Presbytidings – September 2013

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska68787

(402) 375-2669 Ë www.fpcwayne.org

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

“We have a problem,” he said gravely in his thick British accent. We McCallas were on our eleventh day in the United Kingdom. We had checked out of our place in the Highlands of Scotland and had been traveling all day in order to make it to England so we could check into our guest house in Whitley Bay. We were tired. We were carrying all our luggage. But there was a problem with the house, as he announced to us.

Fleas.

Yes, fleas. And the young man who was our host assured us that we couldn’t stay there that night—tired or not. Apparently while his family had been on holiday (a.k.a. vacation), their housecat had introduced an infestation of fleas throughout the whole house, including the beds and living room. They had returned earlier that same day and discovered that the whole house was hopping with the little biting critters. The young man physically blocked us from entering the house as he explained the situation. He and his family were busy feverishly cleaning, vacuuming, and using flea powder on everything.

And when we heard this news, we were suddenly not that tired, and not quite so eager to check in.

Take your time, really. Make sure it’s good and clean. That’s what was running through my mind.

And as I reflect on that experience in England, my mind wanders across Scripture to an obscure section of the book of Leviticus. In chapters 13 and 14, there are extensive rules and procedures for dealing with diseases of the skin, fabrics, and houses. Yes, houses. No mention of fleas there, but still some good advice for the people of Whitley Bay, at least in concept.

Leviticus counsels that a priest come to a house if there is a spreading mold. If the mold continues to spread after a week-long quarantine, then the plaster needs to be scraped off, the affected stones removed, and both thrown outside of town. If the spreading mold returns, then the whole house must be pronounced unclean and it must be torn down and deposited outside of town in an unclean place.

Pretty drastic, especially for a time when building a house was a big, expensive deal.

Would you tear down your house because of mold? Or fleas? How far would you go to correct a problem like that?

How about when it comes to your spiritual life? The truth is that sometimes our lives become like a guest house infested with fleas: fine on the outside, but filthy inside. And sometimes our souls can pick up a spreading mold of unchecked sin. So the question is, what will we do with our sin and filth? Will we take drastic measures to correct it—with vacuuming, scrubbing, and powder? Will we tear down the house, just to save our lives? Or will we tell ourselves that everything is okay and leave all as it is?

There was a silver lining to our stay in England. We didn’t stay in the flea house, but miraculously God provided another house a block over (which is another adventure story for another time). And there is a silver lining for all of us who have infestation in our souls. God has miraculously provided a way to be cleansed and forgiven. Jesus has taken all our sins and sicknesses into his body on the cross, so that we can be completely healed. So let us all pause and take a good look at our inner lives, to diagnose our sin. And then, let us take the steps necessary to address the problems we find there, knowing that God is able and willing to heal us.

 Pastor Ray

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, September 23^rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

 COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, September 8.

 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Beginning Tuesday September 3^rd, we will resume our regular church office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8:30-11:30am. Otherwise, feel free to contact us anytime at 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com

CHURCH SCHOOL

Church school for preschool through 6^th grade will start on Sunday, September 8, 2013. For more information, please contact Misty Beair at (402) 375-3773; mibeair1@wayneschools.org.

SUNDAE SUNDAY

To celebrate the kick-off for church school and confirmation, we will have ice cream sundaes following worship on Sunday, 9/8. Yum!

WANTED: CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS

We looking for Church School teachers for the 2013-14 school year. Church School will begin on September 8, 2013, and run through May 18^th, 2014. If you would like to help, please contact Misty Beair at (402) 375-3773, mibeair1@wayneschools.org

CONFIRMATION MENTORS

Confirmation is a discipleship program for 7^th and 8^th grade students. If you would like to be a mentor, please contact Pastor Ray at 402-833-5251 or raydemccalla@gmail.com. Mentoring involves meeting with a youth 8 times during the school year, during class time (9:00-9:45 Sundays).

 PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS HANDBELL CHOIR

Rehearsals will resume on Sunday, 9/8 at 8:45am.  New members are welcome!

YOUTH GROUPS

The junior high (6^th through 8^th grades) youth group will meet on September 11 and 25, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The high school (9^th through 12^th grades) youth group will meet September 4 and 18, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Bring a friend! Check out the new-and-improved youth room!

 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

The Presbyterian Women will start their new year with a potluck dinner on Wednesday, September 4^th at 6:00pm.  All women are invited to come and enjoy fellowship.  We will plan the upcoming year.

 SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will meet Wednesday, September 18^th at 6:30pm.  We will be planning new projects, and working on those already in progress.  Please come, whatever your sewing skills!

 YOUTH BULLETIN BOARD

We now have a dedicated way to share our youth news.  The bulletin board in the southwest corner of fellowship hall will become the Youth Bulletin Board.  Look for youth events and updates there while you are at church.

FAMILY FUN FELLOWSHIP NIGHT

Our next Family Fun Fellowship night will be Saturday, September 14^th at 5:30 p.m.  Weather permitting, we will be grilling and playing out on the church lawn.  Bring a side dish or dessert, your lawn chair and some ideas for outdoor games. 

BROWN-BAG BIBLE STUDY

Pastor Ray will be leading an in-depth Bible study this fall through First Corinthians. WSC Student Center, Goldenrod Room, Wednesdays at noon, starting September 4. Bring your Bibles, bring your lunch, and bring your biggest questions!

FPC SCRAPBOOKS

Do you have a gift for scrapbooking?  We have some church memorabilia that should be preserved.  Contact Jenny at the church office if you are interested in helping.  We would supply the materials needed.

 SUPPORT OUR MILITARY

Faith Comes by Hearing distributes Bible Sticks—personal MP3 players with recordings of the New Testament and Psalms—to hundreds of thousands of our military personnel. And they need our help to continue. Please consider contributing $25 to send a Bible Stick to a service member. We will be having a special offering on Sunday, 9/15. For more information, check out: www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/military.

NORTHEAST NEBRASKA CHILDREN’S CHOIR

The NNCC is an auxiliary choir of the Wayne State College Chorale. This free program will help your kids (grades 2-6) learn to sing better and have the opportunity to sing with the WSC “big kids.” Tuesdays, 3:45-4:45, starting 9/3. Contact Jackie Keller for more information: (402) 750-0637; jaquelynfkeller@gmail.com.

 BACKPACK PROGRAM

The Wayne Food Pantry backpack program is in full swing.  Currently, we have 109 students enrolled. We are currently in need of individually packaged foods and juices, or monetary donations that will enable us to purchase what is needed. Please contact Jenny at the church office fpcwayne@gmail.com for more information on how you can help.

SERMONS ON THE WEB

Pastor Ray’s sermons can be heard on our Web site: www.fpcwayne.org/media.

 THE POAM/OWLS FALL CELEBRATION: PRAYER AND MEDITATION

The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry & The Older, Wiser, Livelier Saints (OWLS) Celebration at Calvin Crest will be held September 17-18, 2013.  Please come and join friends and neighbors from across the Heartland for a two day celebration for older adults (50 and above).  Overnight accommodations and great food are included.  Check at our church office for details or go online at www.calvincrest.org

NEW CHURCH SIGN

If you haven’t already seen it, stop by the front (south) façade of our building and behold our new church sign. The structure is the same (given in memory of Pat Straight’s mother, Lenora Hook), but the insert is new and improved. Thank you to Rick Lund for his generous gift in memory of Bonnie. It is a blessing to our church.

DIVERSITY OF CULTURES:

Please join the WSC Campus & Community Collaborations & Conversations for a discussion of cultures.  Hosted by WSC President Curt Frye on Tuesday, 9/10 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Frey Conference Suite on the WSC Campus.

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

Saturday, 9/28/2013 at Victor Park in Wayne.  Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:00 a.m.  Sign up at: act.alz.org/wayne2013 or contact Cathy at cenoviso@alz.org

 INTERNET-SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY

This event is sponsored by the Community Partnership for Youth.  Come and learn to recognize the dangers which come with using social media and the internet.  Wednesday, 9/4 at 6:30pm at the Majestic Theater.

2013-14 COLLEGE STUDENT LIST

We are in the process of updating our college student list for the current academic year.  Parents or students, please contact either Ray or Jenny with any new or updated contact information.  Thanks!

AMERICAN RED CROSS SAFE SUNDAY

Each year, the American Red Cross sponsors a Safe Sunday Disaster Preparedness Day.  The purpose of Safe Sunday is to provide individuals and families with information to prepare their families for a personal or community-wide disaster.  Please see the news release on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

We are 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
• Dawn Fuelberth as she undergoes chemotherapy
• All who are battling cancer
• CrossPoint Campus Ministry and our college students

GREETERS

SEPTEMBER 2013                                                                                          

1^st – The Peterson Family                                                                 

8^th – The Hammers, J. Curtiss & J. Rees                         

15^th – The Griesses & The Marras                                                                              

22^nd – The McCorkindales                                                                             

29^th – The Sweetlands                                                                                    

OCTOBER 2013                                                                                                                     6th – The Peitz Family  

13th – P. Straight, B. Middleton, Pat & Glenda McDonald                                                 

20th – The Paiges & The Hammers

27th – The Urbanec Family                                                                                            

LECTORS

SEPTEMBER 2013                                                                             

1^st – Karen Johnson                                                                           

8^th – Greg Worner                                                                              

15^th– Mark McCorkindale                                                                  

22^nd – Judy Lindberg                                                                          

29^th – Marta Pulfer  

 OCTOBER 2013                                                                                                  

 6th – Jan Liska 

 13th – Tami Worner

 20th – Ken Marra

27th – Rachelle McCalla

ACOLYTES

SEPTEMBER 2013                                                                              

1^st – Andy Wibben                                                                             

8^th – Nina Hammer                                                                           

15^th – Emily Armstrong                                                                       

22^nd – Maddie Beair                                                                           

29^th – Shea Sweetland 

OCTOBER 2013      

6th – Gabriel Peitz  

13th – Jon Worner

 20th – Solomon Peitz

 27th – Zach Urbanec                                                  

September 2013 – First Presbyterian Church

 

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1   Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 8:45 Church School 9:00 (beginning 9/8) Confirmation Class 9:00 (beginning 9/8) Worship 10:00 Fellowship 11:00	2   Labor Day	3 Regular Church Office Hours Resume (Tues – Fri. 8:30-11:30 am)	4   6:00p.m. PW Potluck   7:30pm HS Youth	5	6	7
8 Bell Choir Resumes 8:45am Church School & Confirmation Class begins 9:00 a.m. Sundae Sunday! 11:00 am	9	10   3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	11   Patriot Day   7:30pm Jr. High Youth	12	13   Wayne Women’s Club 12 noon	14
15	16   Scout Meeting 6pm	17   3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	18   6:30pm Sewing Souls 7:30pm HS Youth	19	20	21
22	23 Session 7 pm	24   3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	25   7:30pm Jr. High Youth	26	27	28
29	30

           

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

                6         Anita Fuelberth

             8         Sharyn Paige

            14        Angie Nelson

            16        Marcile Uken

            18        Jordan McDonald

            19        Marilyn Murray

            21        Jared Peterson

            24        Jacob Pulfer, Misty Beair

            29        Melissa Urbanec

            30        Jared Yates, Madison Beair