2:00pm.  Karen Johnson will lead us in our final Bible study for the year.  Babs Middleton will be the hostess.  We will also be planning our Annual Tea set for July 10^th.

SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will meet on Wednesday, June 19, beginning at 3:00pm.  Supper will be provided.  Come “sew” before and/or after supper.  We will have a variety of projects to work on, so we can use a variety of skills!

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN ANNUAL TEA

Mark your calendars for July 10^th at 5:30pm for the Presbyterian Women’s Annual Tea.  All women are invited to attend.  More details to follow…

PASTOR RAY’S VACATION

Pastor Ray will be on vacation the following dates:

• July 1-7
• July 29 – August 14

If you have a pastoral need, please contact the church office or Charity Potter (402-870-1059).

CHICKEN SHOW

Our church will be operating a bouncy house for Henoween, Friday, July 12, (5-10pm) and the Chicken Show, Saturday, July 13 (11am-4pm). We will need workers, so please watch for a sign-up at the Opportunity Table.

CHURCH COOKBOOK

Keep the recipes coming in!  We want to have as many recipes as possible for the new edition of the cookbook.  Send your recipes to Jane O’Leary @ jane@inebraska.com or put them in the basket on the Opportunity Table.

PREACHING WORKSHOP

Ever felt the itch to deliver God’s message? Well, this could be your opportunity! Learn the basics of preaching at Pastor Ray’s preaching workshop. If you are interested in possibly filling the pulpit sometime, please talk to Pastor Ray. We will schedule a workshop based on everyone’s schedules.

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.

BACKPACK PROGRAM

The Summer Food Pantry Backpack program has begun. This program provides a weekends supply of nutritious food for children when school breakfast and lunch is not available. We are in need of individually packaged food such as microwaveable meals, juice pouches, and fruit or pudding cups. Please contact Jenny at the church office for more information on how you can help.

fpcwayne@gmail.com

BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS

Thirty-nine and holding? Sweet sixteen? The anniversary of your 29^th coming up? Old enough to know better, but still too young to care? Over the hill? Or none of your business? Birthdays are funny things: some people love ‘em, and some people hate ‘em. They can be joyous or awkward, depending on the person. Some Sundays, usually during announcements and always at the families’ initiation, members of our congregation announce their birthdays. And sometimes we sing and honor them. And other times, birthdays are overlooked entirely, apparently snubbing the special person. Obviously, our church doesn’t want to honor some and ignore others, so as a matter of consistency, let us all agree to not observe birthdays during worship (or announcements). If you wish to celebrate a birthday for your loved one, feel free and encouraged to host Fellowship Time, complete with cake, candles, and singing. But let’s use worship to focus on the Main Thing, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We will continue to list our members’ birthdays in the newsletter and on KCTY (if you have been overlooked, please let us know asap!) but will make no other official attempts to observe birthdays. Thank you for your input and your understanding! And happy birthday to you…whenever it rolls around for you.

 FAMILY FELLOWSHIP NIGHT

…will begin again this fall.  We will start the new academic year with a picnic on the grounds!  Stay tuned for more information.

PMC MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Home Health Care & Hospice Program of Providence Medical Center will be holding a memorial service for the patients who have died (between May 2012 and April 2013 on Sunday, June 2^nd at 2:00pm.  The service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne, 516 N. Main Street.  Balloons will be released in memory of loved ones, and refreshments will be served.

CHRISTIAN CROSS FESTIVAL

The 9^th Annual Christian Cross Festival will be held at Skyview Lake in Norfolk on Saturday, June 8^th from 1:00 – 10:30om.  This is a FREE event that includes something for almost everyone!  Special guests this year are: Fireflight, Jason Gray, and Jill Miller.  Check it out at christiancrossfestival.org

CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN BOB SMILEY

Comedian Bob Smiley will be performing at the Viareo Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk. Catch his act on Sunday, June 16^th.  For more info go to: www.facedownproductions.com

CALVIN CREST QUILT AUCTION

The 16^th Annual Quilt Auction and BBQ is scheduled for Saturday, August 24^th. Make plans to join this great fundraising event. Beautiful quilts are donated and there is a live auction. The BBQ beforehand is the best around. This is the date to bid on a great gift for yourself or someone else.

WAYNE GROW AN EXTRA ROW

Across the nation gardeners are donating their extra fresh produce to their local Food Pantry.  We would like to introduce this practice to the Wayne Community. As the gardening season gets into full swing, we ask that when you have extra garden produce that you bring it to our Food Pantry. So while picking your produce you could set aside a bag of beans, a few tomatoes, a bag of lettuce or spinach, cucumbers, squash, eggs, anything really. It doesn’t have to be a lot, if everyone does it, it will add up fast!

OUR SAVIOR’S FRONT PORCH

The after school program at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wayne has openings for the 2013-14 school year.  This program in available for children in grades K-4.  Contact Michelle Combs at (608)778-5413 for more information.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our unchurched neighbors
• Those affected by the storms in Oklahoma
• Our VBS program
• Summer safety

GREETERS

JUNE 2013

2^nd – The Heese Family

9^th – Jim Curtiss, John Reese & The Paiges

16^th – The Petersons

23^rd – The Marras & The Murphys

30^th – The Pulfer Family

JULY 2013

7^th – The Urbanec Family

14^th – The Fuelberths, Pat Straight & Karen Johnson

21^st – The Sweetland Family

28^th – The McLaughlins & The McDonalds

LECTORSJUNE 2013

2^nd – Glenda McDonald

9^th – Candyce Peitz

16^th – Kevin Peterson

23^rd – Jodi Pulfer

30^th – Ronda Ras

JULY 2013

7^th – Pat Straight

14^th – Jeryl Nelson

21^st – Kent Pulfer

28^th – Bev Beeson

ACOLYTES JUNE 2013

2^nd – Layne Heese

9^th – Beau Bowers

16^th – Shea Abraham

23^rd – Sarah Wibben

30^th – Eleanor McCalla

JULY 2013

7^th – Madison Urbanec

14^th – Bo Armstrong

21^st – Taytum Sweetland

28^th – Ethan Wibben

 

June 2013 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 8:45 Worship 10:00 Fellowship 11:00						1
2	3   6:00-8:30p.m. SonSurf VBS	4   6:00-8:30p.m. SonSurf VBS	5 2:00p.m. Presbyterian Women   6:00-8:30p.m. SonSurf VBS	6   6:00-8:30p.m. SonSurf VBS	7	8
9	10	11	12 CareAge chapel 11am	13	14	15
16	17	18	19   6:30p.m. Sewing Souls	20 Ecumenical Meeting @ Our Savior 7pm	21	22
23	24   7:00p.m. Session Mtg.	25	26	28	28	29
30